Penang Trip (1st Day)

 

Uncle Wai doing the Kung Fu Scissors on the ferry.

Aunty Abby is also doing the Kung Fu Scissors.

Why is everyone doing it? Even Uncle Nic.

Komtar from afar.

 

Blown by strong wind.

Arrived at Sandy Paradise's lobby.

While waiting for check-in.

Waiting....

And still waiting.....

Finally, checking out the rooms.

Wai's room. Doing his scissors thing again.

No room yet so let's go to Nic's room.

Dinner time at End of the World. (Really blacklisted)

Waiting for seafood but can't even see the food.

Still waiting.

While waiting so let's take picture first.

After taking photos, still waiting.

Even Aunty is doing the scissors thing.

Finally the food came but of poor quality.

Just look at the dissatisfaction on Uncle and Aunty's face.

This is the only dish that is not too bad.

After all the complaint, the food got 'sapu' anyway because everyone was really hungry. Even Li Onn is finishing off his soup.

Price vs Quality

 

As you all know, the price of rice has increased by about 20% since around last month. But the fact that you may not know is that the price had already increase since last year and since we still can bear with it, we did not push it to the consumers. So now the consumers have to bear the increasing cost with us.

A lot of aunties counter argued that the government said it will not increase the price of rice. Yes, that's what they said but what they didn't say is which particular type of rice will not increase. Well, the government only subsidies one type of rice, that is the local 15% broken rice type and the price of the others are not controlled. To be honest, only the poor will eat this type of rice because it is not tasty. Even the mamak store and economy rice doesn't use this type of rice because the customers doesn't like it. They rather use Siamese rice which comes from Thailand.

The government has reassured us that we will have enough rice and also will increase the production of it but do they know that Malaysian will buy it or not? We, Chinese tend to eat fragrant rice from Thailand because we were brought up eating it since young. The Malays and Indians tend to eat Siamese rice which suits their taste bud because it goes well with chili and curries. So what the government is doing is they are subsidying and stockpiling for the poor and some of the foreign workers in our country. And why I say some is because nowadays, Indonesian workers also know how to eat fragrant rice and they buy by the sacks.

The price hike has affected a lot of aunties and everytime they see me, the first thing they ask is, has the price gone up again? The answer I give will always be the same, "I will tell you when the price is up", then give a little smile. I don't dare to say much because the price is ever increasing and not stable. One aunty who has been buying from me since I started selling rice about 5 years ago was so shock to hear of the price increase that she said she will buy from the hypermarkets. I told her that is was alright and even recommended a type of cheap rice for her and since that day, I did not see her again. This incident showed me how cold people are nowadays and no 'human love taste' (yan ching mei). Some people rather eat less quality rice than to fork out that extra ringgit so that they can save it for later.

That is the uncertain world that we are living in now, so let's just be grateful that we still have that bowl of 'wo ba' rice on our table and make sure we finish every bit of rice and not waste any.

Punishment?

 

Today while I was sending rice to a coffeeshop in Kampung Dato Hormat just opposite of Sunway Pyramid at about 12 noon, I saw about 15 to 20 dark blue uniformed officers from the MBPJ standing around this coffeeshop. Curious, I went in and asked the economy rice Aunty which is my customer, what was actually happening.

So she started by cursing the MBPJ's mother until their ancestors. After feeling a bit satisfied then only she told me that they came to raid and also to seal the shop because some of the hawkers there have not had their jabs yet, the toilet is very dirty and the shop doesn't have a grease trap and some other made up reasons. I saw them pull down the shutters and put their MBPJ's tape around it, sealing it for 2 weeks. Then they put up a notice of closure and took some pictures of the place as proof of their work.

Now, why was the economy rice Aunty so mad at them is that she has cooked all her dishes since early morning and was just started to begin selling to the lunch hour crowd when they came. They immediately told the shop to cease operation and pull down the shutters. The shop owner asked for leniency so that the aunty can at least sell off her rice first but the head of this operation refused and proceed to seal the place. What will she do with all those food? But luckily another senior officer came and discreetly told the owner that he can open up again once that they are gone so that the aunty can sell of her food, to her relief. What makes her even more mad is that they only go for this particular shop and managed not to see the other 5 similar kind of shops just a few doors away which in her opinion is even dirtier than hers.

This incident affected me also because since the shop will be close for 2 weeks, then the aunty will stop taking rice from me for that period of time too and that also makes me a victim. Is this the repercussion/result of our election? Or are the MBPJ suddenly decided to be extra hardworking because before this we hardly see them. Or are they punishing a certain kind of people for exercising their right to choose a different government?

