Lotus

Tuesday, 23 January 2007

For the first time this flower caught my attention. It was then already fully bloomed. That was noon only 4 days ago - Saturday, 20 January.

I was told that Lotus only lasted for a day and the petals would close toward night fall and drop the next day.

There were 2 more flower buds yet to bloom. I am glad they had bloomed while I as there. I wanted to picture them blooming before I fly back to Miri that afternoon.

The bud




Wednesday - 24 January 2007 - Lotus blooming








I didn't get to see the full bloom of this particular Lotus because I have to go to the airport but I am glad I took a picture of the full bloom last Saturday.

Saturday, 20 January 2007 - Beautiful Lotus




Saturday, 20 January 2007 - The Seeds

I don't know what is the noun for this. They are what was left over on the stalk after the petals have dropped off.




I was told you could eat the seeds from the 'green' ones. They are available at the Chinese herbal shops. It is believed to have health value. I tried the seeds and they tasted good! What about the seeds from the dried 'brownish-black' ones? I didn't ask whether they are of any use????

My New Friend - Snoopy

Monday, 22 January 2007

He is only a few months' old.

He didn't bark at me when we first met. I am glad he didn't because I was told that he does bark at strangers he doesn't like. He stood up on his hind legs and place his fore paws onto me. I know he only wanted to play.

We got along fine - Snoopy and me.

Helen's Good Works

Sunday, 21 January 2007

There was a fireside at the church this night and since some of the members lived far away, we decided to stay back. We decided to accompany Sister Helen back to her home, which was only a few minutes' walk from the chapel. Since I have not been to her new place, this was indeed the opportunity. We didn't expect anything from Sister Helen but she went on to prepare food for us (we were all hungry). And sitting on the floor to eat is fun. I may be wrong but I don't think the Chinese do that. I don't.







We are happy that Sister Margaret could join us here. We missed her in church.


We all had a good time together at Sister Helen's place this afternoon. We enjoyed her cooking and most of all we enjoyed each other's company. Thank you, Sister Helen, for having us and feeding us. We love you!

Visiting church - January 2007

Sunday, 21 January 2007

It felt so good to be back in church again! I missed church last Sunday (14 January) because I accompanied my friend to Keningau, to send traditional wedding gifts to her son's future parents-in-law.

I got in the sacrament hall in the nick of time - the sacrament meeting was just about to start. Looking across the hall, I saw an Elder and I thought he looked familiar. It took me a while before I realised that he had served in the Miri branch. Throughout the sacrament meeting, I kept wondering what his name was. I know for sure that his surname started with a "R" but I could not remember what the name was.

Before I could get to him, after the sacrament meeting, a young lady came up to me and hug me hard. Sister Gloria (member of the Miri branch) happened to be visiting this Sunday. She is currently studying in Labuan.

The tall Elder Randall, his companion Elder Baker King (I was fooled by his missionary name tag that read "Elder Raja Roti" - I told him that he looked definitely a caucasion but how come his name is in Malay!) and Sister Gloria. Imagine meeting both Elder Randall and Sister Gloria in the Kota Kinabalu church. What a nice surprise! It is indeed a small world! Elder Randall is serving in Singapore currently.


Old friends - Sister Christine and Sister Martina and a new friend - Sister Mathilda.


More old friends - Sister Elizabeth, Sister Kolinting and Sister Maylin


And last but not least, Sister Patrocinia, whom I have not seen for the last 2 years


Some of the Sisters from the Relief Society, Young Women and Primary

Wedding Dinner

Friday, 19 January 2007

The reason why I came to Kota Kinabalu was because of today - to attend the wedding dinner on the occasion of the marriage of the eldest child-son of my good friend, Lee Hong.

I was told about the wedding months earlier and I said I would come. At the time of the confirmation of the wedding dinner day, I was in Kuala Lumpur. I decided to fly straight from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu, and then return to Miri from KK. I do not care about the official invitation card but dear Lee Hong ensured that I get the wedding invitation card wherever I was. She was happy when I told her I received it. It was one day before my flight to KK!

The Invitation Card


Since I came with the hosts, I was one of the early guests at the Grand Port View Seafood Restaurant. There were more than 400 guests.


The bride looked so beautiful tonight, in that yellow gown.


And so is the bridegroom's mother, in her pink cheongsam, with some of her guests

Api Api Apartments

Monday, 15 January 2007

The famous Promenade Hotel Apartments in Api Api Center. This was where the missionary couples were staying before they moved to Grace Ville, Simbulan, in 2001. The young missionaries Elders continue to stay there todate.

I noticed that the walls of the building have been given a new look with a different coloured paint - light and dark green. I think they look good. (My pictures do not look that good! These are the back of the apartments, facing the Promenade Hotel.)





The old look, taken from the front, facing the highway, copied from http://www.pinganchorage.com.my

Keningau

Sunday, 14 January 2007

Beautiful Sunday! It was sunny and the morning market was bustling with people selling and buying products, ranging from wild meat to cosmetic jewelleries, laid out either on tables or the ground.
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Keningau is purportedly the oldest and the largest district in the interior part of the state of Sabah, Malaysia, known for its kayu manis (direct translation into English - sweet wood - I wonder why it is called sweet wood - does it taste sweet?). If I am not wrong, kayu manis is teakwood.

