Middlle Of Everything

I am in the middle of everything. I am in the middle of winter and this winter is real cold. Some night it was so cold I have to wrap myself up. My friend and brother in the States, my friends in UK would most probably laughing their head off. To them our winter would be like spring to them. It have to be cold and not my imagination because this year my wife have to wrap herself up to keep warm. She is the strong one!


The nights are clear and if it rains, it rain in the wrong places and not in the catchment areas. Same time this year, the water level in the dam is much lower than last year and I dread to imagine what come this summer if there are not enough rain to fill the dam.


I am in the middle of doing my tax and Maureen's tax return. There are so much paperwork to sort out and arranging them for the accountant to maximise the claim returns. Every cents count especially basic food and fuel have gone up. My accountant is 90 years old. He is still sharp with his brain even though he moves slowly after a fall from an escalator in the shopping centre. This will be his last year doing our tax returns. He has been doing our returns for the last 20 years. Next year, we have to start looking for another one that can be trusted.

I am in the middle of deciding whether to jump ship. My ex-boss has sold his company for a large sum of monies to the largest Trailer Manufacturer in china. The engineering manger offered me my old job back. Salary wise it about the same, job more interesting but I have to work another 4.5 hours more per week. Decision, decision, decision. Why life have to be so hard?


I am in the middle of cleaning up the garden. The drought have killed my favourite rose plant and some other plants.


Some other plants have thrived better. They have grown wild and all over the place and it need cutting back before they choke the rest of the struggling plants. Rose plants need to be pruned for Spring but the cold weekends see me in the house more than in the garden. Sigh.

I am in the middle of deciding whether I should continue blogging. I always wondered whether people do really read the posts I write. Sometime I feel I am wasting my time and could have use this time for something else more productive. Morever, I am running out of things to write. I am sure you do not want to read what I eat, what I wear, what I read etc. I am sure you want to read posts of substance and not craps.

While you are contemplating or deciding whether I should continue blogging, please excuse me for a while. I am in the middle of farting and I need to let it out before I turn all blue.

Goodnight!

Farmer’s Market

I love farmer’s market. Last 2 week I came across the local paper advertising a farmer’s market to be held in the college near my place. It is about a 10 minutes walk and I decide to check it out since it was so near as most farmers’ market are quite a distance away. This also gives me the opportunity to test out my new Nikon D60 camera I bought when I was in KL in late March.

Farmer’s market is an interesting place and sometime it is full of surprises. Most vendors are mostly small cottage business and they travel to different venues on different days to sell their products.

So what do you get in the market? Well, it is a bit like “Pasar Malam” except most things sold are home baked food – muffins, cakes, cup cakes freshly baked breads, hand made craft, recycle junks, fresh farm produce - wine, cheese, eggs, honey, fresh meat etc.

Since it was on the ground of a hospitality college, students were there to show off their cooking skill providing hot breakfast and freshly brewed coffee.

The college also had a nursery and there are varieties of plants for sale and for gardening needs.

I had a good time there checking the place out, basking in the sunshine over a cup of freshly brewed coffee permeating the air with its aroma. I was tempted to go for the bacon and eggs breakfast but hesitated because it was nearly lunch time. I will save it for another day which will be in 2 month time.

Macao

Macao often fascinates me. I remember when I was a kid; there were talk of Macao and its casino. Imagination will run wild of sleazy town, night clubs, beautiful mistresses with ugly, fuggy lecherous rich men with fast cars and money to throw in the casino. Off course, there are spies from all over the world trying to outdo each others, gathering intelligences and bumping each other off. Spy movies did not only entertained but help to fuel the imagination.

The border crossing was easy from Zhuhai to Macao and it is packed with tourists or day visitor from the mainland. It took us a while with the long queue. Once across and out of the building, the landscape is so different from Zhuhai. The bus from Holiday Inn picked us up to the hotel and along the way you see old buildings and if you see large modern buildings they are more likely to be casinos.

