Kota Kinabalu, Sabah ~~ Hidden Beauty

  It's been a while since I last posted anything. Been busy with exams and stuff, yet recently I've been on a trip with a few friends to Taiwan after the exams. Before our flight to Taiwan, we had to put up 2 days in Kota Kinabalu, the city of Sabah. Well, having been there before, Kota Kinabalu is just like any other town, just that this town possesses it's life and light from it's well attained natural beauty and scenery.  Here, I'll just briefly backtrack our footsteps that very day...

  On reaching the airport, we took a bus to the city of Kota Kinabalu. Here, we shopped for local arts, crafts and many other stuffs that you can find there.

  Next, a visit to the Philipino Market, a place where fresh seafood is of vast variety. You could also find all kinds of delicacies there, and the fried murtabak is something one should try. You can't find it in Semenanjung Malaysia yet, but it really is something new to us. The grilled squid and fish are also well sold delicacies, and if you have the cash to spend do try the grilled lobsters, one costing almost rm150!

Besides the food, one could also enjoy the sunset not too far away from the market, something money can't buy.

  Later on, we had a dinner at a seafood restaurant, and honestly speaking, everything was worth it's price especially the crab dish cooked with butter. The toufu is also a must-try dish, same goes to the chicken. Oh, did I mention the coconut pudding? Simply magnifico!

  That sums up the day and we soon retreated to our hotel that night, knowing an even exciting day beholds upon us.

  The next day promised something even exciting as we booked a van up into the mountains of Kundasang. A 2hour journey promised us a scenery, so breathtaking that everything was worth it while. We reached the Diary Farm of Kundasang. Some called it the 'Malaysian New Zealand', with black and white cows grazing upon those green green grasses. It was windy there, and certainly very cooling. With the Mount Kinabalu in sight as the background scenery, everything was just too perfect!

  After that, we took a trip to the Kota Kinabalu National Park. Luxurious greens was all that was seen, but that was all that it could provide. Down from the mountains into the valley, we were brought to a bridge which sadly, I've forgotten the name. But according to our driver, it was built in the very same year as London Bridge was built. And while people are singing that London Bridge came crashing down, this bridge however stood till this very day, a pride of the many Sabahans there.

 Our last tour came to the 'Ruman Terbalik Sabah', or also known as the 'Upside-down House of Sabah'. Here, things were all tupsy-turvey, an art where many would just admire in awe. Pictures weren't allowed to be taken inside of the house though, but I can assure you, even the interior will make you question the Law of Gravity. This, certainly a place to take a look at sometime.

  Finally, we reached the Kota Kinabalu Teriminal 2 Airport. There we took our dinner, had a shower there, planned our Taiwan trip and put up the night there. I was busy watching Euro 2012 then, and that sums up all our 2 days in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Really, this is a place, it's natural beauty hidden from the eyes of the world, awaiting mankind to come and explore...

Some photos courtesy from Candy Lee... ^-^

Signing out: 

Nickel Low

The Buddha, The Dhamma, and The Sangha

Wakefulness is the way to life.

The fool sleeps

As if he were already dead,

But the master is awake

And he lives forever.

He watches.

He is clear.

How happy he is!

For he sees that wakefulness is life.

How happy he is,

Following the path of the awakened.

With great perseverance

He meditates, seeking

Freedom and happiness.

So awake, reflect, watch.

Work with care and attention.

Live in the way

And the light will grow in you.

By watching and working

The master makes for himself an island

Which the flood cannot overwhelm.

The fool is careless.

But the master guards his watching.

It is his most precious treasure.

He never gives in to desire.

He meditates.

And in the strength of his resolve

He discovers true happiness.

He overcomes desire -

And from the tower of his wisdom

He looks down with dispassion

Upon the sorrowing crowd.

From the mountain top

He looks down at those

Who live close to the ground.

Mindful among the mindless,

Awake while others dream,

Swift as the race horse

He outstrips the field.

By watching

Indra became king of the gods.

How wonderful it is to watch.

How foolish to sleep.

The beggar who guards his mind

And fears the waywardness of his thoughts

Burns through every bond

With the fire of his vigilance.

The beggar who guards his mind

And fears his own confusion

Cannot fall.

He has found his way to peace.

Adapted from: Teachings of the Dhammapada, Buddha

Nickel Low C.J.

Love and Warmth, Tasted Like Never Before...

  Memories; they do bring back a lot to savour, especially those that meant more than just words to you. To put something of such high magnitude into mere sentences, well, each word then holds the key to a wonderful experience. Good or bad they may be, they'll still be the ones you look back to and talk about in years to come. No one has come this far in their life without having to face any turning points in life, nor will they even get that far without any experiences being added to this ever-changing life.

