Got sick of the website title. Until inspiration hits, it's staying as above.
Also put back the SquawkBox.TV. Hopefully, the server remains up this time.
Liberated at
12:49 PM
...Rice...Food of the Gods...
Well, or so legends in Sarawak says. It was the Gods that showed human beings how to plant and grow it. Then again, many Asian communities have the same legend as well. At the end of the day, rice just taste GOOD! In Sarawak, most of the native tribes plant rice on dry land and not in wet fields. The only place where padi is grown in wetfields is in the Bario Highlands, near the Indonesian border.
For padi (rice in Malay) grown in dry fields, land-clearing is done every year during July-August period. During this time, it gets pretty hazy and a lot of hotspots crowd the satellite photographs. This practice has been around for a really long time before haze become a big issue back in the 90s. It's the cheapest and faster way to clear the land. It's not easy to clear the jungle using the chop-&-slash method. There is just too much vegetation and the jungle claims back what it lost EXTREMELY fast.
In the Bario Highlands, the serenic scenes of the padi fields surrounded by the nearby longhouses will always make one fill at peace. Needless to say, this is just about the most expensive rice available in Sarawak. The taste? Like fragrant Siamese Rice but a bit more sweet and sticky. It's great as porridge but can be eaten normally as well. Want some? My relatives have a farm up there.
Seems like I got my first negatory comment of the day from someone called Jules. After that, got a nice one from davelynn.
I suppose a blog is only for the person concerned and for whatever reasons the said person created it for. Mine was for my sister to catch on news back home so that she would feel less lonely. Everything else is secondary.
So what is a blog? At the end of the day, it's still a reflection of a person's character. It's an insight to how someone thinks. A blog = a work of art? Well, to each his/her own. A blog can get really personal at times especially when one gets extremely angry at comments posted. The Blue Ribbon? Definitely. Obnoxious? Of course.
Remember, graphics don't necessary make a website popular. Good example : LT Smash.
Anyway, enough said. As long as my sister is happy, I'm happy.
Sister
My sister! With that thrilling word Let thoughts unnumbered wildly spring! What echoes in my heart are stirred, While thus I touch the trembling string. -Margaret Davidson
There can be no situation in life in which the conversation of my dear sister will not administer some comfort to me. -Lady Montagu
Liberated at
1:12 AM
Saturday, June 14, 2003
Blues in Asia
Want to hear some great blues from an Asian band? Look no further than Singapore. It's the Universal Blues band! Okay, doing some promo for my cousin, Trevor Jalla. He plays a mean tune on his guitar and is the lead singer in the band. Listening to him sing, you would not believe that he is a Kelabit from Sarawak! Enough said else he'll get mad at me for a long time!
Want to listen first? They're uploaded their songs on CD Baby so feel free to pop by and have a listen. Nice tunes! My favourite is 'I Can't Cook!'. The others are equally good. Sad to say that I've never had the chance to hear them play live.
They're based in Singapore but will be making a visit to Kuala Lumpur on 20-21 June, playing at 'No Black Tie' (27 Jalan Mesui, behind Jalan Istana). Blues sound starts at 10 pm so don't be late!
On another note, they are organizing the UBLUES Festival 2003 in Singapore on 12-13 July @ Fort Canning Park. Missed the previous one. Shucks! You can also catch them on UBLUES Webcast if you can't go to the festival. Haven't really tried the link yet so not sure what you'll get on the screen!
Don't you just hate it when you go on a 2nd Saturday of the month only to be informed by the old guard that bank is now taking it's 1st Saturday holiday this Saturday as the previous holiday was a public holiday? Sigh... have to go next week during lunch time.
Liberated at
10:55 AM
Friday, June 13, 2003
Meidin a.k.a. Green fern
This is an interesting plant. To eat that is.
Habitat : Swampy marshland. So, it makes it difficult to harvest as it grows in the wild.
Where to buy : At the wet market!! Sometimes at the supermarket but gets bought so fast you barely see it go...
Cooking Style
Stir-fried with Garlic and some soy sauce : Simple but always delicious. Stir-fried with Garlic and oyster sauce : Like the above but better taste. Stir-fried with Garlic, soy sauce AND rice wine : Hmmmmm.... perks you up for the day. Stir-fried with Garlic, soy sauce, chillis and belachan : Yeah baby! Belachan is Malaysian butter. Made from prawn paste and other stuff which I've yet to fine out.
Taste : Crunchy and tender at the same time.
Cons : High in uric acid! Definitely not for people with gout!
Liberated at
11:26 PM
Something about Sarawak today?
Trying to think of something for the day. Hmmm...
60 year old "joke" on Sarawak
Okay, thought of one that I've been meaning to put up.
KL chap : You come from Sarawak? I heard you live in trees?
Wena : Yeap. And we have a pulley-system lift and solar panels. You know, a modern lifestyle in the jungle.
