Of Belimbing Buluh...

Belimbing Buluh is a tropical fruits. It tree grows easily in any soil condition thus folks would just grow this tree in near their houses. Since the fruits could not be easily obtained in the marketplace it at time became difficult to get it when one want to use it in traditional cooking or for the making the Belacan paste with this fruits. It is a very sour fruits and the tree bears fruits all throughout the years especially during the hot season. So when the tree bears fruits the whole three would be full of these little green fruits. Because it is very sour and acidic it is not eaten right like one does with other fruits. So folks would use it in Sambal Belacan [Shrimp paste sauce] or in the cooking of tradition curry especially as a sauce for the famous Nasi Dagang. In the state of Pahang folks there would turn the fruits into a Sambal Hitam [Black sauce] which could be kept for a long time and use as an appetiser. About is an image of one way of using this sour fruits to add flavour to a traditional dish. It is call Tumis Belimbing Buluh. It goes real well with steamy white rice and I loved it.  

Have a nice day.

Abdullah School Kuantan 1957...

Above is a group photo of the students of  Abdullah School in Kuantan, Pahang;  the English School that I went to study in 1948 from Primary to Secondary school except for the last six month in form V.  In the mid of 1957 the Form V students were move to a new Secondary school call Abu Bakar School. This new school is at Alor Akar and very far away from my home in Tanah Putih. So it was a daily ritual of cycling to and fro from the house to the school. In a way it was a new experience as before that the Abdullah School is near to my house and I just walk to school. It was at the Abu Bakar School that I sat for the Cambridge School Certificate as well the new Malayan School Certificate examination. I start schooling in a Malay School at Jalan Gambut when the school was open in 1946 after the war. Well folks that is part of the history of my life. 

Have a nice day.

Of Old Age and Forgetting...

I am 75 + years old. It is normal for folks of my age to forget things. So to be on the safe side I tried to remember wherever I leave or put things but in reality it not always that possible. Many times when I left something like my glasses to go and have a shower. After the shower I would be looking around for those glasses. It happened with other items too. You just forget the instance you put it down. Had it be in the house it is all right, you can always take times to look around but what if it happens outside the home, it going to be a nightmare looking for it. In this posting I am going to related what happened to me just a few weeks ago [January 21, 2015]. As usual after all the bills had arrived I would go to the nearest payment places at Ampang Point to makes payment. I never like to keep bills and makes payment at the last moment to ensure a smooth living. On that particular day I went to Ampang Point to make payment. First I went to the Bank nearby to get some cash for making all the payments. I then went first to make the first payment of an Astro bill at the Maxis shop there. After that went to makes payment at the Telecom Point nearby where bills could be paid using the Machine there. Before doing that I went into the building and sit on the bench to get the relevant bills to pay there. I took out an envelope that contains all the bills to be paid that day and from the envelope took out three bills to be paid at the Machine here. Normally I would ask the staff there to help to make payment using the Machine so as not to makes mistake keying the relevant numbers of the bills. The staff there all the time would help me. So for today I approach the counter and ask them for help as usual but this time instead of helping me to make payment using the Machine the staff says she would give me a number and that I could make all the payment manually at the counter. My number was call-up and I went to make payment. It was done in mere minutes. I thanks the cashier and immediately left the building to make payment of another batch of bills that could only be paid at the Post Office at the Ampang Point mall. I took a slow walk and went to the Post Office there. Took a number and while waiting I look for the six bills to be paid there and found to my dismay it was missing. I decided to trace where I had left the missing envelope with the six bills. Inside the envelope were only bills and no cash so I was not that worry but still had to find it so that I could settle it that day.  Although I was not that well that day I still take the time to look everywhere. I went and ask at all the places that I had stop whether they had seen the envelope with the bills inside it but at every place I was told they had not. Had they seen it they would have kept it so that when the owner came back it would be returned. I continue to think and trace. I believe I had left the envelope on the bench at the Telecom Point since it was there I took the envelope out of my sling bag and from the envelope I took out three bills and pay it manually at the counter. After paying I then left the building and move toward the Ampang Point mall where the Post Office is without realising that I had left the envelope with the rest of the bills on the bench there. it was only at the Post Office that I realised the envelope with the six bills was missing. After exhausting all means of finding that envelope I went home and start thinking of how to get copies of the missing bills and get it paid later. There is no use fretting about this as at this age forgetting in mere seconds could happen. So as not to get depressed I forget about it and move on. Well folks at this age forgetting things have become a norm so it is wise to be just extra careful of things that one carry especially when going out. Ageing is like that and we have to take it as a fact of life and move on. 

