..... of small town "Kopitiam"

If you have the time, you should cut out of the highway and travel the trunk roads once in a while. You will be rewarded with new sights and tastes. For so many years, Yours Sincerely ( Y S ) locked himself from toll booth to toll booth, hoping to reach his destination in time to start WORK. ( It is a "four letter word" - WORK) Since his retirement Y S has forgotten the meaning of "WORK."

On your way to Seremban, cut out to the small Hakka town of Mantin. Btw you have to get out to Pajar and Nilai, then follow the runk road and you will not miss the small and quaint town of Mantin. This "Eating Shop" is just a stone's throw from the town. It is on the left of the trunk road to Seremban, about 400 metres from St Aloysius' Catholic Church of Mantin

This fried "taufoo" dipped in chilly sauce and served with some stripped cucumber and bean sprouts is a good appetizer to sweat out your taste bud. LOL.

This is always Y S favourite.

Y S' better half never fails to try her curry noodles. Her usual comment is " Cannot beat the one from Batu Gajah (Her hometown !!!) Old taste dies hard. The one served here has very light curry that invites you to drink it.

Y S always snatches the opportunity to get acquainted with the proprietor or proprietress wherever he eats. "Old Mantin" is run by three sisters of the same size, as you can see. Another sister was busy in the kitchen.

Such places serve delicious family cooked food that do not cost a limb.

Eat on ........ The dead don't have to eat.

....... of charcoal grills and Uncle Ronnie

This is Uncle Ronnie at his charcoal grill pit serving his faithful client - Yours Sincerely ( Y S ). This is one charcoal grill restaurant in the truest sense of the word. It is using charcoal. And Uncle Ronnie is so serious about it that he does it in the open for you to witness. No cutting corners because some restaurants advertise as charcoal grilled but the food is electric oven grilled. Don't be offended fans of Kenny Roger Roaster, you are eating electric oven grilled chicken, absolutely not charcoal !!! And there is a big difference in aroma and taste. The charcoal brings out the true flavor of your chicken, beef, lamb or fish.

Uncle Ronnie runs his restaurant "Uncle R" at 49, Jalan Radin Anun, Sri Petaling, Kuala Lumpur which happens to be Y S' haunt as he has an apartment at Vista Commonwealth. If you cannot find his place, just call 012-3392070 or 016-2712070. Uncle Ronnie will be too glad to direct you to his restaurant and if he is free he may even drive you there ! You will surely be delighted with Uncle Ronnie's Chicken Chop, Seafood Grill which includes a giant "Udang Galah," Fish & Chips , and Mixed Grill (Chicken, Beef & Lamb) which happens to be Y S' favourite. O la la.

These are the photos of satisfied customers, so you can judge for yourself the quality of the food.

(Sorry for the blurry photo. It was taken on my handphone's camera.)

Y S Mixed Grill comes with the usual vegetables, the specially baked potatoes and some slices of garlic bread. The most delightful part of the Mixed grill is the special Uncle Ronnie's Sauce which is one of its kind and it makes the meat real juicy. Y S always has to eat his chops, whatever chops, with plenty of Maggie chilly and tomato sauce. THIS IS THE ONLY MIXED GRILL Y S EATS WITHOUT ANY Maggie CHILLY OR TOMATO SAUCE. Uncle Ronnie's special sauce tops up the flavor of the grill and makes the beef, chicken and lamb succulent and "finger licking good." You will miss the sauce.

You will be dinniong in good ambiance and be surrounded by songs from the 50s and 60s.

There is also a variety of health drinks to quench your thirst and very light desserts to savor before you call for your bill. And the best part is that the bill does not cost you a limb !!! It is very reasonable by KL standard.

This is the fascade of "Uncle R" at Sri Petaling. Uncle Ronnie is busy at work. (Look to your left)

Being a Christian, Uncle Ronnie's secret recipe is his "Love" for cooking good food for his customers. He himself meticulously grills the food for you.

Y S seldom fails to visit "Uncle R" every time he goes down to KL. It is a restaurant worth visiting.

