ABC? Nope MBC...

Being a Malaysia and growing up in a multi-ethnics country is a privilege. A Chinese descent, I would always tell people that I am Chinese Malaysian. I am proud of my heritage as a Malaysian. I learned to speak in three languages fluently, amidst Malaysian ‘slang’ and also few other dialects.

            However, while growing up in Malaysia, I have also been labeled as  ‘ABC’ (American born Chinese: not sure why, when MBC might be more appropriate since I am born in Malaysia!), banana (being yellow on the outside and white inside), OCBC (Orang Cina bukan Cina; translated as A Chinese who is not Chinese) and what’s not! I have learned to take all that in my stride but sometimes I don’t feel comfortable when people, CHINESE, gave me a ‘kind’ of look when I said I don’t read and write Chinese! They always said how you could forget your root! *You know who you are!

            Since moving to the States in July 2010, I am comfortable here because everyone speaks what I understand. United State being culture melting pot of many nations and peoples, English is the common uniting language. Being a Malaysian who speaks three languages and few more dialects, people are always amazed with our abilities to speak more than one language. However, I faced one stereotype here, since I speak English differently from how a Chinese (from countries whose native language is Mandarin) speaks, people (read Chinese) thinks that I don't speak or understand Mandarin at all!

          I can't count number of times people are surprise when I spoke in Mandarin and they will stop what they are doing and look at me strangely and amazed! Many times, I have used that to my advantage. Once, I uttered something in Mandarin to distract my opponents in badminton to distract them from the game and won that crucial point! Many times too I have keep quite and just observed the conversation they are having!

           Here is one situation during the course of my work. I wanted to collect some East Asian DNA and I asked from some people I work with in the department. After explaining what I am doing and what I am going to do, here is the conversation that took place.

Me: So, would you help me by spitting some saliva in this kit? It's painless took about 5 minutes!

Chinese 1 (turned to her another friend and started to speak in Mandarin):  I don't want give him this sample. Not sure what he is going to do.

Chinese 2 (relying in Mandarin): Yah, me too.

Chinese 1 (turning back to me and replying in English): Let me think of this and will give you the samples later!

Me: Ok (and at the same time in my mind thinking, no you don't! Don't you think I don't understand?)

            I felt like answering them in Mandarin and look at the smirk in their faces, surprised that I can understand all their conversation all these while! However the sense in me hold that back and just smile and said thank you!

That is not just the first time I participate in 'silent' conversation and smiling in my heart!

Penang has it all!

Growing up in Penang, Malaysia sometimes make you take things for granted. However, after living in foreign country for more than a year now, I started to think of Penang more often.

I love this video about Penang.



Enjoy!

Playing Angry birds using football...anyone?

I wonder how many shots they have to do in order to hit the birds?

Undilah video clip

I don't feel insulted from this video clip. Is our government getting more paranoid and fear that they will lose at the next GE?

Satay: Can’t believe that we made this!!

I really couldn’t believe that we actually grilled our own satay and made the peanut sauce too!! We have never appreciated satay more than now that we are in US. KC has been craving for satay: it’s one of his favorite food when he was in Malaysia. He could just eat 30 sticks of satay for his meal! So we decided to make some to soothe his craving and to introduce this wonderful dish to our friends from different countries (US, China and Republic of Georgia) whom we invited for our BBQ party yesterday evening.

VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

The original recipe used is from RasaMalaysia. I need to modify it according to the availability of spices I can get here. However, it still turned out pretty good and all our friends loved it. We were so proud of ourselves =P You know what, the first question KC asked me this morning was ‘When can we make satay again?’ *faint*

We are one of the few families who use charcoal grill here =P

Ta-da!! All the hard work pays!!

Updates

Since the last post, which was 4 months ago, we have done a lot and a lot changes too. I, in particular, finding harder to have the time to post anything and felt that nothing much is there to write about since I have fall into the routine of work, home and church. However, in that short period of 4 months, MANY things changed.

1.     Went back to Malaysia for 2 weeks. It was a work-related trip and didn’t get a chance to meet up with many friends and relatives. I was ‘jailed’ in the lab most of the time.

2.     Visited Washington D.C. for the first time. Also work-related!

3.     Being a part of new cellgroup startup for our local church and has been busy preparing all the training materials.

4.     Work is hectic. The pace picked up so much since we returned from Malaysia and a lot of ups and downs too. Not complaining though, at least it is moving.

5.     Wrote 2 posts that I never posted on my blog. One might be sensitive and another I never get the chance to complete what I started. Maybe one day, I will have the courage to post it!

