Gong Xi Fa Cai à la Dubai

Gong Xi Fa Cai! Koung Hey Fatt Choi! Keong Hi Huat Cai! (As you can see, this was from years ago, 3 years to be exact, when Justin was around, the last CNY Justin spent with us. Miss you, our son! Enjoy your CNY in Singapore!)

Here’s a super quick Chinese New Year Post! Busy day today, lots of work, plus errands, before the Reunion Dinner tonight. Busy times ahead (for the time being). I’ve been asked to help out with a new Project ‘temporarily’. Yes, temporarily! Because my name isn’t even in the friggin org chart. So, who knows what happens when all the supposed team members are mobilized? Guess I’ll go back to being a recluse holed up in some dingy god-forgotten office. Hopefully, I’ll still be employed. For the time being, Huat Ah! (As they say, “teen did log ley, dong pey kum” …When the sky falls, use it as a blanket!)

Meanwhile, here’re some photos of our CNY from the past few years, to welcome in the new year! It looks like we’ll be having another quiet CNY, all by ourselves, just the 3 of us. Family, minus Justin, because he’d be celebrating in Singapore with Jason’s family!




Happy Chinese New Year, from the Year of the Tiger (2022), in DragonMart, Dubai




Wishing you a happy and prosperous new year, from the Year of the Rabbit (2023), in Dubai Expo City




All this for our family of 3?!?? (CNY 2023)


Gong Xi Fa Cai, from the Year of the Dragon (2024), at my company’s event in the Burj Park, Dubai


Meeting an old colleague whom we’ve not met for a long time, Xu Zhiyuan. Thanks to him, I started speaking Mandarin. Because, he would speak to me only in Chinese, whether I understood or not, or whether whatever I said was nonsense or not (I wouldn’t know, coz way back in 2008, I knew next to no Mandarin!) That’s the best way to learn a language, you gotta speak it! Burj Park, Dubai, 2024


Ummm… this is not strictly CNY decoration, but that’s what we did on CNY day last year, a visit to the Cityland Mall, Dubai. Isn’t this just nice for CNY?


Another place, just right for CNY (because of the flowers). Make the best of what you have, right? An Arabic breakfast on the 4th day of CNY 2024, at Tara Café, Business Bay Dubai. (It happened to also be 2 days away from Valentine’s Day, hah!)


CNY at our home, 2024. Wishing all a happy, successful, healthy and prosperous Year of the Snake! God bless!

The Kid Who Wouldn’t Grow Up

Jayden, 9.5 years old, at Bilad Sayt, Oman

Jayden’s 10 years old, for a few months now (since October). He’s in friggin Year 6 at school! (That’s the equivalent of Standard 6 in Malaysia). He’s basically a senior in his primary school!?! I just can’t imagine it. (Why? Because, he doesn’t act anything like a Standard 6 kid!) OK, he started school a year younger than Justin, and 2 years younger than I did, but that doesn’t mean that he should behave like a baby. Which he does. Which drives us up the wall. Maybe because he’s the youngest. Sigh, when will he grow up?)

Anyway, here’s my annual recap of the kid’s year. It’s only 3 months late, but what the heck. There’re so many photos to look at. Jayden’s 10th year photos coming up. Enjoy.


Jayden, on Diwali, Nov 2023, just a month after his 9th birthday, with his elder brother who was back from Singapore for his winter break, and Dyuti, daughter of Bhavna and Umesh Agarwal, one of our neighbours, in Motor City, at their apartment


Spending the Christmas season of 2023 in Central Asia! Jayden at a restaurant (Bay Town Restaurant) in Dashoguz, Turkmenistan, the hermit state of Central Asia, where internet does not exist… unless you know which wheels to turn…


Let’s have a snowball fight! At Chimgan, Uzbekistan, Dec 2023


Back to school, back home, to Motor City. Here at the Grid Walk of the 24-hour endurance race in the Dubai Autodrome. Revving up, the race’s starting, Let’s go! Jan 2024


Gong Xi Fa Cai! Happy Chinese New Year! At our company’s CNY function at the Burj Park, Dubai Downtown, to welcome in the Year of the Dragon! Feb 2024


It’s picnic season, and his mother is a camping fanatic! On one of the hill trails at our favourite wadi, Wadi Shawka, Ras Al-Khaimah, UAE, Mar 2024


Spring Break! And Ramadan. How nice! A 3-week Spring Break due to spring break combining with the Eid holidays. Here he is, with Mommy at our hotel in Bilad Sayt, Oman, Apr 2024


Baking bread. Rushing to complete his Junior Duke tasks before the deadline. (Junior Duke is an award that helps children develop confidence and competence in life skills). He’s got from October 2023 to do all the tasks, but no, he has to wait till the last minute! That bread turned out pretty nice though. Well done! Apr 2024


Yippee, he got the Junior Duke award! Here with his Koko, who was back from Singapore for his mid-year holidays! No, I don’t have a photo where the award’s the right side up.


