'Salak Pondoh' tamed me.

I told about my previous maid who took a leave and never came back. She made me angry then. Not because I couldnt live without her, but , to the fact she made a sudden disappearance.


Recently, she texted me from her country, Indonesia. She asked if I needed a maid. I answered "no, I dont" in a nice tonation.though I could still remember the feeling that got into me when she didnt return home without advance notice, then. I actually need a helper.

Her text said she missed me.

"I miss your Rendang", I replied not wanting to be a hipocrite, as I didnt miss her at all. Rendang is a Malaysian dish.

Last Saturday, she called.

"Ma'am, Im here, back to Malaysia. I want to see you"
"OK, come over then" I openly invited her. Forgive and forget.

She arrived within half an hour. She was so happy to see me.She brought 'ole-ole' from Indonesia.
Ole-Ole (olay-olay) is a slang used by indonesian for a souvenir.

Among others, she got me my favorite Indonesian origin fruit, 'Salak' (Suh-luck).

Im so amazed with this creation of God. This shelled fruit can be mistaken to a reptile. The flat, horny plates forming the covering, designed similar to snake's scales. I wonder if they are from The Dianasour Era.

You may need to be extra careful opening the shell. Its hard and could possibly cut your finger. Unlike its look, the internal part contains a yellowish white edible fruit. Its crispy.
While some types are sourish, the species that I got was sweet.

I love it.!

Right underneath the shell, there is another layer of thin plastic-like covering the flesh .Its edible, somehow I like to eat without.

Becareful when you bite. The seed is as hard as a rock. Do not eat the seed.

The sweet species that I gotten that day is called 'Salak Pondoh'.

She was happy to see me enjoying her Ole-Ole. I ate and ate, pretended listening to her story of what happened that day and what she had gone through. I didnt really bother to hear all. I was too busy peeling Salak, avoiding cuts and enjoying the fruit.

She stay for just a couple of hours. She left with a happy face.

Actually, I've forgotten my anger long-long ago. Let by gone be by gone.

Its not Friday??

Man..!!! I tot it was....
I've set my mind on what to do tomorrow. Yeay!! its weekend again..
Today, I woke up in the morning and set on what to wear. Friday is a day that I'm always looking forward. I could wear jeans to the office. I could put on T-Shirt to work. Cool...

AND THEN..!!!
I received an email that need my intervention on the following day. "No way!!" I thought.
"I'm not gonna work on weekend" . As I said that, I clicked on the date displyed on my computer. WHAT..??? Its only Thursday??? Oh no...!

There goes my mood.

ok, what is it that I need to work on? (off to work)

Lazy heart

You missed your beats again??
Ahah.!! that must the Kopi O that I just has 2 days ago. Caffeine, get away from me.!

ok..ok..now I'm convinced. Caffeine is the culprit....but..that was just one misserable cup, I had.

According to what I read, caffeine is one of the three most widely used mood -affecting drugs in the world.
It is affecting us emotionally and physically much more powerfully than we expect.

But...... I've also read that coffee is antioxidant. and.......coffee contains caffeine.
huh.??
I'm confused.

Both researcher really need to sit down together and sort this thing out. WHAT  LAH..!!

Kopi 'O'

Kopi = Coffee
Kopi 'O'  pronounced as copy and a letter 'O'. 'copyyo' sound-alike.
If  you're in Malaysia, and visit a hawker stall or a local restaurant, say....
                     Kopi 'O' satu.!
You will get yourself a cup of black-jet local Coffee. A pure coffee.

*******
Talking about Kopi 'O' I remember a story of my late Aunt, who came from the Philipines. That was her first visit to Malaysia. She spoke Tausug, a language widely used in the province where she was born.
She was in a noisy local restaurant, which a soft talk ordering would not get an attention. Shouting is the best way to order. When she heard the waiter shouted  KOPI 'O'..!!!
She turned to the direction where the guy was shouting at. She waited and waited...wanting to see how the person would look like, but the person shouted at never appear. it was only later she knew what is Kopi 'O' .
Tausug pronounced 'Koop-pee-O', means 'Flat head' (refering to a person)

*******
Another story took place when a friend and I went to Jakarta for a meeting. We were invited for drink at a nice restaurant.

"You must try kopi-o "  This is how we heard it sounded, when a client recommended it to us.
"ok" , we both agree, thinking that a coffee would help to gain back energy after our long journey.

We waited...........
2 glasses of white-ish drinks arrived. We waited for ours. The other started to drink theirs, while we both watched.
" Dont you like it.?" The client asked.
"What? oh..this? is this mine?"
yes, thats 'Kopiyor"

er...but..this is white...
Where is my coffee?
Didnt order Coffee, you ordered Kopiyor, a fresh coconut water and grated fresh coconut flesh


Kopi-O. Say it right, on the right place.

