Ken Ray's team pai chnia

 It has been an annual affair where they come for an English afternoon tea with scones. Darjeeling or Earl Grey teas on the menu.

But this year there was a special request for lasagne (guess who). And so lasagne it is and I must say it's really good.

Esther was the first to sink her teeth into the "fresh from the oven" lasagne

Jovin's turn, spoon lickin' good

Ee Pheng was the last, enjoying her scones

Then they enjoyed 2 shorts. Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury and Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas.

Jerry got distracted by the Marine Aquarium

But this year, there was a huge recruitment drive. We got Esther, Darren and Ee Pheng to become Path-ers. A nice new app that links your updates, postings etc to Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare at one touch. It even has Instagram type filter effects for your photo updates.

Here's the Ken Ray gang that turned up.

From Left: Jovin, Jerry, Daniel, Darren, Esther, Ee Pheng and Ms Wong 
(Hahaha... JJ, DD, EE....W)

Gong Xi Gong Xi to every reader from Ken Ray

Jovin once again is the Ang Pow Queen, pocketing the biggest Ang Pow second year in a row

A very Indian Chinese New Year

We had a reunion dinner for the Tongs and since we are hosting this year we opt to go Indian for a change.

And so we booked Palace d'India and all were to meet there at 1.30pm. Melinda's sister and brother came over to "pai chnia" us first so I picked them up from Desa Bella.

I almost fainted when they came out of the lift. What have I gotten myself into. Here were three little "Indians" getting into my car.

They were taking this lunch real serious, dress code and everything.

We had great fun though, catching up, taking photos and the relatives watching Pam's wedding videos on iPads. The food was great too.

Well, next year won't be our turn so it'll probably be back to the usual lunch at a Chinese Restaurant.

The Three Little Indians

I'm the one in bright RED, very Chinese, thank you very much

They're the Tongs from Singapore, Sei Sam, JJ and Sei Suk watching Pam's wedding videos

Ku Che and Ku Cheong with Raymond watching on the other iPad

And here's one for the family album

Ku Che and Ku Cheong

Yee Suk and Yee Sum

And group photo after lunch. Everyone there except the photographer ;)

CNY Reunion circa 2012

Reunions are one of the most important of our Chinese culture's many special occasions and especially needful in today's busy society where everyone in the family is all over busy with their own life.

So at least once a year we get to meet and eat as a family. To see how the kids have grown over the year and catch up on the latest happenings.

With my parents gone, we meet at my brother's condo. It's a simple reunion with everyone bringing a dish or two, coordinated between the wives.

On the table are the must have jiu hoo char with fresh lettuce, bayam soup, curry chicken, lor bak, lap cheong, roasted chicken and sambal belacan. (Sorry no photos. By the time I remembered, they were half gone!)

So after dinner, we took the chance to take photo of each family members who were there.

Jimmie Song and Grace. Children are Henry, Joanne and Jessica

Steven Song, Josephine and Anthea

Edwin Song and Grace

Calvin and Olivia. And their cute daughters Sophia and Emma

Back Breaking

Literally.

Hurt my back while bending down to pack my badminton gear yesterday and had to forgo the game. Today was better until at about 5.00pm when one wrong move made it worst.

Had to wear this back brace with metal rod iserts and use a cold pack to ease the pain. Took analgesic pills (muscle relaxant) from my last dose.

Better heal fast cos CNY is just 2 days away!

Pink Floyd Bestsellers

I've had these on Vinyl, Laserdiscs, DVD, CD, MP3, Cassettes and even DAT.

But this is the mother of them all. The Pink Floyd Dark Side Of The Moon and Wish You Were Here Immersion Box Set. In there is a first time rendering of their studio album in BluRay and I can hear things I never heard before! And the Box Sets come with plenty of nice collectibles.

Will it end here??? I doubt it.