Finally, the end of Year 5 and the start of the summer break. Where shall we head to? First stop, Gujarat, India. Here’s Jayden, inside the tallest statue in the world, the Statue of Unity, Jul 2024


Next stop, Malaysia, to visit his grandpa (partially visible) and renew his passport. Having an ice-cream treat at Haagen-Dasz, Penang, Malaysia, Aug 2024. Heck, Malaysia’s a whole lot cheaper than Dubai! Go ahead, eat! I don’t remember how much this was, but I remembered the Krispy Kreme doughnuts in Butterworth were half of the price of its Dubai equivalent! No wonder we become fat every time we visit Malaysia


Continuing in Malaysia, a strawberry farm! In Cameron Highlands. Strawberries are one of his favourite fruits! Lavender Garden, Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia, Aug 2024


A Singapore stopover to visit his Koko, before going back to Dubai. Jayden and Justin at Changi Airport, Singapore, Aug 2024


Back in Dubai, starting Year 6. Here he is, in the old part of Dubai, Bur Dubai where the Hindu Temple used to be, before they shifted to their premises in Jebel Ali. Look how narrow the alleys are. These used to be jam-packed with people (devotees) during the old days when the temple was here. Sep 2024


Finally, Jayden’s 10 Years Old!!! Happy Birthday. We love you. Even if you grow up. We’ll love you more actually. Guaranteed.

A Northeast Christmas

On the grounds of the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, Shillong, Meghalaya, India

It’s way past Christmas, but what the heck, here’s a glimpse of our recent trip, a Christmas in Northeast India, with family and friends. "Deck the halls with boughs of holly, fa la la la la, la la la la…" Enjoy, and may peace be with you.


Smile! Anu with her sister, Rekha (right) and niece, Sonia (left) at the Catholic Church of Mary Help of Christians in Shillong

We decided this time, to take the long way home, i.e. by road (as bad as it may be) from Guwahati (main city of Assam) to Silchar (South Assam) via Shillong (Meghalaya). Not really recommended at a time like this, with the ‘amazing’ conditions of the road between Khliehriat, and Malidor on the Assam border. I’ve driven on this road (on return trips) twice before, first in 2006 and then in 2013. This time, we took a taxi, and the road was just horrendous (not that it was good in 2013, but that’s nothing compared to this time) especially from Lumshnong all the way to the Meghalaya-Assam Border. The potholes were humongous. None of the stretch had anymore asphalt on it, and it was road dust all the way (pity the villagers). Many of the bridges had their steel reinforcement bars exposed, heck, there was even a bridge with a friggin hole thru it! And trucks were clogged to the brim on both sides of the road, wherever they were allowed to linger. Numerous stretches were under maintenance, no, make that under construction. (There’s no way it could be maintained). Heck, this road could have won the World's Worst Highway if there was such a category in the Guinness Book of Records. Hopefully, construction would complete soon…


Another Shillong church, the All-Saints’ Cathedral, Shillong


The interior of the All-Saints’ Cathedral, Shillong


Putting up Christmas decorations in the Church of Epiphany in Mawlynnong, the so-called Asia’s Cleanest Village! It was coined by an Indian magazine called Discover India. I dunno how they measured cleanliness, but Mawlynnong was indeed neat and nice! And peaceful, and worth a visit. Bravo, keep it up!


