My Dear Senior 3 Students of 2017

I'm writing this as I sit here on the bench in your school garden. It's only my third time visiting your school but I already feel quite attached to this place. I can only imagine what it feels like to be here for six years... and then leave this place.

It's hard for me to remember exactly what it was like to leave school; only the excitement of freedom beyond the school walls still lingers in my mind. I remember driving out of my school in my dad's old 1982 Toyota Corona, windows down, wind in my hair. It was the best feeling then.

However, I didn't have a graduation ceremony. I just finished my last exam paper and that was it. Now, being a teacher, I'm lucky that I've been able to attend my students' graduation for the past ten years; but this is my first in Hin Hua High School, and it's also the first formal graduation ceremony I've ever attended. That makes it really special. Sitting in the hall, watching every student stand together as the choir sang your school song, it felt like I was in the movie, 我的少女時代; a movie that brought back memories of a time when I was young, like you. 

I'm glad I had this chance to be here today with you, to witness such an important moment in your life. Seeing you today reminded me again how fast time flies and how precious are the moments we shared. From our first day in class, to our poetry writing in RT Pastry, to our cooking class, to your group project, to our final class, and now this, your final day in school - everything has happened in the blink of an eye.

In truth, I never wanted you to graduate, I never wanted you to leave, but that would be so selfish of me. You have brought me joy at a time when I wanted to give up on everything I had built. You made me stay and love the life I'm living. Now that our time together has ended, I'm not sure if I'll be as happy as I was with you. But leave, you must. Life goes on, and so do we.

I'm about to leave this bench now and continue to do what I love doing - teaching and growing with my students. And as I leave your school with fond memories and a smile, I want you to know I will always smile when I think of you. I hope you will smile too.

Congratulations, my dear friends. You have graduated, and I am so proud of you.

My Dear Senior 3 Class of 2017

As I was walking to Pin Hwa High School for only the second time, a strange feeling awoke inside me. I had been to graduation ceremonies for the past 10 years so the feeling was familiar, but this would be my first in your school, this would be my first, and my last with you. After all, you only graduate from high school once in your life.

I realized then how precious this moment was, how precious all the moments we had were. In the blink of an eye, we had journeyed from our first class to our poetry class at RT Pastry, to that fun night at Rachel's birthday, to our last class, and now to this day... Your last day in school. I hope you know how precious those moments are to me, and how precious you are to me.

After almost everyone of you had left, I sat there, in the peaceful courtyard of your school. I smiled as I looked at our photos, I smiled as I listened to the voices and laughter echoing around the school, and I smiled as I thought about all the good times we had. I hope that one day, when you think of this day, you will smile too.

Congratulations, my friends! You have graduated.

Senior Class of 2017

Dear Friends,

The time has come for you to face what you have been preparing for, all these years of your school life. From the first day you set foot into kindergarten, then into your primary school, and finally now, the last days of your secondary school life, your efforts have all led to this moment - the last exam you will ever face in your schooling life. So, what are you going to do? Give up or give it your best shot?

I have done all I can as a teacher and friend to help you do your best, not just for your exam but also for the next few years of your life, and that next step into life in the real world starts now. Your exam results will largely determine your next options in life - what course you can study, which college you can enter, and possibly, who you will become but it will NOT determine if you succeed or fail in life. Despite that, your SPM results are an important part of your journey to academic success. If I ask you, "What will you study after SPM?" You might say, "It depends." Well, I can tell you now that you should not say that it depends on your results, because your results depend on you.

Like the song I sang for you on graduation day, you must believe in yourself and that you can do it because truly, you can. Even people who are blind, deaf, mute or disabled can graduate from university with a degree, so why can't you? The real question is not whether you can or cannot; it's whether you want to or not. So, let me ask you, how much do you want this result? If there is a will, there is a way.

As a final piece of advice to you, I want you to know that you should never compare yourself to others. Only compare yourself to the best that you can be. If you give it your best, then to me, you have done your best and you are the best; and I will be proud of you. So, come on, my friends, the time is now... your destiny is calling... will you charge forward like the brave soldiers of the light brigade or will you turn and run? The choice is yours...

I wish you all the best.

Your friend,
Caleb

Before You Went Away

I'm trying to reach out to you,

But perhaps you don't want me to,

Just trying to be your friend,

But I guess this is the end,

Our friendship is but a dream,

Our lives are not what they seem,

But I guess it was my mistake,

Gave you more than you wished to take,

If I could return to the day,

The day before you went away,

I would undo my last mistake,

Won't have to wear this mask, so fake,

To be the way we were before,

When we were just us, nothing more.

Before The Year Ends

To the few special people from the Class of 2015 who spent time with me outside of our classroom. It's been a bittersweet year for me and I just want you to know that you made my days brighter and with you, I was infinitely happier in my limited world of happiness.

August 1, 2014

Dear Siew May,  Poh Wei, Hui Ying and Jin Yu (special thanks to Lee Yi), you helped me to renew our classroom tables with brand new paper sheets and plastic covers. Even though at that time you were still my students, I know you did this out of love for our center and gratitude to me as your teacher. But after that, we hung out at SCM for a movie and we did that as friends. So, thank you.

August 30, 2014

Dear Shing Yi, Seok See, Cheah Yee and Zhi Huai, you have been my faithful and funny companions every Tuesday on our journey back home and it was really nice of you to accompany me to celebrate my 8th Year Anniversary of Being Single. I wouldn't have wanted to spend that day with anyone else. You made me feel that being single was all right and fun. Thank you. 

