THE RIGHT TO LOVE AND MARRY THE PERSON WE CHOOSE

As of now, Gay Rights and Equality are being debated all across the USA. To hear/read the words GAY RIGHTS in the same sentence as the US Supreme Court is something I did not imagine I'd live to see. I have many LGBT (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transexuals) friends in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and United States. I have lost a few over the past years due to a variety of reasons. It is a real shame that they could not live to witness the changes sweeping all over USA right now.  I believe, this CHANGE will also impact the world over once the laws are effectively passed for the LGBT community in the USA. For this, I shall be celebrating. For this, I can gladly say that the rest of the world may look to the USA in order to MOVE into the right direction so that the rest of humanity can follow. 

In many countries outside of the United States, LGBT RIGHTS are nonexistent or moderately tolerated. For example, in a Muslim country like Malaysia, there are laws against sodomy. Needless to say, their rights are "largely marginalised" in Malaysia. You can read more about LGBT Rights in Malaysia here. 

Personally, I wish some of my LGBT dearly departed friends were still around to experience this long overdue recognition of their freedom to love and marry whoever they choose which is taking place in the USA as we speak. I say this with all my heart, because they have taught me a great deal about love, relationships, life and even marriage. 

One of the most enduring and loving relationships/marriages I know is this LGBT couple I adore. If you see them together, you would never imagine that they could be a couple. One loves classical music such as Opera and Brahms. The other enjoys Country & Western. One loves outdoor sports and worships the sun like she is the solar system that revolves around it. But her partner would not be caught dead near a bush or a tree because she likes staying indoors, far away from the harmful UV rays, with her books, music and movies. However, to this day, they both continue to nurture, love and support one another despite their personal differences or preferences. And they have been doing so for over 25 years. They were married long before it was "allowed". Their marriage has definitely outlived most heterosexual marriages I know of, including mine. Of course, they do work at their marriage. It is a constant work-in-progress, as they both grow and age together - so they tell me all the time. It is no different than any other relationship or couple on the planet. Their marriage is a living testament that when two people who are right for each other fall in love and work at staying together, it defines a blessed union - no matter how you want to label it.

The many liberties that we (heterosexuals) take for granted on a daily basis, are callously denied of our fellow LGBT brothers and sisters in the community at large. In fact, I did not even see this until it was pointed out to me by my friend more than a decade ago. He told me that he and his partner had to be more "cautious" when going out to public places. They cannot be too "overly" loving towards one another. So, you can definitely forget about PDAs. They cannot even hold hands without other people watching them, or giving them the "evil eye". Prior to his revelation, I myself had not noticed that all the simple gestures, and the licence to express ourselves which we, as heterosexuals, have been enjoying all along are indeed denied of the LGBT community in Asian countries. Hence, in Malaysia and Singapore, it is not uncommon to find that "they" had  to adjust themselves in order to suit us, because "they" did not want to  "disturb" our sense of peace and order - as my friend kindly put it. It is was "they" who had to be "considerate" of our sensibilities. 

Imagine if you had to modify who you are and how you behave just so you don't have to "upset" the society at large. Imagine if you had to live your life in this manner and was not allowed to protest, because experience has taught you to bow your head low so that you do not bring any "unnecessary attention" to yourself and your "kind". Can you imagine living in such a way? I didn't think so.

In Malaysia or other Asian countries, some ignorant folks associate the word: "GAY" with derogatory meaning, HIV, AIDS or fear itself. It is used in jokes to belittle someone in schools, playgrounds, work place and etc. Recently in Malaysia, they (some "bright government officials and agencies") thought that it was a disease that could be cured. Or that, dressing their children in a certain way could turn them gay. Or, that a certain code of conduct could infect one to become gay. Yes, there were all kinds of ludicrous remarks and assumptions made, and all of them even made the headline news in the Malaysian newspapers/media. 

This only proves my firm belief that ignorance is not bliss, but a real hindrance to progress for humanity.    

I sincerely hope and pray that the United States set the way (and wave) to change the world into a far better place for my LGBT friends all over the world by first passing the laws in favour of GAY RIGHTS. It has been long time coming. They should never be "prosecuted" for being true to who they are in the first place. Above all, they are born with the right to love and choose as they please, just like the rest of us. No one should be denied or robbed of that birth right. 

Love never did anyone any harm. Seriously. The most damage comes from ignorance, hate and discrimination. It's time to end the negativity, and become a WHOLE community again.

I dedicate this post to all my dearly beloved LGBT friends everywhere, and especially, to those who are no longer with us. May their hearts smile from wherever they are.

