A Great Deal of a Great Meal

"An idle mind is the Devil's workshop", they say.

Yesterday late morning found myself alone and idle. My son was working (hopefully so I won't have to). My wife went to the mall and my daughter did her post SPM disappearance.

So, 3 things came to mind. Go back to sleep or pig-out.

I know, I know. I said 3 things. Can't a guy keep a thing or two secret?

Pig-out won. One of my all time favorite restaurants is this one called 'Yu Ai' in Segambut. They have the most awesome seafood curry mee. Being there countless times. They too have a branch in SS2 next to the Kayu Mamak.

You may not know yet. But they have another branch in Kuchai Entrepreneur's Park, near my home.

What's really special about this particular branch is that the full business hasn't hit in yet, being relatively new. So, right now they give you so much seafood in your bowl that you have to experience to believe. Going through the seafood, you chew on the prawns, fish fillets, mussels, lala's, squids, etc. Believe me, one can get tired and needs a rest in between prior to finishing the bowl.

I took the smaller portion which costs RM15.00. Definitely enough for 1.5 persons. The large portion costs RM17.00 per.

This place is along the same row as Malayan Banking Berhad and in between Oldtown White Coffiee and Old City Kopitiam.

"A Great Deal of a Great Meal"

Pictures?

"Burp!"

.

See here for another person's review of their SS2 branch

.

http://www.weatethis.com/2008/04/24/restoran-yu-ai-segambut-seafood-noodles-chow-yang-ss2/

Andrew Kong is no longer 39 - The People

Familiar faces and pets.

Canon Marketing (M) Sdn Bhd was registered with the Registrar of Companies in September 1986 and officially began its existence in this country 01.01.1987.

Then, in addition to my portfolio as the Product Manager of Calcultors and Electronic Typewriters, I was asked and began duties as the 1st Personnel Manager.

The baton was passed over to Goh Kheng Peow after a year or so, and then to Andrew Kong. Andrew left in 1992. Today he runs Pryda, an Australian company. As they have not sacked him after so many years, he must be doing a good job. This company does air-powered nailers, staplers, pinners and the fasteners they drive. He proposed to Gladys, another CanonMalaysian and Gladys gladly accepted his proposal. Together as a team, they produced 3 good looking, tall and muscular boys who are all grown up now.

The good looking Husky you see in the pictures below is a new family addition.

With all the good things I say about Andrew, hopefully he'll organize another feast again soon.

You'll appreciate that Andrew Kong is no longer 39.

The people who attended the banquet include Jack Lim and Patricia, Steven Wong and Clara, Larry Poon, Patrick Yee and Mrs, Goh Kheng Peow and TC, Yan Yoke Ping.

You would probably know that Yan Yoke Ping, a CanonMalaysian is now the Country Manager for Hewlett-Packard Imaging and Printing Group.

To view all 108 pictures, please click onto.

http://s303.photobucket.com/albums/nn155/StanleyCheong/CanonMalaysians/AndrewsBday2008/

Chapter 27

I've just read the post Jeradyne published last evening.

I like what I've read and I am happy that we are related.

In case you are curious, please click on this link.

http://jeradyne.blogspot.com/2008/11/chapter-27.html

Andrew Kong is no longer 39 - The Food

Andrew Kong is not exactly a poor person. He bought a large house in Taman Tun Dr Ismail and on a evening last week, he fed us with good food and excellent wine. Here, see for yourselves.
































Jeradyne took the pictures. Actually the pictures are not representative of the huge variety of food available. Showcasing the array of food was not my original plan.

Coming up next will be familiar faces and pets.

Sensitive Issues

It is important for me to state here now that this blog has absolutely no intention to hurt anybody. People in Canon, Ex-Canon people or anybody at large.

It is important for me to state here now too, that this blog should not be a vehicle for anybody to cause harm to anybody intentionally or otherwise. A very clear example would be the subject of extra-marital affairs.

I appreciate if we all do not get carried away.

I thank you all in anticipation.

Jackie Leow Poh Ling

Jackie Leow Poh Ling continue to look excellent over a 15 years stint in Canon Marketing (M) Sdn Bhd.

Long arms, long legs, excellent skin, straight shoulders, small waist, model walk and the sweetest smile. Uniquely hers, there is no 'before' and 'after'.