 After a long pause, I just made a cup for me.

Activities Behind The Silence

 

I’ve been keeping quiet from my blogsite, lately.

A few trips were in line….

Then, gathering with clients………..

 

 

Then, house chores, since my hyper-talkative maid got married and happily resigned and I happily let her go. Phewww…..!

what a relief for me. Since then I come home from work enjoying the quietness.

And then, sickness came in between. When I recovered, a little re-union slotted in.

Nice to meet you guys..!!!

Next, if you read my previous posting, you would know that I just came back from my relaxing trip to the foot of The Mount Kinabalu.

They were sayings that, the risk of getting heart attack, is higher on those who work hard for money and never go on vacation.

So, in my recent business meeting in KK, I decided to conclude my duty with a journey to the mountain.

I spent a night at the cool place.

Driving 2 hours down the mountain, I stopped by The Tanjung Aru beach. Nostalgic place for me. It used to be my weekend hangout when I was in high school. Its located just 2 minutes drive from Kota Kinabalu International Airport.

When I came back, I still couldn't get the vacation mood out of my mind.

So, I picked up my brush, canvas and coloring material. I browsed thru a Facebook friend’s wall. He, who I remember had many photograph of ocean view. I started painting. I did it in 2 hours.

 

Nadia said it looks like a work done by a lil’ child. I agree. I posted it on the guy’s wall, anyway. It was kinda a messy job, somehow, I got a ‘like’. That encouraged me to pick another canvas.

 

This is the result.

It looks slightly better than the first as my strokes were getting firmed. I looked at it against the mirror. Hemm…….. not bad, but….

I thought…it needs a partner if I want to hang it on the wall.

Again, I sacrificed my beauty sleep. I stayed up until 3 am to work on the partner painting. It was Christmas when I woke up with a big headache. I didn't have enough sleep.

I rushed out of the room to check on the master piece I was working on, that night. My sleepy head got its reward when I got another ‘like’ thru the FB on this………

The guy who clicked on ‘like’ also recognized the place.  I Loike..!!!

Art can be fun. If only I could spend more time……………..

Chat vs Chat-Online

I rushed out of my office thinking that I had everything with me. As drove in to the car porch, I then realized that I left my laptop in the office. Thats it..! no Facebooking tonight. I thought.
That night, I had a good rest.
The next day, I left my laptop again. This time, on purpose. Then I realized how much time I spent on the computer compare to having a valuable time with my family.
Not having laptop with me, I suggested for us to have dinner outside, since my maid just decided to get married and verbally submitted her resignation.
During dinner time…
silence……….
everyone were busy with their Black Berry, including me. We smiled, we laughed to our mobile phone. We were actually chatting among us, not verbally though. No eye contact, but we were connected. A few more people were also in the chat group.

I wonder if we will still be able to verbally chat instead of chat-online among us, in the next few years to come.
The technology is invading our life.

Read and watched Ombak Rindu

 

It happened about 3 years ago. I was going on a business trip to Brunei, then, when a client asked me to purchase a Novel for his wife. While waiting for my train to Kuala Lumpur International Airport, I stopped by a book store just besides the checkin counter. I picked up one novel. I read the first few lines and I read the next line and the next. The last thing I remember, I’ve took it to the cashier.

I bought one for my client’s wife and one for myself. That was the 1st Malay novel I’ve read in my life. Ombak Rindu. Doesn't sound like me, but i actually read through to the finishing line. It happened 3 years ago and I’ve forgotten about it

Then last week, people around me were talking about a movie Ombak Rindu. It didnt catch my attention at all, as I am not a movie goer. I went a few times when my teens kids ‘forced’ me to join them. I would eat and sleep in the cinema. Lion King was fun, Harry Potter was great. It was such a long movies and I had a long nap in the cool and dimmed room. Twilight and Ice Age were fun to watch too.

Ombak Rindu clicked my mind when my sister in-law, Tuty, mentioned about the movie during her visit to my house. It sounded familiar. I turned to my book shelves and did a quick browse. There it was, untouched for many years.

I’ve actually read the book!!!

Today, I broke the news to Nadia, my daughter. We are going fo a movie. Ombak Rindu. I couldnt remember the story, but I remember the feeling when I was reading it. This gave me the urge to visit the cinema.

Today…..

“Girl, we are going to the cinema. Get ready". I surprise my daughter, Nadia.

“Malay movie? no way” My hubby opposed.