Perhaps some day soon, we can call ourselves a civilised society and own it.

Spread the love if you agree.

Peace to all. 

Life in Malaysia: The Horror of Domestic Helpers

"Life in Malaysia" will be an on-going series about how/what living in Malaysia is like for me. Of course, it is presented solely from my perspective and personal experiences. It does not represent the whole of Malaysia and Malaysians, in general. In fact, I was told by several people that I am not a typical Malaysian (whatever that means).

Map of Malaysia

I live in Kuala Lumpur...well, most of the time, anyways. I travel quite a fair bit. Kuala Lumpur or KL, as it is affectionately known, is the capital city of Malaysia. So, whenever I mention that I am from Malaysia - most people always imagined paradise islands, sun, beach and shopping malls like Pavilion, KLCC Suria and of course, the Twin Towers. After all, these are the very things tourist come to visit in Malaysia.

Although I am a Malaysian but I did not actually grow up in Malaysia. I had studied abroad all my life, and only came home during the holidays. Naturally, whenever one comes home only for the holidays, it is always fun and wonderful. Coupled with the fact that I was much younger then, and was not plagued with life's real problems. So, yes, my childhood was totally awesome. However, please bear in mind that the Malaysia then is not the same as the Malaysia now. With this, I mean mostly the people. People were much nicer back then. First and foremost, there wasn't as much crime back then as compared to now. For example, I could easily cycle on my own from my house to the nearby shops without incident. Today, I think people are extremely wary with the cases of child abductions on the rise. We shall get into that in another post. Today's post is directed at the "Horror of Domestic Helpers in Malaysia". Because at this day and age with both parents working full time jobs, it is very common to find that many households in KL have foreign domestic helpers/maids.

A Maid Recruitment Agency training the new group of foreign maids

One of the things that bugs me about living in Malaysia is the pains of hiring a domestic helper for our households. Most Malaysians do not work as a domestic helper anymore. They are as rare as finding a diamond in a sack of rice. With the total lack of local maids, most households have to rely on hiring foreign maids. There are about 230,000 foreign maids who work in Malaysia. Most of them are largely from Indonesia and Philippines. However, there is also a growing number of foreign maids coming into Malaysia from Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar. The cost of hiring a foreign domestic helper is not cheap, regardless of what is being advertised and publicised. Here, I do not mean just the expenses you have to incur at the maid agency. I am referring to the over-all costs - those which we cannot measure by ringgits/dollars and cents.

1) The pain of waiting for the maid to actually arrive into the country after making the application and paying the maid agency upfront. This could take 3 to 6 months, if you are really lucky. Some could take even longer - such as when the agency bungles up your maid's application, or decides to give the maid to someone else who's willing to pay a higher price. Yes, it happens.

2) The effort and time it'll take to train the maid when she actually arrives. It will take many more months before the new maid becomes acquainted with your household and your family's way of life. Even then, she may still get it horribly wrong at times. So, it is an on-going training process.

3) The pain and costs to re-hire and re-apply if the maid ran away. Yes, this is also very common in Malaysia. Sometimes, the maid may have even "emptied" your whole house of its valuables before she ran away. This actually happened to my uncle. His maid of 24 years took all their jewelry, money and priceless items when she ran away. And get this - the employers are the ones who would have to pay for the cancellation of the missing maid's visa, etc. On top of that, the employers have to cover the costs of re-hiring and re-applying for a new maid to replace the one who ran away. There is no such thing as getting that maid black listed or stopped at the Immigration when she attempts to leave the country. Because there are no such laws or regulations in Malaysia.

4) The maid agency is only interested in taking your money. They will not do anything unless you have paid them their fees. Currently, to hire a Filipino maid is about RM12, 000(USD3,750) and about RM8, 500(USD2,656) for an Indonesian maid. If your maid has ran away, they would require YOU to pay the fine, as well as, the cancellation of the maid's visa and lodge a police report. The police report is a formality rather than an actual resolution or aid to your case of the missing maid. To hire a new maid, you would have to start the process all over again and then fork out the $$ yet again. You would have to write-off the payments which you have made previously. It does not count. Period. You can read more about the laborious procedure and costings of hiring a maid in Malaysia in here and here.

5) The maid's monthly salary is not included into the costings that I have just outlined above. So, you have to factor that in as well. It differs for the maid from each country. At present, the Filipino maids have the higher monthly salary than the rest of the foreign maids.

