Kindly Yours

Festivity - Biscuits and Fruits

2012-02-05T14:49:00.016+11:00

The Lunar New Year is a time for reunions, gatherings, reflections and replenishment. To accentuate meanings, joy and good omens, snacks are selected that provide an atmosphere of

positive vibes and mention of good words. Above, my traditional family ribbon twist, peppered with sesame seeds, that has been made for beyond a hundred years. They are particularly addictive and go well with beer.

Below, the mish-mesh of salmon slices, crunchy bits and thinly sliced vegetables, including carrots, white radish or daikon, red pickled ginger, turnips, pomelo, chopped peanuts, pepper, jellyfish and chili. A dressing mix (made up of of plum sauce, kumquat juice, rice vinegar and sesame oil) is then poured into all the ingredients just before eating. This dish heralds positive luck, prosperity and growth, when every diner at a ten seat round table can dive in to collectively stir with their clean chopsticks - an act referred to in Cantonese as "lo hei" or symbolically stirring up the qi energy, happiness and prosperity.

Fruits can be symbolic as in red cherries (above) or fresh lychees (below). Biscuits can be made to represent the lively symbols of wealth and health. Spot the chicken, fish and pineapple in the moulds below of the kueh bangkit, made from a combination of eggs, tapioca flour and coconut milk before being baked. This Straits Chinese recipe is only utilised once a year - they may look hard on the outside but are a delight inside the mouth.

Butter cookies, above, were made by my sister-in-law Sian Kin as part of her annual baking sessions leading to every Lunar New Year. They do melt exquisitely in the mouth, are aromatic and are topped by a red glazed cherry eye. They go well with tea (above). Blueberries below are a recent addition of mine to the festivities.

Somewhere Along The Way

2012-01-29T12:20:00.008+11:00

A much dissatisfied looking passenger, obviously engrossed with himself, unpleasantly dismisses the prepacked salad served to him by the cabin crew,as part of his passenger entitlement on the upper deck of the Airbus A380. I had noticed that this passenger was introverted, non-communicative on most things and had an obsessive look at his computer. Was he on a work or leisurely trip? There was so much tension about him that it seemed sad. Was this his natural self, or was he contemplating a serious problem? One wanted to half break the ice with him, or just avoid him all together.

The third month of the current summer in the Wollongong area does not seem to break out of its cloudy stance and rainy episodes. As we roll into the completion of the proverbial one hundred days, I can count on less than the fingers of both hands the number of stifling hot temperature days and nights. The breezes come in as clock work latest by 3am even after the most dehydrating hours before.

Emerging evident construction of the proposed second bridge,between Penang island and mainland of Peninsular Malaysia,can be seen rising like mushrooms under water, as my commercial flight plane flew over the straits. This new link for vehicles on the south-eastern part of the island symbolises the continued changes on my home isle since I left it many years ago. Will it bring more positive, rather than negative things to the state?

I have not seen the father of my good mate Cheang for a few years now. Nor with Helen, Wendy, Julie and Yock Chuen in downtown Singapore. All of us slid easily into conversation and engagement as if we had been catching up with each other on a regular basis for years. I am still amazed in this respect.

Cosmo seemed hyperactive but interested on intent when meeting up with me for the very first time. His fur is thick, healthy and vibrant, his eyes alert and curious.
He naughtily played around the foot of the dining table as he both watched me and energetically pranced around. Finally, he came forward to whiff at my hands, as I lay on the floor at his level. What a memorable hook up in Singapore.

The acar is a well known salad in Straits Chinese cuisine which utilises the variety of crunchy and different coloured vegetables, all cut into smaller than bite size. The pieces are mixed up with a chili based condiment and sprinkled with sesame seeds. The result is often personal and unique, depending on the skills, concentration and preferences of the food preparer. Recently back in Penang Island, I had a rather satisfying version made up by my aunt Kuchai at home. It had the satisfying bite of well mixed portions of the ingredients, plus the enhancing flavours of the condiments used.

Aoba Ramen, ION Orchard Road, Singapore

2012-01-27T15:59:00.007+11:00

I ventured into Aoba, which specialises in Hokkaido ramen, by chance. I had targeted the Orchard Road shopping precinct in Singapore for two main purposes - to check out the much hyped flagship store of Abercrombie & Fitch in the island republic, and to view the Buddha on display at Ngee Ann City complex, carved out of a solid and sizable piece of jade unearthed in Canada in the year 2000. In between was hunger and the ION Shopping centre, a recent addition to the plethora of shopping havens in Singapore. Aoba has outlets in VivoCity, the stepping stone to Sentosa Island and the Universal Studios theme park in Singapore; Manpuku, the Japanese Gourmet Town in Tampines, to the north-east; and also in the IMM Buidling in Jurong East. Above, the delectable adegashi tofu which serves as a good accompaniment to the ramen bowls.

I did find the taste and quality of soup a bit lacking from my expectations, even if I requested my fav seafood version. (picture above - with prawns, squid slices, dried oysters and a braised hard boiled egg). Service was friendly and quick, and the day I was there for a quick snack, crowded and lively. Ramen is a national obsession in Japan and it is like tribal and sporting dimension when it comes to territory, likes and dislikes affecting this dish. Aoba is part of a listed company on the Singapore Stock Exchange. Families, couples, business colleagues and office workers slid in and out of this ION outlet. Later the same evening I caught up with Chet at the Marmalade Pantry in the same ION complex and I must say their cupcakes do stand apart from the rest - I cannot however say this for the ramen at Aoba.

The Melba Cafe, Auckland CBD

2012-01-26T03:01:00.007+11:00

Tucked away along Vulcan Lane in mid downtown Auckland is a small and unassuming cafe that has won the hearts of its clients - the Melba. The blend is Arabica, the emphasis of the flavour is thick and rich Latin American and the baristas friendly and cheerful. Vulcan Lane lies next to the High Street precinct but easily accessible from the main strip of Queen Street. I have not had the opportunity of visiting their other branches in Hurstmere Road, Ellerslie and Hardinge Street, but I was captivated by the atmosphere of the Vulcan Lane site. The blend is unique, the relaxation natural and the regulars are seen like family.

Teas, juices, beers and wines are also available if you are not a coffee drinker. Porridge, granola, bagels, pancakes, fritters, hash and omelettes are also served in most of the Melba outlets.

The Cassette Number Nine Bar & Restaurant, Auckland CBD

2012-01-25T14:00:00.009+11:00

Wandering around central Auckland, we chanced upon a retro themed bar, with the rather 70s name of Cassette. Apparently the business is new, but the furnishings and feel hark back to rock. We did not see any live gig that afternoon, but just had a kind of pub lunch there, and this was heavily skewed towards Italian pasta and pizzas. Outside is Vulcan Lane (picture above) , with its rather small but unique range of retail outlets, with hints of Melbournish charm and English roots.

Image credits to S. K. Teoh.

Penang Buddhist Association, Georgetown

2012-01-24T14:02:00.018+11:00

Located in a bustling corner of downtown Georgetown, Penang Island, Malaysia, is a haven of tranquility, reflection and prayer. The building is European, the gardens are immaculately maintained and the theme is Buddhist. Around the sizable shrine hall, which is paved with well mopped English styled tiles and graced by furniture inlaid with mother of pearl, are walkways, flora of various sorts and the feeling of space. Across the road is an open ground named after a colonial, Brown Gardens. I had the occasion of visiting this Penang Buddhist Association recently for the Lunar New Year. This venue is a childhood favourite of mine and always holds dear memories.

I always take my time to look in amazement at the Bodhi tree on the outer grounds of this association. (picture above) This banyan fig giant was planted here to commemorate the Enlightenment of the Buddha over 25 centuries ago. The tree is also sacred to religious followers of Janaism and Hinduism, which share roots with Buddhism back on the Indian sub-continent. The Bodhi is native to Indo-China, southwest China and South Asia.

The Association has added new water features at the back of the property (image below), complete with a Japanese-styled bridge, carp and rock formations. On the morning of my visit with the immediate family, little but brightly coloured butterflies were observed frolicking amongst the blooms and leaves of the plants on the nearby garden bed.

The cast iron staircases (above) and the tropical fashioned windows or doors with slanting wooden slats (below) hark back more to the Victorian era of design than to any Buddhist or locally inspired patterns. The Association grounds now host accommodation for senior folks, kindergartens, a library and meeting facilities, also providing other enablers to support community requirements, but all within and accessible to in a complex. Even if temperatures are uncomfortably hot and humid outside, the high ceilings of its main hall always provide instant relief. A dainty pagoda welcomes you at the entrance, accompanied by a man made pool.

Dome Coffee Cafe, Penang

2012-01-24T13:58:00.009+11:00

Living on the eastern seaboard of Australia, I have never visited a Dome Coffee cafe on this continental island, and the fact that Perth, home to Dome Coffee, is as far away from me as New York is to L.A., does not help. However , I have never been disappointed in any of my limited forays into one of their cafes, whether in Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. Recently, whilst waiting for mates to arrive, I could not resist checking out the DomeCoffee cafe in Queensbay Mall, Penang island. I ordered the afternoon tea set (picture bove) which cost me less than AUD7. Clockwise, from nine o'clock in the image, are curry puffs, Australian styled scones, with the accompanying raspberry preserves and cream, with a slice of brownie cookie in the centre. The scones were perfect, not hard, but breaks up so nicely when you bite into them.

The Queensbay Mall outlet of Dome Coffee (picture above) has laminated marble top tables for guests, is spaciously laid out and evokes of a colonial atmosphere. Dome also operates in Dubai; Abu Dhabi; Metro Manila and Makati in the Phillipines; in Bahrain's Manama; and at the Male International Airport on arrival in the Maldives.

The latte (above) I had matched up to Australian standards, and the bite sized curry puff (below) stood up to the expectations of this ex-Penangite. The menu is extensive, including pizzas, cookies, muffins, waffles, milkshakes, burgers and teas. Head office is in Maylands in WA, and naturally the bulk of the Australian operations are in that state, with only a single outlet in George Street, Brisbane and two in Hobart, Tasmania.

The Sun Yat Sen Memorial, Georgetown, Penang

2012-01-24T13:53:00.025+11:00

Dr Sun Yat Sen was the man ascribed to have founded a modern day republic for China in 1911, following a number of rebellions, massive fund raising efforts from private citizens and the sacrifice of various individuals. Dr Sun's connections with Penang is encapsulated in his visit to the Sio Lang Teng, a club for ethnic Chinese merchants, where he first met with his ultimately fervent supporters in Malaya for the Revolutionary cause - Goh Say Eng and Ooi Kim Kheng. Many a common folk led an oppressive life under the yoke of the Qing Dynasty - and the Qing Dynasty itself was faced with the challenges of internal rebellions, colonisation in various parts of coastal China by several Western powers and a reluctance to meet effectively with the opportunities of modernism.

Goh Say Eng was my maternal grand uncle, and he is depicted (above ) in front of the Sun Yat Sen Memorial in Georgetown, Penang, as one of three statues in united and coordinated effort to fight for the end of feudal rule in China. The Memorial is located in a building housing the Penang Philomatic Union, which is a reading club started by the political Chinese Revolutionay Alliance or Tung Meng Hooi. This Alliance began in Tokyo in 1905 to begin efforts to achieve the implementation of a Chinese republic, finally proclaimed on 11 October 1911. Goh Say Eng founded the Penang chapter of this Alliance under the rule of the colonial British administration.

On the Chinese mainland, examples of the injustice, debauchery and economic hardships under Qing Dynasty rule are illustrated in the Penang Memorial by a series of detailed and interesting miniature vistas. Above picture shows typical bullying by local militia in Chinese towns and below, opium smoking and playing with prostitutes were rife by officials of the Qing Dynasty in China.

The tin mines of Perak (depicted above) were a huge economic drawcard for immigrants from various southern Chinese provinces, from the middle of the 19th century, to come settle in what was then Malaya (today's peninsular Malaysia). The political and civil turmoil in China in the last hundred years of the Qing Dynasty also created incentives for mass-scale migration out of China to various parts of the world, including Australia, the USA, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. Below, a quiet afternoon in the Penang base of the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall, which was officially opened in 2010.

Dr Sun had the privilege of being accommodated in various addresses in Georgetown, Penang whilst he was visiting to secure funding from and meeting up with overseas Chinese based in South-east Asia. Above picture depicts the various mansions and town houses that were involved, some of which still exist today. Penang offered such significant support, politically, financially and physically in the serious efforts to overthrow the last feudal dynasty in China that even the headquarters of Dr Sun's overseas coordinated efforts was moved from Singapore. Below is a depiction of the two headed snake, a term implied to Qing Dynasty officials who played a dangerous game of pleasing two opposing sides.

A representation of a regally seated Dr Sun (above) follows traditions in Chinese culture for respected and honoured national figures. This is reminiscent of the primary and national memorial in Nanjing in central China. Below is a representation of life in downtown Singapore in the early years of the 20th century, with a trishaw ride in downtown Chinatown.

Yeng Keng Hotel, Georgetown, Penang

2012-01-24T13:42:00.021+11:00

With Georgetown, Penang and Malacca in Peninsular Malaysia added to the list of UNESCO heritage sites, there has been some activity in urban renewal from the freed up funding to support investment in rebuilding, renovating and renewal. I recently had lunch at one such redevelopment along Chulia Street in Georgetown - the Yeng Keng Hotel was once a family mansion, then a backpackers' hostel and now a refurbished heritage experience hotel. Much effort had gone into revitalising the motifs, foliage and ambiance in this location. The experience, as you walk through its cool passages, corridors and rooms, can be eclectic and multi-cultural but mostly Straits Chinese.

Yeng Keng is one of several sights worth stopping by as you take the Georgetown heritage walk, covering four main ethnic groups within a maximum two hour stroll. The retro hotel sits in the centre of a precinct that has Little India, Chinatown, Arab Quarter and Colonial Penang all within inspection within a kilometre. Thrown in are food stalls reflecting the variety available in south and south-east Asia, a relaxed pace and many sights and sounds to take in. Above, an indoor plant sits within a much loved and used container that reminds me of pickled rambutan fruit and water jars. Below a wall motif representing the local and tropical hibiscus utilises Arab and Indonesian influences in art.

The penchant for iconic Chinese themes - like the phoenix (below), mountain and ocean scenery and blossoming leafy flora (pictures above) - permeates Yeng Keng. The hotel has retained its imposing gateway but added a small wade pool at the back.

Above image captures the coffee corner at the front of Yeng Keng Hotel. It also has a dedicated bar and dining room apart from the main hotel building. Georgetown was founded by Captain Francis Light in the late 18th century - Light came to this part of the world based on the support of the British East India Company, after the Brits had lost the American colonies to independence. Light saw the potential of Penang Island as a middleman, broker and political controller of the rewarding trade route at the northern end of the Straits of Malacca. He negotiated the purchase and use of Penang Island from the then Sultan of nearby Kedah State on the mainland. The rest, as they say, is history - and Light's own son, William, went on to found Adelaide in South Australia.

