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Ha Long and Hanoi 2025

21 Feb

It was a trip mooted last year, and it felt like forever for the day to arrive. When it finally did, the five-day golf trip to Vietnam came and flew by quickly! It was our first golfing trip for 2025, and yes, I was excited.

At the beginning of the year, I took some time off from golf to allow my tennis elbow to recover. I had to if I wanted to enjoy the golf trip pain-free. The self-imposed break worked out well because we had all the Chinese New Year celebrations during this time.

Golfing in Ha Long and Hanoi this time was quite an experience. It was cold, quite cold, and super cold during the three games we played, two being in Ha Long and one in Hanoi.

Last year, when we were in Hanoi for golf, it wasn’t that cold compared to this time. And the last time I wore three layers of clothing for golf to keep warm was back in 2019 when we were in Oregon! Goodness, that’s quite a while back.

Ha Long was beautiful and serene. It felt very laid-back and untouched. The golf course, Tuan Chau Golf Club, was relatively flat in its terrain. But there was a lot of water surrounding the course, being an island, after all.

The first meal upon arrival in Hanoi

The second course was more challenging, FLC Halong Golf Club. Up in the hills, the terrain was a challenge to walk in and out. Both courses did not allow the golf buggies into the fairways. So, you can imagine the toll on the knees if the ball landed far away from the buggy track.

The weather was cool but misty, or rather, hazy, spoiling the scenery of Ha Long Bay beyond the signature Par 3 hole. No amount of attempts or the best smartphone could capture the natural beauty in the hazy condition. Sigh.

Top: Tuan Chau; Bottom: FLC Halong

Weather aside, there were some highlights from the trip. Our group enjoyed a sumptuous lunch on a cruise on the bay, followed by a short trek into the Ha Long Cave. Again, the pictures taken do not do justice to the beauty of this natural wonder.

In the blink of an eye, two rounds of golf in Ha Long were under the belt, along with a few phở meals and plenty of beer. We bid farewell to Ha Long and left for Hanoi for the rest of our stay in Vietnam.

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Chinese New Year 2025

4 Feb

Kong Hei Fatt Choy! Wishing everyone a very Happy and Prosperous New Year. A week has passed going into the Year of the Snake, and I have lost track of time! All we do is eat and eat. Burp.

The Reunion Dinner was a gastronomic feast, with so much food on the table for our hot pot dinner. I think we all experienced a food coma after that meal! Hahahaha.

Toasting over the Yee Sang, our Reunion Dinner spread, and irresistible CNY cookies!

Chinese New Year is all about celebrating and merry-making with relatives and friends. And, of course, there’s the food—especially the New Year cookies and snacks. These delectable treats are dangerous and irresistible. Every choice is a must-try, can you imagine? How do we resist? Although they are only available once a year, the waistline is always in danger of being tempted by them!

We have eight days left for the Chinese New Year celebration, and I’m looking forward to the Chap Goh Meh dinner finale soon!

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Reunion Dinner 2025

28 Jan

Today is Chinese New Year’s Eve and the Reunion Dinner night. This year, we will have our Reunion Dinner at home because of circumstances. In other words, we did not return to hubby’s hometown and avoided driving a long and arduous journey. Phew. Nor did we gather at my sibling’s place for this auspicious celebration.

Nonetheless, the Reunion Dinner, here or otherwise, is a time to be thankful for our family’s unity and bond. As both girls are now grown, I am most thankful they can be with us to usher in the Year of the Wood Snake together!

We count our blessings and would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous Year ahead. Gong Xi Fa Cai / Kong Hey Fatt Choy / Kiong Hee Huat Chye!

This year, we added this festive decor besides the customary New Year red cloth at the main entrance to the house.

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First Game of the Year

14 Jan

I’m surprised it took me two weeks into the new year to play my first golf game! It is more circumstantial than by choice. Two weeks ago, I went to Bangkok for that impromptu trip with the girls. Then, this past weekend, I opted out of the weekend game to let a visiting friend’s daughter play.

In retrospect, the time off allowed more rest for my tennis elbow. Yup, that darn injury is still nagging. There are occasions when the pain spikes and it becomes an irritation. Ugh.

Regardless of whether I can or will play well due to the nagging injury, we will find out. I look forward to the fellowship with the lady golfers group for the first game of the year!

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Adieu 2024!

31 Dec

It is the last day of 2024! What a year it has been for me. There were more travels than ever, more memories made as the year progressed, and sadly, a new injury. Let’s recap for the record.

My DIY crafting and building miniatures waned and came to a complete halt when my travels kicked in. It’s unfortunate after four years at it, project after project. Well, maybe come 2025, the interest will return. Only time will tell.

At the beginning of the year, I went to Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore, for golf and leisure. My flight distance and time increased dramatically with an app I downloaded to track these things. In October, I added Japan to round up my travels abroad. I figured I had reached a milestone, so I should travel more. In total, I flew 19,768 km with a flight time of one day, six hours, and 38 minutes. I’m wondering if I can top these stats with the new year. We will find out!

Wonderful memories are created with the travels and truly cherished. We played at new golf courses in Vietnam and Indonesia, and I savored the time with my golfing friends. What more can I ask for? My best memory is meeting up with an old college friend in Hanoi! The precious few hours we had is something I will never forget. We talked as if we were never apart for the last few decades that flew by.

The family trips were all about food, sights, and new experiences. Bangkok was all about walking, shopping, and eating. Likewise, Japan, but more. Wonderful, wonderful time together. I hope we can do such trips come 2025!

