Food for thots during Ramadhan

My taste buds is kind of different kinds. I would go for delicacies of cow brain, cow tongues...I know it didn't sound very delicious but it is delicacies that I'm into more than goose liver or cow liver.

I know I got that kind of taste buds from my dad. We could be Carnivors and Herbivors. He would prepare bone merrow soup for our festival. Grilled cow stomach with chillies juice with lemon or tamarind extract. Supposedly reading about food, you would be drooling but not this time.

We would go miles to find squid eggs cooked in coconut milk. That's was my childhood taste bud that I carried it til now. Off course as I grew older with changes in my taste buds, I mingled with friends, relatives of different background. That's how I picked up various food. I fell in love with fish Cod grilled or broiled. I remembered I went out with my parents and brother, she had Cod, her lips swollen as she is a fish oil alergy. We also had raw oysters was very good then scallops. I could still taste them on my lips.

When travelling with my brother or husband, we usually had Japanese food, sea urching will be ordered first. Then escagort in Tapas ways of setting we would go next. If it is in Europe wild mushrooms was must have either breed salmon or wild salmon, we care only food.

After my gym we stopped for avocado juice and crab salmon meat as we wanted to maintain healthy right after the worked out but later on, back to normal, coconut rice, mee curry were on the lists.

During ramadhan we supposed to be moderation in our food desire but as human being, it went the other way round, more desire not just on eating but feasting.

We family sat at the living were thinking of what to have during breaking the fast. I told dad, how about ox tail soup, dad was excited but going low and said you guys go ahead for it as it is good for those who are not affected in their blood. It means the blood had affected with the unnecessary mineral like too much sodium that caused high blood pressure. Then countered my mom said when it is affected it is too late like you(dad) and she corrected like us. I was kind of feeling pity of my dad when mom said like that to him but he smiled and said it is true. He said his breakfasts every morning in those days were half boiled eggs, french toast bread with egg sugar jam (sri kaya) at Kopitiam. If it's not half cooked eggs, he would take coconut milk rice with spicy anchovies or indian bread with lamb curry.

My dad is a high taste person, he was brought up in an educated family that was not poor or rich. He went to Malay College KK (MCKK) the best state high school consisted with high end students of big shots parents. The problem was according to my grandpa who was a high school Headmister, my dad came back from the school breaks with demands new things everytime, the first time was he wanted a camera then went on with branded sport shoes. Grandpa said that he sent him to the best school to be groomed to be somebody academically as he himself was qualified for it, supposedly to study hard in academic not to learn fancy stuffs from his peers. Sighing late grandpa.

My dad always wanted the best for me, he got me an Alba watch when I was in early primary school. Most of my friends used Mickey Mouse watches or cartoon characters brandings. I wasn't satisfied as friends said I wore my mom's or somebody's watch everytime :(

My mom had an opposite lifestyles where she got the biggest size shoes from 7 years old til 12 years. She was like a cartoon herself, she said with a bigfoot that she had to wear them for 6 years, but that was the vision of my maternal grandpa to buy one pair of shoes per primary school life.

Okay back to family gathering at my parents' living room...After prepared basic dinner, we went out to look for something which is not easy to prepare at home. We went to the food bazaar at a mall. I saw dad was sitting at the Teppanyaki bar as if he was waiting for the food to take out. I walked around and got myself Char Kuey Teow, chinese fried flat mee. Mom was strolling and searching. Then I saw dad at the Hong Kong Duck rice with shrimp dumplings and asked him what happened to Teppanyaki, he told that they don't prepare take away. I was mumbling upsetting and kind of finding it hard to believe it take out or eat in is our choice. We went round and round then got home.

During dinner, we really enjoyed it, I told dad better skipped this oilly gravy, as it better having the cholestrol in the crab than in an oilly gravy. Dad was just laughed. We were about to finished eating.