I maybe wrong but all these reasons automatically comes to mind, so it is up to us to interpret it.

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Qi Jun's 1st Birthday Party

 

Holding a knife to Qi Jun's neck to take a better picture.

Uncle Kum dividing the cake.

Presents for everyone.

Cari Makan

 

Since the General Election is just around the corner and everyone is talking about it then I guess I'll also add some inputlah...

From my observation and the usual chit-chat with the people around me, most of them are Chinese hawkers. I 've discovered that nothing and absolutely nothing is more important to them than to 'CARI MAKAN'. Why do I say this?

Many a times and often we are not satisfy by a lot of things that our government is doing that I need not elaborate since we as Malaysians already knowlah. But because the fact that we have to cari makan and look after our rice bowl, we don't dare to voice out our grouses and dissatisfactions.

During our chit-chatting, whenever we want to touch on sensitive issues regarding the government or races, we will check our back to see if anyone is listening and then only we start whispering our opinions, in order not to get in trouble or break our rice bowl.

One trader told me he is forced to help out the MCA during their campaign because in case he needs help in the future, he can ask from them. Another instructed me to vote for 'rocket' but he himself is not going to vote because he is not willing to sacrifice his business by purposely going back to Ipoh to vote. To us, Chinese, cari makan is our number one priority and we will not hesitate to terminate whoever or whatever that stands in our way. It also sometimes stands above all believes, ideologies and even principles.

So, from all this, I have come to a conclusion. What influences us to vote for who this coming election, ultimately lies in one factor alone, that is :-

Siapa bagi makan

Saya ikut jalan

Siapa tak bagi makan

Jom! Kita lawan

Correct, correct, correct ...

 

Last Friday, an unlikely politician from the Opposition party came to the Sunway market to meet the people. He came with his campaigning entourage of 3 people including himself. He is none other than the famous fella who took the video clip of Lingam speaking on the phone. His name is Loh Gwo Burne and people immediately gave him a nickname of 'Loh Kupon' (get coupon). He came with his younger brother who looks more or same like him, wearing a Keadilan flag on his back and another person who acted like a tour guide for him.

He greeted  us very humbly, shaking our hands and asking us to support the Opposition party. His brother told us to vote for him, a person that doesn't accept money just to shut his mouth regarding the Lingam's case. A person that is brave enough to voice out injustice in our government. He also handed out a small piece of photostated pamphlet showing him holding a camera and a small blur picture of Lingam speaking on the phone.

After going around the market and coffeeshops for about 15 minutes, he left with a hurry. After he left, some uncles began to talk about him while other aunties seems blur by who just came. I don't know what he can possibly achieve in that 15 minutes of walk-about but I wish him good luck in his effort of trying to win a parliamentary seat against veteran politician Lee Hwa Beng of BN. 

Yu Xuan's First Birthday

 

Not concentrating.

Still not concentrating.

Uncle Wai, so photogenic.

Tweety cheese cake.

On the wrong side of the table.

This is only the right sidelah.

Singing with all their heart.

Blowing out the prince's candle.

Now, how to divide this cake hah?

Awaiting anxiously for the cake.

After 5 minutes ... still no cake.

Oi!!! Where is my cake??!!

Chinese New Year 2008

 

After receiving complaints after complaints of me not updating my blog, I think it is the right time for me to do something about it so that all of you won't forget about this blog.

Family photo of the Loos, their spouses and children.

Tired after handing out many, many ang paus.

Celebrating Yu Xuan's Chinese calendar 1 year old birthday.

U think u very cute meh? - Mum

The Wongs' side of the family.

Posing with Grandma and Ku Poh Thai from Taiwan.

Another Casualty To Heart Disease

Today I just found out that one of my regular customer just passed away due to heart failure. She was just 40 something and her youngest child is just Standard 6.

I was so shocked to hear this because I just spoke to her last Sunday and she asked me whether I will come next Friday that is today. She told me that she wanted to keep some rice for the coming New Year and suddenly all that was said isn't relevant anymore.

Although I see my customer once a week but after all these years of transactions, a certain kind of friendship slowly developed and I really feel sorry for her family members.

We as human beings are really fragile and we have to appreciate what we have now for we know not what awaits us tomorrow.

Sunway Pyramid Flyover

Today, while I was passing thru Sunway Pyramid, I noticed that the newly Sunway-made flyover was opened to the public. Coming from Subang and if you are not paying attention or careful, you might end up going up this flyover and also ending up shopping in the Pyramid new wing.