These are just some of the issues one would have to seriously think about before even hiring a maid. Not to mention, there is no guarantee that the maid you chose or get will be an experienced maid. You can disregard what the maid agency tells you, or the maid herself. The final proof will be in her actual work performance at your home.

Of course, there are cases where the maids themselves have been abused. To the point that the New York Times released an article entitled, "Malaysia Urged to Protect Domestic Workers" on December 3, 2012. You can read all about it here.

There are also cases whereby maids have been raped by their employers. As much as the foreign maids do not have protection against their employers, the employers also do not have much protection against them. Because there are just no stringent laws, regulations, and policies to ensure that the maid agencies are doing a proper job in the first place. Some agencies have taken many people's monies and just disappeared overnight. In addition, there are no penalties issued to the maid herself when she runs away, especially when there is a pattern or history of maids running away in this country. The employers are the ones left with burden and costs.

But nothing, and I do mean nothing can ever prepare a family for the shock and horror of the "crazy" maid. I refer to them as such because I cannot ever imagine that a sane person would do such despicable acts to another human being, namely a child. And these are the very stories which you may not get to see or read in the New York Times or Huff Post. The damages that an insane or seemingly crazy maid can do to a home or family are just god awful.

There have been so many cases of maids abusing elderly folks and young children. Be it putting bleach into their drinking water, or making some black magic spells over the family, or hitting the kids and so on. The ones at the highest risk are the babies. The latest case which went viral due to the CCTV video that documented an Indonesian maid's violent abuse towards a 4 month old baby was leaked to youtube. This maid tossed the baby, repeatedly, onto the ground. I shared the video link below. However, I caution you that it is graphic. Viewer discretion is thus advised and warned. Personally, I could not sit through it.

   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMQeMfCkMbo

The Malaysian Court sentenced the Indonesian maid to 15 years in jail. Although the baby has been released from the hospital, the mother of the baby is still very concerned about any possible internal injuries. And the mother has sworn never to hire a maid again. Who could blame her?

This is my personal experience with maids - I've had both the good fortune of getting wonderful maids, and the utter bad luck of having the "nightmare maids from hell". Since 2009, I have decided NOT to have a live-in maid in my home - foreign or otherwise. My ex-maid of 7 years ran away. This was someone who became very much a part of our family, and I had helped her with her father's medical fees and etc. She did not take anything when she ran away. I did, however, had a break-in to my home back in November 2008. This occurred before she ran away. The police suspected that it was her and "her friends". I gave her the benefit of the doubt. Then sometime in January 2009, she ran away. Coincidence? May be. But that was the last straw for me. No more live-in maids, only part-time cleaners who would come to clean and leave.

Obviously, there are good maids and bad maids, just as there are good employers and bad employers. They say that everything is dependent on your luck. Or may be it is just karma. So, the fear is a real burden carried by both parties. Neither the maid nor the employer knows who they will actually land up with.

From the employers' side, there is always the risk of bringing someone into your private lives and family. We never know what could happen and how that person will be like. The last thing an employer need is a horror that gradually unfolds in their own home. 

Similarly, it is the same for the maids - women who leave their hometowns or countries to travel into foreign lands to find employment. In addition to homesickness and being totally alone in a foreign land, there is the real fear of being exploited and abused as well. Hence, protection needs to adequately cover both the parties and not just one. Above all, it is not about protecting one party at the expense of the other.  

Personally, I think that it is seriously about time for the government to step up in their regulation of maid agencies all over the country and establish some stringent laws/policies regarding the hiring of foreign maids.

1) Health and mental screening of all maids should be priority and mandatory.

2) Agencies which have a high case of maids running away or breaking their contracts should be penalised and have their licence revoked.

3) Maids who have repeatedly ran away or broken their contracts should be identified, fined and documented in every country. Especially, those who stole or have committed serious crimes against their employers.

4) The employers who have a track record of mistreating maids should not be allowed to hire any maids. All maid agencies and Embassies around the world should be alerted and notified. 

5) Proper training should be given to the domestic helpers and there should be a formal certification that follows. This would give the maids a clear idea of what is expected of them, and the employers the assurance that the domestic helper has basic skills/training. 

Lastly, I would seriously advise that every Malaysian household that has a maid, be it foreign or local, to install CCTVs in their homes. It is not cheap, I know, but it could seriously give you some pertinent information about your domestic helper and what they do when you are not around. At the same time, it could also record what the employers do to their maids. 

Today, this is what I choose to share because I care.

Peace to all.

