Pak Idrus's Blog

In the Malay culture food and its preparation is an art by itself. Simple stuff may in an instance turns into a snack for tea or dessert for after lunch or dinner. Some of the basic are the Banana, Tapioca, boiled or fried with a few ingredients added became a specialty of the day. T he other day while in Kuantan my brother had offer us some Ubi Kayu [Tapioca] that he had grown beside his house. My nephew who live there went to get it for us and we brought it to KL. Not knowing what to do with it as yet.  On our return to KL with my nephew driving we decided to take it easy and arrange to have lunch with a relative at Temerloh. I decided to call the relative just after we left Kuantan and suggested that he and his spouse meet us for lunch at Temerloh; Ikan Patin the river fish, a specialty in that part of the country was in my mind. He says on Sunday the restaurant that I referred to is closed and suggested that we go to another restaurant and give us the direction ...

Being a Kuantanite I have been to Cherating many times and of course during my childhood and my youth Cherating have been our camping place. We would hike from the Kuantan town and camp there on the weekend; enjoying ourselves oblivious of the world.  Cherating today in no longer a quiet place like before, it is sort of a tourists’ destination, a destination like Bali with all the potential of becoming one. Well, with proper planning it could be just as great a destination to enjoy the sea. It not that far away from Kuala Lumpur, it just a three or four house leisure drive or an hour flight and you are there facing kilometers and kilometers of open beaches facing the vast South China Sea. And folks a very clean beach all the years round. It been kept clean by the bashing of the waves from the open sea.  There are many kinds of accommodation there that would suit everyone pocket; from the cheapest Kampong house living to the various type of chalets, to the most...

While stopping for lunch at Temerloh on the way back to Kuala Lumpur we got a few bunch of fresh Maman, a local fresh vegetable that could be pickle or stir-fry as a vegetable dish. By this morning my spouse had it pickled as Jeruk Maman. Above are the Maman that had been pickled.  It not that difficult to pickle the Maman. Traditionally in the Malay culture, after cutting and cleaning the Maman is put in glass container and then fresh water is added. Then add a little Nasi [cooked rice] and a little salt; if one like just add a few fresh chilli. Leaves it for a few days to ferments.  After that it could be used in the cooking of Masak Lemak with fish or just consumed as an appetizer with Sambal Belacan. Nowadays it rather difficult to get the fresh Maman in the town market; so, it is now sort of a luxury for townsfolk and I loved it.  Have a nice day.

Not always one gets to buy this Giant Prawn that we call Udang Galah. The other day at the Datuk Keramat wet market I bought a kilo of Udang Galah. I could not find the English name for it except that it a big Prawn like a Lobster but not a Lobster This time It cost RM40 a kilo. It can be as expensive as RM70 per kilo. Anyway, I do not care so much about the price, what is important is that I get to buy it from time to time. And that day at the normal stall that I use to buy Prawn I saw the Udang Galah; and since the size is just right I bought a kilo. Then the next day my spouse cook it the way I like it; my favorite Masak Lemak Kuning. I had it for lunch and dinner as well; it does make a wonderful meal indeed.  Have a nice day.

Online shopping is already a norm among young Malaysian, but I am not there yet. Our kids and grandkids have been buying goods Online and our house have become the official address for the delivery of such goods. That is because we are always at home, making it easy for the quick delivery of the good bought Online.  I was rather reluctant to buy things Online but seen that the service is good, and things bought are of quality and cheaper than at the stores I decided to join the Online revolution that has taken the country by storm. So last week I did my first purchase at Lazada and in less than a week, that was yesterday I received the good that I had ordered. I bought a watch and found it in good condition and I like what I had bought Online, which is way cheaper than the price sold at the store. Well folks with that I am now part of the cyber revolution especially so in the purchase of goods Online. A grandparent quantum leaped into a culture of today cyberworld, the buying...

This is a true story. It happens just a few days ago in KL; at the traffic light when the light was Red. The cars stop and was waiting for the light to turn Green. In this story I mentioned only three cars; Car A, Car B and Car C, each behind one another. Car A and B driven by women drivers while Car C by a man. Suddenly two guys on a motorcycle smashed the window of the left side of Car B and took the handbag from the left seat. The driver of Car B panic and try to move on b ut the traffic light was still Red; she hit the back of Car A. In the commotion the snatch thief drops the bag and fled. At that moment in time the traffic light turns Green and the cars move on. Car C saw the handbag on the road and took it. Car A move on and only stop at a safe place. In the meantime, Car B Follow Car A and stop as well. Car C also follow and stop to handover the Handbag to the driver of Car B. They then call the Police who arrive in mere minutes and then made a report. The Police advice fo...

