The lure of FNM

Two weeks ago, while the Chinese celebrated their New Year in their hometowns, the rest of us celebrated the long holiday in our hometowns, or in my case in Penang where my sister calls home. As is in the past, my visit to Penang will not be complete without a trip to the (in)famous Feringghi Night Market (FNM). My nephews would invariably ask me, “Bila Mak Long nak pi Feringghi?” as then, is their chance to visit the place.

This time, I went with a buddy from KL who was also in Penang visiting her uncle and aunt. Even though Ani was brought up in KL, she and her other sibling are frequent patrons of FNM- much to the wonderment and amazement of their aunt and uncle. The Penangnites really don’t care for FNM. To them, it’s full of fake stuff and a dangerous zone to be in as raids are frequent even though most of the time they are for show only. I once was caught in such a raid, and whilst I was mildly shivering, I was treated with quite a magic show when the dvd stalls before me quickly transform themselves into sunglasses carts in a few blinks of the eye.

Truthfully, I fancy FNM for their ehem, bootlegged DVDs. It’s not that I want to support piracy, but what am I to do, as a fan of good movies, I need to have my DVDs. The vendors in FNM always have what I want, from the latest Oscar contender movies to past years’ titles that you seldom get to see in Malaysian cinemas. And they sell it bloody cheap! RM4 a piece! In KL, the titles are not as varied and the price is double that.

This time, I learned where to park for free, and more importantly my buddy showed me the shop that gives 2 free dvds for every purchase of 10 units. Other shops only give 1 free dvd. Being the second night into the New Year, a lot of shops were not opened, but lucky for me, the DVD vendors were there. This time, I even found a shop fully manned by Melayu. I figure, temporarily only-lah, whilst the actual owners are enjoying the festivities, maybe overseas.

My buddy didn’t care for DVDs (She still has not watched the 2 dozens DVDs she bought last year). She was looking out for a “patch-work” Coach bag which would cost USD400 if you buy the real thing. Education for you and I: “Coach” is a brand of middle range handbags, not as expensive as LV, but as trendy, nonetheless.

In the end, Ani didn’t buy the desired bag as the price and design were not to her liking. (Her rule: do not pay more than RM60 for an imitation bag, no matter how good the quality). Instead, she got herself a white Gucci bag, which price meets her approval. I also chanced upon an Italian tourist very happily buying a Prada bag. Moral of the story: The Italians don’t waste money on hype. I guess the Prada imitation in FNM is as good as the one at home!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Semasa Ramadan baru-baru ini, Embak mencari bagai nak rak resepi Chocolate Chip Cookies yang Embak buat saban tahun... tapi tak jumpa. Puas ditanya adik, ipar duai dan rakan-rakan yang Embak rasa pernah dikongsi resepi ini tapi tak sorang pun ada simpan. Tapi akhirnya jumpa , terselit antara buku-buku. Jadi Embak ingat, kalau direkodkan di blog ini pun bagus juga. Agar boleh dirujuk setiap tahun. Dengan harapan, tahun depan Embak dapat la hamper chocolate chip cookies pulak.

Asalnya resepi Embak ambil dari makalah Eon/Proton, tak ingat pulak masa Embak beli kereta pertama atau kedua. Kalau kereta ke-2 maksudnya dah 9 tahun, kalau kereta pertama dah 14 tahun. Banyak tahun tu jugaklah Embak dah pakai resepi ni. Yang takjubnya, resepi ni menjadi, tak payah adjust bahan-bahannya tak seperti resepi-resepi yang kedapatan di majalah-majalah di pasaran.

Ingredients:
100g butter
100g shortening ( if possible use Crisco brand)
200g soft brown sugar
4 drops vanilla essence
2 large eggs, beaten
200g chocolate chips
100g chopped walnut or almonds
1/2 level tsp salt
Sift together:
400g plain flour
2 level tsp bicarbonate of soda


1. Cream the butter, shortening, brown sugar, salt and essence together for 2-3 minutes, adding the eggs gradually. Fold in the sifted flour, chocolate chips and chopped nuts.
2. Using two teaspoons make small mounds of the mixture, well apart on a baking tray.
3. Bake 10-13 minutes until crisp and brown (temp 160 F). Transfer on a cooling tray and store in airtight container when cooled.

Will yield about one and a half standard-sized plastic jars or approximately 750g cookies. If you add up the mass of all the ingredients, the yield is much less. I wonder where the rest of it goes!

