last friday she was in tanjong penaga due to a craving for hameediyah beriani. but it seemed hameediyah does not open on fridays. q ridzwan went to subaidah but it was already way past 3 pm and their beriani was sold out. hmm....
lily rose took her to paragon. after some retail therapy for lily rose (she did her masters dissertation in the morning), mother and daughter had hi tea at savarro (felda's). facing the grey-blue sea she had quite good nasi kerabu and green apple juice while lily rose had fried bihun.
but it was rather scary looking at how the spanking new mall incorporated the ancient uplands school building. she kept looking at the joint between the ridge of the old tiled roof with the huge new glass wall of the shopping mall by the sea. the proportion was weird. that was conservation at its worst, so blatantly hypocritical. the old building looked so forlorn, out of place and forced to submit. no more of its character, its sublime colonaded loveliness.
sometimes she wonder if the new breed of architects have enough willpower to defend their integrity in their material pursuit. i.m.pei's glass pyramid in front of the louvre is in its own class. well thought out in terms of proportion, function, effect to the environment, the local urban fabric.
this monstrosity in gurney drive makes a mockery of the very process of conservation.
and the high end foreign stores.... new age colonisation. subtle, unnoticed by most. its a matter of concepts. hmmm....globalisation.....
that nite while waiting for naj rose in a light drizzle, a cat came mewing by her feet. the cries had an urgent pang of hunger. she immediately gave a handful of maruku to the feline, all that was in her handbag. the cat ate them too quickly, proving that it was definitely very hungry!
she told bill ridzal to fetch some rice for the poor thing. then q ridzwan came with some chicken bones and bits. naj rose gave some fish bones. not much, but the cat ate everything. she felt so sad, the cat must have been hungry for quite some time. if only she had some fish too for the striped cat.
but it felt so good to be able to feed the cat.
all of them then went to b.p. it was already nearly midnite. she felt rather hungry. so they looked for some stalls to see if there were some packet nasi lemak. it was at simpang empat. all the stalls were closed. except one. it was a small warung manned by an arab. q ridzwan asked if there were any capatis. the man in white kopiah and jubah said no more capati but there was a plate of beriani rice left! she couldn't believe her ears! out of the deep black night,unexpected, incredible. beriani!
Subhanallah! Allahuakbar!
that night she had a really delicious chicken beriani with yummy acar/chutney, cooked by an arab!
Saturday, 22 November 2014
Wednesday, 19 November 2014
the magnificent doors of zanzibar
zanzibar..... even the name promises mystery ... and wonder...
in its heyday, it was the 6th wealthiest country in the world. due to spices.
separated by a sliver of intense, blue ocean from the continent of africa, the quaint island is in no hurry to catch up with the rest of the world, remaining unhurried, sublime and lost in blissful dreams.
sleepy villages with mud brick houses complacently dot the coconut groves. cassava followed delicious spicy pilaf rice on dinner tables.
the spice trade brought merchants from near and far. most mansions built by rich traders have arabian, indian, european characteristics. the most notable are the highly crafted carved timber front doors, a sign of the immense wealth of the owners. intricate, beautiful, the huge doors stand proud till today...
and... a jovial coconut tree climber called mr. butterfly because of his prowess, sings while he climbs. his lovely resonant vocals ring out through the palm leaves, among the lyrics some strangely familiar words, ' hey....... aku nama maca-maca... welcome to zanzibar...'
pristine white shores circle zanzibar....while the local men, women and children dreamed of the ancient past....
in its heyday, it was the 6th wealthiest country in the world. due to spices.
separated by a sliver of intense, blue ocean from the continent of africa, the quaint island is in no hurry to catch up with the rest of the world, remaining unhurried, sublime and lost in blissful dreams.
sleepy villages with mud brick houses complacently dot the coconut groves. cassava followed delicious spicy pilaf rice on dinner tables.
the spice trade brought merchants from near and far. most mansions built by rich traders have arabian, indian, european characteristics. the most notable are the highly crafted carved timber front doors, a sign of the immense wealth of the owners. intricate, beautiful, the huge doors stand proud till today...
and... a jovial coconut tree climber called mr. butterfly because of his prowess, sings while he climbs. his lovely resonant vocals ring out through the palm leaves, among the lyrics some strangely familiar words, ' hey....... aku nama maca-maca... welcome to zanzibar...'
pristine white shores circle zanzibar....while the local men, women and children dreamed of the ancient past....
