she sat on the rattan chair at the terrace watching the two bunnies on the lawn. kiko was frantically chasing koko all over the place.
the western skies were all aglow and hurrying colors paraded their ethereal splashes on a pale blue background. it was surreal. it was stupendous.
then a soft breeze blew.
and tiny drops of the coolest rain fell. on the welcoming leaves. on thirsty buds. on rapturous flowers.
a twilight rain, washing the ever changing colors.
then koko entered the cage, hungry. she caught kiko in her arms. the three of them went indoors just as the gloaming became more magical than ever.
o misty eventide..... thou art so bewitching....
Wednesday, 11 December 2013
Tuesday, 10 December 2013
the garden
now, hers is the only house in the vicinity with a garden. others have covered the open space next to the car port or porch with cement render.
so her garden seems like an oasis, a patch of green surrounded by grey man-made cement floors.
she often wonders why other house owners do not appreciate a lawn. a garden. so green. so refreshing.
do they not realise the coolness of a grass covered lawn in front of their houses? do they not see the million dewdrops hanging and balancing so precariously on slender grass blades each dawn? like so many diamonds in the grass...
and little birds that would stop awhile saying hello on little branches and boughs of trees. even on the fragile heliconia leaves. the multi-colored butterflies flitting and hovering over prim jasmines and loud red roses. the endless bounties of nature...
and raindrops washing clean all leaves and plants. bringing out a luxuriant sparkle so pleasant to the eyes....
instead of making loud noises as they drop onto metal deck roofs installed till the gates. these additional makeshift looking roof extensions, reddish in hue, do not in any way contribute positively to the facade of the houses. in fact they make the houses look like those in slum areas.
ah well, to each his own...
so her garden seems like an oasis, a patch of green surrounded by grey man-made cement floors.
she often wonders why other house owners do not appreciate a lawn. a garden. so green. so refreshing.
do they not realise the coolness of a grass covered lawn in front of their houses? do they not see the million dewdrops hanging and balancing so precariously on slender grass blades each dawn? like so many diamonds in the grass...
and little birds that would stop awhile saying hello on little branches and boughs of trees. even on the fragile heliconia leaves. the multi-colored butterflies flitting and hovering over prim jasmines and loud red roses. the endless bounties of nature...
and raindrops washing clean all leaves and plants. bringing out a luxuriant sparkle so pleasant to the eyes....
instead of making loud noises as they drop onto metal deck roofs installed till the gates. these additional makeshift looking roof extensions, reddish in hue, do not in any way contribute positively to the facade of the houses. in fact they make the houses look like those in slum areas.
ah well, to each his own...
the wee creatures
if you feed animals day in and day out, they will soon come to accept you as part of their sphere. their senses are alert when you are near. they will come to you of their own accord.
animals are very good at interpreting humans' moves. and feelings. they know when they are loved too. they can differentiate kindness. or indifference.
at first she was surprised when little kiko and koko immediately rush to her every time she opens the door to their habitat. she never thought rabbits could be so loving. kiko would settle next to her. koko would also scramble to be near. not just for food.
even when in the garden, the little bunnies would frolic around her as she tended to the grass and weeds. sometimes sniffing mischievously at her toes. at other times running headlong into her....
playing with her.
and she'd laugh at their antics. two bundles of black and white frisking happily in the morning breeze. happy to be out in the open. to hear the tiny birds chirping merrily from tree branches.
dear kiko and koko.... lovable, funny, true......
animals are very good at interpreting humans' moves. and feelings. they know when they are loved too. they can differentiate kindness. or indifference.
at first she was surprised when little kiko and koko immediately rush to her every time she opens the door to their habitat. she never thought rabbits could be so loving. kiko would settle next to her. koko would also scramble to be near. not just for food.
even when in the garden, the little bunnies would frolic around her as she tended to the grass and weeds. sometimes sniffing mischievously at her toes. at other times running headlong into her....
playing with her.
and she'd laugh at their antics. two bundles of black and white frisking happily in the morning breeze. happy to be out in the open. to hear the tiny birds chirping merrily from tree branches.
dear kiko and koko.... lovable, funny, true......
love stories of yore
she read yet again 'good wives' by louisa may alcott. the sequel to 'little women'.
the part where laurie began to see amy in a different light. a new perspective he never thought of before. both were lonesome, away from home. in nice.
the love story woven was so subtle, so gentle. so demure. so beautiful. so sweet. it makes love seem so honorable. so pure. as it is meant to be.
that is one of the reasons she couldn't savour contemporary novels. where love was pictured so grossly.
love as everything of value, should be well hidden and treasured.
love should be sublime. yet true and steadfast.
love is non-ephemeral......
the part where laurie began to see amy in a different light. a new perspective he never thought of before. both were lonesome, away from home. in nice.
the love story woven was so subtle, so gentle. so demure. so beautiful. so sweet. it makes love seem so honorable. so pure. as it is meant to be.
that is one of the reasons she couldn't savour contemporary novels. where love was pictured so grossly.
love as everything of value, should be well hidden and treasured.
love should be sublime. yet true and steadfast.
love is non-ephemeral......
crepes
fritters have too much oil. so she made crepes. filled with chopped spring onions, coriander leaves or chives.
the filling - 1. shredded cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, red chillies, onions and a little mayonnaise
2. sambal ikan (shredded)
3. serunding ayam or ikan
4. rendang ayam
the crepes could even be eaten on their own.
sometimes she'd blend spinach to add to the batter. there'd be green crepes then.
and she'd smile at the thought of sustainability in architecture, green buildings ......
the filling - 1. shredded cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, red chillies, onions and a little mayonnaise
2. sambal ikan (shredded)
3. serunding ayam or ikan
4. rendang ayam
the crepes could even be eaten on their own.
sometimes she'd blend spinach to add to the batter. there'd be green crepes then.
and she'd smile at the thought of sustainability in architecture, green buildings ......
Tuesday, 26 November 2013
toast n cheese
due to the workload she didn't cook this morning.
she made toast and spread cheese on it. eaten hot it was delicious.
she then remembered with a grin the nights in boarding school when she had crackers and cheese with jiwa, faiz, sherry etc. a kind of supper in the locker room, those tasted heavenly.
hmmm.... and coconut tarts, cream horns on saturdays . and mee bilal.
wonder what will become of the beloved alma mater on merbah hill. the quaint old buildings heavy with so much memories and nostalgia.
the memories that weave often into her dreams. making them so vivid and real.
does the future affect the present?
she made toast and spread cheese on it. eaten hot it was delicious.
she then remembered with a grin the nights in boarding school when she had crackers and cheese with jiwa, faiz, sherry etc. a kind of supper in the locker room, those tasted heavenly.
hmmm.... and coconut tarts, cream horns on saturdays . and mee bilal.
wonder what will become of the beloved alma mater on merbah hill. the quaint old buildings heavy with so much memories and nostalgia.
the memories that weave often into her dreams. making them so vivid and real.
does the future affect the present?
Wednesday, 6 November 2013
a passing fancy
typical of her actually. passing fancies...
last week she became domesticated. in a sense. she made kueh lapis! it turned out to be delightful! hmmm.... traditional malay kuehs are so easy to make. and tasty while being healthy.
she bought this cute steamer from this favorite mega store in the capital city. it is so convenient as it fits the hot plate perfectly.
she used the steamer again for kueh pau. not little individual ones with filling. but a huge baguette like one! then cut into thin pieces and eaten with seri kaya. the kids finished those in just a few minutes asking for more.
she couldn't help being flattered...
then she made kueh rose. and the little crisp asian pie baskets ( to be filled with a salad mix of shredded carrots and sengkuang, spring onions, boiled shrimps and eaten with homemade chilly-garlic sauce).
the bunnies must have wondered what she had eaten to make her turn cook all of a sudden....
last week she became domesticated. in a sense. she made kueh lapis! it turned out to be delightful! hmmm.... traditional malay kuehs are so easy to make. and tasty while being healthy.
she bought this cute steamer from this favorite mega store in the capital city. it is so convenient as it fits the hot plate perfectly.
she used the steamer again for kueh pau. not little individual ones with filling. but a huge baguette like one! then cut into thin pieces and eaten with seri kaya. the kids finished those in just a few minutes asking for more.
she couldn't help being flattered...
then she made kueh rose. and the little crisp asian pie baskets ( to be filled with a salad mix of shredded carrots and sengkuang, spring onions, boiled shrimps and eaten with homemade chilly-garlic sauce).
the bunnies must have wondered what she had eaten to make her turn cook all of a sudden....
Sunday, 6 October 2013
the cool monsoon days
the monsoon brings such cool days. misty mornings. wet evenings. and cold cold nights.
she loves watching raindrops falling. listen to their pitter patter. and look longingly at the mist laden mountains in the distance. the sparkling green leaves in the garden.
'into each life some rain must fall'
the rain refreshes everything. cleanses. brings back such splendid greenness to foliage. gives hope. and renews vigour.
the rain mesmerizes. the rhythmic plip plop as raindrops fall onto little stones. the swirling sharp cold winds it brings. the water colour effect on the vista so gentle on the eyes.
the beautiful rain....
she loves watching raindrops falling. listen to their pitter patter. and look longingly at the mist laden mountains in the distance. the sparkling green leaves in the garden.
