Heart and Soul: A journey through time


The writer and his wife at their grandson Oliver's childcare centre for Grandparents Day.

Heart & Soul
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My last visit to Brisbane with Siew Lean was in March 2011, when our granddaughter Sophie was just four months old. Sophie is now a mature 14-year-old, with a 10-year-old sister, Charlotte, and a five-year-old brother, Oliver. Our third daughter, Gan Pei Yin, and son-in-law, Leon Ong, married in December 2008 and migrated from Malaysia to Brisbane, Australia, in January 2009.

How time flies! Pei Yin and Leon were newlyweds during our first visit to Brisbane in 2009. By the time of our second visit in 2011, they were new parents. Today, they have a full nest with three school-going children, while Siew Lean and I strive to age gracefully, cherishing every moment as we watch our grandchildren grow.

During our previous visits, Siew Lean and I explored Brisbane extensively. However, on our visit last year, we chose to stay home and enjoy family bonding. We walked Charlotte to school, which was conveniently located just across the road from their house in Eight Mile Plains, attended “Grandparents’ Day” at Oliver’s Sunkids childcare centre, and participated in the children’s weekend activities.

Family photo at Charlotte's birthday party held at home in Brisbane, Australia.Family photo at Charlotte's birthday party held at home in Brisbane, Australia.

Leon, whose culinary skills reflect his passion for cooking inherited from his mother, treated us to gourmet dishes that never failed to impress. We also enjoyed family outings to fine eateries around Eight Mile Plains and Sunnybank.

We were delighted to be present for Charlotte’s 10th birthday celebration at home, where we welcomed my cousin, Dr Vincent Loke, and his wife, Belinda, who live in Westlake. It was their first time meeting Pei Yin’s family, adding a special touch to the occasion.

Leon’s parents, Kheng Boon and Sok Kee, were in Brisbane during our visit and invited us to stay a night at their Atlas Apartment in South Bank. Renowned for their hospitality and generosity, they pampered us with five-star comfort and delicious home-cooked meals. They took us to the newly opened Queen’s Wharf precinct, where we enjoyed a bird’s-eye view of Brisbane City from the creatively designed sky deck. The vibrant outdoor lifestyle was palpable, and we also explored the new casino in the precinct.

From Brisbane, we ventured to Melbourne for the first time, staying at the strategically located Atlantis Hotel in the CBD from Oct 22 to 26, 2024. Melbourne, a global financial and cultural hub, offered a range of attractions that we explored using the city’s free trams. Highlights included the Queen Victoria Market, Chinatown, Federation Square, ACMI, the Shrine of Remembrance, Hosier Lane, the Yarra River Walk, and the Royal Botanic Gardens. These memories were enriched by friends who accompanied us to some of these places.

One of the most memorable experiences was a day tour to Phillip Island. We stopped at the Moonlit Wildlife Conservation Park, Cape Woolamai Beach, and the scenic Nobbies before reaching Summerland Beach for the Penguin Parade. While the darkness made it challenging to see the penguins clearly, the excitement of the crowd and the chilly evening breeze made it a worthwhile experience.

I had the pleasure of reconnecting with former schoolmates, college friends and colleagues who had migrated to Brisbane and Melbourne decades ago. Sitting at the same table with friends I hadn’t seen for years felt surreal. Their youthful images, preserved in my memory, had changed over time, but the warmth of our conversations made it feel as though we had never been apart. As the saying goes, “Friends are like stars; you can’t always see them, but you know they’re always there”. The hospitality of my friends in Brisbane and Melbourne deeply touched me, and I hope it won’t be long before we meet again.

With old friends at Southbank Walk, Melbourne.With old friends at Southbank Walk, Melbourne.

We returned to Brisbane from Melbourne on Oct 26, coinciding with Queensland’s state election, though it was too late for us to witness the Australian Labor Party’s defeat by the National Liberal Party. We stayed in Brisbane for another 10 days, savouring the fine weather and warm family life. As the Chinese proverb says, “There is no such thing in the world as a neverending banquet.” Finally, we bid an emotional farewell to Brisbane and our loved ones.

We departed Brisbane on Nov 5, the day of the 2024 US Presidential Election. The sense of déjà vu was unmistakable, as Siew Lean and I had been on a tour in Ho Chi Minh City in November 2016 when news broke of Donald Trump’s upset victory over Hillary Clinton.

This trip was a journey of reconnecting with family and friends, reflecting on life’s changes, and creating new memories. Whether it was savouring fine cuisine, exploring iconic landmarks, or simply sharing laughter with loved ones, every moment was a treasure. Here’s to many more such journeys in the years to come!

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