Meeting Tiong Kiat in Kuching
There was a last minute change of plans and I hurriedly informed everyone on the change of venue to Jambu Restaurant as I got out of the waters on saturday afternoon after taking the Jones from UK kayaking.So at around 7pm on the 6th January 2007, I went to pick up Tiong Kiat from his brother's house in Tabuan Desa which is not too far from my place. I recognised him the instant I saw him as he looked exactly the same as he was thirty years ago! Well, maybe a little fatter (who isn't) but he looked good as he was really skinny before. He attributed this to the stress-free New Zealand environment ... I suspect he could be sleeping half the time at work hiding behind the supercomputers in the university where he is the system manager! He's still soft spoken, considerate and an easy air about him. An amicable and likeable person.
Our guests of honour : Tiong Kiat from Auckland and Ricky (I wanna-talk-2-u-about-insurance) Ng from Kuala LumpurThe surprise guest was Tan Jin Chai whom Ricky contacted to join us for the dinner. Jin Chai is a tax consultant having earned his laurels at UK - Ulu Kapit, he says! Or rather from the best training school in the world - the school of hard knocks! With all that experience he is starting out on with another partner this month or so. And so we all wished him all the best. Jin Chai was with us in St Thomas until Form Five. And here he is in middle standing between Tongkat Ali and Mr Bean!
standing: Tiong Kiat, Tan Jin Chai, Lim Lian Kee seating: Ricky Ng, Dr. Phillip Bong, Francis Ho
Except for yours truly, the rest of them had not been to Jambu before but they find the ambience to be great and the food (western and fusion) to be good but a tardy small in serving though they come in HUGE plates. We had a wonderful time chatting and relaxing and left quite late.
Edmund Song was only flying in on sunday - the day when Ricky is flying off; so we organise another meet up with Tiong Kiat on tuesday night as they had not met in over thirty long years ...
2 'ageless' guy - Tiong Kiat and Edmund SongFirst we went to Kenyalang market for the fried taugeh mee and kuah tiaow (best in Kuching and some say Bau and Serian too!) afterwhich we adjourned to Tom's for drinks and cakes! *burp*
Tiong Kiat, Edmund Song & Francis Ho @ Tom's in Kuching, 9th January 2007
3 comments:
Good to see all looking well and tanned. 1 small eater there amongst you, unless he hasn't finished yet.
What are those colourful drinks that you're having?
Edmund had tea I think while Tiong Kiat has apple juice while I have a strawberry smoothie. NO tongkat ali drinks! ;)
Enjoy reading your posting, fh20. Thanks for sharing with us. If only I were there in Kuching with you all! All old friends looked happy and relaxed during the re-union.
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