Inside the Church of Epiphany, Mawlynnong, where just 10 days after we visited, some numbnut of a social influencer, went into the church and shouted out ‘Jai Shree Ram!’ (a chant celebrating Lord Rama, an Indian god) and posted it on video. Of course, it created outrage, which I think was just what that jackass wanted. (Publicity, you know?) If he’s so gung-ho, let him do it in a more prominent church, or a mosque, in Pakistan…


Christmas back home! In Fulertal, Anu’s home village in Cachar District, Assam. Anu’s mother and sister, Rekha on the main road in Fulertal on Christmas Eve


Merry Christmas!!! Jayden with his Boju (grandmother) at Fulertal’s main road, on Christmas Eve, 2024. This place is a melting pot of people from the North East. There’re no clear dominant tribe or race. Each village is different. For example, in Fulertal, Anu stays in Nepali Basti, a Nepali or Gorkhali village. Directly adjoining it on the east, is Hmarkhawlein, a Hmar (a Mizo subtribe) village. Further down the road are Naga, Kuki and Khasi villages. On the west of Anu’s village is the urban part of Fulertal which are Bengali, Naga and Manipuri. Right opposite Anu’s mother’s house is a Manipuri Shiv Temple, and directly adjoining this, is a big mosque, with a shrine of a Muslim saint, revered by Muslims and Hindus alike. The Hmars are mainly Christians, and therefore there’re churches. With such a mix, people here have learnt how to co-exist with one another. Although this is part of Assam, Bengali is the official language here, not Assamese. I hope this peace prevails continuously.


One of the 2 churches at Labac Pailapool’s Christian Basti (Christian Village). This is the Presbyterian Church. We visited the other church (the Baptist Church) on Christmas Day. Pailapool is the next big town away from Fulertal, 4km away, towards Silchar


Christmas Day service and performance, Labac Pailapool Baptist Church. The sermon was in Bengali, and the dance performance was in Nepali, nice! The pastor is the one holding the phone on the right of the photograph. The performers were all from the house of Anu’s college mate and friend, Moni. The church asked us to stay for a Christmas feast after the service, but we decided to visit Anu’s friend instead. Thank you so much for your invitation!


At the house of Anu’s friend, Moni (right most, with baby in hand) at Pailapool’s Christian Basti. The family who are Christian Nepalis did not attend church on that day, as they had a really young baby. Anu telephoned her friend to find out which church they attended, and we headed there for Christmas. Moni was a Hindu Manipuri, but converted to Christianity after marrying into a Christian family. Her husband is Manoj (third right), and the two young girls in the middle of the photo are their niece (in green), and elder daughter (in pink). They're the ones who performed a dance at the church, earlier on


At Anu’s elder sister’s Manju’s (left) house. Anu’s family is Hindu, but what the heck, what’s wrong with having a Christmas tree for Christmas! We were eating chhangban, a traditional Christmas treat of the Mizo and Hmar tribes, which Anu loves (sorry, forgot to take any photos). It’s made of slightly sweet sticky rice, wrapped in leaves and steamed. Anu’s mom is half Mizo, by the way


Boju (meaning grandmother in Nepali) – Anu’s mom, surrounded by some of her grandchildren, Justin, Jayden, Sonia and Mahi. Let’s see, she now has umm… 13 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren! (She herself had 8 children by the way)


Christmas decorations at the Asapalli English School. That’s the school at the end of the road where Anu mother’s house is. Many of the English medium schools in Fulertal are missionary schools


Finally, a family picture. Smile! At a random church in Cherrapunji (Sohra), Meghalaya, India. Cherrapunji was once the wettest place on earth. It’s lost that to its neighbouring village, Mawsynram, which is also in Meghalaya, India

That’s all for now. There're so many other family pics, but that'll have to wait. See ya soon.

Pray for World Peace

Happy 2025! We’re back from our year-end trip to our home in Assam, India. The photos as usual, will have to wait. Meanwhile, here’s a wish and a prayer for the year to come.

May 2025 be a better year for all. May peace prevail and hope shine. May people with love and kindness triumph, and win over the cruel and the power-hungry. May God create, in us all, a desire to do good to others, regardless of nation, religion, race and creed. Heal our hearts so that we can forgive and can love those who are different from us. In Jesus’s name, Amen.


Dubai Expo 2020 – With the pavilions of Turkmenistan and Russia in view

The world used to be a much more peaceful place. Not too long ago. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, all seemed good, and it looked like nations were learning how to get along better, despite some wars, oppression, and discrimination (which have always plagued humankind since we came into being). All of that seemed to have crumbled in the last 2 years, with the Ukraine and Gaza wars, dragging nations and people to take sides. Not to mention the devastating civil wars and unrest in numerous parts of the world. The peaceful times of before could be clearly seen in the Dubai Expo which happened in 2021-2022, where pavilions from nations like Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Palestine were all present. Here’s another look back at the Dubai Expo. Make peace, not war!