'into each life some rain must fall'
the rain refreshes everything. cleanses. brings back such splendid greenness to foliage. gives hope. and renews vigour.
the rain mesmerizes. the rhythmic plip plop as raindrops fall onto little stones. the swirling sharp cold winds it brings. the water colour effect on the vista so gentle on the eyes.
the beautiful rain....
Thursday, 26 September 2013
little women
she read little women in secondary one and enjoyed it tremendously. the four sisters in the story had so much fun though sometimes food was scarce on the table.
in fact she imitated their pickwick paper. and dreamed she would be a writer like jo. reading little women for the hundredth time on a hammock with a tin of home-made savoury keropok ubi kayu was paradise. on mellow evenings....
those days reading was entertainment. and undeniably educational too. reading gave one the polished flair in writing and elocution. the ability to utilize grammar, tenses etc. with such ease.
there were no laptops then, no mobile phones to distract attention from gathering invaluable knowledge that will equip her through tertiary education and later in her career.
in fact, there were no television sets in her grandparents' home. just a radio. and a cabinet full of books at the serambi. so she spent most of her time developing a taste for the classics. though she started them in the abridged versions. mark twain, dickens, hemmingway, r.l. stevenson, h. rider haggard, shakespeare, longfellow..... she loved them all though she was only in primary three then.
she then progressed to the unabridged versions of austen, the bronte sisters, elliot, du maurier, hardy, walter scott, byron. keats, the brownings, plato, homer, poe, hawthorne, d.h. lawrence, woolfe, steinbeck, tolstoy..... she was so lucky to be in a boarding school with a very well stocked library which became her favorite hangout.
and she started building a collection of such classics. but mostly second-hand books which she could then only afford. penguin classics with the orange and white covers.
and later sometimes one or two new books a month when she started working. funny but paperback classics were priced less than rm6.00 each then! (now it is only rm9.90) that was how she has a rather grand collection!
a good book,a cool evening, a long cold lemonade, a plate of keropok.....ah....what else could an introvert want in the gentle 60's?
in fact she imitated their pickwick paper. and dreamed she would be a writer like jo. reading little women for the hundredth time on a hammock with a tin of home-made savoury keropok ubi kayu was paradise. on mellow evenings....
those days reading was entertainment. and undeniably educational too. reading gave one the polished flair in writing and elocution. the ability to utilize grammar, tenses etc. with such ease.
there were no laptops then, no mobile phones to distract attention from gathering invaluable knowledge that will equip her through tertiary education and later in her career.
in fact, there were no television sets in her grandparents' home. just a radio. and a cabinet full of books at the serambi. so she spent most of her time developing a taste for the classics. though she started them in the abridged versions. mark twain, dickens, hemmingway, r.l. stevenson, h. rider haggard, shakespeare, longfellow..... she loved them all though she was only in primary three then.
she then progressed to the unabridged versions of austen, the bronte sisters, elliot, du maurier, hardy, walter scott, byron. keats, the brownings, plato, homer, poe, hawthorne, d.h. lawrence, woolfe, steinbeck, tolstoy..... she was so lucky to be in a boarding school with a very well stocked library which became her favorite hangout.
and she started building a collection of such classics. but mostly second-hand books which she could then only afford. penguin classics with the orange and white covers.
and later sometimes one or two new books a month when she started working. funny but paperback classics were priced less than rm6.00 each then! (now it is only rm9.90) that was how she has a rather grand collection!
a good book,a cool evening, a long cold lemonade, a plate of keropok.....ah....what else could an introvert want in the gentle 60's?
Wednesday, 25 September 2013
classics additions
she went to mph to get a book but took home 3 - little men by louisa may alcott, the mayor of casterbridge by thomas hardy and great expectations by dickens (a second in her collection).
and she used her pensioner card to get a 10% discount. she didn't know about this before!
she only knew about this fact when lily borrowed her pensioner card when she bought several books and magazines at mph two weeks before.
hmmm... she will certainly gear up in enriching her collection of the classics...
(she laughed heartily every time she remembered when she ended up with 3 copies of austen's persuasion as she wasn't sure whether she already had the book at home each time she saw the book at the bookshop!)
and she used her pensioner card to get a 10% discount. she didn't know about this before!
she only knew about this fact when lily borrowed her pensioner card when she bought several books and magazines at mph two weeks before.
hmmm... she will certainly gear up in enriching her collection of the classics...
(she laughed heartily every time she remembered when she ended up with 3 copies of austen's persuasion as she wasn't sure whether she already had the book at home each time she saw the book at the bookshop!)
an evening in a/s
on sunday she went to a/s with naj, q and bill. they took the old route, past expansive padi fields, rustic villages, people fishing along the canals on both sides of the road.
it was a mellow afternoon, timber houses cool under shades of spreading rambutan trees, chicken ever picking up bits and pieces on the ground, cats sprawled on door thresholds, happy children playing age old games.... she always love going by the old road....so much color and so picturesque....
they bought kuehs at a roadside stall; hot, yummy pulut udang, talam ubi kayu, abok-abok, cara, karipaf, popia goreng....
then they went to p/rabu. she bought serunding ayam, keropok, tapioca chips. she wanted to buy some lovely hot bahulu panas but the kids didn't want any. q said he wanted to buy songkok but she heard congkak, so she led him to the handicrafts section!
then she purchased some lauk from a stall there but was given the lauk plus a huge plastic bag of nasi minyak and macaroni soup too, foc! semoga dimurahkan rezeki.
they looked for the 'office' but went astray out of the town. asked for directions and reached the office, about 3 minutes from p/rabu!
on the way home she forgot to take pictures of the 2 traditional houses she's writing on...
they bought coconut juice from yet another roadside stall. then some really lovely tepung talam and cucur udang. and got free bengkang and extra cucur udang as the seller was about to close his stall. how kind some people are.
it was a wonderful outing....business done, great food eaten.....
it was a mellow afternoon, timber houses cool under shades of spreading rambutan trees, chicken ever picking up bits and pieces on the ground, cats sprawled on door thresholds, happy children playing age old games.... she always love going by the old road....so much color and so picturesque....
they bought kuehs at a roadside stall; hot, yummy pulut udang, talam ubi kayu, abok-abok, cara, karipaf, popia goreng....
then they went to p/rabu. she bought serunding ayam, keropok, tapioca chips. she wanted to buy some lovely hot bahulu panas but the kids didn't want any. q said he wanted to buy songkok but she heard congkak, so she led him to the handicrafts section!
then she purchased some lauk from a stall there but was given the lauk plus a huge plastic bag of nasi minyak and macaroni soup too, foc! semoga dimurahkan rezeki.
they looked for the 'office' but went astray out of the town. asked for directions and reached the office, about 3 minutes from p/rabu!
on the way home she forgot to take pictures of the 2 traditional houses she's writing on...
they bought coconut juice from yet another roadside stall. then some really lovely tepung talam and cucur udang. and got free bengkang and extra cucur udang as the seller was about to close his stall. how kind some people are.
it was a wonderful outing....business done, great food eaten.....
painting resumed
she found a shop selling stationery including lots of oil paint! a haven for someone like her.
so last week she bought several tubes of acrylic paint and brought out all the 6 unfinished paintings on stretched canvasses.
while kiko and koko frolicked merrily in the garden she lovingly put paint on canvas. ah... such joy to be able to wax lyrical yet once again.... on a piece of canvas...
the paintings are for her kids....
the vocal movements in myriad shades, subtle, poetic, translates her love for them, her joy, her hopes, her dreams for them .... for ever...
so last week she bought several tubes of acrylic paint and brought out all the 6 unfinished paintings on stretched canvasses.
while kiko and koko frolicked merrily in the garden she lovingly put paint on canvas. ah... such joy to be able to wax lyrical yet once again.... on a piece of canvas...
the paintings are for her kids....
the vocal movements in myriad shades, subtle, poetic, translates her love for them, her joy, her hopes, her dreams for them .... for ever...
