Breeze Model Search

Had our last stop shopping for the day at Suria Sabah.

A surprise to see Breeze Model Search catwalk in practice. Miaw..

This is their runway. A long red carpet with rude judges at the end of it.

Although I am not qualified for that runway, I am qualified for this long walk. Eyes straight, tilt chin, not too much smile, swing my butt on my way to the toilet.

CNY 2012 in Putian, China

Because some political people kept asking Malaysian Chinese to go back China, my family gladly return to China for Chinese New Year.
My grandfather is from Sin Hua clan, Putian, China. This is our first time back to Putian. As typical Malaysian Chinese, our minds were full of bad assumptions. Glad that all turn out much better than we thought!

Zhen sian chi, Dong hai zhen is the name of the village, near Seng You, 2 hours drive from Xia Men. Transportation is very convenient. There are long distance buses from Guang Zhou airport to Seng You.

Most people get married around the age of 17-20 years old, same as typical village. Most of young generation does not stay in the village. So chinese new year is the time of matchmaking, there will be many ladies doll up in every home. Parents will take their son around the village in search of son's life partner. When their son met the girl he likes, they can even get engaged after few days. Mostly don't get married legally yet, because they want to have many children. This is due to China one child policy. If 1stborn is daughter, they can have another child after 5 years. There will be a fine if they have another child. They won't be fined if they hv many many children before legally married.

3 major thing in their life are get married, have children and have house. Many of them work in city and have their own business. They built 4-5 floors of house. But they only stay on 1-2 floors. Their big tall houses locked for the rest of the year because they will only go back to the village during chinese new year.

Only in Putian, celebration of chinese new year is different. 3rd day of CNY is birthday for those who are 60 years and above. 4th day is like CNY eve. 5th day is even merrier than 1st day of CNY. In Putian, you get 1 year older on CNY. On 15 day, each house will send a representative to carry lanterns to form a long line imitating dragon's tail and march around villages. My cousin told me usually the event take place around 7 pm to 1 am.

Overview of my 2011

2011 is eventful yet too personal to go into details.
Not to forget last year is very family oriented. It was all about family and transformation for me.

January was just an ordinary month, preparing for Chinese New Year in February.

February is the month full of red and angpow. Was in KL for Church Conference in subang Jaya with my youngest sister. Then met my friend and backpacked to Melaka. In Melaka, met my friend, whom I promised her I would visit her again, fulfilled my promise with a brief overnight.

In Melaka, met the handsome cendol hawker in front of A' Farmosa. 

Biggest lion made from toilet brush.

After peninsular Malaysia, went to Sabah to meet long lost relative, including this uncle. The uncle who likes to laugh. Happy uncle who lives at Lok Kawi. Met many more long lost relatives at an auntie's open house.

Not to mention last valentines day was with a bunch of friends. Met new friends too. :)

Proceeding to March, a family reunion and my birthday! My parents get to have their 2nd wedding. My mother's dream to wear a wedding gown finally came true. For RM 10, they took their wedding photos.

April! Backpacking around IndonChina with 2 friends 2 - 21 April 2011.

Then Guilin, China with family... Tiring.....

May, my mum helped charity sale on Miri city Go green day.

Hin Ann Tata mee

And my parents get married 2nd time.

June, went to Keningau for my cousin' engagement..

Kadazan costume, one of the dowries.

July.. working!

Tide gauge

August, my mum underwent a small surgery. She is fine now. By now, I know how to cook...

September, Dad was 50! A surprise for my dad with the presence of my sisters.

Oct, witnessed flushing job.

Nov, LASIK!

December, Keningau!

That's all

Toboh Laut, Keningau

Last year, 2010 Christmas and New Year was well spent in a small village in Keningau, Sabah. It may be small, but the name is not small. It is Kampung Toboh Laut. Laut mean sea. No idea what toboh means. Maybe it is Kadazan word. (The Kadazans are an ethnic group indigenous to the state of Sabah in Malaysia. They are found mainly on the west coast of Sabah). Beware that there is Kampung Toboh in Tambunan. 

Vast sea of padi farm. 

Walking on small path among padi farm. Carefully not to fall in the farm, and have a shower with blood sucker leeches.

This is raw rice.

A long walk....

Aaahhh... DISLIKE!!! I don't want shower with leeches!!

When I was in Vietnam, small bridges were built across small stream for small 'spirit' to cross it. This remind me of it. Here this bridge is for small human.

This well supplied water to farm and houses located near to the well. There are many black pipes flowing from this well to houses. The water is refreshing cool.


Opsss... I forget to bring sarong! In small villages, some houses does not have 4 walls bathroom. You might need a sarong to cover you decency while having shower. Advisable to bring 2 sarong. 1 to use when showering, changed into another sarong, so you won't wet your your clothes while changing.