Su Chong Ming & Annie Wedding

Date: 6-Dec-2008
There are perhaps too many photos here for Chong Ming & Annie wedding. But my objective is to record the sequence of event or culture which many have forgotten! More photos will be uploaded to my Photobucket later.

Chong Ming was armed with these roses.... at 6:30AM! That was just after they bowed to "heavenly Father" and then given acknowledgement to the ancestor.

On arrival at the bride's home, he was "not allowed" to enter unless... ang pow was given to the siblings! hahaha...

After that, he was fed with "long life" noodle. Delicious...

The bride was waiting upstairs in her room.... the door would not be opened unless he could satisfy the "demand" ... ok... more ang pow and finally he had to sing a song!

ok lah... Chong Ming seems to be saying "darling... open the door for me!"

The brother had to wear her shoe!

Off they went to the church for the wedding ceremony.

This is the "match maker". Her job? Advisor, negotiator, go in between, etc...

Arrival at Mei Ang Methodist Church in Miri.

The pair of rings...

The father brought her in to be "given away"...

"Handed" her over with a handshake!

Presentation by the young adult fellowship.

Preaching by pastor...

Face each other to take the marriage vow...

Rev Luk blessing the rings.

They put on ring for each other. By the way, at the bride's home, the father (FIL) also put a ring on the bridegroom.


Both parents lit a candle each ...

... and they use the candles to lit the last one to signify that the parents gave their blessing for them to start a new life together!

hahaha... the siblings were waiting outside....

We had a brief photo session at Taman Awan...

His opportunity to ask her "if you would marry me?". Hahaha... late but never too late!



On arrival at the bridegroom's home, the MIL "decorate her" with "flowers (添丁)"... to wish that a grandson be born soon!

See the red flower?

A meal of "long life noodle" again. After the meal, she returned to her own parents home.

The father let off fire cracker to "announce" her arrival!

ok... eating another meal at her home! The morning event was temporarily coming to an end. The evening would be a time of a big meal with lots of friends. Photos will follow soon.

Just return from KL & ramdon stuff

I went to KL on Thursday looking at Inti and Nottingham University. These two institutions are quite majestic! They both look great. Photos will be posted soon.

Then I went to do a little shopping in KL. Christmas celebration and mood are on. Everywhere, people are competing for the tallest trees.

Oh... Eric is giving away free "Fruit ice cream" at his 1+ Organic store at Pustaka on Saturday 6/12. All are welcomed. So make sure that you pay his store a visit!

One last thing, Min Min is going to marry! I am his photographer and I need to be at his place at 5:30AM and I am still here at this hour on this blog... ok, see you tomorrow again. I have lots of photos to post.

Proverbs 16:1-9

Proverbs 16:1-9
1 To man belong the plans of the heart,
but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue.

2 All a man's ways seem innocent to him,
but motives are weighed by the LORD.

3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed.

4 The LORD works out everything for his own ends—
even the wicked for a day of disaster.

5 The LORD detests all the proud of heart.
Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.

7 When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD,
he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.

8 Better a little with righteousness
than much gain with injustice.

9 In his heart a man plans his course,
but the LORD determines his steps.

Visitors from Doulos

This evening, we have five visitors from the world largest floating bookshop MV Doulos visiting us.

They are Werner & Regiane Seitz (Brazil), Aebi Woratz (Germany), Leonard Ochieng (Kenya) & Kaitlyn Swenson (USA).
They shared about their experiences serving as volunteer on the boat. Each volunteer will have to stay for two years. To know more about the mission, visit their webs:
http://www.om.org
If you want to know more about OM, go to "Contacts" and you will find your local contact. To know more about the world largest float bookshop, go to:
http://www.mvdoulos.org

Flower of Dragon Fruit

I have never saw the flower of dragon fruit in full bloom although I knew that they are huge....

This evening, I saw these two flowers in my neighbour's garden... amazingly beautiful and huge! They must be about 10 inches (25cm) across. By morning, they would have fade away.

These are the result of the flowers after pollination! The largest fruit can weigh as much as 1kg!

60 Doctors a years suffering from mental diseases

Update: 1-Dec 2008
Apparently it is refering to overseas students only as reported by The Star today. But what is the relationship between exam in foreign language and depression, I don't understand. How about those from Indonesia? I though their language is very similar to BM. Could it be because there are other underlying problems that we are not aware?

