A Reading Boy 5 Sep 2017

Issac loves to read lately. He always put a book in his bag, take out to read when he is free. Glad to know that he reads a lot more now ^^.

Leaning Tower Teluk Intan 2 Sep 2017

This is a revisited place for me, but the first time for Daddy, Issac and Annabelle. On our way back to Kuala Lumpur, Daddy decided to go Teluk Intan and wanted to see the famous learning tower.

I had been there once only during 2009 with my ex-collegues in Virtual Space. That time was due to a site visit for tender job for Eon Bank branches at Teluk Intan and Langkap.

At that time, my heart was thinking if I can able to bring 2 children come and see this mini Pisa Leaning Tower.

And, this is the day! On the way to Teluk Intan, we passed by the beautiful paddy fields along nearby the town itself.

We arrived at the centre of the town, and there were many tourists there as well. We just stepped into the tower, and what else? Took selfie la!

Deacon Power

Preparing for the Priesthood #3 ~ Talk with the deacon quorum presidency about the role of the deacons quorum. Write in your journal how you can serve the Lord as a member of a deacons quorum.

Again, this lesson and activity is to strengthen whatever we have learned before this.

Due to our Puchong Branch do not have the deacon quorum presidency, we just learned and talk about the role of the deacons quorum, by reading through the Church Handbook.

A Priesthood Quorum is an organized group of brethren who hold the same priesthood office.

The Primary Purposes of the Deacon Quorum is:

1. To Serve Others
2. Build Unity and Brotherhood
3. Instruct Members in Doctrines, Principles, and Duties.

We discussed again on How Can You Serve the Lord as a Member of a Deacons Quorum. It can be done by the followings:

Overall these first 3 lessons of the “Preparing for the Priesthood” gave an introduction for Issac and me to know more about the Aaronic Priesthood, the responsibilities of the Aaronic Priesthood Holder and how they serve to the Lord in Invite All to Come unto Christ.

This lessons and activities have given Issac opportunities to understand more about his future responsibilities as a Priesthood Holder! Soon to be!

We would be having 2 Priesthoods in the house!

Fettuccine with Swedish Meatballs

After coming back from Church, Alvin started to try a new recipe that he newly found on the internet - Swedish meatballs are such a classic perfect meal!

This meal is ready in just 30 minutes and perfect for feeding a hungry family during the week.  We serve ours over Fettuccine, but it would also be great served over mashed potatoes or rice.  It is such a classic recipe and this one I believe is the best!

Preparation Time : 10 mins

Cooking Time : 20 mins

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• ¼ cup panko bread crumbs
• 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
• ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ cup onion, finely chopped
• ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
• ⅛ teaspoon Pepper
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 5 tbsp. butter
• 3 tbsp. flour
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
• salt and pepper to taste

Preparations:

1. In a medium sized bowl combine ground beef, panko, parsley, allspice, nutmeg, onion, garlic powder, pepper, salt and egg. Mix until combined.
2. Roll into 12 large meatballs or 20 small meatballs. In a large skillet heat olive oil and 1 Tablespoon butter. Add the meatballs and cook turning continuously until brown on each side and cooked throughout. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil.
3. Add 4 Tablespoons butter and flour to skillet and whisk until it turns brown. Slowly stir in beef broth and heavy cream. Add worchestershire sauce and dijon mustard and bring to a simmer until sauce starts to thicken. Salt and pepper to taste.
4. Add the meatballs back to the skillet and simmer for another 1-2 minutes. Serve over egg noodles or rice.

The creamy sauce has a secret ingredient that our family loves which I think adds such amazing flavour. Worcestershire sauce. It really adds good flavour to the creamy sauce and takes it to the next level.

The creamy gravy sauce is really what makes this meal so incredible! And the best part…  my entire family LOVES them!

Kuan Yin Tong Temple 1 Sep 2017

Kwan Yin Tong Temple is a cave temple located at the foot of Gunung Rapat on Jalan Gopeng, Ipoh.

Gunung Rapat is an impressive limestone karst tower which contains a number of other nearby cave temples such as Sam Poh Tong, Nam Thean Tong, Ling Sen Tong and Kek Lok Tong.

The cave at Kwan Yin Tong extends for about 20 metres under the cliff. The floor of the cave has been paved over with marble tiles and the lower sections of the walls have been smoothed off and whitewashed. The upper walls and roof have been left in their original natural cave state.

The temple is Buddhist and dedicated to the Bodhisattva Guanyin commonly known as the Goddess of Mercy.

Numerous statues of Guan Yin, both large and small line the walls of the cave temple, together with colourful murals.

There are stalls selling Guan Yin statues, incense and other temple paraphernalia.

Stairs off to the side of the temple lead to a higher level with a Buddha in seated position. But it was gated that we unable to go up, and we do not intend to go up as well.

A terracotta pagoda stands outside the cave.

Here we are, selfie with the big Kuan Yin Statue.

This is the little 2 kiddies with their Daddy selfie with the Kuan Gong behind.

And that, ended our cave temple visit in Ipoh. We only realise that we missed out the Perak Tong Cave Temple, Kek Lok Cave Temple, and other little smaller cave temples.

Sam Poh Tong Temple 1 Sep 2017

Sam Poh Tong can be translated as the Cave of Triple Gems. The Triple Gems is the most basic belief and doctrine of Buddhism and the core and foundation of the Buddhism. It refers to Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

In addition to the Buddhist cave temple, the temple's compound includes a crematorium and a columbarium. Sam Poh Tong's columbarium looks like a 4-storey blue coloured apartment block.

In front of the temple is a very attractively landscaped garden designed around a large fish pond.

Islands on the pond are embellished with artificial rock formations perhaps shaped to resemble the Huang Shan mountains of China.

Japanese stone lanterns and pagodas add to the beauty of the garden.

Inside the cave temple, the main altar area is smaller I expected and filled with statues of Buddha and deities.

A staircase leads up to an upper level where there are a few more statues in display cases.

Behind a padlocked gate are some steps leading up the hillside but the path seems abandoned and overgrown.

Beyond the altar is a passage way leading out to a secluded garden containing the 'tortoise pond' and an ornate pagoda building with red roof tiles.

The pond was a fenced-off pool of vivid dark green water surrounded by an assortment of turtles sitting on a drab brick pavement.

The water was changed irregularly and that the living conditions were rather poor.

There were tourists purchased bunches of kangkung from a vendor at the entrance and threw pieces over the fence in the direction of the turtles. They seemed lazy but eventually gobbled down the food.

The pagoda building is reminiscent of Buddhist temples in Japan but it was also fenced off and padlocked.

The whole area is completely encircled by towering cliffs and there is no exit other than the passageway back into the cave temple. It looks a bit run-down in maintenance compared to Ling Sen Tong Temple.

One more thing is that there are a lot of beggers sitting outside the temple, most of them are old men and women. It really surprised me!

Later we left for the Kuan Yin Temple just around the corner.

Nam Thean Tong Temple 1 Sep 2017

Nam Thean Tong is a Taoist temple and this was evidenced by the painting over the entrance of the Eight Immortals, characters from Chinese mythology who are revered by Taoists.

Nam Thean Tong translates as Cave of the Southern Sky, 'southern sky' referring to heaven.

We did not go into the temple as everyone seems like to tire to climb the staircase leading up to the temple. We just wondered around at the fish pond and courtyard outside the temple.

These 3 were so funny! But I love them the most in the world!