Durians - For Bundawah

Durian stall at night market. They were selling 3-4 packets for RM 10. There were around 2-3 seeds per packet. Of course there are better quality ones where they charge RM 10 per kilo.
Durian used to be a seasonal fruit but I see them very often nowadays.
Loving durian is an acquired taste. It's quite common that the foreigners who visit Malaysia find the fruit a bit 'overwhelming'. As easily as it can be found in Malaysia, there are still some local people I know who simply can't stand the smell of durian.
Haa but durian is not my favourite fruit. I would post some of it soon. :)

Bread Tree

This reminds me of the trees in one of the enchanted lands visited by the children through the Faraway Tree :) Fancy that, bread growing on trees.
Alas, the last I check, it seems you still can't grow money on these. LOL.

Doggie's Day Out

Spotted this lil fella in SS2. We don't bring dogs everywhere the way the westerners do. When I was in Europe, I was surprised to see them bringing their dogs into subways.
Having said that, there are still some dog owners here who are seen at restaurants, supermarkets with their little furry friends. I have also heard stories that some dogs enjoy more luxuries than the average working class people. Wonder when the 1st millionaire dog is going to appear here. :)

Homegrown Vitamins

Ahh..the glorious fruits of Malaysia. Bananas, mangosteens, papayas, mangoes... They come in all shapes, colors and textures. And not forgetting the king of fruits - Durians.
I remember learning in school that local fruits are rich in vitamins and cheap compared to imported fruits. Eating local fruits has something connected to patriotism, at least for me. As a food lover, nothing beats doing something you are passionate about and feeling you are doing something good for the country as well.

Claypot Chicken Rice

Both the Chinese and Malay have their own version of Chicken Rice here. Besides the traditional one served on a plate, the Chinese has another version of chicken rice, served in piping hot claypot.
The chicken, normally marinated with special sauce is cook together with the rice in the claypot. Other ingredients include salted fish, spring onions and dried pork sausages. You get to taste the rice which has acquired the fragrance of the ingredients.
Another must-try if you are around the area. As usual :)

Meditation

Spotted this lady meditating at a temple. There were much hustle and bustle around but she remained still and cool. Probably chanting some mantra in her head to keep the distractions as bay.
I have not tried meditation but think it will be an uphill task for a person who can't sit still for long. Like yours truly.
Do you meditate?

Tailoring your destiny

Sports Toto is one of the lottery company here. Wonder where did Mr Hudson the tailor go. Not sure if he has chosen the dice over needle and thread :P Lottery is a lucrative business here. I won't say there are lotsa gamblers here, but I guess there are lotsa people with lotsa optimism and hope in their hearts.. thinking I will win..I will strike jackpot tomorrow.
Money may not buy you happiness, but hope can certainly bring a smile to your face.

Avid Reader

Little reader at the magazine shop at PJ state. It's rare to see kids reading at the sidewalk since the number of little magazine / bookshops are dwindling.
Parents rather bring their kids to the cool, spacious bookshops in the malls.
There will be a KL Book Fest happening this weekend. Yoohoo :)

Enlightenment

Today is Wesak Day. The day of birth, passing and enlightenment of Gautama Buddha. One of the major celebrations for Buddhists.
Temples provide the lotus candles above for devotees' donation.
Most pray for good health and prosperity.
With the calamities in Myanmar and China, let's pray that sufferings and pain will be healed with hope and peace soon.

Cut Fruits

These mobile fruit stalls are pretty common, especially in working districts and eateries. Fruits sold are mostly papayas, watermelons, pineapples, guavas, honeydews and mangoes.
A year ago, a piece was priced at RM 1, but now the price has increased to RM 1.2o.
The plastic bottles at the front contain...er...I don't know the exact name, but we know it as sour plum powder. Adds a little sour sweet taste to the fruits, normally only goes with guavas.
The working crowd find this a convenient way of getting the vitamins they need. Most people are too lazy or doesn't have the time to bring cut fruits from home.
The word - Rojak - you see at the top of the van, is actually a local version of salad. Sometimes it's made up of purely fruits, sometimes it's just veggies. The dressing is sweet prawn paste and sugar.

Kuih Muih

These are sweet kuihs.