Top L and R: View of Macao outside immigration crossing from Zhuhai
Bottom L: Holiday Inn Room Bottom R: Ferry Terminal

Just along the street where Holiday Inn remind me of the Malacca. Buildings are similar in design, double storey, wooden windows, narrow street with European influence. I love old cities. It gives a rich history and has many stories to tell with great cultural influence.

Clockwise L to R: Old shop, Old market Square, Old Church, Old Buildings

Moving around is easy and the maps are free unlike in China where you have to buy them. Map in China are in Mandarin and unless you know Mandarin it is useless to you. The map in Macao is in English and it was a breeze to move around. Most places are closed by and you can walk around or take buses to move from point to point.

Buses are free from the ferry terminal if you want to visit the casinos. One night we did casino to casino hopping. Holiday Inn has buses going to the ferry terminal every half an hour and from the terminal we hop on the bus to casino. Each casino has its own designated bus. After a quick browse, we took the bus back to the ferry and hop on another designated bus to another casino.

Venetian Casino

Wynn Casino

Foods are good in Macao and reasonable but always remember to check the prices. Casinos do offer good food and reasonable, too. One night we had our dinner at Wynn Casino and we were impressed with the food.

If casinos are not your cup of tea, Macao has many historical places to visit and if you are bored you can cross over to Zhuhai and do your shopping. Remember you need visa to cross over.

Clockwise L to R: Looking down from St. Paul's Ruins, Way up to St. Paul's Ruins, Shop selling famous Hazel biscuits, Fort at St. Paul's Ruins

Clockwise L to R: Old building, St. Paul's Ruin, Portuguese Tart, Entrance to the Fort

After the 3^rd day we left Holiday Inn and took the ferry straight in to Hong Kong Airport. Here you do your immigration check, flight check in and they reimburse HK$120 airport tax back to you. A bus took us to the main terminal and we had lunch at the airport before we boarded the flight back to KL

This concludes my Holiday.

Zhongshan & Zhuhai

Zhongshan in the old days was called Xiangshan or Fragrant Mountain. It was renamed Zhongshan in 1925 in commemoration of late Dr. Sun Yat-Sen.

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen was born in Cuheng, a village in Zhongshan. It was here he passed his childhood and in his youth he practiced medicine here to help the people in his hometown.

Clockwise L to R: Up the stairs to Dr. Sun Memorial, Dr. Sun Monument, View from the Memorial looking right, and looking down

The government had preserved the village of Dr. Sun and today is opened for tourists to visit his home and the village he grew up. The day we went to visit Dr. Sun village & museum we were fortunate to arrive on that day because that was the first day where the entry was free. The people in charge decided not to charge anyone anymore to encourage more locals to visit this place and learn the history and the contribution of Dr. Sun.

Clockwise L to R: Sign at the entrance, Entrance to the front of Dr. Sun's house, outside the house courtyard, side view of the house

The preserved village also houses a museum dedicating to Dr. Sun. It tells the story of his life and the people in his life. There was so much to read and it was refreshing to find articles, displays and exhibits in English. Sad to say we could not finished seeing the Museum before we were shooed out sharp at 5pm.

Clockwise L to R: Remaining houses in the village, Bell outside the village court yard at bottom left , Dr.Sun's Museum

If you love history give yourself more time and enjoy the serenity of this small village.

Zhuhai is an hour + away from the Museum and shares the border with Macao and lies on the western bank of the estuary of Pearl River flowing into South China Sea. It overlooks Hong Kong and Shenzhen in the East. This place is one of the earliest Special Economic Zones in China.

Clockwise L to R: Fishing Boat at Zhuhai, Esplanade at Zhuhai, Fishing Fleet, Passengers returning to land

Clockwise L to R: Along the Esplanade, The Monument, entrance at the monument, inside the hotel we stayed

It is a beautiful city with fresh air, scenic beaches, blossomy flowers and lush trees. It is a city trying to lure visitors from Macao and competing with Macao. Again, like any other place we visited, time is too short to savor what the places have to offer. If you like shopping, there is one shopping centre just before the immigration crossing to Macao. It seems this is the shopper's paradise. You can get almost anything there. Of course, you find fake watches, fake Nike Shoe, Prada bags etc.

