A long December .....

It's a really long December ... I've been pretty busy with "don't know what" ... and I really have not had the chance to blog as I did before our short holiday back to $ingapore. Now with the new broadband connection at home, things are moving faster .. and we're now more connected to the rest of the world then we usually were, living in this part of the world.

Fiona on the other hand is real busy with her craft blogging ... and she had made some friends thru' her blog .. I'm really happy for her. Even my sister Yvonne, who is back home in $ingapore is thrilled to see her crafts on her blog :)

We were doing some event at the Hotel Royal Asia in Palembang a few days ago ... and we mamaged to take a few pictures of the skyline here in Palembang. This must be one of the taller building in Palembang (as you can see in the picture) at 7 storeys high .... rather smoggy picture .. and at a distance, you can see the red coloured bridge structure .. That's a local icon .. The Ampera Bridge .. built by the Japanese after the World War as a form of an apology to the locals for the mayhem and distress that they've caused ... It does not work at all (The mechanism that spilts the bridge in two for ships to pass through) and they are thinking of spending tons of money to restore it .... Personally, I think that the money should be better spent in improving the lives of the poorer folks rather than for flashy things ...

Made Chicken Pie today ... a recipe that is a favourite in my family .. something that my dear mummy had always cooked ...

It's baking in the oven and I should go see to it now ....

Cheers
Brian Ong

Back to Palembang

We're back here in Palembang at last. We should have been back in Palembang about 4 weeks ago but due to some administrative "errors", we were unable to get our visas that allows us to stay here for more then a month.

Now that we're in Palembang, I'm back to my work in my dad's company and Fiona is back to her sewing. Me and Fiona have to get used to a few things again .... Frequent electricity blackouts (which greeted us on our first night back for about 5 hours), fewer (and unhealthier) food choices, hungry mosquitoes and of course, an extremely slow internet connection.

Our luggages were in all about 30 kg in excess .... Imagine all the goodies that we brought back from Singapore. :) We were lucky that the customs here decided not to hassle us and gave us a miss ... And we're very happy to see our 3 beloved doggies (nevermind the fact that Mickey & Mambo are arched enemies now). I'm happy to be able to pound on my drum kit and Fiona is also extremely thrilled to be reunited with her sewing machine. The grass in our garden were overgrown (looks like a wheat field) and the fur on our Mickey and Gioia were just like the grass in our garden. :) We spent the whole morning and part of the afternoon grooming them.

Doggie fur handbag anyone? Place your orders with Fiona now. :)

Will continue posting on our blog soon ... the curtain people are finally here to fix our much need curtains that will replace our "vintage" blinds that were somewhat damaged by Mambo's and Gioia's "prying" noses.

Cheers
Brian Ong

A story I'll never forget

Fiona

Photo: article from The Sunday Times, Singapore

some things we enjoy.....

rain.... when we're under shelter..



ice-cream.....
Sweet potato with honey & chestnut from Gelato Ice-cream counter beside Meidi-ya in Liang Court is a must-eat!



buffet lunch.....




Fiona

Just for a smile

A neighbour hanging out Spongebob towel to dry on the corridor's wall. I thought it's quite funny. It put a smile on my face.

Fiona

Meeting the old & familiar

Returning home, all Brian and I wanted to do were eat, shop, meet. We had been re-tasting some well missed local food while we were here for nine days.. and there're more to go! Visiting places, mostly malls and I'm slowly getting sick of them and when I'm back in Palembang, I'll be missing them. What irony... I feel like a tourist in my homeland.

The most important and meaningful activity for me while we are here is to meet up both our families and friends. Before making the trip back, I was quite apprehensive of doing the whole socialising thing.. Imagine a hermit crab of 5 months losing its shell! So far I managed quite well, I guess..

I'm a new owner of a digi cam a few days ago. One to call my own with many thanks and love to Brian! So I've been madly taking pictures of loved ones and places. On a photo taking session today, I'm learning to use a manual SLR from our brudder who gave the cool gadget to us last Christmas.



Some pictures taken in/around Arab Street on my digi cam....







Fiona

Holiday in $ingapore

We will be back home in $ingapore for a 3 week break as Indonesia will be having its 10 day long Hari Raya Holidays beginning 20th Oct. This trip back home was somewhat unplanned & unexpected (Kinda like a bonus for us). We've initially planned to come home for a break only in January next year but hell yeah .... we're not complaining. :) In fact, we had only a day to prepare for the trip back home (imagine the mad rush to buy keropoks & batik gifts) as the flight back home to $ingapore is fully booked from this Sunday onwards. My...my.... the tourism board of $ingapore is sure doing their jobs well. :)

Mickey, Mambo & Gioia will be looked after by Theresia, our domestic helper together with Joko, one of our very helpful employee from the warehouse. Theresia will be taking the day shift while Joko will be taking the night shift. :) We will miss the doggies dearly.

One of the many things that me and Fiona will be doing back home would be meeting up with friends and raiding all the nice eateries for food that we miss so much. Little India, here we come !!! :)

I would expect myself to be drinking copious amount of beer & wine too. Alcohol buddies, you know who you are and how to get me (contactable on my $ingapore mobile) ... :)

Cheers
Brian Ong