Merdeka..

Yes, we must think of Malaysia first in whatever we do. As Malaysian we should give our hearts to this country that we call home. Together we had made it to the fifty year of Independence. Today we celebrate that great day. The fiftieth years of our Independence. Let us celebrate it together and Enjoy. We the people consist of many races. Our society, the Malaysian society are multi racial, multi religion and multi cultural. Together we had made Malaysia a very successful country in this part of the world. No country has done what we did in just a short span of time. In fifty years we are already in the first world.

With the country in peace and harmony all the years. With the hard work we all put, today we can proudly say that we live in a prosperous country. We now have full employment and the the society living in peace and harmony. Everyone now have roof over their head, food aplenty and we now have more clothing then we need. Our shopping mall are always full with happy shoppers. An indicator of the success of our economy.

We now have not less then two million foreign workers working in our homes, in our plantations, in the construction industries and many other sectors of the economy. We need them because we already have full employment. We all should thanks them for their contribution in the making of a successful Malaysia. So Malaysian, let us move forward with confidence and be happy of what we have got. We got here because we all work very hard and because we are united as a society. So let us stay united, for as boldly proclaimed on our national crest “Unity is Strength”,. Have a nice day.

Negaraku..

Negaraku is the Malaysian National Anthem. I start singing it when I was still in school especially during my Scouting days. The first time I sang it was at the town Padang [field] during the Independence Day celebration on August 31, 1957. During our school days as Boy Scout we use to go camping on weekend. Most of the time at Teluk Cempadak in Kuantan. At that time Teluk Cempedak is just an enclave of beautiful beach flanks by the greens of the jungle. It made great camping site. To get there we had to walk or cycle using a small path which start from where the present Sultan Palace is now. There was no house there at that time but just the greens of the tropical forest. During our camping days every morning we would raised the Malayan flag and sang the Negaraku. We all sang it with pride in our heart. In that our land is now a free country after been colonized for four hundred years. I have never stop sing it whenever the opportunity arises and always love it. Now I notice our grandchildren are singing it and I am indeed glad that they too appreciate and enjoy singing this National Anthem. This article from Sinchew-I.Com sort of narrate the history of our Negaraku [Our country] very well indeed. Have a nice day. MERDEKA..

We are Malaysian..

If you are the citizen of the country call Malaysia then you are Malaysian. It say so very clearly in the Federation Constitution. Part 1, Article 1 [1] ' The Federation shall be known, in Malay and in English by the name Malaysia' So if you are a citizen of this country you are Malaysian and if translated into Malay or Bahasa Malaysia, it would be just Bangsa Malaysia. Every countries in the world have their set of ethnic group or race that made up the population. So we have the people of the Malay culture group, the Chinese, the Indian, the Kadazan, the Banjau, the Melanau, the Iban, the Bidayuh and the many other ethnic people that populate the state of Sabah and Sarawak. All these people are Malaysian. So let us stick to the constitution of the country that our founding father thought with foresight. We are all Malaysian and be proud of it. We have one Flag, the Jalur Gemilang, one National Anthem, the Negaraku and we also have a very important National Principal of the nation in the form of the Rukun Negara. If we all just accept these as our guiding principal we would be doing great for this young country Malaysia that would celebrate its fifty years of independence come this August 31, 2007. Merdeka.

The colorful buildings of Batu Road..

Some week ago we were at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. It was formerly known a Batu Road. The reason why the British call it Batu Road, we can only guess. Batu in English is Stone, perhaps it is the first road built using stone. Remember those were the days when a path is already big for walking. Then we do not need roads to move from point A to B or to C. We just walk taking the path that had been use before or just create another one through the bushes of the orchard or later on through the Rubber plantation, where the trees grows in rows.