She has my vote for the "Lifetime Award for Best Looking Female All Round in Canon Marketing (M) Sdn Bhd"

Coming up tomorrow

My vote for the "Lifetime Award for Best Looking Female All Round in Canon Marketing (M) Sdn Bhd"

Affairs of the Heart

Affairs of the Flesh?

from the chatbox on the right.

<anonymous 2>: hey stan, want to hear some juiciest news ?
<anonymous 2>: can u perform some sleuth and find out how many marriages in canon was destroyed by extra marital affairs ? Few, right ? Find out and share the stories.
<anonymous 2>: I have a very big scoop for you. Stay posted, canon malaysians. Either u know your friends very well or you have been taken for a ride and be very DISAPPOINTED.
<stanley>: wuuuu.. juicy
<ah_heng>: Now is when this blog is interesting... ;) Is it some sort of departmental incest? And who call themself "anonymous 2"?
<anonymous 2>: I'll reserve the stories but let's hear from other canon malaysians. Stan, do your Sherlock Holmes bit..after all you dont spend 20 years without knowing the slightest bit such as who have divorced, break up and reconciled, screwing around now with and
<anonymous 2>: without the spouse, etc. Heng - I shall remain anonymous for now. When the beans are spilt, the truth prevails !!!
<ah_heng>: annoy 2: Your clue a bit too little la ;)

Wah! This is way over my head.

Brothers, especially you who called me "Stan". I can't possibly satisfy your needs for two reasons.

One, I do not know you guys well, especially this generation. Two, this blog provides infortainment for those with a sense of humor without doing anybody harm intentionally. If this measure up to being chickening out, then yes, please accept my apologies.

443,000 Coming Out

This coming Thursday will be "Merdeka, Merdeka, Merdeka" for the 443,000 pupils who went in to take their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examinations earlier this month on the 11th.

For a great number of them, today shall be Biology, tomorrow Physics. Wednesday will be Chinese and the last day English Science and Technology.

From what I've heard, the Merdeka cry may come after Tuesday as Chinese is an optional paper and Thursday's EST is supposed to be a given for English speaking students.

After this, these 443,000 people will enter into a significantly new level in their educational process. I will be most happy if a great number of these will chose to begin to adopt a bigotry-free mindset especially on religious and racial matters.

Once again, I wish them a great career ahead.

And for those taking a sabbatical before moving on, that time must not be wasted.

In the Ayer?

After listening to this song 522 times and checking out the lyrics 56 times, I was sure there has been a mispelling.

Rolling my eyes up and spending 25 minutes trying to recall all the things that I've learnt in my years in Yoke Tuck kindergarden and Methodist Boys School; and everything everbody said throughout my 20 over years in Canon, brought nothing to mind.

Then I check the Urban Dictionary and what do you know.

Ayer: Another way to say "Air"

Catchy song this one. Good for flinging your limbs about, trying to lose some weight. Especially now, if you are affected by the fatwa on yoga.

[chorus: Will.I.Am ][X2]

Oh hot damn , this is my jam

Keep me partying till the A.M

Yall don't understand , make me throw my hands

In the ayer , ay , ayer , ayer , ay , ayer

Errata - Khor Han Heng

Five days ago, my post on Khor Han Heng was erroneous with regards to his offsprings. In that post, I mentioned that he is married with two kids.

He wrote me.

From: khorhh
To: stanley@stone-mashe.com
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2008 1:30 PMSubject: Your Report

Hi Stanley, Your report that mentioned I am married with 2 children created a domestic issue for me. My wife is asking which marriage you're referring to since she has 3 children with me? So how do you suggest we resolve this amicably since our (???) courts are too busy involved with politics these days?

Cheers!
Khor HH

PS I have one compliant less since my photo appears on top of chua soi lek's.

Minta Ma'af, Tuan Tai Khor. I thought you've told your wife about the other family. I didn't know. So sorry.

Bill against racial discrimination passed

Recently Indonesia passed a bill prohibiting racial discrimination as reported in The Jakarta Post on 29th October 2008.

I failed to see why this is not reported in our main stream papers. (or did I miss it?)

I am reproducing the whole article here for you or you can click on this link to view..


