First Motor Launch of Sibu.

The first motor launch of Sibu was officially dedicated by Rev James Hoover and the Sibu Methodist Congregation.

According to Frank Cartwright, his biographer, Rev James Hoover, or affectionately Tuan Hoover, was very keen to handle anything mechanical throughout his life. Hence he was always passionate about looking into all possible equipment to help "his" foochow fellowmen to improve their livelihood.

My grandfather, who was a very skilled machinic, was his right hand man and assembled almost all the engines for the mission. He was enterprising and soon had his own motor launches and a rice mill.

50's Themed Coffee Shop in Brisbane

It has become quite a fancy habit of mine to visit nice coffee shops whenever I go abroad. It is very pleasureable to taste different kinds of coffee and in the future I would try to remember the aroma or the way the coffee is served.


And in Brisbane Lesley and Deanna know some very special coffee shops.

Want a special cup of coffee in a coffee shop which comes right out of 50's? Similar to Pop's store in Archie's Riverdale?

Would you like to be in a real life 50's Living Museum-cum-coffee shop? That's exactly how I would like to describe Carousel Cupcakes and Cafe. And this is dedicated to my friend Ann Chin of Auckland.....this would remind her of our school's muscial production called "Carousel".

The photos will tell you the whole story....you do feel that Elvis Presley or Frankie Avalon may walk in any time...and perhaps even Marilyn Monroe would slink into the shop for her morning cuppa. We really had fun here....not just us...even the younger people like to drop by for the delicious traditional cakes and goodies!!1


You will

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Carousels Cupcakes & Coffee - 819 Gympie Rd, Chermside QLD 4032 - T: 07 3630 5946 -  4032

Lesley and Deanna walking into Carousels...

Cupcakes on display....

Seated at a pink section...note the 33 1/3 rmp records on the wall.

Our coffee mugs....

Nice wooden chairs

Marilyn Monroe mug.

Real 1950's leather couch....




How nice..Bill Haley and His Comets!! What a surprise.

Wine, Cheese and Biscuits

Oz culture is completely different from our Borneo culture. While Iban tuak (rice wine) in Sarawak is taken out to be savoured with bbq'd meats the Aussie wines are best sipped slowly and in a relaxed atmosphere amongst good friends. A lovely wooden board displayed with cheese and biscuits is usually placed conveniently at the table and good conversation flows. Evenings can be easily passed in this way. this could be before the actual dinner or for small eaters this could be a meal by itself.

I would like the idea of having such a wine and cheese party by the sparkling streams of Sarawak just before the sun set and when the whole earth cools down....that would be a fantastic chill out time....and as the earth darkens a small crackling camp fire is built from drift wood.

Wines are plentiful in any of the bottle shops in Australia and one can get a headache trying to choose the right wines...but then the simple rule is choose the one you are familiar with or choose one some one has said nice things about. Very often wines are selected by trial and error as we all have different taste buds.

.....and in fact one can pick up one or two bottles at a person's recommendation  for a friend and together a simple party can really be as memorable as two rainbows in the sky!!

Now a good combination like a nice Sauvignon Blanc and a smooth, creamy Chardonnay can go with some  goats’ cheese spread on crackers or other biscuits. It is also suggested that some  slices of mild Dutch Gouda or mini Dutch Gouda and ham sandwiches can go with the Chardonnay.

I love crusty barguette ..and most would agree that this crusty bread is great with white wines.

Deanna my friend picked up two bottles of white wines for us and we had a simple cheese board...and the evening was warm and beautiful with great conversation...all of us coming from different backgrounds and opposite sides of the world!!




Lovely white wine.....



Bubbly.....crackers and dip...(you can make some dip to your own taste with cheese and tomato and pumpkin..add some pepper and chili......)

She has this note pad on her table....




Nice cheese.

Creamy wasabi cheese dip!! Deanna has given me some great ideas on how to make our own dips since we have plenty of tropical fruits and vegetables...and the spices that we have would truly enhance our dips.

Here are some guidelines for matching cheese with wine....Enjoy!!

Soft Cheese: Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Champagne, Cabernet, White Zinfandel, Vidal, Beaujolais, Bordeaux, Chianti, Sancerre

Hard Cheese: Bardolino, Tawny Port, Madeira, Sherry, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Sancerre, Côtes du Rhône, Rioja, Cabernet, Barolo, Barbaresco, Brunello di Montalcino, Ribera del Duero, Chardonnay, Chianti Riserva, Beaujolais, Dark Beer, Sangria, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir

Semi-Soft Cheese: Chardonnay, Champagne, Riesling, Barolo, Barbaresco, Gattinara, Bordeaux, Rioja, Fleurie, Beaujolais, Chinon, Bourgueil

Semi-Hard Cheese: Chardonnay, Champagne, Riesling, Cabernet, Sancerre, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chianti Riserva, Barolo, Tawny Port

A Walk in the Park in Chermside (Brisbane)

the Queensland Government is clearly adamant in conservation the bushlands.

A walk in the park in the Chermside area really reveals the great natural resources the state has.

It was fun walking through the park from the Chermside Shopping Centre. Meeting the birds was pleasant. In fact there were more flora and fauna than mankind. My friend and I had a great laugh and when the rain came down she literally walked barefoot in the park!!

The brooks were singing with clear water and the birds were every where - on the ground and in the bushes.

Mushroom - question - edible or not?

turn it over....when it has this colour underside...it is edible..

Are these edible?






Nope...white underneath....

Two men crossing the wooden bridge ...umbrella in hand...they do enjoy their walk in the evening..Temperature - around 12 degrees.


Tropical rhodendron....or kamunting in Bahasa Malaysia...

Life is good for Queenslanders who live in quiet and ideal surroundings like parks and bushlands.

I love the signboards the councils and government put up.

Brisbane Domestic Airport

Wednesday Morning (27th April) in Brisbane...it was difficult for me to sleep....although I had a good enough space with no one sitting besides me and Lesley was quite comfortable in her seat.....Darkness came and soon dawn was breaking a little too early for me!!

We arrived at Brisbane early in the morning....5 .30....and it was lovely to breathe the cold air...and take in the lovely slow paced life style of the city.....my first ever visit to Brisbane thus starts early in the morning....at the domestic airport.....My first three photos of life in Brisbane....

Reflections on some beautiful Houses in Brisbane

Although I have some Tiong and Lau relatives living in Brisbane, I did not have any opportunity to visit them.

But during my two-week holiday, visitng Toowomba and Brisbane (one day was entirely for a convocation of my good friend, Lesley Lingod) I saw a lot of beautiful houses, gardens and parks.

Many of the houses or properties I saw in passing  in Brisbane seem to have a lot of character.

Home owners generally keep their homes  and gardens very well.

A friend once remarked " Home is the mirror of one's self."

And walking in the Chermside Park one evening in Brisbane I had some lovely views of the houses there but of course I only had a good view of what is on the outside....like what one can see of a person...his face...his clothes and his shoes.....You need to go into a home to see the real beauty and character of the owner...

If you are looking for a life partner you need to look at what her/his home is like....that's an advice for another friend......