Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas

Me: It's Christmas tomorrow. Have you been good all year?
Kayrin: Not really...but MOSTLY! I'm naughty but nice.

For this Christmas, I'm getting Kayrin a Lego set. Another one to add to her dozens of Lego assemblies. I'm amazed that she hasn't gotten tired of Lego after years of playing with them. SF is also feeding that addiction by supplying her all sorts of things that can be assembled with those little coloured bricks. He's probably reliving his childhood days.
As for SF, he's getting something `very useful' this year. I bought myself a present too and I can't wait to get started on it. Canvas and acrylic paint. I'm going to start painting. Let's see what the painting will turn out to be.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Changi


Changi
Originally uploaded by leechingshen

For the year-end school holidays of 2010, we made our way down south to Singapore for the company's annual gathering, staying at the Fullerton, and then moving to Kayrin's godparents' place. It was great fun catching up with that very kind and generous couple. They are so loving that it's an inspiration to me. Not the cloying kind of love but just a lot of adoration n respect for each other. We also caught up with another family, good friends stationed in the Middle East, on our trip to Universal Studios. The theme park seems fun but with Kayrin still not daring enough to take the rides, and the heat overpowering and the rain just too drenching, we didn't do very much except wander around in good company. Kayrin and the S-boys had lots of fun together and she simply enjoyed having them to play with.
After four days there, we flew on to Kota Kinabalu on Dec. 1. Hyatt Regency was very convenient a location as it was downtown, just a 10 ringgit tax ride away to the best seafood we've had -- at Sedco complex. Next to the hotel are the travel agents that provide tours to the Tunku Abdul Rahman marine park and to the beautiful Kinabalu Park. SF likes the park for being left very much in its original state. Poring Hot Springs was adventurous enough for us, with Kayrin braving the drizzle to hike up to the canopy walk and taking on the canopy without any fuss.
Kundasang seems promising too though we didn't stop there. The place is the Cameron Highlands of Sabah.
SF also minded Kayrin, taking her snorkelling while I get to make two dives at the marine park.
Headed home on Dec. 4, Wei, Lyan, Patrick, Khoon Eng, SF and I then proceeded to take ma to Port Dickson on Dec. 6. Avillion Admiral Cove is still nice on a second visit but I'd definitely avoid the Vista Wing in future. Much too dark for Kayrin's liking!
By the time we were done with our trips, I was getting disorientated with where I was when waking in the middle of the night. And poor old SF had to have chiropractic treatment from all that walking.
*This pix was of Kayrin at Changi's Terminal 3 en route to Kota Kinabalu from Singapore.

KLCC


KLCC
Originally uploaded by leechingshen

Somehow, the photos I took that have grabbed people's attention are those snapped on my iPhone. Not to say that the phone has a great camera, but when I spot something, pictures should just be taken right away. They make some of the most amazing ones in my collection, Here's one taken above the lobby of the Petronas Twin Towers, when SF, Kayrin and I attended a Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra performance in the season ended June 2010.
The chandeliers that were lit made the swirls on the floor even more amazing. And the two figures there just added a new dimension to the picture.