Some unimportant updates

My, it’s been weeks since my last post. My vacationing brother has come and gone, Ramadhan too, is ending very soon. What’s to update? These are the trivial things:

1. I have repainted my car. Now it is respectable again. It’s funny how it drives better too.

2. I finally got the hang of “torrents”. Too bad for the “pirate” merchants of Ferringhi night market. I now watch House MD Season 4 almost as if I'm in America. The torrent will be available 1 or 2 days after the episode is aired. J'adore les torrents!

3. And I have fallen in love with the music and word wizardry of Jason Mraz. Try listen to his debut album “Waiting for My Rocket to Come” – you’ll be hooked. Here’s a sample of the words from his song “Life is Wonderful”, from his sophomore album:

And it takes no time to fall in love
But it takes you years to know what love is
It takes some fears before I trust
It takes those tears to make it rust
It takes the dust to have it polished.

Brilliant!

4. I am a few pages into “A Walk In The Woods” by Bill Bryson. God, help me finish it. I like to finish my books as fast as I could, but this one is difficult – it is so funny. Last night, I laughed until tears came out. I’ll give it another go tonight.

That's all for now. I'll come back after the Eid, insyaAllah. So, happy celebrating y’all. Drive safe.

Peribahasa

Dari poster di Muzium Padi, Kedah:

Peribahasa Melayu yang menggunakan perkataan padi, beras dan nasi.

1. Padi dikebat dengan daunnya
2. Padi ditanam tumbuhnya lalang
3. Padi masak, jagung mengupih
4. Padi rebah mangsa terkukurlah
5. Padi setangkai bernas semuanya
6. Ada kerak ada nasi
7. Ada padi masak adalah pipit
8. Beras tinggal, sekam melayang
9. Jika ada padi, adalah hampanya
10. Beremas kemas, berpadi menjadi
11. Bersisih antah dengan beras
12. Harapkan pagar, pagar makan padi

Maksud:

1. Modal yang sama digunakan lagi.
2. Nasib malang
3. Berkali-kali untung
4. Dapat untung tanpa susah payah
5.. Keluarga yang hidup bahagia
6. Tiap kejadian ada bekasnya
7. Orang yang baik budi disayangi orang
8. Yang baik akan kekal, yang buruk akan dibuang
9. Kalau terasa bila disindir, tentulah bersalah
10. Orang kaya, semua kehendaknya tercapai
11. Yang miskin tidak bercampur dengan yang kaya
12. Orang yang dipercayai mengkhianati

Grand Family Outing 2007

I just came back from 3 days and 3 nights stay at hotel Le Maziah in Tasek Gelugor, Penang where our family (comprised of some 30 odd adults and children) stayed for this year's gathering. It was a lot of fun. To summarize, here was our programme:

Saturday nite 18th Aug - Feringghi night market with children in tow for quick shopping. Of course yours truly only hang out at the pirated dvd stalls. My Penang bred nephew told a first-time going Uncle that he only visits the FNM when Mak Long comes to Penang!

Sunday 19th Aug - Three-quarter day at the Carnivall, a water-themed park in Sg. Petani (Much thanks to Uncle for sponsoring the tickets). Everybody had a wonderful time.

Monday 20th Aug - A whole day in Alor Star. A visit to my landscaper friends' who fed us laksa Kuala Perlis (sans belut) and loads of rambutan and dokong. Next to the Muzium Padi where we were awed by a panoramic 3d painting of a kampung. Then to the famed Pekan Rabu for some kuali shopping.

We reached home at midnight, and today I give myself one day to rest. Going on a holiday is so tiring!

Embak jadi cikgu!

Buat dua minggu berturut-turut, Embak telah diberi kepercayaan mengajar Pengurusan Kewangan Peribadi kepada pelatih-pelatih Khidmat Negara di dua kem. Satu di Negri Sembilan (gambar) dan semalam di Selangor. Tak bolehlah cerita dekat mana sebenarnya sebab sensitif - Embak nak komen pasal perbezaan kualiti kedua-dua kem tersebut!

Pelatih-pelatih di kumpulan ketiga ini (Jun-September) rata-rata adalah dari remaja 18 atau 19 tahun yang keciciran pelajaran, majoritinya dah bekerja dan ada yang dah berkahwin. Ada yang di antara mereka buta huruf, dan ada yang tak pandai berbahasa Melayu. Bayangkanlah cabaran nak bercerita pasal bajet, matlamat kewangan, simpanan dan perbankan!

Dengan pra-tanggapan yang rendah, Embak dengan perut yang senak pergilah mengajar di kem yang pertama, iaitu di Negri Sembilan. Sejumlah 160 orang pelatih semuanya. Walaupun ada segelintir pelatih yang tidak ambil pusing dalam kelas, Embak puas hati dengan yang selebihnya sebab semangat dan tumpuan yang mereka berikan melebihi jangkaan. Embak tengok suasana di kem amat menyenangkan, penuh dengan disiplin dan pelatih-pelatih secara umumnya gembira di sana.

