Wednesday, 31 December 2008

Good Bye Year 2008......


It's the final day of the year 2008!!!!!

What a year, huh!! All the good and the bad happened so quickly over the 365 days in 2008, and today is the 366th (this year is the leap year with 29 days in the month of February)...

From the Sichuan 512 Earthquake that killed hundreds of thousand of people to the World's grandest event Beijing Olympic 2008.... it all happened in the year 2008...

Whatever is planned and unplanned ahead of the year 2009, wishing everyone of you:

A healthy, wealthy, prosper and happy new year 2009!!!

Monday, 29 December 2008

Happy Muharram Day 2008!!!




To all my Muslimin & Muslimat Friends,




Happy Muharram Day 2008!!


Selamat Menyambut Awal Muharram 2008!!

With love,

James & Esther, 29th December 2008 in Beijing, China

Friday, 26 December 2008

Happy Boxing Day (St. Stephen's Day), 26th December 2008


Go and return all your gifts that you don't want!! hahaha...


Happy Boxing Day 2008 or.... Discount Day!


Love,

James & Esther
26th December 2008
Beijing, China

Thursday, 25 December 2008

Ho Ho Ho!!! Merry Christmas 2008!!!




















Wishing everyone a Merry and Blessed Christmas 2008!!!
......
With Love,
James & Esther
25th December 2008
Beijing, China

Wednesday, 24 December 2008

Christmas Eve, 24th December 2008


"Silent Night, Holy Night..."
It's Christmas Eve 2008!!
Spending my 4th Christmas Eve in Beijing since 2005, and it's nothing much happening in a city of ancient Chinese expecially at the centre of Chinese Culture and Politic, Beijing. Since it is still a woking day (non holiday) in Beijing, it is a boring city to celebrate Christmas...
I miss my mommy and my dad wspecially on this festive season... I miss the Sacred Heard Cathedral Christmas Carolling from house to house... used to had so much fun while I was a kid doing that... I miss putting up the christmas tree and decoration together with my mom while I was a kid and going to the Christmas Eve Mid-night Mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral Kota Kinabalu. In Beijing, there is only one church that has English Mass, The South Cathedral (Nan Tang) located in Xuan Wu Men and you must get a ticket before you are allowed to go in. The ticket is distributed few weeks ahead... so, no ticket meaning no entrance! What a welcoming church!!!!!

Dun party too much guys!!

Monday, 8 December 2008

Selamat Menyambut Hari Raya Aidiladha (Qurban) 2008!!


To all my Muslimin and Muslimat Friends,


Selamat Menyambut Hari Raya Aidiladha (Qurban) 2008!!


Love,

James & Esther
8th December 2008
Beijing, China

Saturday, 22 November 2008

Happy Birthday to Sparks Shi!!!


To our dearest neighbour Sparks Shi,

Happy Birthday!!

生日快樂,事事順利!


With love,
James & Esther
22nd November 2008
Beijing, China

Thursday, 20 November 2008

Trip to SHENYANG City, Liaoning Province, China (16-19 November 2008)

... Completing my Chinese Mainland North-eastern Trip.
This is my final leg of the 3 Chinese Mainland North-eastern Provinces (1. Heilongjiang Province, 2. Jilin Province and 3. Liaoning Province) Trip… I visited Harbin City of Heilongjiang Province in August 2005, Changchun City, Jilin City & Mt. Changbaishan in May and July 2005 respectively, and Shenyang City was from the 16th till 19th November 2008. During this trip, Bob Qian, Libby Jin and Sinclair who just returned from Christchurch, New Zealand accompanied me throughout the trip. Visited Shenyang Imperial Palace (of Qing Dynasty), Zhang Xueliang’s official Resident, Zhong Street, and other famous tourist attractions.......
The weather was very cold (highest –3ºC and lowest –19ºC) as the cold current was coming down from the north-west (Russia) of Mainland China during the 4 days of my visit. Throughout this visit, I’ve also learnt a few lesson… firstly, you must join a tour buddy who has the same travelling goal and aim, otherwise, you would have different views or goals in planning and choosing itinerary for the entire trip. Secondly, do not depend on the ‘local’ friends or travelling buddy in planning for the trip itinerary as they might not know what to do or what to plan with. Plan yourself with ‘places to visit’ list in advance before heading for the destination. Otherwise, time, money and effort would be a waste and simply staying in the hotel room…......
Overall, it was a good trip and worth visiting, especially the Shenyang Imperial Palace and the Official Resident of Chinese Hero, Zhang Xueliang. Extending my gratitude to Libby and Sinclair for your warm hospitality and friendship…