Culinary Journey Back Home

Whenever family members who now work overseas or have settled in foreign countries return to their hometown for a holiday, food hunting inevitably becomes one of their favourite activities. Whenever our children come home, they never miss the opportunity to seek out the foods they once enjoyed and the places that hold special memories for them. Food, after all, represents much more than nourishment; it is closely connected with memory, identity, family, culture and a sense of belonging.

This August, when Paul and Junshi came back for a short holiday, they went out on their own a couple of times to revisit places where they had once enjoyed some of their favourite foods. We, too, did our part by arranging meals at several of the restaurants and food outlets they used to enjoy. In our own small way, we were happy to contribute to their culinary journey of rediscovery and, hopefully, to the satisfaction of finding again some of the familiar tastes they had missed while living overseas.

At Yit Foh Kopitiam at BSA.

At Lok Tien Dim Sum

At Fook Yuen Cafe @Kolombong.

At Chennai Recipes Restaurant @ Borneo Suites Hotel

Bongawan River Cruise and Firefly Watching

A visit to Bongawan for firefly watching was one of the activities planned during Paul and Junshi's holiday back in KK in August. We were happy to be invited to join this excursion. Four years earlier, in July 2022, when Serene's family came back to KK for a holiday, we had travelled to Kota Belud to join a Kawa Kawa River Cruise, where we were treated to a spectacular display of fireflies. This time, we thought it would be interesting to experience another of Sabah's popular natural attractions and see what Bongawan had to offer - the proboscis monkeys along the riverbanks and the fireflies that gather among the mangrove vegetation after sunset.

Compared with our experience in 2022 (Read here), however, this excursion on 13 August started at a jetty at River Paradise Bongawan was rather disappointing from a wildlife-watching perspective. We managed to spot just one lone proboscis monkey, a small crocodile hidden behind a cluster of tree roots and a few macaques along the riverbanks. The contrast was particularly noticeable when it came to the fireflies. If I were to give the two experiences a simple score for the abundance of fireflies, I would have rated this trip perhaps 1 out of 10, compared with 10 out of 10 in July 2022.

As we drifted quietly along the river in the gathering darkness, I could not help wondering why the difference was so striking. Was it simply a matter of location? Could weather conditions, the season, the tide or other natural factors have played a part? Or could the changes we are seeing in the environment, including climate change and increasing human activity, be gradually affecting the habitats on which these creatures depend? It is difficult to say based on a single visit. Nevertheless, the dramatic contrast with our 2022 experience was hard to ignore.

Fortunately, the tour operators had incorporated, whether deliberately or coincidentally, several other attractions into the programme, perhaps recognising that wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed. After an early buffet dinner, we were taken to the river mouth to see the sunset.

Unfortunately, the sunset was not as spectacular as we had hoped. The sky was heavily overcast, with thick clouds and haze, reportedly caused in part by the forest fires in Kalimantan. Later, all the visitors were led to the seafront to watch a fire-spinning performance, during which a performer sent showers of sparks into the sky. These additional activities helped to some extent make up for the relatively disappointing wildlife sightings and ensured that the evening remained enjoyable.

In the end, the Bongawan excursion turned out to be a reminder that nature does not always perform according to our expectations. We may travel specifically to see proboscis monkeys or fireflies, but wildlife remains unpredictable and is influenced by many environmental factors. While the abundance of fireflies and proboscis monkeys we experienced in 2022 was truly memorable, this year’s more subdued encounter offered a different lesson - the importance of protecting the river, mangroves and surrounding habitats so that these remarkable natural attractions can continue to thrive for future generations of visitors.

Afternoon tea just before the boat trip to see proboscis monkeys.

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Some of the macaques sighted.

A small crocodile sighted hidden behind cluster of roots.

The sunset that evening!

Foam deliberately created to keep visitors entertained.

Fire-spinning performance.

The tour guide took great pain to take mirror reflection photographs for tour members.

A Birthday Celebration to Remember

It was a wonderful surprise when Paul and Junshi arranged a pre-birthday celebration on 11 August for my wife, their mother, during their short trip back to KK in August.

For the past few years, celebrating my wife’s birthday had mostly been a two-person affair. This celebration was therefore especially meaningful, as it gave us the opportunity to celebrate together as a family. Sharing such a special occasion with our close family members made it all the more memorable and precious.

The second surprise was the choice of venue. To my delight, they had selected the same restaurant, the Kinsly in Damai Plaza where Sam had arranged my own birthday celebration when he and Maddie came back to KK for a short break in October last year. It was a lovely coincidence and made the evening even more meaningful.

The dishes they carefully selected turned out to be very impressive, and we thoroughly enjoyed the meal and the time spent together. We thought the evening would end after dinner, but there was yet another surprise. Just when we least expected it, the restaurant staff appeared with a small birthday cake, bringing the celebration to a wonderful climax.

It was truly a memorable and unforgettable evening - not only because of the delicious food and the thoughtful arrangements, but, most importantly, because of the love and effort that went into making the occasion special.