  Personally, I prefer to linger on those good memories. They push mii through each day, and with that comes faith and total perseverance in whichever matter I choose to get my hands on. That and all that starts from a place called HOME, a place where I could always go back to no matter what happens, a place where my mind is calm and at peace. And the person keeping that place intact shall be no other than my mother. To mii, she was the one keeping everything in place, she cares for mii and my other 4 siblings. Being in a Chinese family of 7 household members, this really is a big family, not to mention the even bigger task for her to overhaul. Hence, everyday was a challenge for her, a challenge she must make do with to give us a stand, an identity in society. 

  Those times when I started to look back into my past, I saw that I was less appreciating on the sacrifices she has put up for us. As a teenager, it was a time period where egoism takes over those naive minds. I love her as a mother, but I could never learn to understand all that she has done for mii. Things were taken for granted. Every mother's day at that time, I always thought by giving her the best presents, or setting up the best celebration was all to it for this special day. I still didn't know the true meaning of mother's day and I was really in the path of perceiving things the wrong way. Things needed to change, and hence the turning point did come..

  Back in those days, transportation was always a problem for us. Both my parents, being humble teachers needed their own transport to work. Even my dad rode an old, smoking motorbike to work. Times back then were hard for my parents, and my mum too has to take up the task of sending my siblings to school and then herself to work. Mii being the eldest had to be held responsible in helping to ease up my mum's tension, and hence, I sent myself to school. I was only 13 at that time, so naive, so playful.


  The school bus was the main transport, and due to my class in the afternoon session, I had to wait for it every hot afternoon for the bus. My shirt drenched wet down to them trousers everytime I reached my class. There were times I even had to change again at school as the weather was all too hot. I was quite chubby that time, so sweating has always been my symptom when it comes to days like these. I could still remember those days when I even prayed for the sky to turn cloudy and rain to start pouring. Things were just as it is back then, and luckily I never learnt to complain. 

  But what mattered most was when the school bell rang for the last time of the day. It was then I had to walk back from school, rain or shine. My dad was then still busy with his work, my mum with her household chores and she couldn't just leave my siblings at home just to get mii right? They were just too young and febrile. So, perseverance was the only way back for mii, the momentum that kept mii going and going. If I was lucky, I managed to catch a city bus back, if not it was about a 9km walk for mii. I still remembered how much I envy those of my friends who had their parents come in cars to get them, how I envied them getting to and from school without having to be soaked wet, how I envied them looking out of a car window with so little worries on their mind. 

  For mii, it was a time to worry on how I get home unscathed, how do I get home without being sick if it rains, how will I even make it home if it pours heavily, or how do I get home before the night comes to pay a visit. It was then I started to feel annoyed, annoyed at the fact that my parents couldn't come to get mii from school. I was a handful that time, unable to understand my mum's predicament, and I even had a few quarrels with her. There was a point that I even thought my mum didn't love mii, and that shows how rebellious I was back then.

  One day, it started to rain so heavily and that day itself, I had to get home as soon as possible to finish up all my school work. So I ran through the rain and I was soaked head to toe when I finally got home. My books were all soaked wet as well, and you could never find a dry place on mii. My mum saw the state I was in and asked mii to get a warm shower immediately. When I got out of the bathroom, I saw my mum setting down each and every of my books under the fan to make them dry. And then, she went to the kitchen, made a cup of hot Nestle Milo, hugged mii and told mii that she loved mii with all her heart, no matter what happens, forever. I could see tears lingering at the corner of her eyes, and that's when I knew, I had a mother who loved mii ever since the day I was brought to this world. 

  Sipping up that warm hot Milo, I was touched, certainly happy that I've got such a mother who cares so much for mii. It was more than cars, it was more than money, it was the bond between mii and my mum that set everything in place to a bright future for mii. My love towards my mum grew stronger by a lot that very day.

  The same routine played through again for another year, and soon when my family was able to buy themselves another car, only then did I stop taking walks back from school. I still do sometimes walk back from school, because to mii, from those walks, I learnt to understand my mum's care and love for each and every one of us siblings. Years have passed by now, and with her blessing, I am currently finishing my 2nd year in college as a medical student. My love towards my mum never changed, in fact it grew stronger and stronger each day. I am really really grateful to have such a mother, and for that memory, that specific moment, that was a moment, a turning point in my life, locked up in my memory forever.... 