The House of Representatives has unanimously passed a bill that terms ethnic and racial discrimination as serious crimes.

Deputy Speaker Muhaimin Iskandar, who presided over the House's plenary session to approve the draft law, said Indonesia no longer had any room for any form of racial or ethnic discrimination.

Chairman of the House's special committee deliberating the bill, Murdaya Poo, said the endorsement of the bill should put an end to the long-standing dichotomy between indigenous and non-indigenous people in the country.
"A man cannot choose to be born as part of a certain race or ethnic group, and therefore discrimination must cease to exist," said Murdaya, who is Indonesian-Chinese.

He said the House proposed the bill as part of its effort to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination, which has been enacted since 1999.

Under the new law, leaders of public institutions found guilty of adopting discriminatory policies would face jail terms one-third more severe than those stipulated in the Criminal Code.

Citing an example, Murdaya said the governor or government of Aceh could not ban a gathering held by Javanese ethnics in the province.

He said the deliberation process had been delayed by a disagreement on whether imprisonment should be made the minimum punishment.

Jail as a minimum sentence is typically sought for serious crimes, such as corruption, terrorism, money laundering or drug abuse.

"We decided to set prison as the minimum sentence to deter people from committing racial or ethnic discrimination," said Murdaya, a member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

The bill was passed on the same day Indonesia celebrated the 100th anniversary of Youth Pledge, which Murdaya said should encourage Indonesians to uphold the diverse nature of the nation. -- JP

Any Blogging CanonMalaysians?

On the chatbox on the right..

<stanley>: hi ah heng, do u noe of any canonm'sians who blog as well?
<ah_heng>: I will certainly like to know that too ;) Maybe your next post should ask this question in CAPITAL and let them respond ;)

I thought of asking the first General Manager Steven Wong who was with us in the 70's and 80's if he blogs. He is currently 65 years old. I should be meeting up with him this coming Saturday and I thought I just wanted to try and see if my predicted response would come true.

"You chiseen ahr? I where got time. You think I like you, so old still want to pretend like young kid, blogging lah, facebook lah, also this what? twittering lah."

I think I can achieve 80% accuracy especially the "chiseen" and the "old still want to pretend" part.

He is one of the three previous managers here taking a leak.

The second photo gives a frontal view, him being on the far left. You should recognise at least one other fellow here.

Okay, so he does not blog. Unlike Mahathir.

Do you? Let me know? Your friends? Some CanonMalaysians you know who do?

Frances Yip? Peter Chow? Let's give Wong Choon Heng some company. Can?

Road Names should NOT be changed

At first it was Circular Road, then it became Jalan Pekeliling and now it is Jalan Tun Razak.

Has anybody benefited?

And we continue to do these relentlessly. We've made Foch Avenue, High Street, Campbell Road and many many others disappeared. We tried to fool around with Jalan Alor and now what is this silly proposal to rename Jalan Silibin in Ipoh to Jalan P. Patto?

Hey brother, we would need to get used to new names, change addresses in our Identity Cards, Driving Licences, Names Cards, Company stationeries, make and change new road signs, etc..

Aiyoh! for what!

A letter was written by JAYARAJ KGS, Sitiawan, Perak and sent in to The Star today and I think it is an interesting read. He also has an excellent suggestion.

Changing road names doesn’t make sense

NOWADAYS, our politicians seem to have nothing better to do than to wage wars on renaming roads and streets and also making a big fuss on additional languages on signboards.

The latest fiasco is focussed on .. please continue here.

Abolish ISA Vigil last Sunday

I do not know how many Sunday vigils has been held already. Nonetheless, I am happy to note that the one held two days ago in MBPJ was without any untoward incidents unlike the previous Sunday where police charge into the supporters while they were singing the National Anthem.





I stole this picture taken 2 days ago at the vigil from Haris Ibrahim who in turn nicked it from delCapo.

I support the Abolish ISA movement as I hate bullies. However I have not yet attended any of the Sunday events yet. You can say that I certainly don't walk the talk.

For those not there and would like a report with pictures and videos, please visit Anil Netto's site. There were quite some Pakatan Rakyat people there including Teresa Kok and the video guy Loh Gwo Burne.