6.     Had been following a lot of news (social, politic, business, sport, etc) about Malaysia and most time, it is with certain feelings about how things are turning out…though most time angry and sad!

7.     Found out that I was terminated from work since July started…but now re-appointed again. So, my status now shows ACTIVE. Well, it’s computer glitch and now all has been fixed! Never know computer do take summer vacation too!

8.     And YES! Got a piece of news that a stock is flying our way! Yes, I am going to be a DAD! I still have 6 more months before packing my ‘social life’ into the box. Nevertheless, OVERJOYED. Hopefully, later, I won’t be one of those who will flood my own FB page with all the baby pictures and updates! If I do, you can ‘unfriend’ me!

So, there you go! A nutshell of what I can think of happened in the last four months! I might update my blog more often or I might be AWOL even for a longer period since I need to prepare for the arrival of the stock! After all, it’s summer time too!

Cioa!

Things that I missed about Malaysia

Having been in Hershey, PA for the past 8 months, I started to miss Malaysia a lot, well, maybe things in and about Malaysia. Here are some of the stuff...

1. Thunderstorms, it comes nearly every evening,
2. Nasi Kandar,
3. Single season weather, that I don't need to have so many sets of clothes and changes according to the seasons,
4. Gas stove, things seems to heat up faster and food to have 'extra flavor',
5. Wok, stir fried vegetables or even deep frying fish,
6. Mamak - nasi lemak,  teh tarik and roti canai, nearly a staple food for most Malaysian,
7.  Hawker stalls, the variety of foods and the noises and all in between,
8.Warm and humid weather; I can't believe I say this, but yes, after the winter and shoveling snow,
9. Friends, though new good friends were found and friendship built, friends at home still dearly missed,
10. Families, the last two seems to be understatement!

Best Affordable Beach Resort

Recently Malaysia has been making into the lists of best travel destination. First Penang was in the list of 10 best islands to visit before you die and now Golden Palm Tree Sea Villas & Spa, Sepang is in the list of Best Affordable Beach Resorts. Hopefully this will be in the best interest for Malaysia tourism and we continue to grow from here.

by Yahoo

Best Affordable Beach Resorts

Looking for a great escape without breaking the bank? Here, affordable beach getaways from Mexico to Thailand.

By Travel + Leisure Staff

Anacaona Boutique Hotel, Meads Bay, Anguilla

Photo: Susan Croft

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Picture yourself waking to the warmth of sunshine slanting through your window, then enjoying the sound of gently crashing waves as you take your morning coffee out on your beachfront terrace.

Fortunately, putting yourself in this idyllic setting doesn’t have to break the bank. There are affordable beach resorts all over the world—from Mexico to Thailand—where a night’s stay doesn’t cost much more than dinner and wine with friends at your favorite local restaurant. Every year, the Travel + Leisure staff scours the globe to find great, inexpensive coastal resorts; none of the properties on our list costs more than $250 a night (and some cost much less).

So no matter when—or where—you’re planning on traveling, this is the list to check out if an affordable beach resort is on this year’s itinerary.

Anacaona Boutique Hotel

Meads Bay, Anguilla

On an island where $1,000-a-night rates barely raise an eyebrow, the recently reopened Anacaona Boutique Hotel manages to feel like a splurge. There’s Frette linens and free Wi-Fi in the 27 tropical-chic rooms, two pools—and even waiter service on the beach.

Cost: $250

Don’t Miss: Thursday nights at the hotel’s Fire Fly Restaurant & Bar, when a local troupe performs Afro-Caribbean dances

Cooper Island Beach Club, British Virgin Islands

Photo: Courtesy of Cooper Island Beach Club

Cooper Island Beach Club

British Virgin Islands

You won’t find shops, nightclubs, casinos, or even televisions in the rooms at this resort located on Manchioneel Bay on the northwest side of 480-acre Cooper Island. A casual beachside restaurant and bright but simple rooms with kitchenettes, radios, ceiling fans, and private baths with outdoor showers are about all there is here—but that’s enough. Don’t expect much more than palm trees, a sandy beach, clear water, and potent rum drinks.

Cost: $250

Don’t Miss: Many guests say the restaurant is their main reason for coming back—try the local specialty of conch fritters served with a spicy dip.

Sheraton Nha Trang, Nha Trang, Vietnam

Photo: Courtesy of Starwood Hotels and Resorts

Sheraton Nha Trang

Nha Trang, Vietnam

At first glance, the 284-room Sheraton Nha Trang could be an upscale hotel anywhere in the world. But a closer look reveals local art at every turn and views of island-studded Nha Trang Bay. The hotel’s restaurants cook up a range of cuisines (from street food to European pastries), and you can have snacks delivered to your lounge chair on the palm-dotted, sugar-sand beach.

