Nasi Kandar Kampung Melayu

Just where in Pulau Pinang do you find the best nasi kandar? Hands down for me, it is the Nasi Kandar Kampung Melayu!

The Line was Clear at Nasi Kandar Line Clear

There are quite a few food blogs that have written about the nasi kandar here at Line Clear, so I will just say that when we went to have lunch there recently during our island getaway, the crowds were not yet there. So we got our table and our food in very good time. I must say that the place has been spruced up after some of the bad press it got.

Thank you See Toh for the treat! We all enjoyed our meal there, yum yum!

Our Island Getaway

The recent long four-day weekend (i.e. the weekend plus two public holidays) was our chance for an island getaway. To balik kampung actually, to Pulau Pinang (PP). We did not drive but flew with Malindo Air there (and Firefly back). It was my first Malindo flight and it was good, smooth all the way. Just the way I like any flights I take.

We had no car to go around, but we had very kind friends of B (Santhi and See Toh) to drive us places. Santhi (and niece) fetched us from the airport (seriously I have always thought that PIA stood for Pakistan International Airways, duuh! But then I recall PIA advertisements during my childhood years when Penang International Airport did not exist yet!).

We had our nasi kandar fix at two popular eateries - the Line Clear and Kampung Melayu. Also tandoori at Kapitan's and banana leaf rice at Passions of Spices. We walked along the Esplanade, checked out the History Museum and went on the inner city street art trail. I went on the trail twice this time, the second time with my niece SR, introducing her to the delicious cakes of China House.

I felt almost like a tourist during this visit because I visited the Rat Island/Pulau Tikus Market for the first time (despite having lived in PP for more than thirty years). With Santhi and niece, we bought some delightful nyonya cakes for breakfast there. But then again, I also felt most at home because I got to spend some time with my two older siblings for that long weekend.

P.S. I have lots of pictures of our PP getaway but then something is not right with the computer and I cannot upload anymore for now. Sheesh!

SA Garden Catalogue: Tristellateia Australasiae

Scientific name: Tristellateia australasiae 
Common name: Maiden's jealousy
Family: Malpighia
Origin: Tropical Asia

The Tristellateia australasiae is a slender semi-woody vine, bearing terminal yellow inflorescences throughout the year. But the flowers last only three days. It grows very well in full sun, and propagation is by cuttings or seeds.

My good neighbour gave me a plant grown from her wall-climbing luxuriant ever-flowering vine. I grew it in a small container but never allowed it to climb high enough. After an initial burst of flowers (see above), the plant had been pruned and now is not doing too well. I might just replace it with another yellow flowering but more 'traditional' plant (Kenanga/Cananga odorata most probably).

Weather-wise we are in the middle of the inter-monsoon period (March-May), so a normal day usually begins quite bright with white clouds and blue skies. Then by midday it starts getting cloudy and grey and by late afternoon the thunderstorms occur. The intensity of the thunderstorms can sometimes be rather scary, what with the heavy rains, strong winds, loud thunder and lightning flashes. But anyway we have gotten used to this (almost), because we do have a record of having the second highest number of lightning strikes in the world! Ces't la vie!

One Fight at Stadium Putra Bukit Jalil

I have spent some time thinking about it - that I was party to being with humans urging on another two humans to pummel and hit each other hard. I, who dare not even watch any boxing or wrestling matches on TV. And there I was, a little more than a month ago, at the MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fight at the Stadium Putra Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur.

If truth be told, I was bamboozled (again) into going for this event. Oh okay, there was no gun pointed at my head, but then again it did feel like so!

Here is how the event was touted, "One Championship (ONE FC), in partnership with Tune Talk returns to KL with another blockbuster event that promises a night of non-stop high-octane mixed martial arts (MMA) action. The fastest growing sport in the world today, MMA pits the best fighters from around the world against each other in hand-to hand combat within a cage. Whether you are a fan of boxing, wushu, taekwando or any other martial art, get ready to be entertained as the top fighters in each discipline prove their mettle on the largest stage in Asian MMA. You've HEARD about it, you've felt the buzz, now EXPERIENCE MMA for yourself on 13 March.

ONE FC: AGE OF CHAMPIONS will feature the first title defense of ONE FC Flyweight World Champion Adriano Moraes as he faces the Japanese challenger Riku Shibuya!. Also, Malaysian stars Peter Davis and Ann Osman return to the cage in 2 back-to-back Malaysian Warrior Super Fights to round off the night of exciting action".

Anyway I think most of the time I only looked at the 'combat cage' before any fight started. It conjured scenes of gladiators fighting to their death in the Roman Colosseum - not very 'entertaining' or 'exciting' at all. Then I would check my Whatsapp or IG status on my phone thank goodness I could then, till a fight is over and the crowd/audience at Bukit Jalil would be cheering/jeering as the case may be. I guess overall I survived the event pretty well and can tick off this 'not on my bucket list' item.

P.S. Both Peter Davies and Ann Osman won their combats. Moraes retained his title although Shibuya put up a very good fight to the finish.

ref: www.onefc.com/events/42-onechampionship.html    *The red highlights are mine.
13 March 2015    (In progress)

Snapshots: Springtime in Tokyo (2012)

Its the beginning of April and the Sakura or cherry blossoms are in full bloom in Japan. I wish I was there enjoying their transient beauty but I am not. So, I did the next best thing and looked through the numerous photos I took while there in April 2012, and post some of them here.

These were taken in Ueno Park, Tokyo.

3-12 April 2012

"Spring has Sprung"

March 21 heralds Spring; the beginning of a 'new year' and the renewal of nature. Even if we live in a perpetual 'Summer' in the Tropics, we still look forward to the Vernal Equinox.

A few days ago I went out into my little garden and recorded the numerous flowers in bloom. Enjoy some of them here!

25 March 2015; Seri Aryan Garden