The white rectangular kuih is yamcake. The other 2 kuihs on the left are sweet. The brown mixture on a little white tray is kaya - our version of jam (made from eggs and sugar)

When Malaysians are abroad, the thing they miss most is the food. A good part of being a multi racial country is that variety is the middle name of Malaysian food. Judging from the types of kuih (the malay word for cakes) above, you will definitely be spoilt for choice.
You feel like having a light snack, well would you like it to be savoury or sweet?
Ok, you like sweet stuff, would you like it with coconut? kaya? multi-layered?
The list just goes on. :)
Most of the kuih are nyonya kuih. Nyonya or the Peranakan Chinese is yet another unique ethnic group in our country.
Well, that's another story.
When you come to Malaysia, remember to savour as many cuisine as you or your tummy possibly can :)

Long Tails

I was in Krabi for a short trip. These are long tail boats used to ferry passengers from the mainland to the islands or bays. Although it's one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in Thailand, Krabi is not as commercialised as Koh Samui or Phuket. Not yet.
Although my trip was slightly affected by the weather, it was still fun and interesting. Ever tried jungle trekking on an elephant? Ever had lunch on a deserted island with fine sand and turquoise waters? Try Krabi for your next holiday. If you are open for something new, this should be a cool experience for you :)
Posting on PJ resumes tomorrow.

Char Siew Pao

Have you ever been to a chinese dim sum restaurant? If you have, then you must be familiar with one of the most popular dim sum - Char Siew Pao. It's my favourite.
Char Siew is supposed to be roasted pork. Pau means bun. Therefore Char Siew Pao literally means roasted pork bun. After they are made, they must be steamed before they can be eaten.
I like it best when I slice the bun into two and the sweet aroma escapes from the bun.... Yummmmyy..
Besides pork there are other types of buns which look rather similar besides the fillings. The lotus seed bun is its sweeter cousin.
Head down for dim sum this weekend. Coupled with hot chinese tea, these buns are simply heavenly. :)

Staircase to Nowhere

Whoever built this staircase certainly didn't see eye to eye with the building management :P The entrance which led to the staircase was actually sealed. They opened another entrance in front but couldn't get rid of the old staircase. So here it remains until someone thinks of a better way to make use of it.
I am sure all of us have seen abandoned houses, bridges, buildings, but abandoned staircase? That's new for me.

When I grow up, I want to be a Merc

Proton Waja is one of our national cars. This owner obviously had higher aspirations. The car's original logo was plastered with a Mercedes Benz logo. Still it doesn't change much about the car

Tribute to Mums

Mother's Day is another opportunity for retailers to garner extra income. Most people do not spend much time with their family. Therefore these occasions give them the perfect opportunities to make amends. And they have all the help they need. Mother's Day Special Meal, Mother's Day Special Value Package...
At the end of the day, all mothers want the same simple thing-to spend more time with their children. It's the presence not the thought that counts.
Happy Mother's Day to all mummies of the world.

B For Balcony

What do you keep on your balcony? Some keep plants. Some hang their clothes. Some fix satellite dishes to watch cable tv. Some fix their aircon there. Some even hang bird cages. Balcony became a thing of many usage. Not for a good view or some fresh air anymore.

Birds Eye View

This was taken from the a hotel in KL. This is overlooking the area beside KL Sentral Monorail Station. We are fast builders here, now and then a piece of land disappears and you see a condominium there. Most of the workforce in construction are made up of foreign labour.
I feel sad that a major part of where I stay are built by people who are from other countries. I sympathise the plight of foreign workers here. Some are really abused by their employers. Unfortunately as locals shun from the being construction workers, this condition will continue.

All the King's Horses

A Hindu temple. I don't know the god / goddess that was within the chariot. Hindu temples are fascinating. They have hundreds of sculptures on a single building. All comes in different details and colors. I heard for some temple the craftsmen were actually brought from IndiaYou have to see one to be amazed by it. I was told the religion itself is full of fascinating stories of gods, goddesses, demons and spirits.
The dried grass / hay at the back is used to cover up areas which are currently are under construction.

Weekend Market

One of the shopping malls have a huge walkway for weekend markets. Different booths are set up by independent proprietors. Most of the products are clothings, assessories and toys. More for the womenfolk and children. The prices are not exactly rock bottom but cheaper compared to the outlets in the mall and varieties are abundance.
People who enjoy retail therapy will enjoy the convenience of getting what they want without the hassle of walking from shop to shop. Just take a stroll and feast your eyes on the things you fancy.

Earth-Friendly Burger

There was a mini roadshow during world earth day earlier on. Among the many booths promoting earth-friendly products, there was one that sold what I called - Baby Green Burgers. The size of the burger is smaller than what we get at fast food joints, but more nutritious and earth-friendly.
Global warming is not a new thing to locals, however many still do not practise or do their part to save the earth. Hopefully with these roadshows, people will start to realise, even if it's just reducing the number of plastics in your home, when everyone does it, we can make a change.
What have you done for Mother Earth lately?

Traditional Magazine Shop