LIFE IN MALAYSIA: THE EXODUS DURING FESTIVE SEASONS

On 22nd March 2013, NST RED published an article written by me entitled, Urban Retreat on "fifth heaven". However, this is my blog version with extra pictures and personal sharing. My blog version will always be different from the ones that appear in NST.  

During the recent Chinese New Year break, I decided to "escape" to Bangkok. Yes, it's Bangkok(BKK) yet again! However, little did I know that I was not the only one with that plan. In fact, more than half of Hong Kong(HK) people were thinking the very same thing as well. When I landed in BKK, I was greeted by a sea of HK people. I almost mistook BKK's Suvarnabhumi International Airport for the HK's Chek Lap Kok. It seemed that everyone gets away during CNY these days, not just me. 

Bangkok's Night View From My Room

In the past, Chinese New Year(CNY) was celebrated with real family reunions. Meaning - every family member will definitely make that long journey back to their respective hometowns or ancestral homes for CNY. 

In Malaysia, going home for any festive season is still very much a big event. Be it Chinese New Year (celebrated by the Chinese) or Hari Raya (celebrated by the Malays) or Deepavali (celebrated by the Indians). We have a Malaysian saying for going home during the festive seasons, we call it "Balik Kampung". Literal translation: "Going back to the village/hometown." It is not surprising to find that most of the roads and highways in Malaysia will be clogged with all sorts of vehicles on the eve of a festive event/date. The city of Kuala Lumpur tend to look rather "abandoned" during these times of the year.  Hence, it is likened to an exodus. 

Traditionally, all Chinese households will hold a grand dinner in their homes on the eve of CNY to mark the reunion of all family members. Dining together on the night before CNY was a big deal. However, these days convenience and lifestyle preferences may take precedence over tradition. Some family members may hold their reunion dinners much earlier than the actual date of Chinese New Year Eve. And some may hold their reunion dinners in restaurants rather than in their homes. In the case of my family, we usually hold our reunion dinners two weeks in advance, because it is a gathering of all uncles, aunties, cousins and etc. That is, a reunion of the entire clan. Hence, you can appreciate the magnitude of the matter. 

However, these days, with the long break over CNY, many people take the opportunity to travel and leave the country. This is also the case for my family and entire clan. Everyone is more keen to go on their own holidays, and not deal with all the hassle of holding an "Open House". An "Open House" is what many households traditionally do on the actual day of Chinese New Year. They literally "open" their houses to welcome all their families and friends for visits during CNY. Our families used to hold "Open Houses" in the past. However, it was a lot of work because we always had a lot of guests streaming in throughout the day. We would have to organize the caterers, set up the marquee, tables and chairs, entertain the guests, entertain the kids, and etc. So, in order to save everyone the hassle(namely ourselves), we chose to leave the country and have ourselves a mini holiday. This has become our very own CNY tradition since 2001. Every CNY we will go somewhere and chill as a family. Last year, it was Bali. This 2013 CNY trip, we decided to stay at the newly renovated rooms of the Grand Hyatt Erawan in Bangkok. 

The Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel sits in an enviable location, right in the middle of two BTS stations (Bangkok’s monorail system) and is within a short walk to shopping centres like New Central World and Siam Paragon - all of which are connected via a covered sky bridge. 

The Famed "Four-Faced" Buddha

Grand Hyatt Erawan is also known as the home of the famous “Four-Faced Buddha”. This particular Buddha statue, whose small temple is located right next to the hotel, is legendary for making wishes come true. Needless to say, on the first day of CNY (10 February 2013), hoards of people gravitated to the renowned temple of the “Four-Faced Buddha”. They come from far and wide. It is not surprising to find even Hong Kong celebrities gathering at the said place of worship, paying their respects and making prayers (or wishes). It is said that this particular Buddha has been consistent in “granting” people their heartfelt wishes. It is also said that when one’s wishes came true, one would have to return to the same shrine and make an offering to thank the Buddha. Offerings can be made through flowers, incense or a traditional Thai dance by the ladies at the temple. It is said that the offering of music and dance delights this particular Buddha very much. So, I shall keep you all posted if my wishes did come true before the year ends.

The architecture of Grand Hyatt Erawan echoes the golden days of Thailand. The white pillars stand imposingly against the backdrop of traditional Thai teak wood and silken touches. The hotel underwent a complete “remodelling programme” of its guestrooms that began in March 2012, with the first phase concluded in November 2012. The first 197 new guestrooms and suites have recently opened their doors to welcome guests from around the world. And these were the very rooms I wanted to check out.  These rooms are so new that a faint “scent” of its redecoration still lingered in the air - even the elevators had that similar “just refurbished” aroma. 