Some of the original features of the Yeng Keng hotel building have been retained. Above, a window configuration up close and below, a cupboard displaying some of the interesting excavated items from the recent renovation of the site. Guest rooms in the new Yeng Keng have high ceilings - and the suites have furniture imported from the Czech Republic as well.

Colonial Singapore

2012-01-24T13:41:00.009+11:00

Singapore has been touted as a melting pot of various ethnic migrants, a meeting point across trade routes and a strategic location for anchoring oneself before fanning out across the Asia Pacific region. It can be seen as soaking up good ideas, quality talent and fusion food. Walking around the Singapore River one Friday evening, I was reminded of the two great cultural, political and economic powers that have significantly shaped this island - Britain and China. Above - the lion head , one out of two, guarding the flagship branch of the Bank of China.

The fan palm (above) is symbolic of the equatorial flora of South-east Asia, and it is a favourite of the Singapore Government in the selection of plants and trees used to make the nation green. Although also found in northern Australia, Mexico and California, the plant originated from India and can be spectacular, growing to heights of six metres.

Cavenagh Bridge (below and above) is now a pedestrian bridge, but has a glorious history and tradition. It was designed by John Turnbull Thompson and built by P & W Maclellan of Glasgow, Scotland. The name of the bridge was made in honour of the last India-appointed Governor of the Straits Settlements, Major-General William Orfeur Cavenagh. It also played a pivotal role during the Japanese occupation of Singapore, when the island was renamed Syonan.

The Cavenagh Bridage, above, has more steel suspension struts than most of its peers built in the late 19th century. When completed, it was said to have been built to withstand more than four times its expected load as an open bridge for vehicular traffic. Is only drawback is its low draught. Today it plays a role in bridging the cultural and commercial precincts of downtown Singapore, and can be easily located beside the nearby Fullerton Hotel and the Asian Civilisations Museum.

Goddess of Mercy Temple, Georgetown, Penang - Lion Dances

2012-01-24T13:39:00.014+11:00

Wushi, or the lion dance, mimics a lion's movements by two hidden but agile and strong acrobats, usually trained in a martial arts (or wushu) school. The lion costume has a red sash across its horn at the front. A popular cultural icon in East Asia, stretching from Korea and Japan to Indonesia and Thailand, they are present at festivals like the Lunar New Year and the Mooncake Festival to enhance good luck, good business and positive vibes. I captured these images here at the Goddess of Mercy temple (Kuan Im Teng in Fujian, one of the main dialects in Penang) in the colonial quarter of Georgetown, Penang, a venerable Taoist-Buddhist-Confucian institution of more than a hundred years popular with Western tourists and sitting in the midst of the declared UNESCO heritage belt.

Northern Chinese lions, originally from Ninghai in Ningbo in northern China, in such dances can be compared to a pair of Pekingese or Fu dogs, and they have shaggy orange and yellow fur, with a red bow to indicate the male an a green one to represent the female. Southern Chinese lions started their tradition in Guangzhou (old Canton), the bustling metropolis of the south, and have a variety of schools, ranging from Buddha Mountain to Crane Style and Green Lion. Watch the details of the lion heads and one appreciates the differences in requirement, meaning and colour. Korean and Japanese lion costumes depart significantly from those on the China mainland.

The lion dances are accompanied by the beating of cymbals, drums and gongs, which often require such a musician's group to follow behind the prancing lions. Businesses engage such troupes as well to amplify prosperity luck and invite such lions to pluck a leafy vegetable like lettuce, often tied at the top of a pole, as part of the procedure - once the lion successfully does that, a red packet containing the relevant currency of the day is provided as a reward. Dance competitions are held in most of east and south-east Asia to find the most talented young people to animate such lion dances; in the UK, Australia, New Zealand the United States, such talent can come from Europeans who have passion to seriously learn up wushu.

Selegie, Singapore

2012-01-24T13:38:00.007+11:00

A stroll through Selegie Road in Singapore reveals a host of architecture, lifestyles and sights.

Maybe predominantly Indian, with touch of colonialism, but soaking in influences from this multi-cultural island. Selegie provides interesting footpath heritage, with impressions harking back to the fifties or seventies in the last century and is accessible from the Bugis Junction MRT and the Bras Basah Road precincts. It also provides a link to Singapore's Little India - Serangoon.

Pongal Festival, Serangoon - Singapore

2012-01-24T13:30:00.016+11:00

Pongal or Sankaranthi is a thanksgiving festival for a good harvest, celebrated originally in Tamil Nadu, South India. It also heralds the auspicious month of Thai in the Hindu calendar. Boiling of milk in clay pots (pictured above) is one of the significant rituals carried out to celebrate abundance for a household. Notice that the pots all have painted mango leaves on their sides.

I had the opportunity to observe this festival in Singapore's Little India - Serangoon - one January week day.

Fresh ginger shoots are seen in a stall, perhaps reflecting the agricultural roots of this festival.

Purple coloured sugar cane are also made available amidst the varied produce and wares on offer. (above) The sugar cane is valued by the Fujian community of South China in celebrating the Lunar New Year, which often coincides with the Pongal Festival in Malaysia and Singapore.

Coconuts hold a very special place in an Hindu festival. Above image captures a display of young coconuts in their shell and some smeared with festive colourings. There are many stalls along Campbell Lane for the duration of this festival and it can be a sight to behold and discover.

Cattle symbolically honoured as acknowledgement for their toil on fields to help humans reap the benefits of a harvest. In Campbell Lane, Serangoon in Singapore, they are washed and had their horns painted. They were also garlanded with flowers, tinkling bells and multi-coloured beads.

Flower garlands, made from fresh blooms, are a requirement in any Indian festivals, together with fresh limes (picture above). Below, the main strip of Serangoon Road gets festive with colourful decorations hung overhead.

Waterloo Street, Singapore

2012-01-24T13:26:00.021+11:00

Street walks are one of my fav past times, whether in a bustling metropolis, quiet village or heritage area. Recently I an opportunity to explore Waterloo Street in the city state of Singapore - the stretch between Bras Basah and Rochor Roads. The road was renamed, by the colonial British administration, from Church Street to its currently used label, in 1858 to commemorate the Duke of Wellington's victory in the famous battle in far way Europe.

The northern side of Waterloo Street is the site of flower markets, shopping centres, dry produce shops with five-foot ways, the well patronised Kuan Im Hood Cho Temple (picture above), the Maghain Aboth Synagogue and the busy Sri Krishnan Temple. For the visitor, it offers a microcosm of what Singapore is all about - trading, the mingling of various immigrant groups and shared values. Recent developments in this precinct include the campus of the Singapore Management University.

Painted wall murals (above) and feeding pigeons (below) add to the variety seen in the pedestrian mall section of Waterloo Street. Tamils refer to this road with emphasis on the Hindu temple, whilst the Fujian community in Singapore describe it as the street in Bencoolen where the vegetarian hall is. The Teochews refer to Waterloo Street as the road of horse carriages.

Below image, a typical back packer's hostel places the guest in the centre of much colour, activity and access to street food. I visited Waterloo Street during the busy preparations leading to the arrival of the Lunar New Year of the Water Dragon.

Kent Ridge Park, Singapore

2012-01-24T13:24:00.020+11:00

The park may not fit the pervasive stereotyped perception of Singapore being an island of high rises, shopping centres and disciplined restrictions. Here, at the Kent Ridge Park in almost the centre of this city state, one can walk, mountain-bike, roam or run free under the shade of secondary equatorial forest trees, enjoy vistas of greenery and breathe in the air as Singapore founder Sir Stamford Raffles once did. Located near the higher education hub and the nearby campus of the National University of Singapore, the forty-seven hectare park provides twenty fitness stations for a refreshing and healthy time especially during early mornings and evenings. Acacias, tembusus, angsanas and dillenias predominate in the tree population.

Flora meant for lining public sites, roads and reserves are grown here (picture above) in one of the Government nurseries seen from a look out point at Kent Ridge Park.

Amidst all the greenery, we came across a low density apartment bloc known simply as the Peak. (above). I noticed the residents were mostly expats, and a couple of Eurasian children came out for a bicycle ride. Reminiscent of Hong Kong's Peak, the property commands a view of Singapore and the nearby isles. One can actually take the trail for over two hours from here, via the Alexander Arch, to reach the Henderson Waves Walk near Faber Park.

The calm of this park, replete with wild orchids and monkey cup plants, do not fully reveal that it was one of the sites for a significant British battalion during the Japanese occupation of Singapore, in the mid 20th century. A plaque in a car park commemorates the end of World War 2. Nearby South Buona Vista Road is the location of the battle for Pasir Panjang in 1942. Today Kent Ridge Park is a vital portion of the Singapore Park Connector Network project.

The battle for Bukit Chandu (Opium Hill in Malay) is marked by an interpretative centre in a well kept bungalow (pictures above and below). Here one of the fiercest battles were conducted by the colonial British Army and local forces before Singapore capitulated to the Imperial Japanese forces in 1942. Lt Adnan bin Saidi of the Malay Regiment is remembered as heroically leading his men in this battle.

Mangosteen Mania

2012-01-24T13:23:00.003+11:00

Mangosteens hailed originally from the Moluccas Isles and the Sunda Islands in Indonesia, but can be easily available now in the rest of south-east Asia, usually as whole fruits at retail. The fun commences with hand opening the rather hard outer skin layer to get at its inner fruit, and the pleasure is in the milky white , juicy and somewhat fibrous fruit. I was told that Queen Elizabeth II graciously receives gifts of such crated fruits at Buckingham Palace each year.

Europeans generally baulk at the thorny, football sized, green coloured durian, but in contrast, they love the mangosteen. Queen Victoria reputedly offered a hundred pound reward in the 19th century to anyone who could deliver to her the fresh fruit of the mangosteen. The mangosteen tree can be tall and reach anywhere from seven to 25 metres. In Australia, it is now grown on a commercial basis in Queensland and the Northern Territory.

The purple coloured fruit has an outer skin layer that discourages infestation by insects, fungi or plant viruses whilst it is ripening. The top of the fruit has a clover like arrangement in light green where attached to a stem. This is my favourite tropical fruit, but I am always careful when taking in the juice of the luscious white inner fruit - their stains have to be washed immediately from fabric or clothes, as they are rather strong and sticky. What is the best way of manually opening a mangosteen? I hold the single fruit with both hands, and gently apply pressure from the sides, so as to buckle the outer purple coloured layer. Once this layer cracks up, I see the target - the moist, ripened white segments, slightly aromatic, definitely delicious.

Sembawang Park, Singapore

2012-01-24T13:20:00.020+11:00

Sembawang lies on the north-eastern corner of Singapore Island. It has been associated with a massive shipbuilding industry for many years and still is. Named after a native tree, it used to host rubber estates and then a British naval base. Sembawang is sited next to Woodlands, best know as the northern suburb of Singapore that is linked to Malaysia through the Causeway and Malayan Railway. Above image, day fishermen have a whale of a time at a wharf that juts out towards Johor in Malaysia.

Sembawang Park (above) is not far from the shipyard (picture below). Interesting enough, there are many examples of Australian flora in this park, the most famous of which is the Bottle Tree, originally from Queensland. I am told that this tree no longer exists as I write, but there is also the Cannon Ball Tree still on site. There is also a hot springs on location for visitors. This far corner of Singapore is also accessible by MRT to Sembawang Town. You may come across many National Servicemen in this area, as the Naval Diving Unit and the 1st and 3rd Transport Battalion of the Singapore Army are also based here.

A bungalow previously housing engineers and other technicians working for the Sembawang Shipyard has been turned into a restaurant in Sembawang Park - the Beaulieu House (picture above). You can dine on Chinese seafood and European cuisine, with a view to the Johor Straits, in surroundings I can only surmise as retro. Beaulieu House was built by the David family who were involved in the mining business and then acquired by the British Navy around 1910.

The Beaulieu House offers several private function rooms, one of which, the Alfresco A & B, can seat over 200 people.

You can enjoy both European and local reflections inside the Beaulieu House - a touch of old England (above) and a restored trishaw (below).

Sembawang does provide a refreshing hideaway from most of contemporary Singapore. Standing by its shore, I am reminded of schoooldays on another tropical island not far north - Penang. Both provide provdie the setting for lazy afternoons when we could still be conscious of the laps of the gentle waters of a sheltered straits and when the cares of the world were just borne by others. You can go cycling or running in Sembawang, far removed from the trials and tribulations of share market movements or strategic-politcal dramas. It also offers insights into what greeted Sir Stamford Raffles when he eyed upon this island of Singapore and made him negotiate with the then Sultan of Johor to take over the island.

Hainan Chicken Rice - Wee Nam Kee, Singapore

2012-01-24T13:19:00.006+11:00

I had always aimed to eat at Wee Nam Kee, after hearing through the grapevine and on the internet regarding its extra special renditions of the classic Hainan chicken rice, perhaps the national dish of Singapore. A family business, Wee Nam Kee has been digging its fans in since 1987, and when Mui Na suggested the branch along Thompson Road in Novena, I did not protest. My first experience there lived up to my expectations. The chicken is moist, flavourful and addictive. The rice is pleasant, tasty and tender. Some of my Aussie mates flinch at chicken served on the bone, but in this case, this is essential for the optimal taste to come out.

By noon on a weekday, the crowds had gathered - office workers, families, tourists like me mates and more. Initially I was curious why there were so many staff at this Wee Nam Kee joint - for a two shopfront place. I soon understood fast, as the lunchers quickly occupied all available tables ad people started forming a standing queue. Customers were not averse to sharing tables with strangers, and the crowd was as cosmopolitan as Singapore gets. I got hooked on the mild but delectable "water dogs" (siau kow in Cantonese) - steamed dumplings with pork mince with shrimp and vegetable ingredients inside (picture below).

One of the curiosities in this business is the need for customers to be there on a timely basis. Some dishes are not available if you come too early or too late. Interesting enough, there is a viable delivery service operated by Wee Nam Kee within Singapore Island. Other signature dishes for consideration are crispy roast pork, deep fried tofu, crispy stir fried kai lan greens (picture below), cereal prawns and another national icon for Singapore, the curry fish head. Master Chef Loh has been heading the kitchens of Wee Nam Kee for twenty years now, and outlets include a franchised outlet in Manila.

