Giving Back to St Joe (Part 3)

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Here's an update on our donations from Bob Chew ...


"Hi all

1. Mark and I went to St Joe last week to confirm and pay for 105 units student desks and 3 teacher's tables. Choice of material, colour scheme and carpentry was done by SJS. The total for desks ( RM 7140 ) + tables ( RM 1500) = RM 8640.These desks and tables will be imprinted with " donated by Form 5 class of 1976".

2. We are now ordering 105 + 3 pippee brand plastic chairs to be sent to SJS . These will also bear the imprint "donated by Form 5 class of 1976".

3. All items will be delivered into the class ready for the new term on 14th Sept. The school break is from Sep 4th - 13th.
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4. We will organise a handover ceremony, date to be advised, after putting all these in place. The plan is to have at least 3 reps each from Form 5 Sci, Arts1 and Arts2 to be there for handover. We will also invite all donors if they are in Kuching. I will liase with the school prinicpal.
Bye for now

Bob Chew"


Thanks Bob and Mark for all the efforts.  Will all those who haven't yet sent in their pledges please arrange to do so directly with Bob (lkcbob@tm.net.my).

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LINKS

Here are links to previously posted information on our "Giving Back to St Joe" initiative.

27 May:   Revisiting the Library

12 June:   Giving Back to St Joe

3 July:     Giving Back to St Joe (continued)
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10 Sept:   Giving Back to St Joe (Part 4)

15 Sept     The Handover

Giving Back to St Joe (continued)

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On 1st July 2010, some of the guys had breakfast at Kwong Hup Cafe on Jalan Keretapi, Kuching.

A cheque of RM 1,500 was presented by Datuk JJ to Bob Chew, for the St Joe donation.

THANK YOU, Datuk JJ for your generosity!

Datuk JJ presents cheque to Bob, while Norbert, Mark and Sinos look on

Sorry guys, for general security reasons I think it's better not to show the other close-up picture of the cheque that you sent to me.

Thanks all for giving back to your alma mater.
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Mark and family in Singapore

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Mark Chin and family were in Singapore this week. On Friday, we went for dinner at Newton Food Centre.

Afterwards we went for a stroll by the waterfront at the Esplanade Theatres by the Bay (affectionately called "The Durians") to take in the Singapore night skyline.

Click click click! Opportunities for some nice photos ... The new Marina Bay Sands integrated resorts (including the casino) is in the background ... The well-known local joke is that the three distinctive buildings represent the "Father, Son and Holy Goh".

The Merlion and Fullerton Hotel (which was the former General Post Office), backed by the buildings of the financial district, make for quite a nice night view.

There were also some free performances around Esplanade area, which we stayed around to watch ...

... as well as take some shots with the outdoor displays ...

It was good to meet Mark & family. We all had an interesting evening.
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Cigars, Coffee and Combrades @ Merdeka Palace

On Tuesday afternoon, after a discussion with Merdeka Palace Hotel's sales executive (hope you got us the best deal for Dec 23, guys :-), Ben, Robert, Mark, and Mr S were treated by Datuk JJ to Cuban cigars and drinks.

I believe this relaxing place is at the La Habana divan, which apparently specializes in a wide selection of Cuban cigars and also has one of the largest selection of Single Malt Whiskies in Malaysia. Of course, our friends were all very "kuai" and seem to be drinking coffee or tea only.

Jude joined them a little later, as the next photo shows ...

Now, am I the only one who can't recognise Mr S ? I'm sorry, he looks vaguely familiar, but .....

Here's a close up shot - trigger any memories for any of you reading this ?

Well, let me introduce you to none other than our old friend Subramaniam from Form 5 Arts 2 (1976) ! Now a high profile officer with the Polis DiRaja Malaysia (PDRM), he's based at Bukit Aman in KL.

Ahem Mr S .... errr ... I've this little problem with speeding tickets ... JUST KIDDING lah !

Also Subramaniam will be there at our Grand Reunion on 23 Dec. Really looking forward to meeting you there, Mr S !

A Skrang Expedition ... 33 years ago

I received this great "photo essay" from our friend Robert Chin (Form 5 Arts2, 1976), describing an interesting expedition he and other buddies made during those boyhood days of the mid 70s ... here's the story as told by Robert (with WJ applying a wee bit of creative license :-)
xxxxx

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One fine evening, thirty-three years ago, Bob Chew, Philip Hii, Mark Chin and I sat down to think of something adventurous to do.

xxxx

Yeah… we decided to make a trip to Skrang to see and experience life in a longhouse. Our history lessons had taught us that the inner reaches of Sarawak were once the home of notorious pirates and headhunters …

We got hold of an Iban friend (as tour guide) , boarded a bus (STC) from Kuching and headed to a place called Entaban. From there, we continued by motorized longboat down the Skrang river, occasionally “shooting the rapids”.

We spent two nights at Murat or more precisely at Rumah Basing longhouse, Nanga Murat.

xxxx

From left: Tour Guide, Robert Chin, Philip Hii, Mark Chin

xx From Left: Tour Guide, Philip Hii, Bob Chew, Mark Chin
(Bob obviously attracted by something amazing)

Here we had our first-hand experience of the customs and traditions of the Dayak Ibans.

Brave warriors RC & BC, in ngajat headgear, ready to do battle ...

MC and PH getting also ready for ngajat dance

The highlight of the evenings was fun and entertainment by the longhouse residents (young and old) performing traditional dances and music.

We also saw many residents at work.

PH with his hunting dog and Granny busy with her weaving

Bob trying to concentrate on the weaving

BC helping mum with the padi pounding

We had chankok manis (“money cai”) & monkey for dinner, washed down with

“Chap Ah Pek” wine.