Ramblings

Watching Movies In The Old Days

Brigitte Lin Chin Hsia and Chin Han in Outside the Window (窗外)

Masuk bilek, tutup pintu, tutup lampu, buka kain, main main. If you can answer the above riddle easily, it means you are most likely in your 50s or 60s now. Yes, I am talking about watching movies at the cinemas. What were you thinking about? Growing up in Binatang, I often tagged along with my parents or my friends to ...

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A Midsummer’s Equation By Keigo Higashino

A Midsummer’s Equation by Keigo Higashino

Ever since I read his novel “The Devotion Of Suspect X” about four and a half years ago, Keigo Higashino has become one of my top favourite authors. I just love his master storytelling and the many unexpected twists as his plot unfolds. Keigo’s  writing is always very entertaining and well worth reading. It is little wonder that he has ...

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The Traffic Lights In Our Lives

Marina ParkCity

I am sure Mirians who drive along the roads in Marina Parkcity area must have noticed the number of traffic lights in the area. On some days when I am driving through this area, I get red light whenever I approach a traffic light. It can be a bit frustrating having to stop so often but I need to obey ...

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Reflections On The State Of My Mind

Bad memory

A lot of people mistake a short memory for a clear conscience.  – Doug Larson In slightly over a month’s time, I will be 59. As 60 looms, I worry about how to stay in shape mentally. I am a bit fearful that the state of my mind will gradually decline. I know that my mind needs constant workout to ...

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You Can Make A Difference!

Ha Van Minh's 2015 Progress Report

It was in 2006 that I first participated in World Vision Child Sponsorship Programme. I was working in Brunei at that time and I came to know that my boss’ school going daughter Rachel was sponsoring some kids through World Vision.  I took up the challenge and the first child I sponsored was a Thai boy by the name of ...

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A Small-Town Boy’s Memories Of Binatang

A very old photo of Binatang

I was born in a very small town but for the past 35 years, I have called Miri my home. The small-town boy in me never truly goes away. Time and again, I am caught up in nostalgia whenever I recall my childhood days in Binatang (now known as Bintangor). The recent sale of my dad’s shophouse in Bintangor has ...

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Trip To Taiwan – Day 2

Amazing view

12th October 2016 Coke Liao had to depart for Singapore to attend a friend’s wedding so he asked his friend Ching Man Zhu to replace him as our tour driver for the remaining duration of our Taiwan trip. We gave him the nickname Ah Mang Ker. Ah Mang Ker came to our hotel at about 8am and brought us in ...

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Have Fun With Hokkien

What's up?

Hokkien (福建話) is a group of mutually intelligible Min Nan Chinese dialects spoken throughout Southeastern China, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and by many other overseas Chinese. Hokkien originated from a dialect in southern Fujian. It is closely related to Teochew, though mutual comprehension is difficult, and is somewhat more distantly related to Hainanese. Hokkien historically served as the lingua franca amongst ...

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China Rich Girlfriend By Kevin Kwan

China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan

I have just finished reading China Rich Girlfriend, the 2015 sequel to Kevin Kwan’s highly successful 2013 Crazy Rich Asians. I was so engrossed by the crazy parade through the lives of Asia’s richest elite that I was able to finish the 479-page novel within one day. Crazy Rich Asians introduced readers to the world of old Asian money and ...

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The Trader Of Saigon By Lucy Cruickshanks

The Trader of Saigon by Lucy Cruickshanks

I finished reading The Trader of Saigon by Lucy Cruickshanks today and  I have to admit that I find it quite a gripping novel despite initial misgivings. It is a dark tale dealing with human trafficking, corruption and poverty in post-war Vietnam where three seemingly unconnected lives are brought together in greed, fear and hope. As a US Army deserter, ...

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