To divert a little, I remember a story of the first white man on entering Malaya from Singapore, saw that the trees were all in neat rows. He thought it is a forest or a jungle of a sort. Well, at that time this country were known for its dense forest of good timber. So he kept wondering why the trees of one kind grows so healthy in rows and rows. So been curious the white man ask his local friend, how come all the trees grows in line. Well, the local jokingly replied that in the tropic new species that was brought from other countries had to first learn to live and that this plant has yet to assimilate with the local species. So to be on the safe side the tree decided to grow side by side for the time being. Rubber tree is not native to this part of the world. It was brought by the British Planters. It grows well in this country and eventually Malaya/Malaysia became the biggest producer of natural rubber. Well, that is one of the stories of the Rubber tree. As we all know too well, Rubber trees do not just grow. It is planted, thus it is in rows. Well there you are, the story goes.

So coming back to the story of Batu Road, the British engineers must have ask the local what is Stone in Malay and the reply is Batu. So I believe they decided to name the first road in Kuala Lumpur Business Centre as Batu Road. I wonder why come Independence, the authority at that time did not kept the old name but instead renamed it after our first Yang di-Pertuan Agong [King], Tuanku Abdul Rahman. I think they choose to name it as Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman because it was the busiest road and also the main road in the heart of bustling Kuala Lumpur at that time in our history. As well as at that time it was the Business Centre of the country. So it was thought proper that the place where Kuala Lumpur grows should be name after the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong [King] of this country. Today it is no longer Batu Road but Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. It would have been nice if the history of this road is written on a plaque and placed at a strategic place, to remind the now generation of its history. For Batu Road has its own history during the colonial era. Perhaps City Hall should think of this. It would surely add value to this tourist destination. Well, that is history now. Anyhow with the redevelopment and the face lift of the whole area that is been done by the City Hall, it would soon be back to its former glory.

While I was there that Saturday I saw that City Hall is doing an upgrading of the whole area, a sort of a face lift. The back lane is been paved with colorful brick block. It would be a great place for the weekly hawker's bazaar comes the weekend. Most of the old and historical buildings along the roads are now painted in various colors. To me it look great for it add color to the already colorful part of the city. I took a numbers of snap of the buildings and am sharing it here for all to enjoy. Have a nice day.

Blogtoon..

Friends, I found this cartoon. Its so relevant to the Malaysian blogging scene now. Much as I had enjoyed it, I believe others would enjoy it as well. Thanks Norizan for highlighting it. Have a nice day.

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My Birthday...

Wake up to another beautiful day. The sun is shining brightly into the kitchen as I open the kitchen window. It is real nice to see the bright sun welcoming the day. A beautiful day indeed. It is my birthday today. Well, getting older, adding another year. It is my sixty eight years. It has been a great life all throughout the years that I could remember. My daughter who is an MD says that Abah when you get older, your memories of the past would be clearer than before and that you may forget of what happening this instant. How true!!, now I could remember crystal clear of my childhood but now sometime when I think of taking something at the kitchen, on arrival at the kitchen would just forget what is that I am supposed to take. It would takes sometime before I recollect and get what I came for. It is like that when you grow old, but then that is life and I enjoy every minutes of it. Like blogging this on this beautiful day, my birthday.

I am the few folks of my age that are on to blogging. The few Pak Blogger that I know are this, and this, to mention a few. Well, there are others out there of course. I would tell the young that I am from the cave generation and had quantum leaped into the twenty first century and now blogging as well. I am enjoying blogging, for at my age there are much to tell to the present generation of the past happening or to advice the young, whenever I find my two cents thought is worth the paper that it is written on. Anyway I just write whatever I think would contribute to making the world of ours a better place to live and enjoy life. In the course of my blogging I get to know the young blogger of the Merdeka generation. There are too many of them and the list are too long to mention here. Well, they all are an inspiration to me, for I know that these blogger have the country first in their hearts. Well, sons and daughters of the Merdeka generation, go on blogging for you are doing the right things in sharing your thoughts through blogging. Me, a man who saw the first day of Merdeka am proud of you all. And of course I want you all to be responsible in what you blog as well.