I thought a friend told me that it is illegal to hunt deer. Maybe I heard the wrong thing. Anyway, deer meat was openly sold here.


Next to the deer stall was the wild pig meat.


Plenty of choices and a good exercise of walking, under the big shady trees.


Anyone interested to buy small pitcher plants that you could watch grow at your own garden? This vendor sell pumpkin and bamboo shoots also.


Your hair needed to be bundled up, go to the opposite vendor, maybe you could something there.


You know this purple fruit (vegetable)! I don't cook this anymore because mum said it is not good for my eyes! But I eat some at the restaurants! Technical name for it is Aubergine - this is native in India. A common food in China as long ago as 600 BC, it was called the Malayan purple. The English called it eggplant. My cooking class in secondary school called it brinjal.


And tomatoes.

Believe It or Not?

Friday, 7 April 2006
Look at these slippers. They are all for the right foot. Where are their other halves? Can you believe if I tell you that my friend's dog hide them? And she could not find them! How come the dog only go for the left sides? When I visited her, she does not have the dog anymore. But she has these slippers to remind her of it. If you need a pair of slippers to wear in her backyard, just simply slip both your feet into any of them. There is no need to check whether it is for the left foot or the right. This is not an April Fool's Day. I was there!

View from Taman Shangrila Hill

Monday, 3 April 2006
While travelling down the Taman Shangrila hill, I could see the Kota Kinabalu Airport (Terminal 2) where the economy Air Asia flights operates.

Taman Tun Fuad Stephen

Friday, 7 April 2006
When people say Bukit Padang, I know that is Taman Tun Fuad Stephen. This is where you can walk (whether it briskly or casually), tai-chi, dance, eat (hawker or gourmet). It is a place to wind down, sit and relax admist the shady trees. There is a lake in the middle of the park. A lovely park and is a must for the tourists.
A view of the seafood restaurant from ordinary food stalls building. No! that is not the lake that I was referring earlier on. The water looks brown here because of the reflection of the buildings! There are plenty of fishes inside this water! Big ones too! They are not for the table!

Hello Kota Kinabalu Home!

Sunday, 2 April 2006 and Wednesday, 5 April 2006
Home sweet home! I had to visit the place of my former residence - Beverly Hills Apartments. I don't have pictures taken of the surroundings before. I like this place and I like my apartment.

Do you need a Cobbler?

Friday, 14 April 2006
Sister Ebony saw it first, while we were looking at the clothes! My sandals are coming off! I remembered there was a cobbler nearby. I hd brought all my shoes to him, for repair, during my years in Kota Kinabalu.. He is still there and he remembers me as well! Encik Osman is from the Philippines. He said I could take his picture!

The Malay word "Tukang" means skilled workman, "Kasut" means shoes. "Tukang Kasut" means shoe-mender.

Donggongon Open Market

Friday, 14 April 2006
Sapri, Catherine and Azrin (the vendor) with the heaps of dried anchovies and dried prawns.

Seafood are cheaper in Kota K more so at the tamu (open market) that is only opened on Thursday and Friday ever week. inabalu than in Miri,Last year I was introduced by a good friend to a nice vendor that I could get a good price for dried anchovies and dried prawns. She is still there! And she still remembers me and gave me further discount! Fantastic!

Would you buy a 1 Ringgit skirt?

Thursday, 14 April 2006
I couldn't believe my ears! 1 (one Ringgit) skirt? That is less than 40 US cents! Only if you know the vendor, of course.

A Ringgit skirt, it must factory rejected or something! It must be out of shape!

I had to folow Sister Dorkas and see for myself! And so we went! There were so many clothes, either hanged or in a heap on the floor. The vendors told me the clothes are imported from other countries like Taiwan, China, Hongkong, etc. They bought them by weight/bag. And they are not second-hand either. They have not been used!

Jackets were sold at 15 Ringgit! I am very pleased with the red jacket I bought. I am pleased with the 2 skirts I bought as well and it only cost me a total of 2 Ringgit. Can you believe it? 1 Ringgit for 1 skirt! Who says you need to buy expensive clothes to look pretty? Who would know you are using a 1 Ringgit skirt if you don't tell!

Go with Sister Dorkas. She knows the vendor. The skirk was actually 2 Ringgit but the vendor sold to us for 1 Ringgit. Sister Dorkas is a regular customer. Go to Donggongon during their tamu (open market) time, Thursday and Friday! So many clothes - you wouldn't be disappointed!

Visit to a Farmland

Tuesday, 11 April 2006
It was public holiday. It was the birthday of Prophet Muhammad. Sister Dorkas decided we go to her farmland, situated on a hill, in Menggatal. I enjoyed the natural beauty surrounding it, the greens, the hills, the sky, the air, the peacefulness, etc. A good get away from the city.





Happy Ebony on the Hilex. And happy me - I love the

We collected (1) Lime (2) Mangoes (3) Jackfruit (4) Sugarcane (5) Tapioca roots (6) Tapioca leaves (which is cooked as vegetables) (7) Chilli Padi (small chilli - very spicy - used widely by the Sabahans) (8) Pineapple

A basketfull of tapioca roots!