........ more photos on China Tour

This is the structures that always amazes Y S when he studied Chinese History.

Better half and Y S were fleeced and cheated at another longest street food hawkers.

This is the site of Wang Fu Jing's village well but the place now has been developed into a high end shopping district. From the neon lights and sophisticated brands advertised you just cannot believe that it is a communist country. The modern Chinese have cultivated the bourgeoisie's tastes and preferences. Who said that the Chinese wore blue cheap cotton clothes and rode on bicycles? Visit Wang Fu Jing.
One of Y S' meals was at the famous Peking Duck Restaurant claimed to be visited by world's dignitaries.

Wonder what was this for? They are found all over the ancient palaces and temples. Not for bathing. It was for storing water for fire fighting in the good old days.

Better half posing with a Manchu greeter.

This is another site Y S longed to visit. The Tian An Men Square. Awesome.

This is a walking mall at TianJin.

This was taken in front of the Blue Zoo - Beijing's aquatic exhibits.

Very coooooooooooold..........

This is at Puning Temple that houses the wold's biggest Buddha wooden temple. Wonder what these men do? They are the temple musicians. For a hefty donations, they will play their instruments to some holy music while the donor kneels and prays.

Better half infront of the Mongolians' yurts which are like chalets for rental.

Only in China you see such signage.

This lady is amazed by a half frozen car.

A visit to China is incomplete without visiting the panda bears.

... of north China tourism

Yours sincerely ( Y s ) and his better half had just returned from our north China trip to Beijing, ChengDe and TianJin. This was a very long postponed trip since Y S has always wanted to see the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven, but the better half kept dreaming of the Caribbean and Mediterranean Cruises, and the Norwegian and Scandinivian countries. Harsh realities crept in when our RM dipped lower and lower and a trip to such places could have easily given Y S several trips to Asian countries and with lots more RM left over for better half to do some buying.

Ar........ but then, you may ask Y S, why did you choose winter time to visit Beijing ?
Well, the answer is in the photo. To leave my footprints in the snow. And it was really snowing hard, several inches every day. For the first time in our lives, we experienced the chilly, biting wind and the fluffy, white icy snowing. Anyway, the experience was well worth the suffering. Actually not much suffering since the better half is an expert in packing winter clothings.

Y S does not intend to write intensively on China tourism. That you can read from so many web sites on the inter-nets and most sites come with bird-eye view of of high mp pictures. Y S' rantings will then be only on my personal observations.

This is the "Killing Fields" at an inter-national buffet super 5 Star restaurant in Beijing. You know, the trick of most package tour is to throw in a very lavish and stomach packing spread after a few days of cheap mundane meals. So, this "makan" (meal) was thrown in after a few ordinary meals of the usual dishes which I observed "sweet sour meat and fish" seemed to dominate the menu.

This buffet is fabulous. Beijing seems to want to be the biggest in everything, including restaurants. There are a few hundred dishes from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mexico, Thailand, India, Japan, Europe etc etc etc. You eat until you drop if you want to. Red wine can be carried away to your table in bottles. The dessert is enough to feed an army, and y S' favourite cheese cakes are o la la..." firm on the outside, creamy in the inside and have a balance flavour." They melt in your mouth !


This is a scene at ChengDe's mountain resort. Soon, the lake will be frozen !

Y S at ChengDe's imperial garden.

China is in the frenzy of having the superlative degree of everything and this is the world's biggest LCD screen 75 m X 25 m.

Y S will never do this in Malaysia - taking a trishaw ride. We were huddled into this mode of transportation and were peddled through the narrow lanes and alleys of the Hutong ancient city.

This is the Puning Temple at ChengDe.

Y S on the snow at ChengDe.

Y S' better half showing off her leather jacket.

This is another exquisite dining fit for emperors.

This is what Y S always wanted to see - Empress Dowager's folly. Her stone river boat sitting on a lake in at her summer palace.

This is also Y S' favourite site - Temple of Heaven.

Of course, this has always been Y S' passion - to climb the Great wall of China. And so Y S did. "Cough...cough...panting...panting..... not so much from the climb but from crowd jostling. It is always very crowded !!!) Chairman Mao once said that " a Chinaman is not a Chinaman until he climbs the Great wall, and swims the Yangtze. "( The last one added by Y s )

This is a part of the Forbidden City. It had to be forbidden judging from the opulence, richness, "wastefulness" and not to mention the vices that happened behind the walls and closed doors. Just think of the emperor's numerous concubines; scheming eunuchs; lower, middle and higher palace officials etc etc etc ....