  I love you mum, you are and always will be the best in my heart.... ^-^

This story is dedicated to my loving mother, Yong Pek Hoon for all her dedication, love and care in bringing us 5 siblings up. We all love you mum and Happy Mother's Day! Sorry for all the wrong doings and misunderstandings, we know you meant us the best....

This story was also selected by Nestle Malaysia as the Best Story Written and also the Winner Of The Month, February 2012 in occasion of Nestle 100 Years Celebration Competition. The story was won based on the synopsis of:

Love and warmth, tasted like never before...

Back in those days, travelling back from school has never failed to trouble me. I had to walk back from school, rain or shine. My mum was busy with her work then, so perseverance was the only momentum for me. One day, it started to rain so heavily, and I came back soaked from head to toe. My mum too returned, and saw the state I was in. With tears in her eyes, she made a cup of Milo, hugged me and told me she loved me forever. That's a moment in my life, locked up in my memory forever!

  Thx once again to Nestle Malaysia.

Signing off,

Nickel Low Chen Jie

Food Story: Chicago Rib House, A Heaven For Rib Lovers!

Food Story: Chicago Rib House, A Heaven For Rib Lovers!: Super-Big Menus!!   Chicago Rib House, The City Of Ribs and Steaks! Well, that certainly has had some of us mouth-watering just by the soun...

Ending The Day With A Smile

  It's a long time since I last posted something, got a big exam coming up so, I really do think my keyboard missed mii at some point then. Well, back to the point now. It's been almost a year since I moved into a house in Dengkil (a small town in the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia). Everything has been quite peaceful here given that it's still a place yet to be developed. Still, what fascinates mii most, apart from all the foodstuff you can find in this little food haven, is the people here --- the heart of the town.

  When I mention people, yes, I meant each and everyone of them, regardless of whether there're Malaysian, Indons or Nepals, each and every one unique in their own ways, specifically, those who work in the many restaurants in Dengkil. Why you ask? Mainly, most of us, when mentioned about the subject, we will think of these people as low-class society, a group of people who came to Malaysia just to find work that many of us would never even think of taking up the task. We scorned them, we looked at them in a very different perspective, certainly thinking we're much better than them, burrying their dignity in our much self-acclaimed pride. I too admitting I once thought this way, but my few months in Dengkil has certainly changed that perspective, accepting them as a society we never for once stop to appreciate.

  Undoubtedly, they do come to Malaysia to find jobs, earn a living to feed their families and themselves for each passing day. And due to their education levels, they can manage just that. But who are we to detest them? Without them, who is going to do those jobs that you judge so badly? Are you going to? These people, they come from a background pummeled with hardships and pain, each of them has a story to tell if given a chance. Carrying those hardships and problems, they work their socks off everyday. And then, the thing that facilitates mii most, they work to the end of the day with a smile, a smile with so much meaning, so many emotions, so many thoughts, all embedded into it.

  Honestly, I've worked in a restaurant before, cleaning up plates and tables, getting orders from customers and serving food right to their tables, morning to night. In the end, it took mii 3months to finally give up. To face the demands and complaints of all the customers everyday, it really frustrates you. And when it comes to the time when you're so very tired, you couldn't even manage a smile, not even to fake it. These people? They work in conditions beyond our wildest imaginations, their life hangs on the job they're assigned to. Yet, they work the whole day with spirits up high, with a smile to add as a finishing touch. How on earth do they carry such determination to push through each passing day with all sorts of problems in their mind, for that I really salute them!

  Compare them to those other workers in working conditions far far better than these group of people, their service really let's you down. The way they treat their customers is just terrible, not to say that these people have a higher pay than those who work their hearts out. It's just a very very big contrast, and to mii, it is just so so wrong. Never in my life have I seen such determined, resilient individuals. We, having so much to our own, will just crumble under small matters. But them, no, they stand up to live, they stand up to what they believe is right and they really do treat their jobs seriously.

  As I visited another restaurant last night, I was approached by one of the workers there and a chat followed. It was like no other, although the slang and the language he used are somewhat foreign to mii, but I could really feel that he was talking with his heart. It was just that sincere, that pure. Driving past them every morning, watching a whole group of them squatting at the roadside waiting for buses to take them to work, it does somehow trigger a sorry feeling in mii for them. What did they do to deserve all this?

  Our community, over-laden with ego and pride, it's time that we put all that down and look around us. They, like us are no different; their jobs, their lives, just as important as ours. It's time that we regard their dignity and treat them as a human being Gone with those prejudices, gone with those perspectives, open up our minds and learn their way of life. Because, not many of us could even end our day, with a smile....