Wednesday, 18 September 2013
gulai udang minus udang
for lunch she'd cook a simple yet delicious gulai udang with buncis. however, there'd be no prawns in the dish, just the buncis. eaten with hot brown rice and fried ikan kembung with a dash of the cooked sambal belacan.
and perhaps some crepes for tea.
kiko and koko had kangkung and sengkuang for brunch. and sunflower seeds for tea perhaps.
she reminisced years ago at rose avenue when the kids were small and ever hungry. she came home from the office and started making roti jala. the 5 kids would eat the piping hot yellow roti jala as soon as they were heaped on the plate from the stove.
by the time she finished cooking the plate was empty!
cooking roti jala on weekday evenings home from work was no big deal for her. tomato rice and ayam masak merah on thursdays was a norm. special dishes were not only for weekends.
and the girls lovingly 'blamed' her cooking when they don't look like anorexic supermodels....
cooking is actually not far from designing...... and her kids remember the carrot flowers in their soup, the lavishly decorated fish or chicken dishes on the dining table everyday, the huge chilly 'blossoms' turned into yummy sambal belacan the next day, the red cabbage in the mixed veggy, the little cucumber guppies, the spring onion luxuriant grass, the animal lookalike prawn fritters....
lots and lots of carrots, cabbage and other veggies hidden in the chicken or tuna loaves...
it takes just a little imagination to make meals beautiful for children....
and perhaps some crepes for tea.
kiko and koko had kangkung and sengkuang for brunch. and sunflower seeds for tea perhaps.
she reminisced years ago at rose avenue when the kids were small and ever hungry. she came home from the office and started making roti jala. the 5 kids would eat the piping hot yellow roti jala as soon as they were heaped on the plate from the stove.
by the time she finished cooking the plate was empty!
cooking roti jala on weekday evenings home from work was no big deal for her. tomato rice and ayam masak merah on thursdays was a norm. special dishes were not only for weekends.
and the girls lovingly 'blamed' her cooking when they don't look like anorexic supermodels....
cooking is actually not far from designing...... and her kids remember the carrot flowers in their soup, the lavishly decorated fish or chicken dishes on the dining table everyday, the huge chilly 'blossoms' turned into yummy sambal belacan the next day, the red cabbage in the mixed veggy, the little cucumber guppies, the spring onion luxuriant grass, the animal lookalike prawn fritters....
lots and lots of carrots, cabbage and other veggies hidden in the chicken or tuna loaves...
it takes just a little imagination to make meals beautiful for children....
Thursday, 12 September 2013
parsley sage rosemary and thyme
are you going to scarborough fair
parsley sage rosemary and thyme
remember me to the one who lives there
he once was a true love of mine....
tell him to knit me a cambric shirt
parsley sage rosemary and thyme
without a thread or needlework
then he'll be a true love of mine....
she'd picture green meadows under grey skies, lavender colouring the horizon purple. cold winds curling above narrow lanes, tossing the bluebells every which way...
in a hollow under tall spreading oaks stood a forlorn castle, hardly surviving the angry winds from the nearby ocean.
a solitary raven flew onto a window sill.
then, the sound of horses.....
parsley sage rosemary and thyme
remember me to the one who lives there
he once was a true love of mine....
tell him to knit me a cambric shirt
parsley sage rosemary and thyme
without a thread or needlework
then he'll be a true love of mine....
she'd picture green meadows under grey skies, lavender colouring the horizon purple. cold winds curling above narrow lanes, tossing the bluebells every which way...
in a hollow under tall spreading oaks stood a forlorn castle, hardly surviving the angry winds from the nearby ocean.
a solitary raven flew onto a window sill.
then, the sound of horses.....
Wednesday, 11 September 2013
the song books
it was the 1970's. the school kids were singing '500 miles', yellow river', 'sorrento', 'knock 3 times', 'words', 'new York mining disaster, 'pretty woman, 'song sung blue' ....
they wrote the songs down in thick books, decorated and much prized.
hers was a 1 inch thick yellow covered exercise book. lyrics were traded and exchanged and sometimes were off tangent but sounded real.
there were talentimes in school. she always took part. but she couldn't remember winning.
she was the quartermistress in the red cross (then) society, in charge of games and such to be played each weekly meeting. she'd have singing contests. at other times games from the thick guide book that came with the committee position.
the song books came in very handy.
at home in the evenings after the homework was completed she'd be with her song book, drawing flowers, borders etc.
'sorrento
over the sea the sunlight dancing
waking thoughts of tender feeling
in his eyes I see reflecting
these same lights that make me dream....
as I passed a lovely garden
breathing scents of many blossoms
there's a memory and a picture
of but you within my heart....'
in the lovely long ago....
they wrote the songs down in thick books, decorated and much prized.
hers was a 1 inch thick yellow covered exercise book. lyrics were traded and exchanged and sometimes were off tangent but sounded real.
there were talentimes in school. she always took part. but she couldn't remember winning.
she was the quartermistress in the red cross (then) society, in charge of games and such to be played each weekly meeting. she'd have singing contests. at other times games from the thick guide book that came with the committee position.
the song books came in very handy.
at home in the evenings after the homework was completed she'd be with her song book, drawing flowers, borders etc.
'sorrento
over the sea the sunlight dancing
waking thoughts of tender feeling
in his eyes I see reflecting
these same lights that make me dream....
as I passed a lovely garden
breathing scents of many blossoms
there's a memory and a picture
of but you within my heart....'
in the lovely long ago....
tea leaves on the saucer
iced lemon tea is her all time favorite. thirst quenching. tangy. not too sweet.
but recently she began enjoying daily cups of hot earl grey tea. calming. soothes frayed nerves. not too fragrant. subtle...
sometimes she dipped low sodium hi-fibre crackers into steaming mugfuls of the tea. while watching the 103rd re-run of 'enemy of the state' or 'wall-e'. or sitting on her beloved po-ang chair facing the garden dripping with rain...
wondering from which misty mountain slope the tea leaves came from....
and imagining sitting at the table with the mad hatter, the dormouse, the white rabbit and alice...
ah ...dear, sweet alice wandering eternally under autumn skies.....
but recently she began enjoying daily cups of hot earl grey tea. calming. soothes frayed nerves. not too fragrant. subtle...
sometimes she dipped low sodium hi-fibre crackers into steaming mugfuls of the tea. while watching the 103rd re-run of 'enemy of the state' or 'wall-e'. or sitting on her beloved po-ang chair facing the garden dripping with rain...
wondering from which misty mountain slope the tea leaves came from....
and imagining sitting at the table with the mad hatter, the dormouse, the white rabbit and alice...
ah ...dear, sweet alice wandering eternally under autumn skies.....
Tuesday, 10 September 2013
the family house in betong isle
when doing research on rumah seri banai, she came across some similarities with her grandparents' house (built in about 1948) in betong isle, a hillside hamlet on the southwestern tip of pulo pinaom, legally part of the state of Kedah.
both houses are of the rumah bumbung panjang type, with an open berandah, serambi, rumah ibu, dapur; owned by village headmen (ketua kampong or penghulu), the ground floor portions were used for classes for adults in the 1960's.
her grand father was a retired police sergeant later elected as village headman. she still remembered when scores of people from the village flocked to the literacy classes held weekly on the ground floor level. there was a huge blackboard, several long tables and timber stools.
it was quite an event those days. the ladies in their fine kurungs and kebayas with colorful selendangs (the women did not wear full tudungs then) and the men came in shirts and pelekats with kopiahs. even her grand mother who was not allowed to get any schooling when she was a child benefitted from these classes as she learned to read, write and do some simple arithmetics. she could even sign her name.
a bookshelf was placed at the serambi with books for the villagers to borrow. so her grand father's house was also the village library.
perhaps that was the beginning of her love for books besides getting it from her mother too who would read while cooking and at times the fish she was frying would get burned!
ah, but the beloved house is a derelict now..... a twist of fate that left it empty, uncared for, alone in its old age....
both houses are of the rumah bumbung panjang type, with an open berandah, serambi, rumah ibu, dapur; owned by village headmen (ketua kampong or penghulu), the ground floor portions were used for classes for adults in the 1960's.
her grand father was a retired police sergeant later elected as village headman. she still remembered when scores of people from the village flocked to the literacy classes held weekly on the ground floor level. there was a huge blackboard, several long tables and timber stools.
it was quite an event those days. the ladies in their fine kurungs and kebayas with colorful selendangs (the women did not wear full tudungs then) and the men came in shirts and pelekats with kopiahs. even her grand mother who was not allowed to get any schooling when she was a child benefitted from these classes as she learned to read, write and do some simple arithmetics. she could even sign her name.
a bookshelf was placed at the serambi with books for the villagers to borrow. so her grand father's house was also the village library.
perhaps that was the beginning of her love for books besides getting it from her mother too who would read while cooking and at times the fish she was frying would get burned!
ah, but the beloved house is a derelict now..... a twist of fate that left it empty, uncared for, alone in its old age....
the cold monsoon
it is the wet monsoon now. kiko and koko prefer being in their cage, with the door open of course. more cozy inside, and their coat all fluffy...
but when the kitchen door is opened, they both rush to lay on the mat at the threshold. must be warm there. they'd wait for the sunflower seeds treat, their 3 or 4 times daily favorite snack.
sometimes koko would climb on kiko to get at the seeds from her hands. kiko would just be the mild, meek kiko, allowing koko to step on him... but at other times kiko would chase koko from the threshold.... koko scampering into the cage.
but when the kitchen door is opened, they both rush to lay on the mat at the threshold. must be warm there. they'd wait for the sunflower seeds treat, their 3 or 4 times daily favorite snack.
sometimes koko would climb on kiko to get at the seeds from her hands. kiko would just be the mild, meek kiko, allowing koko to step on him... but at other times kiko would chase koko from the threshold.... koko scampering into the cage.
