Christmas Party time

It started on 21 Dec for us at the office with our Annual Xmas party. This time at Modesto's in Hartamas. The very sumptious 5-course Italian Christmas fare was absolutely fabulous. Everything they served was delicious. We had our traditional gift exchange as well as the usual Xmas gift from the management to everyone. The theme this year being about 'change' we gave everyone a kaleidoscope but it was a DIY pack. Having eaten to our hearts' content, the party continued at RedBox karaoke till 4! Good outing. Then on Xmas eve, the usual family gathering for feasting and gift exchange for more than 30 people at Mike's. The merry making and good food was topped off by the ripping off wrappings from presents at midnight. Most quirky gifts of the night for me were hand-made car dustbins that comes with matching pyjama bottoms. We got Summer a much deserved and long awaited iPod Nano. Zane, a cards and chips set for gaming. On Xmas day, Mum was up and about early preparing turkey porridge for hi tea with our guests. There were some frantic last minute preparations and shopping for hosting the perfect party. In the end, all went pretty well with all the food coming out in leisurely succession. Sauvignon Blanc with lumpfish caviar and condiments on water table crackers, butter, cheese-french brie, mackerel pate, smoked oysters, Spanish olives with pimento. French bread, fruit cake, sugee cake and banana crumble rounded up the start. Then the turkey porridge filled the table with it's own set of condiments of young ginger, chung, chillis, soy sauce and pepper. It was delicious. Ah..the delights of leftover turkey! More Sauvignon Blanc accompanied the stragglers still with the starters. It seems that we just couldn't stop decorating pieces of crackers with black and white toppings into our mouths. To wash it down, an unwooded Chardonnay was uncorked. Next a Chilean Sav Blanc was uncorked. Surprisingly nice, a tad too much fruit for me. My preference was the NZ Oyster Bay which has the lightest hint of grass, lemons, melons and a very stylish finish. Almost like drinking water only safer. Out came the mutton curry and chicken curry when the late afternoon hi-tea turned to dinner as we drank heartily on Carlsberg's Christmas Brew. Good times with good friends. Merry Christmas.

Zane's Outward Bound is an inward journey for us.

We drove back to Lumut, nine days after dropping Zane off at OBS for his 'maiden' away from home stay. This time to take him home. He's been there from 1Dec-10Dec. I was apprehensive about who this person I was about to be reunited with. Will he disown me? Will he hate me forevermore? I had to find out. And we did. The dark, scrawny looking, famished, yellow teethed, sun burned boy was beaming when we saw him and we each had our own questions to flood him with, but the first question each of us asked was the most telling of what's going on inside us.

Me. Did you have access to your handphone? (Indicating concern as to why he didn't try to call us if he had a chance. Maybe he was still angry...)Notice no "how are you? or Hi Son?.. Mum. Did you brush your teeth? Summer. Was it fun? Hanim. Did you have fun?....and uncontrollably hugs Zane.( Having previously warned Mum that it would not be cool to hug Zane in front of his peers...)

I was relieved that he didn't hurl things or abuses at me. Seeing him behaving restrained and aloof that BBQ nite was even more suspenseful. It was much understood as he later revealed that he didn't want to lose his cool about having so much fun at OBS. A place that he so begrudgingly went to at our insistence. He said he enjoyed kayakking the most. The 12km paddle to Pangkor Island and camping overnight was the most fun. It was the highlight of his trip. The most torturous was perhaps the solo camp overnight in the jungle. He was facing his fear of the dark. Then there's rock climbing, hiking, rapelling, abseiling and all the wonderful stuff every young person must experience. We had more than our son back that weekend, we had a more enlightened teenager who has broadened his horizon a little. Thanks Godmas Hanim and Ann.

