FollowOn the last day of 2025, my new life in my hometown of Ipoh felt noticeably different from how it would have been if I were still living in Kuala Lumpur. There was no rush, no countdown plans, no packed schedule. Instead, the day unfolded quietly, anchored in simple routines and shared moments with my…
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2025: A Year in Review
As 2025 draws to a close, I find myself sitting quietly, looking back at a year that felt like a full lifetime packed into twelve months. It was a year of milestones, tests of faith, emotional turbulence, and hard-won peace. A year that stretched me in ways I never expected — and yet, by God’s…
2025 Christmas Eve Dinner At Hakka Yin Signature Restaurant, Ipoh
2025 Christmas Eve dinner was held at Hakka Yin Signature, Ipoh. Just my parents, younger brother and I. Hakka Yin Signature is our family’s go-to restaurant for authentic Hakka cuisine. Being Hakka ourselves, we truly appreciate the flavours here — especially the abacus yam seeds, which are fragrant, well-seasoned, and you can really taste the…
Dongzhi in Ipoh: Where I Wish Time Would Stand Still
Today marks my 11th day back in Ipoh, and honestly, I wish I could stay here forever. There’s something deeply comforting about being home with my parents — the familiar rhythms, the unspoken understanding, and the quiet joy of simply being. Life here feels slower, softer, and more intentional. I wake up without rush, eat…
My 52nd Birthday
Turning 52 on 29 March 2025 is truly a milestone, and I feel incredibly grateful to have reached this point in life. Birthdays are not just about growing older but about cherishing the love, laughter, and experiences that each year brings. This year, my birthday celebration was a beautiful gathering filled with great food, and…
Our Thaipusam Holiday and Chap Goh Mei Celebration
Tuesday, 11 February 2025 ~ It was a public holiday, and we had no concrete plans—until my husband made a last-minute announcement that he wanted to have brunch with us. With little time to spare, we all hurriedly got dressed, excited yet curious about where he intended to take us. As always, he loves surprising…
CNY Eve Potluck Dinner: Family, Food, and Fun
The Eve of Chinese New Year (CNY) is always a special occasion, and this year (28 January 2025) was no exception. We celebrated with a potluck dinner at hubby’s uncle’s house nearby, marking a delightful departure from our usual routines. Instead of heading to Ipoh or having a quiet dinner with just our family of…
Chinese New Year Road Trip to Ipoh: Celebrations, Food, and Family
The second day of Chinese New Year (CNY) brought with it a sense of excitement as we packed up and drove back to Ipoh with Haru in tow. The journey was surprisingly smooth, taking us only 2 hours and 10 minutes—a far cry from the pre-CNY traffic crawl we had braced ourselves for. Haru, our…
Kicking Off Pre-CNY Festivities with Family, Food, and An Unexpected Surprise
Our first Pre-Chinese New Year (CNY) dinner for 2025 kicked off yesterday, 26th January, at the Ming Room Restaurant in BSC. It was an evening filled with laughter, family bonding, and all the festive dishes we eagerly look forward to during this time of year. The dinner was with the Yaps, my hubby’s relatives, to…
Farewell, 2024: Reflections and Hopes for the New Year
As the final hours of 2024 tick away, I find myself reflecting on the rollercoaster of a year it has been. While this year brought more challenges than I ever anticipated, it also reinforced the strength and resilience of our family. With 2025 on the horizon, I feel a renewed sense of hope for a…
Christmas Eve 2024
This year’s Christmas Eve was spent indulging in good food and family time. My MIL, Sherilyn, Cass, and I headed to Wagyu More at The Gardens Mall for a delightful hotpot lunch. It was our second visit to this restaurant in December, and it seems to have become a favorite for my MIL. We were…
Alycia’s Simple Yet Special 21st Birthday Celebration
Last Thursday, on December 5, 2024, we celebrated a significant milestone—Alycia’s 21st birthday! It was a simple yet meaningful day, filled with good food, heartfelt moments, and gratitude for how far she has come. To kick off Alycia’s special day, we headed to The Gardens Mall for a beef hotpot buffet lunch at Wagyu More.…
Celebration Week: A Family Reunion and a Special Birthday
This week is a momentous occasion for our family (from my side), filled with joy and heartfelt celebrations. Today, my parents are traveling from Ipoh, and my older brother’s family is coming from Singapore to gather in Kuala Lumpur. My younger brother, Roy, drove from KL back to Ipoh yesterday and will be driving our…
16 June 2024 ~ Father’s Day 2024
This year we celebrated Father’s Day at If Only Restaurant, a striking space of elemental elegance in the city centre. As we did not make prior reservation, we waited for almost half an hour for a table. But the wait was all worth it. We enjoyed the superb food and desserts. If Only also hosts…
Mother’s Day 2024
Saturday, 11 May 2024: The Eve of Mother’s Day The celebration kicked off on the eve of Mother’s Day with a delightful family dinner. Following our meal, we made our way to Encore, a charming café known for its exquisite tarts and cakes. We savored decadent desserts and tea and captured precious memories with photographs.…