Friday, 14 November 2014
the beautiful vernacular houses
shapes of things do tell stories.
look at houses high on the mountains of laos. in the irrawaddy delta. on faraway bali. on shady south pacific islands. by the mekong river in kemboja. along old roads in pattani in thailand. in remote villages in tanah melayu. among sugar cane farms in mindanao, in secluded valleys in timur leste as well as in the lush highlands and seas of borneo.
these highly functional, sustainable abodes, humble in their stark simplicity, have much in common. all over the malay archipelago, indo china and beyond. they look almost the same.
built on stilts for a number of obvious reasons, out of readily available bamboo, rattan, sago or nipah leaves, coconut leaves and trunks from the rainforests, these dwellings are well ventilated, have cool interiors to fight the high humidity of the tropics and are very very affordable.
the steeply pitched roofs efficiently channel the heavy downpours. woven bamboo walls allow free movement of wind throughout the open planned houses, resilient to storms. eaves are deep for sunshading. wide verandahs are such effective transitional spaces between the hot outside and the cool interior.
floors of timber or pieces of the trunk of the lontar palm have tiny gaps for cross ventilation.
the houses are flexible in allowing enlargements and extensions when necessary, as for an extra sleeping space or a larger kitchen.
embellishments on the fascia boards, handrails of staircases, roof ridges, windows and doors differ according to culture, prosperity and raw materials. these are such minor differences which give much richness to the architectural characteristics.
imagine the time when the people of nusantara, the malay archipelago, great maritime travellers that they were, going from place to place, island to island, to trade, look around, connect and perhaps inter-marry.
the beauty of the simple traditional timber houses will ever remain....
look at houses high on the mountains of laos. in the irrawaddy delta. on faraway bali. on shady south pacific islands. by the mekong river in kemboja. along old roads in pattani in thailand. in remote villages in tanah melayu. among sugar cane farms in mindanao, in secluded valleys in timur leste as well as in the lush highlands and seas of borneo.
these highly functional, sustainable abodes, humble in their stark simplicity, have much in common. all over the malay archipelago, indo china and beyond. they look almost the same.
built on stilts for a number of obvious reasons, out of readily available bamboo, rattan, sago or nipah leaves, coconut leaves and trunks from the rainforests, these dwellings are well ventilated, have cool interiors to fight the high humidity of the tropics and are very very affordable.
the steeply pitched roofs efficiently channel the heavy downpours. woven bamboo walls allow free movement of wind throughout the open planned houses, resilient to storms. eaves are deep for sunshading. wide verandahs are such effective transitional spaces between the hot outside and the cool interior.
floors of timber or pieces of the trunk of the lontar palm have tiny gaps for cross ventilation.
the houses are flexible in allowing enlargements and extensions when necessary, as for an extra sleeping space or a larger kitchen.
embellishments on the fascia boards, handrails of staircases, roof ridges, windows and doors differ according to culture, prosperity and raw materials. these are such minor differences which give much richness to the architectural characteristics.
imagine the time when the people of nusantara, the malay archipelago, great maritime travellers that they were, going from place to place, island to island, to trade, look around, connect and perhaps inter-marry.
the beauty of the simple traditional timber houses will ever remain....
Thursday, 13 November 2014
congratulations naj on your degree
nov 8. naj's convocation day. the whole family was in usm's great hall to witness the happy occasion. it was a sweet co-incidence that both parents, naj's sisters (nad, dhyra) and brothers (q, bil) were in various shades of grey. naj herself wore beige under the violet robe and orange lapel.
she wanted to bake a cake for naj, her third girl, but had to put it on hold due to an urgent editing job.
they arrived early at the nation's second oldest varsity at minden. proud parents and happy graduates were smiling and cheerful. there was a definite air of gaiety and joy.
she remembered her own graduation years ago at the parliament building in the capital city, kuala lumpur. utm then at jalan semarak did not possess a hall large enough for a graduation ceremony.
she wore her deep green wedding songket kebaya (she married immediately after her final exams) then! later utm forbid the use of songket by graduates!
