Have fun finding everything at a pasar malam..almost!

I used to be a fan of the night market or famously known as “pasar malam”. When I was small, there was one every Wednesday. It is also within a walking distance, just 15 minutes away from home.

Pasar malam evokes lots of memories for me. I used to frequent a stall selling mini murtabak which costs only 30 cents a piece at that time. Mini murtabak is a triangle-shaped samosas. It has chicken curry and potatoes wrapped in a crunchy pastry, shallow oil-fried. Very nice! I don’t have the picture, but it closely resembled this one.

My parent went there almost every week. This is another avenue for my mum to buy the weekly groceries apart from household stuff like pail, brush, comb, petai and many others. I still remember they bought me my first wrist watch. I was proud wearing one to school everyday.

Pasar malam is also where I witness my mum’s bargaining skills. She usually gets the price that she wanted. One time, she was offered a pail for as low as RM10 only. It happens when she makes a move, not getting the price she asked for!

As I grow older, I do not have much opportunities to go to a pasar malam since I was in a boarding school. But after I worked at Johor, every Saturday without fail, I look forward to go to one. I think this is because, after a week long of work, one is always looking forward to some kind of escapade and enjoyment. I will always set aside RM10 to buy anything that I like, and that includes VCDs, “air tebu”, “murtabak” and  rambutans.

When I work in KL, I start to lose interest in pasar malam as I am not very fond of crowds.

It has been a few years later off going to pasar malam when my passion reignited. You see, my neighbour has this penchant of going to one. He just loved pasar malam. Occasionally, I will tag along. There was one week where we went to 2 pasar malams!

Usually, I will buy ikan bilis, fresh meat, murtabak, DVDs and of course rambutan. Occasionally I will get some Nasi Kerabu with Solok Lada and some toys for the kids. Emm, not much different 10 years before that!

All I remembered about pasar malam only exist in my memory. One day, I decided to take a camera instead of carry bag to the pasar malam. Maybe one day, my little weblog of pasar malam will be somewhat useful to those who want to see what the pasar malam was like in 2011!

Here goes..

My neighbour brought me to this pasar malam which is around Pinggiran Batu Caves. This was the crowd at around 6.30pm.

In a pasar malam, usually there will be at least one stall selling such balloons. Most of them are not helium-filled balloons. Unfortunately, these types do not lasts long.

As a science person, I was attracted by the presence of Buckyball-inspired toy available among the all-Made-in-China toys. The price are all reasonably cheap but not for parents who are particular about safety aspects of toys.

These are among many toys available at the pasar malam.

I took this picture while waiting for the toy stall owner to install a battery on my gadget. Pasar malam is also a place where I see parents bond with their love ones.

You can find many types of fruits there. Including new varieties that you never come across before. Down here is the visual comparison between the local mango and the mangga kelapa from India. It is huge isn’t it?

I will always bring my favourite fruit, rambutan home with me. I also call it “tico berry”. Remember..tico berry is life! (quoted from Adriana Lima in an “Ugly Betty” episode). On the right is the super white flesh and sweet mangosteen.

The pineapple looks cute and juicy. It is only RM2 per piece. I wanted to buy at first but changed my mind later thinking about the size after you have cut all the exteriors!

There were two kuey-teow sellers. This is one of them.

This stall however is more popular. Watch out for the flame!

Pasar malam also offered fresh meat. More popular ones are freshly slaughtered cows. There are many types of course depending on the parts. Each will also costs differently. I will usually buy the batang pinang or topside (I think!)

Not for the fain-hearted, the stall also offered some other parts. There are the “perut”, ox-tail. Oh, I better stop.

It can be tiring going to a pasar malam.

This stall specializes in the “sayur kampung”. There are pucuk paku and all the pucuks that I am not familiar with. Mind you, the one on the right is not leek!

It also sells fresh ayam kampung eggs, duck eggs and telur masin (the ones in black). I wonder the science involved in making telur masin.

If you prefer the usual vegetables, there will be at least 3-4 stalls available to choose from.

Cauliflowers, broccoli, carrot, lemongrass, ginger, galangal, tomatoes and lime. It is available all year round!

 

You can also get your weekly supply of onions, chillis and other dry condiments.

You do not have to go to movies just to get popcorns.

There were few snapshots that I tempted to make but I do not want to offend the stall-owners. Some included, pirated DVD sellers, pirated-brand stuff like handbags and garments and many more.

I hope I would be able to share more in my next trip!

One wedding, few birthdays and a funeral

Yesterday morning at 3 am, I received a call from my sister. A relative had died.
Every time my family called me, I get this jittery feeling that something is not right. True enough, another family member has left us. I was so sleepy but I could not return to my slumber. What if I did not wake up the next day. Am I ready to meet my Creator?

Family time – visit to the National Science Centre Part 1

The school holidays are finally over and my only achievement was taking the children to Le Meridien last week for one night stay. They enjoyed the hotel stay and the 5 inches deep wading pool but then another week in the house drove them mad.

