12 April 2026 - Cheng Beng (Qingming Festival), or Tomb-Sweeping Day.
At the quiet hour of 7:00 a.m., our family began this year’s Cheng Beng journey, driving through Sitiawan town to pay respects to our beloved maternal and paternal grandparents. We first visited Jalan Sungei Wangi Chinese Cemetery for our maternal Toh family side, followed by Simpang Dua Chinese Cemetery for our paternal Ching (秦) family side.
From there, the morning became a journey back in time as we drove to Pekan Gurney, the village where our Ching grandparents once lived. Though our ancestors' home has long since been demolished, its memory lives on. It was deeply comforting to stand on the very land where our cousin brother, Ching Neng Hing, has now built his home — a touching continuation of the family roots.
Breakfast brought with it the sweetest wave of nostalgia. We visited a nearby humble old wooden coffee shop that has stood faithfully for nearly a century and which still holds the echoes of past generations. The owner still remembered our late grandparents and some of our Ching family members, making the moment feel even more special. There, we enjoyed the familiar taste of the local "wantan soup", affectionately known as “pemsip,” a childhood favourite we fondly remember from our visits to our late grandparents in Simpang Tiga, now known as Pekan Gurney.
As if the morning had saved its most precious gift for last, we were overjoyed to unexpectedly meet our 87-year-old Uncle Ti Yang, who happened to drop by to buy his breakfast. The happiness of that reunion was beyond words, and the warmth of catching up after so many years made the day unforgettable.
A morning of fond remembrance, cherished roots, old flavours, and the joy of the Ching family reunion — a memory to hold close in our hearts for years to come.
At
the quiet hour of 7:00 a.m., our family began this year’s Cheng Beng
journey, driving through Sitiawan town to pay respects to our beloved
parents and grandparents.
We first visited Jalan Sungei Wangi Chinese Cemetery for our mother’s Toh family side. The cemetery is situated in the Kampung Sungai Wangi area of Sitiawan.
The cemetery is situated in the Kampung Sungai Wangi area of Sitiawan.
The cemetery is situated in the Kampung Sungai Wangi area of Sitiawan.
The cemetery is situated in the Kampung Sungai Wangi area of Sitiawan.
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Our maternal grandfather,Toh Boon Huan (79), had journeyed from China to Malaya many years ago, carrying with him the hope and courage for a new beginning. His life story had stretched across two countries and he had three wives. He brought his first wife from China, but sadly she passed away shortly soon after the birth of their only son.
Our grandfather then later married a second wife, a Peranakan lady from Teluk Intan, Perak. Unfortunately, she was barren and they had no children together. They later adopted a daughter, Ah Peng who passed away shortly after the delivery of her only child.
Our grandfather’s second wife then arranged for my grandfather to marry Ng Lian Hua, also a Peranakan lady from Penang. She gave my grandfather a son and three daughters. Thus the branches of my maternal grandfather’s Toh family tree has continued to grow till today.
Our maternal grandfather,Toh Boon Huan (79), had journeyed from China to Malaya many years ago, carrying with him the hope and courage for a new beginning. His life story had stretched across two countries and he had three wives. He brought his first wife from China, but sadly she passed away shortly soon after the birth of their only son.
Our grandfather then later married a second wife, a Peranakan lady from Teluk Intan, Perak. Unfortunately, she was barren and they had no children together. They later adopted a daughter, Ah Peng who passed away shortly after the delivery of her only child.
Our grandfather’s second wife then arranged for my grandfather to marry Ng Lian Hua, also a Peranakan lady from Penang. She gave my grandfather a son and three daughters. Thus the branches of my maternal grandfather’s Toh family tree has continued to grow till today.
Our maternal grandfather,Toh Boon Huan (79).
Our grandfather then later married a second wife, a Chinese Peranakan lady from Teluk Intan, Perak. Unfortunately, she was barren, and they had no children together. They later adopted a daughter, Ah Peng, who passed away shortly after the delivery of her only child.
Our second grandmother normally wore the usual Peranakan cotton blouse (the “Tay Sahh” in Hokkien) together with her Sarong. Her hair was always tied up in a neat bun. She loved to watch movies at the local Sitiawan cinema and eat Chendol. A bad eating habit caused her to become a diabetic and blind in her later years till her death in 1982. She was one of the very few Chinese women who habitually smoke cigars, and that was why we had fondly referred to her as the “Curut Grandma”.