The New Grand Room

The newly renovated rooms and suites have been designed by the renowned American Interior Designer, Tony Chi of Tony Chi & Associates. Chi is known for his attention to detail and has a talent for orchestrating rich compositions of lacquer, aqueous glass mosaics and textured wood veneer. These influences are visible in the new guestrooms of the Grand Hyatt Erawan. For Chi believes in what he calls "invisible design", the notion that much like good service, a hospitality space should elicit a positive response without necessarily making you aware of why.

Hence, the new guestrooms complement the hotel’s positioning as a warm and welcoming Thai residence, with an inviting ambience that is unmistakably Thai coupled with intense splashes of colours and textures. The guestroom design is contemporary, but succeeds in incorporating classical touches with a beautiful focus on details such as quaint Thai jars and ceramics. 

The intent of the re-modelling work is to extend the cosy residential aesthetic developed for the spa cottages at “i.sawan” to all the guestroom floors. The rooms are at once luxurious and practical. Upon entering my room, I found the new look most welcoming. All the furniture, fixtures and fittings are new. They are well co-ordinated with the colours of vermillion and orange hues. The designs are classic contemporary with a focus on details such as quaint Thai jars and ceramics.

The bathrooms are also updated with new mosaic tiles and designs. I especially adore the red lacquer boxes which organize the bathroom amenities and quaint soap dish.

There is an intimate and diverse seating area next to a comfortable bed that includes an upholstered daybed-style settee. In that space, you will also find a pull-up armchair and an upholstered leather bench for multi-use such as a private living area, or for work, dining or socialising. This is just the new Grand Room category that I stayed in. Unfortunately, I did not have a chance to sneak a peek at the higher category rooms. They were all fully occupied by guests from Hong Kong. 

Decorative Soap Dish

The Newly Renovated Bathroom

So, instead I ventured onto the fifth floor of the hotel, where the pool, garden and spa are located. You will discover another wonderful surprise here – the i.sawan Residential Spa & Club. Also designed by Mr Tony Chi, it is likened to the mythical definition of the “fifth level of heaven”. 

The i.sawan Residential Spa & Club offers guests an extraordinary urban garden retreat as well as an exquisite array of services, including pampering, fitness, cuisine, accommodation and relaxation. Yes, they are all housed on the fifth floor of Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok.

The Treatment Room 

It covers over 7,000 sq m (75,350 sq ft) high above the sights and sounds of the bustling city. And are you ready for this – there are six very unique spa cottages that become the hallmark of i.sawan Residential Spa & Club. And yes again, they are situated in the hotel garden on the fifth floor.

The Spa Cottages

The spa cottages are specifically designed to be your own private retreat in the heart of Bangkok. i.sawan Residential Spa & Club takes you to a higher “divine” level of comfort, with each spa cottage featuring a welcoming living room with a sizeable dining area, an inviting bedroom overlooking a private outdoor garden, a spacious bathroom that is equipped with a steam room, a treatment room and a private outdoor patio. Doesn’t it sound all so heavenly? This is just the cottage.

What you will receive daily when you stay in one of the spa cottages are daily spa breakfast and evening cocktails served in the cottage; a daily 60-minute in-cottage massage of your choice; and an Aromatherapy Steam and Milk Bath all arranged by the spa concierge team to ensure that you enjoy the most impeccable indulgent experiences of all.

The Bedroom of the Spa Cottage

What’s more - a customised music selection is made available in the spa cottage so that you can use music to make your day or night even more delightful. Naturally, during your spa retreat, you can always stay connected to the rest of the world - thanks to the complimentary broadband Internet access in the cottage.

Now you can understand why I have been missing in action for the past few weeks. 

I have been busy enjoying my own urban sanctuary in Bangkok, at the fifth level of heaven that is i.sawan Residential Spa & Club. Yes, I had huge separation issues when my stay came to an end - H.U.G.E. 

My Farewell Tea

Well, such is life. 

Nothing lasts forever, especially when it is so fabulously wonderful. 

As Tibetan Spiritual Guru, H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche once said, “Enjoy everything, knowing it’s not permanent”.

Yes, I am doing my best to extend the part about “Enjoy everything", because I know ONLY TOO WELL that "it’s not permanent”. However, I can try and make them last just a wee bit longer by continuing with all my favourite activities - that is enjoy good eats while I can, stay positive as much as possible, travel with my family at every opportunity, and write as much as my passions/inspirations would take me. 