December 24, 2014

Dear Shing Yi, Roy and Cheah Yee, Christmas has always been my favourite time of the year. However, as the years go by, it's become less of a celebration and more of a disappointment as I recall the many wonderful Christmas celebrations in the past that have now seemed to disappear with my youth. Thanks for making my Christmas Eve magical that year. Spending Christmas Eve this year alone at home made me miss this even more. So, thank you.

2014-2015

Dear Yee Chern, you have been one of my closest students and friends. You seemed to be in Mega Yakin most of the time, whether to help or just be a busybody. Seeing you always made me happy and I miss listening to all your stories. We didn't get to spend much time outside class but I could feel that you treated me as your friend and that's what really matters. Thank you.

June 7, 2015

Dear Siew May, Roy and Yee Hsien, on the past two trips to Publika, I shopped alone and although it was fun, having you accompany me there was much more fun. It was really a wonderful day and although it was also one of the most expensive outings for me, I didn't mind. I was happy to spend that day with you. Thank you.

October 24, 2015

Dear Chyi Lin, Ti Sean, Chun Yin and Jeremy, out of all the boys in 2015, you guys are the craziest and the most fun to hang out with. I love all my students equally but as friends, you guys really rock and I love you more because of that. Thanks for this dinner treat and for seeing me as your friend and brother. I sure miss our topics of conversation. Thank you.

December 7, 2015

Dear Ti Sean, Chyi Lin, Jeremy, Chun Yin, Ee Vyn, Nicole and Cheah Yee, I've never had a class reunion so soon after SPM ended. You guys really surprised me and I was touched and honoured by your thoughtfulness. Thanks for keeping your promise. It means a lot to me. Thank you.

December 8, 2015

Dear Yee Chern, Hui Ying, Yea Ying, Kian Heng, Wei Yi and Ren Jie, you were the second group to ask me out for a reunion but that doesn't make you any less important. I was just as happy to meet you that day as I would any other group. Thanks for remembering me. Thank you.

December 9, 2015

Dear Ti Sean, Roy, Chyi Lin, Jeremy, Nicole, Sindy, Chun Yin, Cheah Yee, Ee Vyn and Hui Ying (special thanks to Min Lee and Pei Ern), as you already know, I had been looking forward to this trip for a long time. I've only been on graduation trips with two other groups in the past so, to go on only my third class trip in 12 years of teaching, it's really something special to cherish. Also, this is the biggest group I've travelled with and also the first group to travel by air. Even though the trip ended with some bittersweet moments, I wouldn't mind going back in time and reliving the entire trip all over again. This here, is one of my favourite moments on our trip - that moment of excitement before the journey, when we are all bound together as one, regardless of our differences. Thanks for giving me one of the best trips of my life. Thank you.

As 2015 is about to end, I am re-evaluating my life. I realise that I was mistaken about certain things - things that I thought were true about some people but actually, they were the opposite of what I imagined. It was just my mistake to expect something else that wasn't. I also realise that I am becoming too old to have the kind of friendship I shared with my ex-students in the past. Maybe 10 years ago I could still be treated like a close friend or brother. Now, I feel I am more like a father or uncle to you than a friend or brother. But it's okay. That's life. We all grow up...

Perhaps in a few years, some of us might change and become strangers to one another and all that is left of our friendship will stay in these photos. I don't know what the future holds but I've been teaching long enough to know that things will never be the same again. I only hope that despite all the changes, our friendship will remain. That is my one wish; my hope above all hopes. 

Till the next time we meet again, my friends. I wish you all the best in life.

Love, forever and always,

Caleb

Some Nights

There are nights when I wonder if what I've done has been worth it.

There are nights when I wonder if I had chosen the right path.

Some nights I wonder if I had gone someplace else, if I had done something else, would I be in a better place than where I am now? Would the people I know and love appreciate me more than they do now?

Some nights I wonder if I should just give up and throw it all away.

Some nights are like tonight... when I walk alone on the streets at night, wondering if the loneliness will ever leave me, instead of being my constant companion that clouds my nights when darkness already surrounds me.

Some nights I wish I had never started what I did.

Then maybe my nights would be different now...

You Have Failed This Country!

There are days when my days are like nights and the nights stay what they are... dark and gloomy. I sleep as the dark begins to end and wake up to another night in the dark.











There is no sun in my days. Only the moon and its dying light. For all the sacrifices I have made, none seem to have changed this world that we live in. None of my efforts seem to make this world any better. My world lies in tatters. My world is broken, damaged and corrupted.

There are more evil men in this world than the
good care to admit. And yet fewer good men do anything to stop it. So the evil prosper. The corrupt get richer and yet continue to steal from the innocent poor and the poor continue to suffer while the corrupt dine in the best restaurants and spend lavishly on not just necessity but on stupid extremities, like license plates with "special" numbers and branded handbags to add to the other 1000 branded handbags in their closet.

But what can we, the innocent people of this country do? Nothing. We can do nothing to stop them. They are too powerful. We are too weak. They have too much. We have too little.

One day, someone is going to get so mad at the injustice that's eating this world of ours, that someone might just break. And when that happens, I hope those who are corrupt are already dead... or they will suffer far worse from that someone who has nothing else to lose.

That someone who will bring these people to justice... 

I hope that's not me. 

I hope that's not you either. 

I hope it never has to come to that.

...

...

...

A Day in the Life of a Malaysian Citizen

I woke up extra early today at 10:30 AM. Yes, for me, that is considered early. I'm not a morning person. I never have been; I never will be. It's just how I naturally am.