This year we would celebrate the fifty years of Merdeka [Independence Day] and with the country in prosperity we should be happy living in this country of ours, Malaysia. On the day the country was granted independence on the August 31, 1957, I was there as a Boy Scout seeing the Union Jack been lowered down and the new Malayan Flag been raised and then for for the first time we stop singing the 'God save the Queen' anthem and instead proudly sung the 'Negara ku'. Smart in our Boy Scout uniform we sang with our heart the Negara ku and saw the Malayan Flag flutter proudly in the morning son. This scene is still crystal clear in my mind. The great day of my youth at the Kuantan Town Padang[field] some fifty years ago. Well on this day, my sixty eight, I am older than the country itself. I am happy that we have made it to be a prosperous country with full employment. The people living in peace and harmony, enjoying life like never before. My birthday wish... A better tomorrow and forever. Friends, Have a nice day. Merdeka!!!

Wisma Yakin, a very short history...

Yes, I promise to write a history of Wisma Yakin and I am doing just that today. It would be very difficult to write the complete history of the place but I would try to do a short one, a very short one indeed. A sort of a Short History of Wisma Yakin. First the name of this complex or this Eleven Story high-rising building is call Wisma Yakin. Why did they choose Yakin. Well, I believe those folks who decided on this name has high hopes of the success of this building, so they name it Wisma Yakin. Yakin mean confident. So if you translate this into English it is call the Confident Building.

So how does this all begin. Well according to the story relate to me by the Chairman of the Owners Association of Wisma Yakin, the idea was mooted sometime in the early seventies after the New Economic Policy was passed by the Malaysian Parliament. At the states level, as a mean of helping the Malay/Bumiputra to make a breakthrough into the economic activities of the country, the state economic institution was established. For the state of Selangor, it is the Selangor State Economic Development Cooperation. It is popularly known in Malay as Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor [PKNS]. The small Malay business community in this part of the city at that time were doing business in a Bazaar that they had built. The bazaar were mostly of stalls and shacks. Their enterprise were doing alright and business was good. It was at that time a thriving bazaar. So sometime in the early seventies, the owners of the piece of land, the present site of Wisma Yakin decided to get the help of PKNS to build them a tall building on its site. Those folks to me were indeed visionary. Remember it is the early seventies and there are not many tall buildings around that area. And those Malay folks then thought of it and got it materialized.

With the help of the then Menteri Besar of Selangor, Datuk Harun Idris, got the PKNS to finance the building of this eleven story high rising complex beside the river. Which consist of a floor for retail outlets and the other floors for other business activities which includes offices spaces. In 1972 when it was completed, Wisma Yakin was an imposing building, the tallest in that area of the town. It is the first building ever built by the Malay. In this case it is the Malay owners of the land which Wisma Yakin now stand tall. And now these Malay collectively own thirty percent of the building, which includes all the retail spaces at the ground floor and the other seventy percent belong to the PKNS.

Well, let go back in times and see what happen there in a era gone by. Sometime in the early nineteen century. From the year 1830 onward. The place where the Masjid India area is now was known as Kampong Rawa. It was a settlement of the Rawa people, an ethnic group, like the Mendaling and the Kapar people who migrated to this part of the Malay Peninsular in the early years of the nineteen century. It is still stated as Kampong Rawa on the map of Kuala Lumpur of today. So as the name suggested it was the Malay that first settled here. Under the leadership of Raja Abdullah[1857], an entrepreneur of his time and at that time an influential figure in the royal court of Selangor, saw the potential of the place where tin ore were in abundant supply. He decided to exploit it for export. The British were rather happy of this venture and help in some ways to the establishing of the small town call Kuala Lumpur. Since mining is a big venture Raja Abdullah decided to invite Chinese miners from the state of Perak to come over and join him in the exploration of tin ore. Among the Chinaman is no other then the famous Yap Ah Loy[1862], who later on became known as Kapitan Cina the third. There was two other Kapitan Cina but Yap Ah Long is the most successful and famous of them all. When the Chinese miners and the Indian Moslem traders start coming to this part of Selangor, a place where tin ore were in abundant and business were thriving, the place soon became crowded. This is actually the beginning of the Kuala Lumpur that we see today.