Y S at the Forbidden City.

This is a special photograph teken with our Manchu Tour Guide who cliamed that Y s looked like a Mongol. LOL
Better half never fails to enjoy the snow.

A shot with a Manchu page boy.

This is another structure Y S longed to see and touch. The Bird Nest Olympic Stadium.

...... even a dog has its day

Last month Yours Sincerely ( Y s ) blogged about the demise of "Pinchy," the familys 's pet dog, a Dobberman Pincher. It was a small dog but it leaves a big absence. Y S misses his welcome shrill barks when the auto gate opens. His intensive peep into the house when Y S opened the back door. He deserves a corner of the garden to be his resting place.

to

Pinchy

who brought down a cobra to protect his master

" small dog, big absence "

..... of family feuds & Reconciliation

The Great Wall of China was built to keep Barbaric intruders away from the Middle Kingdom, China. Some family members also build Great wall to keep siblings out and away on many issues which could range from relationship problems, attitude problems, incompatibilities of all sorts, property distribution ( Some parents mistakenly left behind too much ! ) , the list is as unending as the fallen human nature.

But for siblings to fall out on very small, puny, minute, microscopic and trivial matters is very unfortunate and to some extent, cursed. "Only a mule denies his family." How could siblings be so unforgiving and irreconcilable when they are born of the same parents and had had shared the same womb ! Think of the years of growing up together, especially when one comes from a poor family. Y S cannot understand.

Some would rather carry their hatred and resentment to their graves. Very sad, indeed.

" It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend, or a sibling " William Blake. ( Words in red added by Y s ) Imagine how some people can flatter an occasional guest but deal a harsh blow on their own sibling.

Y S happened to chance upon this DVD from the younger daughter's collection. It is an educational story of an American-Chinese mother who is domineering and manipulative, nick named, " The Dragon lady" and is greatly disliked by her children. The estranged siblings, one brother and three sisters, have their own differences and are like cats and dogs. The only common things they share is their dislike for their mother.

The siblings have to undergo 7-day Chinese funeral wake for their mother. The 7 days was hell as they pick on each other and quarrel over almost everything from the funeral arrangement to funeral buffet for the guests. However, they are bent on giving their mother a respectable funeral. They are Chinese. As they go through the 7 days they discover skeletons hidden in the family closets; each other's secrets, weaknesses and strengths; and finally they could accept each other and bury their differences. They learn about themselves, each other and their mother, forgiveness and what is to be Chinese. They FORGIVE and RECONCILED.

What big issues cannot be reconciled? Even God forgives and sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for all on the cross and whoever believes onto Him will have life everlasting.

People say that forgiveness comes with a cost. Really ? Y S doesn't think so. Forgiveness comes with the willingness to do so and the humility to do it. It does not cost you anything but buy you everything - peace, tranquility, joyfulness and contentment.

However, forgiveness does not necessary lead to healed relationship. Some people are incapable of love and are very much inflated with egoism and the pride of life, so it might as well be wise to let them go along with their unforgiveness and resentment, and wish them well on their way.

Y S had played an intermediary role between two siblings. Y S managed to humbly persuade the elder sibling to forgive and reconcile with the younger sibling. Y S even assured the elder sibling of the ability of the younger sibling to forgive and reconcile since she comes from the First World and a more advanced country, and supposedly exposed to a more refined culture. To my utter regret ( and disgust) , the young sibling was on her high horse. The elder sibling's humility was taken as weakness and mistakes. The effort was despised. She was short of being run out of the house. The effort turned sour. The elder sister was "rehurt." But she managed to come out of it after some time. "Forgive them. They know not what they are doing" are the very words of Jesus Christ.


This is my beloved eldest and second sister after their reconciliation. This photo was taken during the first All Souls' Day after the demise of my mother. See they are so chummy, sharing food from the same plate. This is being sisterly. This is what sisters are supposed to be. Don't let the devil rob you off your siblings!

And the greatest thing of all is that THEY RECONCILED BEFORE THE DEMISE OF MY MOTHER. That was the greatest gift they gave to my mother. When we were at Mother's death bed, 30 of us, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, my mother passed over with a smile. She was 92. Her family is reconciled and united.

And that is not only Chinese but also of every race on this earth. What Chinese after staying in the west can tell Y S that the family is unimportant ? " Only a mule denies his family."

..... 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.