So, why the extra effort to get up early today? Well, I was the unfortunate victim of a road accident about 4 weeks ago. A 3-tonne trailer rammed into the side of my car from behind - no kidding. It was almost like a scene out of Transformers. I guess you could say I had a brush with Optimus Prime that Monday afternoon.

Well, the minimum 14 days to collect my accident report, photos, rough sketch of the accident and other documents had finally passed. I waited this long to make sure everything was ready. After all, the police station was located 22 KM from my home - not a short distance by any means.

By 11:45 AM I had arrived at the police station. I presented my copy of the police report to the female officer behind the counter. After about a minute of typing on her computer, she told me,
"Semua dokumen ada kecuali keputusan."
I was stunned. After nearly 4 weeks and the decision slip still wasn't ready?
"Dah lebih 3 minggu tapi belum siap? Jadi macam mana sekarang?"
"You kena jumpa Sarjan. Tapi dia tak masuk hari ini. Kena datang hari Ahad."
"Huh? Kena datang lagi hari Ahad?"
"Ya. You call dia dulu sebelum datang."
"Okay, terima kasih, Cik."

I walked off shaking my head. Unbelievable. Without the decision slip (keputusan), I can't make any insurance claims to repair my car. I decided to find out more and called my insurance agent. He told me that it was most likely that the Sergeant wanted "something" from me before he would give me the decision slip. A second call to the workshop confirmed this.

By having that 3-tonne trailer ram into my car, I had become a victim. By having to drive all the way, wasting precious time and money, I had become a victim a second time. By having to pay RM 22 for my copy of the accident report documents, I had become a victim a third time. Now, I was supposed to come all the way here again to this police station 22 KM from my home just to collect what should have been given to me today? And what more, I had to give "something" to this Sergeant so I could get a decision slip that is part of the RM 22 I paid for? Unfuckingbelievable!

But isn't this the norm in our country? Isn't this what being a citizen of Malaysia is all about? Nothing's fair in this world. Yes but in Malaysia, it seems that "nothing's fair" is part of the law and happens to us RAKYAT every bloody day. It was then that my near-impossible daydreams of becoming The Dark Knight again resurfaced. This town needs a Batman and I would be damn willing to clean up all the shit in this town as a masked vigilante if strength, skill, intelligence and money permitted. And if technology permitted, I'd be Iron Man too.

Damn, I was pissed! Yet, this country has a way of pissing you further. On my way back, I had to face a driver who without signaling, slowed down on a single lane road in front of me, causing me to wait like an idiot until I realised she wanted to make a right turn. Then, a man driving a van from the opposite direction, cut in front of my car without signaling, on a ONE WAY street. I had to blow off some steam and decided to make a visit to Dynasty Dragon Restaurant in Klang Parade for some dim sum. More steam. Oh the irony!

Arriving at the restaurant, I was greeted by familiar faces among the supervisors. They recognised me as well, even after more than a year. I sat down by myself as usual and looked through the menu. Hardly anything had changed in the menu, except one thing - the price. What used to be RM 4;50 was now RM 5.50 and what used to be RM 5.50 now cost an extra Ringgit. Great! Just great...

After ordering my food, I was so pissed, I decided to take a piss in the men's washroom. I had to walk out of the restaurant into the public restroom provided by Klang Parade. Not a problem for me. It gave me a chance to view the newly designed restrooms. As I walked in, a man in a purple shirt walked out past me on my left. Inside the restroom, I stood in front of the urinal about to take a piss. Almost immediately, that man in the purple shirt walked back in and went to wash his hands at the sink directly behind my back. I sensed something and got into "DEFEND" mode, my hands ready to strike if necessary.

Via the reflection on the shiny marbled wall in front of me, I observed him closely. He was about 36 to 38 years of age, short and thin and did not seem dangerous. Then, as I suspected, he walked up to the urinal right next to me on my right. By then, I knew what his next move was. That bloody pervert tried to secretly peep down at my "you know what". I stared back at him fiercely. I was bloody pissed and was waiting for this bastard to give me an excuse to switch to "ATTACK" mode and beat the shit out of him! But too bad, he shied away. I then walked to the sink to wash my hands and guess what? No toilet paper. I  then decided to put on a little "show" for that pervert who was still pretending to be pissing at the urinal. I pretended to check the cubicles for toilet paper then slammed the doors real hard. I then walked past the man who seemed a little shaken by all the ruckus I had made. I put on my best "gangster face" as I stared at him and walked out. Useless fucker.

By the time I returned to my table in the restaurant, my food was ready. If it was any consolation, the food was still as good. Yet, as I quietly calculated the cost of my brunch, I knew I wouldn't be back here anytime soon. The good life is just too expensive to live in Malaysia when you're earning average pay. The sad thing is, I knew that by earning the same average pay in America, I would be able to afford a pretty good life.

Upon finishing brunch and half a pot of Chinese tea, I decided to check out what was new on the highest floor. I walked into Next Food Junction, Klang Parade's spanking new food court and was suitably impressed by the design and layout. One thing caught my eye though. The food court was divided into two - the Non-Halal section and the Halal section. I could understand the logic (if you could call it that) but in my heart, I felt sad that this was a reflection of our society - the Malays on one side and the rest on the other. Perhaps that was not the intention but it was certainly NOT a progressive step towards a harmonious society. What has happened to Malaysia? I was sad more than pissed but my mood was punctuated by a huge sign placed upright on the floor. I'll show you what it was later but boy did it make me laugh. Oh my country!

