The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Subang Jaya Branch Christmas Party 20 Dec 2014

This year is our special Christmas Party, as we celebrated with our Subang Jaya church members.

Well, it was just a simple pot luck party with the church members, and of coarse we were asked to invite our family and friends to join our branch Christmas Party as part of our missionary works.

Our branch presidency never forget about the missionary works for members.

It was a warm party as not what I had expected. May be if in Sidang Injil Borneo Kuala Lumpur (SIBKL), it would be celebrate in huge and grand, such as musical performances, stage performances, plays, etc. They would have grand celebration.

At Subang Jaya branch, all the programmes are organised by the youth group. There was an opening hymn follow by the opening prayer. Then there was a short play presented by the youth, followed by a short presentation by the primary children, after that there are some games which all of the church members can participate. And, our pot luck dinner too, a lot of food we prepared.

Our youth were so thoughtful that, they prepared some gadgets for “Christmas Party Photo Booth” for us to snap photos. Finally, the most important part – Santa Clause is coming to town! Our branch Missionary Couples Elder Bagley became our Santa Clause for the gift exchanging and sharing moments ^^. Every each of us were asked to prepare a small gift of around RM5.00, then we will exchange within by drawing the numbers by Santa Clause.

Our family have a warmth and home coming Christmas Party evening. Even it is just a small party, but we were surrounded by kind, humble and hard working ever Saints in following Christ!

All this while, I was wondering how would our Christmas be? Will it be different? How different it is?

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Eventually, days before actual Christmas, the messages and videos from our church website let me realise something, I know my knowledge before this was silly, but at least this is my realization:

Christmas is not a celebration of gifts giving.

Christmas is all about Heavenly Father’s love to us.

Jesus Christ was the First Gift from Heavenly Father to us.

For Heavenly Father so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Meeting with Sisters Missionary 14 Dec 2014

Sister Callor and Sister Asanuma with our family. Photo taken in the PJ Chapel.

It’s Christmas Caroling! 14 Dec 2014

Our family joined the Christmas Carolling for the church to the houses of the members of the church. This is our first time joined the church Christmas carolling.

These are some of the photos while we were carolling at Sister Margaret’s house. Just look at our funny missionaries Elders!

Sasaran International Arts Festival 2014

On our way back to home, we passed by this small village called Sasaran. Few years ago, we did notice this small village too, as we were on our way to Kuala Selangor.

With a few objects which are considered ‘recyclable items’ such as old tyres, empty oil tanker, and rot timbers with an artistic touch, thus changed it to a beautiful sculpture. The art sculpture just impressed us so much!

Sasaran International Arts Festival - It is all started by a group of local residents who even not fully understand what is “art” leaded by artist Ng Bee decided to contribute something to their home town.

Their dream is to change their beloved small town - Sasaran from a small fishing village to an art and cultural centre.

The first time ever 14 days “2008 Sasaran International Workshop” was successfully organized and received appraisable responses, not only from the participated artists, but also from the public. It caused a ripple in the art community. Taiwan held the similar program in 2009; Philippine also organized theirs in 2010, followed by Vietnam in 2012 and Thailand in 2013.

After 2008 Sasaran International Workshop, Sasaran Arts Association (SAA) continued the flame of art by organizing activities such as art painting competitions, participated in various art exhibitions, art workshop in Malaysia and other parts of the world.

SAA held another big event with a larger scale on 8th Dec 2011 to 20th Dec 2011. More than 50 artists from 14 countries met at 2011 Sasaran International Art Festival. Artists from 14 countries shared their respective culture and ideas with the public in Sasaran and the fevers of art caught on throughout the local art community. About 8000 visitors from far and near visited this art festival.

Again, 2014 with the theme ‘ART in the Air’ and was from 27 Nov 2014 till 8 Dec 2014, with various of the programme organised by the SAA, such as Wall Art, Sculpture Park, Ceramic Pottery, even education programme for the younger children such as Art Competition, Environmental Fashion Show, Children’s Art Camp and such. The whole village of Sasaran came down and contributed to this event.

Obviously, we missed the actual festival. But, we did visit the school on viewing the participated artists works. And, can see some of the sculpture displayed at the open area, and the 3D art too.

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Sekin Fisherman Village Hotel & Resort 12-13 Dec 2014

As this is not the first time we come to Sekinchan, but it is truly our first time staying over night here at this small town.

We came a crossed this hotel during our earlier trip here, as it is located just on the way to the Pantai Redang and in the Bagan Fisherman Village.

Sekin Fisherman Village Hotel & Resort considered is one of the largest accommodation establishments in Sekinchan. Behind of the hotel is the beach Pantai Redang, whereby in front of the entrance is facing the Bagan Sekinchan Fishing village.

The hotel is nicely built up with the theme of white colour, and the rate is decent starting at RM113+ and above, comparing to other hotels that are either home stays or converted from commercial shop lots with rates from RM50 and above.

The reception lobby is quite simple, and it is connected to the function hall and meeting room.

We walked through a corridor of shaded green behind the lobby to go to our room.

All the rooms are quite spaciously and all in a single storey building, with a set of outdoor small round dining sets at the patio area. I did not snap much photos on our room.

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We took the room with one queen and one single bed because the smaller rooms were fully booked due to the weekend holiday.

Our room is spacious, and it comes together with Astro, compliment coffee/tea, mineral bottles, kettle and a mini fridge. The bathroom too is spacious too with the water heater. It costs us about RM180 per night.

In the hotel compound area, there is a big fish pond which can be let the visitors fish feeding, and the fish food can be bought from the canteen at about RM3 per packet.

