Malacca Trip 2011

 Rachel Knutson , this is my journey which i mentioned to you during our chat via my mobile netbook on Saturday. We were chatting while on the  highway to Malacca via Celcom Broadband. Thank you, Celcom Malaysia. 

Let's the journey begin.......

Last Saturday as the sun rised in the horizon we started our journey to Malacca to refresh ourselves and taste the famous Malacca's Nyonya food.

As we are unfamiiar with the road in Malacca, we followed this particular car which belong to our friend, Pang Wee Seng. Mr. Pang is from Malacca but worked at DKSH Malaysia. During this journey, I am on Facebook using Celcom Broadband.

In Malacca, this big signboard which is translated as "WELCOME TO MALACCA" welcome us.

Our first stop for breakfast was at this place where we took our breakfast....coffee and Malacca Noodles with fish ball and meat ball.

After breakfast, we drive on and after many twists and turn in the street, we came to this Tai Chi Nyonya Restaurant. Nice location, good setting and delicious food. I will come here again next time.

Glutinous Rice wrapped in Pandan leaves dumpling

Nyonya Assam (Sour) Curry Fish Head

Nyonya Laksa Siam

Having ourselves half full, we drive on and follow the same car. We can see an old Methodist Church in front of us and our journey goes on.

An old Methodist Church

 After we parked our car nearby the School, we walked on foot and met our friends at a Chinese Temple. From there we walked along an old street where there are alot of old building heading to Malacca River.


Malay House Model

Along the street we see an old Malay House model.



Old Chinese Temple

Next we see an old Chinese Temple....

And the street itself looks colourful and unique.The old buildings that we came across are:


An Old Mosque's Prayer Calling Tower

An Old Mosque



An Hindu Temple

Another view of the old Chinese Temple

A colourful mode of Transport



When we reached the Malacca River, we met this Golden Man and Agnes is happy to take a picture with him.

Malacca River

A Bridge cross the Malacca River

In the blazing hot sun, we walk on and go across the Malacca River.



Red Building



There again, we met this Golden Man.



Old Church



When we turned back we passed this Handcraft shop.



An Old Man busy cutting his sugar candy by the roadside.



Ops! Sorry, Sir. I do not see the notice. The hats are beautiful though.



Sweating all over and real thirsty, we grab some fresh coconut for some drink.

Then we met up with the rest of the group and we joined Pang's car. He brought us to a Satay Restaurant.


Malacca Satay, slice chicken meat and pork meat.



Cucumber and onions with a bit of rice but we are more interested in satay.



Satay with it's special Malacca Satay Sauce

After finished our Satay, we drive again and stop at this stall. According to Mr. Pang, this is also Malacca's special delicacy.


Mobile Stall



Snap a picture for memory of this special stall.

We walk on along the shop pathway and we saw this mobile stall with different delicacies.


Pick and Eat Mobil Stall

After that we drive off to another Malacca's special namely 'Coconut Shake'.


Coconut Shake stall by the roadside.

As we parked our car,someone is shouting from the coconut shake stall, "Sudah habis! Sudah habis!" meaning the coconut shake had finished. I wonder what so special about this coconut shake which attracted so many people to come.

We console ourselves with this putu piring ( A pounded Glutinous rice with Malacca Sugar and a bit of coconut flesh)


Putu Piring Shop



Putu Piring eating session.



Now is dark and time to head home

Before we split for the day/night we have some noodles and the Malacca Special ' Fried Oyster(below) in an old Malacca Coffee Shop and the waiters are also very old. After this we split our way and three of us headed for Tangkak, Johor and stay a night in Tangkak as we are having a wedding lunch on Sunday in Tangkak.



Fried Oyster...............................................>

See you all in Tangkak.

Accident at Puncak Alam Expressway

Today is a normal Friday but as the evening come, a tickling in my heart leads me to send out SMS to my sisters which includes Irene Aik and Azura Ibrahim and also called my sisters back in Sarawak and Sabah just to say, "We love you."

As we turn into Puncak Alam Expressway, I gave a call to Rose after I have spoken to Nor. Rose has just arrived from Kota Kinabalu where she is having her meeting today. According to her, she always stop at the roadside as she felt very sleepy while driving. I told her that driving while sleepy is very dangerous.

Then she mentioned about my three blogs which are not regularly update. I told her that i can not write anything without any event or incident in my blog http://johnragai.blogspot.com. She laugh at me. As for the other blog http://johnofjesus.blogspot.com i need an experience with Lord Jesus.

We keep on talking but the line cut off when we reach the mountain road after the UiTM kampus.