Dark Side Of The Moon

Product Description
Immersion Editions present the complete artistic experience. Lavishly packaged in a sturdy 29cm square box, the sets contain remastered, previously unreleased and audio-visual material, plus much additional content – reproduced memorabilia, brand new graphics, art prints, collectors’ items, lavish booklets and more.

Originally released in 1973, The Dark Side of The Moon became Pink Floyd’s first number 1 album in the US, remaining on the chart for 741 weeks between 1973 and 1988. One of the best-selling and most critically acclaimed albums of all time The Dark Side of The Moon also introduced The iconic album cover artwork by Hipgnosis featuring a prism representing the band’s stage lighting, the record’s lyrics, and the request for a ‘simple and bold’ design. The Immersion version features the classic Studio album digitally remastered and presented as a limited edition high quality boxset featuring 6 discs of rare and unreleased audio and video material, plus a new 40 page oversized perfect-bound booklet, a book of original photographs edited by Jill Furmanovsky, exclusive merchandise and facsimile collectables.

DISC 1 – CD 1:
The Dark Side Of The Moon digitally remastered by James Guthrie 2011

DISC 2 – CD 2:
The Dark Side Of The Moon performed live at Wembley in 1974 (2011 Mix and previously unreleased)

DISC 3 – DVD 1, ALL AUDIO:
- The Dark Side Of The Moon, James Guthrie 2003 5.1 Surround Mix (previously released only on SACD) in standard resolution audio at 448 kbps
- The Dark Side Of The Moon, James Guthrie 2003 5.1 Surround Mix (previously released only on SACD) in high resolution audio at 640 kbps
- The Dark Side Of The Moon, LPCM Stereo mix (as disc 1)
- The Dark Side Of The Moon, Alan Parsons Quad Mix (previously released only on vinyl LP/8 track tape in 1973) in standard resolution audio at 448 kbps
- The Dark Side Of The Moon, Alan Parsons Quad Mix (previously released only on vinyl LP/8 track tape in 1973) in high resolution audio at 640 kbps

DISC 4 - DVD 2, ALL AUDIO VISUAL:
-Live In Brighton 1972:
Careful With That Axe, Eugene (previously unreleased on DVD)
Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun (previously unreleased on DVD)
-The Dark Side Of The Moon, 2003 documentary (25 min EPK)
-Concert Screen Films (60 min total):
British Tour 1974
French Tour 1974
North American Tour 1975
Screen films play in stereo and 5.1 Surround Sound

DISC 5 – BLURAY, AUDIO+AUDIO VISUAL
-AUDIO: The Dark Side Of The Moon, James Guthrie 2003 5.1 Surround Mix (previously released only on SACD) in high resolution audio at 96 kHz/24-bit
-AUDIO: The Dark Side Of The Moon, Original stereo mix (1973) mastered in high resolution audio at 96 kHz/24-bit
-AUDIO VISUAL: Live In Brighton 1972:
Careful With That Axe, Eugene (previously unreleased on DVD/BluRay)
Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun (previously unreleased on DVD/BluRay)
-AUDIO VISUAL: The Dark Side Of The Moon, 2003 documentary (EPK)
-AUDIO VISUAL: Concert Screen Films (5.1 Surround Mix):
British Tour 1974
French Tour 1974
North American Tour 1975
-AUDIO VISUAL: Concert Screen Films (High Resolution Stereo Mix):
British Tour 1974
French Tour 1974
North American Tour 1975

DISC 6 - CD3:
-The Dark Side Of The Moon 1972 Early Album Mix engineered by Alan Parsons (previously unreleased)
- The Hard Way (from ‘Household Objects’ project)
- Us And Them, Richard Wright Demo (previously unreleased)
- The Travel Sequence, live from Brighton June 1972 (previously unreleased)
- The Mortality Sequence, live from Brighton June 1972 (previously unreleased)
- Any Colour You Like, live from Brighton June 1972 (previously unreleased)
- The Travel Sequence, studio recording 1972 (previously unreleased)
- Money, Roger Waters’ demo (previously unreleased)