Sunday, 8 September 2013
the students had happy meals
via a very kind benefactor A (thank you so much for making the boys and girls so happy), together with lily she took her students that Friday to lunch at a fast food joint. A's treat couldn't come at a better time. some of the kids will be taking upsr in a few days. its good to make them happy at a time like this.
the 13 kids, from a 7 year boy to a secondary 1 girl, were all smiles and laughter. burgers, fries, ice creams, drinks etc....
she saw them enjoying their food, talking and laughing, having a really good time. for most of them it was the first time at such a joint. the joy on the young faces radiated and infused the ambience, adding a measure of brilliance crisp and infectious.
dear A, if you could see the unending smiles on these young faces, you would also feel their joy and happiness....
the 13 kids, from a 7 year boy to a secondary 1 girl, were all smiles and laughter. burgers, fries, ice creams, drinks etc....
she saw them enjoying their food, talking and laughing, having a really good time. for most of them it was the first time at such a joint. the joy on the young faces radiated and infused the ambience, adding a measure of brilliance crisp and infectious.
dear A, if you could see the unending smiles on these young faces, you would also feel their joy and happiness....
a bird in the tree
she spent this morning in the garden with the happy bunnies. koko was running round and round. kiko was busy munching some water convolvulous.
she smiled as she saw them grooming themselves in the soft breeze. it's good for them to be in the fresh morning air, in the mild sunlight. to be out in the open. to hear birds chirping. to feel the cool wind blowing from the mountains afar.
their eyes were brighter, their actions sharper, they were more alert.
she wish kiko and koko could be in the garden all the time.
when it was noon kiko and koko would be under the car. resting. they would come out again to run merrily once more amongst the green grass in the cool of the gloaming.
suddenly a bird landed gently on a slender branch of the cape myrtle plant, directly in her line of vision. so sweet. the bird (tekukur) stayed on the branch for quite a while, the tiny branch buoying in the wind....
Subhanallah.... it was so beautiful....
she smiled as she saw them grooming themselves in the soft breeze. it's good for them to be in the fresh morning air, in the mild sunlight. to be out in the open. to hear birds chirping. to feel the cool wind blowing from the mountains afar.
their eyes were brighter, their actions sharper, they were more alert.
she wish kiko and koko could be in the garden all the time.
when it was noon kiko and koko would be under the car. resting. they would come out again to run merrily once more amongst the green grass in the cool of the gloaming.
suddenly a bird landed gently on a slender branch of the cape myrtle plant, directly in her line of vision. so sweet. the bird (tekukur) stayed on the branch for quite a while, the tiny branch buoying in the wind....
Subhanallah.... it was so beautiful....
Thursday, 5 September 2013
asam pedas ikan kembung
she normally eat rice once every few days. since quite some time ago. she loved fried bihun, fried mee with lots of vegetables, spring onions, eaten with fried ikan kembung. sardine or tuna sandwiches but instead of bread she preferred crackers.
bilis fritters with slices of potatoes in them. vegetable crepes sometimes filled with shredded fish.
laksa....glorious laksa....
last night she thought of asam pedas ikan kembung!
she cooked it this morning and ate it with hot rice. superb....
simple, healthy yet fabulous dish....
bilis fritters with slices of potatoes in them. vegetable crepes sometimes filled with shredded fish.
laksa....glorious laksa....
last night she thought of asam pedas ikan kembung!
she cooked it this morning and ate it with hot rice. superb....
simple, healthy yet fabulous dish....
Tuesday, 3 September 2013
was it a dream?
she arrived in the capital city at 4.45am. urghh... some other lucky souls were fast asleep in their comfy beds. and here she was at the express bus terminal, groggy with insufficient intermittent sleep, huge tote bag with laptop, notes etc hanging on her shoulder.... wandering what in the world was she doing here....at her age....
she sat down for a while, looking at the eastern skies, watching out for some glimmer of light...
when it was time she went to the tiny surau for subuh prayers. In the half-light of dawn she approached the stalls. there was piping hot nasi lemak and all related sambals, fried mee and bihun.....
she bought fried mee and 2 packets of iced lemon tea, her all time favorite.
a cab took her to the campus. no one was around at 6.30am in the morning. she went to the surau at the new block, took her medicine, ate the fried mee and drank the refreshingly cold iced lemon tea.
washed herself as best as she could. did the dhuha. the surau, sparklingly new, air conditioned, carpeted, was really comfortable.
at about 10 am she went to the room she shared with 2 other researchers. m and a certain dr t.
she worked till evening when she suddenly felt very hungry. called up her second girl dhyr who said she was on her way to pick her up. her third girl naj was coming too. she heaved a sigh of relief.
they then crawled along in the perpetual city jam to this favorite nasi lemak joint in kg. b, they packed nasi lemak, sambal kerang, bergedil, hard boiled eggs, rendang ayam. more iced lemon tea for her and iced milo for the girls. and they had a sumptuous dinner in the car parked across well-lighted klcc. what better setting for dinner can u get?
she took the 11.30 bus back to the north. and arrived home again at 5 am.
was it all just a dream?
she sat down for a while, looking at the eastern skies, watching out for some glimmer of light...
when it was time she went to the tiny surau for subuh prayers. In the half-light of dawn she approached the stalls. there was piping hot nasi lemak and all related sambals, fried mee and bihun.....
she bought fried mee and 2 packets of iced lemon tea, her all time favorite.
a cab took her to the campus. no one was around at 6.30am in the morning. she went to the surau at the new block, took her medicine, ate the fried mee and drank the refreshingly cold iced lemon tea.
washed herself as best as she could. did the dhuha. the surau, sparklingly new, air conditioned, carpeted, was really comfortable.
at about 10 am she went to the room she shared with 2 other researchers. m and a certain dr t.
she worked till evening when she suddenly felt very hungry. called up her second girl dhyr who said she was on her way to pick her up. her third girl naj was coming too. she heaved a sigh of relief.
they then crawled along in the perpetual city jam to this favorite nasi lemak joint in kg. b, they packed nasi lemak, sambal kerang, bergedil, hard boiled eggs, rendang ayam. more iced lemon tea for her and iced milo for the girls. and they had a sumptuous dinner in the car parked across well-lighted klcc. what better setting for dinner can u get?
she took the 11.30 bus back to the north. and arrived home again at 5 am.
was it all just a dream?
thin cats at a resort
she spent aidilfitri this year at a secluded resort. with lily.
it was a change. the green surroundings were cooling to the eyes and mind. far from the madding crowd.
there were some raised eyebrows of course but she and lily were nonchalant. lily surely had that stubborn streak and couldn't care less attitude from her.
they brought lemang, serunding, kueh raya, huge bottles of mineral water, lots of crunchies enough to last a month.
strolling on the resort grounds in the cold morning, mist hanging like gossamer on deep green trees, she saw a few cats. and they were much too thin. so she went back to the room, took some biscuits, serunding and gave them to the hungry felines.
out for some food at the shops, she looked for fish. she found some salted fish, bought a few and gave them to the thin thin cats who gulped down the ikan sepat wolfishly.
oh it felt so good to bring some cheer to some animals...
it was a change. the green surroundings were cooling to the eyes and mind. far from the madding crowd.
there were some raised eyebrows of course but she and lily were nonchalant. lily surely had that stubborn streak and couldn't care less attitude from her.
they brought lemang, serunding, kueh raya, huge bottles of mineral water, lots of crunchies enough to last a month.
strolling on the resort grounds in the cold morning, mist hanging like gossamer on deep green trees, she saw a few cats. and they were much too thin. so she went back to the room, took some biscuits, serunding and gave them to the hungry felines.
out for some food at the shops, she looked for fish. she found some salted fish, bought a few and gave them to the thin thin cats who gulped down the ikan sepat wolfishly.
oh it felt so good to bring some cheer to some animals...
strangers in the night
it was nearly midnight. she boarded the express bus hoping for much needed sleep on the way north.
how did it happen, 2 passengers with similar seat numbers? the bus driver wanted to know why. she just couldn't care less as there were only 9 passengers in the 35 seater very comfy
bus.
she sat somewhere in the middle, on one of 2 seats. why bother to sit on a single seater when the bus was more than half empty? she placed her laptop on the other seat. and prepared to close her tired eyes for sleep...
but obviously the young man in front who had the same number as her seat was not sleepy. for he started a conversation...with her of all people!
and she found him to be a knowledgeable, good worker and a great father to 3 young kids.
he plays football for his workplace, his village is somewhere near her house, they got to talk about most things under the sun. and a matronly lady way in front turned to take a good look at them, a very unlikely pair.....with so much to talk about!
half-way through the journey they stopped talking and she got her beauty sleep at last.
she always tried to avoid conversing with strangers, especially on buses.... she just loved to be anonymous, incognito....
and that night she remained just that, for in their enthusiasm to talk about as many things as possible, they never asked for names and other personal details...
they will always remain strangers in the night.....
how did it happen, 2 passengers with similar seat numbers? the bus driver wanted to know why. she just couldn't care less as there were only 9 passengers in the 35 seater very comfy
bus.
she sat somewhere in the middle, on one of 2 seats. why bother to sit on a single seater when the bus was more than half empty? she placed her laptop on the other seat. and prepared to close her tired eyes for sleep...
but obviously the young man in front who had the same number as her seat was not sleepy. for he started a conversation...with her of all people!
and she found him to be a knowledgeable, good worker and a great father to 3 young kids.
he plays football for his workplace, his village is somewhere near her house, they got to talk about most things under the sun. and a matronly lady way in front turned to take a good look at them, a very unlikely pair.....with so much to talk about!
half-way through the journey they stopped talking and she got her beauty sleep at last.
she always tried to avoid conversing with strangers, especially on buses.... she just loved to be anonymous, incognito....
