Category archives: Lifestyle

Paddle boarding is a new water sport for me and I failed miserably on my first trip to Hauser Lake. Shane made it looked easy but it wasn't. I spent a week at the gym to improve my balance and today I am so proud to say I did it! We invited our daughter-in-law and grandson to join us to Hauser Lake and had a fun filled day.

Read how our niece, a Malaysian girl celebrates her 8th birthday in the suburb of Subang Jaya, Selangor. She starts her birthday by getting up early in the morning, going shopping with her mom and I and picks her own present. Afterwards she helps bake her birthday cake and gets to choose where to go and eat for dinner.

My sister Helen brings us back to our childhood place, Pandamaran to buy our mom Chai Pau for her birthday lunch. Pandamaran is a treasure throve of great food and we are giddily happy to indulge ourselves with so much food. Even Shane gets invited to help make chai pau. Watch a video of him trying to explain what a hawker is cooking.

This post explains the roles a starter plays in the track and field sports. It is more than just firing the gun. Shane has been a starter for more than 40 years and has travelled all over the country. I follow him to this NCAA Cross Country Championships in Walla Walla, Washington. It is a very cold day and these athletics are in shorts and tank tops!

Today is grape harvest day and we have our daughter-in-law and little grandson to 'help'. We are going to make jam and juice them. The vines are in their 4th year of growth. There are so many grapes more than we anticipate as we fill up bowls and containers. Watch how Kiel helps us harvest grapes and the things he does to occupy himself.

Apple picking day for the family at Green Bluff, Washington. It's our grandson first visit and he enjoys the tractor ride to the orchard. This bundle of energy is everywhere, picking apples, riding on a wheelbarrow and making daddy chase him. The petting zoo and play area gets his attention too and we love to watch the joy on his face.

Spokane County Interstate Fair is a ten-day event beginning the Friday after Labor Day each year. There are arts and crafts, food preservation, livestock, horticulture, floriculture and photography. We have a family visit there since our grandson loves to see the farm animals and he can get on a few rides at the fun fair.

My first trip back to Singapore after 20 years make me realize how much I've missed Singapore and most of all my families! We visit a few attractions but get caught paying a hefty price for our lunch. The time spend with my aunt and uncle is priceless and they join me to Singapore Changi Airport for my walk down memory lane.

I have Shane here who has never seen coconut trees except when he was in Hawaii and my sister's kids who are city kids. They are trying to harvest some coconuts from the trees their dad planted across their house. Read on my post about these city kids harvesting coconuts and watch a video of their attempt.

Our first Champa wedding at a plantation is filled with curiosity, adventure and warmth of the community. These brothers and sisters earn our respect for their camaraderie, resilience and faith in their daily struggles living as undocumented immigrants. Dr. Firdaus is a woman of courage and kindness fighting for their causes.