Michelin Star Dining

My host Chow in front of my devoured main course

Last Wednesday night I was invited to dinner by my Client, Resorts World the marketing arm of Genting Berhad. This was no ordinary dinner as it was to taste the culinary creations of Chef Christian Moine, a Michelin Star chef from France. The Olive at Genting Highlands was to be the most apt dining outlet for such an auspicious occassion. It was a rainy afternoon that continued with our journey up the highlands that made it much colder at 6,000feet. It was nice and cold for me as we were escorted to our table where our host WH Chow, the VP for National Marketing was waiting together with other guests for the night. Soon as we were joined by Chow's lovely marketing assistants, Therine and Evon, the dinner began. First course of the six course meal was; Shellfish Guacamole paired with Perrier Jouet Grand Brut NV Champagne. The mass of shellfish topped with greenish guacamole heaped onto a chinese soup spoon was pleasant mouthful of exotic, contrasting flavours of the raw shellfish with the avacado. The champagne provided a lovely, heady aftertaste on the palate. The Marseille style fish soup looked like a small serving of traditional tomato soup but the taste was rich with fish sprinkled with french croutons. Next came the Roasted Dublin Bay Prawns with Citrus Vinaigrette paired with Chateau Loudenne Blanc, France. We were debating the origin of the prawns which tasted fresh and flavourful yet tender. The semillion/semillion blanc was refreshing and easy to drink matched the prawns very well. With the prawns comes the fish, the Turbot with Golden Chanterelle Emulsion was next. It's a slice of fish sitting in a creamy sauce reminiscent of cod. Very tasty and fishy. The main course came in the form of; Veal Rubbed with Tumeric and Meat Jus with Coconut Milk. Visuals of curry and Indian influences came to mind when we read this. But was soon forgotten when we devoured the tender slices of veal that was in a delectable sauce that tasted nothing indian. It was absolutely appealing to the senses. The medium done veal was velvety in texture. The pairing with Crozes Hermitage Les Meysonniers, M. Chapotier was skilfully done. Both brought out the best in each other. The typical French red has a very big nose, complex and characterful and the taste was subtle and finish very stylish. So very French. Pre-Dessert was Wild Strawberry Creme Brulee, which was fantastically delectable and raised my expectations for the main dessert which was; Pan Roasted Mango and Vanilla ice cream. It fell short of spectacular when compared to the pre. The dessert wine was outstanding revealing complex bouquet and big fruity bursts of flavours. Muscat Beaunnes de Venise, France. We took our coffee in the Olive lounge which was quite elegant and cosy. When we strolled to our ride home in front of Genting hotel, the front was like London on a misty day with temperatures to match. It was indeed a lovely evening of world class food which I truly enjoyed. Merci Beaucoup Genting. Merci Beaucoup Monsieur Moine!

Zane is Outward Bound

For his 15th birthday, his godmas gave him, (what I consider a very appropriate) a present in the form of a 10-day outdoor programme at The Outward Bound School in Lumut, near Pangkor Island, the place that the late Luciano Pavarotti called Paradise. That was back in September and even back then he was less than thrilled at the OBS gift. Now as the days drew closer to December 1st, the day to report to 'camp' he became very grungy and irritable. The eve of his departure was the worst. He was in such foul mood that I had to convene an emergency family meeting to ground him and allay fears both for him and us, the family. It started off rather well we thought but it didn't end very well as fear got the better of him and he 'resigned' to the fact that there was no way out of this 'fate' that had been befallen him but to just 'do as he is told'. That was not what I had started to achieve but after the tempers died down, I realised that we never have been apart for more than 2 or 3 days and this is the first time he'll be gone for 10 days. As for Zane, this temporary 'incarceration' is a major interruption in his otherwise full and contented life on his computer, PS2, iPod, Canon G9, Astro Channels, Archie comics and his must loved badminton trainings. At this stage interruptions are NOT welcome. I can imagine. That night we all went to bed each with a heavy heart but tired-out from the stress we gave each other. The next morning Zane was up early, went into pensive and contemplative mode and wrote a post on his blog here We took a quiet drive to Lumut via Bidor where we had lunch at the famous duck noodle restaurant. Upon arrival at OBS Lumut, we were greeted by a troop of young boys and girls who were warm and enthusiastic against the backdrop of a seaside cove that front the whole facility. It was quite lovely and picturesque. An exciting new environment. I felt that Zane was very much at ease when he saw people his age and of different shapes and sizes all gathered there, some happy as a puppy, others as sour-pussed as he. He was quickly inducted to his group where his trainer was on hand to brief and walk him through the registration process. A while later, he handed me his excess cash in foreign currency and off he went to his group leaving us to fend for ourselves as we wandered around to catch a glimpse of him to say goodbye but to no avail. In the end we could only wave him goodbye from a distance and drove off. Me, happy knowing my son feels fine with the place and more importantly, will have his leadership qualities taken to a higher level. I drove away thinking how good he looks in the group of young men and ladies.

