Spring Garden @ Tropicana

Another lou sang for Chap Goh Mei lunch cum Dato'Colin's birthday.



The lap mei rice is very nice even without lap cheong

My own Hakka clan's (雪龙嘉应会馆）association CNY dinner

The dinner was well attended.



The association's lion troupe



The kids doing a new year song



Myself doing a number

Lion dance

I thought this was the year of the tiger but tonight they did the lion dance in my friend's party. Maybe in 12 years time I will come out with a tiger dance :-).

My favorite Hakka singer 张少林

I went to a dinner in Serdang on CNY 9th day and my favorite Hakka singer Chong Sau Ling 张少林 was performing. He is 64 years old now.




Below is his beautiful daughter Candy Chong aged 20 doing an ancient Chinese art (变脸）face/mask change.

HONG KONG pop star Andy Lau paid a whopping RM1.3mil to learn the ancient art of mask-changing from skilled masters in China. Until this day, he has yet to master the 300-year-old Chinese dramatic art of changing masks called Bian Lian.

Performers of this fascinating act are able to change masks in quick succession – all in the blink of an eye right before their audiences.

While the art is forbidden to women, local lass Candy Chong has broken the taboo and is making waves in Malaysia with her scintillating mask-changing performances.

And unlike the Hong Kong Heavenly King, the multi-talented 20-year-old took only two months to master the trade before jumping headlong into performing for the multitudes around the country.

Boutique whisky

I got this limited production whiskey from a shop in Heathrow that only sells whiskey. Dad and my uncle didn't like it as cited 40% alcohol content not to Asian taste (prefer 35%). Yeah, this whiskey burns a bit but nonetheless we finished it.

8th day CNY

Luckily I swam yesterday and did a good run today.

Tonight I had 2 dinners. One in Gasing, then rushed to Kampung Pandan below

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Last night I had 2 dinners, one in USJ17;




Then one in Glenmarie (the house below is on >1 acre land)



Tomorrow dinner in Serdang and then dinner in Shah Alam on Tuesday

CNY read

While others are busy munching, playing mahjong or trying their luck in Genting, I went through this book in a few nights.

I won't say whether it is a good book or bad but felt reassured we are doing the right things and in the right direction after reading it.



And yes to more exercise - swim today and a Taman Tun run tomorrow

Books

This is a book I read recently.

I got it in KLIA and it was an interesting read. My uncle from Perth came and I gave my copy to him as I had no present for him.

Do you think China will rule the world? The book is written by a British author and during the course of writing, his wife a Malaysian lawyer, died of illness and the book is dedicated to her.

CNY gathering

I normally don't put pictures of relatives and friends on the blog but here is a rare one. I was at a gathering and all the friends were married with kids but NONE had more than 2 kids. Hence the fertility rate is below 2 (for Malaysian Chinese) considering I got many friends who are not married or just cohabiting with their partners.

These are tell-tale signs indicating what products to offer to the market ie. products for antiaging/health/heart/joint vs kids products in the years to come. In Japan the fertility rate is 1.2 and hence the market for kids' products is shrinking.

Funniest Gong Xi Fa Cai sms I got for CNY

But on the mobile the notes are moving/flickering

What we ate during CNY eve dinner

Myself after a few glass of Hennesy XO



Nyonya fish



vege



Country chicken



Hakka dish - 盆菜. They loved it but it didn't go well with me as the taste was weird. Ingredient include mushrooms, sea cucumber, oyster, duck, scallops, abalone, fatt choi, roast pork and vege and soup.



Soup.



Hakka dish - pork leg in vinegar.



Curry chicken



There was prawns which we asked the cook not to serve. Far too much!

CNY dinner at Chen family estate

View of the fish ponds from the restaurant.



A different view.



The extension at the front



One of the 4 ponds.



2 of the 4 tables being set up.



Chief cook on CNY leave so the Burmese staff cooking for us.

Gong Xi Fa Cai

Wishing you all a blessed year of the tiger!

Meanwhile I was at the gym today am trying to shed off the calories before CNY feasting starts. Plan to swim tomorrow and run the Taman Tun Hill on Monday evening.

What can someone who can't cook contribute to the CNY menu?

PJ SS3 road side roast duck :-)))).

A wish for the Year of the Tiger — Lim Sue Goan (from mysinchew.com)

FEB 12 — While I was driving to work, I heard a woman call a radio station and said she was really sad as she found that her nail bead has gone missing.

The woman should be glad that she can still live a life of plenty as some people cannot even afford new clothes for this Chinese New Year. We should be thankful and appreciate everything we currently possess and share them with those who are less fortunate in the society.

When the Chinese return home to reunite with their families and enjoy great dishes during Chinese New Year, they should be prepared and carefully think about whether Malaysian Chinese will be able to celebrate Chinese New Year five or 10 years later as peacefully as we do it today. Where is the future and way out for the Chinese?

The country has experienced tumultuous times over the past half a century. We almost faced a crisis of racial riots and a black hole of economic collapse. The country is lucky enough to sustain until today but the crisis is still not far away from us.

Although the racial politics suffered a hit during the March 8 general elections but its spirit is still here, occupying the predominant position and waiting for an opportunity to destroy the weak two-line system.