The ToastBox, Singapore

2012-01-24T13:18:00.012+11:00

There are several businesses in Malaysia and Singapore these days specialising in providing the kaya toast, poached eggs and selected street food like chicken curry laksa - but all at higher price and with a supposedly higher ambiance than those original kopitiams dotted across towns and suburbs in the two nations. I was impressed with the atmosphere and service experienced recently at the ToastBox outlet at Bugis Junction in Singapore. Quick, responsive and friendly, the staff went about their work at this busy and strategically located shop along the main strip. The test was in the signature offering, two fresh hard boiled eggs with an engrossing bread slice smothered with coconut-based kaya preserve and local coffee. (picture above)

Local fare offered by the ToastBox (clockwise from 12 noon in picture above) includes dainty layer cakes, Swiss jam rolls, the traditional nasi lemak (coconut milk steamed rice eaten with condiments of deep fried anchovies, hard boiled eggs, sambal and cucumber slices) packed above in take away triangle folded banana leaves, flat packed glutinous rice accompanied by sweet and savoury shrimp paste, deep fried chicken wings, egg custard and a whole chocolate cake.

Thee are various options available in how you can have your toast and eat them too - please refer to image above. I chose the toast with a spread of otak otak, the fish mousse found in most of South-east Asia from Chiengmai to Bali. (picture below) Other toppings used to spread on their thick toast bread are butter milk, spicy shrimp paste, ice cream, floss and tom yam flavoured garlic. ToastBox as a business has been operating fro several years now and is associated with the owners of BreadTalk, another chain specialising in offering freshly baked pastries and tea time snacks. ToastBox also sells Nanyang coffee powder, their bottled kaya preserves ala Hainan style and peanut butter. They have outlets across most of East Asia, from China to Thailand and the Philippines.

Petaling Street, Sydney - Malaysian Street Food

2012-01-10T07:20:00.010+11:00

Petaling Street, in the heart of Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown district of Chow Kit, evokes the hustle and bustle of commerce, street vendorship and hawker food. The name also refers to a chain of cafe restaurants in Melbourne city centre and its suburbs, specialising on the spectrum of fare fro breakfast, dinner, supper or any time ranging from Cantonese, South Indian, Thai, Indonesian, Malay, Straits Chinese to fusion varieties from south-east Asia. Charmaine and Cindy alerted me to the opening of Pet Street's branch along George Street in Sydney's CBD, opposite from the corner of Ultimo Street. I could hardly wait to try this out. Above image - ice kacang, or shaved ice with a mixture of palm sago, black jelly bits, creamy corn from the can, roasted peanuts and more, and all doused with pink rose syrup or green flavoured extras. Ice kacang is replicated in the Philippines and Indonesia, known there as ABC or ais batu campur. I must say the roasted peanuts gave me a kick in this ice kacang dish.

The ambiance is casual, crowded and busy. On first impressions, I wondered if they had only these several tables for customers in a narrow corridor at street level. Tables are squat and practical, with no backs but more like stools. It was only half an hour later when a visit to the washrooms in the basement opened my eyes to more spacious seating. Petaling Street's menu is extensive and they open late till 2 am from Thursday to Saturday nights, otherwise they open their doors at 11am every day and close at 11pm from Sudnays to Wednesdays. Their drinks offered reflect the selections available in any Malaysian or Singaporean coffee shop (kopi tiam) - including not only hot or cold teh tarik, soya bean ice and cham ( a mixture of both tea and coffee in one serving), but also Ribena Sprite and ice Bandung. One of the dishes that caught my attention at the window display was the Thai nasi Pattaya, or fried rice all snugly wrapped in an egg omelette cover (picture above). When we observed other tables, steamed fish was ordered in a variety of styles - with tamarind sauce or chill or ginger and shallots.

The first dish I had at this George Street cafe was the yee mee in a claypot with shreds of marinated braised duck. (image above) My first thoughts on taking this were, hello, there are sharp bones with the duck and they should have been deboned, and secondly it tasted more salty than I preferred. Some people prefer boned duck as they are convinced that it adds tot he flavour, when compared with deboned duck meat. The yee mee are fat flat noodles that can also be served deep fried but in a claypot, I like it al dente.

Penang fried koay teow (flat rice noodles) and Mamak mee goreng ( stir fried Hokkien noodles with a mixture of tomato, chilli and bean paste based sauces) and rotis are also available here. I reckon one has to decide whether to order rice-accompanied dishes or straight hawker food if one does not have the numbers, but do go with the flow. The curry puffs and satay skewers serve as good snacks at mid afternoon, and nasi lemak is always a good bet for brunch . For late night drop ins, the congee is recommended. Service was fast, but one sits neck to neck with fellow diners, so be ready for a street food dimension.

Water Dragon Year - The Vibes

2012-01-07T10:42:00.016+11:00

The Lunar Year of the Metal Rabbit changes to that of the Water Dragon on 23 January 2012. Moving on from the significant economic, political and natural turbulences in 2011, the new period from 23 January 2012 to 2 February 2013, with Earth as its primary element, promises more business and economic opportunities, marriage celebrations and additions to family. Individuals born under the different twelve animals of the Lunar Zodiac face varying conditions with the advent of each new year, and if each person proceeds with personal determination, creativity and positive effort, one can help shape up plans for 2012 into rewarding reality.

2012 sees the Earth element and the essentially watery nature of the Lunar Dragon Year in potential conflict. Water can destroy earth, but at the same time earth requires water in optimal amounts to nurture life and growth. Suggested measures to mitigate this potentially fictitious interaction are to breed fish and create pebbled gardens.

Dragons, Monkeys and Dogs tend to be leaders. Snakes, Monkeys and Roosters are often charismatic. Boars, Monkeys and Dogs are significantly witty. Snakes, Boars and Rabbits stand out as mild tempered. Rats and Roosters are reputedly highly intuitive. The Ox is highly reliable, together with Horses and Dogs. Tigers, Horses and Dogs love challenges.

I always love to note the positive aspects of individuals and below, I have chosen selected indicative birth years for the different animal signs. Just add or minus 12 years from the indicative years to recognise your personal Lunar Year animal sign, if you cannot find your exact relevant year below. Do recognise that the Lunar New Year calendar from East Asia does not synchronise with the Gregorian solar calendar -and that lunar calendar years in this context can commence any day between January 19and February 19 of each Western calendar year.

Those born under the Lunar Year of the Dragon (1988) are noted to be knowledgeable, meticulous, independent, adventurous and ambitious. The Dragon savours comfort, festivals, wealth, antiques and concerts.

Individuals born under the Year of the Snake (1989) tend to be humorous, charming, good mannered, helpful, intelligent, practical and love mystery. The Snake likes to organise things and loves books, pets and warmth.

Persons with the Horse sign (1990) are acknowledged to be brave, influential, independent and adventurous. The Horse enjoys conversations, resolving challenges and riddles, receiving compliments and kindness.

People born under the Goat sign (1991) are said to be honest, sure-footed, hard working, artistic, innovative, faithful, elegant and caring. The Goat enjoys harmony, culture, spaciousness, literature, freedom and wit.

Those born in the Monkey Year (1980) are good planners,can endure well,charismatic, witty and attractive. The Monkey savours sunshine, cooking, travelling, humour and intrigue.

Individuals under the Rooster Year (1981) tend to be kind-hearted, intuitive, intelligent, caring, humorous and of high integrity. The Rooster appreciates Nature, casual neatness, the fresh outdoors, resolving challenges and working hard.

People with the Dog (1982) sign are loyal, honest, witty, possess strong character and tend to be decision makers. The Dog likes Nature, playfulness, routine, friendship, travelling and resolving challenges.

Individuals born under the sign of the Boar (1983) are mild tempered, intelligent, magnanimous, helpful and righteous. The Boar thrives interacting in teams, enjoying home environments, taking baths, having pets and children, receiving praise and having good health.

Persons with the Rat sign (1984) are optimistic, intelligent, helpful, self-confident, sociable, artistic and full of energy. The Rat loves trust and negotiation.

Those under the Ox year (1985) are often honest, capable, hard working, strong willed, reliable and have a strong sense of integrity. The Ox thrives in routine, organisation, tradition and sobriety.

Individuals born under the sign of the Tiger (1998) are sharp, adventurous, ambitious, courageous, passionate and highly independent. The Tiger likes new experiences, quality, surprises and is a party animal!

People under the year of the Rabbit (1999) tend to be optimistic, meticulous, kind hearted, gentle and alert. The Rabbit tends towards peace, intrigue, comfort and the arts.

By the way, I was born under the Year of the Rooster.

The Past Year

2011-12-31T10:05:00.032+11:00

A Gift from Six year old Tom

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” - a classic saying from Ralph Waldo Emerson

Meaning and Purpose - Sea Turtle Bowl from Fiji

"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after" by Henry David Thoreau

"Connection gives purpose and meaning to our lives.“ – Brene Brown

Enjoying The Ride Along the Way - Starting the Day at Balgownie

“Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.” from John Lennon

"LIFE: Love, Intelligence, Fun, Evolution - in that order." from Vanna Bonta

Times to Gather, Re-commit and Enjoy - Gift Under The Tree

"Sometimes people are beautiful. Not in looks. Not in what they say. Just in what they are.” by Markus Zusak

Thriving in a Focused Light - My Thrill in Getting an Organiser for the New Year

"I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning to sail my ship.” – Louisa May Alcott

"Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual everyday routine.” from Shunryu Suzuki

Soaking in Beauty - Hibiscus Blooms in Balgownie

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” from Maya Angelou

"A woman knows the face of the man she loves as a sailor knows the open sea." from Honore de Balzac

"People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.” – Elizabeth Kübler-Ross

Sharing with Kevin - Above, product from a successful Coca Cola campaign.

Ann Landers advised: "Know yourself. Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful."

Spanish Proverb - "Habits are at first cobwebs, then cables."

The Wonder of Uniqueness - Above, a Festive packaged home made preserve

Pablo Picasso said "Everything you can imagine is real.”

Dabbling in The World Out There - Liquor from Bali

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.” from Douglas Adams

"If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there.” from Lewis Carroll

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom” from Anais Nin

What We Have at Home - Kangaroo Paws, Native of Australia

“Dig within. Within is the wellspring of good; and it is always ready to bubble up, if you just dig.” – Marcus Aurelius

“What you are is what you have been. What you’ll be is what you do now.” – The Buddha

Six Degrees of Understanding - Garden Icon above

"Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.” from Mark Twain.

"The one you love and the one who loves you are never, ever the same person.” from Chuck Palahniuk

Tea'Se Me Tea Emporium, Wollongong CBD

2011-12-24T07:04:00.011+11:00

One of the more invigorating quick breakfasts I have had recently lately was at the Tea'Se Me Tea Emporium, along Keira Street in Wollongong CBD. I loved the bernaise sauce offered to accompany a bacon and egg toasted bagel special (image above) - it was absolutely delicious! The surroundings are homely and modern (picture below), with shelves of tea drinking contraptions, containers and variety.

Open weekdays from breakfast time till 5pm, and also for half a day on Saturdays, the emporium offers more than tea. There is a good selection of lunch snacks involving pide and more, with a good blend of cooking reminiscent of regional snacks and beach side practicality. There is the all day breakfast menu available. It is attractive for a gathering of mates as well as or the casual office crowd. To me it was a delightful discovery to have such a choice in contrast to the neighbouring Asian food outlets. This is recommended as a restful stop for shoppers visiting the nearby Crown Street pedestrian mall. The day I was there, there were youthful customers, family groups and those obvious tea lovers.

Magic Moments - 19 December 2011

2011-12-19T21:22:00.009+11:00

Street Food, Sydney CBD

2011-12-18T10:11:00.011+11:00

There is always a crowd and a queue at Ichiban Boshi, a ramen and udon cafe on the same level as the Kinokinuya Bookshop at Galleries Victoria in Sydney's CBD. This Japanese noodle chain also operates on the Gold Coast in Queensland and at Bondi Junction in Sydney's eastern suburbs. On a recent drop by in Galleries Victoria, I had the Tantan cold noodles served with a rather spicy and salty stock soup garnished by a half hard boiled egg, garlic, minced pork and two cherry tomatoes. So packed the place was that we had to share a round table with a Japanese executive, a Hong Kong career lady, a student and a gay couple. Perhaps the proof of the pudding, so to say, in selecting the best of what a cafe provides is to note what the other lunchers are having. I noticed that popular orders were the ramen soup, either spicy or the Tokyo version, with either beef or pork cutlets.

An easy going and quick option for a snack or a no-fuss meal, either before going to enjoy a casual evening of drinks with mates at Darling Harbour, is to try one of the the varied food choices at the uppermost level of Market City in Chinatown. There are many choices for hotpots of seafood or vegetarian, hot plates of beef, chicken, lamb or chicken and stir fries or soups with different types of noodles. I loved my choice of curry laksa with seafood and wriggly egg noodles (picture above), topped by fried bean curd slices. For other options, there are Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean and Indian fare.

The above serving of Hainan chicken rice came with out the traditional practice of serving the skin. The accompanying chili and vinegar infused sauce is essential to this dish, otherwise it would have been too plain to contemplate. What was missing? The ginger and garlic based concoction, vital to enhancing the thin slices of white meat and to blend with the aromatic chicken stock flavoured rice. The small bowl of soup was well made. Image above taken at the Singapore food outlet inside Oxford Square, Darlinghurst.

Scenes from Sydney

2011-12-18T09:58:00.019+11:00

The largest metropolis in any nation is bound to be special, controversial and unique. Several British colonies around the Australian coast vied for the honour and title of going to be the most important, the most productive and the most nurturing city. One may speculate about the harbour with many bays, or the more benign climate between the tropics and the temperate, but Sydney turned out to be ahead of other locations, even those with more viable hinterlands. A city may be great, but it is the people who live there - and enjoy the best of its opportunities or suffer the worst of its excesses - who count and matter. A sprawling urban congregation may thrive on the benefits of business and economic advantage, but the final judgement of a meaningful place to call home is its heart, its degree of organisation and the quality of its environs. Above image (credit to Torsten Blackwood / AP/ Getty Images) encapsulates the view of a beggar on a city street pavement, in a country with structured social security, rather high minimal salary rates and a relatively low population.

Sydney was founded more than 224 years ago, and yet it is relatively young compared to the old cultures of the world. Added to the indigenous history are the heritage richness of various streams of immigrants, most recently from both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Once joined to old land masses, it currently is infused with strong influences from more than two hundred nationalities. A significant contribution to what Sydney is today was made by the working classes, many of them from the Celtic tradition and arising from mass Irish immigration to the New World. Image above, Scruffy Murphy's Pub stands proudly alongside surrounding skyscraper buildings in the Chinatown district and near Central Station.

What the denizens of a great city do in their spare time also define the character and attractiveness of a place. Slim cyclists are seen out on the streets of Sydney and its suburbs on any weekend, especially early mornings (above, along Anzac Parade in Kingsford on a December morning), whether in groups, leisurely solo or on training intent. The world perceives Sydney as a surf beach mecca, and rightly so - but more than that, essentially most of its residents love the elements of the outdoors, wear shades and get the barbie going, plus not missing any opportunity to be one with Nature, whether in bush trialling, taking a drive, walking the dog, boating, having picnics or having a beer on the patio.

