The Feast of Memories

This year, Mei Fong and Hoe Chye decided to not go to the caterers. It was a good decision. It meant however, that there would be more work for everyone at home. Pui Yi told me that she and Pui Yan were helping out in the kitchen until midnight the night before. Well, the result was an extremely delicious vegetarian dish. Mei Fong brought out a serai and kaffir lime chicken curry and chicken in wine and wood fungus! I managed to replicate Geetha's special tamarind chicken curry, and topped that with a huge salad - just for Nik and David.

Father, Koo Cheh, Jeannie, Geetha and Mum. Three generations...


Hari and Seen Nang, after much chatting, decided to go play badminton in the hot sun.


I call them Jo's Gang. Or the Infamous Gang of Four!!!


Suzan did not try to finish this huge bowl of salad.


Geetha, Nik and I. See if you can see Sangametra hiding behind a veil of invisibility.


Here's Father and Nik. Looking at Nik now, you still wouldn't believe that he is 32 years old!


Another shot of three generations of women - with the addition of Giri. Mei Fong, Geetha, Jo, Koo Cheh, Mum, Jeannie, and in front, Sangametra and Giri.

Chinese New Year 2007

Giri and Sangametra all set in their red Chinese New Year get up to get to the big party at Hoe Chye's in Puchong.


My favourite aunt, Koo Cheh, and Mum. Koo Cheh is always smiling. Here, she and Mum make a lovely pair.


Father, happy to have the house abuzz with so many kids, and older kids, especially Nik.


Here's the petite Sangametra in her chinese cheongsam. Petite but powerpacked with punch!!!

Reunion III

Seen Nang, Hari and Hoong; cousins and uncle. You will notice that Hari and Seen Nang like being seen together at our family gatherings. Lots to talk about, these guys.


Nik, David and Geetha: there wasn't much for them to eat at the dinner - being vegetarians and all - but Nik seems quite full and fed, gulping down questions, news, answers, etc... it was a non-stop whirling churning. This was time out!


Pok Meng and Pok Lai, 5th Uncle's beautiful daughters.


Little Women: Pui Yan, Pui Yi, and Sangametra. Isn't it amazing how much Sangametra looks like her cousins?!


Nik and Hoong. See if you can find any similarities here.

Reunion II

The Brothers Lamarazov: Ghooi Hoe, Ghooi Ket, and Ghooi Hoong. Notice the factory-churned out faces - with minor adjustments, of course.
Apologies for the blur photo: it wasn't the wine nor the brandy... just age!


The Cousins Lamarazov: Hariraam Tingyuan and Seen Nang. Notice the differences and similarities?
Apologies again for this blur photo of two good looking young men. The hand is getting old!


Hoong and Suzan. This was of course after the great big dinner. Much to smile about, then.


Mei Fong and Pui Yan. This was after two glasses of red wine... no problem!


Nik serious about a point, and David, non-committal... or was there too much noise at the table?

Reunion in Kuala Lumpur I

There was Chinese tea and red wine together with the scrumptious, rich, flavourful, gorgeous 8 course meal at the Turf Club restaurant.


The Big Guns: Tho Wah, Poon Wah, and Chun Wah; or Tai Pak, 5th Uncle and 6th Uncle to most of us.


Mum and Dad. This was after most of the dishes from the meal.


Hoe Chye and Nik. Too little time and too much to catch up on. Can a picture speak a thousand words!?

Chinese New Year Greetings!

Kung Hei Fatt Choy!

May this New Year

bring peace, prosperity & good health

to all in the family!

Lots of love & xoxox
Hoongkie & Suzan

P/S : More pictures later. This one is of Hoong & Etta, one of our doggies.

Giri is Seven

Giri turned seven on 28th January which fell on a Sunday. On Sunday mornings, we get together for prayers at the Temple of Fine Arts. So Giri got the chance to do the finale of the prayer session which is to wave burning camphor in front of the shrine. This is to remind ourselves constantly to seek the light of Divinity in all things.


Then, Giri got to hear the birthday song sung to him by everyone. Of course, Sangametra had to help her brother with the cake. After the song and cake cutting, Giri offered the cake to all the elders first, to get their blessings.


That evening, our good friend Shangita and her daughters, Nritta and Aditi, came on the monorail with us to Berjaya Times Square for a nice family dinner there. With the Chinese New Year coming, we found ourselves posing in front of a red gazebo.

The Sky Changes

Caught a mountain of a cloud just behind the KL Tower and Twin Towers.