on the way to fetch the little boy from the 'island' in the sun, she spied some ripened padi kernels left by the side of the fields after the harvest.
so she picked a stalk with lovely golden kernels. in her little garden she planted the padi in a huge pot which had some water retained on the surface of the soil in it. a kind of the tiniest wetland ever...
it rained nearly every day, hopefully the seeds would germinate soon.
hmmm.... a tiny padi plot.....
wouldn't it be wonderful to see padi plants growing in her garden...
and her thoughts flew to those days in the early sixties. her grandparents' padi fields just next to the sea separated only by a stretch of mangrove. when it was the planting season, they would picnic under the swaying palms on the 'batas', the grid of earth dividing rectangular plots filled with bright green padi plants.
her grandmother would cook 'masak lemak labu and pucuk labu', fried salted 'gelama' so delicious eaten with piping hot white rice and 'sambal belacan' on 'mengkuang' mats under the elegant coconut trees. while eating, she would look to the horizon......across a velvety expanse of green young padi plants all around....it was spectacular!
the fields were worked on by a relative. the harvest would be split equally between her family and the relation.
her grandfather often made flutes out of the padi stalks for her. the little girl that she was then happily blew sweet 'music' from the green instrument. hmmm...maybe that was why she played the flute in the brass band in TKC!
there was always rice on the table every day from their own fields. tasty, fresh, fragrant. nothing beats the rice from your own 'sawah'. the padi from the annual harvest was kept in a huge timber container in a little hut called the 'jelapang' behind the house. strange but the padi was intact there all year long until the next harvest.
every month or so her grandfather took some portions of the padi to the rice mill. for a few ringgits they got fresh fragrant rice.
she still remember how her grandmother taught her to value and appreciate each grain of rice, never to waste or throw them. as it took so much hard work to produce them.
memories.....light the corners of my mind...misty water colored memories....
Friday, 29 August 2014
Wednesday, 20 August 2014
serikaya buns
the kids love the buns. she does too.
soft fluffy buns cut into two portions, filled with margarine and serikaya, the Malay version of custard.
simple down to earth wholesome snack.... delicious
she normally purchases these from a Muslim bakery at transfer road, famous for its 'roti'.
when they stayed at rose avenue, every evening the kids would buy the buns from a peddlar on a motorbike with a huge contraption at the back full of 'roti', buns, cakes, crackers etc etc...
he's quite an institution on the island.
soft fluffy buns cut into two portions, filled with margarine and serikaya, the Malay version of custard.
simple down to earth wholesome snack.... delicious
she normally purchases these from a Muslim bakery at transfer road, famous for its 'roti'.
when they stayed at rose avenue, every evening the kids would buy the buns from a peddlar on a motorbike with a huge contraption at the back full of 'roti', buns, cakes, crackers etc etc...
he's quite an institution on the island.
Tuesday, 19 August 2014
the tomato flowers
after letting out ebony and ivory aka kiko and koko to roam the garden, she took a close look at the plump tomato plant.
viola...there were six new flowers!
so there were then 9 in all.
and the happy bunnies busied themselves frolicking among the grass and tiny wild flowers, now and then tasting some sweet shoot or bud, sometimes chasing each other....
it never failed to fill her heart with joy to see kiko and koko running hither and thither, so full of obvious felicity... ...
she called lily arranging for a trip to the 'dusun' to show her the boundaries. lily mentioned about planting new durian plants at her 'dusun' on the gentle hill slope. they would be going to dyra's and naj's 'dusun' too. she reminded herself to bring along a pair of sneakers.
the 'dusuns' have durian trees, mangosteen, langsat, cempedak, rambutan.
she felt so good to be able to 'give' her children 'something'. lily, dyra, naj and bill got 'dusuns'. q and bill got the house and a car each. alhamdulillah.
she bought the 'dusuns' that belong now to lily, dyra and bill. the one under naj's name was her inheritance. in fact her late grandmother wanted to give her a part of the padi fields too but her late mother wanted her only sister to have it. she did not mind at all.
once she dreamed of planting lots and lots of ulam raja plant on the hill slope so that when the plants are in bloom, the 'dusun' would be covered with layers upon layers of pink blossoms! wouldn't that be such a spectacular sight for the eyes!
viola...there were six new flowers!
so there were then 9 in all.
and the happy bunnies busied themselves frolicking among the grass and tiny wild flowers, now and then tasting some sweet shoot or bud, sometimes chasing each other....
it never failed to fill her heart with joy to see kiko and koko running hither and thither, so full of obvious felicity... ...
she called lily arranging for a trip to the 'dusun' to show her the boundaries. lily mentioned about planting new durian plants at her 'dusun' on the gentle hill slope. they would be going to dyra's and naj's 'dusun' too. she reminded herself to bring along a pair of sneakers.