And of course , eating in innovative restaurants, during home parties, on outdoor pavements or in ethnic enclaves. Melbourne can claim that as well, except for the different climate. Sydney has always had notable southern Italian food, questionable American fast food and retro Chinese food. In the past twenty years, Sydneysiders have had the privilege of having access to more varieties of cuisine at various price levels than almost any other city on Earth (again, maybe except for Melbourne). Above, a typical Singaporean food joint and below, the corner of Crown and Oxford Streets, in Darlinghurst, one of the many growing hubs of choice in dining.

There is no such thing as the perfect place. For all the variety of its entertainment options, cultural displays and seaside bays, Sydney city has still to grapple with long standing issues - to improve public transport, a housing dilemma (above image - inner city apartments ), rising costs of living, traffic gridlock at rush hours, quality of personal and property security and childcare challenges. They increasingly say that if one has wealth, it is a good Sydney to live in, and if not, oh well, please just refer back to the very first picture in this piece. The spectacular fireworks at Sydney Harbour on New Year's Eve may give a thrll for a night, but it is the city's residents who has to face the reality of daily life long after that magical, annual stroke of midnight.

Sydney - Louis Vuitton George Street Maison

2011-12-18T08:39:00.018+11:00

Louis Vuitton, the harbinger of expensive but potentially rewarding experiences, the symbol of quality and elegance, and an European tradition hallowed by many of the new rich in rising China and India economies, has opened a flagship outlet at the corner of King and George Streets in Sydney CBD. Officially it is known as the Louis Vuitton George Street Maison, opened on 2 December 2011. This follows the opening of another maison in Singapore's Marina Bay precinct. Its neighbour in Sydney is the second largest Apple store in the world. Its staff attending to clients on the floor are minimally university graduates. On the morning of my visit, the scene could be summed up by Indian sales staff taking care of mostly China buyers. There was no rush at the entrance, but two well dressed staff members controlled the flow of visitors by opening and closing doors. When you enter the three level delight, you first notice the high backlit ceilings, sense the buzz of eager buyers (mostly women) and know that you are going to enjoy a very well planned and thought of experience in checking out both clothes and accessories for both genders.

The outfit is thought to have cost around 10 million Aussie dollars to set up. This is the tenth LV store for Australia. Another good reason to drop by this store is the choice of personalising your selection of an LV purchase, an option not to be taken lightly as it may not be available elsewhere. Japanese tourists have been in obsession with LV for so many years, and this may draw them back to Sydney. Above, one of the several wide-sized shopping display windows that stand out in striking red. Below, a bicycle on an upper floor that caught my eye, combining perhaps the best of French daily life and the exquisite LV touch.

LV is a master of catching attention, celebrating the unique and providing excellent taste. I immediately fell for the rooster (picture above), active, inquisitive and purposeful. The contraption was made of various LV products, cleverly combined and created into a wholesome piece having a separate life of its own, so to speak. Individual items, glowing and beaming, are carefully placed in clear glass displays over the various floors, suggesting more of the Louvre in Paris rather than a fine jewellery shop. There is space, plenty of it, in this magical retail outlay, space to walk, space to admire and space to contemplate. Staff wear dark suits, carry themselves with both a purpose and a smile and the result is to make the client comfortable enough to make a decision. I came across a young Caucasian lady of not more than twenty years old, holding a beautifully wrapped LV box, beaming to her parents, as the latter had to take a picture of this important moment in time, in this young lady's life. I felt that truly, madly and deeply, this roadside take was as important as her prom, her graduation and her first kiss.

Festive Holidays - What do They Mean?

2011-12-18T08:37:00.017+11:00

A small but characteristic church (above picture) can be seen along George Street, Sydney CBD, for Christmas. Liz, the person I also enjoy chattering to at my local petrol pump, mentioned about having to prepare so much in time and effort, ostensibly just for an apparent one hour gathering with family at Christmas time. I mused about this whilst sipping Absolut vodka and orange juice in the glow that happens on the eve of the festive holidays. After the so-called season is over, each of us gets back to so-called routine and regime, or better still, embark on new adventures and initiatives.

Jews light the candles in commemoration of the successful retaking over of a significant temple and this occasion is still faithfully recalled in Hannukah. Most of human festivals recall the triumph over challenges and difficult times, many celebrate charismatic figures and often relate so much to the turning of the planet Earth and its impact on its denizens. Modern day festivities may sometimes have been called by different names in previous epochs. It may be in the human persona and make-up that we need to gather, regather and reflect. Commerce may have hijacked part of this inherent ritual by the layers of purchasing, night parties, restocking and supposed customs, but once any one pulls away such ostentations like the Christmas tree, one may rediscover the possibly true meaning of such occasions. Image below, from the Strand Arcade in Sydney CBD, December 2011.

All that glitters may not be true gold. Beneath the shiny baubles, each of us has to manage the reality, navigate the journey to realise the dream and enjoy the sights along the way. At the same time, festivals remind us to think more of others. It is true that we have to put our own house in order before we can meaningfully relate to others, especially special ones. To me, I believe that is a concurrent journey, and my own experience is that I learn and receive so much more from other human beings when I reach out to them in a positive way.

Festive occasions also offer an opportunity to get away. Away from our day to day runs. To have the pleasure to dream again. To do the things we find we may otherwise not have the time for. One can literally get away physically, but one need not to. More importantly, it is the occasion to be able to immerse yourself inside your heart, and your heart will show the way forward.

A summery Christmas season in Australia offers opportunities for cutting down the sugar fix and balancing with fresh cherries, bananas and lychees. Thee last mentioned three fruits echo the various climes in which I have lived through, and to consume them at year's end can be symbolic of recalling the fruits of personal labour and conviction, the love of immediate family plus other relatives and the support of mates and close friends. Christmas fruit pies (picture above from Out for Lunch, Wollongong NSW) may be eaten only once a year, but the meaningful relationships each of us have are more reliable to the nourishment of both our heart and soul. And for us to be grateful about them.

The Backstreet Cafe, Wollongong CBD

2011-12-06T20:39:00.010+11:00

It can be special and rare when I get to enjoy authentic food, prepared in the same way as still being done in the source country. Australian multiculturalism can also mean fusion in implementaion, especially when it comes to realistically attracting local diners. Whilst fusion in cuisine can also be exciting and inspiring, there is also room for transplanted communities to serve traditional styles of preparation. This authencity was experienced by me recently when Wills suggested trying out the Backstreet Cafe, a modest outfit beside an unassuming lane located off the pedestrian mall of Crown Street in Wollongong's city centre. The cafe specialises in northern Chinese noodles, both stir-fried or in soup, but also offers other choices in ramen and dishes from other parts of China and south-east Asia. Above image, hand made noodles in rich stock soup accompanied by katsu battered chicken.

Wills and I had an entree of Korean-styled kimchi (image above), which had a zip and kick of chili smeared and marinated with cripsy fresh bites of vegetable. That heralded a good start in our impressions of the cafe. The small dining area was also tastefully decorated with Beijing opera masks, hello porcelain cats and soft tiger cub toys, all remniscient of the north-eastern corner of China (picture below).

The beef version of noodle soup (above) with the katsu chicken below.

Albee's Kitchen, Campsie, Sydney

2011-12-03T18:13:00.011+11:00

Albee's Kitchen is located in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the main strip in Campsie, sited south-west of Sydney CBD. (282 Beamish Street, on the same side as the shopping centre with K Mart). This suburb has emerged as a very good example of multi-culturalism, a product of over thirty years of open minded Australian government policy and implementation in freeing up immigration from sources hitherto unthought of before 1980. The operators of Albee's Kitchen come from Sarawak, a state on the Borneo side of Malaysia, but they provide a variety of beloved street foods from Peninsular Malaysia, unique dishes of south-east Asia and reflecting the three main ethnic groups that still reside in Malaysia today. Above image - the most delightful curry puffs, with a half portion of hard boiled egg in each, together with a most appetising curry mixture.

The day of my most recent visit to Albee's had their tables fully occupied, with access to behind the kitchen seating areas for those unable to find a table at the front. Small in size, the cafe-restaurant offers a menu with variety. There are impressive photos on the walls to initiate newcomers to Malaysian food, but the fellow lunchers that Saturday seem to know their fare. My attention was caught by a most savoury tasty hotpot ordered at a neighbouring table - egg noodles al dente and more in a rich stock, aromatic of Cantonese traditions and topped by a poached egg. I saw the luscious and tempting photo of char koay teow, a must for any visitor to Penang island. There are stir-frys, curry dishes (notable is the curry fish head) and oodles of noodle choices. Service was friendly and efficient in an atmosphere of a family run business - the customer could readily feel at home as well.

I tested their version of Hainan chicken rice (picture above) - I appreciated their serving of a wholesome soup (upper left) and the extra pickled vegetables beside the vinegar flavoured chili condiment.

Beamish Street also offers fare from Korea, the Philippines, India, the Middle East, Pakistan, Thailand and China. This includes dry goods, spices, groceries and household items. I dropped by an outlet offering practically priced kitchen utensils and equipment. I also got samplings of barbecued roast pork and soy sauced chicken done ala Hong Kong (southern Cantonese). Vehicle parking is best secured along the side streets of Beamish.

Sassy's Red, Pitt Street Mall, Sydney

2011-12-03T18:11:00.011+11:00

There are many cuisine distractions at Level 5 of Sydney CBD's Pitt Street Mall Westfield. Becasse pastries, Charlie and Co burgers, Din Tai Fung dumplings, amongst others, vie for your wallet and attention. After a long day of business in the city centre, I wanted something quick, easy and relatively light in a meal before making track back to Wollongong (90 km south). I chose the wok prepared sar hor fun from Sassy's Red (image above). The noodles were as expected, but I found the gravy under whelming and lacked the street food flair found in Malaysia. The curry laksa, chiken or seafood, is much better in comparison.

Sassy's Red recreates the theme and spirit of the ubiquitous coffee shop (kopi tiam) still found in numerous towns and cities across Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. This is epitomised by the chopstick holder, marble table top and the classic coffee shop chair (picture above). The Laughing Buddha (foreground in image below) shows the connection of the operators of Sassy's Red with Cinta Ria, which offers another Malaysian dining experience at Sydney's Darling Harbour and that in Melbourne. The dishes with their names at the top of the photograph below are Malaysian favourites, especially chili prawns and chicken curry (best served with steamed jasmine or basmati rice). Nasi goreng and rendang beef is commonly available in Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. Notice the curry laksa and nasi lemak being available as well, and they are best taken at breakfast time.

A variety of commonly used sauces in Chinese-Malaysian cooking are carefully displayed at one corner of the small Sassy's outlet at level 5 of Westfield Pitt Street Mall (picture above). Note the classic red coloured thermos flasks (commonly used by households for over a hundred years in the Malaya and Singapore of old) on the upper right corner, on the very top shelves.

The owners have also taken up one of the tenancies just a floor up on level 6 ( Cinta Ria, in the mood for love), together with Max Brenner chocolate, Chat Thai, Lombardian food at Spiedo and the Xanthi cuisine based on Constantinoiple and Perama cooking traditions.

A New IKEA Store- Tempe, Sydney

2011-12-03T18:09:00.007+11:00

I could not believe my eyes and ears - the above pictured meal cost me less than five Australian dollars in 2011. I had been aware of the bargain meals available at IKEA store canteens for years in various countries, but this was the first time that I have actually sampled it. If not for the bottomless and refillable glass of soft drink, it would have cost me under three dollars. The two hash browns were crispy and tasty, but best of all were the eggs.

IKEA's relatively new store at Tempe, in Sydney's south, with easy access from the Princes Highway, is the size of twenty football fields. It has the feel of a small airport and somehow gave me the vibes that it was better organised and laid out than either Sydney International or Domestic air terminals. Vehicle parking was logical sufficiently to make it easy to locate your car or motor bike after coming out. The usual IKEA store's recommended one way customer walk through flow system was most assuring. The store at Tempe provided more room scenarios like in an actual house, not just for lounge, study, bedroom, bath, kitchen and laundry, but also made lay out suggestions for children's spaces, compact unit requirements and storage areas. Staff members were still fresh and eager enough to help and be human. Visitors could sign up on line at various terminals near the canteen lobby to register to be members and receive various discounts. Usersers of the canteen were encouraged to place their trays and empty plates and cutlery on a conveyor belt in an effort to help clear tables fast.

Auckland City Centre

2011-11-28T23:38:00.027+11:00

New Zealand excites more with its outdoor possibilties, scenic panaromas and adventure sport sites than its urban landscapes and activities. Having acknowledged that, I sought to find the best of Auckland city centre. Auckland, New Zealand's largest city by population and area, calls for comparisons with Sydney in Australia. Auckland has sloping, hilly roads, combined with a beautiful harbour of varied and many bays and inlets. It also has a Harbour Bridge and more - the isles in Auckland Harbour, like Rangitoto, are bigger than Sydney's and its suburban roads are wider and perhaps more well planned. Many of the Auckland suburbs sit on extinct volcanic sites, hence all the Mounts from Albert to Eden, as the place straddles the Auckland Volcanic Field. In the city centre itself, however, life is more simple than Sydney's sprawling version. Above image, preparations for Christmas and New Year' Eve as parts of giant baubles are laid on a courtyard.

Life does still revolve around cafes, fruit juice bars and pubs. Above, looking through the glass of a Italian styled coffee place on an early Monday morning. Queen Street is one long hilly thoroughfare around which Auckland downtown personifies. On my November 2011 visit, I noted the emergence of more students, Asian businesses and a lively scene during evenings. The Korean and Chinese presence in Auckland are more pronounced. There still are heritage buildings and long standing Kiwi establishments like Whitcoulls, the Town Hall and Civic Theatre. Joining them now are the Red Guard Noodle Bar, curry houses and the new fangled Burger Fuel joints.

Rupert Murdoch, the ASB Bank Buildng and an ANZ Bank mrketing campaign motto ("Float Like a Butterfly, Fix without a Fee") all stare at you as you walk down from the top end of Queen Street. (picture above) Below, a few practitioners of tai chi and flag waving exercise in front of the main Auckland cinema complex in the city.

Kiwi architecture and interior design can be inspring and refreshing, as exemplfied by the counter of the box office at the entertainment centre, next showing the live performance of the Jersey Boys from April 2012. (image above). This contrasts with the feel and look of shopfronts of Asian chains like Japanese Daiso below.

Aotea Square is a landmark site not to be missed (picures above and below). When I wandered there, the denizens of the protest movement Occupy Auckland had just awoken from their slumber outdoors, albeit with camping tents, in the best tradition of New Zealand adventure and life. Aotea is named after Motu Aotea, or the Great Barrier Island, whch lies off 90 km from Auckland Harbour and is the largest off shore island for New Zealand.