I am writing this base of my experiences. It my contribution to the society who are yet to understand the pro and con of getting a living space that one call home. Here are my two cents.       If you buy a landed property You get a house and the piece of land the house was built. You are responsible for maintaining that house of yours only. You pay the Assessment tax to the Local Council, twice a year and Quit Rent to the Land Office once a tear; you are done. The Local council take care of the road in front of your house, the drains, the Street Lighting and cut the grass beside the house. You pay the Electricity and Water Bill and you are done. You need not pay a monthly Service Charges. If there is a Park nearby you are free to use it. If You buy a Condo; You are not only buying the space that you are going to live but you are collectively with the others responsible for the management of the whole Condominium complex which includes everything that is ca...

A friend Ismail Mat who now live in Alor Setar in the northern state of Kedah after he retired had invited me to visit Kedah and perhaps go on a trip to south Thailand. So, on last Friday September 29, I decided to take his offer and go on the trip to nowhere. I start the trip by taking the ETS to Alor Setar. The train left KL Sentral at 11.42 and arrived on the dot at 15.17. It was a beautiful ride all the way. On arrival the close friend was waiting for me at the Alor Setar railway station. Instead of sending me direct to the hotel he detours to his home where his spouse had prepared a late lunch for me. It was a simple home cooking that includes Ikan Pekasam and Masak lemak Kulat Sisir of which I had not savored for such a long time. It was such a sumptuous late lunch that I totally forgot about times. Had a small chat with his charming spouse, an MD who had retired and decided to just stay home. After the coffee he then took me to the Holiday Villa, my hotel for the ni...

In photography it the timing and opportunity. Yesterday morning I was out in front of the house looking for Mei Me who had not return. While out there I saw the moon. I then went to take my camera, the new Canon EOS M5 and using a telephoto  lens took some picture of the moon. It happens that at that very moment a plane was passing by and the early bird were flying too. It was really nice to get some good shots in that early morning. I am still learning the way of good photography and happy with the result. I am sharing it here for all to see and enjoy.  Have a nice day folks.

When I was in school camping and hiking was of how we kid spend our recreation especially on weekend and during school holiday.  Kuantan been near the sea have many places to go hiking and camping. One of the camping site that is nearby is at Teluk Cempedak.  On my recent visit to Kuantan I found that they have turn an enclave on the left side of Teluk Cempedak as a Camping site. The enclave is now call Teluk Tongkang. I made a visit to the place and found it an ideal site to camp and enjoy the outdoor beside the sea.  For a small fee anyone can camp there. For the convenience of the campers the authority of the place provides clean water and Washroom for those campers as well to the public would just make a day visit.  On my visit there recently, I had the opportunity to meet the Warden of the place. He welcomes everyone to the place and enjoy camping. Other than providing tents for sleeping the organizer also provides meals and BBQ for the cam...

I was at KL Sentral this morning and found there are so much changes there.That mean I have not explore it for some times in the past years. I went to meet a friend and after that explore the place to get more information of the train services especially the ETS [Electric Train Service]. I have travel the ETS up to Ipoh when it first started and found it fast and comfortable to travel between cities. I may do it again in the near future. As usual that place was thronged with folks on the move.  It all start when a FB friend Wan Izzuddin posted in his wall that he would be coming to KL after a trip to Bangkok. Since I have not met him in person I thought this would be an opportunity to meet and get to know each other. I then send a note on Messenger of FB asking whether he would like to meet. I got a reply that he would, that after he arrived back in Kuala lumpur he would take the train from the Airport to KL Sentral, the country's largest transport hub. I t...

Some years back I bought a few crafted fruits made of copper; a well handicraft products from India. It has been on display in the house all the while giving a glow of an artistic works of great craftsman whose creative works add value to our quality of life. Last week my spouse and daughter Lin went on a short holiday to Chiang Mai, Thailand and brought back a handcrafted wooden fruit bowl made from the trunk of the Mango tree. It a gift to me which I instantly loved it for its uniqueness and it the first bowl that I had seen made from wood of the Mango tree. I then decided to put the Copper fruits crafted in India into the new wooden bowl from Thailand and found that it harmonized well; sort of a fusion of two crafts from a different culture, the Thai and India. Above is that fusion. Enjoy it folks.  Have a nice day.

