A Day After Christmas...

It was aunty Lily's lunch date. It's our pleasure to meet Aunty Lily for lunch. She has been very helpful to us. A phone call to her, without any question she gives her helping hands to us. She knows that we are the young parents, inexperience parents and she always offer her help. Thanks a million.

From the photo you can see that she is a baby lover.... she not only loves to see my son, but my brother's son as well. You are the most welcome to our house.





Kids are very natural. They act according to their heart, every words they speak, every action they do are truely from the bottom of their heart. Nowadays Ipad is the favourite for most of the kids due to the games are attractive to them. Angry Bird is one of them. I observe a lot of family members give their kids to play with ipad in order to let the kids self entertain and parents able to do their personal things. Some even let the kid to play with the ipad, while they feeding the kid for lunch. To me, ipad is a no no item or limit item for my kid. Kid will easily get addicted with the games in ipad, if parents do not control them, kids will play none stop and you will see them craving for ipad. End, a lot of kids already wearing glasses in the young age. And the most important thing I could say technology spoil childhood! When kids keep playing with computer games, they have no childhood memory at all. I still prefer children to have their childhood life. Michael Jackson has limited childhood life, the legend spend most of his life to build his career. End, when he succeed, he built a wonderland for kids to have childhood at his home.

Childhood game in those days that we have and my parents have almost gone. When we talk with the kids today.... told them about our childhood memory, they are total blank on our story. Flash back the old days we have: spider fighting, fish catching at river, Malaysia tradition game - gasing, congkak, catching game ("ah chi lok" in hokkien dialek), a.e.i.o.u, one-leg (or so call teng teng in Malacca), hantu galak, etc.... these games were almost obsolete in the modern days childhood, especially town boy. When I talk to my dad about this, he said when he retired later, he will bring my son to catch spider, make kite, bring back all his childhood life for my son.... I was so happy to hear that. My dad grew up in a poor family, like a Kampung boy as describe in the famous LAT comic book. He will bring back all the LAT childhood memory into reality. Thanks dad, thanks grandpa.

Santa heard my wish!!!

Finally my dream came true....
As i love Christmas.... Not because of Santa, not because of present. Its because of family. You can say that I am a family man.... :D Since young, we watched movie we saw family gathering and eating turkey during the Christmas Eve. It was in the cool weather over the northern countries (some even snowing!), they decorate their home with warm lights, Christmas tree and present. During the winter time, family gathering to warm up the environment, warming up the environment with wood color furniture and warm light make the atmosphere like staying in a home sweet home. While making my imagination, it makes me miss my Seattle job interview trip in 2006, where I have my first Christmas in Seattle, the place where Bruce Lee stayed when he was in US, the place where the first shutter go to space (that is why they have the Space Needle Tower), the place where first Starbucks in the world is, and the famous pie market was patterned in the "Fish" book (All HR officer require to know about this document).





This year Christmas, Santa answered my call, bring his present to me. We have our long wait family gathering on Christmas day and this meal was a God gifted meal. My brother's employer decided to award their stuff USD 125 for a single dinner treat receipt. After converted, it is about RM 390. My brother treat us with a luxury Japanese Food at Island Plaza, Penang. I was really having a great time having my Christmas family gathering. Present were: My dad, my mom, my brother, my sister in-law, me and my wife, Chong Yi and Chong Hee. Enjoy my beloved Japanese food, salmon sashimi, its super delicious!

















All photo capture with my new cam Canon 7D, Canon 50mm f1.4 lens mounted on my camera.





Cute little Chong Yi is taking care of Chong Hee.... He was consoling my son while my son was crying.

Happy Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice or so call 冬至 (dong1 zhi4) in Mandarin. This is a Chinese tradition festival. Every year the date on Lunar Calender share the same date with Julia Calender. In Chinese occasion, there are 2 festival share the same date in the both calender which are Cheng Beng and Winter Solstice. Winter Solstice fall on 22-December every year. It was a date I never forget in my life.... few years back, on this date was the date my beloved and respectful grand mother passed away.

Winter Solstice is a festival where every family will prepare the dumpling or so call "汤圆" (Tang1 Yuan2). All the family members will be back for the gathering and eat the dumpling. For Chinese always like to say: "吃汤圆，我们一家来团圆". In those days, the whole family sit down together and helping the mother to prepare the dumpling together. The process of making the dumpling created the memory and keep in the heart forever. But these days, we can just settle it by money. Can buy the dumpling from super market whereby its ready made. To me, we had spoiled the tradition by modernize. I still love the old days where we use to hand made the dumpling together in the family. I remember that my dad always being creative by making the dumpling in different patterns. Some are big, some are fantastic small, some even mix color. As children always excited with the different or special item, still keep in mind that me and my brother always try to grab the 4 colors mix dumpling. So much fun keep in our childhood memory.