Auckland is named after George Eden, Earl of Auckland in the UK and is the largest Polynesian city in the world. It continues to have a third of the population of New Zealand, and is sited to be blessed with both the Tasman Sea and South Pacific. Trams used to run in Auckland after Pakeha settlement. Preceding that were many Maori traditional villages called pa which existed from around 1350.

Above, the Auckland Town Hall, done in the Edwardian style, of which I had the privilege of attending Yin's graduation a few years ago. Below, the map of the route for the Auckland City Triathlon on 20 November 2011.

My favourite part of downtown Auckland is around the High Street precinct. Here are the side walk restaurants and cafes, cobbled and bricked pathways and a sense of the old quarter of the city (picture above). There are businesses with narrow shop fronts, those that lead you upstairs or to basements and all with a sense of uniqueness and ambiance. Some family members and I had a pub lunch of pizza and pasta at a quaint joint called Cassette.

The harbour front continues to be the jewel in Auckland city centre's crown, with the Viaduct and Wynyard Quarter the focus of night life and social events post game during the 2011 World Rugby Cup in New Zealand. Here fine dining, marina bays and the smell of the ocean remind any visitor of what Auckland City is mostly all about - the City of Sails.

Whenuapai - The Herbal Farm

2011-11-28T07:58:00.017+11:00

Running and maintaining a farm is never easy, it requires patience, dedication and passion. Recently I had the unique opportunity to visit and explore a herbal farm, courtesy of David and Gillian Ng in Whenuapai, about half an hour's drive north of Auckland CBD. Called the Herb Patch and located at 18 Brigham Creek Road in Waitakere City, it also offers organic produce, culinary spices and vegetables for distribution to greengrocers, restaurants and wholesalers.

Herbs can be grown on the ground or above on raised table platforms. The key issues facing herb farmers are ensuring consistent quality, having timely irrigation watering and protecting the relatively delicate produce from predators like rabbits and the pukeko bird (native to New Zealand). The Herb Patch grows a diverse range of plant varieties - alfafa, angelica, basil, bay leaf, fenugreek, celery, chives, dill, elderflower, fennel, lavender, lemon myrtle, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme and more. A herbal farm is so much cleaner as it concentrates on flora.

David introduced me and my group to edible flowers (orange coloured ones above) and the importance of effective layout and design of pumps, pipes and automated watering. (images below). Winter offers a different set of challenges and opportunities compared to the warmer months.

Cut off tree stumps (above) remind me of windbreakers, essential on a flat, rather open topography. More delicate specimens require roof netting (below) and protective seedling ground covers. Efficient planning, good process mapping, gestation periods and timing requirements are critical to a successful farm operation anyway, especially in a country with rather more expensive labour costs. Above it all, both David and Gillian enjoy the surrounding atmosphere despite the daily hard work and attention the farm requires. I was surprised that their nearest shopping centre was only a fifteen minute drive away at the most. The couple has done a lot to restore and improve the state of the farm since they took over from the previous owners.

Christmas in the Antipodes

2011-11-28T07:54:00.011+11:00

The Strand arcade (above and below images) in Sydney's Wynyard district, offers a retro and charming feel on any day, with its immaculately maintained tiled walls and floors. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, the small and narrow arcade is transformed, especially after dark, and even if no access is provided, alluringly tempts passers-by to stop and stare. There are delights to discover in the various shops sited in this arcade, including currently, the only outlet of Haighs hand made chocolates in Sydney, as the parent business comes from Adelaide.

Auckland Christmas scenes differ in emphasis and mood. There are more natural displays (above) and along the main thoroughfare of Queen Street (below), touches of snow laden lands.

My Kitchen - Mount Eden, Auckland

2011-11-28T07:53:00.007+11:00

My Kitchen, along Dominion Road just outside Auckland CBD, makes you feel as if you are in Taipei. They serve meals at both dinner and lunch times in Japanese-styled bento boxes, are quick in taking food orders and delivering them to the tables of customers and have a rather fast turnover of both takeaway and dine-in clients through the two occasions I was there one week in November. Mandarin language television is broadcast on their flat monitors attached to the wall. Auckland residents of Taiwan origin are seen as patrons of this restaurant located upstairs, but the business also has a takeaway counter on street level, next to a branch of Love A Duck. Bento above, with chicken, and below, with unagi eel.

The bentos have a formula - three side servings to accompany the main meal of your choice, miso soup, a small bowl of steamed rice and cuts of different fruits each day. My favourite main dishes from My Kitchen are the belly pork ( final picture in this write-up) marinated in a rather satisfying sauce, plus the lightly steamed fish (image below). I also was impressed with the bubble milk tea creations they made here - not too sweet, lovely New Zealand milk and rather generous with the size of the mugs they serve such drinks in.

The ambiance is pop twenty something, with anime like hairstyles and perhaps a student cohort, mixed with families and regulars. The first evening I went to My Kitchen I was delighted that they provided bananas, which are still relatively expensive across the Tasman, due to Queensland flooding earlier this year and restrictions on such fruit imports into Australia.

Auckland Suburbia

2011-11-28T07:45:00.014+11:00

When I first visited Auckland, it seemed relatively quiet and yet serene; expansive and still easily accessible from one corner to another; and not many social things happened after sunset. In 2011, many of these impressions still emerge, though at night it is more lively now, especially in the city centre, with the launching of the Wynyard Quarter ( next to the harbour front Viaduct) for the World Rugby gathering in New Zealand; with Queen Street echoing and displaying the hustle and bustle of over twenty years of more open immigration policies; and with urban renewals in inner city precincts like Parnell, Newmarket and Posonby. What about the outer suburbs, which for Auckland just mean a drive of more than 15 minutes away? Above image, a purposefully drawn graffiti found on the brick wall side of an Italian styled cafe near the Eden Quarter.

As I strolled along Dominion Road, once and still a main thoroughfare out of Auckland city centre to the suburbs, I noticed the emergence of many restaurants, souvenir shops and small businesses with an Asian flavour. Even if New Zealand is at least five hours away from the timezones of Beijing and Bangkok in the southern hemisphere summer, I can feel the vibes of Korean eateries, Indian curries, Thai cuisine and more. Above, a traditional Irish pub now neighbours a China eatery. The presence of a more diverse demographic these days, apart from the Maoris and Pakehas, have injected more dynamism into neighbourhoods with good schools, people willing to dine out more often and go to supermarkets like Countdown (owned by Australian Woolworths) at any time of night after hours. Below, tasty roast duck cuts prepared in the Cantonese way from an outlet of Love a Duck.

New Zealand produce has held a consistent reputation in quality and taste, especially its wines, fruit products and seafood like Bluff oysters. So one naturally seeks restaurants that stand out in cooking innovation, experimentation and output. One of these is Two Fifteen, essentially a wine bar, but also offering dishes involving cured meats, home made breads, apple and pork sausages, smoked pork, venison, rabbit, confit duck leg, snapper, pork belly and hand made chocolates. Run by Jeremy Schmid, it is located at 215 Dominion Road in Mount Eden. Image below, the restaurant's current menu.

The quarter acre block is also on the way out of history in Auckland's suburbs. I noticed the evidence of many sub-divisions of what were once larger pieces of land. However, the architecture and design of Auckland residential houses never fail to fascinate me. They look pretty painted with solid white, always sitting elevated off the ground, come with the picket fence that are accompanied mostly by roses, succulents and neatly cut hedges. In addition, there is an impressive patio with fancy eaves and an outdoor seat. The roofs are another matter, often not doing justice to the rest of the house. Image below, a typical residence in a suburb of Auckland.

New Zealand can delightfully surprise. It commenced with a rather relaxed and down to earth safety video used by Air New Zealand. It culminated on my recent trip there in sighting this KFC fast food outlet completely and purposefully painted in black, near the Mount Eden Stadium, in the year the All Blacks rugby union team secured the world championship. (image below) In between, I still savour the cooling nights, ice cream with fejoia fruit flavours and passengers still making a point of saying thank you to their bus driver when disembarking. I have moved beyond my discovery of hokey pokey ice cream, but cannot wait to hear again the rather engaging accent, to feel the wind of the Tasman and to bite into a steamed piece of hapuka fish. And these are all readily available in the suburbs, even if going down into the city centre is not a chore.

Ponsonby, Auckland

2011-11-28T07:44:00.031+11:00

Ponsonby - the name suggests pomp and ceremony. It most probably refers to a private secretary of Queen Victoria, Sir Henry Ponsonby. Located only two kilometres from central Auckland, this suburb has seen varying fortunes since Pakeha settlement in New Zealand. Initially favoured by the British settlers, it reverted to an enclave of working class and islander groups before the yuppies rediscovered the place, moved in, made its property prices rise and hence today it shines as an example of an upper class congregation. Some of its roads remain narrow and remind one of horse carriage planning, but its obvious elevation on a hill and its gleaming white painted houses shout of opulence, money and excellent location. Above , the Ponsonby Post Office with a tower at a main intersection on a late spring Friday afternoon.

Until Auckland's Sky Tower was built, Ponsonby competed with the height of most of Auckland City's tallest buildings. As it is sited on a ridge known to Maoris as Te Rihu Tahi (the lone Rimu Tree), it still provides a vantage point to survey the city centre, and is surrounded by bays, with names like Freeman, St Marys and Herne. Its possible cousin suburb Parnell hosts rich private residences, but perhaps Ponsonby has more character in demographics and variety of both day and nightlife, with restaurants, nightclubs, art galleries and cafes that do not just offer upmarket shops, chocolate and coffee. There are businesses with names like Murder Burger, Moo Chow Chow, the Bona Cafe, Otto Woo, the Pegasus Bay Winery Restaurant and Gusto.

Residences have chimneys, palm trees and immaculately kept verandahs (above). I had coffee at the Cafe Cezanne, located along the main strip of Ponsonby Road (below).

Most of the above vistas of residences were taken along sloping Renall Street in Posonby.

The road slopes, but is lined with well kept, mostly wooden houses that evoke character, history and loving care. Visitors may find Ponsonby relatively quite in the day time but the pace does pack up on Friday and Saturday nights. The potential for Ponsonby looks bright, as Auckland as a city expands in the future. Recent world ranking surveys in quality of life have already placed Auckland in the very top spots, and I am not surprised. Ponsonby stands as an illustrative example why.

Bento at Milford, North Auckland

2011-11-28T07:44:00.022+11:00

Fresh, almost glass-translucent slices of salmon, tuna and white fish were carefully laid out in the bentos served inside the shopping centre at Milford, on the north shore of Auckland Harbour. Rob, Doris and I chose this place for a leisurely weekday lunch. Rob pointed out there were other nearby outlets serving Japanese fare as well. Milford is sited close to the water, and reminded me of Neutral Bay in Sydney.

The tempura was gently battered and deep fried (bottom left hand corner of image above). I liked the avocado sushi but found the ones with pickled radish too salty for my taste. Service was a bit rigid in approach, but the chef did smile when you looked at him, and brought bottled water to us in a friendly way. Salad was especially fresh to the bite. Kiwi kids were with their mothers as they whiled away the early afternoon.

Above image, on the upper left, are the ubiquitous red pickles and the green Japanese mustard, the former with a sour and sharp bite, and the latter with a hot after taste on the palate if taken over the top. Both add to the kick of eating the raw sushi and sashami.

Whenuapai, New Zealand - The Gardens

2011-11-28T07:43:00.018+11:00

Masuya, Sydney CBD

2011-11-28T07:42:00.010+11:00

The Masuya Restaurant has been a fixture of the Wynyard, Sydney scene for several years now. Every time I am there it is almost full house, abuzz with nosy diners and busy staff. Recently I had an opportunity on check it out late, around 930pm, after a delightful evening at the Opera House precinct with brother Kin On and sister-in-law Sian Kin. The three of us had a rather engaged day in Sydney CBD and Masuya was our last stop in the day's agenda. After waiting 15 minutes, we were provided a table. My best dish experience that evening were the scallops in batter (above image) and beautifully presented like a sea urchin slice.

The unagi eel was almost perfect, soft and tender to the bite, not salty and retaining the balance with sweet, savoury and grilled sensations. Sitting on a bed of optimally steamed rice and served in a lacquered box, it epitomised Japanese elegance. The fish slices had a final touch of sesame seed topping.

The Masuya is located in the basement of 12 to 14 O'Connell Street, Sydney CBD.

Scenes from A Wedding 2 - Auckland

2011-11-28T07:41:00.005+11:00

All images above are acknowledged to and are from the Dr Chern Chet Yong Collection.

Scenes from a Wedding - Auckland

2011-11-28T07:40:00.025+11:00

Lilac and white, smiles and contentment, mates and relos. It was a beaut sunny day in the Whenuapai gardens of the Herb Patch Farm in Waitakere, half an hour's drive out of Queen Street in Auckland. Yin and Shaun Tan were celebrating their special day of commitment to each other on the 20 November of 2011. Barrie Mason was the celebrant, and Rory Anderson the best man. The setting was New Zealand, with all its greenery, natural emphasis and sense of family and friendship.

The fountain (above) which the bride and her father passed by on the walk to the commitment ceremony. Below, the posse bouquet held by the beaming bride.

Parents of both bride and groom watch on as their children exchange vows of marriage (above).

Shaun's parents (Philomena and Ging Tuang) escort their son for the big day (above) and the parents of the bride ( Sian Kin and Kin On) pose beside the garden floral set up for the 11am ceremony (image below).

Barrie guides the couple in the signing process (above) whilst the cupcakes match in colour and spirit 0f the auspicious day. (below)

A band played, food and drink were served under the marquee and speeches made. Guests came from Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and around New Zealand. There was a reunion of Auckland Grammar boys. Bridesmaid Christine gave an uplifting toast. Groomsman Mike was humorous and captivating in his recount of life with Shaun. The netball team was there to cheer, and the software colleagues at work came. I took the opportunity to reconnect with cousins and more. The groom's father, Ging Tuang, highlighted memories of Shaun's journey so far, whilst the bride's father, Kin On, offered useful pointers on the married life forward.

Close To My Heart

2011-11-08T17:30:00.016+11:00

Europe, that hotch-potch of differing cultures and yet with some similarities, has always been alive in my imagination. When I first visited, I was taken back by the proximity between boundaries, historical sites and variety of languages, food and drink. From rather salty pizzas and pasta in Greece and Italy, to fine linen and music traditions of Austria and France, I took in all - the rich culture, the proud traditions and the always underlying rivalries of neighbours. The architecture, in both well planned metropolises and quaint villages, stood out in my heart. I recall facades of houses in Amsterdam and Athens. I loved cool and overcast evenings spent walking on cobbled stoned city pathways in Wein and meadow grass river sides in Berne. Then it was the dress up in Rome or the dress down in Heidelberg. It was crossing huge bridges in France , long road tunnels in Switzerland or soaking in the Riviera at Nice that gave reinforced good memories and vibes.