the 'dusuns' have durian trees, mangosteen, langsat, cempedak, rambutan.
she felt so good to be able to 'give' her children 'something'. lily, dyra, naj and bill got 'dusuns'. q and bill got the house and a car each. alhamdulillah.
she bought the 'dusuns' that belong now to lily, dyra and bill. the one under naj's name was her inheritance. in fact her late grandmother wanted to give her a part of the padi fields too but her late mother wanted her only sister to have it. she did not mind at all.
once she dreamed of planting lots and lots of ulam raja plant on the hill slope so that when the plants are in bloom, the 'dusun' would be covered with layers upon layers of pink blossoms! wouldn't that be such a spectacular sight for the eyes!
boarding school
it was the mid-seventies when she had some wonderful times at boarding school.
ah, TKC, the alma mater close to her heart, right on top of merbah hill. where days and nights spelt hilarious fun as well as serious studying stints.
being a teenager at boarding school was very enlightening with the very much widened horizon handed upon a silver platter.
in primary school she loved reading enid blyton's 'what katy did', 'the twins at st. clares' besides dreaming and fantasizing over 'the faraway tree' and other books filled to the brim with tiny elves, brownies, pixies, fairies, toadstool houses, magic wands, enchanted forests....
thus TKC (Tunku Kurshiah College) was such a welcome home away from home in that adventurous phase, when nothing was too difficult to strive for, while precariously balancing exciting new ideas from the array of new friends, dorm mates and classmates. enjoying the next step in education with gusto. savouring spectacular sunsets at the fence, looking down into the green vales all around.
even looking forward to the weekly friday formal dinners with tomato rice, chicken rendang, salad and ice cream! she remembered being quite hungry most of the time.
it was a time of the flower children, of california dreaming....
seremban was a snug little town then, green with hills and valleys..the lake gardens was still fresh and pristine most mornings....
now TKC has moved to nilai, leaving the quaint buildings in desolation, buildings which used to house laughter filled dorms with names like anggerik (she stayed at anggerik in '73,'74, kenanga '75,'76) (mahsuri/red), alamanda, matahari (siti zawiah/yellow), telang (tun fatimah/blue), (selendang delima/green).
sometimes TKC would come into her vivid dreams and she was a teenager once more.....
ah, TKC, the alma mater close to her heart, right on top of merbah hill. where days and nights spelt hilarious fun as well as serious studying stints.
being a teenager at boarding school was very enlightening with the very much widened horizon handed upon a silver platter.
in primary school she loved reading enid blyton's 'what katy did', 'the twins at st. clares' besides dreaming and fantasizing over 'the faraway tree' and other books filled to the brim with tiny elves, brownies, pixies, fairies, toadstool houses, magic wands, enchanted forests....
thus TKC (Tunku Kurshiah College) was such a welcome home away from home in that adventurous phase, when nothing was too difficult to strive for, while precariously balancing exciting new ideas from the array of new friends, dorm mates and classmates. enjoying the next step in education with gusto. savouring spectacular sunsets at the fence, looking down into the green vales all around.
even looking forward to the weekly friday formal dinners with tomato rice, chicken rendang, salad and ice cream! she remembered being quite hungry most of the time.
it was a time of the flower children, of california dreaming....
seremban was a snug little town then, green with hills and valleys..the lake gardens was still fresh and pristine most mornings....
now TKC has moved to nilai, leaving the quaint buildings in desolation, buildings which used to house laughter filled dorms with names like anggerik (she stayed at anggerik in '73,'74, kenanga '75,'76) (mahsuri/red), alamanda, matahari (siti zawiah/yellow), telang (tun fatimah/blue), (selendang delima/green).
sometimes TKC would come into her vivid dreams and she was a teenager once more.....
Monday, 18 August 2014
on a chilly morn
it rained in the night so the garden was wet and sparkling.
little koko went sniffing at the grass and ran back to his favorite corner at the porch where kiko was day dreaming serenely.
she took a close look at the 6 tomato flowers. the three bigger ones were turning pink from yellow. the tomato plant was getting much bigger and 'fatter' too, leaning snugly against the tough jasmine branches.
a peep at the chilly plants in the same big earthenware pot gave her joy. there was a long green chilly!
nice....
little koko went sniffing at the grass and ran back to his favorite corner at the porch where kiko was day dreaming serenely.
she took a close look at the 6 tomato flowers. the three bigger ones were turning pink from yellow. the tomato plant was getting much bigger and 'fatter' too, leaning snugly against the tough jasmine branches.
a peep at the chilly plants in the same big earthenware pot gave her joy. there was a long green chilly!
nice....
Wednesday, 13 August 2014
soaring eagles
she was enjoying a brisk walk in the park. the morning was serene. the sky was brilliant turquoise.
then she saw them.
three majestic eagles arching the zenith. their wings curved elegantly. grey against the blue heavens.
enchanting....
then she saw them.
three majestic eagles arching the zenith. their wings curved elegantly. grey against the blue heavens.
enchanting....