40 page 27cm x 27cm booklet designed by Storm Thorgerson
Exclusive photo book edited by Jill Furmanovsky
27cm x 27cm Exclusive Storm Thorgerson Art Print
5 x Collectors’ Cards featuring art and comments by Storm Thorgerson
Replica of The Dark Side Of The Moon Tour Ticket
Replica of The Dark Side Of The Moon Backstage Pass
Scarf
3 x Black marbles
9 x Coasters (unique to this box) featuring early Storm Thorgerson design sketches
12 page credits booklet

Wish You Were Here

Product Description
Immersion Editions present the complete artistic experience. Lavishly packaged in a sturdy 29cm square box, the sets contain remastered, previously unreleased and audio-visual material, plus much additional content – reproduced memorabilia, brand new graphics, art prints, collectors’ items, lavish booklets and more.

On its release in 1975 Wish You Were here topped the album charts in both the UK and the US. Reflecting the bands thoughts of the time on the music business, and exploring themes of absence, Wish You Were Here contains the classic cut Shine On You Crazy Diamond, a tribute to founder member Syd Barrett. The Immersion version features the classic Studio album digitally remastered and presented as a limited edition high quality boxset featuring rare and unreleased audio and video material, plus a new 40 page oversized perfect-bound booklet, a book of original photographs edited by Jill Furmanovsky, exclusive merchandise and facsimile collectables.

DISC 1 - CD1:
Wish You Were Here digitally remastered by James Guthrie, 2011
DISC 2 - CD2:
Shine On You Crazy Diamond (parts 1-6) live at Wembley November 1974 (2011 mix and previously unreleased)
Raving & Drooling live at Wembley November 1974 (2011 mix and previously unreleased)
You’ve Got To Be Crazy live at Wembley November 1974 (2011 mix and previously unreleased)
Wine Glasses from the unreleased ‘Household Objects’ project
Have A Cigar alternative version (previously unreleased)
Wish You Were Here featuring Stephane Grappelli (previously unreleased)

DISC 3 - DVD1, ALL AUDIO:
-Wish You Were Here, James Guthrie 2009 5.1 Surround Mix (previously unreleased) in standard resolution audio at 448 kbps
-Wish You Were Here, James Guthrie 2009 5.1 Surround Mix (previously unreleased) in high resolution audio at 640 kbps
-Wish You Were Here, Original Mix (1975) LPCM stereo
-Wish You Were Here, Quad Mix (previously released only on vinyl LP/8 track tape) in standard resolution audio at 448 kbps
-Wish You Were Here, Quad Mix (previously released only on vinyl LP/8 track tape) in high resolution audio at 640 kbps

DISC 4 - DVD 2, AUDIO VISUAL:
-AUDIO VISUAL: Concert Screen Films:
Shine On You Crazy Diamond Intro
Shine On You Crazy Diamond
-AUDIO VISUAL: Welcome To The Machine animated clip
-AUDIO VISUAL: Storm Thorgerson short film
Concert Screen Films play in stereo and 5.1 Surround Sound

DISC 5 - BLURAY:
-AUDIO: Wish You Were Here, James Guthrie 2009 5.1 Surround Mix (previously unreleased) high resolution audio at 96 kHz/24-bit
-AUDIO: Wish You Were Here, Original stereo mix (1975) mastered in high resolution audio at 96 kHz/24-bit
- AUDIO VISUAL: Concert Screen films:
Shine On You Crazy Diamond Intro
Shine On You Crazy Diamond
-AUDIO VISUAL: Welcome To The Machine animated clip
- AUDIO VISUAL: Storm Thorgerson short film

40 page 27cm x 27cm booklet designed by Storm Thorgerson
Exclusive photo book edited by Jill Furmanovsky
27cm x 27cm Exclusive Storm Thorgerson Art Print
5 x Collectors’ Cards featuring art and comments by Storm Thorgerson
Replica of Wish You Were Here Tour Ticket
Replica of Wish You Were Here Backstage Pass
Scarf
3 x Clear marbles
9 x Coasters (unique to this box) featuring early Storm Thorgerson design sketches
12 page credits booklet

Year of the Dragon-fly

Was in Langkawi's padi fields when I spotted this familiar friend. The tiny dragonfly.