Nurseries and market days, they are plenty in Western nations from Canada to Australia. It is the luck of the draw and season as to what unusual plant or undiscovered item that may greet you on a weekend and bid you to take home. I found the above pictured indoor specimen from a Turkish stall holder in Parramatta, the quintessential melting pot of multicultural Australia. From old school garden experts in large commercial outlets to well tended private gardens that open to the public in springtime, I have the choice of browsing, in places ranging from the Southern Highlands to the Hunter Valley and from Mount Tomah Botanical Gardens ( at the edge of the NSW Blue Mountains ) to the Rhododendron Gardens in my neighbourhood.

My first sojourns overseas were naturally in Asia, made from my home isle of Penang. Phuket and Koh Samui were my first sensations of escape. New Zealand and Japan opened up vistas and mindsets of how lifestyles can be so different from south-east Asia. Above image, an iconic collection of my souvenirs from such trips, triggering off my recollections of people met along the way, from natives to backpackers, from German youth who stayed several months on the beaches of Thailand, to the students in cities like Pusan, Tainan and Hong Kong.

Well painted pots and plants with good vibes - such combinations are not easily resisted by me.

I am told that plants exude oxygen in return for the carbon dioxide they take in during daylight hours. Increasingly, millions of humans cocoon themselves in an increasingly artificial world, seeing and interacting more with man made things rather than with fellow beings and Nature's gifts. Look around you at any time of day or night - do you acknowledge more of metal, software and plastic than you would rather have? You are one of the fortunate few if you still have a balance of wood, natural fibre and naturally emitting light in your surroundings each day. Better still, if you can still feel the blow of ocean winds, sweat from your own exercise and bite of unprocessed food as part of your regime.

Tiffin carriers, whether those aluminium ones used by Indian employees of the East India British Company from the 18th century, or lacquered bamboo versions (image above) favoured for holding delicious desserts and cakes in Malacca, Penang and Singapore, have been a mainstay of social life for Chinese and Indians, back in their home abodes or when transported to new lands in south-east Asia. Lacquer is also popular and valued in Vietnam and Thailand. In the image above, notice the airing miniature holes to allow the food inside to breathe, while being carried to the recipients, on a humid and warm day.

Two different art forms (above) echoing available materials and topographical dimensions. At the foreground are the designs of the fern and paua seashell, both dear in the soul and traditions of the Maori. The background is a lacquer coated series of folding partitions, reminiscent more of the lush tropical flora, herbs, fauna and water ways of Vietnam. The commonality between both countries and peoples are their intense allegiance to their home land and Nature. I can add cuisine, very different in each nation, but both making use of the fresh and unique produce of their abode. Both New Zealand and Vietnam has had foreign influences in their styles - British and French respectively.

An icon of my background and culture - the kam cheng - stands out against the shadows above. This porcelain masterpiece from China, common in the 19th and early 20th centuries in south-east Asia amongst Straits Chinese households and families, symbolically and traditionally represents the strong commitment and sentiment between a loving husband and wife. In times of doubt or celebration, a couple looks at the kam cheng and remembers the greater love that started their union and family. Kam cheng, transliterated, means love in the heart. It is a container which initially empty, gets filled up with meaningful insights and reaffirmations of love for each other, through thick and thin. I have one from my Mum. Colours vary in shades of blue and pink, brown and red, blue and green, but the porcelain mellows with age and is easily kept clean.

Australian rural and regional crafts and handiwork are so relaxing to browse with - and Miss Piggy (picture above) reminds me of many happy and satisfying day excursions to so-called villages mostly lying outside the Big Smokes of Sydney or Melbourne. It could be Leura, Lauceston, Dandenong or Berry. It does not matter, they all have the same feel, with compulsory shops selling lollies, lace and latticed work. Then my mind wanders further to associations with scones, Earl Gray tea or the pint at the local country pub. Eventually I cannot help recalling the so many made in China souvenirs promoting a feel of Australia, placed in conjunction with true Aussie craft. By the way, Miss Piggy above was made in Oz.

My fascination with handicraft boils down and centres around an obsession with pewter. The rich content of tin and quality workmanship - as exemplified with the labour of love and passion above in a tea pot shown above - brings both a calmness in appreciation of beauty and excitement of heritage - in me. Added to this are detailed engravings and motifs that have meaningful associations with culture and history for specific societies and communities. The Yong family behind Selangor Pewter started with the vision and determination of one man, and the rest is literally and truly history, for over a hundred years by now.

So the festive and holiday season is upon us again. It is especially appreciated in the southern climes like Australia and New Zealand, when the alignment of warm weather, school holidays and end of calendar or business year vibes add to the merriment, easy sense of letting go and not having to keep wary of structured time and schedules. I look at my Christmas tree, laden with snow skiers, reindeer and icons from northern Europe. Looking out the window, it feels muggy, monitor lizards are skirting about and the garden asks for moisture. What a contrast!

Return of the Monks - Annandale, Sydney

2011-10-23T22:26:00.014+11:00

Pictured above were captured at the Wat Buddharangsee, located at 49 Trafalgar Street, in Annandale, inner city Sydney, NSW. It signified Kartina, a ceremony to honour the monks, who return to active community life after a month of meditation and reflection away. A street food fair was also held in conjunction with this celebration, which centres around the offering of food and drink to the monks, who do not partake of such things after morning has passed by each day.

Thai Street Feast, Annandale NSW

2011-10-23T22:06:00.026+11:00

When Jenny and Janie suggested meeting up at the Trafalgar Street fair on the fourth Sunday of October, I was curious as to what to expect. The inner city location of Annandale in Sydney lies at the hub of a lifestyle locale, neighbouring the Italian villages of Leichhardt and Haberfield, the bohemian centre of Newtown and across the Anzac Bridge from Rozelle and Balmain. I only had a hour walking round the various stalls lined up in front of the Thai Temple, but was fascinated by the variety, colour and friendliness exuding from this event. Above, a smile from a hard working young man attending to the Hainan chicken rice outlet. Most of the food outlets were run by otherwise commercial operators from various corners of greater Sydney, but that day the fare was offered free to all visitors. I started off my degustation with a piping small bowl of chicken rice noodles.

Sour and spicy tinged soups ala Thai - those with a kick and making use of traditional fresh herbs, a dose of tamarind, pepper aromas, bamboo shoots, cut beans and fresh hot chilies to the bite. (picture above). Such dishes stand out in the absence of or minimal use of coconut milk or cream, contributing perhaps to healthier choices and appetising combinations with steamed Thai jasmine rice.

My attention was caught with the colourful pink, yellow and white colours of the vermicelli and their garnishing - this was a light stir fry that best serves as a quick snack and yet nourishing for the rigours of any working day. (image above). It may have lacked other ingredients but was tasty.

Entrees of fish cakes (above) and Chinese-influenced siew mai and prawn balls (below) sitting prettily with hoi sin sauce and cuts of fresh Thai basil. We are reminded of yum cha servings at Hong Kong styled restaurants located around the world. The siew mai are steamed dumplings of pork and prawn. It was a warm day at this Annandale fair, one of a few in mid spring this year, and the easy-on-the-mouth attraction of such dishes was refreshing and encouraging.

Thai glutinous desserts, above, are made with striking monk yellow colours and remind one of some tropical fruit. Grilled jerky pork slices are served in squares (below) and offer a contrast in texture and taste - perhaps best served as an accompaniment for sandwiches or bread rolls. Such jerky stuff are popular from Taiwan to Singapore, and are often found easily at street stalls or community markets.

Vietnamese inspired rolls (image above), made fresh with roasted peanuts, together with finely cut aromatic herbs, carrots and bean sprouts, were also available that morning in Annandale. The bite into one of these rolls lightens the palate and mind. The key factor is the sauce, often made with nam chook, soy laced with cut chillies, or accompanied by a black bean based sauce that brings up the inherent flavours of an essentially salad concoction.

Another light dish is Thai omelette, perhaps inspired by southern Chinese traditions and also reminding one of Vietnamese cuisine. The proof of the pudding, so to speak, is in the hidden and folded up ingredients. South-east Asian omelettes skew towards raw, fresh and crunchy stuff, whilst China omelettes have stir-fried ingredients. I just so loved the onions, cucumber bits, carrot bites and shallots found in this version below.

Rose-pink and beautifully moulded dessert served on banana leaves (above image) surrounding layer cakes that do use coconut milk. The green colour of such traditional cakes come from utilising the pandanus leaves common in the ASEAN countries, lying as such between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. My own fav Thai-styled dessert is mangosteen clafouti, French-inspired but basically a custard with fresh mangosteen fruit.

Below, a selection of more desserts to tempt the eye and appetite, or maybe as a good way of finishing up a Thai-accentuated meal. Upper left are snack crackers, and with them, at the bottom of the photo, are sweet and cool servings of sago, jack fruit shreds and corn bits bathed in light and cooked coconut milk.

I am still wondering what the above pictured dish is - may be pumpkin, coconut and shrimp shavings? I did not get the opportunity to try this. but it does look attractive and may be savoury.

It dawned on me that community spirit and having lots of eager individuals prepare food and drink can take a fete or fair to greater heights. Thai food ingredients need to be served in finely cut or chopped requirements. That adds to the preparatory work, but also are critical in bringing up the necessary taste and feel, once inside our mouths. This cuisine feature is shared with other cooking styles in the region, especially Straits Chinese, Burmese and Indian. Even if an offering starts simple (as per image below, pancakes), the dish is not complete until some lovingly chopped and finely cut ingredient adds to its quality.

Satay skewers are placed on Australian-styled grills over charcoal or coal beads. (picture above).

I had experienced a truly street feast, replete with amazing food, dedicated servers, curious walk-in neighbours and more. The Annandale Thai street fair occurs every October on a Sunday.

Green Palace Vegetarian, Newtown, NSW

2011-10-23T22:02:00.011+11:00

Having vegetarian can be refreshing and uplifting for me - once in a while. The concept and perception of vegetarian food can vary across a spectrum, from strict vegans, including those who consume eggs, to those who are flexible with the dishes they come up with. Asian vegetarian dishes tend to be based on tofu, as exemplified by the Indonesian tempeh, but can be resourceful in presentation and when bathed with spicy gravies and different textures. I looked forward to a sojourn at Sydney's inner city Newtown, when there was an opportunity to try out a Thai-Chinese version of vegetarian fare one weekend.

We agreed on the Green Palace Vegetarian along King Street, with its varied offerings of pseudo duck, green curry, "what the ?" sugar cane "shrimp" and false chicken schnitzel. I loved the egg plant stir fry best, unpretentious, cooked with love , truly vegetarian and so yummy tasty. It was the spice mix and hot wok combo that produced this delightful dish, best taken with steaming jasmine rice.

I found the vegetarian curry puffs (above image) a bit under in meeting my expectations, but was happy with the so-called duck (image prior). I reckon, at times, it is best to share, to minimise the risks of disappointment, increasing our options and variety back ups, just in case one of the dishes may not be to one's individual taste and preference.

Bar Pellegrini Cafe, Wollongong

2011-10-21T08:11:00.019+11:00

I was on a quick drop by to Wollongong CBD to change some currency and had to have a fast bite. Walking past Keira Street, I passed in front of the Pellegrini and reckoned that may be a good choice. I have observed the coffee drinkers and breakfast eaters on early mornings at this place, with high ceilings and looking like it could have been in Leichhardt olr Haberfield in inner city Sydney. There was only one person at the counter, but he half-smiled and organised my request for foccacia laden with ham, avocado spread, tomato slices and garnishings. (image above)

I could sense the cafe was frequented by regulars. It had a modern feel behind the counter, but other parts of the location could be in for a bit of a face lift. The cafe suggested to me of a long house when one looked further inside, and so is sufficiently spacious. With dark trimmings and lots of wood, the place did offer some character. However, the last orders from the kitchen closed sharp at 2pm and it was mostly a morning and brunch business not open on weekends.

I could not help fascinated by the unusual plate clock displayed in the inner sanctum of the cafe (above image). The other thing that captured my attention was that this same business also operates a mobile coffee van around Wollongong and its surrounds.

The Pellegrini Cafe has been in business since 2004 and sits along the main strip of Keira Street in Wollongong CBD. The cafe accepts cash payments only and is licensed for alcohol. Food offered on site and also fro catering arrangements include fish Pieces with tartare sauce,
Chipolata Sausages, meatballs (with satay & sweet chili sauce), marinated chicken, lamb skewers, spinach and ricotta pastizzi, cold antipasto platters and a selection of cakes and desserts.

Return to Freshwater Beach, NSW

2011-10-10T21:34:00.007+11:00

An Arvo at Pilu's

2011-10-10T21:31:00.018+11:00

With two private function rooms, excellent food and cuisine of Sardinia and a location right spot on overlooking Freshwater Beach along Moore Road at Harboard, on Sydney's northern beaches, there is much expectation when you step into Pilu's Restaurant. You can choose seating inside, on a covered verandah outdeck, or below in garden settings, with the ocean breeze and smell of sea and sand up the nose. There is a selection of both Italian and Australian wines. The decor is retro beach house, painted an off shade from white and reminding me of lazy summer days in tropical climes. You dine and have a view over a small bay surrounded by cliff top houses and much activity on the rather sand-powdery beach.

Selections a group of us had to celebrate Charmaine's birthday earlier this month included:

Salt baked New Zealand King salmon, replete with saffron kipfer potatoes, baby leeks and beetroot puree.

De-boned quail wrapped in pancetta, stuffed with chicken livers, fennel and tarragon.
Saffron flavoured spagettini, graced by Queensland spanner crabmeat, crispy guanciale and breadcrumb pangrattato.

Slow cooked Coronga lamb fillet, accompanied by olive and almond salad and cous cous.

Gus found in-grown hairs under the crackle of the deliciously outstanding suckling pig - apparently this is a natural feature of the black variety of swine used for this dish. Jeanette from Perth had to deal with a rather hard serving of an otherwise very juicy and tender selection of cuts on a similiar dish. I am not a fan of sausages, but could not resist the Sardinian version of the pork sausage served.

Going at Gerroa

2011-10-05T08:55:00.010+11:00

From Gerroa, one can take in the sight of stunning Seven Mile Beach, on the south coast of NSW, empty, inviting and beautiful. Gerroa is centred on a collection of homes facing a bight.

Around Gerroa Beach and Village, one has a choice of day excursions to the Belmore Falls, the Minnamurra Rain Forest, the Saddleback Mountain Lookout or the Barren Grounds Bird Observatory. Two vineyards, the Coolangatta Estate and the Crooked River Winery, offer a change from beaches, dairy downs and cycling/running activities. I recommend Werri Beach, which come with sandy stretches, good surf waves and caravan parks. There are also tidal pools to consider at the southern end of Werri Beach. The Gerroa Boat Fishermen's Club provides a great weekend lunch of seafood themes.

