Archives for 2011

A short story about my friend Joyce

August 23, 2011 By Suanie 19 Comments

This is a cute story about my friend Joyce, whom I think has the sweetest peach blossom luck ever.

Peach blossom luck? Can eat one ar? Not really though peach blossom luck along with the notion that everything under the sun is edible is a Chinese astrology/cultural concept. It simply means love luck, beneficial to the singles but not so to existing relationships, that is if you still want the relationship.

Peach blossom luck… some people have a lot, some have a little and some have none. Sucks to be them, really. What you do with the peach blossom luck is up to you: some act upon it while others let it pass by. In life, you do not have to seize every opportunity you get.

So this is a story about Joyce. She has some personal encounters that would make you wonder about her peach blossom luck. You know, you’d say things like, “wah how come all these things can happen one??” or “I thought this kind of stuff only happens in books/ movies.” Very interesting.

Joyce was at a cafe having some coffee. A guy was sitting at a nearby table next to the door stole glances at her. She felt his eyes and looked up, but perhaps he was shy and looked away. This “I secretly look at you, you secretly look at me” went on for quite a bit. Oh I’m sure you know how it goes.

After her coffee, Joyce asked for her bill and prepared to leave. As she opened the door to go out, the guy suddenly handed her a piece of paper napkin, “Miss, this is for you.”

She was a bit stunned, “Huh I don’t need tissue.”
“Just take it,” he insisted.

So she did. You know, maybe he was looking at something stuck in her teeth all this while and was too polite to say anything.

At home, she took out the paper napkin and saw that he had written his e-mail address on it.

Strip all the layers and thoughts of maybe he is a weirdo or a serial killer/ rapist/ murderer. Isn’t that the sweetest thing? I thought it was 🙂

Of course Joyce didn’t contact him. She’s lansi like that.

19 Comments Filed Under: Stories + Conversations Tagged With: romantic encounters, the boy at the cafe

Ryan and his fish food

August 3, 2011 By Suanie 11 Comments

Ryan’s household has 6 new fat fishes. His job is to feed the fishes everyday, which he does.

One day his grandmother asked him,

“Ryan, did you feed the fish today?”
“Yes”, he replied.
“How much fish food do you give them everyday?”
“6.”

😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯

6 pellets for 6 fishes

“You cannot just give them 6!! You have to feed them more, you know!!”
“Okay.”

The next day, his grandmother asked him again,

“Ryan, did you feed the fish today?”
“Yes”, he replied.
“How much fish food did you give them this time?”
“12.”

One fish gets two pellets, no more no less

In case you’re wondering, now he feeds them a small bunch of pellets 🙂

It’s the boy’s 6th birthday today. Happy birthday Ryan!

11 Comments Filed Under: Stories + Conversations Tagged With: ryan the nephew

How to roast bell peppers on your gas stove

July 15, 2011 By Suanie 13 Comments

Bell peppers, better known as capsicums here is really yummy. There is no room for doubts of its superiority because Chairman Kaga himself chose to bite into one at the opening scenes of Iron Chef. Then he smiled and began to laugh manically but that’s another story.

I roasted bell peppers on my gas stove the other day. It was great. Here’s how I did it:

1 – Have bell pepper. I chose red as it’s sweeter. Yellow works too. Green may be slightly bitter. Have gas stove. If your pan stand is not long enough to hold the fruit, then use a steel mesh like me.

Turn the fire to medium high, place bell pepper on top of pan stand/ steel mesh. Let the open flames char the fruit until it’s blackened. Use tongs to turn it to the other side, until all sides are blackened. Should be done between 7 and 10 mins.

2 – Remove the fruit into a clear plastic bag, close it and leave to steam inside for 15 mins.

3 – Use the plastic to help slide off most of the charred skin. Remove the rest of the charred skin using paper towels and/or knife. Use creativity.

4 – Slice the fruit open, remove the seeds. At this point, it’s still damn hot inside so be careful. At no point should you attempt to give up and wash the fruit with water to remove the seeds + black bits, as it will severely affect the taste (speaking from experience here!).

When you’re satisfied with the cleaning process, cut the fruit to slices. Eat it just like that, or use it as a side dish, or add it to your sandwich or wrap. The world is your roasted bell pepper!

13 Comments Filed Under: Eating In

The neighbour’s kid

July 10, 2011 By Suanie 2 Comments

Not my neighbour, she hasn’t moved in yet.

Rather, my sister’s neighbour. They are a Dutch family, have been here for a few years and decided to move back this year. They left a couple of days ago. They also left a huge hole in Ryan’s heart.

Actually I just made that up. I don’t know what Ryan thinks about it because I’ve not spoken to him. He has been busy spending a lot of time with the neighbour’s kids’ before they were due to go back.

I’m also trying to dramatize the life of a 6 year old because I can.

So. The neighbour’s boy is a couple of years younger than Ryan. He has big blue eyes and straw blonde hair. He is also very thin and weighs almost nothing. Once I lifted him up and almost hit his head on the ceiling because of the momentum. Nah I’m kidding. But it felt like it and I managed to stop myself.

Most of the time, I do not understand what he is talking about. Ryan understands him but I don’t. I just nod a lot, exclaim a lot of, “REALLY?” then divert his attention. To me, he sounds like a chipmunk. Cute but inaudible.

I saw him the day before he was to go home. Got down to his level and asked for a hug.

“NOOO!”
Ryan whispered to him, “You better hug!”
“Nooo I don’t want a hug”
Me: “Why not??”
“…[insert sounds here]…”
Me: “Really??”

I think I’ll miss him for a while.