I was expecting a much publicized opening ceremony by Samy Vellu and Jeffery Cheah but nothing happened. Maybe I missed it or something. Maybe it's not that important. Maybe if one day when a drunken fella or Mat Rempit has an accident there, then maybe it will appear in the newspaper.

But to tell you the truth, it's really very convenient for me coming from Subang to enter Pyramid now without having to make a troublesome U-Turn at the ever-congested traffic lights.

So let's wait and see what news it brings us.

A Lecture On Politics

Yesterday I was given a lecture on politics by a 60ish aunty. It's part and parcel of my job when I am delivering rice to aunties that I chat with them to strengthen our seller and customer relationship.

I often hear their grouses and complaints about family matters especially about their maids but mostly about their daughters in-laws. Believe me the things that they tell me are mostly on the negative sides more than the positive.

But yesterday was an eye opener for me because that aunty's range of topics ran from the history of the Chinese people to the incompetency of our government to the recent riot and much more. The talk on politics are from the Mahathir era to the current Badawi era and from domestic to international affairs.

All this lecture took place at the outside gate of her house and it took approximately about 20 minutes. It was very difficult for me to excuse myself because she spoke non-stop and thanks to the postman who came to my rescue. When he came to deliver his letters, I quickly got my chance and bade farewell to her.

So when the next time I deliver to her house, I know not to linger too long and quickly go about my business. I should charge her for my consultation time.

3 Vehicle Collision

Just now while I was returning from Selayang at about 12.30 pm right after loading up my rice, I witnessed an accident that just happened maybe about 20 to 25 minutes ago. The funny thing is that this accident took place right at the opposite side of the road from the public park cum lake that I talked about yesterday.

The jam was not that bad comparing with the other day because it happened on the opposite side and all the 'kepoh' made my side jammed up as well. So as I was approaching the accident site, I too started to be kepoh and looked across the road. A lot of kepohcee stopped their cars at both sides of the road to catch a glimpse of the accident. Some even went to the wrecked cars to look at the victims or maybe the license plate.

I saw a silver Vios by the side of the road with a slightly damaged bumper and a black Harrier right in the middle of the road, also with its bumper dented. The worst wrecked car was on its side in a longkang and guess what, it's a police patrol car with its engine almost gone into the driver's and passenger's seat. Looking at the condition of the damage, I think it is 'chest knife stab little'(hung dou kat siew) because as I was passing the site, I saw an ambulance arriving.

As I was going further up the road, I saw 2 police patrol cars with their sirens blaring trying to squeeze themselves between the oredi jammed-packed cars to get to the site. This is the quick response difference between the police and us, normal civilians. The thing that remains a mystery is the cause of this accident. Did it happened out of the carelessness of the drivers or was the patrol car's attempt to chase some robbers that made it crashed.

Either way, it made a boring Tuesday into an interesting one for some kepohcees. :)

Flying Kite

Yesterday we went back to Selayang to my in-law's place and when it was time to go home, we took the Batu Caves roundabout and went towards Kepong. This is our usual route home whenever we visit Selayang. The time was 5 something and we thought that the road blocks formed by the police would have been dismantled by then.

Just right after passing the roundabout, to my shock, there was a long, long jam in front. I kept scolding myself for taking this route and at the same time cursing the police for having the road blocks.

As we inched our way slowly and frustratingly forward, an amazing sight came to view. Not far away on our left, we could see about 30 different kites in all kind of shapes and sizes flying in the air. Then only we realised that this jam was caused by all those inconsiderate idiots that parked their cars not only doubled parking but also tripled parking onto the middle of the road. Imagine a three lane highway made into a single one. Not only that, some kiasu slowed down their vehicle to admire the kites.

For the regulars, this situation is a norm for them and they are willing to park their cars about half KM from the place and walk all the way in. Actually this place is a huge public park with a huge lake in the middle. A lot of people do their exercise here and the main attraction is the kite flying. You can buy your kite on the spot and straight away fly it there. The kind of kites flown here are not those that we used to fly when we were young but are high-tech ones that we see in TV. Those that you have to use 2 hands to maneuver and also those that you control 2 kites at the same time.

It's a great place to bring our kids but the problem is the parking and the sheer number of people there, you can easily get lost. We were stucked in the jam for about 10 to 15 minutes and it has taught us not to pass this area in the evening on a Saturday or Sunday.