Our grandfather then later married a second wife, a Chinese Peranakan lady from Teluk Intan, Perak.
This is the tomb of our maternal grandfather’s eldest child, Uncle Ah Kow by grandfather’s first wife who had arrived with him from China. At that time, our grandfather had no idea on how to take care of a baby and he had to work hard in his thriving business in Batu 8 and Batu 10 at Lekir and Teluk Intan, Perak. Thus, he left Uncle Ah Kow to be taken care of by a Malay family.
Uncle Ah Kow by grandfather’s first wife who had arrived with him from China.
This is the tomb of our maternal grandfather’s adopted daughter (Aunty Ah Peng) with our second grandmother. Aunty Ah Peng who had married a police officer but she passed away in 1957 shortly after the delivery of their only child, Ah Guan.
Walking out of the Sungai Wangi Chinese Cemetery.
Our 2nd visit was the Simpang Dua Chinese Cemetery for our father’s Ching (秦) family side.
Our 2nd visit was the Simpang Dua Chinese Cemetery for our father’s Ching (秦) family side.
Both our paternal grandfather, Ching Hock Mou and our paternal grandmother, Ling Swee Ing, were from the Fuqing province in China. They were brought over together with other immigrants to Sitiawan, Perak by the Catholic priests from China.
Simpang Dua Chinese Cemetery for our father’s Ching (秦) family side.
Simpang Dua Chinese Cemetery for our father’s Ching (秦) family side.
Both our paternal grandfather, Ching Hock Mou and our paternal grandmother, Ling Swee Ing, were from the Fuqing province in China. They were brought over together with other immigrants to Sitiawan, Perak by the Catholic priests from China.
Simpang Dua Chinese Cemetery for our father’s Ching (秦) family side.
Simpang Dua Chinese Cemetery for our father’s Ching (秦) family side.
Simpang Dua Chinese Cemetery for our father’s Ching (秦) family side.
Our paternal grandfather, Ching Hock Mou.
Our paternal grandmother, Ling Swee Ing,
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Aunt's wedding in our ancestors' family home in Pekan Gurney in the 1960s.
Breakfast became a beautiful return to childhood memories at Pekan Gurney. We sat in a humble old coffee shop that has stood for almost 90 to 100 years, a silent witness to generations of village life. To our delight, the shop owner still remembered our grandparents and several family members. There, we enjoyed the familiar local wantan, affectionately known as “pemsip,” the same comforting taste we loved as children whenever we visited our grandparents in Simpang Tiga, now known as Pekan Gurney.
Breakfast became a beautiful return to childhood memories at Pekan Gurney.
Breakfast became a beautiful return to childhood memories at Pekan Gurney. We sat in a humble old coffee shop that has stood for almost 90 to 100 years, a silent witness to generations of village life. To our delight, the shop owner still remembered our grandparents and several family members. There, we enjoyed the familiar local wantan known affectionately as “pemsip,” the same comforting taste we loved as children whenever we visited our grandparents in Simpang Tiga, now known as Pekan Gurney.
Breakfast became a beautiful return to childhood memories at Pekan Gurney. We sat in a humble old coffee shop that has stood for almost 90 to 100 years, a silent witness to generations of village life. To our delight, the shop owner still remembered our grandparents and several family members. There, we enjoyed the familiar local wantan, affectionately known as “pemsip,” the same comforting taste we loved as children whenever we visited our grandparents in Simpang Tiga, now known as Pekan Gurney.
There, we enjoyed the familiar local wantan, affectionately known as “pemsip,” the same comforting taste we loved as children whenever we visited our grandparents in Simpang Tiga, now known as Pekan Gurney.
As if the morning itself wished to bless us with one more precious memory, we were overjoyed to unexpectedly meet our 87-year-old Uncle Ti Yang, who had come by to buy some food. The happiness of that reunion was indescribable, and the warmth of catching up made the entire morning even more unforgettable.
A day of remembrance, ancestral roots, old village memories, and the priceless joy of family reunion — a treasured chapter in our family album.
In the afternoon, before lunch, our remembrance continued most intimately — at home. Family members gathered in the upstairs hall, where our father’s and mother’s cremated ashes are kept in urns, placed with care and respect. In the quiet of that familiar space, we offered our prayers and thoughts once again, honouring them not at the cemeteries, but within the home they once shared with us. It was a moment of deep closeness, where memory, love, and presence felt gently intertwined.