The present owners of Wisma Yakin are descendant of the first people who had settled at Kampong Rawa. The Rawa and other ethnic Malay people are traders, as such they set up their their stalls or business shop house on the land of which part of it is where the Wisma Yakin now stand. Soon Indian trader grew in numbers and they are settled by the British around the place where the Masjid India is now. The Malay had earlier built a mosque for their use as well as for the Indian Moslem who had just settled there. It was later demolished and the government then built a new mosque, the Masjid Jamek. This magnificently building of what is now known as Masjid Jamek was built in 1907. Early on for wanting a mosque of their own where the sermon is in their language, the Indian Moslem decided to build their own mosque, which is now the Masjid India [1860]. An imposing building opposite Wisma Yakin. That is why there are two mosque in such a small area. Well, it served its purpose well than and now. The Chinese who came to mine were allow to settle on the other side of the river where the Central Market and Petaling Streets are today. The Chinese miners would search for tin along the river behind the Bank Bumiputra building is now. Actually the mining activities goes all along to the Ampang of today. And life goes on for the these three main communities, the Malay, the Chinese and the Indian, living in peace and harmony. Generating prosperity for all Malaysian to enjoy in this country call Malaysia. Making Kuala Lumpur, a cosmopolitan capital city of Malaysia, a wonderland that is truly Asia in miniature.

The whole complex is now more than thirty years old and I think it should be given a face lift with a new shopping concept/environment, especially so where the retail business area are now. The Association Chairman told me they had plan to do just that. I hope they get going soon by taking advantage of the newly constructed over the river bridge from the LRT station. This would give the retail section of Wisma Yakin a direct access from the LRT station, which I believe would give a boost to everyone doing business in that vicinity. Someone say that Wisma Yakin is a dead building. I do not believe so, it is still alive and kicking. But to survived in this millennium it has to adept to the changing business environment and to the life style of the city folks. I am optimistic as to the future of the building call Wisma Yakin. It should be look at as a heritage building, for it is the first high-rising building ever built by the Malay themselves. It shows that those folks of the seventies do have vision of their future. The present generation of Malay who inherit Wisma Yakin must see to it that this heritage is preserved forever.

I notice that City Hall of Kuala Lumpur is doing a face lift of the whole area of Masjid India, which includes Wisma Yakin. It would be good news for those folks who are do business there. Since business alone would not draw tourists dollar to this enchanting place, other aspect of attraction must be thought of as well. I think a historical monument erected at one corner of the area would add value to this part of the city. It would be nice to see a monument of a sort telling the story of the ethnic people of the Malay culture group, of the Chinese miners and the Indian Moslem, who together are actually the early developers of this thriving part of Kuala Lumpur. Singapore did well on this aspect when they set up a sort of a monument of the great Bugis people, in the heart of the Bugis Street, in the Malay area of that city state. Maybe City Hall should start thinking on the same line. A historical monument in this part of the city would surely enhance the place, as well as it would add value to the tourist trade.

I am grateful to Hj.Maideen Kadir Shah, the President of the owners Association for his time in relating to me his story of Wisma Yakin. Some data were obtain from the thesis of a student Zainal Fadli bin Zaini. Both the contributions from Hj.Maideen and the well articulate thesis of Zainal made the writing of this article possible. Many thanks to both of them. Thanks also to Tommy for triggering my thoughts to write on this subject. That, my friends is the very very short history of Wisma Yakin. Have a nice day.

[Note: In Malaya/Malaysia the ethnic people like Rawa, Mendaling, Minang, Kapar, Jawa, Bugis and others from the Malay archipelagos who are Moslem are group as Malay]

A Kelab Volvo klasik lunch..