My next stop was at the arcade center. This used to be something popular during my school days. Sounds of "Ah boogan!" and "Boh liu gan" still echo in my mind from the days spent at the local arcade for yet another round of Street Fighter. I paid RM 2 for two tokens which qualified for one round of Daytona USA. This used to be just 20 sen back then. Sigh and another shake of the head.

As I sat down, anticipating a fun time behind the wheel, a boy of about 14 sat in the racing seat beside me. So, it was him versus me. Fine. I got off to a good start and was in the lead until the boy got nasty and started crashing into me. On one of laps, he pinned my car to the wall and it flipped. Then he shamelessly sped off to claim victory with my beat-up car trailing close behind. No doubt the girl standing next to him was impressed with his shameless win. I'm fine with losing but not when it's not fair. I decided to keep my Wolverine claws under my skin this time. I shook my head yet again thinking what sort of driver this young punk was going to be in another 3 years.

Well, enough disappointment for one day. I paid my parking fee and drove home, encountering more incidents of reckless and inconsiderate driving. Minutes before I reached my home, I noticed a huge roadworks truck beside the road and some town council workers sawing off the branches of a tree. I slowed my car down to let cars from the opposite lane go first. One of the drivers waved to me with a smile as he drove past, thanking me for giving way. I had been bullied and made a victim for almost the entire day. It was nice to receive an appreciative smile FINALLY.

Once the opposite road was clear of vehicles, I drove slowly past the fallen branches. The town council worker smiled and thanked me for my cooperation. I smiled back at him and gave him a thumbs up. I had just had a rather miserable day and the least I could do was make a fellow Malaysian's day brighter.

Oh, as for that sign I saw in the food court earlier. Well, here you go.

S

Y

A

B

A

S

M

A

L

A

Y

S

I

A

I'm Old School Like That

So, my phone finally died. After two and a half years of faithful service, to Japan and back, the sliding mechanism broke. I can still turn it on but any moment, it might snap and break into two. So that's that.

For the longest time I can remember, my friends, students and ex-students have been asking me, begging me, annoying me and even ridiculing me with requests for me to please, please, PLEASE buy a smartphone. So almost everyone thought, "Oh yes! FINALLY, you're getting a smartphone, Caleb! Woohoo!" It's funny how my personal choice gets so much debate and attention. What happened to "live and let live" or "to each their own"?

I can understand their reasoning. Yes, the smartphone is truly a smart device. I've had decent discussions with friends, students and ex-students who gave me a demo of what a smartphone can do. Am I impressed? Yes. Am I amazed? Yes. Do I need one right now? No.

It's amazing how some people complain that it's hard to get me since I'm not on Whatsapp or Whatseverapp or what not. It'd be great if there's a Whysapp because I'd really like to know why I can't be reached via a text message, a call, a message on Facebook or Twitter. Do I get it that whatsapp is free? Yes, I do. Do I think it's a great tool? Yes, I do. But that's no excuse to ask me to buy a smartphone for THEIR convenience, is it?

Let's put this in a similar context and see how it works out:

Sam : Eh, Joe. Why do you have to live in Kuala Selangor? It's so hard for me to meet you leh... so far...

Joe  : But I like it there. There's so much nature, the air is clean and I can go on a quiet boat ride to see the fireflies whenever I want to.

Sam : Really, dude. You should move to Klang where all our friends are. It's easier to meet that way. So, when are you going to move to Klang?

That's not very far from how some people have been pestering me to get a smartphone. I'm just amazed at how far this thing has gone sometimes. Well, do you want to know why I'm so stubborn in sticking with my keypad-and-tiny-screen type of phone? It's because I want to be connected. That's right. You heard it, folks. I want to be connected with the world around me. I want to be connected with LIFE.

We should always be the master of our technology and not let technology be our master but take a look around you. How many are there who are truly in control? How many would dare admit that they get lost in their smartphone world more often than not? I'm fine with being on Facebook. In fact, I'm on it nearly every day but I only do so when I'm home. When I'm alone and don't have people around me. That's when I need to be connected. But not when I am out there in the real world. No, I want to live my life when I'm out there.

It's ironic that while we are more "connected" because of technology, in truth, we have become even more disconnected from the people around us. How often have I found myself at a table with friends and not a second has passed before someone's pulled out his smartphone to "check-in" or another who's taken a pic and tagged every Tom, Dick and Harry at the table or worse, feeding farm animals, feeding fish, slicing fruits, making a bunch of angry birds hit a bunch of pigs, flapping birds or simply scrolling through their smartphone for no apparent reason because somehow they just can't keep their fingers off that damn thing! Well, frankly, I don't want to be part of that. As much as I believe I can control my use of the smartphone, a side of me fears that I'll be sucked into the whole damn thing... just like the rest. And I don't want that. I don't want to be like the rest...

People who truly know me will say I'm different. But then you'll say, well, so is everybody. Yeah, that's because you don't know me. Anyway, I won't go on because it already sounds like boasting as it is and I'm not like that. The simple thing about me, which sadly so few of my friends understand, is that I live in the HERE and NOW. When I'm out in the world, I like to connect with it. I like to interact with society and ultimately with individuals who make up this society we live in. That's where and when LIFE happens. But if you're constantly staring at that 4 inch (or 450 inch) screen in front of you, how can you possibly connect with LIFE? How can you even claim to be "OUT" at Starbucks when really, you're on Facebook or Whatsapp, in your private little world?