Mom with high voice said to my dad, " Here's your "cholestrol", you haven't eaten, just now you insisted me line up in a long queue for it, better finish it. It was sticky rice, coconut filling, mom called it dad's cholestrol. Poor guy :)

While I am typing this, I got a text message from my mom asked me about my plan for our festival. I paused typing and called her, she is at the Mall waiting for my dad shopped for Dockers pants, I said wow dad was really looked forward to our festival Eid ul Fitr, then I asked mom, what has she got there then, she said nothing, I continued get something would be enjoyable than just waiting for dad to shop. She told me earlier on that she did not plan to buy new clothes as she's going to wear the previous clothes she had that she seldom wore and some my sister had bought for her. That was a formal traditional suits, I guess she supposed to get something casual blouse atleast one or two, then she finished the conversation with Cashy none because now try Economoney :) Oh mom sweet mom :)

Celebrity and Washed Hand

This is about double meaning of washing hands for cleanliness or the hygiene for H1N1. As it is vital to wash hands and shower after lingered outside in the public places as prevention is better than cure. As for this post is about wash hands like rubbing two hands as if a relief emotion after a task has been done and also washing hands before eating. I am not sure to demo the exact gestures, the story goes like this as in the picture of my dad with his last kid, my brother.

My dad who is a caring person and also a concerned one towards his children. Being a father of many kids, he could not wait til the last kid to finish university and get a job, so that he could lay back and relax, relief of a so called the tasks were finished. Though that was his intention to wash hands (I've got the idea of wash hands from himself as I observed his gestures when chatting with friends, relatives or peers on us) but he goes on with his caring character waiting for my brother to have his own house as marriage is secondary, well my brother already owned a house now then my dad would be relief and yet he is not.

Time goes by, I have many nephews and two nieces but the two nephews who lived next door that is a new task for my dad by choice. The task gets going and the going gets tasks :). My dad is still can not put his hands together or to express the phew!! finished! and let them hanging relaxed.

He sweats to make sure the two grandkids of next door to grow up and finish school then he will be relieving a retired man! Our conversation during our holiday in an island, his own nephews who are my cousins said to him, Pak Long or Eldest Uncle, "you have nothing to think anymore, all is done by the children", my dad immediately counter that phrase that he has bunch of things to think about my nephews. He wants his hands are full of his grandchildren like sending to school, accompany them, taking them to places etcetera etcetera by choice could made him feel young.

This all make me think of how our life would be with my kid, the task is there and will always be there and loving it. My husband does not dream to have free of task as in the beginning. A task make him multitasker in fact :) We have many plans for the kid and yet the plans come back to us, there is no way to make the task stop rolling, the task will only keep handing hands or changing hands maybe rest when we must, just to never quit. The tasks relate to another are there and will be less and get easy Godwill, insyaAllah, only one choice is to raise two open palms together to pray for it from Him.

And I have another side story of washing hands. We family, together with my parents went out for a movie. We bumped with a country number 1 singer Dato' Siti Nurhaliza with her husband. My dad was so excited that he got a chance to shake hands with them. On the way home, my mom said to my dad that my dad would not want to wash his hands ever as he shook hands with the beautiful celebrity but my dad said he would wash his hands clean as he didn't shake hands with Dato' Siti Nurhaliza (photo above) but he only did with her husband, sighed :)

One question, was my mom being jealous :) Naaah...don't think so :D

Think Practical

I like to have some people that I can look up to with full admirations, because I find it contagious. My previous experience was to look at people who lives independently like some friends I have. I adore them, took them as my back up plan in life. At the moment I thought of that, I was slowly heading to where they are. Once I was in it, I didn't like it. It was not me to be independent, I like to be with people. I had the chance to live on my own in an empty house belonged to my parents but I didn't like it. Sure I tried to live for few days there then I came back to my parents'. I rather stayed with parents whether they like it or not. I love to be with a family and I prayed that I have a family of my own. That's how it worked for me. I have my own family by praying to have one.
I admired my sister's house that is very cosy and western's style. The nook where she has for breakfast that she loved it the most of the house. I loved it so much too as we are asian hardly to find a nook in a kitchen, I love lounging at her nook by the windows at the fountains where the koi fish swim and hide under the water plants. I was admiring and thinking one day I should have one nook like a western house has a bar with stools you know what I mean hehe, I have one now in my dry kitchen. Small one as in coffee shop and I love it. The plain nook gives me desire to cook while talking to the people sitting there make things colourful.