Top: Genuine Pierre Cardin Shoe I got at a major shopping centre for A$60

Bottom: Fake Prada Bag my wife bought at the shopping centre at the immigration crossing to Macao

This is one place you can practice your bargaining skill. You do not pay quoted price and if you are skillful enough and prepared to walk away if the price is not favorable, you can get a good bargain. Most shoppers are tourists from Macao. I was told with the cost of living having gone up, it is no longer cheap to shop in China. You probably could get them at the same price in Macao. But, hey, who shops in Macao?

Chaozhou

Chaozhou (Teochew) City is 40km from the port city of Shantou. It is located in the north of the Delta of the Hanjiang River, north east of Guangdong Province. It had been the location of Lu Administration, prefecture and capital of dynasties of past ages. It was named Chaozhou originally in the Sui Dynasty (591 AD).

The city is surrounded by the Golden Mountain, the Silver Mountain and Hanshan Mountain. The Hanjiang River flows through the city and eight scenes distributed along its both banks.

With so many historical places to visit, it was impossible to do all this in a day. The one place where many tourists visit was the Hanjiang Wall, dating back from the Ming Dynasty. The ancient city wall is Chaozhou’s greatest pride. In the past, this lofty wall prevented the ancient city from flooding by the Hanjiang River and the same time protecting the city.

Hanjiang City Walls

Inside the city wall. Bottom left are fish floats drying in the sun.

L to R: , Shop selling some local sweet, Me on top of city wall,
looking down at the Xiangzi Bridge, remains of the old city wall

Opposite the wall is the Xiangzi Bridge. It was built by Han Yu and named it after his nephew, Han Xiangzi - one of the Eight Immortals.

L to R: Looking down into the city from top of city wall, taking a nap, outside Hanwen Shrine, Flowers on the side walk

Han Yu governed Chaozhou for 8 months before he left for the Capital. The mountain (Han Shan) and river (Han Jiang) were named after his surname Han. Hanwen Shrine on Hanshan was also built in his honour.

Top: Hanwen Shrine,
Bottom: City wall on the left

L to R: Xiangzi Bridge across the river opposite the city wall, Looking down from Hanwen Shrine

Teochew is primary spoken here. The Teochew are a subgroup of the Han people who lived in the eastern coast of Guangdong and represent one of the 3 major ethnic groups in the province. It was generally believed their ancestors moved to the present Chaoshan to escape the series of civil war from Central China during the Jin Dynasty.

These people traditionally were involved in smuggling, piracy and illegal emigration and sometimes known as the Jews of China. Whenever I get cheeky, I always teased my wife over it.

My in-laws felt so at home in this city and was at ease chattering with the locals in their dialect. It is not uncommon that a Teochew person addresses other Teochew as ga-gee-nung, which means "my people" in the Teochew language.

The city has so much to offer and it is a pity to only see a part of it. It has so much to offer and I hope to come back again especially to savour the food.

The one thing that soured this trip was the beggars. A word of advice – do not give them any money. When we alighted from our bus we were accosted by a blind musician accompanied by a lady. My SIL being kind hearted gave them some money. Instead of being grateful, they continued to hound all of us, following us everywhere, expecting all of us to give them money. Before long more beggars came surrounding us. It became intolerable that we have to seek refuge in Xiangzi Bridge because they were not allowed in. Instead of moving on, they camped outside waiting for us. As soon we came out, they were harassing us again. My eldest BIL lost his temper and told them to shove off but they still continued following us. My younger BIL stopped and told them they are ungrateful lots and they can continue to follow us but they will be getting nothing. It was before long they got the message.