Speaking about Starbucks... I was by myself a few weeks ago, chilling after class had ended at 10pm... and there she was... lovely and alone, in the corner. I couldn't stop staring at her and was thinking of what to say to her when I walk up to her. But there she was, constantly typing away on her smartphone... I waited and waited for a chance when she might look away and see me, when I might get her attention... but no... the moment never came. By the time my patience had ended (which was about 30 minutes later), I just got up, walked out and went home. That was it. In another time, we might have been friends at least...

So, if you really want to know why I choose to be disconnected, well, let me tell you this. I am more connected than most people. I am more alive in the HERE and NOW than most people. And most importantly, I am happy with the choices I make for myself. So, sorry if I am an inconvenience to you. Sorry that I am making life difficult for you. If I am that much of a burden, maybe we shouldn't be friends after all...

And while we're at it, have a look at my new baby... it's a beauty, isn't it?

Let Hing Ket Grill It!

By Caleb Ho, writer and editor for Dine Out Malaysia | 3 July 2014

I was fourteen years old when I first stepped into Hing Ket Grill House. Back then, my family and I were regulars at this laid-back seafood restaurant, just a few minutes away from my home. Most seafood restaurants offer the usual steamed or fried varieties but Hing Ket tops those up with their own special grilled menu.

If it’s one thing about being a regular for such a long time, it’s that you know whether the standard has dropped over the years or not. Well, for the twenty-two years that I’ve been a regular, their food still tastes as great as they did back then. Being the writer and editor for Dine Out Malaysia, I guess it’s fair to say I’m qualified enough to judge.

I came here with my photographer, Justin, to thank him for his work on my new logo.
Instead, we were both treated to a wonderful selection of mouth-watering dishes by the owners. I should’ve known better as they’ve always been generous.

To start off with, we ordered the must-have ‘kat chai shi mui’. This concoction of blended lime, sugar, water and a floating tamarind is a rarity these days. Most restaurants use a pre-mixed concentrate but Hing Ket makes their own. Be warned though, it’s sour! (but oh so refreshing!)

After a few sips of ‘kat chai shi mui’ to get our appetite engines started, we had our first dish - the grilled spicy squid (RM 6 / 100 gm). Two succulent squid lay tantalizingly on a banana leaf before us and though I’ve eaten this a million times, I never get bored of it. For anyone who’s tried to cook squid, you’ll know that just over-cooking it by the slightest, it’ll turn rubbery and dry. Hing Ket prevents any disappointment on texture by glazing the squid with a thick sauce. Give this one a try and you’ll know why I never get bored of it.

Another one of their specialties is not any sort of seafood but rather, it’s imported New Zealand lamb (RM 8.50 / 100 gm), grilled to perfection for that earthy crust. Complimented by Hing Ket’s own mint sauce and slices of cucumber and pineapple, these tender pieces are juicy heaven!

Another one of my favourites is grilled spicy stingray (RM 6 / 100 gm). Now you might think, “But I can get this at almost any road side food court.” Well, yes but wait till you try the ones at Hing Ket. Slightly charred for that crispiness on the edges while retaining a moist and flavourful centre, I brought an ex-student and her siblings here recently when they returned from Australia and their eyes opened wide once they took the first bite. They absolutely loved it!

Next, I was surprised with two huge grilled spicy prawns (RM 13 / 100 gm); something I had never ordered before. I was pleasantly wowed by the fact that they were sweet and moist. I’m definitely going to order this again!           

After sampling so many grilled items, we took a break and dug into some fried lala bee hoon (RM 12 / small). In English, that’s fried rice vermicelli with Asian clams. My idea of a fried lala bee hoon is to have the flavours of the lala carry the dish with only bits of vegetables as compliments. Here, there was too much bean sprouts, cabbages and spring onions getting in the way. It could be better, in my opinion and Justin thought likewise.

Our next dish did not disappoint however. Beautifully glazed pieces of Stout chicken wings (RM 5.50 / piece) – Oh my! They were absolutely to die for! Justin and I couldn’t stop telling the owners how delicious they were. Crispy yet completely covered in sticky sweet Stout glaze, this was one of the highlights of our evening.

Still wanting to try something other than grilled, we went for the fried oyster omelette (RM 16 / small). Hing Ket’s version reminds me of Taiwanese pizza, with a thin layer of crispy egg covering a moist explosion of oysters and spring onions. What’s even better, my curiosity helped me discover that dipping some of the omelette into the steaming hot sweet and sour crab sauce elevated the taste levels to awesomeness!

The owners had been tempting us all night with our star dish of the evening. This was what we came here for – crabs! The owners source their own crabs from the market in the early mornings daily, so you get the local variety, as well as the larger species from the ocean, depending on what’s fresh that day. While the smaller ones are cheaper (RM 48 / kg), we decided to go for the larger ones (RM 68 / kg). We wanted to make sure our evening ended on the best possible note and Hing Ket did not disappoint – they rarely do.

Feeling very full and satisfied, it’s no surprise that I’ll be back here again soon, either with a friend or a large group of ex-students. Whatever it is, I know that Hing Ket will put a huge smile on my face.

When Love Leaves You Longing

I've been talking about going to Tanjung Harapan on the 15th day of Chinese New Year for ages. Last year, I came real close, so this year, I just had to do it. After all, I'm a man of action.

Tanjung Harapan - literally translated from Malay, it means 'Cape of Hope'. So I've heard that on 'Yuan Xiao Jie', the Chinese version of Valentine's Day, quite a number of people come here at night to perform the traditional ritual of throwing mandarin oranges into the sea with the hope of finding a good husband. So, I thought, 'since this year's 'Yuan Xiao Jie coincides with Valentine's Day, wouldn't it be the best time to visit?'