Of course Raja Petra was there.

I can see so many young people of various races there and can't help but reject Tun Mahathir's notion that Malaysia is not ready for non-racialistic political parties yet. I can't help but feel Mahathir has strong ulterior motives in stating his opinions.

Do you know Khor Han Heng?

What better time and place to meet an old friend than Lunch and over some delicious FishHead dish.

This place Foon Kee is along Jalan Pudu in a dilapidated shop lot and has been in operation for more than 30 years. You should never go to this place on Sundays as the waiting time will usually be well over an hour.

On weekdays, they open for lunch at 11.00am and one must arrive before 12noon. Otherwise you may have to be waiting outside the shop together with some 15 people or so. No air-conditioning both inside and outside. Can sweat like a horse that has just done a 5 mile run.

We arrived just before 12pm. It was unusually busy that day.

The first two photos showed the waiting people outside and the third the lucky ones inside.





























This place has got certain rules that you have to abide by. They can be more strict than the ones you have in Canon. The all women operation has absolutely no hesitations in enforcing the rules in a loud verbal manner.

1 You have to wait to be seated. Otherwise you will be chased out.

2 You have to stick to the table you were directed to. Changing tables on your own will result in a loud retort.

3 You should make your choices clearly and quickly. Otherwise the captain will quickly make recommendations and if you still hmmm. errrr. , she will show you some 'face color'.

4 They only have 2 sets of metal forks and spoons. Everybody eats with chopsticks. Do not be demanding.

5 Tables cannot be booked. Purely a first-come-first-served basis.

6 When your meal is finished, you are expected to pay up and vacate. Sitting around after that invite strong encouragements to leave.

7 There is a limitation to the amount of fishheads per day. Going at 2.30pm to avoid the crowd is not a good idea.

What to order. Everything is good here.

Fans include Liew Sip Chon, Richard Yeow, Chua Hock Keat, Yam Kin Fook, Cheng Sue Yueh, Jeremy Lee, Andrew Kong, Khor Han Heng, etc.

Okay, back to Khor Han Heng who is saying "Hi!"














This mother was the Personnel Manager after Andrew Kong and before Yam Kin Fook. Yes, I realized Yam Kin Fook is no longer doing Personnel stuff.

He is the most likeable Personnel Manager I know, possibly making him the best. My view is that most personnel fellows elsewhere prefer to put up some barrier between the staff and themselves making themselves somewhat intimitating and distant.. A easier job may ensure. But then again, what do I know. (Let me bodek him a bit lor?)

Khor Han Heng is married with two kids of quite a gap in their ages. He quickly informed me that the kids belong to the same set of parents.

Today he runs a motivational, training outfit called Focalpoint. (not FocusPoint, the eyecare company). He currently drives a new big car and all indications point to a successful Khor Han Heng.

Andrew Kong and another CanonMalaysian were with us. They requested that I do not write nonsence about them. I think I shall save it for another day. Save for the fact that Andrew Kong's brother is not an assemblyman that I mentioned in a earlier post but a full fledged Member of Parliament.

Chua Soi Lek

You may remember our friend Chua Soi Lek as our Minister of Health from 2004 until last year and a Member of Parliament for Labis, Johor.

He resigned from public as well as political offices on January 2, 2008 due to the eruption of a sensational sex scandal.

At that time, he stated that his biggest mistake was to use the same hotel and the same room to have sex, hence the video recording by someone in Batu Pahat. Apparently using the same other woman seemed okay.

Today he is now a Deputy President of MCA.

Lately he has been in the news quite a bit on his fallout with his boss Ong Tee Keat.

I really do not have much interest in the MCA politics but I keep having this image of him naked with that woman every time I see his face in the papers, on TV and other media.

I wonder when these gross images in my mind will end.

A visit to Alfred's Office

Alfred Chan's company in Puchong is called Synergy Marketing (M) Sdn Bhd. Very near to Tesco Hypermarket.

We paid him a visit early this week. Pearly, Bee Geok and myself.

He has a pretty neat office considering the industry we are in. You have to take off your shoes. Ms Loke there didn't look at us much. Either she is the shy type or we ain't much to look at.

