A Week in Perth

We have been spending time with Yiyi and Yi Cheong (mother's younger sister and brother-in-law in Cantonese) in Perth in the past week or so. Weather was fine on most days, except for a couple of nights where it was necessary for the socks-and-fleece-jackets-under-thick-comforters-in-bed routine. What was certain was the positively blinding sun, and the FLIES.

Flies who are on a suicide mission at every opportunity, aiming directly for every orifice in the face, with the highest honours going to the ones who made it into any open gaps in the mouth. So you end up with a party of 7 otherwise-happy tourists who are desperately trying not to talk to each other, wearing perpetual annoyed frowns, and violently slapping each other to get rid of those pests.

Perth is a mini Malaysia 'round every corner. Malaysian faces, Malaysian food, Malaysian accents, Malaysian names. In my past experience of living overseas, I am stopped in my tracks when I hear these familiar accents, or see a Malaysian restaurant. Here, I have slowly become immune because they are simply everywhere. I guess it's the best of both worlds, being far and yet near home.

A group shot in Kings' Park
Against Swan River

A rare family photo

Taking a break from searching for treasures

The ice princess finally smiles...

A boy with his stick

Dr Seuss

Our well-worn copy of Dr. Seuss' ABC. It will certainly not outlast another Soong baby... (*not* a sign that we are thinking of another one)

Patched over and over and over....

The Doctor-at-home had the bright idea of introducing Sophie to Dr Seuss' books when she was around one. I don't know if she liked it very much, but at least she did not cringe in horror or launch into one of her signature bawls when the Doctor read and sang (off-key) to her almost every day. He can still recite it by heart today.

Julian has also somehow taken a liking to the book in the last couple of weeks. We kept it next to the bed, and he gestures at it in that half-demanding, half-pleading tone of his as soon as he catches sight of it. I've taken to hiding it from sight during those times when I'm too lazy to read it for the 17th time in the same day.

Dr. Seuss always seemed rather strange to me - the words don't make sense all the time, the pictures are somewhat bizzare for a child. But hey, I'm not a toddler so what do I know, right?

Sophie's #1 Fan

But Che Che, I want to play too...
What are you doing, Che Che? Show me, show me!

Who else but her adoring brother, Ju?

Unfortunately, being the only child for 4 years does have its effects. She claims every toy for her own, and needs a lot of persuasion to share them with him. As soon as Ju places his chubby tiny hands on an object, Sophie suddenly declares that she wants to play with it, even though she has not touched it for the last 2 years.

We also discovered that Ju is no pushover - he will stand up and bawl for his rights (rightfully or otherwise).

So that leaves a frazzled mom, and a father who is determined that the rotan will see light of day a lot more than it used to.

My Baba and I

Driving together

Grinning together

Old is gold

I always look forward to going back to visit London, not only because the city has so much to offer, but also because of the great old friends who welcome me there without fail, always with warmth and immaculate hospitality. You know who you are... :)

Bloody Accident

A couple of weeks ago when Ju was just starting to get a feel for walking, he stumbled and landed face down, drawing blood from his gums (?) teeth (?). I ran to him, picked him up and carried him, running around like a headless chicken, frantically pleading his father to have a look at him, but all the Doctor did was to say that "it's OK, it's OK" while I kept going "it's bleeding! It's still bleeding!".

That's the downside of marrying a Doctor who deals with death and mortality on a daily basis.

p/s And no jokes about Ju wearing pink "Fairy Princess" bibs, please...

Paris London Lisbon

First impressions in the first 30 minutes of arrival, after a 2-year absence:

Paris - Renaults, Peugeots, and Citroens everywhere on the roads, like substitutes for the Protons and Peroduas on the Malaysian roads.

London - The familiar claustrophobic tunnels and stairways crisscrossing the Tube stations.

Lisbon - The damp, lush air, heavy with humidity yet sharp and crisp just characteristic of a temperate country.


I have been moving between the 3 cities, changing my clocks back and forth so often that I was momentarily lost during my last transit in Paris. My mind flits between thank you, merci, and obrigado. I unpacked my bags for the thirteenth time last night, before I finally succumbed to lethargy while writing my to-do list for the coming week (or was it a dream?).

Last leg before home...