From a related website, fishermen note:
"Marlin, yellowfin tuna, kingfish, mulloway (jewfish), snapper, flathead & morwong are all within easy reach from a boat launched at one of the boat ramps. Seven Mile Beach is famous for its whiting during the summer months as well as bream, tailor, salmon, flathead and mulloway. Crooked River is a popular place for prawns, good size bream and flathead.

Black Head, Gerroa, has a car park and tracks leading to the rock platform below which is a good spot for catching bream, kingfish, snapper, drummer, trevally, salmon, tailor and groper. However, be very careful, as the waves can be dangerous. Werri Beach is a very deep beach with snapper to 6kg and whiting to 1kg to be had plus Australian salmon galore at times."

The local association fair (above) held on 1 October 2011 - there was a variety of handicraft, well loved books, scones, toys and curry puffs on offer to visitors. I was taken by Daniel to the local grocery along Stafford Street, and later dropped by his house, where his wife Yet Lan had created a diverse and attractive garden. It was delightful to have tea with them and their other visitors, Viviana and Michael.

Nearby Gerroa, the Seven Mile Beach was the take off point for Charles Kingsford-Smith in his successful aviation crossing of the Tasman to New Zealand - the first in the world. On a good drive, Gerroa and its nearby sister village of Gerringong are only a 35 minute drive south from Wollongong. The population is indicated at around 500, but that belies the potential of this coastal delight - with its wide, sweeping bight, holiday homes and iconic Aussie lifestyle.

The Gerringong Deli & Cafe, NSW

2011-10-03T12:17:00.012+11:00

A rich omelette on a lazy Saturday morning (above). The Gerringong Deli & Cafe, at 133 Fern Street, the main strip that goes through the business hub of this South Coast village, was busy with many brunch or breakfast customers by 9am. The winds were howling outside, and one could view the open ocean bay if you stood outside the deli and cafe. Inside, it was cozy half-light, with the feel of a souvenir shop, an active crew and the aroma of something baking or cooking. My choice of omelette was richly rewarding - feta cheese, good old Aussie bacon, rocket, tomatoes and smoked salmon, laid out on organic battered yolk and whites. Maybe it was too wholesome for breakfast, but it was comfort food on a rather weather-confronting day.

Coffee and a newspaper(above) - in this case, the back page of the weekend Illawarra Mercury before the NRL Grand Finals the next day. There is a good selection of modern Australian and baked stuff in the deli & cafe, with outdoor seating optional.

The view of Fern Street (above) from the Deli & Cafe. I was also fascinated by the ambiance and display from the shop next door, called MAS, which evoked of Paris and the French countryside.

Gerringong pretty much is a quiet haven after lunch time, but the Deli & Cafe remains open every day till 530pm. Gerringong and its sister seaside neighbour, Gerroa, are situated between Kiama and Berry, and worth a diversionary tour and drive. Allow yourself around 2 hours driving if you are coming from the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The Art of Making Fruit Cake

2011-10-03T12:16:00.021+11:00

Recently, dear Aunty Poh Sim supervised a few of us in making Christmas fruit cake. Her measurements followed the Imperial standards and one needs to convert them to the metric system.

Cherries are to be prepared ahead of the baking session - it is ideal to soak them with 3 to 4 tablespoonfuls of sherry at least over night. Cherries are to be sliced, before mixing with seedless dates, brown raisins, mixed orange peel and almond thins. (images above and below). Use 1.5 pounds of brown raisins, half a pound of seedless dates, a quarter pound of mixed orange peel, another quarter pound of cherries and a half pound of almond thins.

The oven has to be preheated to at least 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a nine inch round or square baking container - brush it with butter and then line the surface with two layers of grease proof paper. Also brush the butter between the paper layers and on to its outside surface.

Cream the ten ounces of butter and five ounces of brown sugar together, until they are soft and pale in colour (below). Add in contents of 5 well beaten eggs and ensure consistency and thoroughness of the resulting mixture. Then add in 4 tablespoons of golden syrup.

Stir in first only half the amount of fruit mixtures prepared and sift in likewise half the dry flour ingredients. Then separately add the other half of fruit and dry ingredients. Add another four tabelspoonfuls of sherry to the mixture. The dry flour mixtures consist of seven ounces of plain version and another three ounces of raising flour. (image below)

Two teaspoons of all spice powder and half a teaspoon of nutmeg powder are then added to enhance the flavour of the resulting cake mixture (image above).

Before placing in the oven, ensure smoothening the cake mixture surface to slope towards the centre - this shall better ensure the resulting baked cake is level, once the mixture has risen when baked. First place the cake mixture tin on the lower half of the oven, to help ensure that it is not over browned in the baking process. Bake on this lower section of the oven for 120 to 150 minutes at 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Monitor the emerging fruit cake when in the oven, especially during the second stage baking at the lower temperatures.

Reduce the oven heat to 275 degrees Fahrenheit for the second stage of baking, for another hour. For this second phase, cover the cake with grease proof paper folded over a piece of dampened paper.

Always use a cake skewer to test whether the resulting cake is ready to be taken out of the oven.

After taking the cake out of the oven, do rest the cake for at least five minutes in the oven before placing it on a wire tray. The result is not ready to be consumed at this stage - it should be soaked with two tablespoons of sherry every two or three days for a fortnight, before being served.

From an idea and flour, to the piece that we bite into on Christmas Day, the process requires love, concentration and patience. A wonderful reflection of care we have for family and friends.

The Art of Making Roti Jala

2011-10-03T12:08:00.020+11:00

Netted crepes are made of eggs, so there is some similarity with the ubiquitous noodles but they can then be so different. We eat such crepes dry and not in soups, but accompanied by luscious gravy of meat curry (image below). Best made fresh, best consumed fresh and while they retain their texture. In order to make such crepes, a mould (first image above), which allows the dough to be pressed through constrained holes, is used to produce the netted results (second image above).

Roti jala, the South-east Asian name for netted crepes, offers an alternative to rice, naans or baked bread, in accompanying chicken curry, mutton kurma or curry kapitan, at a meal.

Its origins are from south India, but are a popular choice in Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, especially with Straits Chinese families and Western backpackers. A dash of butter, one and a half cups of coconut milk, five eggs lightly beaten, a touch of tumeric powder and 20 ounces of sifted plain flour are all the ingredients required (image above). The pan used must be greased before hand to allow non-sticking of the dough when making the roti itself.

To Prepare : Recipe from malaysiafood.net

In a bowl, lightly whisk coconut milk, eggs, water, salt and turmeric powder
Sift all-purpose flour into a mixing bowl
Stir in the coconut-egg mixture gradually and mix, until a thin 'crepe-like batter' is achieved
Strain the batter through a fine sieve
On medium-low heat, grease and heat a griddle or a medium sized non-stick pan
Put a ladleful of batter into a Roti Jala mould/cup and in a circular motion, form a thin lacy pattern in the pan [about 8 inch in diameter]
Cook until set, turn over onto a plate [There is no need to cook the other side, much like a regular crepe]
Fold each crepe into quarters, staking them up as you go
As you make the crepes, grease the pan ever so often. Add a little water to the batter if it becomes too thick to maintain a crepe-like batter.

The flour has to sieved into a mixing bowl (image above) before adding the other ingredients, and as a general rule of thumb put in the dry ingredients before the wet ones. It is best to blend the dough in small portions to attain a rather smooth texture and to ensure no lumps exist by adding around 2 cups of water. (Image below - adding the coconut milk).

Once you are satisfied with the right texture/consistency of dough, pour small amounts through the mould contraption with minuscule holes - this allows the dough to be strained and fall out dripping on the other side to form a net like result.

Gatherings and Parties

2011-09-28T09:33:00.015+10:00

Party time, and what to lay out to sustain, distract and amuse? Perhaps for a start, lay out bite-sized fruit slices, crispy nuts and the always appreciated cheese platter. Walnuts, apricots, chestnuts and more, even if they are not for Christmas. More healthy choices to nibble whilst holding a conversation - and a drink. Carving knives, napkins, biscuits and plates all add to the presentation (image above).

The choice of drinks depends on the crowd and purpose of event. Are they all twenty somethings, or older blokes thinking of the pub? We either settle for the optimal denominator, or attempt something special. We do not want staff members to break rules of the applicable code of conduct at end of year parties. At the same time, in this day and age, we may not want to be stiff upper lips at informal house gatherings. If we want some people to impress others, that has to be handled sensitively. Maybe Italian bottled mineral water is best, with less health issues. a bit of elegance and more common sense. Are we encouraging the party goers to help themselves, or is there someone to serve and mix the drinks?

Provide one stand-out serving item - with youngsters, sausage rolls from a reputable bakery (image below) ; with Gen X, vodka and seafood platter; with baby boomers, caviar and champagne. That will set the tone, the rest are to grace the table, the occasion and the conversation. We must be conscious not to detract from the purpose of the occasion, whether it is a reunion of family or good mates, a networking possibility or a business function, a birthday or an anniversary.

Allow an exotic element to the menu, not just as variety, but to make guests get out of any comfort zone. Celebrate the story behind the preferred item, be it be an unusual birthday cake, moon cakes from East Asia (image below) or Vegemite from Australia. Allow party goers to get out of their comfort zone in a positve way, when their minds and spirits are already loosened up.

It can break the ice in conversation between prior strangers, meeting up for the first time. Most important of all, enjoy the pace and party mood!

Dawn at Diggies, North Gong Beach, NSW

2011-09-26T12:54:00.012+10:00

630am, on a Friday, is when there is a zen-like calm on North Gong Beach's Diggies Cafe and Restaurant. However, outside, as spring progresses, the sun is already up and running - and so are many nearby residents, cycling, running, power-walking, strolling or accompanying a trotting dog. As the light got more intense, the Tasman Sea remained steady. The staff at Diggies were already ready for the day and their first customers.

Nothing is as uplifting like a good new idea. I tried the Morning Sandwich (image above), as envisaged by Diggies - made up of fresh lettuce bites, juicy tomato slices, refreshing cuts of bacon, a tangy aroma of cheese and topped up with a deep fried omelette. I already felt like I was in the middle of a weekend - and my accompanying mates did too. We all felt the presence of the wood in Diggies at this time of day more than our previous times at lunch - before the crowds arrived, we felt how the layout and accessories provided flowed well with the time and tide of the beach outside. We savoured this magical moment in time.

Chatswood, NSW - The Concourse on a Rainy Day

2011-09-26T12:53:00.008+10:00

Willoughby Council has embarked on an ambitious course in providing a state of the art facility in the heart of Chatswood - not just for Council meetings, community gatherings and the Council Library, but an exquisite auditorium for performance, plenty of space for the public to stroll and function rooms for other purposes.

I had the opportunity to visit the newly opened facility on a rainy and overcast weekend. Called the Concourse, I offer my image reflections at the start of the journey for this complex, and I am sure it will show signs of appreciated use in the near future. Utilities include the new Concert Hall, Theatre, Civic Pavilion and Studio, all a part of the Performing Arts Centre on The Concourse.

UOW Student Fitness Challenge

2011-09-22T08:23:00.017+10:00

Libronz, Wollongong CBD

2011-09-22T08:22:00.009+10:00

Misel and I had a great catch up one week night - and what a good suggestion he had in Libronz, along lower Crown Street in Wollongong CBD. The last time I had Spanish cuisine was at El Bulli (Elizabeth Street, Surrey Hills, Sydney CBD). Wollongong city centre was abuzz with more than its share of vehicular traffic that evening, most probably due to a gathering at a reserve park ocean side. Misel is more into diving at Bondi and spending more time with his lovely daughter - so it was good to be able to relax and even email a good mate in London, Dule.

Tapas come to the mind of many when we go Espanol - but the meaty mains we ordered were well done and turned out good. It is compulsory to have sangria to come with the meal. Tapas are akin to Korean entree selections served on small and delectable dishes. Spanish tapas originated in the Andulasian region. A variety of tapas choices exist - seafood, vegetarian, spicy, omelette, cheese, ham, etc - but consuming them is a ritual, echoing of comfort food, gatherings and snacks. We had prawns, mushrooms, olives and chicken in our selection that evening.

The scene at the end of the dinner (above) and the tastefully decorated dining room (below) before most of the guests arrived. Libronz is situated at a food hub at the corner of Crown and Corrimal Streets, with neighbours like Michael's (Italian), JJs (Indian) and Lower East Cafe (modern Australian).

Fight, Fright or Flee

2011-09-12T08:36:00.007+10:00

Like the change of seasons, fortune can come in cycles. Not just in a material way, but with the flow of political winds, the throbbing of cultural transformation and moving socio-demographic patterns.

Individuals in power find themselves adrift. People who were labelled the underdogs can break free of their perceived serfdom. What was the custom for ages can be radically changed. Change need not descend suddenly upon the night like a silky wisp of dread, as in the stuff of legends, but gradually and surely, as a growing plant. On the other hand, change may have to be forced suddenly, under an apparent breaking point, like what we have seen this past year in the countries experiencing the so-called political Arab Spring.

The seeds of change can be sown long ago, and gestated quietly, away from public or media eyes. Most of us come to know of it only when the situation bursts upon the world stage in an eye-catching manner. Change had been underway when economic arrangements, access channels and macro policies have been implemented.

Initial protests of discontent can often be swept away, by the aggressors cleverly tampering with what seems to be the tools of governance. However, John F. Kennedy once remarked that "you can fool all the people some of the time, or some of the people all of the time, but not all the people all the time". There is always a breaking point, a reference to the proverbial bridge of no return, when one does not look back, but only forward.

For many caught in between such changes, there are inevitable questions of making a stand. Does one significantly adjust and embrace the new? Alternatively, does one challenge the status quo and dream of a better future? Or does one give up and move on to another place, another system, where it is perceived to be , or actually turn out to be, a better place? The history of nations, city states, ethnic groups and empires can be viewed in tribulations and opportunities arising from such key questions. Even the course of a selected personal life, financial pathway and career can be traced to decisions made based from such important choices.

Even when some things apparently never change - the conditions in Africa, for example, with the periodic drought-induced or politics-affected starvation, or with an ever ready stream of people willing to risk life and limb to cross seas to reach another country - very hard and emotional decisions have to be made by individuals, because of family, cultural survival, beliefs and sheer need to remain alive. Having numbers do affect decisions.

Having the means and ability to adapt also count. At times, it may be good to have won a battle, but not so good to then lose the war. At other times, it is critical to get out when the last boat or helicopter is here, before the doors close forever. Often, things that are thought to can never be, surprisingly eventuate when oppressive conditions evaporate with the removal of a key figure.

The human mind and behaviour can never be under estimated. With sufficient motivation, patience and belief, many persist but most barely survive under less than ideal conditions. Maybe we all need a challenge, to keep alive the varying demands of the soul and spirit and to maintain a purpose in the heart. It is observed that humans do tend to get into a comfort zone or become unmotivated - and then miss opportunities to springboard to further growth. The critical factor is our mindset, in deciding whether we stay to fight the challenge, to tolerate what can be increasingly untolerable, or remove ourselves to better conditions.