Later, the locals told us these beggars are a syndicate of people hiring blind people, babies, crippled or deformed children to make money out sympathetic tourists. It was disgusting to hear that and I wish the local council or police would do something about it before tourists are driven away.

Shantou – Getting To The Root Part 2

The first home my in-laws had was in Imbi opposite where Imbi Chapel is today before they moved to Peel Road and finally to Taman Cheras. Not long after the 2^nd World War came and the Japanese invade Malaya. The family fled to Ampang from the invading army. After things calm down, my FIL tried to salvage the business but it was fruitless. Things were hard with 6 children but with perseverance and help the family pulled through. My MIL’s only brother was taken away by Japanese and never heard of again.

After the war my FIL started up the business again with a partner and things began to look good. One day his step brother came from Singapore and told him a sad story. He told my FIL he is about to lose the shop where his business is because the owner is selling off the land. My kind hearted FIL decided to buy the piece of land and gave him the money to purchase the land under my FIL’s name. Some months later my FIL having not from him became concern and made a trip to Singapore. He discovered there were no shop and no land. His step brother had squandered the money. He was furious and never spoke to him again.

Compounding to the problem, his suppliers were chasing for payments. He was to find out his partner was not paying the suppliers and was taking money out of the business. Confronting his partner, he discovered he was gambling the company’s money away and have incurred a large debt. Sadly the business had to fold.

One of his suppliers hearing his problem and offered him a job and having no choice he took the job. My eldest brother in law left school early to work and help support the family. As things were beginning to settle down, my FIL was feeling unwell. Doctor diagnosed he was suffering from nose cancer and it was not good. Seeking permission from the government, he left for China for treatment.

L to R: The street leading to my FIL's house, a typical Chinese home front door, a house in my FIL's village

L to R: The place where my FIL's mum washes clothes by the river, the entrance leading to my FIL' village, the Phua's Clan community hall

During his stay in China, he saw the persecution of the Chinese people by its own people. There were starvation, hardship and the ruthlessness of the Red Guards. Unable to stomach the devastation, he came back. Sadly not long after he passed away.

In spite of the unfortunate circumstances, my MIL made every effort to send money, clothes, medicine and food to her younger sister and sister in law in China. We never knew how this small sacrifice and gesture had made a big impact to the lives of the families in China. The little sacrifice my MIL made help the families tide through the hardship, the cold, the starvation and made a big difference to their lives.

My MIL went back to China after Mao’s death and when China was more relaxed under Deng Xiaoping. She went back alone and managed to find her way back to her hometown.

L to R: Entrance to my MIL's family home, the street to my MIL's family home, my BIL with my MIL's cousin presently living in her family home.

L to R: My MIL's room (as store room), the outer courtyard of my MIL's family home, the shop of my MIL's parents

L to R: my MIL's family community hall where they were educated, the Kwek's Clan community hall, a few of my MIL's ancestors who held high posts in the government

It was here she learned that property owners can reclaim their properties back which were confiscated by the Red Guard during the Cultural Revolution. My MIL and her sister began the process to claim back her home and land which my FIL bought. Sadly she passed away not long after that. Her younger sister continued to pursue the claim and was successful. With the permission from my Eldest brother in law, the land was developed by a developer and in return the family got a block of six floored flat. During those days, you would be considered well off owning a property of this size. The aunty, her husband and her three children lived in 4 of the flat and the remaining 2 was for my MIL. I am not sure if the remaining 2 floor were rented out or remain vacant. Because of China's law the ownership cannot be in foreign citizen name, it remains in my wife’s Aunty name.

L to R: The family flat, entrance to the family flat, my eldest BIL, Aunty and youngest SIL

Few years ago, some of my brother in law and sister in law went back to China for holiday and looked up the Aunty. The Aunty asked to see the remaining sibling. It was this simple request, the remaining few sibling made this trip. The Aunty told us stories of the family, the suffering and my MIL love for their family, how the simple gesture my MIL sent helped them survived the years of hardship under Mao and the Gang of Four. Her family cannot thank my wife side of the family enough for all the sacrifices they gave in spite of the hardship they faced in KL. More ever, they are thankful for the home where they lived today.