When I arrived around 8pm, there was a small crowd and quite a few stalls selling 'kong ming deng' (sky lantern). It's tradition to write down your wishes on this paper lantern and let it sail into the night sky. By doing so, your wishes will come true, or so they say. Well, this is the 'Cape of Hope' after all, so what better place to light up your wish and hope they come true?

In modern times, single ladies would write their names and numbers on mandarin oranges and throw them into the sea, hoping some single guy would pick them up. Of course, no guy in this age is crazy enough to dive into the sea this late at night. One thing though, at least you could be sure that the ladies doing this on this night are single and available.

During my drive there, I was accompanied by Kenji Wu's melancholic "Loneliness Has Come (What Should I Do?) on the CD. Just to add to the mood I guess. It had been a few years since I last came here and more than twenty years since I first did, with my two high school buddies. We were crazy enough to ride our mountain bikes here all the way from home just for the heck of it. All 30 km both ways. Ahh... the things you do when you are young and carefree.

I also happened to notice a Hong Kong television personality and a small camera crew filming a documentary about this particular celebration in Malaysia. I don't know him but he does look familiar. Coincidentally, there happened to be another set of television crew from the local MITV doing a tourism feature there as well.

I tried my best to appear in a "cameo" by casually walking past in the background a few times. I'm cheeky like that. 

Taking a stroll away from the film crew, I noticed a group of young adults standing by the railing, facing the sea. The ladies had mandarin oranges in their hands and the men, bananas. BANANAS? Since when? This was new to me. They duly threw them into the sea afterwards. Good luck to the guys. Bananas! 

What I saw immediately after that struck me with a pleasant surprise. A Malaysian Indian couple were about to set their 'kong ming deng' afloat. It's things like this that make me love Malaysia. If only we could learn to see beyond the colour of our skin and truly live together as one. 

My ever-observant eyes next spotted a group of ladies writing down their names and numbers on mandarin oranges. I politely asked them if I could take candid shots of them for my blog. They obliged and even asked what was my blog title. 

At the same time, the film crew from MITV were shooting this scene. I guess the ladies must have felt like celebrities at this point. Well, I'm always happy to help make someone's day.

See how happy they are to have their photo taken by this "famous" blogger. *chuckles*

Going back to the central area of the Esplanade, the Hong Kong crew were still filming. This time, two lovely ladies were holding their 'kong ming deng' waiting for its release. 

I pretended to be some "famous" blogger continually taking shots of them from different angles, all the while trying to be "professional" with my Canon Power Shot A3300 IS digital camera. *laughs* Who am I kidding?

Having seen enough and feeling rather hungry, I decided to walk to the end of the road to Medan Muara Ikan Bakar. Not having been here before, I was curious. Interestingly, you get to pick your own fish from ice boxes, have it weighed then tell the chef your choice of cooking preference.

I searched for a good spot, somewhere closest to the sea and found a lonely blue table and decided to give it some company. There's just something charming about dining out next to the sea. Love it! 

Soon, a young waitress came my way and as usual, I get asked the same question on the countless nights I eat out after class, "Makan seorang ke?" (Are you eating alone?). And when I say,"Yes", I get the usual strange look from the waitress. Oh well, I'm immune to it by now.

Between getting my watermelon juice and the ikan kembung bakar arriving, I had a good 20 minutes to waste. So, I just did my best to look the "famous" blogger part and take multiple shots of my watermelon juice glass from various angles.Who am I kidding, right?

My fish, all wrapped up in banana leaf. The fish doesn't look great but it tasted all right. For RM 4.90, it wasn't the worst price to pay.

At the end of my meal, right on cue, it started to drizzle slightly. It didn't get heavier, thank goodness, so I took a casual stroll in near pitch dark conditions back to the Esplanade. The authorities should seriously consider lighting up the entire stretch. 

Arriving back at the scene, I was greeted by a large crowd of people. I could also hear a marching band banging and trumpeting away to Chinese classics. It was so different from the quiet laid-back ambience an hour ago. What a difference an hour makes!

Deciding that this was not the scene for me, I called it a night and walked back to my car, parked some distance away.

Feeling somewhat satisfied that I've finally discovered for myself that the legend of single ladies throwing mandarin oranges into the sea at Tanjung Harapan on 'Yuan Xiao Jie' is indeed true, I calmly turned on the engine, inserted my CD of melancholic Kenji Wu songs and set my GPS coordinates for home. Still, I can't help but feel what I feel most of the time when special occasions like this drift past me in my solitude - that I should be spending nights like this with that someone special. Yet, there isn't much I can do about it but pray and hope.

Perhaps it's time I write down my wish for my one true love on a 'kong ming deng' and set it afloat, together with the millions of other wishes, floating hopelessly in the night sky.

A Teacher’s Gratitude List

January 2013

- Thank you, Qao Shaun for sitting in my Form 5 class at PTAG during your return from India.

- Thank you, Grachel for sitting in my Form 5 class at PTAG during your return from Australia.

- Thank you, Kelvin for visiting me at Mega Yakin and having dinner with me at Jit Ben, Taman Berkeley on your brief return from the States.

- Thank you, Bestian for asking me out for a drink.

- Thank you, Chee Wei for asking me out for lunch.

- Thank you, Mei Ling for calling to ask me out for dinner.
- Thank you, Jayvin, Adrian, Wei Shen, Guan Yuan, Su Jin, Ya Jing, Yi Ting, Qin Yi, Shin Hui, Xin Ling, Shu Xuan, Sin Yan and Lee Fong for coming to my house and surprising me with a birthday cake. Thank you for just being there. Love you guys!