Above all, I am learning to cherish every living moment with my loved ones because of all the transient moments in my life, these will be the very ones I'll miss the most. 

The Morning Wet Market & The Breakfast of Champions

I am not usually a morning person.

However, this morning I decided to drag myself out of bed and venture to the morning wet markets. As a child, I used to accompany my mother to these wet markets to buy fresh produce. It was the only way to shop in those days - before the big supermarket chains changed the way we bought our groceries. 

The Morning Wet Market

At the break of dawn, these fresh produce and meat sellers would procure their products from the farms and suppliers. Then they will assemble their products in their own carts or stalls at a specified area. Yes, the area is zoned for a wet market with the condition that they will dismantle everything and leave the said area by 12 noon or the set time. It is usually a large parking spot that has been turned to a wet market like the one pictured above. After 12 noon, it will be returned to its original status as a parking lot. It is always busiest at around 9:00am to 10:00am.  

In Malaysia, these markets are called wet markets because the ground is literally wet. 

The View from at the Ground Level

You can find all things "fresh" here - vegetables, fruits, seafood, meat and etc. I have not taken a picture of the hanging fresh cut meats. It has never been a pretty sight to behold in my books. What I do enjoy going through are the vegetables and fruits. Every stall owner would mind their own space, careful not to over-step the boundaries of another. 

Vegetables Galore

Assortment of Fruits

One of the several Fish Mongers

A wet market is never complete without the usual "traditional" breakfast stall-sellers. There is the "nasi lemak" lady with her own small table set up. "Nasi Lemak" is a staple breakfast diet for most Malaysians. It is basically coconut milk-infused cooked rice served with a half of a hard boiled egg, some fried anchovies, roasted peanuts, slices of cucumber and accompanied by the famous spicy "sambal" sauce. Then it is all wrapped up nicely in banana leaf.

The "Nasi Lemak" Lady

"Nasi Lemak" Unwrapped 

These days, there are several variations to the original "nasi lemak". There are even "gourmet" versions whereby you can add "chicken rendang" or "beef rendang", fried chicken and etc. "Rendangs" are traditional Malay-styled curries but in a dry form, unlike the soupy curries that we usually see. These "rendangs" are always loaded with spices and exude a wonderful enticing aroma when done well.

Another local favourite breakfast diet is the "Chee Cheong Fan". It is essentially made of rice flour and rolled into individual long cylinder pieces. Similar to the rice flour "Cheong Fans" in Chinese Restaurants for "Dim Sum". However, these are plain "Cheong Fans" - without any meat fillings.

The "Chee Cheong Fan" Stall

These are usually eaten with fish balls, fish cakes of different varieties and drenched in sauce. We have a choice of sauces - from curry, to spicy to sweet. I usually pack all three just because I do appreciate variety. Of course, we can pick anything that we like to go with the "Chee Cheong Fan". The stall above sells all kinds of tofu and soy products to go along with the "Chee Cheong Fan".

The sauces to accompany the "Chee Cheong Fan"

This is how we serve the "Chee Cheong Fan" at home

And this is usually how I eat mine - drenched in a mixture of the sweet and spicy sauce. Yes, in the end, the curry sauce was left aside :(

My Fave Combi of the "Chee Cheong Fan"

Lastly, another local delight which one may not find in Western countries - the "Putu Mayam". It is another childhood fave of mine. It is a sweet rice-vermicelli-looking dish that is served with grated coconut and "gula melaka" (coconut palm sugar). Here, at the wet market, an Indian man sells it straight from a box off his motorcycle. 

Preparing the "Putu Mayam" for a customer

Yes, he uses his bare hands! No, just kidding.

All packed up and ready for the happy customer to take home

The "Putu Mayam" is the perfect ending to my entire breakfast. Yes, I started off with the "nasi lemak" which is traditionally Malay, then moved onto the "Chee Cheong Fan" which stems from a Chinese culture and ended with the Indian "Putu Mayam".

Naturally, there are much more varieties in a Malaysian cuisine in terms of breakfasts. I am just highlighting one small part of my Sunday morning. The cities all around Malaysia are buzzing with all kinds of people waking up, and venturing out of their homes in search for their favourite Malaysian breakfasts by now. 

This is the glorious priviledge of living in Malaysia. Our breakfasts are created from our colourful and diverse communities. To me, IT IS THE BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS.