We drive on and we can see the Puncak Alam UiTM Main Campus up ahead in the mountain. The traffics were moving slowly and I wonder why.

As we approach the the junction to Saujana, I see a lot of people parked their car by the road side. There must be an event or accident ahead, i tell myself. I take out my camera Olympus U Tough810 and set the ISO at 1600 with light compensation at 1.7 but poor me still can not take clear picture in the dark. I really have to get my hand on Nikon D7000 or Nikon D5100.
I look around and click click while Agnes is driving. I can see one policeman is standing in the middle of the road and broken glasses are everywhere on the road. On the left side of the road, I see two human legs with the body covered by a green canvas. May God bless his soul. Agnes do not stop as the policeman waves the traffic to move on. On the other side of the road, my eyes catch a glance of a Kancil with a front damage. I am still clicking when my eyes turn to the left side again and see a badly damaged motorcycle which i assume belong to the victim.
Then I see one man laying on the road with two men attending to him. I hope he can make it to the nearest hospital but i do not see any ambulance around yet.

My heart is trouble as we drive on. ( I should have stopped and give some help.)

Surprise!!

Our normal route home blocked by a sign which says, "Road close due to FLOOD on the Road."

Agnes said, "why so many thing happen tonight?" I can not answer her but only God knows better.

Whatever it maybe my message still remained..."We love you. Have a safe journey."

Good Friday 2011

The sun is blazing hot as we head for St. Ignatius Church, Kelana Jaya.

When we arrived at the Church, the car park were full and Agnes used the same the words on me when ever she can not get the car park.
"Can you pray for the car park?"
I make a short prayer, "God, we need a car park. Thank you."

She drop me at Loong Foong Restaurant and she drives off looking for car park. Later in the church, she informed me that she is very lucky as she managed to parked her car in front of the Mamak Restaurant. According to her, one car came out of the parking lot after she left me.

For those who never have a chance to experience following the Good Friday's procession for Station of the Cross, you may follow my lead.

All images taken with Olympus  mju-T8010

At exactly 1.00PM, we start our Station of the Cross procession with Father Lucas Ng and Father Philip Tan.

First Station: Jesus condemned to death.
 Prayer: O Jesus, so meek and uncomplaining, teach me resignation in trials.

Passing of a friend - Caroline Lily Uchang

Light in the horizon...for some it's the beginning of a new day or a new journey but for others it's the end of the night or the beginning of new life. Yet others still look at it as an end of light and beginning of darkness or the end of a journey in this world.
This morning at around 5.41AM, I was awaken by a SMS signal and as I turned around my mouth whisper,
"O God, Good morning, I love you."
I search my hand phone in the darkness and the message blink....

I activate the SMS and it's from my relative, Brother Lawrence Uchang.
My heart said, "She is gone!!" Sadness filled my heart.

I read the contain of the message and it says: "My sis Caroline Lily passed away 5am".

I can't sleep any more and I forwarded the message to all my relatives on my phone contacts.

Deep within me, I know that she has given a good fight over the pass few year. She has suffered but the sickness made her strong in faith and trust in the Lord.

She was the star of St. Kevin's Primary Second where she always get the First in our Class. The four of us always got the top four...Lily, Julita, Murni and Ari aka John.

 She was a cheerful, brilliant and helpful child. Loved by teachers and friends.

Then we lost contact until she saw my picture in a Tae Kwon Do Tournament in Borneo Post and that time she was working with Hock Hua Ban, Sibu.  During one of our meeting, she gave me her number.

Then we lost contact again when I moved to Selangor.

Years passed by and I am married then convert to Catholic.

In God's grace as i was sitting at the grotto of Mother Mary at St. Ignatius Church, Kelana Jaya...there is a prompting in my heart to get in touch of my friends. God's love filled my heart and I have to share these love. I know w from my pass experience that I will not be at peace until I share this love.

I sent all my friends on my hand phone contact list with a message, " I love You."

(Friends, now you know why sometime you received this message "I Love You" from me out of the blue. I must let it flow.)

One of these message was to the late Caroline Lily. She responded and thanks me for the message and she added that she was sick with cancerous disease.

Once awhile after that i contacted her and she sound like a lady of God who really trust and believe in God's mercy and goodness. I am amazed and thanks God for bring me in contact with her again.

Years passed again until last Chinese New Year, I met his brother Lawrence in Dalat on his way to Bintulu.
 His brother shared with me her condition. Subsequently, I gave her a call and she sound very weak and tired. We didn't talk much and that is the last time of my contact with her.

Now she start the new journey in the spirit with the Lord where there is no pain and suffering. Yet we pray for her soul that she may rest in peace.