KL chap : ... (looks so puzzled and totally speechless. He did take me seriously.)
Actually it's amazing what people think of Borneo : The Land of Headhunters. Guess it doesn't help that people try to find out information from National Geographic! Haha! Seriously though, the misconception about living in trees has gone on for an extremely long time. Heck, even during my parents' time, it was already there.
I heard a comment from a Singaporean collegue about Kuching.
Kuching is a small town. As soon as you drive out of the town boundaries, you're in the jungle!
Sorry to dissappoint you but the jungle is not that easy to tame. Maybe that's why it's so interesting. Back home in Miri, there is a family of monkeys living in the jungle (small strip of land) behind my house. Fruits are definitely not safe to be left outside the house. They even started eating chillies and long beans when Granny was living with us!
Being near the jungle also have many visitors. Let's see : different kinds of birds, ants, beetles, snakes (urgh!!!), spiders, monkeys, monitor lizards (BIG and SMELLY and have a really MEAN BITE!!!), big rats (I will not get into that!!!). There are other animals as well but I will not scare you any further. You haven't yet seen the wild boars at the Bako National Park. If you're a Muslim, do not pitch a tent there but book one of the chalets. They come out once at night and once in the afternoon on a regular basis, or so I heard. Ha! Do you believe me? :)
Relaxation
Ever got the feeling that once you've reach home, your whole body just collapses? BJ and myself decided not to go to the Jazz do. Just plain tired after a tough week at work.
Everyone says Kuching is such a small town. Outside the town boundaries, you're immediately in the jungle. Good what! Less noise and pollution. Peace. Serenity. Anyway, am going to go to watch a Jazz Band perform at Sarawak Club. Heard that they're good. Write up is coming later.
Making a hole in a comet
How about signing up for this? It's free and your name is imbedded in a comet. They will stop taking names January 2004. Also, you'll get a certificate immediately so if you want to waste your colour ink and print...
Liberated at
6:03 PM
Junk!!
No, I did not suddenly buy junk. It's the name of a new-fangled-dangled restaurant in Kuching. Well, not exactly new as it's been open for more than a year now but if you're looking for good food at extremely reasonable prices, this is the place to go to. Just came back from dinner with a couple of good friends.
Before we get into the topic on food, let's talk a bit more about the interior. Everything you see in this shop is from another era. You will find that your tabletop might be an old school desk or a used high court judge chair! The shelves and foodstuff are stored exactly as back in the 60s in glass panels and huge glass jars. Other junk stuff include an old cash register, an old kiddie Vespa, enamel chamber pots (!!!), clocks, telephone, cutlery and lots more! It has a very nice ambience and cosy atmosphere for wining and dining. Going further into the restaurant, there is a little fountain with many potted plants around.
Now to the food. Some of the lists but not conclusive :
Lime Crush, Longan Crush, Watermelon Crush : Blended fruity drink with a bit of milk added to it. Very nice although they do blend in the seeds for the added flavour. Very cooling and not too sweet. However, need to drink it fast before the ice melts. Tempura Crab Salad : oooohhhh!!! Soft shell crab. My favourite. Serve with salad, 3 crabs are deep fried and served with the tempura sauce. Tasty and always a local favourite. Did I forget to mention that it's also my favourite? ;p One of the few places in Kuching that can actually do it RIGHT! T-bone steak serve with mash potatoe and salad : Huge portion and done very well. Served with Sarawak black pepper so it has a very interesting flavour. Lamb Rack : Actually, it's rack of lamb served with a creamy sauce mixed with mint. Juicy, tender, tasty and definitely filling. Again, salad on the side. Lamb Shack : Always the tasty part of the lamb. Very soft and tender after being stewed with carrots and celery. Served on a bed of mash potatoe (made with real potatoes and not powder!!) and salad.
The Junk also serves are very good selection of wines at very reasonable prices. Prices ranges between RM6 - RM35 (US$1.60-US$9.21) for the food. Not sure about the wine prices but should be reasonable as well.
How to get there? It's facing St Mary's School, along the same row as Borneo Hotel but at the bottom of the hill. Parking is a bit of a hassle so you'd need to find parking a short walk away. It's located in one of the older shoplots. Opens only at night and closed on Tuesday. Definitely a place to chill out or charm your loved one. Telephone No. : 082-259450. Before I forget, the name of the restaurant is The Junk. ;p
(I seriously need to put up a website of interesting places in Kuching. Then I don't need to think so hard on where to goto eat. Just get friends to select and then off we go!)
Beg!
My sister left me an interesting message in the Guestbook. Answer : No, I will not remove that line about your love life. :p But you can try to "persuade" me.
Reading
Mr. Green, read all you want and hopefully, I made you as hungry for food as I'm making my sis, Mum and friends!!
Swinging Doc!