and that night she remained just that, for in their enthusiasm to talk about as many things as possible, they never asked for names and other personal details...
they will always remain strangers in the night.....
back to teaching
it has been more than 2 months since she last saw her tuition class.
she had to stop the classes temporarily due to heavy workload writing the book, editing jobs and the r&d.
its exam time now for some of her students. so she will be revising with them this weekend. to remind them of tenses, grammar etc. so the girls and boys of the village will get As. and later help them in their communication skills when they are successful professionals, especially at the international level.
she has high hopes for her students, the young, enthusiastic diligent boys and girls, daughters and sons of lorry drivers, fish sellers, carpenters, runners, padi farmers, fishermen.....
a sound education is the ultimate passport to success...
she had to stop the classes temporarily due to heavy workload writing the book, editing jobs and the r&d.
its exam time now for some of her students. so she will be revising with them this weekend. to remind them of tenses, grammar etc. so the girls and boys of the village will get As. and later help them in their communication skills when they are successful professionals, especially at the international level.
she has high hopes for her students, the young, enthusiastic diligent boys and girls, daughters and sons of lorry drivers, fish sellers, carpenters, runners, padi farmers, fishermen.....
a sound education is the ultimate passport to success...
from garden to kitchen
read in a blog about some steps to economize. the writer mentioned about edible gardens.
just two days ago she craved for nasi ulam. it is such a healthy and simple dish. she went into the little garden, plucked shoots of the lemuni plant, the ulam aja, beluntas, the kadok.
in the kitchen she sliced all the shoots very thinly, added to sliced onions, cooked sambal belacan, fried fish and mixed with plain boiled rice.
simply delicious....
just two days ago she craved for nasi ulam. it is such a healthy and simple dish. she went into the little garden, plucked shoots of the lemuni plant, the ulam aja, beluntas, the kadok.
in the kitchen she sliced all the shoots very thinly, added to sliced onions, cooked sambal belacan, fried fish and mixed with plain boiled rice.
simply delicious....
Saturday, 31 August 2013
the R&D realm
it sounded so very interesting. to be involved in R&D means to be a step ahead of most everybody else. she was once in the R&D section of her department. Bldg innovation n tech.
this time it's something about archi education in the future. to revise the curricula to prepare graduates for current n future demands of the profession wrt to the rapidly changing climate, the burden of ecological footprints etc etc...
but, actually it's the vernacular traditional architecture, the humble timber dwellings in remote villages, that are way ahead of some recently coined, much hyped terminologies.
these attap roofed simple, practical structures do not disturb the earth much, co-existing beautifully and kindly with nature, besides being comfortable for the users and cheaply as well as easily maintained.
we could learn a lot from these abodes and the folks who build them.
this time it's something about archi education in the future. to revise the curricula to prepare graduates for current n future demands of the profession wrt to the rapidly changing climate, the burden of ecological footprints etc etc...
but, actually it's the vernacular traditional architecture, the humble timber dwellings in remote villages, that are way ahead of some recently coined, much hyped terminologies.
these attap roofed simple, practical structures do not disturb the earth much, co-existing beautifully and kindly with nature, besides being comfortable for the users and cheaply as well as easily maintained.
we could learn a lot from these abodes and the folks who build them.
morning walk in a crowded park
after nearly 2 months she went to the park again. but my, there were so many people either brisk walking or jogging or just strolling along. some were with families, some with friends. quite a number were on their own.
she missed the walk in the crisp morning air. so she went right in, oblivious of everybody else. when she reached the huge keledang tree, she saw plenty of dried leaves on the grass. she took a handful to her car. these are the favorite crunchies of her bunnies.
after about 3,000 footsteps equivalent to 3 rounds of the trail through pretty landscaping, she had enough. she felt better already. the number of footsteps will be increased by and by, Insyallah.
before Ramadhan she used to walk from 5,000 to 10,000 footsteps each time. very invigorating. very rewarding.
when she was younger she used to dream of taking walks in the country, along grassy lanes in green meadows, in shadowy groves with hedges of tiny wildflowers, in the cool of eventide and the ethereal light of the gloaming, along merry, gurgling brooks.....
she missed the walk in the crisp morning air. so she went right in, oblivious of everybody else. when she reached the huge keledang tree, she saw plenty of dried leaves on the grass. she took a handful to her car. these are the favorite crunchies of her bunnies.
after about 3,000 footsteps equivalent to 3 rounds of the trail through pretty landscaping, she had enough. she felt better already. the number of footsteps will be increased by and by, Insyallah.
before Ramadhan she used to walk from 5,000 to 10,000 footsteps each time. very invigorating. very rewarding.
when she was younger she used to dream of taking walks in the country, along grassy lanes in green meadows, in shadowy groves with hedges of tiny wildflowers, in the cool of eventide and the ethereal light of the gloaming, along merry, gurgling brooks.....
the bunnies in the garden
the morning sky was overcast. gloomy.
she let out the two bunnies who immediately ran hither and thither with glee. they were so happy, frisking and bolting everywhere. chasing each other giddily amongst the ferns, heliconias and nibbling the seedlings of ulam raja too.
the innermost recesses of her heart always filled with joy when her beloved kiko and koko ran freely in the garden. their eyes bright and alert with rapture.
they were meant to be free.
but in the evening she had to bring them in. for their safety. kiko looked tired but joyful. koko the youngster was ever the energetic.
she then treated them to sunflower seeds which both kiko and koko had learned to eat from her hands.
unconditional love at its simplest best.
she let out the two bunnies who immediately ran hither and thither with glee. they were so happy, frisking and bolting everywhere. chasing each other giddily amongst the ferns, heliconias and nibbling the seedlings of ulam raja too.
the innermost recesses of her heart always filled with joy when her beloved kiko and koko ran freely in the garden. their eyes bright and alert with rapture.
they were meant to be free.
but in the evening she had to bring them in. for their safety. kiko looked tired but joyful. koko the youngster was ever the energetic.
she then treated them to sunflower seeds which both kiko and koko had learned to eat from her hands.
unconditional love at its simplest best.
a week in the capital city
the week rushed by in between writing letters, revising menus, calling up speakers, laughing with M, a colleague from the middle east. the nite before the conference she slept from 4am to 4.45am.
when the speakers from abroad were presenting their papers she was trying hard to keep awake at the back of the hall.
it was stimulating, to be in academia again. when manning the booth at the exhibition hall she felt like a student once more. she was eager. she was enthusiastic. she felt young. and full of dreams.
she only felt the fatigue when she was home. she missed kiko and koko. she missed fish in her meals. why is it so difficult to find fish at the food outlets in kl?
'I saw a star, I reached for it; I missed, so I accepted the sky....'
when the speakers from abroad were presenting their papers she was trying hard to keep awake at the back of the hall.
it was stimulating, to be in academia again. when manning the booth at the exhibition hall she felt like a student once more. she was eager. she was enthusiastic. she felt young. and full of dreams.
she only felt the fatigue when she was home. she missed kiko and koko. she missed fish in her meals. why is it so difficult to find fish at the food outlets in kl?
'I saw a star, I reached for it; I missed, so I accepted the sky....'
Thursday, 18 July 2013
pulut kuning
she made pulut kuning last friday. steamed glutinous rice yellow from turmeric. a kg of the rice was left to soak and soften for a few hours in a bowl of water, some black peppercorns, slices of garlic, onions and ginger. a little bit of salt.
the steamer tray was lined with pandan leaves. the softened yellow glutinous rice was then placed on the pandan leaves (for the wonderful aroma). steamed for about an hour or so until soft and clingy. removed from tray, mixed with boiled santan (abt rm3.00) already salted.
placed again in steamer tray. steamed further for another 40 minutes or so. until the sticky rice looked shiny.
the kids love eating pulut kuning with chicken curry or boiled egg curry, loading the rice with lots and lots of gravy!. (curry has kerisik in it so that the gravy is thick and yummy!)
she loves it too....
in those childhood days of yore, when her grandmother taught the village kids to recite the Al-Quran, each child would bring a plate of pulut kuning, curry and omelette upon finishing the 30 juzuks. (no chicken curry then as in those days it was only cooked once or twice a year on Aidilfitri and Aidiladha)
the kids would also give her grandmother a kain batik, fabric for kurung, selendang and rm10.00 (in the 60's was big money for the village folks).
teaching kids was then done free of charge. ikhlas. they say a Quran teacher will never get senile in old age. in her grandmother it was perfectly true. at 100 years of age Alhamdulillah she was still focused as ever!
the steamer tray was lined with pandan leaves. the softened yellow glutinous rice was then placed on the pandan leaves (for the wonderful aroma). steamed for about an hour or so until soft and clingy. removed from tray, mixed with boiled santan (abt rm3.00) already salted.
placed again in steamer tray. steamed further for another 40 minutes or so. until the sticky rice looked shiny.
the kids love eating pulut kuning with chicken curry or boiled egg curry, loading the rice with lots and lots of gravy!. (curry has kerisik in it so that the gravy is thick and yummy!)
she loves it too....
in those childhood days of yore, when her grandmother taught the village kids to recite the Al-Quran, each child would bring a plate of pulut kuning, curry and omelette upon finishing the 30 juzuks. (no chicken curry then as in those days it was only cooked once or twice a year on Aidilfitri and Aidiladha)
the kids would also give her grandmother a kain batik, fabric for kurung, selendang and rm10.00 (in the 60's was big money for the village folks).
teaching kids was then done free of charge. ikhlas. they say a Quran teacher will never get senile in old age. in her grandmother it was perfectly true. at 100 years of age Alhamdulillah she was still focused as ever!
