Why not Donald Duck instead?

My Jakarta colleagues booked a room for me in this hotel.  When I saw this letter on my bed as soon as I threw down my bags, I had a good chuckle.   Mr. Iteh?  They must think I'm Japanese... No matter, they provide great service.  They leave you privately alone when you don't call or tell them there's any problem.  But when I mentioned there was a problem with the mini-bar (it was locked), they had someone waiting at the door when I came back from dinner. 

There was a grand piano at the corner behind the entrance.  Every evening, the pianist would pound on the keys rendering pieces from classics to the latest pop.  One evening, I looked at him when I heard him play one of my favorites.  He caught my eye and beamed me a big smile and I gave him a thumbs up.  Next evening I dropped into a seat in front of the piano as soon as I entered.  After he finished the piece he was playing, he motioned for a request.  I mentioned "Fur Elise" and he did it perfectly (well, at least to me) and continued to do a few more classics.  It was relaxing to say the least.

I love staying in this hotel.  It's connected to a shopping mall where you can get anything you need.

Bright ideas - anyone?

We were discussing the menace of the Mat Rempits.  This colleague of mine came up with a brilliant idea to stop or curb their enthusiasm for the one wheeler show-off.  Catch the guy and take off the front wheel and tell him, "Now go home on your one wheel".....

 

How's that for a solution, huh?

If only

 

If only transport vehicle drivers would clean up

Their trucks before leaving worksites

 

If only people do their share of the work

Keep their share of the responsibility

To safeguard public amenities

Instead of just looking after their bottom lines

 

If only untainted officials would do their jobs

And without fear or favor enforce the rule

Of cleanliness or overloading

 

If only builders of roads comply

With specifications that withstand usage

 

If only we live in an ideal world

Where everyone does his part

To maintain the environment

And stop wastage of valuable assets

 

If only

If only

If only

Cure for sore-throat.

I tried to plant some in my garden some years ago by throwing some seeds around.  Nothing happened.  Then I managed to get one seedling and poked it into the ground.  It has been flourishing all over the place since.  Now I have them even in the back lane.

Whenever you feel some itchiness in your throat and it's hot and dry (sure signs of pending sore-throat), just get 5 to 10 leaves, wash them thoroughly, throw them into a cup, boil some water, pour in, cover it for a while until its temperature is down to lukewarm.  Then drink it. 

Caution:  You may scream.  Because it's bitter.  That's why they call it Hempedu Bumi (bile of the earth).  It's an anti-toxin which is good for cleaning out your liver.  It also helps lower blood pressure. 

Kaffir Lime

Took this shot some years ago.  Didn't know the real name of this lime until today.  Looks like it's in bloom.  We used to call it 'thaiko kam'.  Always love the smell of the leaves.  Use it as a natural deodoriser in the car.  While going through the papers this morning I read about Kaffir Lime, and decided to search Google.  And presto! 

I found this: http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/Citr_hys.html

 

The Mooncakes that I remember

It’s here again.  The Moon-cake/Harvest/Mid-autumn/Lantern festival.  There’s your collection of descriptions for this lunar month’s specialty.  We, who’ve been handed this traditional practice from our previous generations, often wonder what to do with this variety of names for it.  Never mind, we say.  Let’s just enjoy it.  Let’s join the procession it there’s one around the neighborhood. 

 

So you’d ask, “What’s a hand-painted basket got to do with a lantern festival?” 

 

When I was a kid, we didn’t have much good food or delicacies to go around.  Whatever special treats we had was when special offerings were made to the Deities during festivities.  I remember one eighth month when we had mooncakes.  They tasted so good, I wanted more.  Mother had kept them in a beautiful basket hung from a hook attached to a beam in the roof.  I’d look up longingly at the basket and begged mother to take down those cakes and give me some.  But mother said they’re finished.  It was just an empty basket.  I wasn’t convinced and insisted she take down the basket and show me.  In the end she relented, took down the basket and opened it.  After I‘d seen for myself that it was really empty, I stopped whining. 

 

Now, whenever I look at the basket, I remember how great mooncakes tasted back then.  But these days, mooncakes cost a bomb, especially those designer pieces that are specially made for some people to present as special gifts to their parents or in-laws.  And they’re not really that appealing to me anymore. 

 

No doubt these festivals are now commercial issues, but practices must change with the times and reality.  Since the Americans have shown proof that they’d planted the Star Spangled Banner up there many years ago, most people have stopped worshipping the Moon Goddess.  But the lanterns, sweet cakes, pomelos and groundnuts still remain in the cycle of supply and demand. 

 

Nothing dies harder than fun, food, music, dancing and festivities.  But traditional beliefs must be reviewed and revised according to the conditions presented in their beautifully painted containers.

 

Then & Now

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She hasn't changed much

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I still see the cheeky little girl with the hearty laughter...