In fact, in most households, it is not surprising to find that the dining table would feature dishes from different races. In my family home, our meals are as colourful and diverse as our motherland, Malaysia. This is what "One Malaysia" tastes like :)

May we always enjoy the beauty and harmony of being Malaysians, living in Malaysia. 

Have a lovely Sunday, everyone.

Peace to all :)

Decorating for Chinese New Year with Your Own Touch

Every Friday, a column in NST RED will feature an article written by me. It's all about the unique spaces which I have come across that provide interesting or unusual experiences. Yes, the stories I write for NST RED can be about anything as long as it is related to spaces/places. After all, the RED in NST RED stands for Real Estate & Decor.

So, this Friday 8th February 2013 - I have written an article about fun decorating tips for Chinese New Year. As there are always "constraints" in the newspapers' publication, this is the full version with extra pictures and information. 

It will be Chinese New Year (CNY) soon. Traditionally, CNY a time for families to come together - every single family member will make that journey back to her or his hometown, and have their reunion dinner on the eve of the Chinese New Year. Nothing completes a Chinese New Year more than families reunited to usher in the New Year together. As a kid, it is the best time of the year because they get to receive red packets with money inside from all their elders/adults. As an adult, it is another precious opportunity to spend time with families, relatives and friends. Above all, it is to do the real important stuff such as feasting on the sinfully delicious food.

Traditional Chinese New Year Cuisine

This week KL city is abuzz with much activity as many people are rushing to buy all their Chinese New Year items, apparel, ornaments and décor. Traffic is visibly much more congested. May be every Chinese is apparently out at the same time shopping for all the CNY goodies. 

Shopping for CNY Decorations

If there was ever a time when symbolism and superstitions supersede all else, it would have to be during Chinese New Year. Every single item decked out in 

each Chinese household is filled with metaphors of prosperity, great health, good fortune, happiness, and harmony. Every colour, fruit, flower and candy holds poetic meanings. For example, red is a common traditional colour of Chinese New Year that represents joy, virtue, sincerity and good luck. It is also used to ward off bad luck and “unsavoury” spirits during the festive period. Fruits like pineapple, oranges and tangerines are essential features in a Chinese home as they represent the gathering of families and friends, happiness, abundance and prosperity. Flowers like pussy willow, bamboo, plum or peach blossoms all represent the good tidings like blooms of romance, prosperity, long life, resilience and growth. Sweet treats such as candied melons means good health and growth, where as lychee nuts represents strong family ties in the coming New Year. Hence, it would be no surprise to find all these elements and more in a Chinese home during CNY. This is the only time whereby going overboard in symbolism would be approved and most welcomed. This 2013 will be the year of the Water Snake. Therefore, do expect to see many replicas of the snake greeting every visitor in the Chinese household. 

Usually, shopping for new Chinese New Year clothes take a lot of time. And yes, it is tradition that one must wear new clothes for the New Year. So, after getting our new clothes for CNY, the next most important shopping is for the special décor and ornaments to mark the festive occasion. These days, there are a variety of shops which sell pre-fabricated and assembled ornaments. We do not need break a sweat to put things together from scratch unless you really want to, of course. Today’s buyers are really spoilt for choice, because even online stores are selling CNY wares for cheap. A local favourite place to buy affordable CNY accessories would be Petaling Street. Here, everything and anything can be found. Naturally, most of them are also made in China. However, if one prefers a higher quality and more refined ornaments, SSF in Sungai Buloh is a good place to check out.

Table Decor Sample from "The Secret Party"

 Once all the CNY trimmings and knick-knacks are bought, the challenge lies in putting them altogether in a tasteful and creative fashion. Sadly, I am utterly horrible at decorating. It would be likened to asking a hippo to dance the ballet. It is not a pretty sight. Thus, I decided to consult my friends, Erin Jessen and Coral Tong-Swyny, for their imaginative spin on CNY decorations. Both Erin and Coral own a Singaporean events company called, “The Secret Party”. Their company was set up about a year and a half ago. Coral is Singaporean, and Erin is from New Zealand but has been living in Singapore for six years. Theirs is an interesting company specializing in small and intimate bespoke events where personalization to a client’s desires is key. The featured photographs provide a sample of their artistic work. Below are the 5 tips that Erin and Coral have shared with me on decorating for Chinese New Year.  

1) Rice Paper Lanterns

These are an affordable and fun way to "dress up" our homes for the New Year.  Lanterns look great hanging from the ceiling but to add that extra impact, try hanging them in large clusters. For example, above the dining room table might be a perfect spot and suspended at different levels to create a cloud-like effect. Choosing a color scheme is a splendid way to start, but try to keep it to a limit of two to three colors so that it does not become too overwhelming. 