For those she left behind to carry on their journey in this world, we pray that God may grant them strength to live on without her and comfort to ease their sadness of losing her.

Last but not least, please pray for those who suffer with the same cancerous disease around the world that God may grant them strength and courage to fight on till the last breath. May their sickness will not be in vain but will bring people together and amend the broken relationship. In Jesus Name, we pray. In God we trust.

Peace be with you.

Accident at LDP near Kelana Jaya LRT Station

As i walk from the Kelana Jaya LTR Station and cross the bridge yesterday, i saw this minor accident in the fast lane just after the bridge heading to SS2..

I saw the driver of the back who knocked the front car seems to be complaining while waving his hands.

Who's fault?  No patient at all.

They never consider the traffic at the back which have build up and queues are  getting longer almost to St. Ignatius Church.

I really hope they move the car to the side and let he traffic through.

Latest update: Sept 27th, 2012
At around 7.12AM this morning, there was a domino style accident near the Kelana Jaya LRT Station, traffic facing SS2. The accident involved three cars; a sedan in the front, a small car in the middle and a Merz at the back. The small car back bumper was damage while the Merz front was also damaged with smoke came out.
I could not capture any photos as my camera was in my bag and we do not slow down as not to interfere the traffic flow toward SS2.

Little Rock Morning Coffee at SIC

It's March 27th, Sunday Morning and I am a bit tired as we did some heavy shopping on Saturday at DKSH Warehouse Sales.

We waked up early and on the way to St. Ignatius Church, we stop at MacDonald, Puncak Alam.

MacDonald Breakfast offer is my choice and I am glad to see that Boh Tea, one of the product that DKSH distribute is also serve at MacDonald.

Just for the note, every morning i see SS2 MacDonald outlet is always having a long queue. The taste is good for quick breakfast.

Thank you, MacDonald for the tasty and worthy offering.

Then we head straight to St. Ignatius Church as Little Rock Scripture Study (LRSS) team is having a coffee morning and I am helping Rebecca on Francis' Nyonya Cake stall.

Come, let me show you what LRSS has to offer during their last Sunday Coffee Morning.

These nyonya cakes taste really good and church congregation should taste it next time. It's worth the money.

The next stall is Nicholas's Fried Mee Hoon and Fried Kueh Teow which is also a tasty lot but not as good as "One and Only Wan Fried Kueh Teow" at the back.

Then we move on and the next stall is Stella' delicious Qui Ling Qao. The taste is just right and i love it.

Next we have Roger with his Nasi Lemak.

Another brother next to him is selling Brownies.

Another good stall selling cakes...yummy.

Our 50 cents orange drink corner.

Sister Jenny with her Coffee Beans' sponsored drinks.

Sister Patricia checks our offering for the coffee morning and she is satisfied with what she sees and tastes.

Christine with her team offering Chee Cheong Fun with her special sauce. According to her, the sauce is her own recipe and delicious.

Not to miss this beautiful lady with her Roti Canai. According to Brother Andrian, the sauce for the Roti Canai is personally made by his wife. I should have bought some for my wife.

Last but not least our most attractive offering One and Only Wan fried Kueh Teow under the hand of Brother Christopher. He fried the kueh teow like a master and the taste is just right. I bought two packets for my lunch.

Ken is giving instruction to me on how to take a good photo.
"See this guy always take picture!!! Hahaha"


Overall I would say, Little Rock team under the lead of Brother Francis had done a very good job and I am proud to be part of the team. For those who support us, we thank you and we appreciate if you support others too.
We also extend our 'thank you' to Father Lucas Ng, the St. Ignatius Church, Parish Priest for giving us the opportunity to be part of the Sunday Coffee Morning.

Before i move on....> Peace be always with you. May the Love of God rules our hearts always.

Accident at Sri Damansara - Sg Buluh Road

Today is Saturday, March 12th. The sun is blazing hot as we drive back from Sin & Lai Dental Clinic at Desa Aman Puri. I tell myself, "this is good."  A very good condition for taking picture from a moving car. Perfect lighting for me. Others may have other opinion.

When we reached the Sungai Buluh Road, we took a right turn to Kuala Selangor on our way to Puncak Alam.

After a few minutes drive, we were caught in a jam.

"How come so early traffic jam?, I ask my wife. She did not say a word.

From a distant, I can see not far from the Shell Station and the ING Insurance Company premise occurred an accident involved three cars. The car in the middle was sandwiched with front and back damaged

I just click and click and i can see a reporter is asking questions from those who involved in the accident. All those who involved in the incident seem to be fine without any injuries. I passed along this road around 10.50 to 11.00Am and I assumed that the accident should have been occurred a few minutes earlier. This can also be justified by the fact that there is no tow truck around yet.

