Old Friends...

Old Friends

Old friends, old friends,
Sat on their parkbench like bookends
A newspaper blown through the grass
Falls on the round toes
of the high shoes of the old friends

Old friends, winter companions, the old men
Lost in their overcoats, waiting for the sunset
The sounds of the city sifting through trees
Settle like dust on the shoulders of the old friends

Can you imagine us years from today,
Sharing a parkbench quietly
How terribly strange to be seventy

Old friends, memory brushes the same years,
Silently sharing the same fears

By Simon & Garfunkel

Yesterday I picked up a DVD (good buy!) on a live concert (Old Friends: Live on Stage) by Simon and Garfunkel from Gramophone, CentrePoint, Orchard Rd. My wife and I love many of their songs. The opening number is 'Old Friends' and the words are still as meaningful and poignant as when I first heard them. Thought I would share them with you if you have not come across them before. Cheers, my old friends!

Angelia, Shirley & Francis @ Chilax 24 August 2006

It was Shirley's last night in Kuching before flying to KL for one night before flying back to Melbourne to the awaiting arms of anxious husband; so we decided to catch up for a drink with Angelia who led us on a merry-go-round and in the process we bumped into Lim Lian Kee who unfortunately could'nt join us at Chilax at Jalan Song. Lian Kee was on a 'case' then.

I'll bid farewell to Angelia this Sunday and we wouldn't know when we'll all meet again in person. Such is life and we'll each carry on wherever we are but with fond memories of our childhood and family members in Kuching. But we can always meet here at our blog; so do visit and post something to share with us some small part of your life. Do make an effort as I think most of us will appreciate the gesture. What better gift can we give another than our time, attention and love.

I wished us all well. May the coming years be kind, gentle and enriching. This line in my old autograph book comes to mind - "Friendship remains and never will end".

20 August 06 Reunion Dinner Photos by Edmund Song

sitting from left" Irene Lim, Geok Lian, Sok Khim, and Sylvia.
standing from left: Lai Choo, Angelia & Shirley Aw
on the table: strange fruit picked by Angelia on kayaking trip & Cold Dish!

sitting from left: Mesa, Hong Bee, Swee Lan and Anna Lai
standing from left: Tsui Peng, Geok Lian, Angelia, Siew Fah, Gek Lan and Lai Choo

Here are some photos of the reunion dinner on the 20th August 2006 from Edmund Song who most thoughtfully burned them to CD and passed to me before he went back to the former land of milk and honey - Brunei Darussalam.

Don't adjust your glasses - this photo is a bit blur but it's the only group photo available. Anyone else care to post a sharper photo please? You can also send via email and I'll post it here ... *sigh*

I Found Jack! by Dr Clarence Lei

Our good doctor, Clarence went to KL and found Jack Kho! And here's the picture of the two handsome gentlemen to prove it.

I used to be in the same class as him and remembered him with glasses and staying at Pecky Park. If you are reading this Jack; a big hello to you from all of us in Kuching and scattered around the world and this here is what you call a Blog (ask your children or young nephews/nieces if you have none! *sigh*) And a tip to you for future posing - put your arms in front like Dr Clarence so that you can hide cover your 'prosperity'! *ahem*

Jack is now the Vice President, Business Development, ABB Malaysia.

2 Pics from the Good Doctor

I'm taking the liberty to post 2 photographs here from Dr Clarence Lei (in the bottom right hand corner in front of Edmund Song) in his email to all of us.

Lim Lian Kee, kindly note that I may seek your kind assistance should I be served a legal notice from the good doctor with regards to copyright infringement or whatever nonsense the legal fraternity can come up with! heehee

Reunion Dinner @ Li Garden, Kuching 20th August 2006

sitting from left: Mesa, Hong Bee, Swee Lan and Anna Lai

standing from left: Tsui Peng, Geok Lian, Angelia, Siew Fah, Gek Lan and Lai Choo

Please excuse the blur photos; no, and I wasn't drinking. Ahem! I had to turn off the flash to conserve power as the battery was running low. I'll leave it to those with fully charged batteries to post sharper pictures. Thanks to Irene Lim for organizing the dinner as well as the 6 other girls from St Theresa's who wanted to come but didn't and as a consequence we have to eat and now exercise more!

Due to hazy memory, I shall also not attempt to put names to the faces as well and incur unnecessary wrath! I would still like to retain whatever remaining follicles there are left on my head, thank you. Those with more reliable gray matter are kindly requested to annotate the photographs. Thanking you kindly.

sitting from left" Irene Lim, Geok Lian, Sok Khim, and Sylvia.
standing from left: Lai Choo, Angelia & Shirley Aw

Happy Kayakers on Sunday

a kayaking trip through the rainforest coupled with durians can be a heady experience; thus smitten, participants are known to display an overwhelming feeling of goodwill and love for their fellow beings ...

Probably reason enough why some people want to keep this blog private and a good thing that the blog administrator aka paddle-razzi is a safe distance away in Kuching. keke ;)

Getting Fat @ Fat Cat Cafe, Kuching

Thanks to Dr Clarence Lei who organised and hosted the Laksa Breakfast at Fat Cat Cafe, (the laksa place at Foody Goody was closed) the boisterous bunch who created quite a racket, had a hearty breakfast and a wonderful time catching up on gossips the old times.Here are some quick snaps in between mouthfuls of laksa!

Kuching Landmarks and my reverie..

In April 2006 I returned to Kuching for 'Chien Meng' (Chinese Old Soul's Day). I took the opportunity to record some favourite Kuching landmarks with my digital camera. These are places very near to my old home, 'a stone throw away' so to speak and each photo is infused with memories.


