I guess most our friends know by now that we’re back in Malaysia And like most Malaysians who come back from overseas, the first thing we do is indulge in local Malaysian delicacies we have missed!!!

The first thing on Hubby’s mind was: DURIAN. Yup, he had been hankering for the ‘king of the fruits’ for such a long time because he didn’t have any during our last trip back around Chinese New Year.

Since the durian season was tailing off in Penang, he literally slammed on the brakes when we passed by a roadside stall selling local Malaysian durians LOL. The tot and I were getting bored in the car already when he FINALLY walked back toting the delectable durian with the overwhelming stench

WE LOVE YOU, DURIAN, THORNS AND ALL
Hubby is a true durian connoisseur as he likes the durian with a slightly bitter taste while I prefer only the sweet durians. Luckily, he bought one which was just perfect for me: golden yellow, thick and creamy flesh with a mid-sized seed and deliciously sweet!

I think I ate about 3 seeds and stopped because the smell was getting slightly too much for me (must be the pregnancy!). Hubby enjoyed what he bought and could happily return with his mission accomplished.

The tot? Sigh, as hard as I tried to cajole him with, “Try a bit…it’s nice. It’s sweet. Just ONE bite. If you don’t like it, you can spit it out.” he refused to open his mouth hahaha. Guess we’ll have to Malaysian-ize him when he’s older…

Tips for eating durian:
1. If you let the tap run along the thorns, you’ll easily get the stinky smell off your fingers when you wash your hands with soap – I swear it’s true!
2. If you pour about half a cup of drinking water into the hollow of the durian shell (after you’ve removed the fruit), you’ll have less chances of getting a sore throat from overindulging in the ‘heaty’ fruit. Or, tuck into ‘cooling’ mangosteens to get your body back into balance.

PENANG FRIED KOAY TEOW
Remember my desperate attempt in June to cook up my own Penang Fried Koay Teow? It sure felt good to be able to order a plate of fried koay teow anytime I want now

This maiden plate of fried koay teow was okay only because it wasn’t a famous one (the prawns were slightly undercooked so they had a yucky taste) and the uncle included sambal belachan with the fried koay teow???

I hope I’ll be able to tuck in to my favourite char koay teow from Gurney Drive or Bayan Bay soon…

PENANG ASSAM LAKSA
Because the nearby steaming pot of fish soup smelled so, so, so tempting, I asked Hubby if he wouldn’t mind sharing a bowl of assam laksa with me and he gallantly obliged his expectant wife.

This bowl of rice noodles scalded in fish-based soup (tuna fish or some local Malaysian fish) topped with fresh onions, pineapple, lotus buds and a sprig of mint was again only passable. Probably because I’m craving for more spicy foods rather than sour foods.

That spoon of brownish paste is actually liquidized fermented shrimp paste, which sounds totally disgusting but it gives the Penang assam laksa its interesting sour-and-sweet taste. Hey, don’t diss it before you dig into it!

THE TODDLER’S LUNCH
Wherever we stop for lunch or dinner on outings, we’ll always see if there’s something suitable for the toddler. Luckily, the economy rice stall had a nice selection of home-style cooked dishes.

Hubby and I took turns to feed him his white rice accompanied with stir-fried tofu, steamed pork, long green beans, pumpkin. Unless he has a good meal to fill his tiny tummy, neither of us can enjoy our food. So, when he’s happy, we’re happy

THE FIGHTING FISH (SEOW PHAK HOO)
This is actually boiled dried longan juice in ice and served in old glass jars (probably fermented soybean paste jars), which is a signature drink in Penang and mainland Seberang Perai and Bukit Mertajam.

While the folks in Kuala Lumpur (especially Petaling Street) may order their “mata kuching (Malay=cat’s eyes), we folks in Penang don’t bat an eyelash when we order our “seow phak hoo (Hokkien=fighting fish).

Our overseas visitors can’t help but smile when I translate it – the story is that the old glass jars were usually used by young boys to store their fighting fish (aargh…can someone enlighten me the name of that little, black fish species???).

At battle time, the two Contenders are placed in a fish bowl where the ferocious little fish will attack each other in honour of their namesake i.e. “fighting fish”. The winning (and living fish) will then return to its tiny glass jar to be shown off by the proud (and usually boastful) boy hahaha.