My cameraphone in action here catching Alfred at work and not goofing off.










































Alfred is just as hardworking here as he was when in Canon Marketing (M) Sdn Bhd. I guess he will never learn.

He is currently looking to buy another house but "it won't be a big one, as I don't intend to have a big family. Maybe just 3 kids will do." Alfred mentioned this while we were having fish head curry for lunch near his office. He recommended this restaurant for its signature fishhead curry. I won't review this restaurant here nor post any pictures of fishheads. Lately there has been an overdose of food pictures here on the blog already.

We spoke a bit about business and he gave me some advice on bank loans. Alfred also gave his views on the changing market enviroment with regards to Multi-Function Printers encroahment onto the standalones. Click charge impending popularity may very well affect my cartridges sales in the midterm future. I may have to restrategize soon to remain relevant.

Michael Kok wasn't in and we missed the meet-up opportunity.

Mulpha OG Nite Out

I received a text message from Steven Wong. He was our former General Manager and today a Director in FotoKem.

Mr Weng Kai formerly from Mulpha Engineering is organising an event to get together former colleagues.You may appreciate that 20 years ago Canon was marketed and distributed in this country by a company known as Mulpha Trading Sdn Bhd. We then had a Canon Division and Steven Wong was the head honcho. Following so far?

This event is a drink session happening in the Tavern, Guinness Brewery at 6.30pm on November 24, 2008. I trust there will be some food.

There is no need for you to bring any money. You can literally get stuffed, get stoned and get smashed for FREE.

So what's the catch.

You have to be old. (for some, older)

You should be Steven Wong, Michael Kuan, Christie Low, Richard Wong, Victor Chan, Wendy Ng, Steven Tam, Steven Tan, NS Tan, Joe Wong, Marjorie Chang, Jullie Chin, Rosie Goh, Linda Ang, Jimmy Choong, Daniel Low, Ho Bak Kee, Francis Kim, Ooi Chik Hoe, Richard Yeow, Jeremy Lee, Shareen Thum, Jack Lim, Garry Ng, Goh Kheng Peow, Chew Tuck Heng, William Augustin, Larry Poon, Terenze Lim, Johnnie Tan, Germaine, Andrew Kong, Gladys, Khor Han Heng, Manoharan, Wong Yoke Wan, Chan Poon How, Mrs Eu, Lawrence Lee, Choo Eng Hin, Bernard Wong, Lim How Kiat, Donny Ling, Lim Kok Hin, Francis Khor, Tan Chiong Kee, Rocky Loot, Mike Cheong, Leong Kok Kheong, Yee Wai Mun, Tan Poh Chuan, Cheng Sue Yueh, Wang Sheau Ming, Linus Foo, Karen Kow, Peter Chin, Ralph Tay, Shereen Phua, KC Han, Rosalind Tan, Patrick Yee, Liew Sip Chon, .. and of course me, Stanley Cheong

Also, Mak Siew Choy, Jeffery Leong, Allen Asservatnam, Tina Lian, James Tan, Billy Ea, David Choo, Alan Ng, Allan Ng, Ponniah, Yong Kah Leng, Edwin Chin, Sunny Ch'ng, Roy Cheow, Cheong Yoke Wah, Angie Yim, Penny Chan, Esther Law, Frankie, YS Goh, SK Ng, Teh Su Kheng, Jimmy Yong, Betty Saw, Alice, Thomas Wong, Paul Chin, Harry Lee, Wong Kam Cheong, Jackie Soong, Shirleen Gan, Sylvia Gan, Calvin Kan, Ricky Yip, Simon Tay, Philip Teh, Philip Quek, .. more coming here.

Steven Wong is coordinating this for those who want to go. Please sms him at 012-200 2125. Today is the last day to confirm, I am afraid. So sorry. I forgot about it earlier.

I think they need your name to register with the guard house for them to ID you. Then it will be free booze time.

Somehow, I think it is still okay to register after today. Please ask Steven to confirm.

For those younger ones, please go through the list and see if your fathers' or mothers' names are there and inform them duly.

By the way, OG should be 'old geezers'

443,000 Went In

Two days ago on Tuesday, 443,000 pupils went in to begin their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination.

A miniscule number of these 17 years old may stumble onto my site. And for those, I wish you guys the best of luck in this examination and a wonderful career ahead.