The St Thomas's Cathedral (oldest cathedral in Sarawak, built in 1851) is the church I was baptized in. I was a choir boy there for a number of years. Behind it is a well worn path which I used daily for more than 8 years to walk to school. The Post Office (built in 1931) with its beautiful Corinthian columns reminds me of the few anxious weeks in 1975 when I waited for the telegram from Otago University (NZ) that would bring me the invitation to study there. This was the place I had posted numerous letters and greeting cards.

Across from this Post Office is a three-storey building called the Pavilion that served as the medical headquarters during the Brooke era. Its architecture resembles that found in some buildings in the southern states in America. Next to it is a row of shop houses near the end of which was a well known bank 'Hock Hua Bank Sdn Bhd', later changed to 'Public Bank'. This bank has been relocated. Now this row of buildings is condemned to be demolished. I used to do a lot of banking for my father at the old Hock Hua Bank.

I also post a snap shot of the Sarawak River view as taken from one of the high floors at Holiday Inn. Our Blog Administrator (Francis) and I used to row along this river on a small boat with Anthony Bong. Now looking back, we were so naive and brave to have done that especially without any life jackets on. I was not even a swimmer then. During twilight, the three of us sometimes sat on the benches in a little river-side wooden pavilion (on the very site where Holiday Inn is now situated) and we would chat and joke, the world was our oyster then. And I remember the mosquitoes. They always seem to victimize me and not the others, and Anthony joked that I had royal blood.

Yian Kwan has always been a dear friend of mine since primary one in St Thomas's School. He went to NZ to study at ChristChurch University and graduated with a Masters degree. He is a Christian with a love for the Lord. Now a resident in Kazakhstan, he has given up a career as a lecturer at Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok (more than 10 years) and now works as a humanitarian. He never fails to contact me whenever he passes through Singapore.

I post a recent snap of us taken at my home during his latest visit in January, 2006.

Rainforest Kayaking Trip Sunday 20th August 2006

Rainforest Kayaking Trip @ Borneo Highlands
8 a.m. Sunday, 20^th August 2006

SUITABLE FOR COMPLETE DUMMIES BEGINNERS
RM150/- per person

Go kayaking with the femes FH2o!

Please contact Francis Ho 013-8119669 if you are interested
to join in the Fun and Adventure!

Confirmed Going:

• Francis Ho (of course)
  
• Angelia & 2 children
• Edmund Song & Son (Barry)
• Shirley
  

Informal Reunion Dinner Gathering in Kuching

Informal Reunion Dinner at Lee Garden, Hock Lee Shopping Center, Kuching

7 p.m. Sunday, 20^th August 2006

Meet our Guest of Honour: Angelina Jolie Angelia Lin direct from the States!

Contact Irene Lim
H/P: (019) 8575050

All Playmates Classmates Are Welcome!

* notice posted by 'kay-po' blog administrator who will deny all responsibility ...

Cheddar Caves

Stalagtites and stalagmites.

Flowing off the walls

This actually covers quite a huge area of the wall of the cave. It's really amazing to look at.

Mirror pools.



These are stalagtites and stalagmites that have formed in little 'cubby holes' in areas of the cave. There was actually one that looks as like a Swiss mountain village, in the reflection. Unfortunately, photographer doesn't know how to take pic and kept getting the flash reflected off the water, thus obliterating the village!


Those feathery items hanging off the top are also stalagtites. Don't know whether they have a special name or not.

In Singapore on 5 Aug 2006

On 5 Aug 2006, three school mates of Class '74 & '75 met after having been apart for 31 years. All have ended up in Singapore and have their own families. They met in Block 204, Bedok at 1.30 pm, near Bedok Interchange, for Kuching kolomee and Kuching laksa. A young chinese couple from Kuching has set up this food stall boasting 'Famous Sarawak Kuching Laksa, Kolo Mee'. Geok Lian and Deborah had kolomee while Edward (Teck Hoo) had the laksa. Edward decided to take a picture of the bowls of food when they appeared on the table to post on this blog. Verdict from all: authentic and good value. The kolomee noodle and laksa were adequate in quantity and generous in toppings. Stall helper was courteous and appeared concern that Deb did not finish her mee, asking her if her mee was ok or not..While tucking in the sumptious meal, the three talked about the old days, old friends and briefly caught up with the past.

Prague

Prague, a lovely city with lots of interesting buildings.



I'm not very sure what I'm doing here, and this at the moment is driving me loopy! BUT I'm trying anon...

The buildings here are just some around the Old Town Square.

Can they call it the XYZ instead of the Zzyyxx Road?

Road off the I-15 somewhere in the Mojave desert. Day temperature 125F! ETTH, what's that in Celsius?

Don't you guys know how to post to the blog? Why's nobody writing? Blogging 101 says you have to go to blogger.com, log in with user name & pw, click on + new post and type away in window box that pops up and publish!

Come on, give us a spiel on Health, Wealth and Happiness (is it eating kolo mee?)

Lower 6 Arts 1 per request of SW

Seated l to r: Ann Hsu, Ng Cheng, Doreen Chin, Betty Wong, Nancy Ngui, Chang Boi Hua, Ang Han Kiong, Tan Suk Khin, Deborah Law, Yeo Chiew Hua, Doreen Tiong Swee Chiew, Lim Soh Kim, Lau Bee Yian

Standing l to r: Kueh Geok Lian, Sylvia Wee, Eva Chin, Agatha Koa, Lim Lian Kee, Sim Miao Yong, Khoo Ping Tiang, William Tay, Linda Sim, Patrick Leong, Wong Oi Moi, Chua Woo Peng, Della Lee, Dilon, Poh Siew Peng, Wee Chin Miaw, Anthony Bong, Lee Lai Choo, Shirley Aw, Chan Geok Bee, Lam Chui Peng