Jo's Cherished Moments

Monday, September 7, 2026

MAHA 2026

Malaysia Agriculture Horticulture & Agrotourism

20 August - 6 September

MAEPS Serdang

We waited for a whole year for MAHA.

Most exciting and most huge agriculture showcase, and this year, there’s an international section too.

Hubs and I thoroughly enjoyed our first visit last year and so we were hoping they would organize it again this year.

They did!

BIGGER!!!

It is a rare opportunity to see literally the whole of Malaysia, 14 states in their respective pavillions, showcasing their products, their state agriculture specialty, their cultural performances and their food, despite having a main food hall.

It is GRAND. Lots of hard work, thoughts, creativity, organizing, manpower to make this event a success.

It sure was!

We were glad we were there again.

Our first stop

Hubs got his pedicure

And I got my foot reflexology

Awesome digital backdrop

Played games to win free gifts

Main food hall

Our first meal was Tok Yeop’s rendang from Kuala Kangsar

In honor of the late Peter Cullen.

RIP Peter ❤️ Optimus lives on!!!

Favorite coffee place

Coffee in the flower garden

Beautiful

Met a new friend, Jebat.

I went hunting for my old friend Gala but he was napping. So Jebat lah I cuddled!

Found a good spot to take our annual Merdeka photo!

Corn farm

Pineapple juice in the Pineapple farm

Free tarts for tasting

Cutest fan in MAHA

Thursday, August 20, 2026

Pelora - My Beauty& Cosmetics Expo

We got to know Song Chao last April at a beauty expo. Fell in love with their fragrances. Bought this beautiful blue and white diffuser for our room.

Today, we met Adrian again but under a new company name - PELORA.

New fragrances. New range.

Fell in love all over again.

They are originally from Hangzhou, China.

Today, we were at The Beauty & Cosmetics Expo at Sunway. So so so happy to meet Adrian and team again. Enjoyed their new fragrances. They have home diffusers and perfumes now.

Yes, of course we bought.

Perfume

Home diffuser

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Soyeon Park from YOUJIN

Miss Soyeon Park, a young and vibrant CEO of YOUJIN Agriculture Co., Ltd.

The company specializes in manufacturing homemade heritage products like Sikhye and Gochujang.

Sikhye 식혜 is a traditional sweet Korean rice drink, made from malted barley and rice.

Their family recipes originated from Mrs. Lee Eumjeon in 1945. Soyeon is the 4th generation to carry on growing this brand of authentic flavors of Korea into international markets.

Met Soyeon at the FDM 2026. Such a lively character. Her get-up was so cute and attractive so I tried chatting with her. She could hardly speak English but we had a translator nearby. I really admire her courage to try marketing her brand internationally. I so wished I could speak Korean, even a little!

Monday, July 27, 2026

Valley of Hope Sungai Buloh

Today, it is called Valley of Hope.

Back then, it was called The Sungai Buloh Leprosy Settlement.

Sungai Buloh used to be the 2nd largest leprosy settlement in the world.

Completed in 1930.

Thanks to Dr Ernest Travers, Selangor’s former state surgeon, he created this leprosarium as a “Garden City”, an open settlement with social amenities and modern medical facilities, within this enclosed area of 562 acres.

Used to have more than 2000 patients, today, around 80 patients are still living this is leprosarium.

Today, we got a golden opportunity to tour the Valley of Hope, to meet some residents, to enjoy their museum and listen to stories of yesteryears.

An insightful and enlightening experience for us 🩷

Thanks to our dedicated and knowledgeable guides, Irene and Cecilia.

VOH’s Dewan Orang Ramai

This is a multi purpose hall with a historic structure. It houses a small museum with beautiful photos and detailed explanations in our 3 main languages. Very well done.

Irene (left) and Cecilia (right), 2 of many passionate volunteers and guides at VOH

Original look of the settlement back then (bottom pic)

We were on the Eastern section (top pic)

There used to be an arch along this main road. They printed the arch on a fan which was an excellent idea.

Main road into the settlement

The residents of the Sungai Buloh Leprosy Settlement back then were called Inmates. With a number. This was because many were forced to live here once they had this disease. However, this place was not at all like a prison with cells. This was like a small city on its own, just with borders. Nobody was allowed to visit and nobody was allowed to go out of the borders.

Uncle Yeoh is still a resident at VOH. He is one of the artists here.

We met him. Very jovial fellow. He was doing printing from templates.

Another resident was riding his bike towards us. Stopped to say hello. Very friendly.

Chalet with kitchen (little room with chimney attached to the main house). This was the chalets back in those years. Hundreds of them are abandoned now.

Today’s chalet. It is a 2 unit house, kinda what we call a Semi D out here. Very small. Just beds and cabinets. No toilets. Toilets are outside, shared.