For my wife, the birthday “girl” of the evening, it was certainly a celebration she will remember for a long time. It was a beautiful reminder that the greatest birthday gifts are not necessarily things we receive, but the love, thoughtfulness and precious moments shared with family.

A Brief Stop in Singapore

Before flying back to Kota Kinabalu after our wonderful holiday in Hokkaido, we made a five-day stopover in Singapore to spend some precious time with family members living there. Besides seeing our two Aussie grandchildren, we were equally eager to catch up with our other two grandchildren in Singapore and see how they had grown since our last visit in Christmas last year.

It was heartening to find both of them thriving, not only physically but also intellectually. Children seem to grow and mature so quickly, and the changes in just a few years were remarkable.

Like our two Aussie grandchildren down south, Livvie has gradually outgrown her fascination with Lego. Her interests have now shifted to reading, and not just children's storybooks. To our surprise, she has immersed herself in more challenging literature, including the Harry Potter series and the classic Sherlock Holmes mysteries. Watching her enthusiastically discuss the stories and characters was a reminder of how reading can open up a child's imagination and broaden their horizons.

Seeing all four grandchildren developing their own unique interests and personalities was one of the highlights of our trip. While each is growing up in a different environment, it was encouraging to witness their curiosity, confidence, and love of learning. As grandparents, moments like these are especially rewarding, making every opportunity to spend time together truly worthwhile.

Livvie was determined to present me with a small handmade gift before we left. She decided to make an amigurumi - a small knitted toy that is both charming and uniquely personal.

After browsing through a craft book, she selected a design she felt confident to do and immediately set to work. To my amazement, her knitting skills were remarkable. With nimble fingers and impressive concentration, she transformed a ball of yarn into a delightful little creation in what seemed like no time at all. I could hardly believe how quickly she completed it.

Game time was one of the highlights of our reunion. A new board game introduced by Sam brought everyone together in an atmosphere filled with laughter, friendly competition, and plenty of joyful moments. These shared experiences reminded us that the best family memories are often created through the simplest activities.

Of course, no family reunion would be complete without enjoying meals together. Sharing food has always been one of the best ways to strengthen family bonds. During our stay, we had meals in the homes of Paul and Sam. The delicious meals, both home-cooked and ordered coupled with lively conversations and laughter, made each gathering a memorable occasion. Beyond the food itself, it was the warmth of being together, catching up on each other's lives, and simply enjoying one another's company that made these family meals so special.

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On Sunday, 19 July, the day before I flew back to KK, we had lunch at Coucou Authentic Swiss Restaurant & Bar.

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Another pleasant surprise during our stopover in Singapore was the opportunity to catch up with our niece, Denise. While we were at Novena Square shopping mall, we contacted her and were delighted to discover that she happened to be in office that very day. We quickly arranged to meet for lunch, and she obliged and joined us during her lunch break.

It was wonderful to see Denise doing well. She has settled comfortably into her independent life, sharing a home with her friends and embracing the responsibilities of adulthood with confidence. Although our time together was brief, it was short but still a memorable reunion.

Parting with Memories, Looking Forward to the Next Reunion

14 July, the night before we flew home from Sapporo the following morning, we had a simple but enjoyable dinner at a small ramen outlet called Ramen Tosaka (飛鶏魚). As someone familiar with Chinese, I found its unusual name, 飛鶏魚, particularly intriguing. The three kanji literally mean “flying chicken fish,” making the Chinese interpretation both amusing and puzzling.

The name, however, is a clever piece of Japanese wordplay. Tosaka normally refers to the comb or crest of a rooster, written as 鶏冠. The unusual choice of 飛鶏魚 therefore evokes the image of a chicken while incorporating the characters for both “chicken” and “fish.” More importantly, it reflects the restaurant’s culinary concept, which combines chicken-based broth with fish-based dashi, particularly dried sardines.

Having our last dinner in Japan at such a uniquely named ramen outlet, just hours before leaving Sapporo, gave our trip a delightful and unexpected final touch. “Flying Chicken Fish” may sound rather amusing in Chinese, but it certainly provided us with a wonderful and a memorable ending to our Japan journey.

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We left early the next morning, 15 July, for New Chitose Airport in Sapporo to catch our 11:40 a.m. flight home. Serene’s family, whose flight back to Western Australia was not until 4:00 p.m., kindly accompanied us to the airport in the rented van to see us off. After our departure, they still had a couple of hours to explore some nearby places before returning to the airport for their own flight.

At the airport, it was a bittersweet moment for the grandparents and grandchildren. We were happy and grateful to have shared such a wonderful family reunion - travelling together, exploring new places, and enjoying so many interesting and delicious foods along the way. These shared experiences had given us many precious memories that we would cherish for years to come.

Yet, beneath the happiness was a sense of sadness as we said our goodbyes. The time had passed far too quickly. As the years go by and age catches up with all of us, such family reunions become increasingly precious. We could only hope that this would not be our last journey together. Thankfully, we already have another planned family trip to Thailand to look forward to, giving us something wonderful to anticipate - a chance to meet again, create more happy memories, and once again enjoy each other’s company.