Lolly, will try and get a picture of your sibling. Problem is the newspaper clipping I hard was not that good. Let me see if I can scan it. Stay tune folks!
Liberated at
1:01 AM
An old friend from childhood days is arranging this event. Travelling from Langkawi to Kota Kinabalu in 18 days. This is to raise funds for mentally and physically challenged children. If I'm not mistaken, this centre used to be called the Sunflower Centre.
Website was down when I log in at 6:27 p.m. Think they're trying to include in a day-to-day journal of the trip. Saw some pictures this morning donated by Copal Photoshop. Nice shots.
*yawn*
Came back late last night from work. Major activities in a water plant. And, it's not a SHIT plant so no wise-cracks. ;p Fell asleep with a towel around my head. Now, my hair reeks!!! Argh. Laugh at my misery and you will get it too! Lousy cursing.
Thought it was cute so added it in. Location is Kuching, Sarawak. Wonder when the little cat will appear beside the little WeatherPixie. Ironic that Kuching means Cat! Meooooooooowwwwww!
Thought it was so cool. It was either this or the camcorder for Dad's Father Day Gift. Camcorder was better. Then again, I wanted the SpydeRench too! This coming from a gal who owns a Swiss Army Penknife (gift from Dad).
Liberated at
11:13 PM
Sea and Fresh Water Crab
Seems like the season for crab. My neighbour just gave granma some fresh seawater crab. Or were their fresh freshwater crab? Anyway, it tasted so good. Granma stir-fried and later stewed them with egg, chilli and ginger. *Swoons in ecstasy*. Enough said. Hungry, Jas? :p
Eating spots in Kuching
Am thinking seriously of setting up a webiste for eating spots in Kuching. Some are so intriguing. Maybe put in a corner for Granma's homemade recipes as well. Gotta find time to do it.
Reading about this came from another site after hearing the change in highway speed limits. Was on the AutoBahn about 4 years back. Interesting experience considering it was in the middle of winter. Also, loads of car on the road. The Germans would turn on their hazard lights if they need to slow down fast. Collision course? More like a rally!! Excitement and definitely not for the young. It helps that the Germans have to get their cars check every year whenever they renew their license. Ironic that there wasn't single Proton car in sight!
Another legend : the highway policemen drives Porsche. The logic : it takes a sportscar to chase down another sportscar!
To family members : I wanted to put a picture of Philip Raja running around with a sarong and a rugby ball online but Sarawak Tribune has NOT been updated since May 2003. Would you believe that the whole of Kuching is talking about that picture?!?!? Great advertisement for a wife!! Should have put down his handphone number as well.
Liberated at
12:37 AM
BolehBlog OKAY!
Stupid BLOGGERBASIC. Men! Link displays write now.
Liberated at
12:13 AM
BolehBlog link tak boleh?
Hmmm... link display not working right. Must be something to do Herbert a.k.a. Blogger template. How like a man to get temperamental on a woman. HELP! Someone willl say something soon.
Lesson Learnt : Never too female to ask for help.
Liberated at
12:10 AM
Monday, June 09, 2003
Fruittie-Tootie
Up to refreshing fruits? Mum (in US) always asked when is the durian season? Then she'll time her trip back to Malaysia during that time. Granma's rambutan tree "ripens profusely" in November/December, provided it doesn't rain. (Granma's wise words of wisdom : to have more rambutan, cannot rain one!!). Anyway, for my sister, a good read and loads of envy. He he!
Living in Malaysia
I've always enjoyed Mary Schneider's column in the Star. Always a good laugh to brighten up the day.
Another interesting read would be Chong Sheau Ching's column Stories for My Mother. Also, Marina Mahathir's Musings, always out to make everyone THINK! All articles in the Star although haven't seen Chong Sheau Ching's writeups recently. A pity. Gotta get her book through.
Notice all the women names? Go figure.
Dad's New Toy (coming soon!)
Just ordered Dad's Father's Day Gift. Sony Malaysia has some good deals at the moment, with the T3 SONY Blockbuster. Can't believe there are so many camcorders less than RM2K. Heck, my little toy was about the same price. Got Dad the SONY DCR-TRV355E for the trip to USA come July. He should be getting it in a week's time. Wonder if he can open the PDF brochure I emailed him?
Sprain
Don't know why but my wrist is forever getting sprain and not from exercise. Definitely unfit.
Liberated at
10:38 PM
Blogging Aggravation
Blogger down yesterday. Could not log in at all. Grrr... Aggravation = frustration. Hmmm...
Errr... no comment about the title. Submitted the blog and next thing I knew, got an email saying that it was in the list. Okie, let's just see what happens next. How to improve site traffic? Pictures, I guess. When I have time.
Actually, the pictures of Gawai Ngiling Tikai are up. Private viewing of course. Ask me nice. :)
Liberated at
7:28 PM