If you want to know more about this accident, the reporter may have the answer and the news portal is the best bet or tomorrow newspaper.

We drive on smoothly after the accident area and I pray that all those involve be recovered fully from the trauma of the accident and may the other road users be safely reach their destination.

Alas!!

There is another accident not far from the Catholic Chapel along Sungai Buluh Road but I could not take any picture as I am engrossed in my reading. Furthermore my wife informed me as we passed the accident area. The accident involved two cars.

Those of you who drive today, please be alert and may you have a safe journey where ever you may go.

I am falling in love again

Friday is a day of peace and a day of letting go of our desires and wants. It’s a day of purification of our minds and bodies and be one with our real self or our inner self. 

Some even fast on Friday and others abstain from meat, just to purify themselves. Catholic observes abstain from meat for the rest of their lives on Friday for this very purpose. The choice lies on the believer though. It’s not a sin to eat meat on Friday but the profit of the action is much greater for our inner selves.

Our real selves are pure as our creator is pure and holy. It’s the world and it’s creations that defile our real selves. But we need these ‘dirt’ to make us humble to realize of who we really are. These ‘dirt’ is also known by many names and some called it as temptation or tribulation or trial. These ‘dirt’ is not sin but we are sinful when we allow ourselves to be engage in the ‘dirt’ though we know it can make us dirty. These ‘dirt’ even bring us closer to God if we know it’s profitability. It’s like a fire that burn the dirty gold ore into shining gold. There is pain and suffering involved but the benefit is a hundred fold if we are able to overcome it.

We may throw ourselves in the dirt knowingly as the dirt is already within us since we are born. We lost our rest and peace once we are born into the world. Our whole life in the world is a journey to get back the rest and peace that we lost at birth. Some called this rest as God’s Presence or Grace.

Our beloved God and Creator has these to say to us while we are playing and covering ourselves in the dirt, in Psalm 95:11,

”Therefore in my anger I swore, “They shall never enter my rest.”

And yet God is always calling us back to him day and night as the Psalmist in Psalm 95 proclaimed,

“O that today you would listen to His voice! Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah…”

God further stress on listening in the Gospel of Luke 9:35 which read,

Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Beloved; listen to him!” 

I know I complain and talk more than listening to God even to his Word.

And yet I am always longing for His Presence as that is the real rest for me. Since I was a child in my Primary school, I always keep one of my favorite beatitude close to my heart. It’s was taken from the Holy Bible, Matthew 5:8

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

I am longing to see God and be with Him as a Father with his child. But the world teaches me that you can only see God when you die. 

Wow! That’s scared me. 

The truth is you do not have to die to be with God. God is always ‘there’. It’s me who is not ‘there’. I follow my own will not his will. My own will is always corrupted with greed and selfishness but his will is for the common good and the best for me. Why I do not follow the examples of the prophets of old and my Lord Jesus who cried to their God, “Thy will be done!”? 

God switches to channel 95.5 to talk to me and I turn to channel 88.8 because of the good number and yet I said, God never talk to me because I can not hear due to the wrong channel. I blame God though I am at fault. 

By God mercy and forgiveness, slowly I switch to the right channel through prayer and guidance of my elders in the Church.

Do I become more holy and free of trial and temptation? 

Nah. 

The journey becomes tougher and the temptation becomes more frequent and heavier. The falls become my teacher. And each fall drives me to be stronger and walk closer to God who filled my heart with his love and transform my pain and suffering into joy in midst of crisis. That is real peace, the peace within. I make full use of His gift to the Church which is the Sacrament of Reconciliation. My skull maybe thick but I believe God always forgive and full of mercy.

I pray for myself.

“Have mercy on me, O God. I am a sinner from my mother’s womb. Forgive me for my sin. I desire nothing in heaven but you. I want nothing on earth but to be with you, hear your voice and do your will. Let me speak what you want me to speak, Let me hear what you want me to hear. Let me see what you want me to see. Let I be completely yours now and forever.”

And I pray for others,

“O God, Bless those eyes that see me, Blessed those ears that hear me, Bless those hands that help me, Bless those feet that comes to me, Bless those minds that think of me, Bless those hearts that have compassion and mercy for me. Bless those whom I touch today. Llet those touch be not mine but yours. Let those touch be a touch of love. Let those touch be a touch peace. Let those be a touch of forgiveness. Let those touch be a touch of healing and unity. Let those touch bring them back to you. I believe and trust in you alone, O God. In Jesus precious name, I pray. Amen.”

