Memory of a beautiful Spring sunset

29th November 1993

Sun setting, it was such a pretty sunset. Late spring, the breeze is so cool and fresh. Shirley is doing her Spanish Language homework while I played on the new notebook PC bought US$1000 in Hong Kong just couple of weeks before we flew here.

Almost forgotten we have a camera. Took out the camera and happen that Luis, the security guide, came by and lend us a hand for a few snaps. These few snaps became our precious memories of Paraguay - this is our first photograph after arriving here 2 months ago.

We are never alone. Sharing many of our joyous moments in Paraguay are our 3 new found family members. Lobby (Male, white in middle), Goty (Female, black brown in right) and Bugi (Black in left).

It was in Paraguay I learnt what it means "men's best friend"

Calling the opposite end of the Globe

Nov.21,1993(Sunday)

Today is the birthday of Matias. Son of Manager Quintana.

While we have lunch in the garden together with Luis(guard),Jose and Mirta señora Quintana brought us some cake.

Señora or Sra. = Mrs. in Spanish

Señor or Sr. = Mr. in Spanish

Its time to mow the garden.

Nov.22 (Monday)

Today we started producing the 1^st batch of Cabreua S4S.

Nov.25,1993(Thursday)

Not stop lighting at the distance sky at the East.

At night power failure.

Nov.27, 93(Saturday)

Before going to the City, at 8:00 Shirley tried to make call home in Philippines but can not get through.

Bought an EPSON dox metric printer.

We rush back from city to factory because Ole is coming from Asuncion. I sited at the wooden arm chair in front of the office and waited for hours

He did not turn up. Such attitude, and some others, is the reasons that his partnership with our Taiwanese Company could not last.

Dec.01 (Thursday)

Evening at 6:00 señor Quintana helps to get the telephone through and Shirley called long distance home to Philippines. This is her first call home after reaching Paraguay. She was happy talking at length with her mother and a sister at the opposite side of the globe.

Several months later the management reminded me not to make such lengthy call again. Thought I never get to see the amount in the telephone bill, it is understood that a call to the opposite side of the earth is always costly.

Guaraní International Airport

Guaraní International Airport  was inaugurated in the year 1996.

This much talked about new Guaraní International Airport is just 5 kilometres from our factory Macosur.

This international airport was built with Japanese government’s help.


Not a busy airport. A number of international airlines operate here.

Tt is located in the heart of Minga Guazú city,  26 kilometres away from Ciudad del Este. (Macosur factory is located 21 kilometers from Ciudad del Este City)

Sore throat and sensitive skin

Nov.20, 93(Saturday)

Today instead of going to the city I went to hospital for the first time in Paraguay. I had sore throat for days.

Earlier I enquire Mrs. Quintana for a suitable clinic. She recommended Hospital in Km 41. That was also their family clinic.

But Dr. Tanaka said there was nothing wrong with my throat and even prescribes no medicine. Good news for me. I do not have throat cancer as I earlier feared.

After that we went to super market(Km.41) and then we ate in the Japanese restaurant.

Shirley boil guava leaves water for bathing, as we both have skin irritation

Dinner under the Mola trees in Paraguay setting sun

Nov.14, 1993(Sunday) After breakfast 9:00AM Imelda and son came to bring us to visit her parent’s house.

It’s a simple farm with a simple wooden farm house. They have one thing they are proud off … a well of cool fresh water. They show us the well and scoop up a bucket of water and let me test the water. The water is cool and has a sweet taste. A taste that one can never get from the tap water in the city.

About 2 hours we heading home and on the way drop in Km.36 to but some live fresh water fish.

After settle down the fish in the water filled washing basin (the fishes are still alive) we walked to Lorenie’s house where we met her family members and her boyfriends. She is keen to have us to visit her house to meet her boyfriends because they are getting married soon.

(But what I did not tell any one is that the boyfriend does not match Lorenie in characters and the marriage may not be a happy one. The young man does not seem a responsible person.  Sadly this turns out to be truth …. And 1 month later….. )

Lunch time, two of us just walk over to the house of Imelda.