As for this year, I was very sad that I could not make it to have dumpling with my son. We initially was plan to have dinner at Butterworth together with my brother and his in-law family. Was planning to bring my son, Chong Hee along. Unfortunately it was a very bad day. My wife was discharge from Hospital Lam Wah Eeh, suppose to discharge at 9.30am some how the document procedure was not done clearly between hospital and the insurance agent, my wife was only able to discharge at 4pm. On the other hand, I was met with an accident in the morning, where motor hit my car, break my back right hand side brake light. Logged a police report before heading to Butterworth. Due Winter Solstice festival, everyone was rushing home for their family gathering and dumpling, Penang bridge was stuck with JAM! Leave me no choice but have to cancel our plan. End up we just had our mini family gathering at E-gate Noodle Station, and take Wan Tan (Meat dumpling) as our dumpling. So sad.....

I feel that there are several very important family gathering festival we should not miss, there are: Mid Autumn Festival, Winter Solstice Festival, Christmas, Chinese New Year and Cheng Beng. These are the family gathering festival for Chinese tradition and family gathering date (Christmas). I would love to keep some of the tradition way of celebrating these festival through out my life, so that my family members will feel miss home when these festivals arrive.

My Sunshine

You are my sunshine, you make me happy, you make my day to have a good start everyday.

It has been 2 weeks since after my trip back from Malacca. Meaning that Chong Hee has been sending to the baby sitter for 2 weeks already. I had been sending him to the baby sitter everyday before I go to work. Everyday in the morning, I changed the pampers for him then transfer Chong Hee from my room to the hall. I will enjoy a cup of coffee before I go to work. As I was enjoying the coffee, or changing pampers for him, he always smile at me.... and this is my sunshine of the day.



This video capture special its because my wife was away. I had been taking care of the baby for 2 nights without my wife present. Seems like I am able to handle my baby alone. It was a health disaster for us since Chong Hee admitted to hospital in Malacca. After Chong Hee was discharge from the hospital, my wife fever before we all came back to Penang. Reached Penang on Monday, I was down with mild fever and gastric on the next day. My wife experience food poisoning on Thursday and she was absent from work on that day. Disaster did not end there. My wife was admitted to Hospital Lam Wah Ee on Tuesday (20-12-2011) due to dehydrated. Leave me no choice but to take care of the baby alone. I am lucky enough to have my brother and his family around in helping me to take care of my son while I was off to visit my wife in hospital. Thanks!

After visiting her yesterday in hospital, I think she will be able to discharge from hospital today... hopefully everything will go smooth after this.

He smile

I supposed to clean up the belongings from my Malacca trip on Tuesday but very unfortunate I was down with mild fever and gastric. Not able to wake up and take care of my baby. My wife was busy entertain Chong Hee so that he can stay alert before 12 midnight and allow us to sleep during the night. Her entertaining job was great. Chong Hee begun to show some sign and "talk" to us with his reaction. His smile is the happiest joy for us. Would like to share the joy we have on the blog. That is the sweetest magical moment of our child.

Country road, take me home!

Country road, take me home.... Finally, its time to take my baby back home sweet home to his nest. We will be traveling back to Penang today. After he wake up, bath and pack up everything, we will be on our way back to Penang. See you guys in Penang.

RM 30k equipment on hand

I love light traveling very much. But each time when I go for distance travel, I am always pack with equipment. I was in the sudden to go back Malacca due to my son admitted to hospital. Along with my shooting assignment on Sunday, I pack my company equipment, personal equipment and shooting equipment together for this trip. Photo shows I am carrying RM30k equipment on my body for this journey.



First look on my baby, he was smiling at me. Tears drop in my heart.... all the paint, suffer, pressure, tension disappear from his smile. Now Chong Hee able to recognize us and start smiling to us. He is so cute.







Chong Hee was on medical treatment, whenever the nurse trying to induce the anti body into his body, he cried badly. We were trying our best to prevent him from crying. As in previous before my appearance, Chong Hee was crying in the middle of the night for milk until he is out voice. Thus whenever I hear him crying these days, it is very suffer to hear his voice has change. Heart ache at all time. After 2 times of experience with this hospital, to the readers out there, my advise to you is, "What ever happen, if you have a choice, never got to Pxxxxi Hospital, unless you have no choice."

Worse nightmare!