Well, it was a Sunday [yesterday]. The weather had been a bit hazy, otherwise it is just another of those Sunday. A veteran member of the club, once a PTD officer, now retired after an oversea duty at the Malaysian Embassy in New Dehli, India, decided to invite the club's members to lunch at his new home in Klang, the port city in the state of Selangor. He had been away for quite sometimes and as such had missed most of the club activities and to refresh himself and his spouse of the club and meet the members again, he decided to organised a lunch at his new home. My spouse and I decided to attend this lunch, moreover we had not as yet met the person. Norsham is his name. I have spoken to him over the phone when accepting his invitation.

So just after eleven in the morning we left our house by taking the MRR2 and then the KESAS Highway toward Klang. The club organiser had given us a route to follow so as not to get lost. I followed the direction to the later and arrived at the home of Norsham without any hitch. Had it not been for the excellent direction drawn up by one of our members, a Mr.David, I think most of us would have difficulty in getting to our destination. By noon everyone invited had arrived at the sprawling bungalow recently built by the host. It is really a big bungalow in that part of rural Klang. I am actually surprise as to the size of this bungalow. It is huge compare to the rest of the Kampong houses nearby. He had it built as his retirement home in this part of rural Klang.

With everyone has arrived and without much a do, we all were invited to lunch. As usual it was a buffet. We all did enjoyed the buffet and all throughout the gathering everyone had plenty to tell. We chat and yarn on various subjects. It seem the subjects never failed to end, with one person talking about this and that, the others cracking jokes, that makes everyone laugh with joys. It is like that when we club members met from time to time.

Personally my spouse and me did have a great time at this gathering. We get to meet the host and his charming spouse, as well as meeting new faces, including a young couple who brought their kids with them. As usual kids are kids and they seem to be enjoying themselves care less of what the adult were doing. Actually it reminisce us of our younger days when our kids would tack along wherever we go out. Now that they have grown up and on their own, it is no more like that. Those were the days. The beautiful and colorful days of our past. Well life is like that and we shall continue to enjoy life as we move on, on our journey of life. As usual event like this ends with photo takes and above are some images of the lunch event at Norsham. Norsham and his charming spouse are indeed a perfect host. Friends, Have a nice day and take care.

Our little jungle...

I love the greens, the flora and fauna and the lives that comes with it. It is an eco-system in miniature. Little birds would perch on the branch singing its sweet melody, jumping from branch to branch and at time nip on the buds of those flowers and enjoying itself on the nectar. At time I would see my elusive squirrel coming out to get its food that I had place on a small plate at one corner of my small garden. The plate of cut apple is always there for this little creature that come and go as it please. I know this squirrel would come because my small plate of cut apple would just vanished in a while. Sometime when the plate is empty I could see this little creature making its presence as thought trying to communicate with me, telling me that the plate is empty. I would then put on some new apples. The little brown squirrel would just hide away for awhile and then would come out again and enjoy its meal of apple. It is just like the cat and mouse game that you watch on TV. The ants which played an important role in the orchid's world are always there, doing its jobs diligently and I believe enjoying the day as well. The fish in my small pond always look hungry, even after you have fed it. Fish are like that, when you are around the pond it would all swim to a spot, as though trying to communicate with you and always asking for food. Feeding the fish, watering the plants and cleaning the little garden is a daily ritual that I enjoyed. Well, friends, life if like that. Well, for today just enjoy the greens of my little jungle. Enjoy and have a nice day.

Another fruit...the Pulasan.

It is about fruit again. This time it is about the fruit as shown in the images above. We call it Pulasan. It look like the Rambutan, where the Rambutan has hairy skin, the Pulasan has a short hair like a crew cut. Anyway the flesh inside this fruits is exactly like that of the Rambutan. It also taste the same. Well, I not sure whether there is an English name for this fruit. But if translated into English it would be call Twist. For Pulas is Twist in English. I believe this fruit got it name because to open it you had to twist it, unlike the Rambutan you do not have to twist to open it. You open the Rambutan by piercing using your fingers of both hands. As for the Pulasan you have to twist it using your fingers of both hands. I would just leave it to the world to call what it like. Like Rambutan, this fruit is also in season now. It is as delicious as the Rambutan.. Well it is time to enjoy this Pulasan. It is another nature gift to us. Have a nice day.

just a shot...

