53 and Feeling So Loved — My Most Surprising Birthday Yet

In my 53 years on this earth, I don’t think I’ve ever had so many birthday surprises in one year. And the surprises just kept coming.

On the eve of the eve of my birthday (Friday night), Alycia gave me the first big surprise. Shortly after midnight, she suddenly appeared in Ipoh! Her best friend WY drove them up after both of them finished work. I was already asleep when my mum knocked on my bedroom door. The joy of seeing my eldest daughter standing there was simply priceless. As it turned out, Alycia had secretly planned this trip together with my mum!

Adding to the surprise, Alycia’s best friend WY also brought me a thoughtful birthday gift — a canister of Muzi Matcha, knowing that I love matcha. Such a lovely and unexpected gesture that truly touched me.

Then on Saturday, another unexpected surprise — the girls’ dad also suddenly turned up in Ipoh.

If only Sherilyn and Cass had been around to celebrate together with us, it would have been absolutely perfect. Both of them were busy with their own commitments, but I’ll be seeing Cass very soon. After she collects her SPM results on Tuesday (gasp… anxiety!), she’ll be taking the ETS from KL to Ipoh. We’ll celebrate her 18th birthday here together.

On the eve of my birthday, we had dinner at Pusing Public Restaurant (better known as the ever-popular Mun Choong). There happened to be a wedding dinner going on, and our table was placed right among the bride and groom’s guests! We felt like accidental wedding guests — we didn’t know anyone there, but we even joined in the yum seng with the happy couple when everyone did the 'yum seng' toast. It was such a hilarious experience.

Alycia also bought me 10 slices of cake in different flavours from August Healing, a lovely café in Ipoh New Town. The cakes were simply delicious — not overly sweet or cloying. My favourites were the bubur cha cha crepe cake and the matcha cheesecake with corn. I wanted to try more flavours, but honestly, I had already been eating far too much since Alycia arrived! I asked her to bring the remaining slices back to KL today for Sherilyn and Cass, since both of them are such cake enthusiasts.

On my birthday itself, we went for a dim sum brunch at Canning Dim Sum, a halal dim sum restaurant with beautiful outdoor décor.

My parents also surprised me with their own birthday gifts. They gave me an ang pow, and my mum bought me a new air cooler for my room as well as a bathroom wall cabinet. I felt very pampered and very loved.

Shortly after Alycia and her friend left Ipoh, she messaged me to say they had ordered four healthy bowls from Tummy Bowl Ipoh for us, scheduled for delivery at 4.30pm. Another sweet surprise!

And that wasn’t all.

Alycia also booked a “Journey of Wellness” spa session for me at Sojourn Spa Hotel for Monday (today). I’m really looking forward to that little treat.

The final surprise of the day came from Sherilyn. She ordered two tau fu fah bingsu topped with boba, yam balls, herbal jelly, red beans and yam paste, together with a comforting bowl of foo chuk yimai tong sui for us to enjoy.

I keep wondering why this year’s birthday feels especially meaningful.

Maybe distance really does make the heart grow fonder. Sometimes it is only when people aren’t physically around us every day that we begin to see more clearly how much we mean to one another. Whatever the reason, I am deeply thankful to the Lord for blessing me with so much love — and another year of life.

Stay tuned for more photos and videos from my birthday celebrations… and my spa day tomorrow!

My birthday wish this year is simple:

for myself, my daughters, my parents, my family members — and each and every one of you — to be blessed with good health and happiness. 💛

You can watch the video on my Facebook page and follow me here >> https://www.facebook.com/reel/929515246364211

Indulgent & yummy slice cakes from August Healing, Ipoh.

Birthday dinner at Mun Choong Restaurant, Ipoh.

Alycia & her friend surprised us with 4 healthy bowls from Tummy Bowl Ipoh, delivered to our house by Grab on my birthday.

Next surprise from Sherilyn - refreshing tau fu far bingsu and foo chuk yimai tong sui from Yam Meet, Ipoh, delivered by Grab.

Alycia booked a “Journey of Wellness” spa for me at Sojourn Spa Hotel today. Love it!