Good Morning folks. Woke up to a beautiful day in August 2017. Born on August 17, 1939 Alhamdulillah I am 78 years old today and kicking. Thanks to my wonderful soulmate Asmah Abdul Rahman of 55 years and counting who have been with me during the up and down during my life journey I am forever grateful for a wonderful family life. Blessed with three wonderful daughters, five grandchildren, a son in law and two grandsons in law, making me one happy Grandpa; they too give me so much of their precious times in my golden years. Thanks to the many relatives and friends in the virtual world and the physical world my life has been as colorful as well. To those few relatives and friends [you know who you are] who give me your precious time to talk to me or be with me from time to time I am grateful. Thanks folks for contributing in making my life so colorful.  Have a nice day

A few years ago, I went for a visit to Pekan, the royal town of Pahang. While there I saw the oldest mosque there, the Sultan Abdullah Mosque was left in ruin. It was a beautiful mosque built by the British colonial authority in 1929. It was the first and the oldest constructed in the Moorish architecture as most great mosque were built during that era. I was sad seeing that beautiful mosque left to rot. I then wrote to the Pahang state authority to do whatever necessary to preserve that historic mosque; a piece of history of the state of Pahang. I soon forgot about it and on my recent visit I saw that they have renovated the old mosque and turn it into a museum and at the same time retained the name of the mosque. It is now call the Museum Masjid Sultan Abdullah. A month earlier on a visit to Pekan I saw the mosque had been renovated but did not have the time to visit it; I was concentrating on another museum the Museum Sultan Abu Bakar nearby. Last July 20, 2017 I decided to mak...

I love tropical fruits and Banana is my favorite. Banana and Papaya could be got at any times throughout the years whereas the Durian, Duku, Mangis  are seasonal. One of the seasonal fruit is the Mangis. While looking around the lush green surrounding of the Tanjung Inn at Cherating the other day I found a Mangis tree with fruits that has yet to ripen. It greenish white in color. Nowadays unless you live in a Kampong with the tree around your house, it not often that one gets to see young Mangis fruits still hanging from the branches, looking fresh. With my camera, I took a few shots of that fruit. It would take a while before that fruits on this tree could be consumed. Unlike the Durian the Mangis does not smell. The Mangis is different in that it is a small round fruit with dark purple skin. The thick inner skin may stained clothing so it is best to be careful when prying to open the fruit. Inside are the succulent white flesh ready to be eaten. One interesting factor of the...

It was a beautiful Sunday. The weather was nice and cool. I walk out of the gate of my house and looking up saw the moon up above. It was a three-quarter moon and look magnificent indeed.  I thought that it would be great to get a shot of that moon at this early hours of the morning; just after eight. I went up the house to take my camera and put on the telephoto lens that I need to get a good shot of that moon. I then went out again and on looking I could not see the moon as it has been hidden by the clouds. In photography, it like that; timing and opportunity. Anyway, it is still there behind the clouds. I then took a walk and look at the flowers that I had planted across the road in front of the house.  The White Hibiscus was blooming and at this early hours of the morning it has yet to open fully. It was nice to get to see the white buds start to open as the light of the morning sun shine of it. I then took some photos of the flowers first with the telephoto lens an...

For this year we just had a small Hari Raya Open house and we did it on the third day of Hari Raya which fall on June 27, 2017. We just invited a selected few of relatives and friends. We had expected around forty or so would come and celebrate the Raya with us. At just after noon on that beautiful day folks start arriving in groups and individually.  The first to arrive were the new extended family from the newly wed granddaughter of ours; the eldest granddaughter who got married in July last year. It was nice of them to come and as usual the house soon was beaming with activities. They then sat down to enjoy the Raya spreads that we had prepared.  Then after they left another extended family, this time a group from the family of our second granddaughter who got married early this year arrived. It was a large group and it does make us happy to get to meet them. They too sat down to enjoy the spread that we had prepared.  As the day goes buy more and more frie...