Still on numbers. ..

Two million young, opinionated and Internet-savvy Malaysians will be eligible to vote in the next general election, and will undoubtedly have a big influence on the results then, as reported in today's Star.

The power of the young could be further reinforced by four million eligible voters, many believed to be under 30 years, who did not register in time for the March 8 elections.

If these youths choose to register, the eligible voter population in the country will total 16.9 million, including the 10.9 million already registered in the country.

It is very likely that if enough youths register in time to vote in the next General Election, we should see a change of Government. I am confident that it will be a change for the better.

How can it be not so. Fresh people with fresh ideas and fresh motivation can't do worse, when they are replacing a team who has been at it for 51 years and doing poorly in so many areas. At least they would not be saddled with excess baggages. Even if Pakatan Rakyat should fail, then a renewed Barison Nasional can still come back in 5 years for another chance.

51 years of the same just can't be a good idea.

Jeeneze Blogs!

Jeeneze Lee blogs.

Once upon a time, we have 3 Charlie's Angels in our Personnel Department. Those days we call a changkul and changkul and not some silly term like Human Resource.

Charlie has another name. He was also known as Andrew Kong whose brother is today a State Assemblyman in Ipoh, I think. Andrew also was the Personnel Manager then.

See this picture.














They were then the totally virginal, untouched Brenda Kua, Jeeneze Lee and Angela Woon. Now they all have children calling you uncles and aunties if you bump into them.

Let me point the blogging Jeeneze out for you. Yah, those days it was fashionable to wear high waist jeans.















Andrew Kong aka Charlie is in this picture below. Go figure.














You don't see much of Shareen Thum's legs nowadays. You don't see much of Richard Yeow's moustache nowadays You don't see much of Ooi Chik Hoe taking time out to have a picture taken nowadays. I don't see much of Yee Wai Mun nowadays.

Okay, okay that one was Annie Peng who used to be with Service Administration. For the educated folks, its Market Intelligence Administration. Annie is now in Beijing I heard.

Jeeneze has two blogs. One on her thoughts (this woman can think one) and the other one on food. I have added both links on my blog links of which you will find on the right..

She is also on Facebook. You will find recent pictures there. You won't be disappointed looking at those pictures. She could have done some extensive nip/tuck though.

Australian Broadcasting Corpn -Feature on Malaysian Politics

I did not personally watched this program earlier, purportedly shown over Astro Channel 514 recently.

I was given this link by CanonMalaysian Jullie Chin as well as from my school alumni internet loop.

Interesting ..


http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2008/malaysia_scandal_200k.asx

Ah Wang Bak Kut Teh

After the high class, sophisticated Malaysia International Gourmet Festival Gala Launch of which Canon was the main sponsor, my party of three went looking for some street food last Saturday evening. (not the same day nor with the same people),

You simply havc to come early to this place on a weekend as evident by the first two photos. We arrived just before 7pm and as you can tell from the sky then, it was still not dark yet.
















This place Ah Wang Bak Kut Teh is on the 4.5 Mile Old Klang Road just opposite the Post Office.

They have an uncle running up and down the main road dressed in some luminous shirt directing traffic and organising parking arrangements. Hazardous, I must comment.

This place takes on a carnival like atmosphere and can be rather noisy if you sit rather in. There is usually a middle aged mama whom you can tell is the Works Controller. She barked orders every 20 seconds loudly and the waiters and waitresses would answer back with the same volume whilst running all the time.

Seating arrangements are entirely alfresco.

They are pretty notable for their bak kut teh although we gave it a pass this time.

We took their signature steamed fish head, stir-fried lettuce and pig trotters. The following pictures, I realised aren't exactly pretty. The real thing looked better and tasted good.






















The subsequent cost for the dinner was only RM38.00 with no silly plus plus stuff.

I recommend you go this place when you have no invitations from Canon for some gourmet festival.

Malaysia International Gourmet Festival-Part2

KC Han said that Rosalind Tan will go to her house and after which she can pick me up in Tropicana Golf and Country Club to drive us all to attend this function.

I couldn't argue with that.

