My friend May reminded me of the second part of the famous Chinese idiom “在家靠父母，出外靠朋友” (One depends on one’s parents when at home, and on one’s friends when away from home) when I was stressed out on how to collect one of my huge suitcases that she was bringing over to Kuala Lumpur for me a few days after I had arrived to start a new job. She said I should just call some old friends who resides in KL to help as that was really the time that assistance from friends would mean a lot and it would be easier than calling a car or taxi. In the end she had not just brought the suitcase over for me from KK, she even delivered it to me personally.

As I reflected on my new life here and the circle of friends I have now, the said Chinese idiom rings truer than ever before as the old friends I have reconnected and re-bonded, the acquaintances that have now become friends and the new friends I have made, they have helped me acclimatise to and settle nicely in the new environment. As the saying goes, “variety is the spice of life” and this new season of my life certainly has become more interesting and vibrant with the zest, flavours and colours injected by the variety of friends I have in and around KL. Meeting up with friends from home when they are here for a trip also adds that extra tad of zing and delight.

Looking at the pictures I have chosen, I cannot help but grin as it is evidential in almost all of them that we could not stay away from the gastronomic pleasures that KL is famous for or, we simply live by the fact that people bond better over food and drinks!

These are some of the spices of my life…

the re-ignited old friendship from my teenage years

good old friend for girls’ day out with coffee, cakes and selfie

she helps me to overcome my cravings for noodles

she remembers (and tries) to balance out our otherwise gluttonous diet

the partner in crime I’m glad to have for the irresistible nyonya kuih and refreshing coconut jelly

the food and drink connoisseurs

they know where to get amazing food

they are adventurous with the beverages

to them having a fling is more than acceptable

they understand what compliments the aftertaste of a round of whisky appreciation… the tastiest ramen I’ve ever tasted

the ones with a healthy lifestyle

they take me out for fresh air and a walk in the dog park

the ones I take closer to my heart than ever – friends from home

treated May and the boys to a nice lunch after they dropped my suitcase off

dessert and tea with David after we got our hands dirty with some yummy spicy chilli crabs!

Peter and Mandy (right) with son (middle left) carved out time for me and fellow Sabahan Tian who resides in KL

“Nothing – not a conversation, not a handshake or even a hug, establishes friendship so forcefully as eating together.”  — Jonathan Safran Foer (1977 – , American novelist)

没有任何事 – 不是交谈，不是握个手或来个拥抱，比一起用餐更能有力地建立友誼。— Jonathan Safran Foer (1977 – , 美国小说家)