Monday, May 31, 2010

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Name the Town

.
Here's a little quiz to test how well you know your Sarawak. If you have been travelling around the towns and cities of our great state, some of these statues and monuments should be quite familiar to you. I must admit that when Leo Sia first sent these photos to me, I was completely stumped by some of them. It just goes to show that I've got to do a lot more sightseeing within Sarawak.

Out of the following, let's see how many you score (one is an obvious giveaway, of course) ...


Town 1


Town 2


Town 3


Town 4


Town 5


Town 6


Town 7


Town 8


Town 9



Town 10

An added incentive is that the first one who gets all ten absolutely correct will receive some automotive accessories. So what are you waiting for ? Send your attempts to me at jslyong@hotmail.com .
.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Revisiting the Library

.
When was the last time you visited our St Joe Library? For me it was probably 1976 or 1977. Well, last week Bob Chew and I visited the school principal Mr Thomas Lau for a discussion on areas the Class of 1976 could give back to the school. During that visit, we were shown various parts of the school including the library. I thought some of you might be interested to see what the library looks like now, so I took some photos.

Well, here's the main entrance ...



After you enter, there's a large librarian desk area on the left ...


Then there are half a dozen or so rows of private study cubicles ...



A pair of common use computers sit in one corner ...



You then have to go through some glass doors to get to the second section ...


The book shelves looked very familiar. Looking more closely, I discovered that they were the very same shelves from the time of the 70s.




Towards the other end, there are some locked rooms, one of which contained several more computers for student use.



Walking through the library brought back many memories. This was a place that some of us spent many hours in, and got to know extremely well back in our day.

The place looks reasonably well maintained, but obviously more can be done to improve the collection of reference books, upgrade the computing tools and possibly enhance the physical furnishings.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Happy 80th Birthday to Bro Albinus

I learnt that Bro Albinus O'Flaherty celebrated his 80th birthday this weekend. Bro Albinus was the former principal of St Joseph's Secondary School (1963-69) and Sacred Heart Sacondary School (1972-1986). He is also the author of  the book "A new dawn : history of the Archdiocese of Kuching (1976-2001)".



Bro Albinus, like all the other brothers, has done a great deal for education in Sarawak. I believe he is the last remaining La Salle brother in Kuching (and mostly probably in Sarawak), and resides at St Joe. He still oversees a tuition program for underserved students especially in rural areas around Kuching

My dad (also a Josephian in the 1940s) and I visited him briefly last Thursday, and Bro Albinus looks well and in good cheer.

I'm sure Bro Albinus would greatly appreciate your well-wishes or a quick visit if you were around our alma mater.
.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Meeting of Mustached Brothers

.
Place: Lobby of RH Hotel, Sibu
Date: 17th May 2010
Time: 10:19PM

After almost 40 years, I had the opportunity to meet my ol' primary school buddy Gerard Harry. What a momentous occasion !



I quickly found that Gerard is the same friendly, chatty and carefree boy that I knew from those early years.

I also found that we shared many similar physical characteristics (no prizes for any that you spot in the above photo :-)

Gerard and I went out for teh-si and snacks, and chatted till late.



We had dinner again the following evening.
.
Well buddy, let's not wait another 40 years to catch up.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Adventures in South China (Part 3)

I reckon many of you are waiting with bated breath for this concluding part of the guys' South China adventures.

Well, to start off, let me put in one photo of Ah Loot (again!) that should have gone into Part 2. I don't think any caption is needed ...



Anyway the boys spent almost a day in Hong Kong. The first photo is them on their way there.



They were at the HK waterfront, where there's a place dedicated to Asian movie stars.  Here's Nobert at the Avenue of the Stars. Lights, camera, action !


Norbert, I guess you liked Ti Lung a lot back in those days ...


And who is Ah Loot matching his hand with? Andy Lau?


Waaaaooooooiooooo .... Lee Xiao Loong or Lee Xiao Loot ?

Touring Hong Kong on a topless bus ...


The grand tour master ...


Did the guys go to Hong Kong Disneyland ?


Yummmmmm .... roast goose?


Well, I must say that the guys are letting Ah Loot get all the photographic limelight. Hmmm, I wonder why?

Anyway, the grand finale follows in the next two photos. No comment from me, except that I was told these shots were of a touch screen at a spa. I'll let the guys explain how the system works. LOL.





Sure seemed like a very interesting adventure to South China.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Adventures in South China (Part 2)

.
Hope you enjoyed Part 1. Here's the continuation of the South China adventure ...

The guys visited the famous city of Dongguan (which I'm told is the place where more than half of the world's branded sports shoes and related sports items are made !). They obviously enjoyed themselves drinking and singing. I think you pay the singer/musician RMB 10 per song or something like that ...



A happy Ah Loot on candid camera ... smile !!!


Another singer/musician comes on ...

... and Ah Loot shows his vocal prowess ...

Not sure whether this is  before or after the singing session, but apparently this is a pirate van that the guys are getting into ...


More foot massages ...


Some were brave enough to try the food at the roadside stalls ... and some weren't.



Speaking of food, here's how McDonalds is delivered in China.



Yummmmmm .... enjoying Peking Duck ... first time for some?


Everyone agrees the food was good !


There's quite a number of photos still to share, so it seems like I'll have to extend to Part 3, where you'll see more on their time in Hong Kong ... and maybe more exciting spas and massages ?
.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Adventures in South China (Part 1)

.
From 17th-23rd April, a small group led by "old China hand", Ben Wong, visited a number of interesting locations in South China. The intrepid adventurers included Norbert Liew, Anthony Chung, Edward Chin, Robert Chin, Chris Chu (from a number of years after us) and Basil Wee (of Tabuan Jaya curry fame).

They had a whirlwind trip, going to Macau, Zhuhai, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Guangzhou and HK all in 7days.(note: some went seperate ways when they arrived at Zhuhai.)




It was a first trip to China/Macau/HK for Norbert, Edward and Basil.

Ben sent me quite a number of photos, so this posting will be spread over Part 1 and Part 2.

First we have a photo of the team in Macau. I believe this is at The Venetian casino ? Guys, help me out here.


Photo 1

They were also in Zhuhai ...


Photo 2

... and Shenzhen ...


Photo 3

where they had some pampering of their feet ...


Photo 4

Photo 5

after which they were ready for action again ...


Photo 6

They also spent half a day at the Guangzhou fair.


Photo 7

Photo 8

Later they went to the train station and took a bullet train ride to Shaoguan and back. It was an interesting ride, travelling at a top speed of 348 km/h.


Photo 9
Photo 10

Photo 11

Photo 12

Photo 13

Photo 14

Photo 15

Photo 16


Well, I'll let the adventurers provide you with the details behind these photos.

More exciting stuff on Dongguan and Hong Kong, and in spas and singalongs. Watch out for Part 2.
.