Tuesday, 16 July 2013
2 little argus
looking at dear little kiko and koko munching carrots side by side reminds her of the 2 little marmots she had when she was in primary 4.
they were placed in a large cage built by her grandfather, under the beranda.
each evening she'd carry a small blue basket to cut the particular type of grass the argus loved. what a coincidence that the grass grew plentiful at the very place she once saw the gargantuan golden rooster when she was about 3 years old!
one argus was grey and the other white with splashes of brown and orange.
now she has sweet, clever little kiko and koko, 2 lovable companions immediately hopping to her when she calls their names.
alice had a white rabbit in tuxedo with a pocket watch., who led her to wonderland.
ah alice....should she get pocket watches for the rabbits too?
they were placed in a large cage built by her grandfather, under the beranda.
each evening she'd carry a small blue basket to cut the particular type of grass the argus loved. what a coincidence that the grass grew plentiful at the very place she once saw the gargantuan golden rooster when she was about 3 years old!
one argus was grey and the other white with splashes of brown and orange.
now she has sweet, clever little kiko and koko, 2 lovable companions immediately hopping to her when she calls their names.
alice had a white rabbit in tuxedo with a pocket watch., who led her to wonderland.
ah alice....should she get pocket watches for the rabbits too?
the purple orchid
spectacular. the dense purple orchid is in bloom again. 2 flowers this time. standing out boldly from deep green leaves. about 75mm in diameter. beautiful. makes the terrace lovely.
once on a hike up bukit bendera at tanjong penaga, she looked closely at the numerous pitcher plants on the hillsides. especially at the pitchers.
they are like the predecessor to orchids! the difference is the size of petals and pitchers. in the pitcher plant's pitcher or 'jug', the size of the 5 petals is very tiny while the jug is huge and the most prominent component.
if you look closely at orchid blooms, you'll see a miniature pitcher. it is the opposite here as the petals are much larger than the jug!
the leaves are similar. both species originate from tropical jungles.
she loves wild orchids which are usually white. found on trees in forests. sometimes she could see some clinging precariously to aged branches of tall trees along the old hill road to her village.
it was along the way to pedu lake once that she spied huge bunches of scarlet wild orchids on tree trunks. she made the hubby stop the car and they gathered the bunches to take home!
they did a lot of travelling when the kids were young. she loves going to new places, local or abroad. it must be the wanderlust in her. or a thirst for knowledge not easily quenched.
they'd bring along food and snacks for impromptu picnics. they'd just think of a place and head for it without prior plans. places sometimes unheard of. especially along trails less travelled. along narrow roads in remote villages. she smiled as she remembered the day they travelled to grik near the border. they drove so deep into one of the villages until there was no road anymore right at the foot of a hill!
ah....yesterday when she was young....
once on a hike up bukit bendera at tanjong penaga, she looked closely at the numerous pitcher plants on the hillsides. especially at the pitchers.
they are like the predecessor to orchids! the difference is the size of petals and pitchers. in the pitcher plant's pitcher or 'jug', the size of the 5 petals is very tiny while the jug is huge and the most prominent component.
if you look closely at orchid blooms, you'll see a miniature pitcher. it is the opposite here as the petals are much larger than the jug!
the leaves are similar. both species originate from tropical jungles.
she loves wild orchids which are usually white. found on trees in forests. sometimes she could see some clinging precariously to aged branches of tall trees along the old hill road to her village.
it was along the way to pedu lake once that she spied huge bunches of scarlet wild orchids on tree trunks. she made the hubby stop the car and they gathered the bunches to take home!
they did a lot of travelling when the kids were young. she loves going to new places, local or abroad. it must be the wanderlust in her. or a thirst for knowledge not easily quenched.
they'd bring along food and snacks for impromptu picnics. they'd just think of a place and head for it without prior plans. places sometimes unheard of. especially along trails less travelled. along narrow roads in remote villages. she smiled as she remembered the day they travelled to grik near the border. they drove so deep into one of the villages until there was no road anymore right at the foot of a hill!
ah....yesterday when she was young....
Monday, 15 July 2013
a beautiful iftar
it was a weekend. the kids were home.
she started cooking after Dhuha. she was elated to cook for her children. always was.
the dining table at iftar ended up filled with fish bergedil (for bill who doesn't eat ikan kembung and everybody else's fave too), sambal tumis udang (request fr dhyra and everybody's fave), lobak masin (bill's and naj's fave), ikan kembung goreng (q's, dhyra's, naj's and ma's fave), salad telur (bill's and q's fave), bendi goreng (fave of naj and dhyra), bak choy sos tiram (a request fr dhyra), sambal telur rebus yang digoreng (q's fave), masak cuka ikan kembung (ma's fave), nasi lemak and watermelon juice .
though the dishes nearly numbered 10, they were all in small portions, just enough for all. just like tapas that she loves. no excesses. empty plates at the end of iftar. except for the fried ikan kembung (a favorite in the family). these fish leftovers she cooked into masak kicap the next iftar with onions, tomato slices, green chillies. delicious.
she was so happy seeing the kids digging sumptuously into the food.....
she started cooking after Dhuha. she was elated to cook for her children. always was.
the dining table at iftar ended up filled with fish bergedil (for bill who doesn't eat ikan kembung and everybody else's fave too), sambal tumis udang (request fr dhyra and everybody's fave), lobak masin (bill's and naj's fave), ikan kembung goreng (q's, dhyra's, naj's and ma's fave), salad telur (bill's and q's fave), bendi goreng (fave of naj and dhyra), bak choy sos tiram (a request fr dhyra), sambal telur rebus yang digoreng (q's fave), masak cuka ikan kembung (ma's fave), nasi lemak and watermelon juice .
though the dishes nearly numbered 10, they were all in small portions, just enough for all. just like tapas that she loves. no excesses. empty plates at the end of iftar. except for the fried ikan kembung (a favorite in the family). these fish leftovers she cooked into masak kicap the next iftar with onions, tomato slices, green chillies. delicious.
she was so happy seeing the kids digging sumptuously into the food.....
dear little bird, do build a nest in my garden
she sat on the rattan chair at the terrace facing her garden. it was just after Subuh. the air was chilly. the mist lingered on mount jerai in the distance.
kiko and koko the sweet little bunnies were frisking to their hearts' delight among the ferns and dew laden grass.
it was eden. an oasis.
then a tiny yellow breasted bird flew into sight and stopped on a branch of her group of 3 longan trees. she smiled. it made so pretty a picture.
she whispered " dear little birdie, do build a nest in my tree!"
kiko and koko the sweet little bunnies were frisking to their hearts' delight among the ferns and dew laden grass.
it was eden. an oasis.
then a tiny yellow breasted bird flew into sight and stopped on a branch of her group of 3 longan trees. she smiled. it made so pretty a picture.
she whispered " dear little birdie, do build a nest in my tree!"
buah letup
one cool misty morning while pottering in the garden, she saw a new plant tendrils et al on the chain link side fence.
the buah letup from her childhood days !
a little adventurous birdie must have eaten the seeds from some far away padi fields and regurgitated them in her 'eclectic' tiny garden!
now it is growing healthily on top of the fence, an array of the rounded familiar fruits, in a green filigree turning yellow as they age. she used to foray into the village with her friends looking for these same fruits, not so much to 'eat' as to hear it pop when squeezed.
ah.....those so distant childhood days under the balmy turquoise skies, never a care in the whole wide world.....
she could see them clearly in her mind's eyes....smell the sharp fragrances of kenanga, melati, hear the rustic sounds of the village, the happy chickens running around the house, the free melodious birds in the jambu trees, the infectious laughter as children frolicked everywhere.....she could still taste the cuttingly cold winds from the hills......
Alhamdullilah for a perfectly beautiful childhood....
the buah letup from her childhood days !
a little adventurous birdie must have eaten the seeds from some far away padi fields and regurgitated them in her 'eclectic' tiny garden!
now it is growing healthily on top of the fence, an array of the rounded familiar fruits, in a green filigree turning yellow as they age. she used to foray into the village with her friends looking for these same fruits, not so much to 'eat' as to hear it pop when squeezed.
ah.....those so distant childhood days under the balmy turquoise skies, never a care in the whole wide world.....
she could see them clearly in her mind's eyes....smell the sharp fragrances of kenanga, melati, hear the rustic sounds of the village, the happy chickens running around the house, the free melodious birds in the jambu trees, the infectious laughter as children frolicked everywhere.....she could still taste the cuttingly cold winds from the hills......
Alhamdullilah for a perfectly beautiful childhood....