Kijal,Terengganu-Oktoberfest '07

The Start at Genting-Karak Highway The Middle-At the end of the Karak-Kuantan highway The Arrival. At Kijal Golf with The Buffaloes Me. Pre-departure GP Photo-Pre Departure Rest Stop-Temerloh Cruising home Bends are best

Last year I rode my Ducati, got the attention it warranted, initiated a relationship with the then MD of Auto Bavaria on an esoteric level. Partied for one night and rode the delicious curves of Cameron Highlands for 2 days. See post here

This year, I rode a BMW K1200R courtesy of Auto Bavaria. Developed a working relationship with the recently promoted MD of the Sime Darby Motor Division, working on the Auto Bavaria BMW business div. Partied for 3days/2nights drank German beer, played golf, drank more German beer. All of the fun activities for the annual Oktoberfest this year was held at Awana Kijal in Terengganu. A decent place for sun sea and surf for a couple of nights stay with biker friends. This year's Oktoberfest came quite late in fact on 16 to 18 November. Right smack in the monsoon months of the East Coast. As luck would have it, there wasn't any rain, the weather was perfect and we even managed fourteen holes of golf and we couldn't finish only because of failing light. So we were mostly dry throughout the ride.

My initial feelings for the ride this year was filled with apprehension as I hadn't been riding as much and I'd rather spend holidays with my family. Just as I had checked into my room, after the long ride from KL, I had begun missing the family. A melancholic, forlorn feeling indeed.

But as human survival instincts would have it, the trip turned out to be fun and memorable. Especially the male bonding stuff and the side trips to the backroads of Kijal that reveal spectacular views and curves for negotiating with the bikes. The ride back was as much a test of endurance as it was a test of BMW bikes for me. I rode the R1200S back to KL and I'm pretty much smitten with BMW bikes by now, on the never-ending highway that ran mostly straight. And the friendship and camaraderie formed will last a long long time. Thanks Mathias, Chippy and AB!

Going, Going, GoneForHoliday for G4H

At last after almost three years since our last one in Bali, we bundled everybody including the Gan children onto Air Asia Flt. No. AK760 boarding 0600hrs bound for Hanoi, Vietnam for our much deserved company holiday. 

The 4-day/3-nite break was from Thursday, 1 Nov - Sunday, 4th Nov 2007. It was a tour organised just for us by a KL travel agent who coordinated the ground arrangements with a Hanoi one. It was very well paced and not frenzied or frenetic. 

The cool weather in the northern hemisphere where Hanoi lies made it all the more unhurried and leisurely. We did the mandatory tourists spots like, Ho Chih Minh mausoleum, his house, his cars, his gardens, the French quarter, the Old quarter, and sampling the beef noodles or Pho. 

Then the next day, it was a 3-hour road trip by bus through the Vietnamese countryside, off to one of the places I had wanted to see before I die; Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town of Halong, looks like a French seaside resort, very quaint and charming. The 3,000 plus limestone islands surrounding the bay remind me of Ipoh and Batu Caves. They were quite a sight to behold in the sea. Throughout the trip, I thoroughly enjoyed the time spent with my colleagues, the hanging out at our makeshift 'casino' in all the hotels we stayed, and also spending so much time with my family. It was really quite bearable and very relaxing. The pictures hopefully tell the story.

A Giant Among Men

Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong passed away at age 90 last week of old age. The life Chairman and founder of Genting, for over 42 years carved the 'city of entertainment' out of the hillside outside KL to build a world class tourist destination at 6,000ft above sea level.

The resort attracts about 18 million visitors annually. It is also home to the world's largest hotel, which makes Genting, the world's largest integrated resort.
Opened in 1971, Genting is a story of sheer grit, determination, perserverance, blood, sweat and tears. At the very start, Lim personally led a team of able bodied men up the mountain to literally beat a path up the hills. Today, the roads that snake up and down the mega resort could rival the best constructed roads in the country.
When he arrived in then, Malaya, he was broke and lonely and he took on several jobs to earn a living. He sold vegetables from a bicycle and traded in scrap metal but he missed his mother the most and he often returned home to Anxi, Fujian to see her. His moment of glory for me, was when he returned to China in style in 2004 when he sailed into Shanghai's Pearl River delta aboard his Cruise Ships SuperStar Virgo and Leo. Among the world's largest.
Today his diversified business empire is worth US$22 billion. He is ranked about 200th richest man in the world.

I went up the hills on Friday to pay my last respects to the man. His body lied in state at his villa in Gohtong Jaya. The journey up to his villa is long and winding as the journey up to the Resort. But unlike the Resort where you are rewarded with a grand venue with world class facilities and opulent decor when you arrive, the villa where Lim Goh Tong lives is a very ordinary, no frills, simple dwelling place that is even a little frayed at the ends that signify being lived-in with little fuss or bother. A medium sized house surrounded by lots of undulating land.