Though we were there 2 days and 3 night, I don't think I saw enough of Shantou. It is a growing city with modern buildings but there is the older side of the city and this is the part I like to explore and see how the people live, the rustic old buildings, the smell and taste of more local food. Yes, I do not mind visiting & exploring Shantou again.

L to R: Painting by the renown artist, Cu Peng, in the family, tool of the trade, the artist showing his painting to the family

Food, glorious food, Teow Chew Food

Shantou – Getting To The Root Part 1

When I told some friends we are going to Shantou in China, you can see the change in their expressions. It is an expression of confusion, lost for words, where in the world is Shantou or you must be crazy. What is there to see in Shantou? Don’t you think the money is better spent visiting Beijing, Shanghai, Soo Chou, Xian or some bigger cities?

Well, like everything there is always a reason. To understand the reason, we have to travel back in time to many years ago. So come and take a walk with me.

My parents-in-law came to Malaya before the 2^nd World War. My father-in-law (FIL) came from a well to do family and was highly educated. His father was a merchant and hails from Shantou and has businesses in China and Malaya. Thus he travels up and down between these two countries. He owns a wholesale business trading in imported goods from UK, China and around the world. The shop was in Jalan Rodger, a few doors away from the Central Market in Kuala Lumpur. The shop is still standing there today.

My mother-in-law (MIL) also came from Shantou. She came from a well to do family. Her father was a rice merchant in Shantou. In those days it is unheard of girls getting education but her father saw to it that his daughters should have the best education. He hired private tutor for his children. My MIL also helped to look after and run the shop and again it was unheard of in those days. My MIL is Tom Boyish. She is very inquisitive and has learned traditional medicine from a Sifu in her village. My brothers and sister-in-laws testifies they have never been to a western doctor in their younger days and have always asked her for advice after they left home until she passed away. My MIL would use her traditional skill and natural path medicine to cure their ailments. Many stories have been told of her skills. That will be another story for another day.

My FIL village is “Phua Ling” and my MIL village is “Kwek Ling”. The 2 villages are separated by a river and surrounded by paddy fields. The river was their life line. It provided water for drinking and cooking and gave life to the paddy fields.

Because my MIL was tomboy, many match makers shunned her. During those days girls got married as early as 12 years old, any older than that it was hard to find a prospective husband. All hope was lost for my MIL as she passed 12 but God has his own plan.

When the time came for my FIL to look for a wife, a match maker wanted to make money, decided to match make my MIL to him, knowing if she succeed, she will be rewarded with a big Ang Pow. So she took my FIL and his parents to my MIL home. The plan was to have my MIL to walk pass at a distance through the courtyard, so my FIL can have a glance at her. If he is happy with her, the match maker will pass the good news to her parents.

It was love at first sight for my FIL and he agreed to marry my MIL. So after consulting and astrologer, a date was arranged for the marriage. (If any single girls out there reading this and wondering if they will ever find a husband, do not lose hope, your soul mate is out there. It is all in God’s timing. Be patience).

On day of the wedding, in the midst of celebration, bandits came down from the hill looking for my FIL hoping to kidnap him for a ransom because he was a rich man’s son. Those days, bandits are egoistic and would make loud noises – banging their gongs to announce their arrival as they descend from the hills. This gave the villagers sufficient time to scatter and hide. My FIL ran off into the wood and hid himself until the bandits left.

The incident left him shaken and he never forgotten about it. He moved out of the village and bought a piece of land and built a home near the coast. I was told during his days you could see the sea from the house. Today you cannot see the sea because of land reclamation with new high rise buildings. Ever since that day my FIL & MIL moved out of his village, my FIL never returned to his village. He hated the bandits and vowed to never returned the village.

My FIL’s father business in KL was flourishing and he was summoned to KL. He set sailed with his wife and their 3 year old son to Malaya.

To Be continued