Dengan pengalaman dari Negri Sembilan, Embak agak selesa untuk mengajar di kem berikutnya. Rama-rama dalam perut dah kurang sikit. Kali ini Embak adakan kuiz bersama cenderahati untuk lebih menarik minat para pelajar. Kali ini bilangan pelatih lebih sedikit, 192 orang. Cukuplah Embak rumuskan yang pengalaman di Selangor tidaklah semanis di Negri Sembilan. Kali ini Embak rasa kurang puas! Pada hemat Embak, kualiti remaja yang akan keluar dari kem yang di Negri Sembilan itu akan jauh lebih baik dari kem yang satu ini di Selangor. Pucuk pangkalnya ialah kualiti kepimpinan di dalam kem itu sendiri.

Komandan kem yang pertama menunggu hingga Embak tiba pada petang Jumaat itu sebelum beliau berangkat balik untuk bercuti hujung minggu ke rumah beliau di Kuala Lumpur. Sepeninggalan beliau, timbalan komandannya sentiasa di sisi Embak, melihat anak-anak buahnya belajar. Tetapi komandan di kem yang lagi satu langsung tiada kelibatnya, begitu juga dengan timbalannya. Sepanjang Embak berada di kem, Embak dibantu oleh para jurulatih yang sebenarnya sebelum ini tidak tahu-menahu akan kedatangan Embak. Hakikatnya, komandan dan timbalannya tidak komited pada kem, maka tercerminlah kekurangan dedikasi mereka pada suasana di kem itu sendiri. Disiplin para pelatih amat lemah, sampaikan semasa dalam kelas Embak ada pelajar yang nak bertumbuk! Begitulah, lain padang, lain belalang. Apapun, Embak gembira sebab dapat peluang melalui pengalaman di kem Khidmat Negara. Ada satu lagi kem yang akan Embak lawati bulan depan iaitu di Perak. Apa pulak yang menanti Embak... akan diceritakan nanti.

Jenaka benar

Irfan, 2 tahun melawat Zoo Johor Bharu bersama Atuk, Nenek, Pak Lang & Mak Lang, dan sepupunya Raihan.

Irfan: Pak Lang, itu apa?
Pak Lang: Itu eagle.

Selang beberapa sangkar;

Irfan: E-boy mana?

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Nani menerima tempahan "name tags" murid-murid sebuah sekolah. Beberapa "name tags" yang rosak atau salah dipulangkan. Arahan pembetulan ditampal dibelakang "name tag".

Setelah dibetulkan, Nani membuat pemeriksaan. Salah satu nametag telah di"engrave" semula - "Gam Tak Kuat".

Musik latar -- Kwang kwang kwang!

Look at what we made!

Last week, I went to a week-long landscaping course, and one of the things taught was how to construct a pond. With a team of 1 very cute instructor, 1 very enthusiastic photographer, 10 "workers" and 18 "observers", the whole feat was accomplished in less than two hours.

The pond was not quite finished. We didn't have enough rocks to cover the canvas. If you get to go to FRIM's PR building, you will find this pond with a few more rocks and some railway slippers added, if not already.

Menang membeli, alah memakai

Semalam semasa berjalan balik dari Tasik Permaisuri, kasut Bata Embak berbunyi "pelepek-pelepek". Rupa-rupanya tapaknya dah renggang. Inilah dia padahnya kalau beli semasa jualan murah. Dari pengalaman Embak, inilah hakikatnya. Kalau beli beg tangan, dompet atau kasut, janganlah beli yang diskaunnya lebih dari 30%. Nescaya stok lama, yang takkan tahan lama. Macam beg tangan, Embak dah kena banyak kali. Koyaklah, gelung besi terpatahlah, merekahlah, gam terkeluarlah, dsb. Kasutpun sama.

Jadi, janganlah ghairah kalau diskaun 50%. Yang 70% tu lagilah, stok dah 10 tahun agaknya. Yang berbaloi beli kalau diskaun banyak ialah buku. Ni dah bulan Jun; tak lama lagi Payless Bookstore akan adakan warehouse sale lagi sebab menurut Max, staff PB, mereka adakan sale setiap 3-4 bulan sekali.

Bulan depan, khabarnya Megasale seluruh Malaysia akan diadakan selama sebulan, jadi berhati-hatilah bila membeli-belah. Biar menang membeli, menang memakai.

