A Little Of The Past

 Old Friends

Last Chinese New Year saw me meeting up with some old classmates of some 40 years ago.

40 years is not a small figure.

Not easy to have another 40 years again.

So, when Chin Tong and Lee Cheong spearheaded the meet, dad and I took the opportunity to join in.

 Ian Farrell, a peace corp in the early 70s taught physics in good old Muar High School. Back then he was also the choir teacher. I remembered going down all the way to Johor Bahru for a choir competition. Dedicated and selfless, he spent a few years in Muar teaching the local children. He walked up to me but I doubted he remembered my name. But then, who cares about names? If you were there, you must have been connected to the past. When he was the choir teacher, I thought he was much older than us; but to my surprise I found out just this time around that he is only 3 years older than us...

 We look strange to one another. Actually if not for this meet, it would have been impossible for me to recognize some of them.How we have aged.We talked about ourselves; catching up eagerly with what we have done to our lives. A couple of us have even retired. Even Ian looked twice his original size.Lee Cheong is third from the left in the second row and Chin Tong is sixth from the left.Loi Suet, the lady in the brown T-shirt is now residing in the States.

The photo above was taken in 1973. Five of us from this group met for the Chinese New Year break. Can you match them ? My daughter told me I have been naughty as my skirt was short. I told her back then it was the fashion...the shorter the better.

It is indeed nostalgic to meet again. I wonder where the rest have gone to. I pray for their well being and will we ever meet again? Maybe at some weddings. Maybe at funerals. Maybe at good old Muar.

Treaured times.

Be Happy

It has been a long week.

 When the time is appropriate it would be told.

But just for this afternoon, it was good to see joy and good fun again.

Walking along the streets of Kuala Lumpur on a hot Sunday afternoon , I was attracted to a group of dancers.

Yes, it was right in front of Pavilion. Kuala Lumpur is so colourful; thriving with a hive of activities and fun loving people. Malaysians are spontaneous and creative. It is also so cheap to stay in Malaysia; food is abundant and housing is affordable. You can buy cars without qualms and petrol is subsidized.You will know what I mean if you try to survive in Singapore; how to buy a roof over your head when you start from scratch ?

Do I guess correctly if I may say that this lady took the initiative to start some dance motions and lo and behold...

She easily collected a group of followers without much persuasion.

So they hopped, jumped, swirled, squatted, kicked and finally danced under the hot sun...so much energy. It is good to see young people having clean fun. It is also so good to see them happy. We have to learn to be happy.

So without a doubt, every time I get to the heart of Kuala Lumpur, I choose to visit this place for food.

Yes, right in front of Lot 10... the Heritage Food Village.

 

 You have to get into this building to get the heritage feeling. It reminds one of Kuala Lumpur in the 50s and 60s. So much food and original tastes. Noodles, rice, sweets and concoctions only found in the streets of good old Kuala Lumpur from generations ago all congregate here. Price? Go find out yourself.

This vendor here pushes a trolley selling herbal drinks and look at that thermos flask. I remembered having that in my home when I was a little girl. So they try to permeate the ambiance of the long ago days of Kuala Lumpur. I also noticed a lady dressed in white pushing her trolley calling out loud ; siew mai, siew pao...she had a strong voice.

They serve coffee, tea, toast bread and foods related to the past. A real good feeling.

Guess who we saw. The YES man and the big boss having his lunch here too. He had a group of young people around him; the mentor and his mentees.

After a week of events, the afternoon brought me some gladness of heart again.

It doesn't take much to make one happy; does it ?

The Irresistible !

Eating and shopping...

We are a group; not very young but at the same time desire to savor in the best. We shop for good offers - the best at the best price. We also have an innate problem. We do not have the guts and style to spend lavishly. By the way all the ladies including the man have high purchasing powers but we lack the skill to spend. Who says it's easy to spend? You don't know how to when you don't have the habit. So, we tried to buy, buy, buy but believe me some of us find it real difficult to do so. Actually, actually, actually to tell you the truth; we are misers.
The teaching profession has taught us the value of everything and waste not. So one of the best times of the trip was when we shared, laughed and ate together...that we were able to .


Ms Tan said she did not want to buy; then to store the goods away. Madam Loy scrutinized so closely the pair of shorts she wanted her son to have. It must be cheap and durable. What can escape the calculations of a Maths jargon? Madam Looi to the extreme left is a simpleton; anything and everything goes; easy to please.

So we ploughed through the streets of Hatyai just to please our eyes and wants; not tired out easily.

How does one resist this? They are widely spread out in great splendor ! The eyes and taste buds are caught by the sight.

I bought 2 birds and ate happily. They were crunchy, delicious and finger licking good.

See this pot of glutinous rice? Thailand is well known for her production. Nations all over clamor for her quality; world class. Glutinous rice in this manner can be consumed in various ways.

You may add durian to the rice...

Or mangoes too...

Packed in this manner the rice and fruit is out of the world ! Superbly tasty. After the first round, you would ask for the second, then the third till you finally realize that weight is gained. This combination of food must not be missed.

We were also told that the nasi lemak here is special. So we bought a packet and shared among ourselves... but it was only so, so.

All the shopping, merriment, food and joy were revolved round this place...it is the exact spot that experienced the bombing a couple of weeks ago. What a close shave. It is hard to imagine if we were there at the wrong time. Indeed we are thankful we did not have to go through the ordeal of a wrong move. Thank God we came home safe and sound.

Food is nice but we will never compromise our safety.

The Floating Market

Not To be Missed
A trip to Hatyai can only be made complete with this trip to the market on the river.

Walking to the designated place saw us browsing through local stalls selling local delicacies and products.

The three ladies got together for a shot to be kept forever.

Handicraft so well crafted and attractively displayed. It was hard to resist.

Throngs of people going towards the same direction to have a feel of the market.

This is new to me. Never seen before. A sausage wrapped in flour mixture. Doesn't look too difficult to prepare though.

Coconut pancake well wrapped up for sale.

From a distance the boat people doing business on the water is a sight.

A tourist attraction, the floating market is a crowd puller.

I find this different. The vendor delivers in this manner.

The buyer pays thus...very imaginative; part and parcel of the winning game.

All kinds of roots are deep fried ... very tasty.

Puan Poh is most keen to get a drink as it is served in this attractive mug.

But the best is to come; you can take the mug home...ooo...a sales gimmick. You pay for both products. No businessman loses under normal circumstances. But a good trick.

The 2 teachers are very at home here. Eat and drink like the locals.

Seafood in batter.

Colorful fruits to catch the eye and bud.

Ice cream served with coconut.

Local appetizers. Out of the world. No chef prepares like them.

Dumplings of all shades and shapes.

Oysters caught fresh from the sea...

Chicken rice...

Fresh, yummy salads...

The sweet dodol...

We were well entertained too; lovely sharp and strong voice...notice the little girl.

Street wise and already willing to sing for a penny; she may just grow up to be a star.

We left as the skies grew dark.

The Klonghae Floating Market is different. Give it a visit.

No regrets.