Author archive
9 January 2015
Above: First thing I noticed when I stepped out of the airport were the short double digit number plates on some cars. I also saw a single digit one. Most were four digit though. Gabriel dropped me off at the airport around 0730 for my 0935 departure to Norfolk Island from Sydney Airport’s international terminal. […]
7 January 2015
I landed in Sydney feeling refreshed after an overnight flight because I managed to get decent sleep onboard. I had departed Kuching last night with a sobering start to the flight; we observed a 30 second silence before the safety demo in memory of those who perished in QZ8501. We arrived on a happier note […]
1 January 2015
I had called the state forestry office yesterday to enquire whether any rafflesias (world’s largest flower) were in bloom. Rather unexpectedly, they said “Yes, there is one on its last day” and encouraged me to go. So, it was a disappointment for me to wake up to a wet day. While the rain wasn’t torrential, […]
31 December 2014
A break from career and travelling life sees me making home-cooked food or a change rather than eating out most days…. Posted by Alex Chan on Thursday, May 15, 2014
31 December 2014
What makes Sibu food interesting is the mix of jungle produce and Foochow (people from a very specific region of China who are reputed to be even more hardworking than other Chinese). Posted by Alex Chan on Tuesday, February 3, 2015
28 December 2014
I woke early to go out to the riverbank areas as the light was terrible yesterday for photos. The sun was in the wrong direction! I captured the scenes I wanted, got a breakfast of timingu (or tiamiso, or rice-flour batter cooked in a pan then pushed into soup, making it resemble freshly made noodles). […]
27 December 2014
It has been about 18 years since I had been to Sibu, where my mother hails from. As a child we had gone there to see grandma frequently. I thought I was long overdue for a visit there and had bought the air-tickets cheaply and impulsively some 10 months (sounds contradictory but it was impulse […]
23 December 2014
Above: My cheap but pleasant flight from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur. I had bought my AirAsia X ticket some 13 months before flying MEL-KUL-KCH-KUL-SYD for about NZD500, which is actually about NZD350 plus airport taxes (largely Australian). At that price, I had psyched myself up for the cramped conditions (width rather than legroom which is […]
19 December 2014
I arrived in Melbourne after a rather squashy flight stuck in the window seat. Having been here several times, I made my way quickly to my aunt’s place where I’d stay for four nights before continuing my journey to KL and Kuching for Christmas with my parents and brothers. The AirAsia X ticket from Melbourne […]
19 December 2014
Today I begin my journey back to my hometown in Borneo for Christmas, but not without stopping along the way (and back). I fly to Melbourne today, stopping for several days before continuing my journey.