Dinner with Buddies in Kuching

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I flew back to Kuching today. Went for dinner with some of the guys, namely Bob, Edward, Ben, Jensen and Mark. Many thanks to Jensen for "belanja"ing the delicious dinner.

Our lawyer friend, George, joined us a little later.

Tomorrow we go over to St Joe to do the donation handover ...
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Lipp Kee in Kuching

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I have just been sent this photo (thanks Ben!) and hope I can post it up properly as the line here in Hanoi is a bit flaky ...

Anyway, looks like LK is well looked after and having fun at Foody Goody ...
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Here's another photo ...

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Satok Suspension Bridge Revisited

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In July last year, I put up a little posting about the old Satok Suspension Bridge. The address for that, if you want to refresh your memory, is

http://stjoe-form5in1976.blogspot.com/2009/07/remember-satok-suspension-bridge.html

Well, I thought I'd briefly touch on this topic again today. No, the structure isn't going to be rebuilt by the state government, as far as I know. And no, they didn't find any skulls in the excavated foundations either :)

The reason for this new item is a photograph (sent to me by Leo, thanks man!) which clears up a little debate we had last year about what the bridge could actually support during its time.

See boys ... I knew what the elders told me about the bridge was true.

The moral of this story is: Don't under-estimate old erections. Until the very end, their performance is usually better than people think".
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Selamat Hari Gawai (Part 2)

Here are some photos sent to me by Ah Loot, from his visit to Sinos' place at Kg Seratau (15th Mile) on the Kuching/Serian Road.

Photo 1: A smiling Sinos, back from Cambodia

Photo 2: Ah  Loot joins for a group photo

Photo 3: Mr and Mrs

Photo 4: One more time ...

Photo 5

Photo 6: What a lovely house !

Photo 7: Getting ready for the dance

Photo 8: This is how you do the traditional Bidayuh Gawai dance ...

Photo 9: C'mon, all join in ...

Photo 10: Isn't this fun?

Photo 11

Photo 12

Sure looked like a happy and enjoyable day !
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Streets of Kuching (Mystery Shots)

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Here are a couple more random shots that I took on my last visit to Kuching.

Let's see how many of you recognise where these places are ...

Photo (1)

Top of a distinctive building?

Photo (2)

Where is this dragon-protected palace?

Photo (3)

At least a couple of persons should recognise this place :-)

Photo (4)

Looks very familiar, doesn't it?

Photo (5)

Fancy some Bak Pau & Sio Bee?

Photo (6)

Where's this place for makanan & minuman?

Photo (7)

Game for some pot?

Photo (8)

Who and where is Mr D?

Anyone think they've got 8 correct out of 8 ?

Streets of Kuching

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There's an old song by Ralph McTell that I like called "Streets of London". Part of the lyrics goes something like "Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of London, I'll show you something to make you change your mind ...". Well, today's posting focuses not on London, but rather our beloved home, Puss Town in this case.

It's been a while since I put in a collection of random shots of  Kuching. I've been told such postings are especially appreciated by those homesick chaps living far away from Sarawak, and also I'm sure the boys actually in Kuching would find some of the pictures of interest too. Some of the locations are quite obvious, others may require a bit closer examination.

Anyway let me know what if anything you see will "change your mind about anything", as the song goes ...

Photo (1)

Photo (2)

Photo (3)

Photo (4)

Photo (5)

Photo (6)

Anyone can tell where this lion is from?

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CNY in Kuching - Ben & Boon Chiang

Here's a chance meeting over the Chinese New Year in Kuching ...

Ben and Boon Chiang at Mei San Restaurant, Kuching

With Ben's family (Mei Ling and Calvin)

Gong Xi Fa Cai to all !

You're most welcome to send me any photos of your happy CNY activities for sharing.

Kuching Scenes - Around the Museum Grounds

Its been a while since I did a posting of photos reflecting familiar Kuching scenes. I know these tend to be popular with the boys who are based overseas and may not have "balik kampong"-ed for some time.

Well, the pictures I have today were taken around the Sarawak Museum grounds. A favourite haunt for some of us during our younger days perhaps?

The first structure that caught my attention was the old band stand ...

This brought back for me memories from a time much earlier than the 70s. As a young boy - perhaps aged 7 or 8 - I remember going with my aunts to watch the Police band performing there on Sunday evenings around 4 or 5pm. I think these visits nurtured in me a liking for such band music, which I still enjoy listening to today. Of course, these weekly outings also included the added pleasure of savouring an ice cream cone - or ice cream tucked between two slices of bread - from the tricycled ice cream seller. Usually there would be many other kids around too. Nearby were the wooden swings and see-saws which we would all scramble onto (sometimes pushing and shoving to be first) and invariably I would end up soiling my clothing, much to the chagrin of my aunts. Nice memories ...

Then there was the famous "Pavilion" which in those days served great ang tau peng (or iced kacang). I'm sure they served other delicacies too, but I really can't remember any except for the ang tau peng. I guess everything else paled in comparison with their signature dessert. I didn't have a chance this time to go sample their current fare ... certainly an item to put on my "To do" list for the next trip home. Of course this was also the scene of a gruesome murder in the 60s which shocked Kuchingites.