A Chandelier of Red Lanterns

Paper lanterns can be used as table centerpieces as well. Place three small sized lanterns down at the center of the table. Then on the top of each lantern, we can add flowers such as peonies. These floral companions make great choices, as their shape will fit perfectly over the top of the lantern and become a covering for the hollowness in the middle.

We can also use the same concept as above, but instead of the lanterns being presented as a table centerpiece, we can use them as place card settings for each dinner guest. We write each guest’s name in the center of the lantern with a gold ink pen.

Paper Lanterns do not have to be plain. We can add a variety of ideas to help personalize it into our own. Covering them in lace will give it a more “vintage” look, or we could also add ribbons cut into different lengths (tissue paper can be substituted for ribbons here) to the bottom of a hanging lantern to give it a “whimsical” look.

2) Mandarin Oranges

As it is customary to have oranges or tangerines be presented to our guests as gifts, personalizing them is another wonderful way to incorporate a fun décor factor to our CNY celebrations. A cluster of oranges or tangerines can be placed in a large bowl, or they can be displayed lined up on a side table like an art piece, as well as, serving as a traditional facet of Chinese New Year. Oranges can also be wrapped with big red bows made out of satin ribbons, or wrapped in a sheet of lace and tied with a curled ribbon. Small labels could be printed out and then glued to a toothpick, and be inserted into the oranges with a special message of well wishes from you to your guests for the coming year.

A Table filled with Goodies

3) Pussy Willow/Mandarin Wishing Tree

Have pre-made tags ready for guests to write a wish for you and your family for the coming new year is another interesting way to celebrate CNY. Once the guests have written their personal messages, they can hang it on the mandarin or pussy willow tree. This can become a great centerpiece or conversational piece for our homes. After the festivities, these lovely notes can be placed into keepsake box or even framed to hang on the wall as another CNY decorative item for the following year.

4) Horoscope Print Outs

This can be a fun family project. Each household can print out and frame a picture of the “animal” birth sign of each family member.  Then the framed animal pictures can be used as a centerpiece décor or be hung on walls in the dining room or living room. The same print out with different animal birth signs can also be made for the guests and visiting relatives. They are all encouraged to write their own names on it. These are personalized fun ways of decorating, or they can become a nice keepsake for guests to take home with them.

5) Fun for Kids

Keeping children preoccupied during CNY in any household may require more than just iPads, Playstations, tv and etc. We can create print outs of various coloring sheets, and these can be packaged with crayons or colored pencils to keep the children busy. The themes could be based around the different animals of the Chinese Horoscope, or the various meaningful symbols of Chinese New Year such as the double happiness words, mandarin oranges and CNY flowers. When the children are well occupied, the adults can happily indulge in their own “games” over CNY.

A Circus Themed CNY for Kids

As with all decorating, one should not be afraid to adjust, mix it up and modify according to one’s preferences and personal tastes. Some older accessories can be recycled and updated when matched with new items. In the case of adorning one’s home for CNY, it becomes even trickier because some family members might be very particular about the symbolism and its meanings. I know of some traditional folks who are very superstitious and will never have anything to do with the colour blue, or allow hanging umbrellas into their living spaces, and they would definitely take offence to the colour black during CNY. Therefore, it is always advisable to decorate with sensitivity and consideration to the elders who are also residing in the same household. I always find it safer to consult the traditional members in the family and the elders so that they can feel included in the whole process of beautifying the house for CNY. After all, the main focus of CNY is in the congregation of families. Therefore, encouraging every family member to participate will not only minimize any unpleasant surprises, but also help bring the whole family closer together. It is truly heart warming to see how families get together and do their part in getting their homes ready for CNY. At all times, please do not forget to have fun while decorating together. It is the most essential element of the CNY spirit.

For those who are not as superstitious or traditional, you can add your own personal touches in whatever colours that you wish. Brand the CNY decor theme in your home as your own. It could be fun, creative and definitely, original. 

A Fun Invitation to Eat

This CNY the only real decorating I shall undertake will be on myself. I shall be sporting a new look for 2013. My long locks shall be snipped off and a short chic version will crown my head. After which I can fully concentrate on savouring the glorious scrumptious Chinese New Year feasts. There are a few Yee Sangs, and pineapple tarts with my name on them.

Until next time, have a prosperous and happy Chinese New Year. May the year of the Water Snake bring good fortune, splendid