Thursday, 7 August 2014
the humble loner
she was in the car talking to bill, her youngest. it was the lunch hour. groups of cheerful students dressed in the hues of the rainbow walked in front of them, on the way to the cafeteria. laughing and happy they looked the typical energetic college students, raring to go in the world.
then she saw him.
a thin, youthful looking boy in deep green pants and buttoned-up white long sleeved shirt. he walked alone, face down, neither smiling nor gloomy. there was a hint of humility on his young features. yet his boyish face has an obvious glow! the 'cleanliness' and purity that is always present on the faces of those blessed with good, kind hearts!
she asked bill about the boy.
he is in first year. he does not have many friends. he is from a village up north. he usually eats only rice and gravy at the cafeteria. he seldom play around.
but he is good in his studies! alhamdulillah!
she was very glad to hear that. he must be studying hard. he must be very aware that only a sound education and good grades will lift him out of the vicious cycle of poverty.
she prays for his success in life. that he will have a good well paid career and have a happy family.
that one day he will assist another humble loner who walks the campus greens very much on his own......
then she saw him.
a thin, youthful looking boy in deep green pants and buttoned-up white long sleeved shirt. he walked alone, face down, neither smiling nor gloomy. there was a hint of humility on his young features. yet his boyish face has an obvious glow! the 'cleanliness' and purity that is always present on the faces of those blessed with good, kind hearts!
she asked bill about the boy.
he is in first year. he does not have many friends. he is from a village up north. he usually eats only rice and gravy at the cafeteria. he seldom play around.
but he is good in his studies! alhamdulillah!
she was very glad to hear that. he must be studying hard. he must be very aware that only a sound education and good grades will lift him out of the vicious cycle of poverty.
she prays for his success in life. that he will have a good well paid career and have a happy family.
that one day he will assist another humble loner who walks the campus greens very much on his own......
betong isle
a morning at betong isle, the tiny hamlet on a gentle hill slope where she played as a little girl.
the sky was moody yet it was humid. she was accompanied by her eldest son q. they plucked a few deep red huge rambutans from the tree by the side of the old house. the fruits were nectary sweet. delicious!
the ciku plant was laden with fruits. when ripe the ciku fruits are also heavenly sweet.
but the durian trees were bereft of the spiky king of fruits as it was nearly the end of the fruit season.
she looked at the green hills yonder. nostalgia crept in.
yesterdays of fun and frolic. of playful evenings. of hardworking schooldays. of the joy of excelling in class. of burning the midnight oil to get more As. it was actually fun to study hard. and obtain good grades.
and achieve your dreams.
how true that work is food for the soul. and for the cerebrals.
the sky was moody yet it was humid. she was accompanied by her eldest son q. they plucked a few deep red huge rambutans from the tree by the side of the old house. the fruits were nectary sweet. delicious!
the ciku plant was laden with fruits. when ripe the ciku fruits are also heavenly sweet.
but the durian trees were bereft of the spiky king of fruits as it was nearly the end of the fruit season.
she looked at the green hills yonder. nostalgia crept in.
yesterdays of fun and frolic. of playful evenings. of hardworking schooldays. of the joy of excelling in class. of burning the midnight oil to get more As. it was actually fun to study hard. and obtain good grades.
and achieve your dreams.
how true that work is food for the soul. and for the cerebrals.
Wednesday, 6 August 2014
editing
a foreign student doing his phd in one of the local universities asked her if she would proofread his nearly 400-page thesis. he has been sending his dissertations and articles quite regularly for either re-phrasing or editing.
it gave her much pleasure to do this little bit for him in his studies as she learnt so much from his articles for international journals, literature reviews and others of the sort as he often focused on his home town in the middle east. his write-ups on cultural and historic conservation in one of the volatile, ancient cities were really interesting, very informative and presented yet other exciting perspectives !
and conservation, be it regarding buildings or environments, is an all time favorite topic of hers. in fact she still has in her keeping most of the international charters related to conservation.
of course she agreed to do the proofreading. she normally does about 15 to 20 pages per day. sometimes she'd do it right through the nite too! when she enjoys doing such things, it never is a burden to her!
editing and proofreading thesis of undergraduates, masters and phd students of three local universities in the various fields give her so much enlightenment and joy. it is as if she is studying all the different courses and being paid to do so!
subhanallah, the rezeki in multitudes of forms and guises from The All Mighty SWT!
it gave her much pleasure to do this little bit for him in his studies as she learnt so much from his articles for international journals, literature reviews and others of the sort as he often focused on his home town in the middle east. his write-ups on cultural and historic conservation in one of the volatile, ancient cities were really interesting, very informative and presented yet other exciting perspectives !