And I believe in His promise in Psalm 91:14-16 (NRSV)

“Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.”

My heart overflow with the sweetness of his love, my being is in the fragrant of his presence and my mouth proclaim to the world, 

“I am falling in love again!”

“I am falling in love with you, O God, the One who created me.”

Valentine Day 2011

Today is February 14^th, a special day for all couples in the world and I want to make it special too. 

As I woke up this morning, I have a plan in my mind of what I am going to do today…to celebrate this special day. On the other hand tonight I am having a class on Christian Meditation at 8.00pm. My heart said, “Go for the class!” but I pushed it aside. Funny. My heart was not filled with joy and love but reckless. I do not even utter my normal morning “I love You” to my wife. Worst still it’s difficult for me to say, “Happy Valentine Day” to anyone. I said to myself, “this is not good. Something or someone is playing with my life today.”

We go to the office as normal and on the way along NKVE my wife asked, “Where are we going tonight?” I responded, “Sushi Tei at Tropicana Mall!” And she cut it off with, “Can we change to non-Japanese food or not?” and added “You want to go to church is it?” I just kept quite but in my heart I pray, “God, help me.”

In the office, we worked as normal and at around 12.45pm, my wife called and informed me that we will be going out to repair her car at a workshop near St. Ignatius Church, Kelana Jaya. My heart said, “I bring you to the church!” I said, “Cannot be!” and forget about it. 

We send the car to the workshop to replace the two rear absorbers and it will be ready in two hours. Then we go for lunch at a RM2.00 Buddhist Vegetarian shop which cost us RM4.00 for food and RM2.00 for 100plus. Cheap lunch but taste good. After lunch we took a cab to the office with cost us RM7.20 but my wife gives the driver RM7.50. 

As evening approach, I ask my friends for a lift to Paramount LRT Station but most of them have their own plan. The rain added the difficulty to our journey as it starts at 4.30pm. But I believe we can make it. I called my wife and she told me that she want to go to Esprit Shop at Tropicana Mall after we get the car. And I respond, “Esprit! Not again!” With a bit down and sadness in my heart I pray, “God, help me.” 

At around 5.50pm, my wife immediate superior send us to Paramount LRT Station. In the car, my wife informed me that earlier today she had also called  Shogun Japanese Restaurant at One Utama but it’s fully booked for today. Today food at Shogun cost RM62++ per pax. And we took a LRT to Kelana Jaya LRT Station which cost us RM1.00 each. Then we walk to the car workshop at Taman Plaza which takes us 8 minutes. It’s faster than if I am walking alone. How come?

The church is in front of us and heart glow with gladness. My wife’s car is parked in front of Loong Foong Chinese Restaurant. My wife said, “The car is ok already!” And I respond, “It should be!”

We go straight to the cashier for payment and it’s amounting to RM508. The mechanic informed her that they also done the car balancing and now it’s in good condition. In the front of the workshop, I said to my wife, “can we have a drink at the Mamak shop?” My wife responds, “Not need lo. We will have dinner at Tropicana Mall and I want to go to Esprit.” I am rejected again but in my heart I pray, “God, help me.”

As we walk to the car, my wife presses the car’s key button and the car lock!!!. In an angry voice, my wife cried in frustration, “What! They didn’t lock my car?! She looks in the car and finds nothing missing. She starts the car and we drive off. As we drives on, some unusual sound come from the back of the car. Sound like iron rod clinking. Something is wrong. She stops the car by the road side and I come down to check but nothing that I can see causes the sound. We make a U turn and head back to the workshop. At the workshop, the mechanic tests the car again and confirmed something is wrong with the new absorbers. The mechanic told us to wait for another one hour and half. It will be ready around 8.00pm. 

My wife looks at me with a funny smile on her face and said, “You better shut up your mouth. You are like your mother.” And I ask, “So we go to Mamak shop for a drink?” She responds, “Yeah! You want it!” We have our Valentine Dinner at Mamak Shop. I take rice with fried fish while she takes chicken fried rice with two tea ‘tarik’ which added up to RM8.00 as compare to RM62++ times two at Shogun and lesser at Sushi Tei.

The car is ready at 8.00pm, exactly at the time my Christian Meditation Class starts. Though I am not in the class but someone is keeping in the church area.

Then we head for Tropicana Mall and she hope to get something at Esprit. She gets nothing at Esprit and she just look at me with a meaningful stare.

Have I done anything wrong? I just want to go to my class.

May God bless you with heart full of love and mercy.  Amen. 

HAPPY VALENTINE DAY.

Jennifer, you ask for about my day on Valentine Day and this is my day.