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." Paul of Tarsus, 1st Corinthians.

.....of grand nephew's wedding

Yours Sincerely's ( y s ) handsome grand nephew's and his lovely bride. Y S believes that all brides and grooms are beautiful and handsome, especially in their wedding best. It is the wears and tears of wedded life that take their toll on all the lovely couples for one has to remember that " weddings are made in heaven so are thunders and lightning."

Yours Sincerely was on another round of weddings again. Two weddings in Seremban. Both at the same venue, each one day after the other. The grand nephew's wedding was registered on 09-09-09 - a supposedly auspicious day that had deflowered so many virgins. LOL Grand nephew!!! Well, it shows how age is catching up with Y. S. This was a wedding between a Hokkien and a Cantonese. So, you can easily total up the number of taboos ( I won't call them custom) and timed them by two.

Y S was amused by the bondage of the taboos practised and observed this strange one of bringing a badly abused cockerel which was slaughtered and had its feathers half plucked, leaving those at its head and tail unplucked. And (perhaps in the fashion of the day. LOL) dyed red !!! This cockerel was specially requested by the bride's side and it was offered to their deity, and then retuned to the groom's side to be eaten. Eeeek!!! Talk about animal abuse.

The wedding entertainment was very lavish and hip. Flamingo dances with very high kicks and flaring skirts swirling. It was a great distract from the culinary delights of nine very big and sinfully delicious Chinese dishes. Y S was watching more than eating and was seated on the second row from the stage. O la la.
(Sorry this pic is not so clear.) This was the pre-wedding dinner held at the groom's house. A buffer of thirty spreads. Not to mention the free flow of beer, stout, brandy and whiskey. Enough to feed an army.
This is the groom's entourage, young and fun-loving and all dressed in red to impress the bride's girlfriends.

Another astounding performance which Y S was given to badly understand in Mandarin from the champion performance for ASTRO Performance Championship. Or something like that.

This is the sumptuous buffet spread that was all cooked by the groom's grandmother and his first aunty. Y S could not imgine his beloved sister could produce so many varieties of food.

This is a proof from the "crime scene" to show so much leftovers after everyone had had his fill.
Y S has heard of 5 seasons (meaning 5 varieties) but this one came out with 8 HUGE varieties.


Like in all weddings Y S has attended, his advice is :-

"Don't only exchange the engagement and wedding rings. Do also exchange the Suffer- ring and, of course, if there is true love, also hold on to the Endure-ring."

.... And go forth and multiply.

........ of encouragement

Novelist, poet, and dramatist, the most important of French Romantic writers. Victor Hugo developed his own version of the historical novel, combining concrete, historical details with vivid, melodramatic, even feverish imagination. His best-known works include The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1831) and Les Misérables (1862).

Hugo is not having a headache but is in deep thought.

Anyway deep thought leads to headache !

" Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake. "

Victor Hugo (1802-1885)

......... of singing

Y S at the karaoke during the eldest daughter's wedding

For three quarter of his life, Yours Sincerely ( Y S ) was told and so he thought that he could not sing. His family would cringe when he tried to sing, and yet singing is another item from Y S' "Bucket List."

So it happened that one day Y S was seated in front of the church choir mistress. She overheard or somehow Y S ' voice jarred into her tuneful ears, and she caught hold of Y S to sing the responsorial psalm IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE CONGREGATION IN CHURCH!!! It was like being sentenced to death. Of course, the answer was No! No! No!

However, there is something special about this lady. She must have persisted in her prayer for Y S. She approached Y S a few more times. Given an ordinary worker for the Good Lord, she would have beaten the dust off her shoes and walked away. But, she approached Y S yet another time, together with a cassette and note for Y S to learn. Y S accepted the offer, thinking that he would return the cassette and note to her a few days later.

However, a small still voice in Y S kept nudging him to listen to the cassette, so one fine morning Y S listened to the cassette, and somehow Y S was convinced that he could do it.