Only certain coffee shops serve a nicely-boiled longan juice so unless you sip into a cool and refreshing glass (not overly sweet), then you know you’ve got one of the right ones. Bliss on a blistering hot day!

And that’s the start of our Malaysian food frenzy. We actually managed to stop over at some of our favourite Indian, Indian-Muslim, Malay and Chinese restaurants so you can look forward to some mouth-watering Malaysian dishes.

Is this the end of the China posts? Of course not! I’ve still got LOADS of food and folklore stored up on my computer and camera. Just wish I had more time and energy to post them up.

For now, let’s live it one day at a time, shall we? Jom makan (Malay=let’s eat!)…

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I couldn’t help asking my Malaysian visitors what they had on the flight here and almost died when they said nasi lemak (white rice steamed in coconut milk, pandanus leaves accompanied with deep fried anchovies in chilli with onions paste (sambal ikan bilis), hardboiled eggs and cucumber slices!

When I let out a loud sigh, mother-in-law said she didn’t know I was craving for it or she would have happily smuggled in a box for me from KLIA…(she’d brought over some pandan kaya).

I wanted to ask her for some bottled sambal belacan but from my experience, Kuching doesn’t really have good ones

Anyway, one of the nicest nasi lemak I’ve ever had (out of desperation) was on board Air Asia’s flight (KL-Kuching or Penang-Kuching, I forget).

After settling in the tot, I quickly glanced at their menu and found this mouth-watering temptation called “Pak Nasser’s Nasi Lemak” selling for RM8.

No idea who “Pak Nasser” is or even if he exists (sounds suspiciously like a fictitious character created by the marketing department!). I’m only interested in chicken rendang and nasi lemak LOL

Placing the order, I waited in anticipation (with that rich, sensual image and imaginary fragrance of steaming hot nasi lemak in my mind…).

Salivating already when this foil box (silver coffin?) was placed in front of me:

What a total contrast from the photo on the menu, right??? Believing in the adage “Do not judge a book by its cover”, I opened up my cold, steely nasi lemak container.

Of course, my dreamy vision was immediately replaced by astronauts / taikonauts / cosmonauts popping their red or yellow pills stamped “Malaysian nasi lemak“.

The foil container revealed a nasi lemak lookalike WITH a deliciously, fragrant scent – but hey, where’s the CUCUMBER???

Oh well, eat first, talk later. Scooping in spoonfuls of hot rice mixed with the sambal and ikan bilis and then savouring the tender pieces of chicken rendang, I have to say that Air Asia has successfully introduced a noteworthy meal on its no-frills flight

I love the nasi lemak on Malaysian Airlines’ flight so I’ll say good work, Air Asia. Next time, remember the cucumber, ok? And more sambal, please!

Cheers,
A nasi lemak-deprived Malaysian

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In loving memory of my late Chinese grandmother, I’m jotting down my childhood memories of Chinese New Year. After marrying into a Chinese family, I discover even more about Chinese culture (of the Foochow dialect) since my mother-in-law does an excellent job of upholding tradition.

THEN

On Chinese New Year Eve, my grandmother and aunties would be REALLY BUSY preparing all the food for prayers. I can remember seeing something like 3 wooden tables set up in front of the altar where the Kuan Yin (Goddess of Mercy), Tee Kong (God of Heaven) are set up. There is a third statue but I forget who he is…

The tables would contain:

• 2-3 roast pigs with their heads, legs and tails intact! (ordered from the pig butcher neighbour. I think I loved the salty bits near the bone the best);
• a few steamed chickens (home grown & slaughtered as my Ahma had a chicken coop next door. I helped feed them a few times but “chickened” out since they stink and also I read that snakes love chicken eggs!);
• a pot of meatball soup with dried mushrooms, white cabbage;
• pink steamed plain bao (dumplings)?
• pink and white sweets/candy shaped like pagodas, animals and etc;
• platters of fruit usually grapes, apples and oranges;
• traditional Chinese biscuits twisted like ropes (my Ahma’s favourite snack!);
• thick, yellow mee;
• peanuts;

(photo from here.)

A really thick (like a coconut tree trunk?) joss stick with colourful dragon effigy stuck on it would be burning outside the house. While the womenfolk prepared the food and the men helped to carry the heavy stuff, we kids would be outside playing firecrackers!