Friday, 12 July 2013
kiko the meercat
one morning in the kitchen. she was on a stool cracking sunflower seeds for kiko and koko.
she felt a touch on her lap.
it was kiko, standing on 2 hind feet just like a meercat, 2 fore feet on her lap! he just couldn't wait for the seeds!
lovable, funny, sweet kiko!
she felt a touch on her lap.
it was kiko, standing on 2 hind feet just like a meercat, 2 fore feet on her lap! he just couldn't wait for the seeds!
lovable, funny, sweet kiko!
to write
she took a bus ride to the capital city last week. the morning ride, sometimes through padi fields, other times through the green green secondary forests, was refreshing. she savoured the myriad shapes of leaves, the different shades of chlorophyll; hills, dales, limestone caves.....even rustic villages peeping among aged fruit trees...
the vibrance of the country's pulsating center once again captivated her. walking alone among strangers in the crowded streets she was lost in reverie. of years gone by when as a student, she'd have a tall glass of cold cold root beer at a&w in between classes. that was one of the good things of city campuses!
or the evenings and nights spent strolling in the city after staring blankly for 2 hours at an empty sheet of butter paper on the drawing board. when ideas just wouldn't show up. inspiration went awol. and the dateline inches away sniggering and taunting.
she'd then go walking without a definite destination with her room-mate, ogling the merry and garish neon lights. feeling the jubilation of hundreds of pedestrians out for dinner or window shopping. or just wandering around, drinking in the excitement of the evening and the electric atmosphere . the lyrics of 'the streets of london' echoing...
those were the days....
and now she is to write....a book.....on a subject she is so passionate about...it is so exciting. and rejuvenating.....
Alhamdulillah. for the opportunity.
the vibrance of the country's pulsating center once again captivated her. walking alone among strangers in the crowded streets she was lost in reverie. of years gone by when as a student, she'd have a tall glass of cold cold root beer at a&w in between classes. that was one of the good things of city campuses!
or the evenings and nights spent strolling in the city after staring blankly for 2 hours at an empty sheet of butter paper on the drawing board. when ideas just wouldn't show up. inspiration went awol. and the dateline inches away sniggering and taunting.
she'd then go walking without a definite destination with her room-mate, ogling the merry and garish neon lights. feeling the jubilation of hundreds of pedestrians out for dinner or window shopping. or just wandering around, drinking in the excitement of the evening and the electric atmosphere . the lyrics of 'the streets of london' echoing...
those were the days....
and now she is to write....a book.....on a subject she is so passionate about...it is so exciting. and rejuvenating.....
Alhamdulillah. for the opportunity.
Tuesday, 25 June 2013
tecoma in bloom
its the season now. not only the local fruits are aplenty.
but driving along the roads here in Kedah is such a pleasure. for the tecoma trees are in full bloom. blooming pink and white. you can't see the leaves for the hundreds of flowers covering the trees.
sheer ethereal beauty.
the trees are on both sides of the road which runs through padi fields that stretch to the horizon.
can nature be more beautiful?
but driving along the roads here in Kedah is such a pleasure. for the tecoma trees are in full bloom. blooming pink and white. you can't see the leaves for the hundreds of flowers covering the trees.
sheer ethereal beauty.
the trees are on both sides of the road which runs through padi fields that stretch to the horizon.
can nature be more beautiful?
the pretty blooms of ulam raja
she plants them in pots. also amongst the grass. sweet sweet pink flowers of the ulam raja flutter in the breeze, beckoning to little birds and bees. the multitude of airy pink petals hover over her little garden like the flimsiest chiffon....
the cape/crepe myrtle is in bloom too. fuchsia colored blossoms hug slender branches. a riot of pink while the white jasmine blooms profusely sending whiffs of the most beautiful fragrance into the air.
orange heliconias grouped under the broad green galangal leaves.
oh what singular beauty.
and then she saw them. little kiko and koko. busily munching..... on ulam raja shoots! and daun kaduk!
the little guys love herbs!
the cape/crepe myrtle is in bloom too. fuchsia colored blossoms hug slender branches. a riot of pink while the white jasmine blooms profusely sending whiffs of the most beautiful fragrance into the air.
orange heliconias grouped under the broad green galangal leaves.
oh what singular beauty.
and then she saw them. little kiko and koko. busily munching..... on ulam raja shoots! and daun kaduk!
the little guys love herbs!
Thursday, 20 June 2013
the rabbits think they are cats
kiko and koko must be thinking they are cats.
each time she opens the kitchen door, both kiko and koko would rush into the house.
koko the youngster to his favorite place between the m.s. grille and the glass sliding doors where he can view the outside world. while kiko is content to stay in the kitchen while she cooks and talks to him.
kiko loves to lay on the cool ceramic tile floor, facing her, watching her as she goes about the kitchen. sometimes she'd give him carrots. or sunflower seeds.
then koko would come to nibble on the cold slices of carrots or the nutty snacks of seeds they love so much.
they look so comical, balls of black and white side by side munching daintily.
sometimes koko would run underneath the kitchen cabinets and she has to switch on the light fixtures under the black cabinets to see where he is.
both would come to her when she calls their names.
he's fast the little boy koko. while kiko is more laid back and serene.
whenever she's out of the house even for a few hours, she'd miss them.
dear little kiko and koko.
each time she opens the kitchen door, both kiko and koko would rush into the house.
koko the youngster to his favorite place between the m.s. grille and the glass sliding doors where he can view the outside world. while kiko is content to stay in the kitchen while she cooks and talks to him.
kiko loves to lay on the cool ceramic tile floor, facing her, watching her as she goes about the kitchen. sometimes she'd give him carrots. or sunflower seeds.
then koko would come to nibble on the cold slices of carrots or the nutty snacks of seeds they love so much.
they look so comical, balls of black and white side by side munching daintily.
sometimes koko would run underneath the kitchen cabinets and she has to switch on the light fixtures under the black cabinets to see where he is.
both would come to her when she calls their names.
he's fast the little boy koko. while kiko is more laid back and serene.
whenever she's out of the house even for a few hours, she'd miss them.
dear little kiko and koko.
gardenia's sambal bilis buns and daphne du maurier
these days she is addicted to gardenia's sambal bilis buns. they are so delicious, fresh, so good as a snack while watching anthony bourdain in siberia or a re-run of 'enemy of the state'. but best when re-enjoying 'rebecca' for the hundredth time.
ah daphne du maurier's 'rebecca'.... haunting, ever captivating the senses.... the dark, attractive, enchanting maxim de winter...and the nameless young, gawky, plain wife.....
she first read 'rebecca' in secondary 2. and fell in love with all of daphne's books after that. my cousin rachel, the loving spirit, frenchmen's creek, the du mauriers, mary anne etc. did she sense a kindred spirit in daphne?
she then started emulating daphne's writing style, in her first short stories in those uncertain, gangling teenage years, self conscious and introverted.
seems such a long time ago...
ah daphne du maurier's 'rebecca'.... haunting, ever captivating the senses.... the dark, attractive, enchanting maxim de winter...and the nameless young, gawky, plain wife.....
she first read 'rebecca' in secondary 2. and fell in love with all of daphne's books after that. my cousin rachel, the loving spirit, frenchmen's creek, the du mauriers, mary anne etc. did she sense a kindred spirit in daphne?
she then started emulating daphne's writing style, in her first short stories in those uncertain, gangling teenage years, self conscious and introverted.
seems such a long time ago...
Thursday, 16 May 2013
short story
when she was in form four she won first prize in a short story competition. her entry was titled 'the enlightenment'. she was quite surprised when she was pronounced the winner during assembly as her story was rather simple .
the prize was 'august 1914' by alexander solzenitzyen.
she wrote of a young girl's excursion into a forest to collect samples for her biology class. the girl (unnamed) was about to pull out a flowering plant when she was suddenly prevented from doing so by a man. who appeared out of the blue.
they then got to talking in the cool shade of a spreading tree. soon she was captivated by the magic of his wisdom, the beauty of nature that was veiled from her all these while, she felt the whispers of the mountains, the colours of the wind, the song of river mist....
when it was near dusk, she bade au revoir. she utterly forgot about her promise to her classmates that she will not be late. she got up to go. then she turned to thank him for enlightening her.
there was no one there. but in her fingers was a tiny wildflower blown off a shrub that he had earlier picked on the grass.
the prize was 'august 1914' by alexander solzenitzyen.
she wrote of a young girl's excursion into a forest to collect samples for her biology class. the girl (unnamed) was about to pull out a flowering plant when she was suddenly prevented from doing so by a man. who appeared out of the blue.
they then got to talking in the cool shade of a spreading tree. soon she was captivated by the magic of his wisdom, the beauty of nature that was veiled from her all these while, she felt the whispers of the mountains, the colours of the wind, the song of river mist....
when it was near dusk, she bade au revoir. she utterly forgot about her promise to her classmates that she will not be late. she got up to go. then she turned to thank him for enlightening her.
there was no one there. but in her fingers was a tiny wildflower blown off a shrub that he had earlier picked on the grass.
koko and teddy
once she saw koko tugging at something on the lower levels of the bookshelf. she thought it was a book.
on closer look she saw koko pulling at a small teddy bear. what must koko be thinking of? but the truth of the matter is, koko is just a 'child'. koko loves to play.
so she bought a small teddy bear for kiko and koko. in addition to 2 small lorries and 1 big one.
on closer look she saw koko pulling at a small teddy bear. what must koko be thinking of? but the truth of the matter is, koko is just a 'child'. koko loves to play.
so she bought a small teddy bear for kiko and koko. in addition to 2 small lorries and 1 big one.
dawn in the garden
she took kiko and koko out to the garden after subuh. it was a beautiful morning, cool, serene. kiko and koko ran in and out of the shrubs and plants. sometimes nibbling the ferns, the ulam raja shoots.
tiny birds balanced precariously on deep orange heliconias, tasting sweet nectar. stars twinkled in the still midnight blue sky. a soft breeze flitted through leaves.
once she wanted to name her house 'rainbow's end'. or 'oasis'.
she smiled at the thought.
kiko frisked like an excited lamb. koko rushed through the grass. she loved seeing them so happy. it makes her happy too.
tiny birds balanced precariously on deep orange heliconias, tasting sweet nectar. stars twinkled in the still midnight blue sky. a soft breeze flitted through leaves.
once she wanted to name her house 'rainbow's end'. or 'oasis'.
she smiled at the thought.
kiko frisked like an excited lamb. koko rushed through the grass. she loved seeing them so happy. it makes her happy too.
