70. Afternoon Tea Fine Dining Etiquette Bread and Beverages

69. The Brits Love Of Tea, How To Make Tea The British Way

68. Afternoon Tea Etiquette With Miss Sue Flay

67. Etiquette Rules For Afternoon Tea With Expert William Hanson

66. Don't Ask from Where I've Come

The Olive Tree/"Gan Lan Shu"

Don't ask from where I have come 

My home is far, far away 

Why do you wander so far 

Wander so far, wander so far 

For the little bird flying in the sky

For the blue brook running in the mountain 

For the broad meadow green and wide

I wander, wander so far 

Then, is there more? 

Yes, for the Olive tree of my dream 

Don't ask from where I have come

My home is far, far away 

Why do you wander? 

Why do you wander so far? 

Far, far away 

For the Olive tree of my dream 

Don't ask from where I have come 

My home is far, far away 

Why do you wander so far 

Wander so far, wander so far

65. If Only....

If only our world is like this picture everyday - turning from grey to rainbow colors, this lifetime is full of wonder...

But isn't the colours of our lives in our own hands? We are the artists who sketch and who choose the colours of the paints for the pictures that we draw.

My last trip back home was so colourful....from the boring grey of the same old stories made by people who have nothing else to do but drag us down with their mundane world to the colourful moments spent with best friends and newly found relatives with similar likes and dislikes. Each time I go on an outing with my sweet friend and cousin, Imor, I discover how much we are similar yet different. With a true friend, one has no inhibition. Sad, happy, silly, great, funny stories are shared and often both of us are laughing till our eyes sting with tears mixed with our make up or eye shadows.

The first time we met each other was brief and it was back to the time we resided as high school boarders in one of the buildings belonging to St. Thomas' Parish in Kuching - the capital city of the former British colony of Sarawak. We were both studying for our Higher School Certificate ( 6th Form). There were a few other girls from out of town staying there with us. And we were under the charge of an Anglican nun, Sister Florence. She was one strict and fierce woman! Curfew time was 10 o'clock every night - no more lights on, no more noise from us!

Imor and I were typical teenage girls - we loved to gossip, giggle, tell jokes, share stories and sneak out after 10 at night, just to go down to buy fried noodles!! We would sneak down the stairs of the loft where we slept, slipped out of the back fence down to St. Mary's primary School and then crossed the road to those shops selling freshly cooked food. Luckily Sister Florence never came back after 10 to check on us. I used to wonder what kind of punishment we would get if we had been caught! All in the name of fried noodles or just some hot banana fritters.

After that year, we parted and went on our separate ways, got married, built our careers, had children in my case and never crossed paths until lately. Thanks to Facebook, we found each other again and Imor initiated our meeting. Despite the very long separation, we felt as if our last meeting was just yesterday. We spent an entire day catching up with each other's stories. We just have plenty of topics, wide range of subjects to talk about.  we can talk just about anything under the sun! Imor hasn't changed aside from looking more mature, slightly bigger and many times wiser. She is still as candid, chatty, down-to-earth and lovely.

As for me, I found my old friend again in Imor...a friend who won't hesitate to tell me to slow down or speed up, to put myself before others as against my old self-sacrificing me...and who doesn't upset me at all. In her I can place my confidence, because she knows how to filter which topics are ours only, and which can be shared with someone else. 

During my recent trip home, she gave me some 'buntal masin' (salted puffer fish). It was delicious beyond words. I cooked it with a local vegetable - the terung asam (Solanum feroc L.) mixed with a pinch of freshly pounded turmeric, red chili and strips of culantro leaves (daun sop Dayak).

64. I Found Peace In Bali - Batuan Temple

Batuan Temple is a beautiful Hindu temple set in the middle of Batuan Village strategically located beside of the main road from Denpasar to Ubud.

Visitors to the temple ground and buildings are required to don and cover themselves with the Balinese sarong. The sarongs are available on site and can be borrowed from the the temple keepers.

It is a local village temple and a part of three major temples in a village that is called Tri Khayangan. The temple buildings are beautifully designed in Balinese architecture and decorated with antique Balinese ornaments.

63. Gift from Hirotoshi From Japan.

Last July my daughter, Catriona's friend, Hiro, came all the way from Yokohama, Japan to visit Malaysia for the first time. He brought a beautiful gift for me, which also coincided with my birthday! Even though it was only a three-day trip to Kuching, my family and I hope that he enjoyed himself visiting a few places around Kuching in Sarawak.

Thank you dear Hiro for the thoughtfulness and your lovely gift! May God bless you abundantly.

Gift from Hiro

Gift from Hiroo

Gift from Hiro

Gift from Hiro

Gift from Hiro

62. Gift From My Daughter, Catriona from Yokohama

My daughter, Catriona presented me with another gift which she brought all the way from Yokohama during her recent visit to Malaysia to join the family celebration of my birthday. Both my daughters are such sweet girls who know what their mum loves for her birthday! While I love whatever gifts they bought for me, it is their thought and gesture of getting for me things that I love to collect that really touch my heart.

Thank you so much my dearest daughter. Mummy loves you and may God bless you always.

Wedgwood "Floret" Teacup & Saucer Set - Gift from my daughter, Catriona of Yokohama, Japan

Wedgwood "Floret" Teacup & Saucer Set - Gift from my daughter, Catriona of Yokohama, Japan

Wedgwood "Floret" Teacup & Saucer Set - Gift from my daughter, Catriona of Yokohama, Japan

Wedgwood "Floret" Teacup & Saucer Set - Gift from my daughter, Catriona of Yokohama, Japan

61. Gift From My Daughter Catriona From Yokohama

My birthday falls in the month of July, and my family decided to celebrate it in Kuching, Malaysia. My younger daughter, Catriona and her friend Hiro came all the way from Japan bringing presents for me and my birthday.

