In my photography outings, nothing pisses me off more than mosquitoes and sand flies. Mosquito bites cause some small swellings and itching but these go way after a short while. But the little sand flies are real terrors. I often don’t realise they have stung me until several hours later when I start experiencing some slight itch. But the next ...

Today is the last day of 2016. As I look back at the year, I am filled with mixed feeling. Someone said that every year, like wine, has its own flavour. I cannot agree more. At times, 2016 was sweet like a Vin Santo Rosso but at other times, it was overwhelming like a Cabernet Sauvignon. The election of Trump ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...