With that perspective, I realised that, at the very core of the Lim Goh Tong's make up there lies simplicity. Simplicity for oneself. A trait that is being passed down to the Lim family. The man is a contractor at heart. He knows how to do what he does best and he kept on doing that even when he no longer had to, the man was spotted supervising construction by the roadside in recent times. His well planned successor, second son, Tan Sri KT Lim displays similar qualities and that is perhaps why he is taking the company to even greater heights with the Sentosa Integrated Resort win last year.

I am thankful to be working with the Genting Group founded by this great man and his family. This experience further strengthens my belief in keeping things "Simple". I believe the man in keeping things simple, could afford to dream.
And dream big he did. That was all that mattered- the size of your dreams.
Thank you Uncle Lim for the honour and the inspiration.
God bless your soul and with your work here certainly done, may you rest in peace.

Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong was laid to rest at Goh Tong Memorial Park, Genting Highlands at 1.18pm today.

Casey Stoner World Champion 2007 MotoGp

Summer is 12

Summer Suyin Gan celebrated her twelfth birthday today. It was the usual quiet family dinner at any restaurant she chooses. This time it was (at papa's urging) 7atenine or better understood when spelt out; Sevenatenine at The Ascot adjacent to KLCC. The music was too loud for a quiet family dinner although the location, view, decor and ambience was really swanky. The food and service fell way, way short of swanky which was a real mismatch for a potentially top notch dining venue. At the start of the evening, we were in the mood to start with some oysters to go with the very impressive Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc on the wine list but no oysters. And no soups, just sashimi green salad and deep fried soft shell crabs. Nevertheless, our darling enjoyed her lobster, which wasn't on the very limited menu, but on special request was specially grilled to her liking, the special flambe 7Alaska dessert was to die for. The subtle textures of vanilla ice cream and chocolate in creme brulee with rum sauce was a heavenly mix, but the piece' de resistance was the chocolate birthday cake that came straight from the kitchen with a candle on it. It was a pleasant surprise; compliments of the chef. It was a Sweet finish to a lovely evening. Happy Birthday darling.

Marcel Marceau

Marcel Marceau

When I was a young boy, I remember this sad, white faced clown who did the most amazing thing . On stage, he was trying to escape a very tight glass box that he somehow got himself stuck in. With great dexterity and lots of pulling and pushing with his white-gloved hands, he manages to contort his body, and finally free himself from the glass box which I later found out to be non-existant. I was an instant fan, of such an avant garde art of self expression. I remember thinking; what drove this man to express himself in such a unique fashion? It is such a lonely art, I thought. Not being able to talk to your audience. But as I grew older and wiser, I realised the truth behind the saying; 'Words are the most primitive form of communication" And Marcel put it very nicely for me as he said; "In mime, gestures express the essence of the soul's most secret aspirations" And his famous quote; " Do not the most moving moments of our lives find us all without words?" 

  The French mime artist Marcel Marceau has died at the age of 84, his family has announced.

The performer was known around the world for his portrayal of a sad, white-faced clown in a striped pullover with battered hat. Born in Strasbourg in 1923, the French mime artist performed even in his eighties. 

He died of a heart attack on Saturday.

Au Revoir Mon Ami.

Seventeen

Sounds like nineteen, the song about the average age of American soldiers sent to the Vietnam war. At least those young men would have driven their first car...

At a very young age, he has travelled far and wide. At 9,we visited the West Coast of America to visit Disneyland and his aunty in Rancho Verdes, in Torrance, near Los Angeles. Then San Francisco, San Diego and Fresno.
At 12, he went to MUSS- Manchester United Soccer School for 2 weeks. There he visited the Theatre of Dreams- Old Trafford and posed for a photo with, who he and I consider the best defender England ever had-Rio Ferdinand and company.

Right after his fifteenth birthday, he had to take on a different journey, a journey that was to end his life on earth, two weeks after his sixteenth birthday. It was a journey that quickly turned my son into a man. After the initial shock and grief, he faced the disease head-on and ever so fearlessly he fought every inch of the way. From the steroids drips, to the stereotactic brain surgery for biopsy to the daily radio therapy, he never wavered in his stride. Then came the chemotherapy, he also came to terms with the poison, like a man. He took the blows, I don't know how but he took it straight on until he could no longer as it wasn't helping anymore.

I had planned for him to have his driving license now and for him to drive the Mini I bought in advance for him.
What a day it would have been for him and what a sight it would have been for me.

Today he would have been seventeen years and one month old. What a day it would have been.
Happy Seventeen my man. I miss you.

Visit Jon's blog for birthday post.

I'm stuck!

I am so stuck it hurts. Sorry guys.