Boy, do I love the various ones my uncles used to buy (these are the days before the Government banned them) – the boring sparkling sticks you wave around in circles; a “chicken” which lays eggs; those little pods that spark when you throw them on the ground; thin or thick stumps that “poofed” with pink, yellow, green sparks and of course, the traditional RED fire crackers.

Although I hate the loud sound the red fire crackers make, it’s fun watching my uncles / cousins string the ends together to make it as long as possible and attach it to a stick. One uncle would then climb onto a tall petrol tanker to wedge the stick in and light it at around 11.45 pm or so.

Everyone tries to stay up until midnight to welcome the New Year – it’s really fun because my Ahma’s house was in a Chinese kampung so everyone lounges outside their front door in rattan, plastic or string chairs in their pyjamas, t-shirts and shorts and slippers! 

By 12.10 am, everyone is tired from the excitement and late bedtime. The children troop off to bed while the aunties and uncles help Ahma to clear all the food stuff. The next day, the pig butcher would come over to chop up the roasted pigs and she would distribute them among her neighbours and friends.

On Chinese New Year Day, everyone will wake up a bit late at around 8.30 am or so (except for Ahma who is up by 6 am). She and my aunties would have made the black coffee and prepared / bought breakfast from nearby shops. Or, she’d take a simple breakfast of kaya on white bread.

Then, everyone dresses up in their new clothes and hang around either eating mandarin oranges and other goodies. Ang pows would have been given out by then and uncles who lived elsewhere show up that day. The aunties would show up on the second day according to custom.

I relish those Chinese New Years for the fun of having all my uncles, aunties and cousins together under one roof. We’d just play together or when we became teens, chat or tease each other. It’s been years since I’ve seen some of them – be nice if we could joke and laugh like we did when we were kids.

NOW

Each year, I celebrate Chinese New Year at my mother-in-law’s, with some slight variations. My MIL used to cook all the dishes for the reunion dinner which include that meatball and mushroom soup, a beef rendang, a beef stew, ngor hiang  (minced meat and carrots etc rolled up in beancurd sheets and deep fried) and green vegetables.

We’ll all gather around the table and my father-in-law or brother-in-law would bring out a bottle of Australian wine to celebrate. Since I only drink port (or some sweet, non-dry liquor), I’m not THAT excited! My father-in-law would give a little speech and then we eat. As my MIL is a good cook, dinner is nice.

Then, we sit around and catch up with each other. They don’t stay up until midnight and usually by 11 pm or so, everyone’s in bed. The hardcore Chinese can be seen still awake and alive then and I can hear the usual fireworks.

I’ve asked Hubby before if they played any fireworks (they did) but because father-in-law is a law-abiding citizen, he doesn’t encourage fireworks. Hehehe…I’m gonna pretend I have NO IDEA about this because once Lucas is 4 years old, this Mum is going to get Hubby’s friends to get some fireworks for him!

So boring right with no fireworks???

On Chinese New Year morning, we all go to church for Mass. My late father was really impressed with this because I’m one real lazy ass who’ll only attend Sunday mass (conveniently forgetting those days of obligation…).

Then, we go home and have the Foochow meesua cooked in chicken soup, spiked with brandy! After that, we wait for visitors because my parents-in-law are the eldest siblings around. They love her mee suah, which is why even though she’s talked of celebrating Chinese New Year elsewhere many times, she can’t bear the thought of her visitors coming to an empty house.

We used to have many visitors because they still practise the “open house” concept and I had fun helping to serve the people drinks, food, oranges, cookies and sweets. When you visit my in-laws’ home, you get a proper lunch or dinner!

Visitors can enjoy white rice with her beef stew, beef rendang, lemang, satay, stir fry veggies, ngor hiang and even a chicken curry if she’s up to it. Entertaining visitors for “open house” is a new experience for me as my parents are not that sociable. Hubby and I would then help father-in-law wash the plates and cups but he usually waves us away to rest since we’ve been busy waiters / waitresses.

The next day, we will visit Hubby’s uncles’ and aunties’ houses, which is quite fun because we get to see what “new” activities or items they’ve got after a year of not seeing them. Hubby’s family is quite a jolly bunch although they lapse into Foochow every so often.