“Yes, we are going. you may sleep in the cinema if you want” I determined.

At the fist show, 11:30am, there we were, all family, enjoying the love story.

My comment : “The story I read was much better”. I agree with Tuty, who said that earlier.

Still about The land Below The Wind (Mount Kinabalu,Sabah)

 

Meeting – checked

courtesy visit 1 – checked

courtesy visit 2 – checked

If it was in the past, I could have left to the airport and flew back to where I lived after I’ve done my duty, but not during this visit. My business partner, Gina and I decided to add excitement to our trip. We stayed back for another 2 nights.

The following morning raised us  to a clear and beautiful daylight. I love to see the cloud in this state. When you happen to visit Sabah, look at the sky above.

In this trip, I controlled the steering. Thank God, our rented car behaved well throughout the journey. We started our journey out of town, at around 11:30am. I drove following the arrow pointing for the place named ‘Tuaran’.

Prior to this trip, I’ve searched the internet. It was engraved in my mind to:-

-drive towards Tuaran for 1 hour

-then turn right to Tamparuli

-Then follow the signboard towards Kundasang for another hour drive.

OK SET.!

It was also set in our mind to relax…be cool….observe….learn….

We did as set. Not too long after the peaceful driving, we made our first stop at a stall by the road side. I saw a big sign of ‘Keropok  Lekor’ (Fish sausage, originated from Terengganu, which one time ago, called Trangkanu (Thai) when it was under the influence of the Siamese.

Keropok Lekor in Sabah..???

Our journey continued….

Up above, flowery cloud accompanied our trip. One hour has past. Another hour to our destination, Kundasang.

 

Look..! Jambatan Gantung (Suspension bridge), Tamparuli (name of area).

Lets snap a photo.

Down under, a wide, yellow river, named Tamparuli River.

Slowly..slowly… ..to the right…to the left…Gina stunned. On the other end, a  line of cars patiently waited for their turn to cross after me.

That was my first driving across a narrow bridge.  Phew.!!

We made it..! we’re safe..!

Hey look.!!!  farmers market. The market, locally known as ‘Tamu’ (tuh-moo), located at the other end of the bridge. It only happens every Wednesday. We came on a right day. “This is fun…lets stop…..”

 

 

Oh…They’re so cute..the chicks, I meant..the real chicks..alive and kicking.

 

Snap my photo..I wanna hold…but ..no..no..no..(I thought of bird flu)

I guess those sellers were tired of our silly questions..whats this?..whats that? whats this?..whats that…?

The lady was so glad that I requested to have a photograph with her. Smile.!!

I came across ‘Nona’ fruit (I’ve never tried this), ‘Bambangan’ (my favorite. I'm drooling just thinking of this sour fruit), Fermented Talapia Fish (yet to try), ‘Terap’ (Judging by the look, it should be categorized under species of jack fruit) and many more.

   

 

A lady seller having lunch with her children caught my attention. What a pity. I prayed for the children to grow up smart, kind and wealthy .

  

 

OMG..!!! I found it..!!!

What…??

I’ve been broadcasting to my Facebook friends on how I missed this special fruit. It is locally called ‘Durian Dalit’, as my friend Rosnanie, informed. It doesn't produce too much of a strong pungent as normal Durian.The taste is more to creamy , not sweet. Gina never heard nor tasted it. She got her first chance to eat this red Durian, that day.

I found it.!!

 

4 pieces for RM20 (USD6). I bought them all and I ate them all.

OK, time to go…

The weather was getting cloudy and darker, not too long after that.

It was only 2pm, but it looked more of dusk to me. Where is the mountain??

We should have it right infront by that moment, but where ??

From cloudy to misty…next…we were welcomed by the rain…. There goes the mountain view.

Rain has stopped 20 minutes later.

Stop.!! Dont miss the stalls. Local handicrafts were sold about 30 minutes drive to reaching our destination. We got to stop.

wait.! Gina...dont touch....

GONG..!!!!

A Gong is a circular metal platelike percussion instrument, usually accompanied a high Asian Culture celebration. It is very loud. It sounded as its name.

It was almost 3pm . Oh my…we could have checked in to the resort and rest at the balcony by then. The supposed 2 hours drive took us double the period.Can we stop all these stoppings?

I started the car thinking that we should see the peak of the Mount Kinabalu  within15 minutes.. but..where is the ..

my..oh..my…  it was getting darker and darker…

   

I couldn't drive any faster..not in that kind of visibility. The thick mist covered our way. The road was winding to my unfamiliar direction.Thinking of my family back home, I drove extra careful. I drove along with mostly 4-wheel drive vehicles, lorries and trailers. Dangerous drive, but not if you drive with extra care. 