On the other side of Reservoir Road (at least it used to be called that), I could see the site where St Michael's Club and Canteen once stood. Now it's a fenced off carpark area.

And towards the back of what used to be St Mike Canteen, there are some buildings which I believe used to be part of St Bernadette's School.

Now the buildings are used by the St Joseph's Parish Tuition Centre and St Jude Kindergarten.

Looking at the space in front of me, I recalled that back in the 70s, this was where rows of temporary little wooden sheds were erected every year to house various stalls (eg hoopla, mechanical horse racing, darts, fishing, etc) for the St Joseph's annual funfair. Those were happy days indeed.

Well, those are all the photos that I have for now. If any of you have nice pictures of the area, do send them to me (jslyong@hotmail.com) & I'll be sure to add them to this post.

Memories of St Michael's Canteen

During our days at St Joe in the 1970's, St Michael's Canteen was a favourite haunt for many of us. In fact many generations of students have been enjoying the food (kolo mee, laksa, fried tau hu, hay pia, etc) and desserts (ang tau peng, special) at St Mike's. Here's an old photo of the place back then (courtesy of John).

St Mike's Canteen was so much a part of our student lives. However I bet many have forgotten that it was actually the canteen serving the St Michael's Club next door. I remember the Club from my early primary school days - my late grandfather was a member and used to enjoy playing mahjong with his friends there. I also remember a billiards room and a tennis court. Also during the St Joseph's annual fun fairs, many games activities (e.g. Lotto) were carried out in the Club building itself.

For years after St Michael's Club was closed down, the Canteen continued operation. Then at one point, they decided to rename it Nyait Yang Cafe, I believe after the owner.  Eventually they had to move out of the premises because of some authority ruling (something about government land, if I remember correctly).

St Mike's first relocated to Satok Road, before later moving to their current premises in a shoplot on 3rd Mile, near to Timberland Medical Centre. The business is now run by John, whom most of us are familiar with. It has renamed to St Michael Cafe, and here's a recent picture.

Here are some of your memories of St Mike's Canteen ...

"The COIN PHONE at the side near the exit to the toilet is one of the most memorable / popular communication tools at that time for a lot of people, including myself. During those days house phone was like a premium ... same goes if your dad had a car you were somebody.... A lot of the boys queued for their turn to use the pink colour phone to call the lucky and popular STS girls who had phone at their homes those days.With 10 cents you could talk for hours if nobody was waiting for the phone and each time that happen St. Mike's John's late father would shout at you and say the phone was getting "hot" and melting and hang up the phone.....enough is enough!!!!!! (During those) times with 10cents per call and technology was not able to cut off after 3 mins so you could talk for as long as the 'Old Man' was not around or you have to stretch the cord and position yourself outside near to the toilet to hide from him.......very desparate but....Some lucky ones had phones at home but I am sure alot of the boys had queued and use the Pink phone....Unlike today even the primary school boys have handphone and facebook".  --- BW

"I recall that we sometimes made our own drinks and pay of course at St Mike's and (we) also enjoyed the prawn or tow hu fritters and then went on to the museum grounds on our way home - "monkeying" around on the swings or the metal frames" --- JL

"We used to go to St Mike's for half an hour on most weekeday evenings, when we took a break from studying at the library" --- Anon

"... When I was in Form 2 or 3, after spending all my bus fare (at St Mike's) on a few occasions, I had to walk all the way back to Kenyalang Park - quite a trudge but obviously it laid the foundation for my ability to walk long distances, even these days." --- PT


I'll add more memories & recollections as they are sent in. Or you can just add them yourself as comments.

Indeed, St Michael's was a big part of our schooldays and teenage years. To relive the tradition, we shall be visiting the new St Mike's for brunch on 23 Dec.

Another Mini-Gathering in Kuching

I was honoured when a group of old buddies waited till past 11pm at the Badger Bar, Sarawak Club after my flight from KK to Kuching was slightly delayed. It was so good to see the familiar faces again.

Lots of booze and bantering. Bob also entertained us with his musical renditions (hopefully a videoclip will be put up later). Norbert showed that he still remembered his "twist" dance movements.

Some of us later adjourned to the Open Air Market for supper.

More later ...

Eat, Drink and Be Merry @ Cat Town

A couple of nights ago, nine guys met for dinner at Topspot @ Permata Carpark. in Kuching. I believe they ordered from ABC Seafood. What's that I hear you say? What was the occasion? Huh? Do fifty-year olds need an occasion to eat, drink and be merry? Looking at these pictures, obviously not .... although I do believe the guest-of-honour for the evening might be our good buddy Sinos Bartholomew, back on vacation from sunny Siem Reap.

Not even finished eating, and Bob's eyes are straying already ...

Nobert in deep focus on the food, while Georgie boy and Robert salivate ?

Better than amok fish, Tuan Sinos?

Crabalicious competition to Eng Seng in Singapore ????

Burp .. just look at the blissful grins ...

Hope you're having a good vacation, Tuan Sinos !