In the afternoon we go back to the house of Lorie to play volleyball.

And off course for the evening, we have fish for dinner in the back yard. We call the security guard to eat with us.

Nov.18, 1993(Thursday)

Nice sunset. We eat dinner under the mola trees in the backyard.

“Vendo casa” (House for sale

Nov.9,93 (Tuesday)
After work, we took a walked to house of Luis, the Boiler man, to have a look at his house because he wants to sell for US$5,000. But he wasn't home. So we wonder around the housing estate.



Beside the highway we saw a sign “Vendo casa”  (House for sale). It’s a big house with big land big surrounding. The house taker let us in to briefly see the house surrounding but not the inside.

The land and the house sales for US$300,000 the taker told me.

It is an ideal house and surrounding. I definitely can not afford to buy but perhaps the company may be interested  as the Taiwanese company has a big plan of business expansion oversea such as South America.


Nov.11,1993(Thursday)

At 10:00 morning a lady came to my office. She is the wife of the house caretaker of the USD300,000 house we looked at 2 days ago.

She told that the house owner is now in the house and I could go to talk to him.

I made an appointment during noon break and we went after lunch.

We met him and he brought us into the house to see. We sited and talked for half an hour. His asking price is US$300,000.   Last offer is US$250,000.



Knowing we are looking for house, our factory security guard wants to introduce his neighbour who wants to sales the house too.

So after work we went to the house of this security guide and he brought us to his neighbour.

The son of the house owner open the gate and lead us the see the house.
The land size is as big as the US$300,000 house except this house is bigger and well planted vegetation at the house surropunding.

The land is fertile as can be seen at the growth of the trees and plants in the garden. The son gave us no price unless we are truly interested to buy.

Mendioka Cake, Fresh Honey and Spanish Lessons

Nov.06,1993(Saturday)
I bought a big transformer for electric drill.



In the afternoon we took a walk in the mandiorka garden.  The farmer is Juan who worked in Macosur before. He brought us into the small farm house to introduce his mom.


For the evening, we were busy making Mendioka cake wrapped in banana leave  using the oven.



Shirley gave some to the security guide and his brother the boilerman.




Nov.07,1993(Sunday)

We have steamed mandiorka as breakfast.

Lunch time under the mola tree we have roosted chicken with rice.




Nov.8,1993(Monday)

Shirley learning to use Lotus 1-2-3 for the stock data.


Mr. Hinrichs came from Asuncion  with my salary advance of USD200 in Guarani.

After work at 4:00PM, Jose, a worker, started collecting honey. He put on a head mask and chest away the bees with a smoke gun producing smoke from burning half dried leaves.


The factory maintains a few boxed of honey bees at the bushes. This is my first time to see a real bee hive after removing from the boxes.


Shirley was helping Jose collecting honey from the hives. How do they separate honey from hives? By using 2 bare hands to squeeze the sticky liquid out and collect with a pail on the ground.

They asked me to help. I certainly like to experience such. But I told them just a minute while I return home to wash my 2 hands first.

Jose gave a bottle of honey to us.



Today, is our first Spanish Lesson. Teacher is Mrs. Kintana, the wife of Kintana. Our “classroom” is the veranda of their house.

Three lessons a week Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Company paid the tuition fees. She lends us a copy of Spanish magazine Readers Digest.

Foods in Paraguay

NOVEMBER 02,1993(Tuesday)

A young worker was selling el pan (Home made local bread). Shirley bought a loaf from him. First time to try this bread. The bread is nice and I suggested Shirley to order from him regularly.




Nov.5,1993 (Friday)

Getting hot in Paraguay. Because of the heat a lizard from the nearby jungle stroll in our factory compound for food. This is the same type of lizard commonly found back home in Malaysia.


A few workers rush forward to kill this lizard. This species of lizard is not endangered specie but abundant in the wild.  It’s ok if the workers consume it after they killed it. But if not for food but just for the desire of killing, then it a sin.

I have tested this type of lizard a couple of time. It is delicious in test. I believe the workers did cooked and eat the lizard.