Have a nice day.

Of Quality Leadership...

This image is to remind me and others of what true leadership is all about. The happening of February 10, 2015 to me is indeed a dark day in the history of the country. But the dark always bring brightness. It is only because of darkness that we beginning to understand brightness and appreciate it.  History has shown us that there is always a silver lining and hopes. Let hopes for the best. 

Have a nice day.

You Made My Day...

Paying bills has been a monthly ritual. As soon as all the bills arrived I would go and pay it manually either at the Telecom shop or the Post office. To date I have not learned to pay bills Online. The reason I decided not to pay my bills Online and do it manually is that I would have to go out, drive and walk, window shop and meet people rather than just staying at home. At this age that is the best thing to do and it does keep me healthy too. In the past I would pay all the bills at the Telecom Point at Ampang Point but with effect from January this year the Telecom Point no longer accept Water and Astro bills but the Post Office accept all the bills. So from now henceforth I would pay all my bills at the Post Office. Just before 3pm this Tuesday afternoon I went to the Ampang Point Post Office to pay the bills. First I went to the basement to park my car and found it full with people waiting to find a vacant lot. I just decide to just move on and without much ado found one vacant space that no one seem to want to take. In fact there was a car waiting for another car to move out and does not care for the vacant lot nearby. I drive on and park my car at that vacant lot then went up the mall and walk straight to the Post Office on the first floor. Entering the Post Office I saw a large crowd but since I had the time I went to take a number. The number slip shows that I had to wait for at least half an hour before my number is called. I thought it all right since I had all the times in the world to wait and went to look for a seat to wait. But before I could do that a stranger hand me a number slip that show an earlier number as the one I got. I took it and thank him; I then give my number slip to another stranger and then wait. Just as I was about to take a seat my number was call. I went to the counter and paid all the bills. It looks like this is indeed my day. Everything went so smooth, from getting the parking space with ease and been offered an earlier number by a total stranger to pay the bills. Had it not been for all the happening during that last few minutes it would have taken me hours before getting all the bills paid. Instead all [parking and paying the bills] was done in record time of less than 15 minutes; a wonderful happening indeed. 

Have a nice day.

The Curry soup Yong Towfoo...

It was a beautiful Sunday in February. We decided to go for lunch at the Pavilion. I drove the Honda and park it at the basement and move on toward the main concourse of the mall. Although it was still early the place was already thronging with folks coming to enjoy their weekend in the cool comfort of the mall.  As it was early we decided to just do a little shopping at the Little Japan on the top floor. There were many people there too. We did a little shopping at the Daiso where everything there are sold at RM5.00 each and then move on to have lunch at the Food-court down below. Here too we saw folks queuing to buy their lunch. After browsing along we decided to go for the Yong Towfoo. It a self-serving joint where one selects the many spread of things Towfoo and then get the soup put in by the caterer. We ordered two bowls with the plain soup; the usual one we often ordered. After paying for it I waited while my spouse went to look for table to sit. The caterer place one bowl with plain soup on the tray and then I saw they put a curry soup on the other bowl which I did not ask. I told them that I had ordered plain soup for the two bowls. Realising their mistake they apologised.  In that few seconds I though why not I just take the bowl with the curry soup and not to make a fuss of it. I told them so and that made them happy.  Had I not taken it and adamant in getting the one with the plain soup they would surely incurred a lost but by my split seconds decision not to make a fuss of it and take it anyway did save the situation making it a sort of a win win situation of sorts for both parties. I took the two bowls and sat to enjoy it; my spouse the one with the plain soup and I the one with the curry soup.  I soon found the one with the curry soup that I am enjoying taste really go. I did not expect it to taste that good and for that I did enjoy that lunch. Had it not been for the mistake at the outlet I would not have known that the Yong Towfoo with the curry soup taste better than the plain one. Well it looks like a small incident like this and the split decision one made not only save the day at the outlet but it actually give one a new experience of tasting the Yong Towfoo in the curry soup. Well we can never tell the unexpected could turn out to be a beautiful experience in one's life.  

Have a nice day.