Sometimes, Hubby or mother-in-law or cousin will translate but often, it’s just a bunch of bad words scolded in reaction to something someone said! That’s the beauty of the Foochow language…

We’ll be booked for dinner at least 2 nights because our in-laws or the aunties or uncles will organize a dinner at a restaurants. Knowing this pattern after a few years, I’ve learned to ensure that I’ve got decent outfits for these outings. No t-shirt or jeans allowed here!

On the third day, we’ll go visiting at Hubby’s friends’ homes only after checking with in-laws that NO auntie or uncle has invited the family to the home. Through the years, I’ve come to know Hubby’s friends and their wives as my friends although it’s weird to only meet them once a year. They are a fun group though with really interesting characters.

And there you have my Chinese New Year then and now. Now that I have a kid, I hope that Lucas will have good memories of Chinese New Year too as I have. He certainly likes Christmas so I wonder what he’ll think of Chinese New Year.

We’ll know soon :-) Here’s wishing everyone a happy Chinese New Year!

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My dear old Chinese grandmother passed away this morning at around 11.30 am from breathing difficulties. Who were with her? Her youngest daughter, her daughter-in-law and the wretched Indonesian maid. She died in my uncle’s old apartment.

Did she get her wish? Doesn’t seem like it because there is no Chinese altar there and neither is he staying there. Now the big question will be: where will her ancestral tablet be set up?

My late grandfather’s tablet is now at my late uncle’s house under my auntie’s and cousins’ care. Now that my uncle has passed away, some are unsure if they are properly performing the prayers and rituals…

The next eldest uncle is not a practising Taoist…

The following uncle and family are practising Taoists but will his wife wanna move my grandfather’s and welcome my grandmother’s tablet over to their place?

The last uncle is also not a practising Taoist…

Will we be attending the funeral? No because everyone will be busy with the funeral preparations that Lucas nor I will only be a burden. He’ll only run around recklessly! Especially as we will be travelling soon.

More importantly, I don’t think I want him to be amidst all the chanting, gong clanging and joss paper burning! My father’s recent albeit Catholic funeral is enough, I think.

We just heard that the funeral will take place in 3 days’ time and not the traditional 5 days for Chinese. Wow…modern living has certainly sped up a lot things, even funerals!!!

Sadly, my cousin who had been living with my grandmother has been ordered by her mum to spend the night at her friend’s place. And my aunt, who’s living the closest by won’t even come over to accompany my other aunt the and the maid. It’s amazing how when one’s dead, people scurry away like mice…

I feel so, so, so sad for my Ahma. I was practically raised by her as she cared for me when I was an infant while my mother worked. As a toddler, I entertained her, my late grandfather and my uncles and aunties with my chatter, singing and dancing.

I even recall sleeping with her on her bed when I was 7 or 8. When I worked in KL, I also slept with her on her bed when I visited during the weekends. In fact, I’m actually closer to her than I am to my own mother.

The last time I saw her, she was in the hospital and I’m grateful that my uncle brought me to see her 2 times the 3 days I was there. I showed her all the photos of China I had in my digital camera and she was kind of proud to see how modern China has grown but also happy to hear that some of the old Chinese customs are practised there.

She’s a really nice old lady and I remember this one time my naughty uncle played a prank on her. He was chatting online with me on his laptop and I asked to try out the voice chat. When it worked, he told me that she was there and asked me to call out to her.

My poor Ahma was sitting and resting quietly when she heard my voice. She actually remarked,

“I must be hearing things because I thought I heard X’s voice…”

And my naughty uncle replied that yes, she’s hearing things and asked me to call her again, only louder. When I did, my Ahma was seriously puzzled until my uncle laughingly told her that he’s talking to me using the laptop.

It isn’t easy explaining technology to the elderly so my uncle simplified it by saying that computers now had built-in phones. That was one funny moment we three had!

In her heydays, she’s got nearly 6 children and 20 grandchildren surrounding her — and even more during the weekends. Now that she’s gone, she’s all alone in the funeral parlour and nobody even wants to go near the place where she breathed her last.

My mother-in-law told me not to be too sad because in the Chinese culture, my Ahma has reached the wonderful stature of “eating old folks’ rice”? My Ahma is already in her 90s and has lived a long life to see grandchildren and great-grandchildren (who will wear red for the funeral).

I don’t know…somehow, I feel that my poor, simple and grumpy late father was much more loved during his last moments than my wealthy, kind and generous grandmother. I can only marvel at how ironic life has turned out for these two people I love so dearly.

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