The rest is history. Y S sang before a congregation of about 350 people FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS LIFE !!! However, er...er... the organist had some trouble keeping time with Y S.

To be frank, Y S was steady - no heart racing, no dry throat, no knocking knees or sweat for the simple reason that Y S was singing for the Glory of God. Y S was not singing for the congregation, and if you sing for God, He somehow has to enable you. Right?

"The impossible is often untried." Jim Goodwin

....... of golden citizens

Yours Sincerely ( Y S ) could not help noticing this club smacked right at Paramount Garden in Petaling Jaya. It is a club for senior citizens or golden citizens or the grey or the retired to meet their peers and spend their sunset years together gloriously.

Fancy how these people can come up with " V.S.O.P" - Very Strong Old People Club. From the vibrant noise Y S heard through the closed doors, they sounded like a bunch of kindergarten kids full of energy but devoid of cares and concern. How nice ? Y S bet they must be having a good jolly time. Perhaps Y S should start a chapter in Alor Star.

..... of shaping the ageing body

A new attraction at the RKC (Royal Kedah Club) is the new gymnasium with brand new equipment to build stamina and tone up muscles. Yours Sincerely ( Y S ) and his better half have been faithfully wearing out the equipment since the opening of the gymnasium. Going there in the morning, we have the whole place to ourselves. However, of late, more enthusiasts are coming. Anyway, in a gymn two is lonesome and more than that is a carnival.
This is Amzari, the friendly attendant, who is always at hand to give a tip or two. Y S feels that such tips are important for you might be exercising in the reverse. LOL

The human body is a marvelous machine. It is never too old to be toned and shaped up, or at the very least, prevent it from sagging and hanging ugily.

This is excellent for building your biceps. Y S hopes he can still get his hands through the sleeves of his shirts after this. LOL
This can strengthen your chest.

An hour through these machines and also the tread mill is enough to soak yourself in your sweat.
Your mood changes positively. Your breathing is deeper. Your eyes keener. Your ears sharper. Your mind clearer. I only wish I adopted his lifestyle earlier in my life. Is it too late now???

Life's brief Candle

Today Yours Sincerely ( y s ) lost a close friend. A friend who was always there for you. A friend who was delighted by your mere presence. A friend who was always happy to see you even though you have just left him for a few hours. A friend who stood guard for you when you sleep. A friend who never allowed trespassers into your property. A friend who never complained of whatever food you offered him. A friend who was sincere and true. A friend who never made a demand on you. A friend who stuck by you through thick or thin.

Dedicated to Pinchy
(2002 - 2009)


Minutes before Pinchy breathed his last.

"Life's brief Candle" and that goes for dogs, too. Y S' seven-year old dog, a pinscher, called "Pinchy" ( So named to remember his breed) was ( Y S hates to use the past tense on living things) a happy, yappy, jumpy and very alert dog. Very small in size but he barked like any big dogs. If you didn't see him, his barks might send jitters down your spine. The funny thing about this pinscher was that he did not know that he was small. Y S' Golden Retriever, "Shaggy," many times his size, would cow before "Pinchy." He was the alpha dog among the other dogs.

The date : 16-09-09
The time :-

4.30 pm : Y S was trimming the lawn and "Pinchy" was as his usual self, busying sniffing out the compound.

5.00 pm : Pinchy sniffed something inside a hollow cement column which was stacked among other pieces of timber. He kept barking and trying to get at the intruder.

5.10 pm : Y S used a stick to poke through the hollow. Something moved out of the hollow and hid among the timber. Pinchy kept barking at the timber. Kuang-Kuang, Y s ' godson, spotted the snake and thought that it was a small one. He only saw the tail.

5.15 pm : Y S came with a longer stick to check out the snake. Y S flicked over the heavy timber and an adult black Cobra slithered away. Pinchy was agitated. He kept barking, chasing after the snake and trying to get at it. Before Y S could hit the snake, Pinchy bit its body. In a flash it turned and bit Pinchy. Instantaneously Y S struck at the snake. With a few more blows, it lay lifeless.

