Twisted

Fish and chips with a twist. Fish was first dusted with flour, then dipped in a lightly beaten egg and finally covered with homemade bread crumbs, loaded with dried herbs and grated cheese. Baked in the oven instead of deep fried, to cut down the fat. Oh, I cheated a little, the potato wedges were store-bought, which were back together with the fish. While the fish and wedges were enjoying their sauna, a mayo-based dipping sauce was whipped up with mayonnaise, mustard and finely chopped onion.

Let's eat!

What is Art?

What is art?

"Art is not just something you hang on the wall." Kids from the Hall

That is certainly true, as I wandered along the streets around Pudu area today to check out the Moon Walk Pudu Art Festival, marveling at the few art installations, enjoying the stories and the glorious bygone days of this unique community.

The artist reconstructed the recently demolished 115 year-old Pudu Jail entrance facade and the once world longest mural, using name cards. It put the spotlight on the heritage buildings preservation effort, or the lack of thereof, while at the same time highlighting the once thriving printing industry in the area. It's sort of a tribute to the contribution of those in the industry to the development of Pudu.

This one serves to wish the community all the best in her future. It resembles the bai jia yi (garment of hundred families) or bai jia bei (blankets of hundred families) custom of the Chinese community of which when a newborn is one month-old or 100 day-old, friends and family will each present a piece of palm-size cloth to the mother. The mother will then use them to sew into a piece of garment or a quilt for the baby. Babies wearing the garment or using the quilt are believed to be healthy and of course, very much loved. Some of the cloth strips were obtained from the community and the locals were asked to help out in tying the cloth strips, as a message of love to the Pudu community.

Another interesting installation which also involved the participation of the the local is wrapping of the trunks and branches of a few very old trees in the area with t-shirts and garments, some donated by the locals. The artist was exploring the interaction between the community and the environment along with the change of time. Therefore the work was asking us, with time, what was left? What was lost?

So what is art? More importantly, what does art do? I saw them telling stories about a community, about life. They silently remind us to treasure our history and tradition and encourage us to take time to discover or rediscover our community. These simple yet meaningful installations bring people into a community, bring community to her people and new folks, ultimately bring people together.

Overheard #13

"And, yes, I am a Malaysian first and Malay next. Does any bigot have a problem with that?"

Done talking the talk, now walking the talk, walking tall, walking proud.

好在窗帘把外面的夜空遮得很紧...

Good thing that the curtains cover the night sky outside completely.

Once I wrote that on a night when I was missing home. I was lonely and miserable. I was afraid to look at the night sky, as I was afraid to look at the moon, which would make me long for home even more. So I was thankful that the curtain was down, so that I couldn't look out.

This is the night of the Mid Autumn festival. The Chinese believe that it's the time that the moon appears to be the brightest and the roundest and therefore most beautiful in the year. We will reunite with family, friends, those we love, and those dear to us, celebrating the moment. For those far apart, we look at the moon on this auspicious night and we have those far away in our thoughts.

Though the curtain is drawn tonight, I do not look out onto the night sky for the moon. For I know the moon is there, and I'm thinking of someone dear to me afar.

On This Day

Take time to remember those who fallen on this day with love, peace and tolerance. Honor them by opening our hearts, minds and hands to embrace the diversity of cultures and people in our lives.

They maybe fallen, but definitely not forgotten.

Door Slamming

There's a saying that when God closes a door on you, He also opens another one for you. An end is actually a beginning of something, hopefully something better. Remember, there's always light at the end of the tunnel. Dwelling on the setbacks or failures will not achieve anything meaningful. Asking a bunch of what-if questions over and over again will not change a thing. In the end, it's futile. It is just draining, physically and emotionally, sucking you into the dark abyss of self-doubt and depression.

But what if God does not close the door properly. What do you do? Do you still trying to get through that door, squeezing pass that crack of an opening?

I wish He would just slam the door shut on me, in my face, to my nose, then lock it tight. Oh, shut all the windows too.

How I wish.