after the ceremony at usm, they took spontaneous photographs in the hot sun by a green slope with plenty of flowers. then more formal pixes at the studios.
without breakfast the whole family was hungry as it was then way past lunch time.
nad then packed fried chicken, ikan bakar, pajeri nenas and terong, kerabu taugeh, sambal belacan and ulam (pegaga, pucuk janggus, ulam raja, kacang botol) from a popular restaurant across the road from usm, 'awet muda'.
it was really sumptious, that lunch!
later after maghrib the family had dinner at a hilltop restaurant on the mainland, a treat from nad and dhyra. the local and western dishes were great. she had fish n chips with green apple juice. the boys had mixed grill, koay teow, the girls had grilled chicken of sorts while father had fried rice and tom yam with several side dishes..
after her exams naj got a job with a multi-national organization.
it was a beautiful day with all her children. she enjoyed it very much.
she hopes all her kids will further their studies till PhD. work and study are good as they keep the cerebrals well stimulated. this is the actual secret to awet muda....
she wanted to bake a cake for naj, her third girl, but had to put it on hold due to an urgent editing job.
they arrived early at the nation's second oldest varsity at minden. proud parents and happy graduates were smiling and cheerful. there was a definite air of gaiety and joy.
she remembered her own graduation years ago at the parliament building in the capital city, kuala lumpur. utm then at jalan semarak did not possess a hall large enough for a graduation ceremony.
she wore her deep green wedding songket kebaya (she married immediately after her final exams) then! later utm forbid the use of songket by graduates!
after the ceremony at usm, they took spontaneous photographs in the hot sun by a green slope with plenty of flowers. then more formal pixes at the studios.
without breakfast the whole family was hungry as it was then way past lunch time.
nad then packed fried chicken, ikan bakar, pajeri nenas and terong, kerabu taugeh, sambal belacan and ulam (pegaga, pucuk janggus, ulam raja, kacang botol) from a popular restaurant across the road from usm, 'awet muda'.
it was really sumptious, that lunch!
later after maghrib the family had dinner at a hilltop restaurant on the mainland, a treat from nad and dhyra. the local and western dishes were great. she had fish n chips with green apple juice. the boys had mixed grill, koay teow, the girls had grilled chicken of sorts while father had fried rice and tom yam with several side dishes..
after her exams naj got a job with a multi-national organization.
it was a beautiful day with all her children. she enjoyed it very much.
she hopes all her kids will further their studies till PhD. work and study are good as they keep the cerebrals well stimulated. this is the actual secret to awet muda....
an evening in kuala kedah
it was a fine sunday evening, mild and balmy. they took a leisurely drive along the old route to kuala kedah, she and her son q.
they bought some hot steamed corns at the foot of gunung jerai. then they stopped at a stall by the bridge at kota sarang semut, selling lots of Malay kuehs. pulut udang, cucur badak, pulut seri muka, all sorts of kueh talam, curry puffs, qasidah, many different lepats, spicy kacang kuda, onde-onde, numerous bengkangs and many many more....
and the kuehs tasted so good!
the ancient fort, lighthouse, istana at the once great port of kuala kedah have been restored well. there were some vibrations from the past.... she closed her eyes and heard the voices of traders and merchants of yore from near and far, some haggling, some shouting. the sounds of waves as huge ships began to anchor. it was so vibrant. pulsating......
when she opened her eyes, she was by the side of a weary cannon, q snapping a pix of her...
on the way home after the huge bridge she saw a man selling ikan kembung by the road. it was only rm5.00 per kilo!
they bought 2 kilos of the fresh fish which she cooked into curry a few days later. she added wedges of cabbage and tomatoes. it was delicious. the fish was exceedingly tasty and sweet.
but because she hadn't cooked curry for ages, for years in fact, she didn't put santan in it!
so it was a healthy ikan kembung and cabbage curry......
they bought some hot steamed corns at the foot of gunung jerai. then they stopped at a stall by the bridge at kota sarang semut, selling lots of Malay kuehs. pulut udang, cucur badak, pulut seri muka, all sorts of kueh talam, curry puffs, qasidah, many different lepats, spicy kacang kuda, onde-onde, numerous bengkangs and many many more....
and the kuehs tasted so good!