5.20 pm : Pinchy staggered to his cage. He seemed quiet, dazed and his body was quivering. We checked his body for fang's marks but there was none.

5.25 pm : Pinchy started to convulse. He vomited and excreted. He got up and walked about. Then he fell and started to pant. We tried to call a friend with experience rearing dogs.

5.30 pm : Pinchy panted and he seemed to have a stroke. Then he salivated uncontrollably and urinated. He convulsed again, quivered and he just passed over right in front of us.

Y S has never seen an animal dying, not to mention his beloved dog. It was heart wrenching.

Pinchy was too small to take the poison of the Cobra. We were of no help to him.(Shameful)

I wonder whether dogs are reincarnated. If they do, I pray that he be reincarnated into a human in his next life.

I wonder if good dogs go to heaven.......................

Dedicated to Pinchy


Do dogs go to heaven?
My little bully passed away, no more to breathe a sound.
I held him for the last time, then entombed him in the ground.
Day and night I wept so much, in tears I thought I'd drown.
I searched my soul for comfort, but no peace therein was found.

In great despair, I hit my knees and then began to pray.
"Father will I ever see, my dog again someday?"
I raised my eyes and saw an angel standing near a gate.
I sensed an inner peace I'd never felt before that day.

The angel smiled and said to me, "Oh man of little faith!
God sees every bird that falls; He knows your bully's fate.
I have met your little dog, I saw him pass my way.
Your precious dog is still alive; he just walked through this gate.

Paradise is lovelier than you can comprehend.
No pain or grief, no tears or fears, and life will have no end.
God gave to man His only Son, to cover all his sins.
So why would God withhold from you, your pure and loving friend?”

The angel took me by the hand and said, "Now come with me.
A glimpse of paradise I'll give, to you so you can see."
Through the gate and o'er the Rainbow Bridge we did proceed.
Through green valleys filled with flowers, rolling hills and trees.

“Wow, so this is paradise!” The place was filled with joy.
I saw my bully playing there, with dogs and cats and toys.
He also had some doggie treats, and food that he enjoyed.
He'd made a lot of new friends there, including girls and boys.

Then I saw a child come near, and hug my little mate.
She said to him, "I love you so," and kissed him on the face.
The angel said, "The child just crossed the Rainbow Bridge today.
Now she needs a little friend, to love and help her play.

God’s love for her would be enough, in that make no mistake.
But in His love, He knew full well, the child would want a mate.
This is why God called your dog unto this splendid place.
God’s entrusted her with him, ‘til you pass through the gate."

I pleaded, “May I hug them both?!” The angel answered, “No!
You’d violate a sacred site, and now it’s time to go.”
He led me back across the Bridge and through the gate to home.
He left me there with new-found hope and peace within my soul.

If someone ever asks what happens to a dog that dies,
Just give a gentle smile of joy and look them in the eye.
Take their hand and comfort them and tell them not to cry.
For dogs don’t die, they simply cross a bridge to paradise.

Dan Atcheson

Pinchy was put to rest at his favourite spot in Y S' backyard so that he can be always remembered fondly.

Life's brief candle.

...of man's best friend and faithfulness

There isn't any other creatures more faithful than dogs. Yours Sincerely ( Y S ) was forced to give up his Golden Retriever, Shaggy, for adoption about a year ago. Every trip to KL made Y S long to visit Shaggy and his new family. It isn't easy to locate houses in KL. The golden opportunity came when Y S' elder daughter was home last May. She has an inbuilt GPS in her brain and manages to locate every nook and corner in KL, especially food outlets. She easily found the house after only one wrong turn.

The signature grin of a Golden Retriever on Shaggy's face was a sight to behold. He remembered us well, and without any animosity for giving him up for adoption. There was much joy in the wagging of his tail and the whining grunt he made tugged at Y S' heart. He remembered us. Such is the gratitude of a dog.

Shaggy has now become a gentle dog, compared to his rough ways when he was in Alor Star. His new family has showered on him much love, care and trsining. We have the Good Lord to thank for finding him such a family. He does not rush as he did in Alor Star but walks gentlemanly and is very close to his new master.