February 2013

- Thank you, May Yuen for asking me out for a movie.

- Thank you, Bestian for having dinner with me at Jit Ben, Taman Berkeley.

- Thank you, Connie for asking me out for a Japanese buffet at Starhill, KL.

March 2013

- Thank you, May Yuen for keeping your promise to watch a movie (Jack the Giant Killer) with me and then having dinner with me at Setia Alam pasar malam.

April 2013

- Thank you, Sock Mun and Sock Yin for having dinner with me at McDonald’s, Bukit Tinggi.

- Thank you, Chun Ken for organising and surprising me with a mini-reunion dinner with Jean Yi and Justin at Jit Ben, Taman Berkeley.

- Thank you, Yong How and Charmaine for having drinks with me at Shanmuga, Bukit Tinggi; and Yong How for paying the bill.

- Thank you, Shu Xin, Mei Ching and Ee Ching for asking me out for dinner.

- Thank you, Shing Yee for asking me out for dinner.

- Thank you, Chin Siang for asking me out for dinner.
- Thank you, Debbie for dropping by to visit me at Mega Yakin and becoming my "student" again, even if it was just for two hours. It was strange yet cool to see you sitting in my class again.

May 2013

- Thank you, Yi Ting for asking me out for a drink.

- Thank you, Shu Xin for dropping by Mega Yakin and surprising me with a Starbucks Iced Chocolate on ‘Teacher’s Day’.

- Thank you, Yi Ting and Ya Jing for surprising me at Mega Yakin with a Chatime drink to celebrate ‘Teacher’s Day’.

- Thank you, Chun Ken, Tze Fei and Du Jia for meeting me for a late dinner at Lucky 10, Bandar Baru Klang.

- Thank you, Shi Lin for meeting me for a drink at Chatime, Kota Kemuning.

- Thank you, Ee Ching for asking me out for a drink (unaware that I was in Shanghai at that time).

- Thank you, Chin Siang for asking me out for a drink.

June 2013

- Thank you, Sun Woei for having dinner with me at Gold Leaf Restaurant, Taman Rashna.

- Thank you, Justin and Peng Nee for having dinner with me at Primo’s, Bukit Tinggi.

- Thank you, Huda and Amalia for having lunch with me at Subway, Kota Kemuning.

- Thank you, Shu Xin, Ee Ching and Mei Ching for having dinner with me at Kissaten, Setia City Mall.

- Thank you, Li Lynn for organising a dinner-gathering with Ven Siew, Jean Yi, Victor and Mei Ching at Gold Leaf Restaurant, Taman Rashna.

- Thank you, Hui Ping for organising a lunch-gathering with Kevin, Chang Yih and Samantha at Face To Face, Kota Kemuning.

July 2013

- Thank you, Jia Wei and Cheyenne for having dinner with me at Burger Factory, Kota Kemuning.

- Thank you, Vianni for inviting me to your 21^st birthday party in Setia Alam.

- Thank you, Qao Shaun for having dinner with me at Old Town Kopitiam, Kota Kemuning.

- Thank you, Ru Ting for booking me for a reunion well in advance while still in India.

August 2013

- Thank you, Isabel for being so thoughtful to get me a packet of chocolate coconut toffee candy from your holiday in Vietnam.

- Thank you, Connie and You Quan for answering my S.O.S. to watch Wolverine at MBO, Subang Parade.

- Thank you, Wei Lin for meeting me for lunch at Delicious, Setia City Mall before leaving for your studies in Taiwan. Thanks also for the classic black diary from Typo.

September 2013

- Thank you, Ru Ting, Shi Lin, Huda, Wen Kiat and Ju Yuan for coming to my house for the reunion dinner. Thank you, Ru Ting, Wen Kiat and Ju Yuan for chatting with me over drinks at Coffee Ink, Bukit Tinggi after dinner.

-  Thank you, Yick Sze for meeting me for lunch at Kokoro Bento, Kota Kemuning before leaving for your studies in England.

- Thank you, Yong Le for meeting me for lunch at Kissaten, Setia City Mall before leaving for your studies in England.

- Thank you, Yi Ling, Pei Shiuan, Sze Yien and Szi Mun for having dinner with me at Sun Café, Setia City Mall; and thank you, Yi Ling for paying for my meal.

- Thank you, Yong Le for inviting me for clubbing at The Butter Factory, KL with Beverly, Hao Jie and Wei Keong.

- Thank you, Xiao Bing for meeting me for lunch at Face To Face, Kota Kemuning and paying for my meal.

- Thank you, Tung Xuan and Zi En for having lunch with me at Kissaten, Setia City Mall.

October 2013

- Thank you, Chun Ken, Justin, Jean Yi and Wei Lin for meeting me for drinks at Starbucks, Centro. Thank you, Wei Lin for taking the time to join us despite having to prepare for your ballet exam on your brief return from Taiwan.

- Thank you, Isabel, Qao Minn, Kimberly, Shi Yin, Jot, You Quan, Emerson, Jefferson, Manogarie, Wing Kei, Priyanka and Michelle for surprising me with a wonderful classy new bag to replace my old worn-out faithful.

- Thank you, Jeremy for inviting me to your 21^st birthday party at Momo Paradise Steamboat, Bandar Baru Klang.

- Thank you, Shin Yin for inviting me to your 21^st birthday party in Subang Jaya.

November 2013

- Thank you, Chun Ken, Justin, Sin Yan, Tung Xuan, Zi En, Ting Han and Jason for helping me take excellent photographs for the many "Graduation Day"s at Mega Yakin.