Spring time in Balgownie

2011-09-12T08:35:00.025+10:00

Gathering at Pennant Hills NSW

2011-09-12T08:35:00.024+10:00

The event was hosted by Jana and Slyvia Teoh, together with other members of the extended Teoh family in Sydney, NSW.

Do You Remember?

2011-09-06T22:38:00.010+10:00

The Jersey Boys, the musical staged for several years now, ostensibly recounts the trials, tribulations and successes of Frankie Valli and his singing group, the Four Seasons. Between the numbers ("My Eyes Adored You" and "Walk Like A Man" were most meaningful) and behind the sacrifices happening to sustain a road show career, snippets of Valli's life echo in each and every one of us. Despite the stage charisma, the wife and marriage left behind paid the price for the magic when falsettos and showmanship captured the dreams and hearts of his fans.

We have a special place in our hearts for our very first love, even if we do not speak much of it anymore. We can still feel the vibes of what attracted us to the apple of our eye, even with the passing of time and shared subsequent experiences. Underlying a lasting love is always a reassuring friendship - that is what makes the heart flutter even more. Underlying a friendship is a reliable and consistent bonding. Putting someone in a really special place in our hearts need not be analysed too far, we just enjoy and treasure it.

More mature relationships recognise that no human is perfect, and despite such shortcomings, the flutter from the romanticising can transform into a practical engagement based on acceptance, tolerance and uniqueness. Brad Pitt put it in a nutshell when he reflected on why he left his first marriage, as he "was merely lying on the sofa" - ripe to fall readily into the charms of another woman, Angelina Jolie, who provided more oomph, activity and meaning into a relationship. To keep a good relationship is also to work on it, and build on the positive motivations of the very first memorable day.

Friendships between men are so different to friendships between women. Outside a relationship, can there be friendships between a man and woman? Media and society, religion and culture, research and practicality - all may favour segmentation, categorisation and boundaries, but the human race has precisely succeeded because it has thrived on variety, peculiarity and freedom.There can be varying degrees of closeness when we engage with another human being, but one that nurtures our inner self is the most important. Personal chemistry, when recognised and developed further, then provides the meaning behind activities, encounters and conversations to lead to greater mutual understanding. Whether this kind of emerging and budding interaction leads to a successful marriage, rather than just a friendship, requires timely actions and commitments.

Do you recall your magical moments with someone special? Is there the proverbial song that belonged to just the two of you together? It may not be a tune, but a moment in time. Do you still have a place in your heart with that someone, whether both of you are still able to be together or not.

Perhaps Phil Collins surmised it all when he belted out these lyrics, from the track duly called "Do You Remember"?

"There are things we won't recall
Feelings we'll never find
It's taken so long to see it
Cos we never seemed to have the time."

Spring in Sydney City

2011-09-05T13:33:00.012+10:00

The Kinokinuya bookshop in Sydney CBD's Galleries Victoria is always a pleasure to visit. This time around, on the cusp of spring, there were significant discounts offered. In the age of electronic and online reading, the ambiance of this sizable retail outlet harks back to traditional scenes - people huddled over the magic of print on paper, eyes scanning an organised bookshelf and book covers shouting out for attention - pick me, choose me. The variety of books in this store perhaps epitomises the meeting of both so-called Western and Eastern cultures.

Dymocks at Broadway shopping centre (south of Sydney CBD) is smaller but nevertheless, invites one to a lazy afternoon of imagination, refuge and chilling out. I love the cushioned seats beside windows and its cafe, but am especially taken by the welcome foyer - how it arranges its displays is an achievement of psychology, marketing appeal and building up the passion of its customers in the world of publications and electronic media. Everything has been precisely arranged to catch the eye and heart.

I was delighted to discover the Brooksfield boutique in the recesses of the World Square shopping precinct. Peter, the sole staff member taking care of this unique experience, was very knowledgeable in chatting about the materials, sizes and unique perspectives of the shirts, trousers and other wardrobe items on display. I was reminded of a choice between slim fits and full form fits. The store has been fitted out to provide a pleasant walk around.

I did not know what to expect about a selection of performance extracts staged live by the
Russian Imperial Ballet at the State Theatre in Market Street. I need not have worried. The enactment to the accompaniment of the theme from Bolero was most enchanting. The festive and humorous air of Don Quixote was infectious and lightened the hearts of the audience. The finale with the can can underlined the fact that ballet is meant to entertain and reach out to the masses, and not necessarily an elite preoccupation.

The lead dancers, male and female, changed my perceptions; gently built up my sense of thrill at hard earned dance steps and postures; and made me realise how classical can be transformed to innovative. The elite of the Russian community were perhaps present for this Saturday night's performance. One of the leads, a tall and slim blonde-haired dancer, was hanging around the audio-visual control box area during the second intermission. My group of four were all satisfied with the high standards offered by this performance.

In the rush hour street side before sunset, near the Broadway shopping centre, I came across three puppies in a baby pram, pushed by a slightly embarrassed guy. Earlier, there were two groups of prancing lions parading past shops in Chinatown, accompanied by the all expected din of banging cymbals and fanfare. The Lunar eighth moon had commenced in the East Asian calendar, and this coincided with the arrival of the Australian spring. Beside the cinema complex along the main thoroughfare of George Street, and leading into the Spanish quarter, an unassuming lane revealed a delightful mural of images from the past century, detailing the balls and functions held by the Chinese-Australian community during the second century of this nation. Most interesting were references to volunteering by this community to the war effort during the 1940s.

Chatime at George Street near Broadway offered this passion fruit flavoured tea. It was thirst quenching after a whole day of literally criss-crossing the streets of Sydney City centre. I was surprised by the lack of custom at this outlet at this evening hour. The LCD screens offered had Mandarin language music videos as if you were in downtown Taipei or Nanjing.

I stood a road away from the construction site for the emerging Sydney Central Park, a massive residential development coming up from the grounds of a discontinued abattoir and brewery. Men in hard hats and bright coloured vests were walking around the place, soon to house hundreds of residents in cubicle units rising over the skyline of the southern end of the CBD. This development by Frasers of Singapore is in an ideal location, the epicentre of the lifestyle for city dwellers. It is ten minutes by car each to Newtown, Glebe, the campuses of UTS and Sydney University, Chinatown, Broadway shopping, Darling Harbour and Surry Hills.

As expected, I could not resist the offer to drop by two food outlets - Malacca Straits, where I tried the nasi lemak with Malaysian styled chicken curry and ice kacang, and then Spice I Am, where the homok and tom yum kung stood out well but the egg noodles were not al dente.

The Making of Fujian Har Mee Yoke

2011-08-29T07:53:00.018+10:00

Hokkien mee, or har mee or mee yoke, all refer to a much beloved dish that depends so much on the inherent quality of a great stock soup (image below). The prawns or shrimps (har) must be fresh, have a zesty bite to the taste and are used, not just as an ingredient in the finished product to serve, but also in contributing to the nuances of the soup. The mee refers to the noodles of your choice (above image) but they do affect the overall experience (for example, slurpiness like in eating ramen, or a different texture, as in pasta). The yoke are the thinly cut slices of pork rib meat, with some layer of fat, essential to the aroma and wholesomeness of this dish.

A favourite of southern Chinese street food, and also in South-east Asia, is the use of deep fried shallots or cut onion rings (below) to accompany the har mee yoke. All images here were taken at the kitchen of Susan and Boo Ann Yap in Carlingford, Sydney, in a joint cooking session with one of my cousins, Mu Lan.

The quality, intensity and texture of the chili paste (picture below) results from carefully selecting the type of chilies, plus the addition of garlic and shallots to taste.

Suggested Recipe, from RasaMalaysia:

Soup Stock ingredients:
1 ziplock bag of shrimp heads and shells (I used Ziplock Easy Zipper Bag)

15 cups of water (reduced to about 12-13 cups of water after hours of boiling and simmering)

2-3 pieces of rock sugar (about the size of a small ping pong ball) or to taste

1.5 lbs of pork ribs (cut into pieces)

Salt to taste

Chili Paste:
30 dried chilies (de-seeded and soaked to soften)

10 shallots (peeled)

5 cloves garlic (peeled)

2 tablespoons of water

Other Ingredients Required:

6 tablespoons of cooking oil
1 pound of yellow noodles or mee (scalded)

1 pack of rice vermicelli (scalded)

Some kangkong or water convolvulus (scalded)

Some bean sprouts (scalded)

Toppings:
1/2 pound of lean pork meat (boiled and sliced thinly)

1/2 pound shrimp or prawns (shelled and de-veined)

6 hard-boiled eggs (shelled and quartered)

Some fried shallot crisps

Method and Approach:

Blend the chili paste ingredients with a mini food processor until they are finely ground and well blended.

Heat up the wok and add cooking oil.

Stir fry the chili paste for 5 minutes. Dish up and set aside.

On the same wok (unwashed), add in a little oil and cook the shrimp topping. Add in a little chili paste, sugar, and salt. Pan-fried the shrimp until they are slightly burned. Dish up, let cool and sliced them into halves.

Add 15 cups of water into a pot and bring it to boil.

Add in all the shrimp or prawn heads and shell and simmer on low heat for about 2 hours or longer, until the stock becomes cloudy and tastes really prawny.

Strain the stock through sieve and transfer the stock into another pot. Discard the prawn or shrimp heads and shells. Scoop up and discard the orange coloured “foam” forming at the top of the stock.

Bring the stock to boil again and add in half of the chili paste. You can add more chili paste if you like it spicier.

Add in the pork ribs and continue to boil in low heat for another 1-1.5 hour until the pork ribs are thoroughly cooked.

Add rock sugar and salt/fish sauce to taste.

To Serve:

To serve, place a portion of yellow noodles, rice vermicelli, water convolvulus and bean sprouts in a bowl. Ladle the hot stock over. If desired, add a few pieces of pork ribs. Top up with meat slices, sliced shrimp, hard boiled egg quarters - and sprinkle with shallot crisps.

Serve immediately with more chili paste to taste.

Cook’s notes:
Traditionally, the prawn or shrimp heads and shells are stir-fried with oil until aromatic before adding them into the boiling water.
The hawkers in Penang also blended the prawn or shrimp heads and shells after they are briefly boiled to extract all the flavors from the shell.

Tastes of Shanghai and Jogjakarta

2011-08-29T07:52:00.004+10:00

"Dan dan noodles" I read, and that menu item caught my eye. I was initially wary of such noodles; in the past, my experience of them had been bland. Then I recalled that they can be freshly made, as an alternative to the packaged versions you find in Asian groceries all around the world. My group of six went for it. When the noodles arrived at our table in a piping hot bowl, the noodles proved al dente and the accompanying soup, ala Shanghai, was chili hot enough to refresh ,but not overwhelmingly so.

We were in A Taste of Shanghai, which has outlets in both Eastwood and Chatswood, northern suburbs of the greater Sydney area. The Eastwood joint was a busy place that evening, but poor engagement with customers by its staff members, who were not very well trained in handling queues of waiting and hungry diners, did not help. Nevertheless the food made up for this initial teething matter. I was satisfied with the key dishes chosen -
twice cooked pork belly; man tou buns served with a relish; and the deep fried barramundi, done in sweet and sour gravy. The place was, as expected, noisy, but not reflective of mainstream Australian society, in that most diners were of Chinese origin.

South of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Hui's Mum, Mu Lan, had just arrived at the domestic airport, from Melbourne. I could not resist taking the opportunity for the three of us to try out Ayam Goreng 99, located along Anzac Parade in Kingsford, about fifteen minutes drive from the airport. Run by Indonesian Chinese from Java, its signature dishes are both grilled and roasted chicken (wings, breasts, thighs and so forth). I singled out the satay to taste, but the skewers came served with a peanut butter concoction, and not with the lemon grass flavoured peanuty sauce available in Malaysia. Also disappointing were the ice durian and coconut juice flavoured drinks, a far cry from what is served at the joints along Liang Seah Street in the Bugis precinct of Singapore.

The belacan kangkong is recommended. The spinach was sweet and lightly stir fried, with the chili and dried shrimp condiment not overpowering. I was eyeing the bakmie, equivalent to the egg noodles of south China garnished with meat slices and aromatic ingredients. Instead we ordered the fried rice special (nasi goreng in Indonesian), which was thoroughly made with the right amount of wok heat, intense sauce and a topping of an egg omelette.

The Art of Apparently Doing Nothing

2011-08-27T10:48:00.008+10:00

When I do not know what to do.
This is comparable to standing at a five ways road junction and trying to figure out how to best handle the situation. I allow myself time - and enjoy the leisure of seemingly not reacting. My sub-conscious loves such opportunities - and provide better solutions and outcomes later from such scenarios.

When I am in denial.
Call it information overload, or sorting the variables before I recognise the cause and impact of things. This syndrome is perhaps best illustrated by the classic scene from a movie that's almost 80 years old - Gone With The Wind, based on the Margaret Mitchell bestseller novel. The housekeeper, in shock at the reality of impending childbirth for her Ma'am, walks away in a non-chalant manner and whistles. This is her personal way of coping with shock - and denial.

When I do deserve a break from the mundane.
I recall Friday afternoons after school, when the tyranny of commitment, structure and need to achieve dissolves in demand and urgency, when I can enjoy teenage hood and can hang out with mates. Things are unplanned and yet enjoyable. So it does not mean that my mates and I are not doing anything, we just reckon we do not have to worry about it, but just follow our hearts and inklings to fill in the magical hours at the start of a weekend.

When I do not need to do anything.
Have you had such hallmark moments, when the stars, Earth, Sun and Moon seem to come in perfect alignment? You can also say mate, family, boss and return on investments. It may seem remarkable, or coincidental, but guess what - you have worked yourself to deserve such a significantly positive dimension. What a sweet spot!

When I ride the wave.
There are occasions to harness the wind, the current or the flow set by external factors and beyond your control. This can be getting into the gravy train when the price is low, when there is a so-called window 0f opportunity or when an incentive or exemption can be utilised to your advantage. Enjoy the ride, but have an exit strategy and approach, just in case the wave goes down and the lollies stop coming.

When my reputation does it for me.
Increasingly, society and business thrives on speculation, perception and the value of intangibles.
The media, governments, religious groups, entertainment events and pricing systems depends on reputation. So should the individual, but definitely in a positive way, to bring more energy nurturing people, optimal thinking and personal growth your way.

When I download from cyberspace.
After one click, I can go to sleep and everything I expect is ready to roll the next morning.

When I procrastinate.
This can be a sub-set of denial, or not knowing what to do next. This can be after having a set of plans and then not making a decision. This can be after making an effective decision and then facing implementation roadblocks. This can result from being distracted and not focusing on the present. This can simply be a personal habit. Procrastination can have varying consequences - putting the matter on the proverbial shelf forever; re-visiting it later, with a better mindset; or just not achieving anything - or simply nothing.