Shaggy saying " Hello. How are you?" to Y S ' better half. And like most women, Y S' better half sobbed and sobbed.

I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive. ~Gilda Radner

One reason a dog can be such a comfort when you're feeling blue is that he doesn't try to find out why. ~Author Unknown

If you get to thinking you're a person of some influence, try ordering somebody else's dog around. ~Will Rogers

The more I see of man, the more I like dogs. ~Mme. de Staël


A man may smile and bid you hail
Yet wish you to the devil;
But when a good dog wags his tail,
You know he's on the level.
~Author Unknown

..... of architecture and places of worship

Is this a Buddhist temple? A Taoist temple? A Confucian hall? Building of a moral uplifting Society? What do you think?


Think harder ! Y S made some time during his last trip home to Kelantan to make some discoveries.
Now the minaret gives it away? It is a Chinese architectured mosque called " Mesjid Beijing" located, of all the places in Malaysia, in Rantau Panjang of the PAS strong hold state of Kelantan. Most unique and one of its kind. The PAS government has been at ONEMalaysia, way ahead of the BN. Such tolerant is exemplary. Given any location in urban and sophisticated PJ, there will be "I don't know what head" demonstration even before the foundation stone could be laid.

The OMNIPRESENT, OMNIPOTENT AND OMNISCIENCE of the Almighty cannot be strictly contained in places of worship, all the more of a specific architecture. The Almighty is too GREAT to be solely belonged to a particular race or people. The love of the worshipers for the Almighty should be allowed to be freely expressed in the culture and tradition the worshippers know best.

One up for PAS Kelantan !!!

...of blue mountains

Leaving in wee hours of the morning on Yours Sincerely's ( Y S) last trip to Kelantan, Y S was blessed with a spectacular and picturesque view of the Main Range or Banjaran Titiwangsa. This was taken on my new Nokia , and surprisingly it turned out to be fine. Y S feasted his eyes on this awesome canvas of God's painting. The hues and tone of the blue mountains were captivating. More motorists should slow down and draw in the sights and not rushing to their destination.

Posting this two weeks before Hari Raya Puasa 2009, I pray that the "Balik Kampong" motorists have the sense to value their lives and also others and to drive sensibly for the "Balik Kampong" (Home to one's village) exodus. Don't be a statistic for "Ops Sikap." (The police's yearly drive safe campaign.)

Enjoy your drive. Don't let your heart arrive at your destination before your physical self. Arrive safely and have a joyous Hari Raya .

....of food - Beef Keow Teow Soup)

Sinfully Delicious Flat Noodles Beef Soup

"Gu Bak Keow Teow " soup or Beef Keow Teow Soup is another obsession of Yours Sincerely ( Y S ) and he has been tasting it all over Malaysia. At last, Y S has to put a stamp on the one at Jalan Hamzah, opposite the bus station in Kota Bahru, Kelantan. It is sold in an average coffee shop just before the traffic lights that leads to the Sultan Yahya Petra's bridge.

This specimen is very well balanced between the "keow Teoy" (flat noodles)and the beef. You get three meaty beefy balls, five or six big slices of beef and a good helping of entrails, including my favourite - the tendons. These come in sizable morsels to delight your chewing. Of course, the trademark is the soup. Here it is beefy (How else do you want it to be? ) and of the right tone; not too pale or dark. The condiments spice up the soup and enhance the flavour. Last but not least, the chilly sauce. The one served here is exactly what should accompany the beef; slightly hot, spicy and sour. O la la. The big bowl Y S consumed was RM6.00, worth every sen. As usual, good food in Malaysia does not come at places with ambiance. But who cares? Just don't look at the stained and littered floor and eat !

Many have stopped consuming delicious food for the fear of their health. Many more have been offering free advice on what they eat and so we should eat. However, health food makes Y S sick! What some call health or "Kosher" or "halal" food, if purchased by perpetual anxiety and fuss , is actually tedious disease.