and conservation, be it regarding buildings or environments, is an all time favorite topic of hers. in fact she still has in her keeping most of the international charters related to conservation.
of course she agreed to do the proofreading. she normally does about 15 to 20 pages per day. sometimes she'd do it right through the nite too! when she enjoys doing such things, it never is a burden to her!
editing and proofreading thesis of undergraduates, masters and phd students of three local universities in the various fields give her so much enlightenment and joy. it is as if she is studying all the different courses and being paid to do so!
subhanallah, the rezeki in multitudes of forms and guises from The All Mighty SWT!
blossoms in the garden
 |
| crepe myrtle |
 |
| white orchids |
 |
| pink ulam raja flower |
 |
| heliconia |
then she saw that one of the orchid plants has a row of buds again. four in a row. vivid violet buds gingerly dancing in the breeze.
and when she looked closely at the tomato plant snug in between curling deep green jasmine tendrils, she saw three little yellow flowers peeping out shyly.
her garden was in bloom again!
the bunches of deep fuchsia crepe myrtle blossoms waved merrily in the wind.
the brilliant orange heliconias stood erect on firm stalks.
the pure white fragrant jasmine flowers send whiffs of delicate perfume all around.
the fluttery lavender blooms of the lemuni tree.
the soft pink delicate petals of the ulam raja.
even the chilly plant has small white flowers on dainty stalks.
and amongst blades of grass there was a profusion of tiny blue, mauve and yellow wild flowers.....
oh there was so much beauty in front of her eyes....
 |
| deep violet orchids |
 |
| tomato flower |
 |
| chilly flower |
 |
| amaryllis |
Friday, 1 August 2014
island in the sun
it was the fifth day of aidilfitri.
it rained after dawn. cooling and refreshing. leaves sparkled anew. the grass laden with millions of glittering diamonds. it was so beautiful.
she went to fetch the 'island boy' who will be facing upsr in september.
on the way to his house she saw that the padi fields were golden with rice kernels ready for harvest! and by the footpath were numerous wild flowers in various hues from yellow, lilac, white, deep pink to indigo. they were so tiny yet so lovely. she captured them joyously in her phone.
back at her home she made him do past years' questions. one after another.
she corrected some mistakes he made, drumming it into him the correct way to answer questions. after a few hours she sent him back home to his island in the sun with a big packet of soya bean, a bun and fried chicken as well as 2b pencils, pens, erasers, sharpeners and a ruler.
she hoped he would do well in the exams. if he scores 5as, it would be possible to apply for a place in boarding school.
then he would be able to concentrate on his studies better in a more conducive environment, with better facilities etc.
right now he lives with his grandmother in a tiny house on the island in the sun.....
it rained after dawn. cooling and refreshing. leaves sparkled anew. the grass laden with millions of glittering diamonds. it was so beautiful.
she went to fetch the 'island boy' who will be facing upsr in september.
on the way to his house she saw that the padi fields were golden with rice kernels ready for harvest! and by the footpath were numerous wild flowers in various hues from yellow, lilac, white, deep pink to indigo. they were so tiny yet so lovely. she captured them joyously in her phone.
back at her home she made him do past years' questions. one after another.
she corrected some mistakes he made, drumming it into him the correct way to answer questions. after a few hours she sent him back home to his island in the sun with a big packet of soya bean, a bun and fried chicken as well as 2b pencils, pens, erasers, sharpeners and a ruler.
she hoped he would do well in the exams. if he scores 5as, it would be possible to apply for a place in boarding school.
then he would be able to concentrate on his studies better in a more conducive environment, with better facilities etc.
right now he lives with his grandmother in a tiny house on the island in the sun.....
 |
| island in the sun |
 |
| wild flowers |
 |
 |
| golden padi kernels |
aidilfitri with the bunnies
it was the second morning of aidilfitri. she was at the terrace watching the antics of her beloved bunnies on the lawn.
the sky was pale, the breeze cooling. it was so tranquil.
kiko was chasing naughty little koko among the flower pots, a motion of dusty white and pure black dodging the heliconia plants.
at times she sneezed the flu out. yet kiko and koko ran merrily hither and thither on the deep green grass.
when tired the two bunnies would come to rest by her side, both lying down quietly as if contented to be with her. as if trying to tell her that they loved her too.
the sweet little rabbits keep her loneliness at bay now....
the sky was pale, the breeze cooling. it was so tranquil.
kiko was chasing naughty little koko among the flower pots, a motion of dusty white and pure black dodging the heliconia plants.
at times she sneezed the flu out. yet kiko and koko ran merrily hither and thither on the deep green grass.
when tired the two bunnies would come to rest by her side, both lying down quietly as if contented to be with her. as if trying to tell her that they loved her too.
the sweet little rabbits keep her loneliness at bay now....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)