A date with two beautiful and friendly women with one of them driving to attend a high class function in Putrajaya Marriot Hotel where you will have first class international type food and 'a free flow of wine and beer, said Liew Sip Chon'. This function attracts the rich and famous, the bold and the beautiful and maybe even the winners and the sinners.

And the whole evening of having a good time was absolutely free. A dream came true.

The one on the left is Rosalind Tan and the other one is KC Han, both CanonMalaysians of yesterday. The other chick on the far right behind KC Han in white and red, I do not know. Also very attractive.

It actually took us quite a while to get there. KC Han and myself belong to the group of people who can never find places. I haven't as yet got a name for this club which includes others like Pearly Chew and Lim Kok Hin. I remember a time some years ago when Lim Kok Hin took 2 hours to drive from the Canon office to join us in Breakers Ampang. I have a feeling the real reason why Canon offered Kok Hin a position in Singapore was because it is nigh impossible to get lost in Singapore. What with only 22 miles wide and I think 15 miles the other way.

After looking at the glamor girls, I went for a free beer and then started socializing with Liew Sip Chon, Goh Kheng Peow and TC (the missus), Lau Peng Kai and Kuan Cheng. I saw the Canonfoto booth setup.

I freeloaded another beer and then joined everybody into the main hall to where the grubs were. Among the very well dressed people inside, I said hello to fellow CanonMalaysians freeloaders Jack Lim, former Managing Director, Steven Wong, former General Manager and Christie Low, fomer Product Manager. I too met Kelvin Chen and wife Angela Woon fomerly personnel personnel.

Well, they have this band playing in the center all dressed up in cookwear, you know like chefs and cheffresses. Entertaining and lively. Very good.

Rosalind Tan was so caring that evening offering to get food and liquor for me all night. Maybe she was trying to get me drunk or maybe she thought I have already got too old to fend for myself. Nonetheless, I remember thinking that it would be easy to fall in love with a person like that.

KC Han only took half a glass of wine and she looked like she was already stoned. Christie Low hovered around offering a hot black coffee advice. But he did not volunteer to go get one. Actually I could do with a brew like that too.

Then the warlords from the branches. The ever cool and a man of few words Ho Bak Kee. Jonathon Lee of whom I drank with merrily some years ago in East Malaysia. He asked if I remembered him. Francis Kim, the prodigal son originally from Penang; went to Tawau, then Kuantan, then Ipoh. If he work till 62 years old, he will be back to Penang, I am sure.

I do not know Benny Tai very well. But I think I should, remembering that Muhyddin came from there. I was very fortunate to make the aquaintance of Yvonne Cheah. Good to see capable women coming up through glass ceilings.

Some pictures? Thought you never ask.
























Edmund Liew looked like he was seducing my cameraphone.

Actually there was another photo that I wanted to post up. A mini group photo with Liew Sip Chon, Goh Kheng Peow, Rosalind, KC Han and myself. At that time, I gave my cameraphone to Lau Peng Kai but he said my camera was not working. He took a picture with his Canon camera and promised to send the picture to me.

When I receive that picture, I shall let you have it.

Barack Obama on the 28th August 2008

I revisited the acceptance speech by Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention in Denver on 28th August 2008 where he spoke to 84,000 people for 44 minutes.

I am still impressed.

You may too want to listen to him again. It is a bit lengthy though at 44 minutes.

Malaysia International Gourmet Festival-Part 1

First, a little bit of a background, okay?

The Malaysia International Gourmet Festival made its debut in 2001 when the organisers, AsiaReach Events, brought together an intrepid group of 13 restaurants to form the inaugural KL International Gourmet Festival (KLIGF). Now it is into the 8th successive year.

The Festival’s aims from the outset were to increase the size of the local fine dining population for the mutual benefit of the participating restaurants; to create a sustained interest in the local fine dining scene; and, ultimately, to make Malaysia an international food tourism destination of choice.

Special Festival Menus sold at special prices and Festival Offers not only help attract a new generation of diners, they also persuade existing diners to try different venues and dine out more often.

Canon is one of the main sponsors. And it delighted me with an invitation to attend the Gala Launch on the 30th October. You see, the festival is supposed to run for the whole month of November.

Let me give you here some pictures to give you an idea for people who did not attend. You may recognise some of the faces.















































Let me give you here some of the food we sampled. You may recognise some of the food.