It was a beautiful morning with clear blue sky. I took a cup of steamy coffee and sat a the kopitian table at my patio and enjoy my breakfast. At the same time browse through the Newspaper, reading this and that without really caring about the front page news. As usually with today's technology we get news fast on the TV, the PDA or just on the SMS on your cell phone. News travel fast indeed.

While sipping that hot steamy coffee, I saw a little bird chirping on the branches of a tree and eventually landed on a petal of a banana cone. I watch it enjoying its morning meal of sweet nectar above the petal of that banana cone. I did not want to disturb it so I just watch it at a distance. At the moment in times I was thinking of 'what if I could get a snap of this bird, it would be great'. So slowly without making any noise I went into the house and took my camera. I came out with the camera and saw the little bird is still there enjoying its morning meal. I aim the camera and took a few shot before it flew away. And then it came back and this time it just sat chirping on a branch of my Kenaga tree. I guess happy with that breakfast and just wanted to enjoy the fresh air. I took another snap of it as it perch on the tiny branch. Indeed it was a bonus for me this morning, while enjoying my morning coffee I get to see this tiny bird chirping and enjoying itself on my little garden. The images about is what I got. How I wished I got myself a better camera for such venture. The next time maybe. Have a nice day.

Found.. Salhi..

Friends, they found Salhi. A note from Pi Bani says that they found him in Pahang. [see her comment in my previous posting]. Great, his family would be delighted. Thanks everyone for the good deed. Have a nice day.

Help find Salhi Khaiessa ...

Friends, this man is missing. I found about this from Pok ku. Please do your bid to help find this person. He is suffering from Schizophrenia. Do spread the word around. Thanks.

Wisma Yakin, the hidden Jewel...

Yes, when was the last time you visited the Bazaar at Wisma Yakin. Wisma Yakin is a building tuck away at one end of the Masjid India area, a shopping paradise off Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman. The Wisma Yakin Bazaar is indeed a sort of a hidden jewels that wanted to be rediscovered. I have known this place since it was first built in the early seventies and visited it from time to time. Last Saturday together with my spouse I did a visit there, not to buy anything but just to see the palace for myself, after a lapse of times and also because of an email from a student asking for some information about this place call Wisma Yakin. At one of the shop at the Little India I met a close friend who run a Jewelery Store and from him got some information as to whom shall I contact if ever I wanted to do a story about this place call Wisma Yakin. We chat for a while and he gave me the name and the number of the Chairman of the owners association of Wisma Yakin. I thanks him and move on to enjoy the day.

So for today I just wonder around and took as much of images as I could as well as try to get acquaint with some of the owners of the shops. I browse along the narrow corridor where the vendors did there selling. Things of beauty all Malay. If you ever wanted to get textiles and apparel of things Malay then this is the place to be. You could get the best Songket. Hand made Malay 'brocade' is my way of translating this find piece of textile that only the Malay craft best. Songket is a very special Malay traditional textile. Actually it is not really a brocade but a work of art. Each piece is hand woven by fine ladies, mostly from the East Coast states of Terengganu and Kelantan. At this bazaar you can get this Songket, the real one and of good quality at a reasonable price. You should know that nowadays there are Songket that are machine made in other countries and sometime sold as the real thing. Remember the Malay Songket are works of art and not just a piece of textile. No two pieces are alike. Each one is unique. Like all good quality good one had to be careful when choosing. If in doubt ask the local at the hotel,the tourist agency as well as the owner of the store. I am sure you would get to buy the real thing at a good price. There are also other textile like the hand woven Silk Sarong [Kain Sutra],Batik and other textiles that are mostly made in the state of Terengganu or Pahang. This place is also a heaven for Songkok, the black velvet Malay headgear that is popular among the Malay. The attire of Baju Melayu is not complete without the Songkok. Of course it is also a place where you can have custom made attire for both the Gent and the ladies. Exclusive textiles are available there to make such attire. Browse along and I am sure you would find some textile or other items of Malay culture that you could take home as a mementos.