In order to find a way out, the Chinese must do their best to fight racial politics. Only by working together with other races during political chaos, can we strengthen the power of pluralistic politics and build a non-racial political system. Only by this, can the Chinese, who are gradually becoming a minority racial group, enjoy equal status.

The mindset for Chinese to support Chinese is outdated. The Chinese may not be able to help the Chinese. MCA is a good example here. Chinese organisations must build their own strength so that their future will not be destroyed by Chinese-based political parties.

Chinese economic status is as well facing a threat because of the uncertain world economic situation and the national economy has been in a downward trend. Once the situation worsens, how are small and medium entrepreneurs going to survive?

The government is going to introduce a new economic model and the 10th Malaysia Plan in March and June. If the economic policy remains conservative, Chinese enterprises will still be unable to gain benefit. They should then find a way to go beyond the Malaysian border. The outside market is larger and there will be more business opportunities abroad.

Chinese enterprises have never depended on the government over all these years. They must be braver to overcome the harsh environment when the government’s financial situation is worsening.

In the new century that emphasises on innovation and credibility, the education and culture of Malaysian Chinese must head toward the same direction, too. Conservative mindsets and obstinacy of the older generation have caused the Chinese community to focus on reservation rather than innovation. As a result, the education reform is slow and the traditional culture has failed to find a new space.

Chinese education should cultivate more creative young people who are brave enough to face challenges as the future of Chinese people needs to be supported by a groups of young people who dare to venture abroad. Just like USB inventor Pua Khein Seng, they can set up network abroad to drive Malaysian Chinese economic upgrade.

Meanwhile, Chinese culture should absorb the essence of other cultures, namely preserving the progressiveness of Chinese culture while having the spirit of creativity and innovation. By doing so, we should be able to succeed in the international arena.

A new prospect for the brand new year. I would like to wish all of you a triumphant new year! — mysinchew

The way of the Lord

Grant me a helper O Lord
Grant me a beauty in Your eyes
That I may serve You
To always walk in Your ways

Mould and make me Lord
A man filled with Your grace
That I may love her with Christlikeliness
A love that transcends all love

I never asked for the right one
But that You mould me to be the right one
The right time and place will come forth
But mould me O God to be worthy

O Lord keep me pure
That I will not go wayward
And not to waver
But to keep Your statutes
And to be deserving O God


I love You O Lord
There is nothing sweeter than Your love
Nothing can compare to Your goodness
Jesus there is nothing that compares to You.

Victor Chen
February 12, 2010.

Chia Oil

This is a sample bottle of Chia Oil. It is meant to be better than Flaxseed oil and has 81% PUFA content.

Yes to Tiger beer!

This is a shop in Midvalley, Megamall called the "Philosophy of Man"



Yes and rightly so, beer is one philosophy most men subscribe to especially my favorite Tiger beer :-). The shop had Tiger beer as a decor.

Aussie Uni Alumni dinner

I attended a Aussie alumni dinner at Sunway. It included all the Universities from Down Under that had an alumni in Malaysia.

I obtained my Medical degree from the University of Western Australia. It is easy to forget the privilege that is a Western education. In nearby and less developed countries there are people who are more intelligent, capable, hard working than any of us and yet whose situation denies them of anything other than a life of...




POVERTY



FAMINE



or CIVIL WAR

He prepared a table

In the presence of my enemies
You blessed me O God,
In their presence
You prepared a table for me
Of abundance, and honor
Grace and blessings from Above.

You showered me with gifts O God
Breakthroughs and victories
In a quantum You lifted me
True to Your word
As Your firstborn
I am doubly blessed


I seek not the gifts
Nor the glory, nor recognition
I only yearn to abide in Your presence
To dwell in Your love
That is all I long for O Lord
Let me rest in You
And seek Your comfort.
For I am weary, battled and bruised
I just want to be where You are O God.

Victor Chen
February 4, 2010

Fish head mee

This is a famous fish head meehon in Damansara Kim



Mee with haruan fish



Spinach

Walking in all my inheritance

I looked to the north, to the south;
Gazing far to the east and west;
From where I am, of what I see,
The testament of my inheritance

I had dreamt of the riches of my Father
The length, the breadth of distant lands
Of its wealth and opulence;
I had walked them only in my dreams
Now the Lord has spread all inheritance under my feet

I marvel at His love
It is because Someone died that I inherited
The full blessings of the cross
Countless as dust is my inheritance.
Bequeathed to me with His love
Thank You O God.
Thank You Jesus
Amen.

Victor Chen
December 31, 2005

Visions and dreams

I center my dreams on You O God,
Of the vision from Above,
Revealed to the eyes of my heart .

Blow away the ambitions from within;
I set my will on Your Word O God ,
Attentive to Your heart,
Filling me with visions truly of You.

Move in my heart O God,
And grant me revelations,
That I will meditate day and night.

O Lord, illuminate in my heart ,
Of the vision from Above;
The hope in Your calling,
The courage to believe,
Of Your power working in me ,
Accomplishing Your Word in its time.

Victor Chen
September 17, 2003

More photos from Global Awards