Cost: $180

Don’t Miss: An on-site cooking class, where you’ll learn how to make beef pho and shrimp rolls.

Present Moment Retreat, Troncones, Mexico

Photo: Courtesy of Present Moment Retreat

Present Moment Retreat

Troncones, Mexico

A still-authentic beach town on Mexico’s Pacific coast is hard to come by, but tiny Troncones, about 20 miles north of Ixtapa, fills the bill. At this Zen-inspired retreat, 10 thatched-roof bungalows, each with a white canopy bed, private wooden deck, and meditation garden, surround a pool that overlooks the beach. Wellness is the focus here, from the health-conscious menu and Ashtanga yoga classes to beachside massages and even life-coaching sessions.

Cost: $230

Don’t Miss: A surfing lesson on Saladita Beach, a nearby surfer’s paradise.

Anemomilos Apartments, Cyclades, Greece

Photo: Courtesy of Anemomilos Apartments

Anemomilos Apartments

Cyclades, Greece

Perched atop the cliffs of Folegandros island, you’ll find the family-run Anemomilos Apartments. Whitewashed walls, private patios, and vistas of the Aegean more than make up for the sparsely decorated rooms. The real draw, however, is the lovely stone-terraced pool and pergola lounge.

Cost: $232

Don’t Miss: A short boat trip from Karavostasis harbor to remote, quiet Katergo Beach.

Les Caranques, Collioure, France

Photo: Angus McComiskey / Alamy

Les Caranques

Collioure, France

Artists, including Matisse, have long flocked to the colorful fishing port of Collioure for its scenic vistas. And the views are just as enticing as ever, especially from the patio at this hotel, built into a dramatic cliff overlooking the Mediterranean. The 22 light-filled rooms are simply (and patriotically) decorated with white wooden furniture and blue and red accents. Unwind on a rattan chaise longue on one of the small terraces carved out of rock, with winding stairs that lead to small white sand beaches.

Cost: $175

Don’t Miss: A stroll along the town’s Fauvism walking trail to see 20 reproductions of vibrant paintings by Matisse and Derain in the spots where they were first created.

Las Olas Beach Resort, Chiriquí, Panama

Photo: Courtesy of Las Olas Beach Resort

Las Olas Beach Resort

Chiriquí, Panama

A 50-minute plane ride west of Panama City, Las Olas Beach Resort has 14 miles of volcanic-sand beaches and a mangrove forest. With paintings by local artists and cream tiled floors, all 48 rooms face the Pacific. Board the resort’s 34-footer for some of the world’s best sportfishing, or head to top breaks with the in-house surf pro.

Cost: $78

Don’t Miss: Nearby Coiba National Park’s 355-acre reef.

Golden Palm Tree Sea Villas & Spa, Sepang, Malaysia

Photo: Courtesy of Golden Palm Tree Sea Villas & Spa

Golden Palm Tree Sea Villas & Spa

Sepang, Malaysia

A 90-minute drive south of Kuala Lumpur, the just-opened Golden Palm Tree Sea Villas & Spa pays homage to its name: 392 villas are raised on stilts in eight palm-frond-like rows that stretch out into the Straits of Malacca. The hotel offers a range of activities (morning walks; kayaking trips), but you’ll be just as content by the infinity pool.

Cost: $215

Don’t Miss: A traditional acupressure-focused Malay massage at the hotel’s spa.

Dune Hua Hin, Hua Hin, Thailand

Photo: Kelly Rainsforth

Dune Hua Hin

Hua Hin, Thailand

The tiny size of the five-room Dune Hua Hin makes for intimate service, even if its pool and restaurant are on the wee side. That’s a small price to pay for sexy, minimalist rooms right on a coveted stretch of beach along the Gulf of Thailand.

Cost: $127

Don’t Miss: Spotting langurs and macaques at Khao Sam Roi Yot nature reserve, an hour away.

Les 3 Chameaux, Mirleft, Morocco

Photo: Courtesy of Les 3 Chameaux

Les 3 Chameaux

Mirleft, Morocco

The village of Mirleft, on the southern Atlantic coast, has one of Morocco’s most dramatic beaches. Between the pounding surf you’ll find Les 3 Chameaux, a rustic-chic maison d’hôte with Berber furniture and carpets.

Cost: $112

Don’t Miss: An exfoliating black-soap body treatment in the hammam.