Summer Holiday - Malaysia Road Trip (June 2026)

June turned out to be a rather busy month for our family. The kids were occupied with retreats and CCA training, while our winter wear rental business had several customer try-on appointments scheduled throughout the month.

In between all the commitments, we decided to squeeze in a short family getaway. This wasn't the kind of holiday that required detailed planning or a packed itinerary. It was simply a drive–eat–sleep–and-repeat.

More importantly, it was precious bonding time with our little family.

Long hours on the road gave us the chance to listen to the kids' stories, laugh at their jokes, and enjoy one another's company without the distractions of daily routines. Along the way, we explored local food specialties and created simple memories together.

We left Singapore at around 9 a.m. and arrived in Johor Bahru an hour later. After enjoying dim sum for brunch, we continued our journey straight to Kuala Lumpur.

About four hours later, we reached Kuala Lumpur around 3 p.m. After settling into our Airbnb apartment, we headed to Alor Street Food Market for dinner. The area was bustling with tourists and lined with seafood restaurants, many charging tourist prices. Still, we loved the vibrant atmosphere. We sampled various street snacks and ended the evening with one of our favourite treats — durian.

The next morning, we checked out and continued our journey to Penang. Along the way, we stopped in Ipoh for lunch, enjoying the city's famous Ipoh Hor Fun and refreshing chendol before taking a leisurely stroll through Concubine Lane.

A few hours later, we arrived in Penang in the late afternoon and checked into Sunway Hotel Seberang Jaya. The location was convenient as mama and papa had scheduled a general health screening the following day at Sunway Medical Centre.

That evening, we drove about 30 minutes to Georgetown, the historic heart of Penang. For dinner, we visited Kimberly Street Food Market and sampled an impressive variety of Penang favourites, including char kway teow, oyster omelette, bak kut teh, and chicken rice. Naturally, the day ended with another round of durian.

The following morning, mama and papa headed to Sunway Medical Centre for our health screening, which took approximately two and a half hours. Once completed, they met us for lunch at Sunway Carnival Mall and spent some time shopping for T-shirts.

In the afternoon, we explored Armenian Street, well known for its colourful street art, local craft boutiques, and souvenir shops. It was a charming place to wander around and soak in Penang's creative spirit.

For dinner, we visited Chulia Street Food Market, where we continued our food adventure. And yes, we finished the night with durian once again.

On our final morning in Penang, we enjoyed freshly made nasi lemak wrapped in banana leaves for breakfast. Before leaving, we stopped by a Peranakan kueh factory to pick up some traditional nyonya kueh for the journey.

We arrived back in Kuala Lumpur around 5 p.m., just in time for dinner. Since our apartment was only a three-minute walk from the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, we spent a relaxing evening there before getting a good night's rest.

The next day, we began our drive home to Singapore. Before crossing the border, we made one final food stop in Johor Bahru for a lok lok dinner.

Looking back, this trip wasn't about ticking attractions off a checklist or rushing from one sightseeing spot to another. It was about slowing down, sharing meals, having conversations, and spending quality time together.

Sometimes, the best holidays are the simplest ones.

Paris - Singapore, Day 18 (Testimony)

This marks the end of our 18-day pilgrimage across Italy and France.

It was truly a fruitful and blessed journey. Each of us experienced healing and miracles in our own way, both seen and unseen.

For mama, I feel deeply enlightened and renewed. Reflecting on the life of St. Thérèse of Lisieux reminded me that extraordinary holiness can grow from ordinary, simple acts done with great love. During the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a priest encouraged me to live more acts of charity and mercy. These words stayed with me and have now become the guiding theme of my life in 2026.

Another beautiful piece of advice I received was this: the closer we grow to God, the simpler our lives become. We begin to focus on what truly matters, instead of chasing after things that fade so quickly.

Ted experienced his own miracle at San Giovanni Rotondo. We entrust him to the care of Padre Pio, praying that he will always guide and protect him along his path.

Tromson also experienced a miracle through the intercession of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. When we received a sudden notification that his new school would start on 2 January, we were shocked. We had not purchased his uniform or books, and the last day to buy them onsite was 30 December—while we were still overseas.

There seemed to be no solution. The uniform supplier informed us that delivery would take at least ten days due to high demand. I shared the situation with him and encouraged him to pray to St. Thérèse for her intercession.

What happened next was truly amazing. On 31 December, I received an email saying that the uniform would be delivered to our home that very day. After returning from our trip, we also managed to purchase most of the required books at Popular bookstore just before lessons officially began. In the end, everything fell perfectly into place.

As for Richie, he experienced a profound grace with his O-Level results on 14 January. He had worked very hard in the five months leading up to the exams, yet his preliminary results were still below expectations, and he was rejected for early admission to Singapore Polytechnic. Naturally, we were worried.

But God is truly good. Through the intercession of the saints and by His grace, his final results turned out far better than we had ever imagined. He was given the opportunity to enter his preferred faculty at either Singapore Polytechnic or Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Our hearts were filled with relief, gratitude, and praise.

We are deeply thankful for the countless blessings God has poured upon our family.

This journey was far more than a holiday. It refreshed and recharged our souls, teaching us humility, trust, and the truth that even ordinary lives—when offered to God—can lead to extraordinary holiness. Our ultimate goal, as this pilgrimage reminded us, is not just to travel the world, but to journey toward sainthood together.

Lisieux - Day 17

This is the last pilgrimage sites before heading back to Singapore the next day.

The footsteps of St Therese of Lisieux.

Lisieux is a small, quiet town in Normandy, yet it is the heart of one of the greatest saints of modern times—St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus.

Walking through Lisieux is like retracing the simple yet powerful footsteps of the Little Flower. We began at Les Buissonnets, the family home where Thérèse spent her childhood years after the death of her mother. It was here that her deep love for God took root, shaped by family, prayer, and everyday sacrifices.

From there, we visited the Carmel of Lisieux, where Thérèse entered at just 15 years old. Behind its walls, she lived a hidden life of humility, obedience, and love—offering even the smallest actions to God through what she called “the Little Way.” This is also where she died at the age of 24 and where her relics are preserved.

We then made our way to the Basilica of St. Thérèse, a grand and beautiful church built in her honor. Standing in contrast to her simple life, the basilica proclaims how a soul who chose smallness became a saint for the whole world.

Following the footsteps of St. Thérèse in Lisieux is a gentle reminder that holiness is not found in great deeds, but in doing small things with great love. In the quiet streets of this town, her message continues to bloom—simple, hidden, and full of grace.