A FUN-FILLED Christmas 2015 [Part 1]

As usual, year end has always been busier, especially the weekends - Spring Cleaning! The Year 2015 ends in a much drier mode and thanks to Mr. Golden SUN which gives us the precious sunlight to dry our loads of washing ~ smile ~

Christmas is full of fun and laughter, with all my children coming back home, one after another for their year-end holiday.  Grand-boy Brendan is the first to be back home with his mum, and he just couldn't wait for CHRISTMAS... this photo speaks for him!

Sharing some of my Christmas bakes.....

Fruit Cake

Lebkuchen

Chewy Nutella Chocolate Chips Cookies

Stollen Bread

Christmas Log

I am so proud to have bake my first ever Christmas Log, though it doesn't looks that nice but it taste awesome.  Thanks to Diana Gale for sharing this great recipe.  

This Christmas has also been a season of great Feasting for my family.  We all enjoyed so much delicious food, either outside or home-cooked.  Another Chinese festival which comes 3 days before Christmas is the Winter Solstice Festival.  Most, if not all Chinese families will prepare the glutinuous rice balls in sweet soup to be eaten by all members of the family.  This year I have my grandson Brendan, who is old enough to help in the making....

"see, it's round"

For our Christmas Eve Reunion Dinner, I am preparing Steamboat and some home-cooked favourite dishes of my children....

Stir-fried leek flower with prawns

Stir-fried midin with belachan

Deep-fried pork ribs

Meat rolls /ngo hiang

Steamboat ingredients.....

meat....

Chinese napa cabbage

meatballs, eggs, pig stomach, fish maw

abalone, young corn, mushrooms...

Brendan gives a "double-thumbs UP" for the dishes, meaning to say he enjoys the food very much!

The most awaited moments for Brendan, being the youngest in the family is.....

A BIG 'Sigh of Relief!'

Time flits by... It has been nine fabulous, great, stress-free years since I quit my job!  November 1st marked my freedom from working life, a life which still brings chills from the edges of my ears to the tip of my toes.  This is an experience which many won't understand, except for those few who have ever been in such a working environment.

To get the details, check it out in my earlier blogs as listed below:-

1. 15th November 2008 - A 'Diffucult & Bitter' trod down memory lane....
2. 31st October 2009 - Three years ago....
3. 1 November 2010 - Remembering those 'bitter-sweet' moments....
4. 2 November 2011 - Five years ago....
5. 5 November 2012 - More to look forward with contentment towards a stress-free life....

The decisions and action taken nine years ago comes with no regret.  I found real happiness instead....

Yes, I dare say that money is also equally important, but then again, can money buy everything???

It's indeed A BIG 'Sigh of Relief' for me as I continue my glorious walk into the 10th year of a stress-free life full of contentment, joy, peace, happiness and freedom.  Praise The Lord, Amen.

Exploring Asajaya

Asajaya is a small town located in the Samarahan Division.  Kota Samarahan, previously known as Muara Tuang is my mum's birth place.  During my young childhood days, roughly about 3 to 5 years old, I remember travelling there via river to visit my grandparents, who owns a grocery shop and we really enjoyed our visits as there are so many types of sweets and tit-bits for us kids to munch! Today, it is easily accessible through the 25-kilometer road linking Kota Samarahan and Kuching.

It's a Sunday, after sending Aaron off at KIA we started our journey roughly about two in the afternoon to Kota Samarahan.  Our first intention was to cross over Asajaya by Ferry and made a return trip by land, but upon reaching Kota Samarahan Ferry Point, we learned that the ferry will only start at 3 pm. as the tide is still low.  Instead of waiting we decided to drive straight to Asajaya.  The journey by road is much further as compared to the ferry ride but along the way we get to view and experience the lifestyle of the people there.  

The first spot of interest.....

This signboard tells us that the Chinese Temple is somewhere ahead, so we drive on and on until the end of the road, looked and looked but see no temple.  Then we realise "The Temple is at the other side of the river!"  We all have a good laugh and decided to come back for it another time.  

It is indeed interesting to see the villagers crossing the river by motorcycle in a small boat.

We continue on with our journey to Asajaya Town, which is just one straight road with lots of coconut trees, maize plants, banana tress and others being planted along the side of the road.

Finally, we arrived at Asajaya Town, Pekan Asajaya in Malay.....

We queued at the Ferry Point to cross over Kota Samarahan.....

vehicles disembark at Asajaya

driving into the ferry

off we go...

disembark at Kota Samarahan

It is an interesting afternoon exploring Asajaya, We stop by Summer Shopping Mall before making our journey back to Kuching.  As it is nearly evening we decided to have dinner at Stutong....

Free and Easy Sunday drive to the Kampung along Jalan Borneo Heights, Padawan

On a lazy Sunday we decided to spare our afternoon for a car-ride along Jalan Borneo heights, Padawan, a free and easy drive which hubby have been wanting to pursue for quite a while. Though we experienced slight drizzle on our way there, but soon enough the sun started to shine again. Here's to share from the photos which I've captured.....

Kpg. Benuk

Crossing Sg. Bakam

Taken a turn to Kpg. Semadang

Starting and ending point for canoeing  

The hanging bridge to the other side of the Kampung

The canoeing will pass through here...

The Kampung houses behind the trees

Moving towards Kpg. Temurang

Kpg. Bengoh

Kpg. Danu

Another pass through of the canoeing

Hanging bridge to Kpg. Danu

/The beautiful limestone mountain behind this Kampung

It's a worthwhile road-trip, we enjoyed the beautiful scenic views throughout our journey.....