We promised not to stop but….

How could we resist? Its The Kinabalu National Park, at the foot of the mount. Mount Kinabalu is the tallest peak in Borneo's Crocker Range and is the tallest mountain in the Malay Archipelago.

We paid RM6 (USD2) per entry to the park.

I zoomed  to the beautiful hundred years of age twines. Aren't they amazing?

I couldn't get enough with 1 photograph. Click..click..click….!!

  

Walking trail were provided for the passionate nature lovers. I chose to drive the car around. It was drizzling and breezy.  We stepped into the restaurant, just down the staircase near the park entrance. As soon as we stepped in, it started to rain. Oh..not again…..

    

Ahhhh…!!!A cup of hot tea was a great idea.

Ok, time to go again. No more stop, this time. That was the plan, but we had to make one last stop at the nearest small town of Kundasang. Why??

Gina knocked herself on the car door, while running away from rain at the National Park. She got a cut on her left brow. OMG! its bleeding! I got panic at first. Thank God she didn't need a surgery. A plaster would do, the doctor said.

Hush..hush.. dont let the doctor know…from the store next to the clinic, I bought ‘Minyak Gamat’ for Gina. Its an ointment made from a species of a sea cucumber. “It works like a miracle” I told Gina that, with confidence. She agreed to try. It does, actually. I’m not a ‘Minyak Gamat’ agent. I said that based on my own experience. So, don't buy from me. Get it from the store.

The bleeding from Gina’s cut stopped. We continued our journey. 5 minutes later….

Look..!! Vegetable stalls..

No more stops…please….I reminded myself.

 

The mist thickened, causing further difficulty to my driving, but contributes to the picturesque view.  What a feeling…..cool breeze rushed in as I wind down the screen. hmmm…. I inhaled as much air as my diaphragm could hold. I wish I could bring them back to my family.

Another 5 minutes later, I noticed a big sign to my right. YEAY..!!! Kinabalu Pine Resort. We have reached our destination.

    

Its clean and tidy. We both love the bathroom.

And the balcony.. just perfect, regardless of what I read some reviewers wrote in the internet.

Nice , neat and simple cabin. How I wished my family were around.

But where is the mountain??  Gina hadn't seen any proof of its existence.

Lets forget about her for now. She will come when she comes.

I took out a plastic bag to the balcony. I bought ‘Terap’ from the Tamparuli market. We used to have the tree, back home in Lahad Datu.

I wanted Gina to try. She seemed enjoying the new taste.

Next, we needed a foot massage. The Spa is in another hotel, located on top of the hill. We went. It was just about 10 minutes drive. Nice garden it has.

   

My dear friend enjoyed her reflexology treat. RM70 (USD24) per hour. Not too excellent, she said, though. Malaysian uses the slang  ‘OK lah’ , while the cost is doubled from the price she could have paid for a better masseur in Kuala Lumpur. No complain..relax… be cool…..

By night, we were getting hungry. We have forgotten about wanting to witness the majestic mount. The weather was getting cooler. Steamboat at the little cafe of our resort was just nice and satisfactory.

 

Our after dinner was  quiet and peace full. At the balcony, which is shared by 2 cabins, we talked about family, we discussed about work a bit. Sounds of our neighbors’ kids were heard pretty clear to us. The resort might not be right for a honey mooner. We giggled to that thought.

While Gina went to bed, I started my computer and work on my blogsite. Somebody somewhere must be waiting long enough for the continuation of my long winded series story. I fell asleep at around 2am.

Kringgggg..!!!!!  Wakie..wakie… I opened the curtain.

WOWww….!!!! 

There she was…The Mount Kinabalu. The majestic peak. Seen thru the window like a postcard.

I wouldn't know how to express nor I knew how to describe the feeling when I saw her, first thing in the morning. I let the pictures tell you further.

 

Minutes after minutes… it was coming out from the thick mist… beautiful…beautiful…beautiful… that's all I could tell.

 

Gina couldn't say word other than ‘beautiful’ either.

Clicking of cameras were heard all around.

   

Since that was her first meeting with the peak, I volunteered to be the camera women to Gina.

But then….

As early as 8:45am, we had to say good bye to the great mountain. Our flight wont wait. Exactly 2 hours driving down the hilly journey, we safely arrived at the airport.

We reached The Peninsular with Kinabalu still in our memory. The local song lingered in my ears.

Tinggi-tinggi Gunung Kinabalu.. (As high as the Mount Kinabalu)

Tinggi lagi sayang sama kamu.. ( My love to you is higher)

(thats the only lyrics I could recall)