My golfing ability has been up and down for the year. The top highlight was being crowned the Overall Champion for my Tuesday Group’s annual game in August. I guess I peaked at the right occasion! I hope I can rediscover my momentum for the new year because I picked up a new injury right after that game.

The right tennis elbow sucks. As such, the golf has been on a downslide. But I’m not upset by this disability because hubby and I picked up pickleball to stay active! And I play with my left hand, thus preserving the right side from further aggravation. I wear an elbow guard, just to be safe, though.

Toward the end of the year, I reconnected with another old friend who migrated and was visiting. She’s my bestie’s older sister and an ardent golfer, so it was wonderful to host her. Despite the elbow woes, the time together was more important.

As 2024 winds down, I reflect on what has happened and look forward to the new year ahead. I’ve stopped making resolutions but tend to keep a positive mind as I believe in ‘you are what you think you are’ to face what’s ahead. Attract the good vibes and keep the bad ones away or at bay.

On a global scale, sports, politics, war, world peace, and climate challenges share the headlines. I’d rather not elaborate as details on these issues are available freely online. I am thankful I survived the year.

I take this opportunity to thank all my readers and supporters who have kept me going in my blog and to wish everyone a Happy New Year! May 2025 bring peace and prosperity to all.

Cheers and adieu 2024, it’s a wrap, and thanks for the memories!

Saying goodbye 2024 and hello 2025 with Chandon!

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Merry Christmas 2024!

24 Dec

Tis the season to be merry, fa la la la, la la la la! Every year, we have our family Christmas Eve dinner, and it’s a time to be together and be thankful.

This year, I’m baking my version of meat pies to add to the menu. I have become better at preparing a meat-based dish for the occasion.

In the past, I used to buy ready-to-eat ham from the butcher. Then I progressed to making ribs and meatloaf. This year, meat pies. And they look good and smell good!

Here’s wishing all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Be safe wherever you are celebrating Christmas.

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Monsoon Season! Part 2

17 Dec

The threat of the monsoon rain last week did not materialize drastically to affect the golf games when I hosted a visiting friend. We were most fortunate to take in another two games. In total, we played three and a half rounds, the half being the first game that lasted only nine holes due to the downpour.

While it was fun to be playing so many games in good weather, the game performance went from bad to worse. Hahahaha. Could it be we were talking so much? I do admit the tennis elbow did act up now and then. Sigh. However, it’s not like the course was hard to handle – it’s my home course, and I play there week in, week out, three times a week!

I do notice that when I talk and laugh a lot during a round of golf, I don’t play well – the focus is not there. Oh well, it was more for the company, which was great. And we were fortunate the weather held up for the bonding time.

I’m glad I could host my friend for several games, rain or shine, and she has plenty of good memories to bring back when she leaves Malaysia. I look forward to future golf games with her on her next return trip.

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Pickleball Anyone, Part 2

19 Nov

We play pickleball once a week now. I find myself looking forward to it more than my regular golf games. Uh oh, does this mean I have lost my passion for golf?

There are various reasons for this new sentiment. It is the end of the year, and we are facing the rainy monsoon season! Golf is not enjoyable when the round is interrupted by rain and thunder. Then we have to wait out the rain. By then, the body has turned cold, and the momentum and mood are lost. Ugh.

It is even more unenjoyable when the siren does not go off, and collectively, everyone wants to continue playing in wet conditions. Ugh. I find wearing my raincoat to play very uncomfortable, but needed to stay dry. Then there are other challenges – wet gloves, slippery grips, heavy shots, and soggy fairways. The list can be endless! Ugh.

As pickleball is an indoor activity, covered and not subjected to crappy weather, it is a better option than golf, especially during this time of the year. And the best part is I can play with my left hand without aggravating my tennis elbow! Yay.

So, if I play less golf, it’s okay because I have an alternative activity to sweat instead of being a couch potato at home and perpetually glued to my iPad Mini.

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Time to Reset

29 Oct

After returning from Japan and taking a few days to rest, we went to Malacca with some friends for two rounds of golf. I wondered if I would play well after laying off for over two weeks. Well, I found out.

My tee-off was terrible—I kept pulling to the left most of the time for both games. And putting – oh gosh, it was exasperating. I didn’t play my best with such errand abilities. The only plus point for the short getaway was the group. We laughed so much, and it looked like this was what we did more than playing golf. Hahaha.

Unfortunately, my tennis elbow still hurts. Maybe that’s why I was conscious of the pain and was careful when golfing to avoid aggravating it further. But it was futile. Sigh. I should take a proper break to reset the body. And it’s a long road to recovery as far as the elbow is concerned. Boo hoo hoo.

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Afternoon Washout!

4 Oct

My plans for a round of golf yesterday didn’t quite work out because Mother Nature had other ideas. It was an afternoon game, not my usual morning tee-off, and the outing was a complete washout.

We had three flights – only the 12.30 pm flight managed 15 holes, while my flight did 12 as we were two slots behind them. I’m unsure how many holes the third flight completed because they started on the back nine.

It was quite a sight to see all the fairways inundated with water! That’s how heavy the rain came down, as there was insufficient time for the excess water to drain. Some holes even had their tee boxes immersed in water as well. There’s no way we could have resumed.

The buggy ride back to the club was not the most pleasant as we had to deal with pelting rain from the sides and driving through big puddles of water. Despite the situation, everyone was happy with an early happy hour! Hehehe.

Drinks and titbits were on the table, and eventually, dinner. The chatter and camaraderie were most enjoyable. Sometimes, we don’t need to complete a round of golf to enjoy the company of friends.

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