These were the particular species I used to catch as a kid as their 
wings are folded when they land making it an easier catch.

We'd then tie a light gauge string to its tail and let it fly. These tire easily as they are so tiny. It's like a miniature kite ;)

You don't often see these anymore in a city like Penang.

The greenish ones are much bigger (more fun) but harder to catch as their wings are open when they land. So you have to catch them by their tails. They seem smarter too and is rather skittish when you go near.

Padi Fields - up close and personal

I was born and bred in Kedah, the rice bowl of Malaysia. Hence my love for rice (those who know the Songs know how much we need rice). So it's no coincidence that my home was beside a padi field.

I spend lots of after-school hours there, catching fighting fish, collecting water plants, and flying kites there after harvest.

So when we chance upon Laman Padi in Langkawi, I went back in time. Imagine every stage of the padi fields in one place at one time!

Here are the photos as proof. Ahhh..it's like balik kampung for real.

This is when the padi is just planted and growing

The edge of the padi field where you can walk on strips of banks.

Here you see them maturing and this is the best time to catch fighting fishes

The padi ripens and ready to harvest soon. The fields are drying up.

This is after harvesting and already shoots are starting but they usually toil the grounds after this.

Si Looi Bak liak Sar Looi Bak

Si Looi Bak ("four eyes" that's me) catching Sar Looi Bak (three-eyed fish), an extremely hardy fish found in and around padi fields.

I remembered I first saw them at the construction site of our newly built house in Alor Star (1969). I was fascinated and believed that their third eye was why they were so hard to catch.

They were found in isolated pools of water at the construction site. I don't know what they survived on but they were thriving.

They are fairly well hidden but their third eye gives them away. Don't see it?

Here's the close up. See that shiny spot on the head? It's Sar looi Bak!

Imagine my excitement when I saw them again in Langkawi's padi fields. Nostalgic moments indeed.

If only my wife would let me get muddy and catch some :(

Balik Kampung

Langkawi's countryside certainly feels like home, home as in Alor Star in the 70's. I grew up with the Padi fields right behind my house so this trip was "down memory lane" kind of trip.

First were the padi fields with coconut tree lined horizon. Then the familiar Padi field mud holes made by buffalo tracks. This is where I used to catch lots of fighting fishes. Didn't see any here though :(

Soaking it all in on this escapade. My wife is amused over it all.

Tsunami defense

Langkawi's mangroves are getting the attention they deserve on this island, after the big tsunami hit the island in 2009.

So it is now a major tourist attraction, the Mangrove Tour. It's important for the shoreline ecology too, refuge for many wildlife and critters.

Our wheels in Langkawi

GPS works here so the next best thing to getting around is our own set of wheels.

Meet our Mazda. Will be wheeling us around the island for the next two days.

Favourite things

Simple pleasures when on tour. You see familiar indulgence and so... you indulge.

Fresh sliced apple mango and guava. Perfect with a pinch of salt. 

On top of the world...

Actually more precisely Langkawi.

We had a detour for today's tour and our guide was kind enough to take us to Gunung Raya, to its 900 meter peak.

Strong cold wind up there and had a cup of Chinese tea courtesy of our other tour couple from China. RM10 per pax to go up the Tower. The tea was included.

On the way up, we stopped for shots of the scenics, monkeys and squirrels. Incidentally, the ones worth shooting are all blacks :).

All wrapped up

Was waiting at the lobby of the Four Points by Sheraton and saw this interesting neon type.