Both Issac and Annabelle were so excited during the fish feeding time, there are enormous fish swim up to the surface of the water and fight for the food.

There is a ikan bakar restaurant in the hotel, thus the source of the ikan bakar must be come from this pond.

Another interesting here is the viewing tower. We had to walk up about 5 to 6 storey high of timber staircase to reach to the top.

It give us the fantastic view from high – the surrounding Bagan Fisherman Village and the hotel compound at one end, whereby another end we can see the coast line of the Pantai Redang.

It was so amazing to see the thin fine line between the sky and sea at the horizon line, while enjoying the sea breeze at the top of the viewing tower.

We had a comfortable stay at the hotel although the landscape and maintenance of this hotel compound can be improved.

This can be a more exciting hotel by looking at the compound area and the potential it have here in the near future if the management of the hotel will put an extra effort in it.

Pantai Redang Sekinchan 12 Dec 2014

It is not our first time to Sekinchan. It was just a sudden idea that from Daddy – we should go Sekinchan and may be stay a night there.

This time around, we did not manage to see the golden yellow paddy fields, because almost all the paddy fields were harvested and reaped.

We were a bit of disappointed, thus we did not go for the Paddy Processing Factory

Instead we went for the famous mangoes fruit stall at the Village Site A to have some fresh mangoes and other fruits.

This time around, we spent most of our time at Pantai Redang. It is actually just located further in from the hotel which we stayed. It is not suitable for swimming but a lot of people do come here in the afternoon or evening for a relaxing moments.

Once reached the beach, immediately we can see the big sign ‘我爱适耕庄’, which means ‘I love Sekinchan’ in Mandarin. It is a poplar spot for taking photo.

Further to it, there is a giant anchor and a fishing boat display. There are a few tree houses along the beach built by the locals by using reusable items such as fishing nets, fishing ropes and wood from old fishing boats.

Kids really get thrilled playing in the tree houses and swinging under the trees in self-made swings from old chairs and fishing ropes. 

And, guess what? The tree houses lazy bed which made by from the old fishing net are the ones so popular and most of the visitors or tourists want to have a sit or short nap once you are here.

Enjoying cooling sea breeze and beautiful sunset while lying in the tree house fishing net is a simple yet unforgettable pleasure. We too, also ‘lazy lying’ on the tree house netting… Hahaha…

The windy beach is a great place to fly kite.  There are stalls selling kites at the beach. We did not buy the kites, instead we played the soap bubbles.

It was really fun watching both Annabelle and Issac playing the soap bubbles with the strong wind. They were so happy watching the bubbles and others kids flying the kites too.

Apart from these, here, you can find stalls selling drinks, local snacks, fruits, ice cream and fresh oyster! Unfortunately, today the fresh oyster stall did not open, so I just sitting at a stall selling Rojak and watching over the children from far.

The temple not far from the beach with a wishing tree with entangled red ribbons really an eye catching one. I did not take the photos of the said tree as I do not believe by throwing the red ribbon with tied a knot with a coin would make the wishes come true. But it is amazing that so many people did it, may be next trip I should snap a photo of the tree itself though.

There is a pebbles road along the right side of the coast which is suitable for bicycles rides and leisure stroll. Eventually, I only knew that this road actually can lead to the back of the hotel which we were staying.

The beach is also a great spot for bird watching and a good hunting ground for hermit crabs. Pantai Redang also a nice spot for viewing the sunset.

We really enjoyed the afternoon here at the beach.

 

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The Mines Sightseeing Cruise 11 Dec 2014

Today is the Birthday of The Sultan of Selangor, thus it is a state holiday. Daddy thinking of going to The Mines Shopping Mall. It is another part of Klang Valley which we seldom go.

The Mines Resort City are consists of The Mines Shopping Mall, The Mines Waterfront Business Park, The Mines Resort & Golf Club, and the Palace of the Golden Horses Hotel and the Mines Wellness Hotel.

The Mines Resort City was built from the late 1980s onwards on a site which was once the world's largest open cast tin mine, with a massive hole in the ground 2km long, one kilometer wide and 200 metres deep.

When mining activities ceased the hole filled with rainwater and the two lakes were formed. The two lakes which were formed were called South Lake and the North Lake.

The larger North Lake covers 150 acres and is 200 meters deep. It runs from The Mines Shopping Mall, past the Mines Waterfront Business Park, the blue-domed Sapura Group HQ building and the Mines Resort & Golf Club. The two smart hotels also back onto this lake: the Palace of the Golden Horses and The Mines Wellness Hotel.

The smaller South Lake is bordered by the Heritage condominiums, some luxury bungalows and the Australian School.

The lakes are connected by a canal which runs through the shopping mall. Both lakes are teeming with fish including carp and large catfish. Herons, storks, ducks and monitor lizards feed here.

It is our first ever unique experience too, with the water lift which connected both lakes with the Mines Shopping Mall. It felt a bit uncomfortable and hot during the boat is lowered 7 meters in 7 minutes. But, it really an interesting experience.

The Mines Cruise is an enjoyable boat ride. We really enjoyed the deep breath of fresh air and the breeze during the ride, and surrounded by water and the splendour of tranquil lake setting and green forests on quick nimble vessels.

The boat driver stopped in various spots or places to enable us to feed the fish, birds and ducks. He has fish food for sale too at RM3 per packet.

Both Issac and Annabelle were having fun and happy on the cruise today. Overall it took about 45 minutes for both lakes. Really a relaxing moments with the loves one ^^ !!

 

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