SINGAPORE | Sunday, 24 Aug 2008 | Views [1119]
Below is the The Straits Times article covering the Tan family reunion in Singapore. My mother and her sisters are mentioned: Tan Tock Seng's kin here for reunion
July 25, 2008 150 members of the clan are meeting to mark 210th birth anniversary ... Read more >
MALAYSIA | Tuesday, 19 Aug 2008 | Views [492]
I enjoy trying new things but have always been hesitant when it comes to eating certain animals. Still, I decided to try shark's fin soup during this trip, and although I wasn't crazy about it, I am happy that I gave it a shot. Shark's fin is basically ... Read more >
MALAYSIA | Monday, 18 Aug 2008 | Views [744]
The highlight of my travels has been meeting people from different places and of different backgrounds. I knew I would see my overseas relatives and get to know them a bit better, but I wasn't expecting to form so many new friendships. The people I ... Read more >
MALAYSIA | Sunday, 17 Aug 2008 | Views [443]
Two things I love about Kuala Lumpur are the outdoor food stalls and the open-air markets. The hawker stalls have some of the cheapest and most authentic Malay, Chinese and Mamak (Indian Muslim) food in the city. It's a good idea to ask the locals first ... Read more >
AUSTRALIA | Friday, 15 Aug 2008 | Views [481]
I accomplished a lot during my two weeks in Australia. I flew JetStar (the Qantas budget airline) six times and I visited six Aussie cities/coastal areas: Sydney, Melbourne, Geelong, Gold Coast, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. It was a wacky whirlwind ... Read more >
AUSTRALIA | Thursday, 7 Aug 2008 | Views [442]
The Sunshine Coast is beautiful, under-populated, and warm! It's the middle of winter here but I spent the day in my swimmers at the Mooloolaba Beach. It does get pretty chilly at night, but the days are absolutely gorgeous. The trees and other vegetation ... Read more >
AUSTRALIA | Tuesday, 5 Aug 2008 | Views [523]
I had an idea that Aussies are generally pretty laid-back and easy-going, but I didn't realize just how much so. The Aussies I have met so far are very casual in their language, mannerisms, fashion, etc. (but still very professional, as my Auntie insists!).... Read more >
AUSTRALIA | Saturday, 2 Aug 2008 | Photo Gallery
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AUSTRALIA | Friday, 1 Aug 2008 | Views [441]
Unless you've done some traveling outside the U.S., you're not accustomed to finding a myriad of savory pies on every street corner. In Australia (as elsewhere), "pies" are not very sweet, they're usually filled with meat and gravy, and often ... Read more >
SINGAPORE | Wednesday, 30 Jul 2008 | Views [521]
I have just returned from the big family reunion in Singapore. There were over 150 relatives in attendance, all descendants of the late Tan Tock Seng, my great great great great grandfather (I'm 7th generation). We met for a huge banquet dinner the ... Read more >
SINGAPORE | Saturday, 26 Jul 2008 | Photo Gallery
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SINGAPORE | Thursday, 17 Jul 2008 | Views [524]
Tomorrow I'm taking an overnight train to Singapore. I have been advised that customs will not allow me to bring any chewing gum or pork to the tiny island nation. The gum isn't a huge loss, but I'm disappointed that I have to leave all my pork behind.... Read more >
MALAYSIA | Monday, 14 Jul 2008 | Views [532] | Comments [2]
There are many languages spoken in Malaysia, the result of a storied history. All the locals speak English, as well as Malay, and sometimes a Chinese dialect. Much of the written English is spelled slightly different than I am accustomed to. A few ... Read more >
MALAYSIA | Sunday, 13 Jul 2008 | Views [544] | Comments [2]
Driving in Malaysia is an interesting study in survival. Everyone speeds, everyone tailgates. Three centimeters constitutes sufficient clearance for merging and cutting off fellow drivers. Lanes on the highway are merely a suggestion, in case one cares ... Read more >
MALAYSIA | Thursday, 10 Jul 2008 | Views [609] | Comments [1]
The Malaysian culture revolves around food. I thought I understood this, but I was wrong. It is the single most important, and talked about, topic. My mother and her sisters can literally discuss the qualities and merits of certain cuts of meat for over ... Read more >
MALAYSIA | Thursday, 10 Jul 2008 | Views [551] | Comments [2]
My grandmother Doris likes to say "alamak!" (silent "k"), which is about equivalent to "oh dear!" or the less formal "WTF" in English. I learned the alamak exclamation from my parents when I was young. Mom and ... Read more >
MALAYSIA | Monday, 7 Jul 2008 | Views [559] | Comments [1]
That's right, I had chicken curry and nasi lemak for breakfast this morning. I could eat spicy food for every meal, and it's actually possible here! The flight from Seattle to KL via Taiwan was long and tiring (not to mention we lost a whole day traveling), ... Read more >
MALAYSIA | Monday, 7 Jul 2008 | Photo Gallery
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