Many medical students suffer from depression
By M. KRISHNAMOORTHY

KUALA LUMPUR: Many Malaysian medical students overseas who take examinations in a foreign language suffer from depression when they return.
Physicians for Peace and Social Responsibility (PPSR) vice-president Datuk Dr Abdul Hamid Abdul Kadir said that large numbers of young Malaysians were being trained in foreign medical schools in Indonesia, Russia, India, Poland, Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

-----------------
Watch out... 60 doctors a year suffering from mental woes. Malaysia has 21 medical schools, we have a population of about 20+ million. Compare this to UK... they have about the same number of medical school and 3x our population. Their selection criteria is extremely strict. For us, I think it is high time to filter the student. I hope I will not have a psychotic treating me.

This news is from The Star.

At least five doctors to suffer from mental woes every month

By M. KRISHNAMOORTHY

KUALA LUMPUR: Every month, at least five doctors are found to be suffering from mental illnesses, director-general of health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said.

He said these doctors were either psychotic or neurotic but still managed to get into medical schools because these schools were not screening students meticulously enough.

“When the doctors complete their two-year housemanship and their applications are submitted for registration with the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC), they fail to get registered.

“Their supervisors do not certify them as fit to be registered because of indiscipline and poor attitude arising from mental health problems.

“The mental cases range from psychotic to neurotic. Psychotic cases include delusions and hallucinations, and neurotic behaviour includes anxiety, fear and anger due to the competitive environment,” said Dr Ismail.

1+ Organic Food

1+ Organic can be found at the entrance of Pustaka Miri (e-Library). Please note that it is not the public Library at Dewan. Just before you enter the main entrance of Pustaka, look to your left!


They offer a varieties of pure fruit juice...

All home grown from their own farm.


The operator...

Helping out for the opening day...

Wei Ger from Sibu

Friends who came ...

More friends who came ...

Combined CG James & William

We have a combined cell group fellowship between Michael and James' groups. It was at the fellowship hall and I am pleased that many people turn up and the place is just big enough. Combined cell always involve food...

Lamb shank ... from Secret Recipe



Uncle James flagging off... children first!

He brought along two pots of shepherd pie!

Hahaha... Michael, you reminded me when my children were young. This was what I did also.

Lots of food....

Young CG members... Judy, Jennifer and ... son, Larry!

She just made it to the dean list of her university ... congratulation!

Ah... this is the difference ... do you noticed that all the boys do the washing up without being instructed? I reminded all the mums "not to interfere" other than giving encouragement! They did a very good job! I am very proud of them.

A time of praise and worship.



Then we were split into ladies and men groups for the bible knowledge challenge on the book of Mark...

I know right from the beginning that the ladies will probably beat the men... why? One the them read the book of Mark no less than 3 times!

The men team came in second (???)... also got prize!

Then our honourable judge, Min Hung, was given something for appreciation.

Richard gave testimony.

Brother Gary told us how he became a Christian and joined a CG. He is Richard's son.

Our leader for the evening.

Sister Jennifer gave her testimony too.

Grace gave her testimony as well ....

brother Duan...

... also Victor. He typed his testimony as not many of us understand sign language. I understand some very basic sign...

Finally Michael.... We have a great evening, rounding off with prayers for those who needed it, eg, the sick, etc.

My Lily Pond

I got the idea from Inland Revenue Department in Miri. I saw they have a tiny lily pond just outside their gate. I believed that the original design was probably to fill it with soil and planted something in it.
I went back and it occurred to me that my little empty aquarium has nothing to do. So I went out and dug some soil and fill it in (about 4 inches) and then I filled it with water. Went down the road and "pluck" some lily root and the rest was history! However, I soon found that it is a breeding ground for mosquitoes also....

... so I went to pasar malam and bought RM2 worth of tiny carps and put them in. All problem solved ... no mosquito larvae again, no feeding, no oxygen pump.
And... this is the second time it bloomed. Quite nice, right or not?
The only problem is that the water is a little dark and I can also see the shadow of the carps once in a while. But I am not worried because their job is to eat the mosquitoes larvae and rotting vegetation!