Y S was talking to two senior security guards at St Anne's Church in Bukit Mertajam. They were in the amidst of enjoying their huge dinner of "mamak's" rice with mutton, egg, "sotong" (squid) etc. Y S opened his big mouth ( as usual) to sound them a warning for consuming such big dinner at their golden age. They rebutted : "We are Catholics. What do we get to eat after we die, FLOWERS and CANDLES !!! " (Unquote) Quite true, come to think about it. My good friend who works in the hospital once said that " whether you eat or not the difference is only two hours!" Btw Y S i s not talking about gluttony, the Roman kind but plain and simple delights for good food. Y S leaves the decision to you.

....of 52nd Years of Independence

This is Rev Jude, the Parish Priest, who celebrated the Eucharistic Celebration for us for the "Merdeka Vigil Celebration" which Yours Sincerely ( Y S) was a member of the committee.
The BEC Leaders borne the state flags into the church.
The participation was good although participants had to stay until mid-night.
The Chairmaof the PPC and PAT borne the diocesan, church and national emblems.
This is Peter Gan, the organising chairman.

The rest of the celebration can be read in Herald as submitted by Y S .

A glorious “ Merdeka Vigil Celebration ”

Parishioners of the Church of St.Michael, Alor Star, adopted the booklet “ Love Our Neighbour – a shining light to the nations” and journeyed with Christians of other churches in Kota Setar in a Forty-Day Fast and Prayer for their beloved nation – Malaysia. Launched on 25 of July, 2009, the Forty-Day Fast and Prayer climaxed with the “Merdeka Vigil” celebration on 30^th of August, 2009. It was also the parish’s Second Special Event which aimed at uniting all parishioners for a common cause through fasting and prayers for unity, love and peace for their motherland. The celebration was motivated by Col 3: 15 : “May the peace of Christ rule in your heart; to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.”

The vigil was attended by about four hundred parishioners and also those from the sister chapels of Jabi and Arau, migrants, undergraduates from UUM and trainees from TUDM. For the first time in the history of the local church, five pastors from the neighbouring Baptist, Methodist and Full Gospel churches graced the celebration, and in unison prayed for the nation.

The celebration started with a prayer and worship session led by Philip Loh and Inasimuthu. It was followed by an exposition on “Where are we as Malaysians today “ given by Charles Lourdes from The Star. He exhorted all Christian Malaysians to hold fast to their citizenship, stand up to be counted, be involved and contribute to nation building.

At the Eucharistic celebration, Rev Jude Miranda, the Parish Priest, expressed his delight over the bond of nationality, ethnicity and spirituality among the parishioners that succeeded the “Merdeka Vigil” and stressed that this is what a nation of 52 years should actually reflect. In his sermon, he showed what the scribes and Pharisees did to the law is what religious legalism has done to Christianity today, and how the ignorance of God’s grace causes an over emphasis on the letter of the law over the spirit.

The emblems of the Diocese of Penang, Church of St Michael and Malaysia, and the flags of the fourteen states were borne into the church by the Chairman of the PPC, PAT and leaders of the all BECs . The march-in was accompanied by the popular patriotic song “Tanggal 31 .” Rev Jude presented “ The Jalur Gemilang ” to members of TUDM at the end of the mass. It was borne to the giant flag mast at the church compound. The church was blacked out, and candles were lit. Then the count down began. At midnight, the national flag was hoisted to the accompaniment of “Negara Ku” and blasting of brilliant and colourful fire works. Everyone was jubilant with a celebration befitting a nation of 52 years.

A very early breakfast of multi-racial foods of “satays,” “pau” and “itali, ” and key-ring souvenirs of the “Jalur Gemilang” were presented to participants. Peter Gan, the organising chairman, was amazed by the good response, “ We are going to take the nation by storm !” James Lau, the PPC Chairman commented, “ This is really what 1 Malaysia should be .” Peter Lee, a member of the organizing committee, praised the pastors for their effort to be united for the beloved nation. – by Thomas Chua