My camera spoil during a wedding day shot.... luckily to have a backup camera. Else, I really have to knock my head on the wall. But this does not show a good sign to me. In the middle of the night 2.30am after the shot, my wife rang me up and said that she is in the hospital with Chong Hee. Chong Hee was admitted to hospital due to fever attack again. Chong Hee was experiencing his first fever in the morning. After medicine was given to him, he recover from fever temporary. However, the doctor not manage to find out the causes of Chong Hee fall sick. This is the downfall of doctor now a days. Until today, I only have a few doctors that I am confident with in my list.

Out of choice, in the middle of the night, my wife went to the nearest hospital, Pantai Hospital (The hospital that I boycott). And the doctor advice the baby to admit hospital under their care (which is already in my mind, any body that goes to Pantai Hospital, I am very sure the doctor will advice you to admit!). I am wondering, why Pantai Hospital need 3 days to do my son urine test despite Adventist Hospital takes only 2 hours. I would like to find out how many days does Mahkota Century Hospital require for the same urine test. With this reason, my son is advise to admit for 3 days for monitoring. It has been a day pass, we are still wondering what is happening to my son in the hospital. His fever goes and comes.

I be going to Malacca by night bus tonight to take care of my son and my beloved wife. Chong Hee and Mei Nai, hang on.... Daddy is coming for you. Love you all, always.

Baby away....

It has been a week I have not seen my baby. He is away to Malacca visiting his grand mother in-law home. Missing him day by day, missing him dearly. As he is away, I was celebrating my birthday with my mother, assuming ice-cream as my only birthday cake.



When he is away, keep flashing back the memory when he was here. Finding out an old video of my son.... he is so cute. I bet that when I meet him next week, he will be much more active and more understanding compare to previous. My wife told me that doctor said he was over weight, makes me worry each day. Miss him so much....

Got to go, its time for me to work.

Grandpa as a head of grand children.

When the grandson is round, the grandfather is much cuter. Dad came back all the way from KL just to see his grandson that back from US and also my son, Chong Hee. He warm up the family with his voice, his action, his care, his love. You can see how happy he is when he saw both of his grandsons were surround him. As I mention in previous before that we have our family name to follow. "Chong" is the family thus all our cousins brothers' male child will have the same family name. My brother son name Chong Yi and my son name Chong Hee. Both of them has the same family name.

As Chong Hee has yet to grow up, he is only 2 months old. Few years later, you will see more happening at home, especially with all the kids shouting and playing around. But before imagine the future 2 kids is playing, please enjoy this single kid, Jovan Tan Chong Yi playing at my home with his grandpa.

Everything make possible.

My son has been getting naughty and naughty already. Always require our attention to carry him along. While we were enjoying our dinner on 27-11-2011, he made a lot of noise and require the parent to carry him. Despite the hand carry bed was not suitable for him. He left me no choice but to carry him while having our dinner. This is the photo where I can shared while I am carrying Chong Hee on my left and having my dinner on the right.

26-11-2011 Party

Due to I was not on duty during the party, thus I was not holding the camera to take some shot for my son. Further more, Blogger pie member was not here for the party, I have no photographer with me. Very typical photos to share. I apologize for the poor arrangement.



But I am sincerely touch by all my friends who had attended the party. Most of the members of Gold Gold Gang were there. My colleagues, they came for the party. I was not expecting to have so much of them to be here as the party was conjunction with the wedding season. Almost 75% of them were here for my son. My ex-colleague from Mitutoyo were here as well. Ms Ai Lee and Ms Lim, they travel cross over the sea and come for the party. My old pal.... came all the way from KL just to attend the party, special thanks to Ying Jui and Siew Kay & Kimi. Ying Jui was my Ledang Team member, we been in the brotherhood happy family since 2001 during our Gunung Ledang adventure. 10 yrs anniversary! He came all the way, jam all the way just for the party, and he left for KL on the next day. Thank you, thank you and kam siah.


My Ledang Team Happy Family

Michelle Ooi, the beauty lawyer who intro the baby sitter for me. She came for the party. Christina Lim, my long lost friend, we were met 12 yrs ago at Malacca under Mr Tay Bahasa tuition. She attended my son party with her beloved. My KK group friend, (Xian Shi, BC Lee, Tuesy Ying, AC & HH) we were in a team for the Mt Kinabalu climb 4 yrs ago. Sister Nan Yih, we met since 7 yrs ago when she was still studying in USM and now we already married.