2 Comments Filed Under: Assorted Blah

Suanie’s experience at the BERSIH 2.0 rally on 09 July 2011 at Puduraya

July 10, 2011 By Suanie

Long post ahead. Really one, I no bluff you.

In this blog post, I’m documenting mostly of what I saw (not all, ‘cos you really don’t want to know the price of my LRT ticket, do you?), some of what I’ve heard from friends’ own accounts and very, very little of what I’ve read from strangers’ accounts.

Why did I go for the BERSIH 2.0 rally? ‘Cos I believe that its basic objective is to call for reforming the electoral process in Malaysia for cleaner and fairer elections. Did I not think that Malaysia’s elections aren’t fair and clean? No, I don’t believe so. What if you believed? That’s you, not me.

I’m not a member of any political parties, only a Malaysian who loves her country. Doesn’t mean I HAVE to love Malaysia’s current ruling coalition. Doesn’t mean I blindly believe and support the opposition parties. I disagree with the infiltration of certain people whom I highly distrust (read: Anwar Ibrahim) into the BERSIH 2.0 front. But I believe that if the situation was reversed, BN would have done the same.

I believe in peaceful rallies. I see it as a sign of stating your cause and gathering more support. Hey, sounds like the ceramah and walkabouts that politicians do during election time! I don’t believe it is illegal, especially coming from those who cannot handle keris and cow heads.

It’s like changing your Facebook status to show support for cancer patients who have only one wish, that is to kick cancer’s butt so if you agree post this as your status for at least one hour. Or running to help raise money for causes that you believe in. Same principles, really.

I don’t believe the mainstream media can report what they really feel. Have you heard of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984? It’s a draconian remnant from Mahathir’s early leadership. In a nutshell, all print publications have to renew their license every year with the Home Ministry. The Home Ministry can revoke or choose not to have the licenses renewed for their own reasons. The Star has a few thousand employees under its payroll. That’s a lot of livelihoods, you know.

But for elections to be fair, the press has to be free. Of course, not all press and journalists are for BERSIH 2.0. But right now, it seems that all of them are against it. I personally know that it’s not the case. People who were there know what really went down.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Assorted Blah

Seafood dinner at Gee Seng, Bukit Tambun

July 3, 2011 By Suanie 4 Comments

If you’re journeying up North, you must try to have lunch or dinner at Bukit Tambun. I’ve only ever dined at Gee Seng in Bukit Tambun so I’m not sure about the other restaurants in the same area. The price is cheaper than in Klang Valley and the seafood rather fresh. Live with the occasional flies (don’t worry, they buzz off to the other tables once *their* food arrives) and mediocre service, you may find yourself in for a seafood gastronomical treat.

It is rather easy to get here, even without the aid of a GPS. The exit is Bukit Tambun which is between the exits of Jawi and Juru. After exiting the toll booth, you’ll come to a T-Junction where it says Bukit Tambun to your right. Turn to the right and drive straight all the friggin’ way until you could not drive straight anymore (‘cos you’d end up in the river). Gee Siang will be on your right hand side and there will be parking attendants who will lead you the way to park your car. You’ll have to give him RM1 later but it’s worth it.

See, the parking attendants at Gee Siang are somewhat geniuses. Your interaction with them will be at the very most 1 minute. Later if your car was blocking other people who want to get out, they would come into the restaurant, identity the correct face and ask you to remove your car first. Their photographic memories are amazing, I tell you!

It’d been a while since I was there and aside from the one thing I wanted to get, I wasn’t sure about the rest. We got a plate of stir-fried sweet potato leaves, crabs in sweet and sour sauce, large prawn mantis fried in chilli and salt, and some satay (RM7 for 10). I looked over at the next table, they seemed to know better what to order. I think Gee Seng is better known for their grilled crabs. Will get that the next time as I wasn’t too impressed with the sweet and sour sauce one.

The absolutely-must-order is this:

Steamed giant mantis prawns aka aliens of the sea. They are so fresh (probably alive 15 mins before being served) that you absolutely have to have them steamed. It’s like a creamy version the lobster, a joy to eat!

They don’t come cheap though. RM73 for these 3 babies. But you’ve got to try it at least once, yah?

The bill came up to RM150 for the 3 of us including drinks. Not cheap but considering what we ordered… 🙂

4 Comments Filed Under: Eating Out

Things my friends do: Human Knife Sharpener

June 28, 2011 By Suanie 14 Comments

This Tan Yee Hou has been wanting to come and sharpen my knives since forever.

Huh, sharpen knives? Just buy the bulat bulat tool that they sell for RM50 or less lah! Why so ma fan, have to ask someone to physically come and sharpen the knives? All the same one lah!

Turns out, it’s not all the same. Apparently this Tan Yee Hou is really into it. It’s a family thing, the tools he possesses belong to his grandfather or something and you can’t find those types of sharpening stones any more.

So one fine day, a 20 something year old boy was stuck in my sister’s bathroom sharpening a lot of knives the old school way.

Tan Yee Hou!!!

I found out that he has learned a lot about knife sharpening, i.e. knives to cut vegetables or meat have different angles so must be sharpened accordingly. He’s the de facto knife sharpener in his family. They buy cheap knives from the night market + sharpen regularly = works like a RM500 knife.

The sharpened knives work beautifully. An el cheapo knife that I possess chops up carrots like a brand new Zwilling cleaver. Fanbloodytastic!

If you’d like your knives sharpened the old school way for a small fee, go contact Tan Yee Hou.

14 Comments Filed Under: Things My Friends Do Tagged With: how to make knives sharper, knife sharpening petaling jaya, sharpen knife kuala lumpur, traditional way to sharpen knives