What I like most about this bazaar is that they sell great set of Baju Melayu [Malay Gent traditional dress]. There are sets of these ready made Baju Melayu for all, from those for the kids up to the adult, that you could buy. It is well made and of high quality material. I did my shopping of the Baju Melayu here whenever I need a new set to wear for a Wedding function or for the Hari Raya. The tailoring is of high quality and the fitting is great, as though it is custom made. So if ever you need to buy Baju Melayu, the complete set with the Samping of Songket or Silk Sarong, plus a Malay songkok, then just head to Wisma Yakin and I am sure you would not be disappointed.

If you are a foreigner and want something truly Malay then a set of Baju Melayu for the Gent [set for the Gent are made of Baju Melayu, the Songket and a Songkok] and for the ladies the Songket, the Silk Sarong, the Baju Kurong would be an appropriate gift. That, I am sure would delighted your friends. If you have no intention of buying, just browse along the narrow corridor of the bazaar and I am sure you would enjoy seeing the many ready made clothing in all the color of the rainbow. In fact the corridor is a riot of colors. I love to just walk and window shop when I have the time. It is unfortunate that not many tourist really know this enchanting bazaar of things Malay. There are not many such places in the other part of the city, except at Wisma Yakin and its vicinity. Of course the Little India nearby is a riot of color as well. But to me the bazaar of Wisma Yakin is special, in that it is a place where you could get a set of Baju Melayu of high quality with the add on like the Songket or Silk Samping to go, under one roof and it could be got without much waiting and the price is just right for the quality you get.

So friends if you had missed this place before or thinking of getting something Malay, do head to this bazaar at Wisma Yakin. To me it is indeed a hidden gem in the world of Malay textile and apparel. To get there head for the Masjid India area or just take the LRT and head to the Masjid James station. Wisma Yakin is the tall building and bazaar is on the ground floor. It is just a walking distance of the LRT Station. It is worth a visit even if you do not have any intention of buying anything. For tourists it is a must place to go even if it is just for sight seeing. In my next posting I shall write about the history of the building which is already thirty years old. In the meantime do enjoy the images above and Have a great day.

Fruits in August...

Well, it is the first of August 2007. It is already afternoon and I have not seen the sun as yet. It has been a hazy day. I believe the haze is back and the weather would not be as healthy as when you see the blue sky and the sun shining with clouds all over. It is also the fruits season at this part of the world. From Durian, Dokong, Logan to Mango and Mangosteen are on the market everywhere. As for Durian the King of the fruits you would not miss it for it smell a distance away as you approach the place where this King of the Fruits are sold. Normally when fruits are aplenty, it is also a time people especially the kids get sick with cough, flu or fever. I do not know why but it always like that when there are plenty of fruits around. Perhaps we are overdosed with the vitamins. I just do not know. It is not a serious illness but just that your body is not at a hundred percent fit. Anyway it it nice to see those tropical fruits in abundant everywhere, in quantity as well in quality. This shows that our farmers are having a good crops this year and with the help of science and technology the harvest has been of good quality.

The about images are of the Mango and the Mangosteen. I do not know how these two fruits got its western name. Mango in our language is Manga, that I could understand as to how the English for this fruit is Mango but as to Mangosteen, the Malay word for this fruit is Mangis, so how it became Mangosteen I just do not know. Your guess is as good as mine. Mangosteen is a really refined fruits, fleshy and very sweet. Together with the Mango it made great dessert.

One things about tropical fruits is that it could not be kept for a long time like apple and other temperate climate's fruits. So the season is short and once bought had to be consumed as soon as possible. Well that is the tropic where with humidity things especially fruits get rotten fast. Anyway I love tropical fruits and enjoy eating everyone of it when it comes in season. Have a nice day.