My car was stolen. I didn't have a car for sometimes, I was worried to have a new one because my brother would think that I am independent and he didn't have to worry to bring me for lounging with his friends. I wanted to follow him to spend the weekends because I know most of his friends. They always hangout in group, with me in was not a crowd at all, I didn't know he liked it or not as long I was out from the house :) Though I delayed to buy a car as the focus was having a boyfriend who fetches me with a nice car, the pressure of buying a car was there coz I was working in a department that the colleagues were fresh graduates. Every two or three months, one colleague bought a new car then another colleague who I hanged around with bought for her parents and she was getting married. Back in my mind, I had to buy a car though we were surrounded with cars that I can borrow. Now I have two cars, one is a dream car and I'm trying to let go the one that I bought by need. As I drove the need car, the dreamed car overtook me, I thought of having the dreamed car. I told my mom, it is possible right to have that one quote unquote... When you have a car, you are not just a car owner but a driver and now I have to dream that I am a passenger in my own car whenever I like it:) Only then I get to sit and enjoy the ride. I hope you observed that I mentioned a passenger in my own car. I just have to becareful of what I'm wishing for. Be specific as God will grant you definitely Godwill, with the help of my parents' prayers as well. My sister used to teach me how to pray, With tears should you tag ;)

My parents always had the idea to be served, I guess they were tired of serving though we had helper while we were little. They didn't like stranger as a helper in the house but they like to be served. Their lifestyle turned up different than others. They were always having meals outside in a nice or not nice restaurants. That's how they like it. And they deserved it. All in the states of mind, I guessed.

Mmm what else hehe...I'm digging out, what's happening is really happened. I guess now I'm back admiring people with a happy family who lives in a nice place so that I will be in it. Well I am in it just to think practically having it and feeling it. Or maybe imagine myself having a daughter as my best friend, cool ya :) Like my mom and my sister or mom with me. Or being a good writer with good grammars and good vocabs. Oh...Nice.

The Wrap-Up Show

August is in the second half of a new year 2009. It has been good with little things, and has yet the biggest deal or event to come after the biggest one that was having a nice "Breakfast at Hartamas" while listening to this song "To Love Somebody". You are right Michael Bolton, it is nice to love somebody.

When I was young,

My fondest wish

Was a marriage,
that could be this good,

That breakfast didn't happen at Tiffany,

but the one with you to cherish.

I reminisce this trip as the better trip as yet to come, it will never be the better one I guess, as it is the best ever had.I wanted to achieve the best career minded employee before I leave. So there I was the best beauty queen hehe... among the best. Since I've haven't got a new news to break, I cherished the view infront of my ngaji school. I go to school every morning and I'm loving the views from there every minute. Sometimes I didn't want to blink my eyes coz didn't want to miss a thing :) Though sometimes I missed this road, I am keeping in touch with the people who still use this road and making plans to see them.I have no choice but to cherish the view every minute while driving to school, it's the beauty of God's creation all around me. I managed to snap the photo while driving, it is really a joyride experience. The view from my passenger's window was just amazing.

I was making time to visit Kenny Roger's outlet, but never been to one here near my house. I've baked Kenny Roger's chicken in my kitchen then, tasted almost the same, otherwise I adjusted my tongue to taste it good:)

It has been eight months in the new year, I've set the goal and yet the goal is taking its sweet times to arrive. My part is to pray and hope. Cherish vs Wish are both winners. That's the mid of wraping up of a new year. I have four months to go to get what I wish. When the time comes, I will put it as a headline :) Meanwhile I will cherish every moment and keep wishing and praying so that the real Wrap-up of the year ends with a happy note.

SS2

Sunway Pyramid

Since Aidil Fitri is approaching...somehow SS2 is on my mind tho I've written this entry long time ago.

I start with SS2, SS2 started it all.

SS2 or Petaling Jaya was first developed by the British on the former 486 hectares Effingham Estate.

SS2 is located in Petaling Jaya (commonly called "PJ" by locals) is a Malaysian city originally developed as a satellite township for Kuala Lumpur

I came from up-North of Malaysia. The country is almost like an island itself but connected at the border of Thailand. My accent is like non-city girl speaks as almost every word ending up with kap sawa di kap baq. My dad was doing business from constructing to rice-mill, once his name was on the rice packet that I was proud of. Mom was in the Ministry of Health got me an idea that I had to put on braces like girls in the Western Sit-com series, Growing Pain, Family Ties, The Walks of Life that I watched every evening. Since mom was a state Dental Matron, my stubborn teeth were done there.

I was brought out for occasional vacations. As I was told that we were heading to KL, I actively jumped with packed bag ending up in SS2 not KL. SS2 was Kuala Lumpur to me then.
SS2 lived two beautiful couple with many kids scattered near and far. Not just SS2 inspired me, the people who lived in there. When I was back in my home up-north after a short visit in SS2. My mind wandered to live in PJ, to be a city girl, studied in Assunta a city high-school. Well I did go to Assunta after many years dreaming of it.

