travel update - kuala lumpur and singapore

I got to spend lots of quality time with my family in Kuala Lumpur. Most of the time was spent eating (the photos will tell its story)... highlights include us cousins going on a mad hunt to find durian, and screaming across the road at the durian man when we did eventually find him to save us some; roti tisu - a huge and ultra thin roti doused in sugar and honey... so delicious; and going to the pasar malaam where we gorged ourselves silly on pretty much everything there. But honestly the trip to KL was mainly for my cousin Evelyn's wedding which was on Boxing Day, and after Christmas lunch we had the tea ceremony at home with four generations of Ongs represented. The wedding day was very eventful... my family rushed over to Evelyn's house early in the morning to help set up the obstacles for the groom Ben and his groomsmen for the 接新娘. The rest of the day was spent out in a gorgeous resort out in the middle of nowhere. I had the honour of reading a passage of scripture during the ceremony. Highlight of the day was definitely the bollywood dance the bridal party performed at the reception... it was choreographed by my creative cousin Syl. I also experienced my first Malaysian country-styled wedding reception in Taiping where Ben's grandmother is from. The reception was accompanied by karaoke... and I now can not stop laughing everything I hear 'Ave Maria'.

Oh, I also spent one day in Singapore where I stayed and caught up with my uni friend Katie and also managed to catch up with a couple of my high school friends from HK... It was action packed and I was seriously exhausted by the time I got on the plane back to Perth... but I would not want to trade the good times with my friends for anything.

moses and tim + eve ben with my 六姑婆 and uncle at the tea ceremony

spotted the stunning 'ghost' chairs at a mall + at the pasar malaam

neelam ann catherine + katie and ann

nat and ann + durians

More pics: click here, here and here

favs from the trip:
- hanging out with my cousins
- catching up with friends I hadn't seen in years
- the food
- driving in Petaling Jaya at 4am on New Year's Day

a month of posts - day eleven

It's my sister's birthday (and dad's too but he wasn't in town)... A bunch of girls dressed up and had dinner in the city, then headed down to Subi where we met up with many many more birthday wellwishers. It was really great hanging out with all my cousins... it's probably the first time in a long time where all of us (the ones living in Perth) have actually hung out without the uncles and aunties... it was so fun! Can't wait for us to cause a major raucous when we're all in Malaysia in December! Anyway here are a few pics from the evening at the Subiaco Hotel... I'm sure there'll be plenty of pics from the night lingering on facebook soon from everyone else's cameras.

the ong siblings

the girly ong cousins + bryce tintin and sarah

Currently loving:
- Having supper (not just bikkies and a cuppa but a full on dinner) with my family after partying for Sarah's birthday.

the september update

Wow I didn't realise so much has happened this month until I uploaded my photos from my camera (there were plenty of birthday celebrations)...apart from the photo evidence, what else has happened in September...

• We celebrated Father's Day (Australia's day for dad's is in September) for my brother... which was a sad but positive occasion.
• Been adjusting to life without my gong gong at home and having to visit him at a nursing home instead.
• Had the opportunity to be on stage with my connect group on a Sunday evening service discussing the topic of evangelism... I love my connect group and we normally share and talk so much, but guess being on stage in front of hundreds of people made it rather daunting and the conversations just did not flow as easily... although afterwards I did have some positive feedback... phew! so it wasn't all for nothing.
• Even more personally... I finally gave into applying for a credit card... I now own one which I find very scary, as I get scared enough just using EFTPOS... sometimes swiping the bit of plastic I lose all track of my money-sense... gulp! Guess it's a good start for me to get even smarter about my money situation.
• I will be going travelling for seven weeks starting in mid-November till the beginning of the new year... bought the tickets... now in the midst of sorting out visas and accomodation. Finally going to be travelling overseas after being on the big island since July 2005! It's been way too long. I can't wait for the adventures to begin! yippee!!!

happy birthday hayley, jeremy, erin and eli


mooncake + annette's amazing birthday cake made by jemma


a cardboard cut-out pirate + annettte the birthday girl



at the hertime 'mamma mia' event - complete with greek guitarists, lanterns, tapas and the girls performing dancing queen


at the art gallery + syl and nat cheering on my cousin eve

More pics from September click here & more HerTime pics to be uploaded soon...