- Thank you, Priyanka for inviting me to your house for a wonderful home-cooked meal on Deepavali, especially when my high school friends were not holding open houses this year.

- Thank you, Liang Han for taking time since your return from Australia / England to drive down from Kota Kemuning and pick me up for dinner at Hing Ket Grill House, Kampung Jawa.

- Thank you, Adam for inviting me to your 21^st birthday party at Full House, Setia City Mall.

- Thank you, Le Shene for inviting me to your 21^st birthday party in Subang Jaya.

December 2013

- Thank you, Jing Wuen for asking me out for drinks with Chin Yee and Yee Wei.

- Thank you, Chrystal for organising a gathering with Kiat Yap, Yong How, Mein Yie and Wann Jhuin at Primo’s, Bukit Tinggi.

- Thank you, Peng Yin for calling me to ask me out for drinks.

- Thank you, Jon Theng, Mein Yie and Kiat Yap for inviting me to be part of our winning team at Escape Room, Bandar Botanic.

- Thank you, Kimberly, my dear ‘sister’ for inviting me to SMK Kota Kemuning’s Skyfall Prom at Premiere Hotel Klang; and for the dance.

- Thank you, Qao Shaun and Qao Minn for making the trip down to Klang and being part of our winning team at Escape Room, Bandar Botanic.

- Thank you Alisha and Shu Xuan for asking me out for drinks.

- Thank you, Shi Lin for calling me and asking me out for lunch when you were in Klang.

- Thank you, Yi Ting for organising a long-awaited gathering with Guan Yuan, Kheng Koon, Adrian, Jayvin, Qin Yi and Shin Hui at Pacific Coffee House, Setia City Mall.

- Thank you, Sun Woei for wanting to meet me for our usual Starbucks session before leaving for your job Singapore.

- Thank you, Dun Yong, Khai Qi, Sze Lin, Amanda and Li Yen for helping me repaint and redesign Mega Yakin during Project M.Y.2.0.1.4. (Phase One).

- Thank you, Xin Jie for asking me out to chat over a drink at Coffee Ink, Bukit Tinggi. You are always a dear friend to me.

- Thank you, Soon Thee, Jun Siong, Chia Song, Xin Yi, Jay Min and Pei Ying for making our class trip to Port Dickson and Malacca a reality. I had a great time with you guys!

- Thank you, Pei Chin and Kai Sheng for making the time to meet me for a catch-up session at Starbucks, Changi Airport before my flight back to Malaysia. Thank you, Pei Chin for treating me to a nice meal there.

January 2014

- Thank you, Jun Siong, Pei Ying and Jay Min for watching The Secret Life of Walter Mitty with me on New Year’s Day. It was an inspiring way to start the year!

- Thank you, Jot, You Quan, Jefferson, Yu Jing, Isabel, Manogarie and Grachel for taking time to meet at our first class reunion in Mama Kandar, Kota Kemuning.

- Thank you, Jay Min, Zhao Qi, Shi Wen, Yvvone, Wern Lin, Hangen, Matthew, Vee Keong and Ken Wee for helping me repaint and redesign Mega Yakin during Project M.Y.2.0.1.4. (Phase Two).

- Thank you, Lloyd for organising our gathering with Zhe Sheng, Jaffery, Boon Ping and Yee Kai at Chen Chen Ho Steamboat Restaurant, Bukit Tinggi.

- Thank you, Li Lynn for always remembering me when you return from England. Thank you for taking the time to organise a reunion with me and our friends. Thank you, Chun Ken, Justin and Jean Yi for always being the regulars at our mini-reunions. You guys amaze me!

- Thank you, Grachel, Cheryl and Joel for being part of our winning team at Escape Room, Bandar Botanic. We are awesome!

- Thank you, Jun Siong, Matthew, Sze Chien and Khai Wun for helping me repaint Mega Yakin during Project M.Y.2.0.1.4. (Phase Three). Thanks also for joining me for dinner at Papa Rich, Centro and watching ‘Home Together’ at Hokkien Association Klang. It was a great day!

- Thank you, Chin Siang for calling me to ask me out for drinks. I’ve lost count of how many times you’ve called me. You are the champion! I love you, man.

- Thank you, Kimberly, my dear “sister”, for surprising me at PTAG with an early birthday gift. I can’t believe you took all that time, effort and money to make me the wonderful set of handmade cards, enough to last me the entire year and beyond. I can’t wait to open them all! I love you beyond words can say.

- Thank you, Chun Ken for being the chief organiser once again on my birthday and for being one third of the "Regulars". Thank you, Li Lynn for the demure and sweet video message. Thank you, Justin for being part of my birthday celebration and being one third of the “Regulars”. Thank you, Jean Yi for also being one third of the “Regulars”. I appreciate it a lot. Thank you, Wei Lin for joining us so soon after your return from Taiwan. Thank you, Tze Fei for joining in the surprise at Mega Yakin. Thank you, all five of you, for the delicious pandan layer cake and the scrumptious early reunion dinner at Soon Kee Restaurant, Setia Alam. Thank you, Peng Nee for saving the energy to join us after a long day at work.  Thank you, Khai Teng for rushing home to freshen up and giving your time and energy to celebrate my birthday with me. Thank you, Du Jia for the video message and also making it for the second half even though you had things to do. Thank you, Chuan Liong for dropping by even though you were celebrating your own birthday. It was a wonderful night of catching up and simply being together again. My birthday celebration was wonderful because of you! LOTS OF LOVE!