Friday, 26 April 2013
the water skiing squirrel
kiko: i heard her telling her girl about the water skiing squirrel
koko: oh oh
kiko: i thought you'd love that kind of thing
koko: it'll be in water kiko, you fond of getting wet i suppose
kiko: haha....but the squirrel was wearing a safety vest
koko: kind of cute actually, i'd look good in a a bright orange vest careening through the waves....pulled by a remote-controlled toy boat
kiko: ah...there goes the effects of the galangal leaves again...
koko: oh oh
kiko: i thought you'd love that kind of thing
koko: it'll be in water kiko, you fond of getting wet i suppose
kiko: haha....but the squirrel was wearing a safety vest
koko: kind of cute actually, i'd look good in a a bright orange vest careening through the waves....pulled by a remote-controlled toy boat
kiko: ah...there goes the effects of the galangal leaves again...
kiko goes a-wandering too
koko: come on kiko, nothing to be afraid of, we are still in the house
kiko: of course i'm not afraid
koko: so why so hesitant? you're testing the ceramic tiled floor?
kiko: no boy, i'm just being careful. haven't you heard of 'look before you leap'?
koko: we're not leaping anywhere hehe...just scrambling to the living room when she's not looking
kiko: yeah and then to scamper like crazy when she realizes we're traversing the lounge and dning area. that must be your idea of fun
koko: at least i get some exercise
kiko: and she too hehe
koko: don't you feel curious about the steps going up and up? i'd like to see what's up there.
kiko: you remind me of jack and the beanstalk
koko: and you are behaving like don quixote haha
kiko: you are like the unmasked zorro hehe
koko: that's an idea, where do i get some masks?
kiko: err... just make sure the mask is not black dear
koko: why?
kiko: cos it won't have any effect then haha
kiko: of course i'm not afraid
koko: so why so hesitant? you're testing the ceramic tiled floor?
kiko: no boy, i'm just being careful. haven't you heard of 'look before you leap'?
koko: we're not leaping anywhere hehe...just scrambling to the living room when she's not looking
kiko: yeah and then to scamper like crazy when she realizes we're traversing the lounge and dning area. that must be your idea of fun
koko: at least i get some exercise
kiko: and she too hehe
koko: don't you feel curious about the steps going up and up? i'd like to see what's up there.
kiko: you remind me of jack and the beanstalk
koko: and you are behaving like don quixote haha
kiko: you are like the unmasked zorro hehe
koko: that's an idea, where do i get some masks?
kiko: err... just make sure the mask is not black dear
koko: why?
kiko: cos it won't have any effect then haha
Monday, 1 April 2013
big kiko n little kiko
koko: hey man, why did that guy scold you?
kiko: he called my name but i didn't go to him, so he was angry. who is he?
koko: i heard him saying that it was he who took you to the vet when you had fungus on your ears
kiko: did he really do that?
koko: and why did he do that?
kiko: hmmm... sometimes he kind of remind me of someone.
koko: once i heard her calling him your name
kiko: what? nonsense
koko: he must be your twin or something haha
kiko: yeah rite, just like you and coco chanel...
kiko: he called my name but i didn't go to him, so he was angry. who is he?
koko: i heard him saying that it was he who took you to the vet when you had fungus on your ears
kiko: did he really do that?
koko: and why did he do that?
kiko: hmmm... sometimes he kind of remind me of someone.
koko: once i heard her calling him your name
kiko: what? nonsense
koko: he must be your twin or something haha
kiko: yeah rite, just like you and coco chanel...
the outing
koko: how nice if we can stay in the garden always instead of just being there two hours a fortnite or whenever she's not too busy
kiko: i agree
koko: i just love nibbling on the grass and fern shoots
kiko: as if i didn't see you time and again trying to put your head through the fence haha ... trying to run out onto the road again right?
koko: how come i cannot go through the fence anymore? it used to be so easy
kiko: it's your eating habits dear. you are now more than twice my size. a few months ago you were just a teeny weeny little black ball
koko: why do you have to stress on the 'black' part kiko? you think too much of your mousey coloring. hey have you heard of the little black dress by err was it yves st laurent or dior or ..it couldn't be karl lagerfeld surely...? anyway my name itself is similar to coco chanel....couture man...
kiko: koko chanel indeed.... by the way, do you happen to have friends called the mad hatter and the march hare? hahaha
kiko: i agree
koko: i just love nibbling on the grass and fern shoots
kiko: as if i didn't see you time and again trying to put your head through the fence haha ... trying to run out onto the road again right?
koko: how come i cannot go through the fence anymore? it used to be so easy
kiko: it's your eating habits dear. you are now more than twice my size. a few months ago you were just a teeny weeny little black ball
koko: why do you have to stress on the 'black' part kiko? you think too much of your mousey coloring. hey have you heard of the little black dress by err was it yves st laurent or dior or ..it couldn't be karl lagerfeld surely...? anyway my name itself is similar to coco chanel....couture man...
kiko: koko chanel indeed.... by the way, do you happen to have friends called the mad hatter and the march hare? hahaha
hide n seek
kiko: u know koko, sometimes you can be quite silly
koko: that's a rather serious allegation. care to elaborate?
kiko: remember that morning you scamperred into the lounge and hid behind the sofa?
koko: hmmm...
kiko: because of your er..'tan', she couldn't find you. but when she called your name, you came out of hiding instantly...and she then chased you back here..haha
koko: yeah, so used to go to her when she calls our names...hehe.. must remember when to obey and when not to
kiko: well, we'll see...(while busily searching for orange colored pellets before koko could get at them)
koko: that's a rather serious allegation. care to elaborate?
kiko: remember that morning you scamperred into the lounge and hid behind the sofa?
koko: hmmm...
kiko: because of your er..'tan', she couldn't find you. but when she called your name, you came out of hiding instantly...and she then chased you back here..haha
koko: yeah, so used to go to her when she calls our names...hehe.. must remember when to obey and when not to
kiko: well, we'll see...(while busily searching for orange colored pellets before koko could get at them)
Sunday, 24 March 2013
koko's travels
kiko : remember the morning you bolted through the hole in the fence right onto the road?
koko : that was such an achievement..
kiko : freedom for ten minutes?
koko : i couldn't help laughing seeing her run after me like that. she could really run man!
kiko : lucky for you there were no cars on the road then
koko : no cats too hehe
kiko : you afraid of cats?
koko : cats? afraid of those fish eaters?
kiko : you talk big eh koko? do you know they are distant cousins to the big bad tigers?
koko : nah just kidding. if i see one, i'd make friends with him hehe ..should be fun to ride on the back of one...
bunny couture
koko : what happened to your beret and coat kiko?
kiko : glad those silly things are not around anymore. i was sweating like anything in those when they made me pose on that little table
koko : haha... you look like the proper french marmot in that checked beret and coat
kiko : yeah...and you look like boy george in that gaudy sleeveless sundress she bought across the border hehehe
koko : they must have thought i was female
kiko : they thought i was female and you were male...they even called me 'chloe' haha
koko : we must be extra patient with these humans kiko
kiko : just you watch, one of these days she might buy us shoes or better still stilettoes hahaha
koko : i heard she wanted to make some pillows for us
kiko : i could do with those..... (stretching himself luxuriously...)
koko : ( i wouldn't mind a little back-pack myself.....so i can stuff food for my travels...)
kiko : what's that cheeky smile for koko?
kiko : glad those silly things are not around anymore. i was sweating like anything in those when they made me pose on that little table
koko : haha... you look like the proper french marmot in that checked beret and coat
kiko : yeah...and you look like boy george in that gaudy sleeveless sundress she bought across the border hehehe
koko : they must have thought i was female
kiko : they thought i was female and you were male...they even called me 'chloe' haha
koko : we must be extra patient with these humans kiko
kiko : just you watch, one of these days she might buy us shoes or better still stilettoes hahaha
koko : i heard she wanted to make some pillows for us
kiko : i could do with those..... (stretching himself luxuriously...)
koko : ( i wouldn't mind a little back-pack myself.....so i can stuff food for my travels...)
kiko : what's that cheeky smile for koko?
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