Category archives: Malaysia

Pulau Ketam literally means “Crab Island” in Malay language is an island off Port Klang. According to Wikipedia, the island is submerged during high tide, housing on the island consists of “floating houses” perched on wooden stilts 1 to 10 meters (3 to 33 ft) above sea level. The main thoroughfares…

In the month and a half that we’ve been back helping GIFT Foundation, we have had so many people contributing to GIFT’s mission. Our family and friends in the United States, Singapore and Malaysia donated money and food. New friends we made in Klang where we found a rental house…

We have been almost a month in Malaysia and today is my mom’s birthday. My sister suggested getting mom her favorite food “Chai Pau” in Pandamaran Jaya, Port Klang for lunch. I haven’t eaten “Chai Pau’ in years and the thought of it just made my mouth waters. “Chai Pau”…

A photobook I designed and printed for GIFT kids and community arrived today in Malaysia. It is a compilation of photos I have taken during our work with them. We are feeling very happy just to see their smiling faces! There have been lots of progress over there. The children…

It’s our last day at GIFT Foundation today. We will be heading back to Spokane, Washington in the next couple of days. The kids have bonded with Shane and it is really hard for him to say goodbye to them. Shane has established such a bond that these children love…

As a former flight stewardess, I have flown to Kuching numerous times but never stepped foot outside of the airplane. The idea of taking a short holiday to Borneo, sounds adventurous with a plan to go on a jungle trek. I’m fearful of what’s inside a rainforest…my early childhood experiences…

Over the course of a week, Shane and I had meet with UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) to discuss the plight of the Rohingya refugees in Malaysia, we provided first aids to the community, conducted exercise and relaxation classes and offered counseling services. Shane has made numerous calls…

This wedding is unlike what I would imagine for a romantic venue on a plantation… We have been invited to a Champa wedding, in fact all the GIFT Foundation Champa community has been invited. Filled with curiosity and excitement, Shane and I were bundled into a truck with Dr. Firdaus’…

Testing, engaging and celebrating. The Chinese New Year festivity is slowly mellowing down enabling us to visit Gift Foundation in Klang, Malaysia. The children have warmed up to Shane by now and jostled each other to be the first to “salam” him. “Salam” is a Malay word for hand gesture…