Same thing happened when I watched movie or series Beverly Hills, Back to the Future or ET, I wanted to go to the USA right away but to live in KL, it took some thoughts lingered on. Sure I've been in the States with a grown up mind :)

SS2 has up-to-date stuffs like McDonald, Pizzahut, Seven Eleven, I didn't wish the lists of franchisee to be up-north, I wished I'd move to SS2 to enjoy the outlets there. My dream came true, we got a house in Sunway, Petaling Jaya where the Pyramid is just a few blocks away but make BB a home. There we live, the most visited place was still SS2. For our festival, SS2 was our hometown to be first to visit. It is the most memorial spot and it contributed a lot of who I am now, it associated with my mind. For specific reason SS2 is my address that I filled in a form recently.

May I start again, SS2 lived a beautiful couple who are my Auntie-Wa and my beloved late Uncle-Wa. My Auntie is moving to the north, that was the last I heard after she lost her husband. I thot this cannot be North-SS2-North. It has to be North-SS2-SS2. They are my inspirations and I love them dearly.

Sunway Pyramid, PJS

JigSaw Puzzles of Life

I gladly found a joy piece of excitement to assemble in my mind that my brother in a photo doing headstand-pose. He did it while he was in our neighbouring country recently. He was in casual wear touring and was not in fitness gear to prepare the headstand-pose. He knew better that he supposed to do BabY-pose right after Headstand-pose to overcome the fear combined relaxation the nerves back to normal. Some said to stand on the head is unnatural but head is down is so much natural as an embrio in feotus during eight months cycle.

As I'm enjoying the joy, suddenly I lost the unexpected piece of news, it was about my former fitness exercise student had passed away for good. She had enthusiasm to get fit for living and she had gone suddenly at the age almost 50. It was great to teach her and she came early before I was ready. It really saddenend me after receiving a call from my mother to aknowledge a loss of a friend to mother and a neighbour who gave friendly gesture to the neighbouring area. She will be in my thoughts and prayers always.

Teaching synchronicity of breathing and body movement exercise was enjoyable turned sour after learnt about my student. I used to instruct physical exercise by the swimming pool and that too I wondered the owner of the pool liked it or not that I turned her pool garden to a studio one time. The owner came to join though most of the time didn't show up in most of the class and yet was around to observe the class which I didn't mind. I'm recalling at this moment how it started to teach fitness exercise and die healthy, that's not all my intention.

I'm flashing back, way in the beginning before the loss pieces of puzzle had lost that was passion brought instructing the non-English speaking westerners and my edited speech turned up as said here...

Hi everybody!

I am Babypose and it will be my pleasure to conduct this first physical exercise session with you.

Before we start, let me quickly brief you about a few things that might be of general interest:

As far as it goes for clothing: There is no specific dress code, but the general rule is to wear something that does not restrict you even in extreme movements. For the ladies: You might want to cage your breasts a bit as gravity reverses during upside down positions.

The exercise is done barefooted, so be aware of the fact that your toes and nails will be visible.

When it comes to personal exercise equipment I suggest to invest at first in your own fitness mat. Other than that please bring a towel to the classes, which will be used to assist in some postures.

I also want to issue a few cautions, as there are some conditions where this physical movements can have unwanted consequences. Please consult with your doctor if you suffer or suffered from cardio vascular conditions including high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke, history of joint problems, serious neck and back problems, glaucoma and hernias.

A tip for the ladies again: You can practice the exercise during your menstruation, but I suggest to avoid inverted positions.

Are there any questions? No? Ok, then I think we should start. So are you ready?

Good! Our goal for today is easy. Calming the mind to start with, some common postures and relaxation to end with. I will demonstrate to you how things are being done, so you can watch me, thereafter I will instruct you step by step. I might need to assist individually and physical contact may be required please let me know if you feel uneasy about this.

Lets go straight to calm down to get inner silence and some distance from the hectic outside.

Sit on your seat bone……………legs crossed to easy pose or lotus pose, hands on knees, shoulders relaxed, spine and neck straight, head slightly bend forward, eyes closed, breathe through the nose, tongue on upper gummen, jaws slightly closed, focus on your breathing, slow deep breathing….

Life is too short for us to see, it is enough lenght who had passed away to rest in peace. Al-fatihah