A Brief Account of CNY2026 Celebration at Rantau Panjang, Perak in February, 2026

My wife Soh Ai returned early to her hometown at Rantau Panjang, Perak with her youngest brother Sze Teong and wife Kitty Wan on Thu., 12/02/2026 to celebrate CNY2026.

I left home to Rantau Panjang with my 3 sons Wai Kit, Wai Yu and Wai Kei (2nd son Wai Jen is still in Japan) at 1.00pm on Mon., 16/02/2026.  Wai Kit drove us with his Tesla EV.

Traffic along N-S Highway was a bit heavy from KL to Tapah and better thereafter. We stopped by R&R Tapah Northbound for EV charging. It rained quite heavily as we reached Taiping at about 6.00pm for dinner.  The food court we found from Googling was closed upon arrival and we had to settle at a nearby Restoran Nasi Kandar.  We reached Rantau Panjang enroute Batu Kurau at about 8.30pm.

On CNY Day 1 (Tue., 17/02/2026), Soh Ai’s 3rd uncle (aged 91) from Kulim, Kedah came with his daughter Phaik Yee from UK, son Andrew and family members to visit his younger sister, Ah Ma (lit. “Granny” in Hokkien) i.e. my mother-in-law (aged 88). I had a long and good chat with uncle.

A pose with Soh Ai's 3rd uncle

A group photo with our visitors

3rd uncle with his younger sister 

On CNY Day 2 (Wed., 18/02/2026), Soh Ai’s eldest sister Sock Kim, hubby Chooi KH and their two daughters Ji-Ni (with hubby Allen and 3-yo son Rhys, from Perth, Australia) and Ji-An (with hubby Reuben and 4-yo daughter Aria), Soh Ai’s sister-in-law Yen Li and children XinYi, LeYi and Jia Wei came from Bukit Mertajam for reunion dinner. Somehow her brother Sze Hean was absent for unknown reason.

After buffet dinner, we had a group photo followed by Ah Ma taking photos respectively with her children, daughters-in-law, grandchildren and great grandchildren. It was a memorable and pleasant occasion for all present!  

Food for reunion dinner

Group photo of all present

Ah Ma with her three children

Ah Ma with her two daughters-in-law

Ah Ma with her eldest son's family

Ah Ma with her grandchildren

Ah Ma with her two great grandchildren

On CNY Day 3 (Thu., 19/02/2026), we departed from Rantau Panjang at 8.45am and had breakfast at Selama town before leaving for KL.

The returning journey was quite smooth along the N-S Highway and we reached home at 3.00pm, concluding our memorable CNY2026 trip to Rantau Panjang.

Supermarket at Selama town closed for good

Breakfast at Selama town

Shell Petrol Station at Tapah Southbound for EV charging

 

Attendance At A Former Malay Colleague’s Son Wedding Ceremony

On Saturday January 31, 2026, I was invited by a former Malay colleague En. Badrulzaman bin Mohd. Bedu (from my 4-month tenure at Berjaya Land Bhd., early 2017) to attend his 3^rd son Nabil wedding ceremony at Awan Space Heritage Hall,1^st floor at LSH33 Outlet Mall, Jln. Batu Muda Tambahan 3, Sentul, KL.

My wife Soh Ai and I left home at 10.15am. I missed the Waze’s direction of using EKVE and DUKE highways, and reached the destination at about 11.30am.  Parking inside the mall was somehow not available and I had to drive to the opposite field to park at the roadside.

Upon arrival, I was glad to meet En. Badrul whom I didn’t see about 8 years since I left Berjaya Land but we maintained regulal contact via WhatsApp. I had the privilege of being the only invited guest from Berjaya Land for this occasion, and I quickly took the opportunity to take two selfie photos with him.

I was surprise to find that although the “Atur Cara Majlis” stated "Makan Beradab" was to begin at 1.30pm, the buffet food and drinks were ready as soon as the guests arrived.

My wife and I left the function after witnessing the “Raja Sehari” and his bride entered the hall at about 1.10pm.

We took some photos at the ground floor of LSH33 Mall before returning home, reaching at about 3.30pm.

WhatsApp invitation on Dec. 16, 2025

Order of Proceedings

A pose with En. Badrul

A pose with Soh Ai

The groom and bride entering the hall

Courtesy of the host's photographer

Decors at ground floor of LSH33 Mall

Lunch at Tmn. Sri Bahtera, Cheras on December 17, 2025

On Wednesday, 17/12/2025, I had lunch with my wife Soh Ai, and buddies Goh Boon Keong and Tiu Sook Chin at a Myanmar restaurant at Jalan Lanchang, Taman Sri Bahtera (opposite Taman Cheras, KL).  Four of us savoured Nyonya-steamed tilapia (娘惹蒸金凤鱼RM49), Guinness Stout chicken (黑啤鸡肉RM21) ,  minced pork tofu (肉碎豆腐RM15) and stir-fried gai lan (清炒芥兰RM14).  All dishes were very tasty.  The total cost including 4 plates of rice (RM6) and Chinese tea (TM5) was RM110 and I foot the bill for all. 

Before lunch, we first went to Taman Putra where Sook Chin bought some prayer items, and after lunch, we proceeded to NS Food Processing S/B at Kampung Cheras Baru to buy glutinous rice balls (tangyuan) and other pastries in view of the upcoming Winter Solstice Festival (冬至) come Sunday 21/12/2025.    

Corner terrace house turned restaurant (without signboard)

Guinness Stout chicken

Stir-fried Chinese broccoli (kai lan)

Minced pork tofu 

Nyonya-steamed tilapia

Our 4 dishes at a glance

The bill written in Myanmar