My Mt Kinabalu team members

My brother, came back all the way from US with his wife and cute little Jovan. My god sis, came all the way from KL with her beloved. I miss her so much. Another god sis of mine, Cindy Huang was not able to attend the party, she is still in Johor but I had receive her special gift, send all the way from Johor. Thank you sis.... my son loving it. My relatives stuck in the jams for few hours, just to attend the party.... thanks a million. My dad and mom were making the celebration complete. Thanks a trillion. Thanks to my mother in-law for helping up as well. And never never forget to thanks my wife for giving birth to my baby, being helpful to take care of baby Chong Hee through out the whole party.


My beloved sister Giselle Chua Li-Ling

We receive the present and the ang pao from friends and relatives. Thanks! Special high light to Dhenson Quah and family, I am surprise to receive ang pao from him. Last but not list, thanks to Ban in the Toaster. God Mother give us the cup cakes.... it is so nice.... beautifully custom made.

Visitors from US

Fly all the way from US to Penang, that is my brother and his family, just to attend my son full moon party. Appreciate their effort come all the way to Penang. Jovan, my brother's son is turning 2 years old this December. The early family gathering is like Chinese New Year day when everyone wakes up early to meet each other, wish each other and Dad always the one playing with the baby/ grandson. Here is some of the family morning gathering photos. Look at my daddy, he is so lovely and cute when he join the baby Jovan and Chong Hee. The house become warmer when there are babies at home. To all the couples out there, you can always warm up your house with baby.... especially baby's lover parent.










Chong Hee first time with Jovan.... they are lovely


My wife was doing the changing for Chong Hee before going out for breakfast.


Lovely grandparents and cuties


Gangster in town....

Tutti Frutti at QB

Chong Hee first time at Tutti Frutti. Picture capture by me. I hide the camera and the image of me behind the baby is mirror. Love this self portrait shot, taken by my Sony TX 10 compact camera.

Go all the way to Queensbay just to go for Tutti Frutti ice cream. It was my mother-in-law first time to step into the shop for yogurt ice-cream. Of cause Chong Hee was the first time to be there as well. He only can smell but eating the ice-cream. Its like a buffet style ice-cream take whatever food you like and mix it together. They have nuts, fruits, chips and the famous yogurt ice-cream for you to chose. At the end you would have to weight your paper cup on a weighting machine, it that is the price you need to pay.

While my wife is choosing the fruits and ice-cream, I was enjoy taking photos with my little one. I love this Sony TX 10, it is light in weight, handy and easy to carry. Bring back a lot of memories.


In-law first time in Tutti Frutti.

Lost 7kgs in 1.5 months!!!

It was a record breaking for me. When I spend my time for mountain climbing twice a week, swim once a week, I only manage to lost 1kg per month. After I got married, I started to gain from 68kgs to 78kgs in 2 years. I just lost 7kgs in 1.5 months. Wow!!!! Chong Hee, you are my hero. haha


The journey continue

After Chong Hee celebrated his full moon, my life has begin with my photography work, permanent job and father, husband responsibility. Before the birth of Chong Hee, my time was busy with my editing work on every weekdays and shooting either for portrait, fashion or wedding during the weekend. Now Chong Hee requires my attention anytime anywhere. Which means I have to keep an eye on him even though I am at work. Strange thing is, whenever I have my photography assignment on the next day, Chong Hee will not sleep and disturb the whole night. He makes me to have lesser rest time. I am still wondering why it happen at all time? It does not make sense either in scientific way nor Chinese tradition prohibited culture (Pantang Larang)

After busy photographing for few days, I can feel the significant grow of Chong Hee when I carried him. In terms of weight and size. He has increase his diet from 3 Oz to 4 Oz. Face has changed as well. He looks more cutie today, makes me feel like hugging him, carry him whenever I see him.








HEY!!! Where is my milk milk?

Day by day the baby grow, day by day we educate the baby, bit by bit he learns. Baby learn things very fast and out of our imagination. Today my baby is able to differentiate his soother, his milk bottle and mother's nipple. We bring him to chat with Grandpa and Grandma on the skype. The technology today, brings the family closer.



Other then this, we still bring along Chong Hee for shopping, taste the local delights, enjoy Penang Air Conditioning. Soon we will be traveling to certain states. Thus we have to begin with near distance, and allow him to adapt to the environment before we go for extreme traveling.




Mother in-law first time in Sakae Sushi Gurney.




Penang famous fried bee hoon with deep fried fish.


Milk feeding at Dragon-i


Can see how greedy my wife is... she finished all.

After the end of my wife confinement, she has to begin to bath for the baby and start picking up all the living skill of the baby. It is time for learning process for every mother at this time. This is her first time bath the baby. I am sure he is enjoying his private swimming pool.



Now I tell you why, I miss him so much, have a look you will know.