Homecoming is really about people, people, people

Yes, nothing should matter more than the people around us. Families, friends, ex-colleagues...Thank you so much for making time to meet us and feed us. All four of us have put on weight. You all know we need it to keep ourselves warm in cold, chilly Shanghai. Thank you, thank you and thank you!



Lunch, tea, dinner with families. We miss our brother, based in Melbourne.
His leave was not approved. Well, there will always be the next time, brother.


Reunion dinner with the in-laws


Skinny pizza dinner with two very close friends...
we have known one another for the last three decades


Lunch with dh's ex-colleagues, Gabriel, Karen and Eddy from Kenya. Gabriel, man standing behind. He was an ASEAN scholar and working for one the big six accounting firm but quitted his cushy job, went to Kenya and started the Tana River Life Foundation to help the people there.
The foundation has grown so much that he is able to send two boys for overseas
studies and it was Eddy's first trip to Asia. Amazing young man with great vision!


Dinner with James and Lay Khim and their three lovely kids.
A faith-walking family. Both are full-time workers with YFC (Youth for Christ)
but they lead a good and happy life. An excellent example for all of us to follow. Sometimes, a simple life is really a joyous life.


Dinner with Lavonne, our real estate agent who has become a very good friend of ours over the years. An outstanding agent, of course, what do you expect from someone who not only help us to sell our house but also help us to find the right house, pray for our house, give sound advice and have been servicing us for the last ten years...with or without commission. If you are a sales person and reading this...this is what it is all about!


Ramen lunch with uncle Moses...he always have great books for us. Our very knowledgeable friend with a really big heart. The kids adore him...(so do us!)


Nothing is complete for the kids until they have a sparkle-fun time with their beloved cousins

Finally, we met the latest addition to the family, Lucus Lim who was born when we were away. Welcome to the big family, buddy!


I have heard many of you lamenting about the "chores" of celebrating Chinese New Year. I guess you cannot fully appreciate it until you have first hand experience of not being able to celebrate it. In the US, people flew, drove many hours just to be home for Christmas. Here in Shanghai, people Q up for hours just to buy a ticket to be home for Chinese New Year. No, not flying in the comfort of air plane but in crowded, sardine-packed trains and buses. Not sitting on comfortable seats but on newspapers laid on the floor...friends, we are talking about 20 hours bus ride. So, be thankful, be very thankful.

Chinese New Year

On the even of Chinese New Year, we usually have dinner with DH's family and after that, we head back to...


watch the Chinese New Year variety show on the eve...habit lah, something we must do



First day of Chinese New Year, family picture. Also a habit of the Shia family...after that will be visit to mother-in-law and mother and uncle and the list goes on....

No homecoming is ever complete without a visit to our home church.

We are always thankful for churches which welcome and take us in when we are overseas. The Evangel in USA, The Shanghai Christian Fellowship in China but nothing can replace the feeling of going back to your roots, our home church - Grace Assembly.


The comfort and familarity of a home church

Chinese New Year never complete without...

visitng the Chinatown. DH and I have this habit of going to the Chinatown during Chinese New Year, not so much on buying thngs but more of getting into the mood of festivities. We even have the habit of visit the Hari Raya night market!




These are just part of the Chinatown. It is a very huge place.


In the background is, I believe, the tallest public housing in Singapore. Pinnacle @ Duxton. It was not ready when we left.
See, in a short span of six months, changes can take place.

Enjoying our homeground

In the short two weeks, we tried to do as much as we could...visiting the dentist, the doctors and places...


Little Ann just couldn't contain herself...release your spirit my girl, enjoy yourself, my little princess

We also made time for the Botanic Gardens...it was HOT! HOT! HOT! but we had a fabulous time.


As it was nearing the Chinese New Year holidays, we literally had the whole park to ourselves. You can see, the kids had a great time, even the scorching heat of 35 deg C didn't bother them


Fish food became...


bird food

What an eventful day....all tired

but of course, papa will always be there to give me a lift!

We also managed to squeeze out some time for the kids to go to their favourite chill-out place - the Queenstown library


The kids were disappointed as they couldn't borrow any books but the disappointment was turned into joy when good old uncle Moses bought them some books and we headed to the Brash Basa complex to by some secondhand books. (Read - one whole luggage full of books was brought back to Shanghai) We paid only SG50. If we had bought those books from here, it would have easily cost us more than SG300

The kids also spent two days out at the beach. Thanks to their uncle and our brother-in-law, we now fondly name him - Bala.

Always great heading home

Last year, in the US, Chinese New Year was a non-event and I blogged about it. It was a miserable feeling. This year, everything has changed. Chinese New Year is a huge festival in Shanghai, China. Offices and schools are closed, at least for two weeks. I just can't wait to get home. Air tickets and hotel were booked way in October'09. Finally, I could be home for Chinese New Year. The kids were all excited...


Arrival at Changi Airport..taking a break and enjying the Singapore air

I chose this hotel as it is near families and friends and also for its nostalgic ambience, not forgetting the reasonable rates offered.



The Link Hotel used to be a public housing. I was told that it was bought over by an overseas businessman, he refurbished it and turned it into a hotel. Very innovative indeed. The surroundings are very rustic and has the old Singapore charms. Just round the corner, is the famous Tiong Bahru market. I do not deny that this market house some of the best and famous food stalls in Singapore.


The sight and sound of a faous market. Not surprising at all to see long Qs at various food stalls.


The kids enjoying a heartlander breakfast...Kai with his fried carrot cake and Ann, her favourite "you tiao" (dough fritters) and my favourite good old "kopi peng" (ice coffee). Now, who needs a hotel buffet breakfast when there are REAL food in abundance. As you can see, not much pictures taken on the rest of the breakfast treats because they have all been gobbled up quickly

回家的感觉真好