This one here is a teacup and saucer set , "Totoro" by Noritake, which my daughter, Catriona bought in Yokohama and brought all the way to Kuching, Malaysia where my family celebrated my birthday recently.

I love the way they packed the box in a cloth pouch like the traditional Japanese way of wrapping in cotton or silk cloth.

Thank you and lots of love from me my dearest daughter. 

Noritake 'Totoro' Teacup & Saucer Set - Gift from my daughter Catriona

Noritake 'Totoro' Teacup & Saucer Set - Gift from my daughter Catriona

Noritake 'Totoro' Teacup & Saucer Set - Gift from my daughter Catriona

Noritake 'Totoro' Teacup & Saucer Set - Gift from my daughter Catriona

Noritake 'Totoro' Teacup & Saucer Set - Gift from my daughter Catriona

60. I Found Peace In Bali - Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining

I woke up very early and managed to capture the sunrise as seen from Sadara Beach Boutique Resort, Tanjung Benoa, Bali

When my husband suggested going to the island of Bali for vacation, I quickly retorted, "Why Bali?" He then told me that his colleague had just returned from the island and recommended the island to him if he was looking for a place to relax or just enjoy nature.

We headed for Kuala Lumpur first and then flew to Kuching in East Malaysia to fetch my sister-in-law who would be joining our trip to Bali. Throughout the journey from Doha to Kuala Lumpur I was wondering if I would be enjoying myself in Bali. It took us slightly over 2 hours of flight from Kuala Lumpur to Denpasar in Bali. Upon arrival at the airport I was feeling a little discouraged when I saw the long queue at the Immigrations. Slowly and steadily we soon passed through the Immigrations counter without any problem at all. When we got outside the airport building I was astonished to see the unique architecture that was proudly displayed. Despite the hot weather, I told myself that I would not waste my time and might as well as enjoy myself since we were there!

4 days were certainly NOT enough to see and experience Bali. Every where we were taken or driven by our Tour Guide, we were astonished by what we saw and experienced. The first thing we acknowledged was how faithful and devoted the people of Bali were to their way of life - their religion, which is Hinduism. Every where we went we saw fresh offerings displayed, even in the car we were driven in. And I was taken by the general unassuming character of the Bali people. They are generally soft-spoken, and courteous, but it was the many historical or old sites and temples that won my heart. Some of the places we visited brought strong feelings of déjà vu and nostalgia, and I don't even know why. 

With the help of our wonderful Tour Guide-cum-Driver, Mr. Putu Mujana, we had beautiful photos of those places we managed to visit in Bali. By the time we returned to our hotel on the last day we were there, I realised that I was falling in love with Bali. It was there that I found peace.....at the beach where I watched the sunrise in the morning and the sunset in the evening; where I heard the sound of the waves caressing the shores in the quiet of the night; or where I dipped my feet into the pools of cool water from the mountain spring in Tirta Gangga; or sipping Bali's vanilla coffee amidst the coffee bushes and cocoa trees at Pulina Coffee Plantation in Tegalalang; or enjoyng the sight of green padi fields while eating my "bebek betutu" (duck stuffed with spices, wrapped in banana leaves and coconut husks cooked in a pit of embers) at Teba Sari Restaurant in Ubud; and where I saw a fireball streaking across the evening skies as we approached Denpasar on our way back from the Ujung Water Palace at Karangasem.

Bali - I will be back.....

"Bebek Betutu" wiith "Urap" & "Lawar"

59. My Dora Papis' 'Heritage' Demitasses From EasyLife Italy & A Vintage Teapot - Gift From My Mother

The teapot featured here is a gift from my mother when I was only four years old. It is a teapot with a story, which I related at the beginning of this blog.

One side of the teapot

Showing the other side of the teapot

58. Ramadan Gift From Stephany

One of those evenings, my daughter Stephany was invited by her friend and former work colleague to join her for 'Iftar' (breaking of fast during fasting month) at 'W' Hotel in Doha. After dinner they dropped by the Turkish Fair at the same hotel. She came upon this lovely tea set - A Turkish teaset comprising diamante-studded teacups, saucers, sugar bowl and an accompanying tray. I think the set is really beautiful! And I am very grateful.....

57. Sipping Tea

“Who would then deny that when I am sipping tea in my tea room I am swallowing the whole universe with it and that this very moment of my lifting the bowl to my lips is eternity itself transcending time and space?” - D.T. Suzuki, Zen and Japanese Culture

56. Beautiful Pink Demitasses - 'Heritage' By Dora Papis for EasyLife Italy

I love sweet hot Earl Grey tea with some Arabic dates 'maamouls' (tarts). Sweet hot tea brings  back lovely memories of when I was a young girl when my grandfather and grandmother would bring me to the coffee shop, known locally as 'kopi tiam', There, we would order sweet and aromatic hot Ceylonese tea. We usually drank the tea with freshly charcoal-toasted bread with butter and egg-coconut cream jam ('kaya'). To a young and naive girl who had not seen other places, sips of hot afternoon tea and few bites of charcoal-toasted bread was pure bliss!

55. Tea Set By Shining Sun From Dyramics Design

My recent trip back to Malaysia was a 'fruitful' one. I purchased several of my favourite things, among which is a beautiful tea set by 'Shining Sun' from Dyramics Design of China.