‘A family that travels together stays together ‘
– Unknown
My friends, since 2024 is drawing to a close soon, what’s special about this year for you? For me, 2024 is the year of family holidays.
I’ve forgotten where we have been as a family this year, so I sought the help of my niece, Ah Hong. I asked her to list the places we had visited.
“OK, will do. This year, quite a lot. I keep it all in my album. Later, I list all for you,” she replied.
In each family, it is good to have someone who’s organised and meticulous like Ah Hong. Otherwise, all memories and records will be lost.
When she forwarded me the long list, she wrote, “ Tasik Biru, Bau – Feb 14. We stayed at Roxy Sematan on Feb 26. On May 12, we went to Serikin. On August 26, we visited Kanowit. We were in Sibu on August 27. We visited Bingkoi Farm at Jalan Semaba, Kuching.We were in Trombol and Telaga Air on October 27.”
Ah Hong added,” Didn’t realise we went to a lot of places as a family this year. We are so blessed. Not all families do things together or even spend time with one another.”
I replied, “Largely thanks to you, Ah Hong. You organised and sponsored most of the trips. May God continue to bless you in 2025 and in the years to come.”
Continuing the conversation, Ah Hong revealed that her Singaporean boyfriend’s sister also commented that it was rare for families to travel and go out together.
Said Ah Hong, “I said, since I was small, my family has been doing things together.
“Ahma (nickname for her grandmother and my mother) always reminded me that if she was not around anymore, we must stay together because we only had one another. For example, Tzen, Bella, Ah Tung and I are the only cousins who are close.
“She hoped we would still gather together even when she was not around.”
At this point, my heart was very touched. Until this week, I did not know my mother had given Ah Hong, her favourite grandchild, such advices.
In fact, I have been wondering why Ah Hong, who’s working in Singapore in a luggage shop, likes to come home often for her holidays and brings us around. But I never ask. Now, I know.
Although my mother died on March 1, 2021 of old age, everyone in the family, especially Ah Hong, still misses her.
During our recent conversation, Ah Hong also reminded me how I used to bring her and her cousins around in the course of my work as a journalist. All were in primary school then.
“I remember you brought me to an Angkatan Zaman Mansang (AZAM) function and also brought us on a fishing trip,” she said.
“Oh, I have forgotten some of these things. I just wanted you all to see the world even if it was just in Kuching,” I told her.
My loving and caring niece then announced, “I’m planning to bring you all to Kuala Lumpur and Genting next year. I am waiting for my bonus.”
Later, I jokingly told Ah Lan, Ah Hong’s mother, that she should have had more children instead of just Ah Hong.
“It’s up to God. If he gives you one, one is what you have,” she replied.
I told her Ah Lan she was blessed to have a daughter who cared deeply for her, her husband and the rest of the extended family.
Life in Singapore is no bed of roses for my 28-year-old niece who is still single. She rents a room and rides an MRT to work. She only goes home late at night.
But Ah Hong is not stingy with the money she earns. When she’s with us, she sponsors most of our trips, food and drinks.
She remembers how we used to take good care of her ever since she was a tot. Now, she is big, she is paying us back for our past kindness to her.
Thanks to Ah Hong, my family has travelled together to seven places in Sarawak in 2024. Besides helping us to strengthen our bonds, the trips have been sources of endless joy and lasting memories for each one of us.
I hope 2025 will bring us more family holidays as well as more happiness and joy.