This big, huge ball of multi-coloured yarn, was the Russian Pavilion, Dubai Expo, Mobility District. Moscow was actually a candidate city for Expo 2030, but I guess that's all gone down the drain now, what with Putin embarking on his 'adventure' in Ukraine...


Not too far away, in the Opportunity District, stood the Ukrainian Pavilion. Here's a sculpture inside the Ukraine Pavilion – Whose eyes are those? Putin’s?!?!? The Ukraine War actually started, while the Expo was still in progress! (The Expo took place from October 2021 to March 2022)


The Israeli Pavilion, Opportunity District, Dubai Expo. Yup, Israel was there. The UAE and Israel established diplomatic relations at the end of 2020, as part of the US brokered Abraham Accords, just in time for Israel to set up a pavilion in the Expo. I believe this is the right step to start the 2-state solution process. You’ll have to first recognize that there’re 2 states in that territory, to be able to talk to both. Denial of any one of the 2 states’ right to exist is impractical, and will just prolong the problem


East Jerusalem, as depicted inside the Palestinian Pavilion. Yes, Palestine, despite not being a fully independent state, had its own special, self-built pavilion in the Dubai Expo 2020, Opportunity District. Not bad for a small state


And this is a view from the pavilion of Israel’s ‘arch-enemy’, Iran, Dubai Expo, Mobility District


Even ‘financially-challenged’ Lebanon, had its own self-built pavilion, Dubai Expo, Opportunity District. One of 2 (or was it 3) that featured swings

And here’re some small (modular) pavilions which used the Expo’s ready-built structures to exhibit their displays.


The Syrian Pavilion, created by the Syrian diaspora all around the world. Syria at that time was divided and under international sanctions. Each of the tablets in the photo above, was created by a Syrian individual expressing his/ her wish or memory. Bravo Syria! For putting this together. Mobility District


Myanmar, which at that time was already in a civil war, also had a modular pavilion in the Opportunity District. Myanmar’s Civil War has now been nearly 4 years long. When will it end?


Even Haiti, where the government has now more or less collapsed, had a small pavilion. At that time, the president had just been assassinated. Gangs are still rampant in Haiti, and it seemed like it’s everyone for himself there now. I wouldn’t want to be in a place like that. Hope some semblance of control comes soon. Dubai Expo, Mobility District

Now back to the big pavilions. Pavilions of the other powerful ‘veto’ countries of the UN Security Council coming up (apart from Russia, which I’ve already shown above).


This is the pavilion of the Stars and Stripes, Mobility District, Dubai Expo – The American Pavilion featured a travellator that took visitors around its pavilion, like how sushi is taken around in a conveyor in a sushi restaurant. Wouldn’t this be more appropriate for the Japanese Pavilion? C’mon America, can you stop sowing war, and spread peace instead? Only you have the power to do it


The China Pavilion, Opportunity District, Dubai Expo, the pavilion with laser beams shooting out of its roof


The UK Pavilion, Opportunity, which continually displayed words chosen by its visitors. It’s supposed to use AI to generate messages from the words visitors selected. Dunno if any interesting poem or story came out of this?! How do you fit ‘orgasm’, ‘supernova’, ‘ebola’, ‘quantum’ and ‘donkey’ in one message? Inside, the pavilion was just an empty space, with words on display. You could see the Luxembourg Pavilion further down in the photo above, after the UK Pavilion. It was one of the more interesting pavilions, as visitors had to slide down a metal slide to exit the pavilion after their visit. The kids loved it! We had to stop them from going again and again!!


The France Pavilion, Mobility District. Vive la France! Hmmm… Don’t seem to remember anything about what’s inside the French Pavilion


Finally, ending my post with a peaceful and beautiful small modular pavilion, that of the Holy See (Vatican City State), in Mobility, one of the last pavilions we visited before the Expo ended. Nope, we didn’t succeed in seeing all the pavilions, despite having seasonal tickets, and visiting multiple times!

Dubai actually did quite a good job in getting the participation of countries in the Expo. I counted only 5 or so countries that weren’t represented in Dubai’s Expo (Ecuador, Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Korea and Taiwan). Quite an achievement, Dubai! I wonder how Osaka's Expo later this year would do?

May God have mercy on us. God bless all. Take care.