Work is demanding. Half of my team was unfortunately on medical leave and another helper that I have to beg for was busy with another commitment. Not their choice, but it just my luck. With the workload that I have and having to do most of the things by myself left me with no choice but to forgo my time with kids. Please forgive me kids, I promise I’ll make it up to you guys next holidays!
I was searching for places to take them to and then I thought of the dinosaur exhibition at Pusat Sains Negara (the National Science Centre). Perhaps, they might enjoy dinosaurs!

We went there early in the morning to beat the crowd. However, we were lost trying to figure out the way around the DUKE highways. Later we found out that it is actually super easy to go there. Good, next time I can get there in 20 minutes!
When we arrived there, I was amazed by the number of people. It was only 10am and I have to go up and go down, and back at the car park nearby the entrance. I was surprised to see a wading pool and a mini water park there. I wished I had brought some towels and clothes for the kids to dip in!

Then we have to go up the stairs and everyone was complaining.

Fortunately the air-con inside the lobby was cool, pheww. Imagine if you arrive during the hot sunny afternoon!

The kids spend some time at the touch pool and marveled at the fish at the aquarium. I have been here so many times that I could not be bothered.
While they were busy, I went to purchase the tickets which was highly affordable. Hey, it is only RM 6 for adult. The dino exhibition costs RM 10 but it is all in.

There were many new exhibits on my way to the main atrium. It was quite interesting. The kids enjoyed the multimedia touch screens. The one below have multiple squares that breaks and disintegrates leaving swirling watermark.

The second one just beside it was less popular. You create multiple floral prints when you touch the single flower.

Then we entered a section which have exhibits on life sciences, astronomy and physics. The kids kept themselves busy trying out everything and they certainly do not need my help! Wind power anyone?

Physicist at work, trying to comprehend Bernoulli principle.

Next up! The star attraction  - dinosaurs in Part 2

A motivational poem : “If”, by Rudyard Kipling

One of the ways to brighten up your day is to read something motivational in the morning. This can provide a frame for the day, a sort of self-talk that keeps you motivated in the right direction as opposed to the unwanted negative thinking that may crop up in the morning. Here’s a motivational poem that may help you focus and brighten up your day!

If

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

from everypoet.com

All over again…

I am starting all over again and this time I determine to stay in existence in the blogosphere.
I started in January 2010 and even had a “launching” attended by friends and colleague in the previously known fraternity called Center of Learning. Then I wrote my first posting, nothing much but more of  tribute and thank yous. The theme decided was “Life..Celebration”. My goal is to pay homage to all sort of things we called LIFE.
After about 9 months later, mothers deliver babies but I haven’t deliver any single posting.
Four days later, I picked up the pieces and did a re-branding. I paid tribute to Dr Seuss because I love every single books that he wrote. It was a very long title. Then followed by nothing else :(
Then, I thought it is time to pick up where I left off and this time I will not give up.
It was a week full of high and lows. I read books about blogging, I surf hours in the internet, I change the look and feel of the blog like a million times. I explored new frontiers, pushing boundaries but at the same time put myself under a lot of stress and pressure.
But in the end, I realized that I may have tried too hard. There are limit to things. And as I relate my experience to Nensi today, the most valuable lesson that I have from this experience is to be content with what I have.Some things are not worth fighting for.
Although I had my share of frustrations (I just loved the Pistacio and Helios Theme!), in the end it was a joyful experience especially knowing what I may achieved if I persist.
For now, I will enrich and work on my content and add value to my blogging experience. Those technical stuff can wait. I am sure the day will come when all my dream-blog will come true :)
Welcome to Fun + Mental  = Fundamental.

Left  : Zach Mills narrates the chapter “Fun and Mental is Fundamental”   Right : The Zack Helm’s movie poster,
Note : I would like to dedicate this entry to Syafiq who had helped in setting up F+M=FM. Thanks my friend.

I don't have any

Today I decided to change the theme / title ( or whatever you call it) of my blog]. "Life...celebration", doesn't make sense anymore to me.

So I thought of paying tribute to my all-time favourite writer Dr.Seuss who's writing has inspired me all the time.

"I can learn with my eyes shut" (hopefully) will inspire us to think more and use our other senses to learn more about the world we live in. The are infinite things to think about and so many questions unanswered hence "Oh, the thinks you can think!"

I hope I do not sound corny :P But then this is my blog, so I'll write whatever I like! ...or in another simple sentence - Write On!

Back Again!

After 10 months hiatus, I am back again blogging with nothing to say.
This is for training purposes!

My first entry..ever

Thank you to,

Lya for mooting the idea,
Ina for introducing it,
Sal & Far for encouraging it,
Azni for suggesting names,
Daniel for inspiring it,
E-jump to make it happen!

I am eternally grateful :)