the ancient fort, lighthouse, istana at the once great port of kuala kedah have been restored well. there were some vibrations from the past.... she closed her eyes and heard the voices of traders and merchants of yore from near and far, some haggling, some shouting. the sounds of waves as huge ships began to anchor. it was so vibrant. pulsating......
when she opened her eyes, she was by the side of a weary cannon, q snapping a pix of her...
on the way home after the huge bridge she saw a man selling ikan kembung by the road. it was only rm5.00 per kilo!
they bought 2 kilos of the fresh fish which she cooked into curry a few days later. she added wedges of cabbage and tomatoes. it was delicious. the fish was exceedingly tasty and sweet.
but because she hadn't cooked curry for ages, for years in fact, she didn't put santan in it!
so it was a healthy ikan kembung and cabbage curry......
the green pear
the early morning breeze was cold and sharp, rippling through the lemuni and the lengkuas leaves.
she was at the terrace enjoying a green pear. then little koko stood up on two feet in front of her, front feet on her lap.
it occurred to her then that koko might like a bite of the pear. so she gave him some which he gobbled up happily.
she gave a piece to kiko too but after taking a sniff kiko looked away.
so it seemed that koko likes green pear but kiko does not.
and the morning soon welcomed the soft rays of the monsoon sun.....
she was at the terrace enjoying a green pear. then little koko stood up on two feet in front of her, front feet on her lap.
it occurred to her then that koko might like a bite of the pear. so she gave him some which he gobbled up happily.
she gave a piece to kiko too but after taking a sniff kiko looked away.
so it seemed that koko likes green pear but kiko does not.
and the morning soon welcomed the soft rays of the monsoon sun.....
sekapur sireh
the sireh or betel leaf is synonymous to the Malay Archipelago (which includes the pacific islands and atolls, philippines (before spain's inquisition this was a Malay Kingdom)), indo china (kemboja, vietnam, laos), thailand, myanmar, taiwan.
travel documentaries give an insight into this singular phenomena.
in remote villages in the northern mountains of luzon, with centuries old terraced rice fields, men and women are still chewing the betel leaves wrapped up with slices of areca nut, some slaked lime (burnt shells).
on sunshiny pristine beaches in the south pacific people enjoy shady afternoons under swaying palms, mouth full of the same concoction.
by the banks of the tonle sap lake, while gathering lotus seeds, cheerful tanned ladies chewed happily the intoxicating betel leaf mix.
on the busy streets of mandalay, women with bedak sejuk on their faces eschew the betel leaves while peddling out their wares.
in the highlands of the Malay Peninsula, the indigenous inhabitants enjoy the cool of the evening chewing betel leaves with family members, surrounded by million year old rainforests.
etched in history. polynesians, melanesians, they were agile, able, excellent seafarers wandering the many islands of the far-flung Malay Archipelago. these were the Malay people, encompassing regionally classified Melayu, Siam, Jawa, Acheh, Bugis, Banjar, Mandailing, Bangsa Moro, Cham, the original inhabitants of australia, Maoris, Pacific Islanders,....
hmm... and look closely at the features, way of life of the natives of north and south america, japan, taiwan, indo china....
travel documentaries give an insight into this singular phenomena.
in remote villages in the northern mountains of luzon, with centuries old terraced rice fields, men and women are still chewing the betel leaves wrapped up with slices of areca nut, some slaked lime (burnt shells).
on sunshiny pristine beaches in the south pacific people enjoy shady afternoons under swaying palms, mouth full of the same concoction.
by the banks of the tonle sap lake, while gathering lotus seeds, cheerful tanned ladies chewed happily the intoxicating betel leaf mix.
on the busy streets of mandalay, women with bedak sejuk on their faces eschew the betel leaves while peddling out their wares.
in the highlands of the Malay Peninsula, the indigenous inhabitants enjoy the cool of the evening chewing betel leaves with family members, surrounded by million year old rainforests.
etched in history. polynesians, melanesians, they were agile, able, excellent seafarers wandering the many islands of the far-flung Malay Archipelago. these were the Malay people, encompassing regionally classified Melayu, Siam, Jawa, Acheh, Bugis, Banjar, Mandailing, Bangsa Moro, Cham, the original inhabitants of australia, Maoris, Pacific Islanders,....
hmm... and look closely at the features, way of life of the natives of north and south america, japan, taiwan, indo china....
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