That last time we went to Sungai Lembing it was late and we could not go and see the new Museum there. This time I [my spouse did not come along] decided to go early and head straight to the museum before sightseeing of the other parts of the old town of Sungai Lembing. In its hay days during the colonial era Sungai Lembing was a dynamic small mining town. Here was the largest load tin mine in the world own by a British Company, the PCCL [Pahang Consolidated Company Limited]. The whole area of Sungai Lembing was sort of an autonomous region in the Kuantan District. It was managed by the company head, its General manager or as the Malay at that time call it the Tuan Besar. That is what colonization is all about. In the case of Malaya, the British came and took over the country and exploited it natural resources. They did it legally by signing an agreement with the local authority at that time. The mining of tin in Sungai Lembing was one huge enterprise that provides jobs for the loc...

I was in Kuantan two weeks ago and decided to make a visit to Pekan the royal town of Pahang. There is a new museum, the Sultan Abu Bakar Museum there albeit an old one that had been refurbished and upgraded. Pekan been the royal town of Pahang and the oldest among the town in the state have many artifacts and memorials that of historical significant. I believe most was lying in the many small palaces or istana as usual are in a royal town and Pekan is no exception. The authority decided to place all the priceless artifacts in one building.  An old build that is a museum piece itself have been converted and most if not all the relevant artifact has been transferred to this new museum and displayed in various room there. On my first visit, I had a glimpse of what in store there and happy that they have done a professional job in displaying the artifact, as well using computer to provides more information to visitors. Since this was my first visit there I decided to just take a...

We are now at the beginning of Ramadan. It is a spiritual journey that Muslim all over the world take during the month of Ramadan of the Islamic calendar. During this whole month Muslim would fast during the day and break the fast at Sunset. That moment is call Iftar or Buka Puasa in Malay. Iftar [the breaking of the fast] is done at one's house or at the local mosque. Where families members live nearby like ours the whole families would Buka Puasa at our house. Remember after fasting for the whole day everyone is not in the mood to go out, thus the buffets at the hotel is out of question. So, the best place is at one's house where the atmosphere is relaxing. We really need a relaxing atmosphere to buka puasa and there should be no rush in doing it. The ritual is always the same; when the Azan is heard we break the fast by taking some hot or cold sweet drink and Dates. Then go and perform the Maghrib prayer. Only after that one start to enjoy the first meal of the day. Then af...

Last week I went back to Kuantan and stayed there for three night at my home away from home, the Vistana Hotel. While there I relived my childhood memories, as well visit places like Sungei Lembing, In Sungei lembing was the largest load Tin Mine in the world during the colonial era. There is a museum there now, housed in the once bungalow of the top British administrator of that place. the local call the Tuan Besar. The next day went to Pekan and visit the newly refurbished museum there, the Sultan Abu Bakar Museum. It houses priceless artifact of an era gone by. I like the way the museum is managed and may visit it again in the near future. As usual I went to the Teluk Cempedak beach, a beach that I called my own. I grew up here and always never far away from the beach and the sea. Thus, it has become part of me; I love the salty smell of the sea air as well the sound of the sea bashing the shore endlessly all days and nights. It kept the golden sandy beach clean just like before....

I always take a walk in the afternoon around the neighborhood just to keep me fit. It just a walk and at time I would stop at a friend's house and chat on the roadside or in the house. After a while I would continue my walk. Then would sit a while on the bench at the park nearby before going home. One day while taking a walk around the neighborhood I met a friend Ramlee who always ride a bike. He stops by me on the roadside and we chat. He told me that he just heard that Cikgu Razak of Jalan 2 had passed away. I was shock since the last time I met him was at the Friday Prayer, he looks cheerful. Then he says another of our friend Taib of Jalan 4 is in hospital and another a Dato who at one time head a bank has totally lost his memory. The last time I met the Dato was at a Supermarket nearby. He looks sick with his dear wife holding his hand. He could not really remember me. I wished him well. Some time later at KLCC I met a friend Lokman whose wife  died a year ago.  Over co...

These are the a copper pots that I inherited from my father. He had numbers of it in various sizes for cooking at the restaurant or at Kenduri. At that time, it was difficult to get such pots in Malaya so he got his friends from Kerala to bring a few and this is the smallest in size. When the restaurant was closed my younger brother, who managed the restaurant after the demised of our father took it to his house and kept it in his store. I went to have a look and it was all blacked with soothes after many years of uses for cooking. I told my brother to let me have two of the smallest and he agreed.  I then took it to my house in Kuala Lumpur. Both were used for decoration. When the kids got their own house, I decided to give both to them, sort of passing down of an inheritance that is priceless. Once belong to their grandfather. A part of our family history.  Have a nice day.