Thursday, 23rd April 2009, 2030H

Today the skies are especially darker and the whole world seems to be a sadder place. my yeye left us today to go to a better place. and i didn get to say goodbye. when i last saw him over the weekend, i still remember reminding him to get well and he promised me he will. nodding his grey head, patting my hand with that familiar smile,.. dear grandpa, he always wanted us to be happy.

this is so difficult..i know it is the reality, but i admit being in denial is somewhat slightly more comforting .its just too surreal..i just spoke to you 2 days ago...now you aren't going to be there anymore...
.. going back to hk won't be the same anymore. there won't be the same ol' darling grandpa greeting us at the door and dishing out our favourite dishes during lunchtime. the shaky hands firmly holding onto the chopsticks with a slash into the soup bowl first. yeye, you are so you. and our suppers, the best time of the day, always celebrated with a glass or two of yeye's favourite XO, and lots of hearty laughter and talk, i will never forget your words grandpa, you are always reminding us to be humble, good hearted and your thumbs up for all the little things that we do, and that smile and "hou ye!" just brings me so much joy. your grasp, as i sit beside you before bedtime, with you slowly nodding your little head off to sleep.. i will always remember the warmth and the slight tremor you unknowingly own, i will miss you so much yeye, really really miss you. i already do. so much. i wish you were still here. i cant remember how to make the "pai kuat". you need to tell it to me again yeye. (sobs)

it seems like just yesterday dat you were teaching me how to make "suen mui pai kuat", and your signature, representing da hung family, the 74th generation of Confucius, it is safe in my treasure box and i will always keep it with me as i promised you. you will always be my darling yeye and you will be missed much more den ever.

god bless abundantly and with much love always
your granddaughter, kar yan

Especially to Ye Ye with love

Dearest Ye ye,
I am so happy i rushed back to see you. at least my heart's at ease and i know that you will get better. its aspiration pneumonia with a pinch of hospital acquired bugs but i know that you will pull through. augmentin will suffice, but remember the chest physiotherapy that i taught you to do. i am sure it will help a whole lot. and forget what dat dumbass said about cancer, it did not even show on the biopsy, he cant just assume it is cancer and what more say it in front of you. dont worry, you did not hear anything, he was just mumbling to himself, he had a bad call da night before, look at those glasses and eyebags. when i first saw you, you had just improved from a high flow mask to nasal prongs 5L/min. and when i saw you again in the evening, your sats had improved from 80% to 88% and they have decreased the O2 to 1L/min. i was so relieved.

you know, you must get better. there are too many of us out there who cant wait to know that you are well again. i recall all the times i return to waterloo hill, finding you warm and wrapped up in dat cashmere blanket lou dau bought for you from edinburgh, waiting eagerly for us to come back. then, you will lovingly whisk up the best ever meal for us, each and every time without fail. the "wan yu", "kai lan", "suen mui pai kuat", "yat yee sam sei mm pai kuat" etc,...wah how i miss those times. you have to cook it again for me. dis time, your chair was empty. i felt so forlorn, it was just not right, maybe i took it all for granted, knowing for sure tat you will always be there, always.

and your stories. i can never get enough of your days in the past, and i love it when you proudly tell me about how you braved war times to the days you opened your very own towel factory in HK, and how you talked business in the early days with the white men. yes, we are all very proud of you. always. and you still owe me supper. you promised to make me my favourite "dan dung kua"- the winter melon dish i love. mmmm, you make it soo well. im sure my sis and bro will l0ve it as much as i do. sis sends her love and regards, she cant stop asking me how you are, she is busy studying for her finals, im sure you understand how much she wishes she was by your side. hing fung is also far away and he was equally concerned about your progress. he sends his best to you and i know him, he has not been back to hk in the past year, im sure he has a lot to say to you and he is a pretty good drinker, haha, you must drink with him when you are well again. he cant wait. will XO do? yes, Hennessy XO is your drink . with peanuts and fried fish fillet/ steak and all your other yummy dishes.

ok, its getting late. im on call tomorrow. i was hoping rach and fabs wil call back, but i have updated them on your progress. they are both busy busy bees. its past visiting hours and you do not have a hand phone, so i cant call and wish you goodnight. but you will be in my prayers tonight and i hope to meet you in my dreams. you know that we all care about you very much, and im so glad to have a complete family reunion in HK dis time. you are a very lucky man ye ye. we all know that you will win this war. remember to close your mouth, take deep and slow breaths and eat slowly. dont choke on your porridge anymore. and dont catch a cold. you must not let your hands out of the blankets ok. be good and listen to us.

i was so sad to leave. im sorry i did not tell you im leaving. i did not want you to think tat we will not be der by your side when you needed us most. but i know you understand. you always do. so promise me tat you will recover soon. you must and i know you will, my darling grandfather. love always from all of us

Peru - Macchu Picchu

Macchu Picchu Rail
On the Macchu Picchu Rail up to the mountains:

First time I get a packed meal on the train:
well, the ticket costs USD51! Can get a proper served meal lor..
On the way back, they put on a fashion show and a cultural dance. Also first time I see such things on a train.
But hey, USD51, they should give us the clothes paraded for free.

What can I say?? Macchu Picchu!!

Llamas galore..
The landings where they plant stuff to eat..

When we arrived at 6am the next morning hoping to catch the sunrise (what sunrise?! so cloudy -_-) : the Q-
The nice American family that we met:

Wayna/Huayna Picchu (aka Young Mountain)
Climbing Wayna Picchu:

We reached the top!


Mummy and I on top of the world on looking:



The road to achieve nirvana:

Fat a bit more, sorry u can't fit into that space:
Dinner!
Papa enjoying his ice cream!

Hotel Sumaq Macchu Picchu
The balcony/view from our Sumaq Macchu Picchu room:
Our welcome drinks of Pisco Sour and lemonade:
The room..


Larco Herrera Museum
At the Larco Herrera Museum - bougainvillas galore!:

The earthen pots found during the excavation of the various archaeological sites:


Percy, our leng chai guide:

Peru - Cusco

The Sacred Valley
Hotel Luna and Sol - our room:
and the outside:
27 individual bungalows serving as rooms for their guests:
The beautiful flowers in the compound of Hotel Luna and Sol in the Sacred Valley:



Climbing up Ollantaytambo - just a few steps and chest pain/breathlessness sets in...
The view from above Ollantaytambo:
Cebiche! Jie's favourite - raw fish marinated in lime and served with sweet potato and corn!

Cusco
The view from our Novotel room..
The lobby of Novotel:

Coca tea - contains cocaine -good for altitude sickness!