Pak Lah kawin lagi

Tahniah kepada Jeanne Abdullah kerana berjaya menawan hati Pak Lah. Kayaknya Pak Lah suka pada bukan Melayu sebagai isteri. Dulu Arwahpun separa Melayu. Embak pun sebenarnya 1/4 Cina, layak jadi calon. Walaupun tak hantar permohonan, hati ni rasa kecewa juga, sama masa Jamal Abdillah kahwini Dee dua dekad dulu, M.Nasir kahwini Marlia dan yang terbaru Raja Nazrin kahwini Zara.

Sesuai betul buat Jeanne ya, dia dibinti Abdullah, jadi tak kekok kalau orang sebut Mrs Abdullah. Cubalah bayangkan, kalau Embak yang Pak Lah pilih. Ramailah kawan lama telefon.

Bonding Time at FRIM

Semalam Embak bawa anak menakan seramai 9 orang; yang paling besar 16 tahun, yang paling kecil darjah satu, ke hutan di dalam bandar iaitu FRIM, Kepong. Kami tiba di sana kurang lebih jam 10 pagi. Embak memilih tiga orang yang besar untuk jaga kanan, kiri dan belakang kumpulan kami, dan Embak di kepala kumpulan. Mereka ini dibekalkan dengan lakaran “trail” yang bakal kami lalui.

Kami bermula di tasik yang menempatkan sepasang “arapaima” atau ikan naga yang berukuran 5 kaki. Selepas itu kami berhenti sekejap di rumpun buluh gergasi yang berasal dari Myanmar. Embak berlagak sebagai pemandu pelancung gitu. Selepas itu trek yang sebenar bermula. Menurut peta, kami akan mendaki hutan sejauh 1 km sebelum sampai ke jambatan gantung. Ada juga anak-anak menakan yang mengeluh sebab penat – iyalah, first time masuk hutan. Embak beri mereka kata-kata semangat.

Wira-wira Hutan FRIM (2 wirawati tak enter frame)

Kami berhenti rehat dua tiga kali juga. Embak pun sebenarnya dah terasa semput; by this time posisi embak dah bertukar ke belakang sekali. Kami lega bila akhirnya kami sampai ke jambatan gantung. Umur minima untuk pelintas jambatan ini ialah 7 tahun, jadi semua ahli rombongan Embak layak. Jauhnya dalam 200m dan ketinggian 30m dari bumi. Ada anak menakan yang “beku” di tengah-tengah jambatan, tapi abang sepupunya bantu dari belakang. Embak bangga semuanya berjaya sampai ke penghujung tanpa menangis.

Selepas itu kami menuruni bukit untuk ke air terjun sejauh 500 meter. Masa ni semua orang dah gembira sebab menuruni bukit kurang perlu tenaga seperti mendaki, Cuma perlu pasang brek lebih sebab licin. Bila deru air terjun mula kedengaran, anak-anak menakan dah bising kegembiraan. Trek tu sepatutnya mengambil masa satu setengah jam; kami cipta 2 jam - kira oklah. Embak biarkan mereka main air sampai hujan pada jam 3.30 petang. Pada jam 5 petang, Embak dah selamat di katil, kepenatan dengan semua otot kebas. Semua anak menakan Embak “enjoy” dan ada yang nak datang lagi. Nampak gayanya, mereka kena ajak orang dewasa lainlah untuk temankan mereka.

Masam-masam manis

The holidays are here again! Twice a year, my nephews and nieces from Penang will visit their Atok and Nenek and Mak Long.

I always look forward to these visits, but honestly, after a few hours, I would have to put on a shield to survive, which is turning on a deaf ear when one child screams to another and holding back when a parent scolds a child. And a blind eye when the house starts to resemble a shipwreck. Cooking and washing will increase a few folds, the tv, cd player and computer will be surrendered to keep the kids entertained.

My brain cells had a good crack to find that cuti-cuti Malaysia spot that’s not too far from KL that will provide precious bonding opportunity with the young ones. Am I complaining? Hell, yes! But at the same time, they give me a good excuse to skip work for a few days. Me smiling.

Write a will today

Amanah Raya Berhad is having a promotion on will writing now until 30th August 2007. It now only costs RM150 to write a will (usual RM350). No extra charge for rewrites later and free safekeeping for life. Hurry to your nearest ARB branch, or you could register your interest with me as I am an authorized agent of ARB.

In your will, other than the distribution of your estate (less debts), pay attention to:

1. Appointment of ARB as the wasi/administrator of your estate.
2. The guardian of your underaged children.
3. Your favourite charity should you want to generate eternal pahala.

ARB staff will guide you on faraid distribution and probate matters. You could also contact me for clarification.