When my parents were still with us, I once shared with them an alternative way of remembrance—keeping their ashes at home, a practice I had learned from the well-known Ong family in Taiping in the 1980s. I also recalled a Buddhist monk in Sitiawan mentioning that this is a common and accepted tradition in Thailand, where families maintain a close and enduring connection with their loved ones.
My parents received the idea with openness and peace. There was no objection from anyone in the family, and that quiet agreement meant a great deal to me. When the time came, we honored their wishes and stayed true to what we had once discussed together.
Today, their presence remains with us—not distant, but still part of the home they built, woven gently into our everyday lives.
Our remembrance continued most intimately at home.
Family lunch at home.
Family lunch at home.
Family lunch at home.
Family lunch at home.
At 6:00 pm, we visited Wat Sitawanaram for Cheng Beng, paying our respects and remembering our relatives resting in the temple columbarium.
Wat Sitawanaram is a serene Thai-Buddhist temple located in Sitiawan, Perak, known for its beautiful architecture and large grounds.
Wat Sitawanaram is a serene Thai-Buddhist temple located in Sitiawan, Perak
Wat Sitawanaram is a serene Thai-Buddhist temple located in Sitiawan, Perak
These potted Tiger Orchids were grown at our house, planted by our parents, and gifted to the temple.
Crystabelle Ching at Wat Sitawanaram Sitiawan.
Crystabelle Ching at Wat Sitawanaram Sitiawan.
At 6:00 p.m., as the evening settled in, we made our way to Wat Sitawanaram to pay our respects to our grandfather’s third wife, Ng Lian Hua, a Peranakan lady from Penang. She was blessed with one son and three daughters, and through them, another branch of our maternal grandfather’s Toh family tree has continued to grow and flourish to this day.
Our grandfather’s third wife, Ng Lian Hua, a Peranakan lady from Penang. 
Our grandfather’s third wife, Ng Lian Hua, a Peranakan lady from Penang.
Aunty 
Uncle Toh Hieng Hock
Family dinner in a restaurant.
Family dinner in a restaurant.
Family dinner in a restaurant.
Cheng Beng Remembrance & A Journey Back to Our Roots – 12 April 2026
At the peaceful hour of 7:00 a.m., our family gathered for this year’s Cheng Beng, paying our respects to our beloved parents and grandparents. We first visited Jalan Sungei Wangi Cemetery for our mother’s Toh family side, followed by Simpang Dua Cemetery for our father’s Ching family side.
This annual remembrance carried even deeper meaning as we reflected on the lives and journeys of those who came before us. Our grandfather, Toh Boon Huan, had journeyed from China to Malaya many years ago, carrying with him the hopes and courage of a new beginning. His life story stretched across two lands, with one wife in China and two wives in Malaya, forming the branches of the family tree that continue to grow today.
From the cemeteries, we continued to Pekan Gurney, the village where our Ching grandparents once lived. Although the old family home has long been demolished, the land still holds the memory of their presence. It was comforting to see that our cousin brother, Ching Neng Sing, has now built his house on that very same ground — a quiet continuation of our family roots.
Breakfast brought us back to our childhood days. We sat in a humble old coffee shop that has stood for nearly a century, still echoing with stories of the past. The owner remembered our grandparents and some of our family members, making the visit all the more meaningful. There, we enjoyed the familiar local wantan known as “pemsip,” a taste that carries with it the warmth of our younger days in Simpang Tiga, now known as Pekan Gurney.
In the afternoon, before lunch, our remembrance continued at home. Family members gathered in the upstairs hall, where our father’s and mother’s cremated ashes are kept in urns, placed with care and respect. In that quiet and familiar space, we offered our prayers once again — honouring them not only at the cemeteries, but within the home that still holds their presence in our hearts.
As if the morning had already gifted us something special, we were earlier overjoyed to meet our 87-year-old Uncle Ti Yang by chance. The warmth of that reunion and the joy of reconnecting added a beautiful, unexpected chapter to the day.
At 6:00 p.m., as evening settled in, we made our way to Wat Sitawanaram to pay our respects to our grandfather’s third wife, Ng Lian Hua, a Peranakan lady from Penang. She was blessed with one son and three daughters, and through them, another branch of our maternal grandfather’s Toh family tree has continued to grow and flourish to this day.
From dawn to dusk, it was a day filled with remembrance, heritage, and reunion — a journey across generations, and a tribute to the lives that shaped our own.
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