Currently loving:
- Sex God by Rob Bell... loved the book... has made me think about how connected we are to one another, and how we are made to be sexual beings and to be connected to God.
- 白蓮容月餅 white lotus paste mooncake... still weirded out that it's not mid-autumn when we celebrate 中秋節 here in the southern hemisphere... guess just have to settle calling it 'Moon Festival'.
- paper lanterns... they just make me smile... and seeing how amazing they looked at the HerTime event made me want to decorate my garden full of them (somehow I doubt that's going to happen though)
- Electric Feel by MGMT... very catchy tune
- searching for places to visit on my trip... esp pit-stops for food and clothes...

another month of posts - day thirtyone

I've got good news! I got a six-month extension to my contract! Thank you God! It has been pretty stressful being at work not knowing if they will continue to keep me on... they said they would but it doesn't really matter until it's all been keep into paper. So today the paperwork was officially processed. Phew! It's such a relief... and now I can safely go on my end of year around the world trip without worrying about job hunting.

My cousin and her little son came over from Melbourne for a week-long visit. I got to catch up with her a little tonight... while playing Monopoly - the Disney Pixar version. Oh boy, that game really gets people's blood pumping. I love how when my cousins are together we often end up playing boardgames, mahjong, gin rummy, etc... Gotta love the family bonding through gambling and game tactics.

It's come to a close for the month of posts... I do apologise for the sporadic postings. The week without the internet connection at home really threw the progress out of whack. Looking back at the past month, even though I have been trying to not do too much, there still was quite a bit happening and I had discovered and learned some new things ie making cheesecakes, reignited my interest in Australian film, love the new albums by The Vine Band and Hillsong, I actually like watching the Tour on tv, etc...

Things I'm looking forward to this weekend:
- Going to watch the Wheelcats play.
- The Bledisloe Cup is being played in Auckland.
- Spending time with my Melbournian relatives.
- Feast... the monthly event that church encourages everyone to get involved with by inviting others to share a meal with you... my connect group will be having a feast I mean fiesta!
- Youth on Friday night... gotta love the young generation get passionate for a cause.
- My friends getting married... Mark and Kayi in Wales, and Alison and Drew in Colorado!

received in july - this beautiful japanese tea container from sydney

another month of posts - day twentynine

My gong gong was admitted to the hospital today. He hasn't been feeling all that well for the past few weeks... reckon he had a viral infection, lots and lots of coughing, lack of appetite, the list goes on. Anyway my aunt and uncle came over from Melbourne today coincidentally so they got to visit him at the hospital. Seems like my gong gong is just dehydrated but is also pretty weak at the moment. Hopefully he'll be able to leave the hospital soon. Having him at the Murdoch hospital has brought back memories of little Dominic as that was where he was born just two months ago. Sigh! This thought has been in my mind all evening.... 'Life is so fragile and we are not the ones in control of it.... God is'.

Currently loving:
- monthly curry nights with Jono and crew.
- 'Along With You'... a song off the new Vine album... love Alison's voice in it too.
- colour laser printers.

another month of posts - day twentythree

Two months now... Still missing my little Dominic.

the proud auntie, dominic and his daddy

another month of posts - day twelve

It's my cousin Syl's daughter Kimberley's first birthday party. The little girl was very excited about seeing lots of people show up and dote on her, plus not to mention she got to rip open all the wrappings of her new presents. Her grandma who couldn't attend as she was in KL joined us on skype briefly to check out the party vibes. The highlights of the party for me was seeing Jac eat profiteroles with chopsticks.... and the agar agar kuei that my cousin Evelyn made... wow it tasted just like the ones I've had before in Malaysia... not bad for a first time attempt!