Books I Love: Japanese Women Don't Get Old or Fat

(CNB 2013)

This book 'Japanese women don't get old or fat' by Naomi Moriyama and co-author husband William Doyle was published in 2005. I had bought this book in 2009 but never really read it properly nor cooked anything from the numerous recipes in it until after I got back from a visit to Japan (in April last year). And I realised then that I should have really read it before going! I would have been more 'aware' of what to look out for in the land of sushi, the rising sun and beautiful cherry blossoms in the Spring.

Moriyama lives in New York but visits her country of birth often and 'rediscovers' the Tokyo kitchen of her mother. She recreates this kitchen in her own NY apartment and gives readers the how to, first laying out the statistics about Japanese women living the longest (they do get old, really old) and having the lowest obesity rate (a few do get fat, after all!). In her words, 'This book is a celebration of Japanese-style home cooking, a grand tour of Japanese food culture, and an exploration of expert opinions on the traditional Japanese diet, a way of eating based largely on fresh vegetables and fruit, rice, soy and fish, all served in modest portions'.

For me, this book serves as a good introduction to Japanese cooking and what Japanese food is all about. If I want to start living like a healthy Japanese woman, I have to begin by practising 'hara hachi bunme - eat until you are 80% full'. (Now where have I heard this before?)

In a way, reading the author's detailed description of forays into Tsukiji Market with her mother Chizuko, makes up for my own missed opportunity to properly experience this very busy, interesting old fish market in downtown Tokyo. But I did get to eat late breakfast brunch at what Moriyama terms 'one of the bustling world's-highest-class sushi restaurants on the edge of the market'.

Ex Libris CNB 1791

Flea Mart in a Mall

Churchill china 'Indian tree-blue' (CNB 2013)

Flea Markets are fascinating because, like a box of chocolates, you never know what you gonna get. Yesterday after a wedding kenduri at the Singgahsana Hotel in Petaling Jaya, B and I stopped at the nearby Amcorp Mall to browse the weekend flea market there. Though Sundays are more meriah (read: more stalls and rather crowded), on Saturdays one can browse better and hopefully find good bargains.

B and I went around looking at the collections available; old record vinyls, books and magazines, black & white photographs, stamps and first day covers, ceramics, handicrafts, jewelry, etc., etc. So in the end, what did we get? I acquired four of the above Churchill china 'Indian tree-blue' plates to add to my blue and white collection. I paid RM... - a price I think that they are worth (to me at least!). B got a turquoise cocktail ring and a KFC memorabilia of a 2010 ceramic coin box based on KFC's pressure cooker.

B and her KFC memorabilia at the Flea mart (CNB 2013)

Note: If you do not find any bargains at the Flea Market, just go up to the top floor of Amcorp Mall and you will get bargains galore at the Book Xcess bookshop. I assure you, this is a definite!

Pretty Palm Flora

There are so many types of palms that I cannot identify one of two I have in the garden. But this as yet unidentified palm flowered in January this year and again now in April. Such pretty inflorescence.

International Day of the Book

@ the Times Bookshop (CNB 2013)

The 23rd of April is celebrated as the International Day of the Book or World Book (and Copyright) Day, a symbolic date for world literature. Also happy 449th birthday to the Bard of Avon, William Shakespeare (actually he died on this day; a few other prominent authors were either born or died on the 23rd April too, hence Unesco's choice of date). Happy --th birthday to my sister CY (whose age may not be disclosed here because she is a lady; but she is two years older than me, so now you know!)

... this it is the ideal life (CNB 2013)

My resolve not to buy books for a whole year (starting on 30th August last year) so that I may read/reread the ones from my home library, lasted only four months. In January this year I started on my book buying spree again. I just cannot stay away from the bookshops, although I will give the KLiBF* a miss this year.

* Note: The Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair 2013 will be held 26th April - 5th May at PWTC. This 32nd KLiBF 2013 is organised by the National Book Council of Malaysia.

A Squash Final & Nicole

The Women's final between Massaro & Waters  

I know nuts about squash (the sport, not the fruit), but then I also know nuts about so many other sports. By chance I found myself at Berjaya Times Square on the 31st March, when B asked me to accompany her for an event there. She was representing her boss/company to receive a token souvenir for their sponsorship of the squash court of the KL Open Squash Championships 2013.

I had not bought a ticket (RM30, I think), but then to fill up the venue, hoi polloi including moi were invited to sit in. So I got to watch the exciting finals, not really understanding the rules of the game. I really have to get on with Squash 101. Our own Nicole David had been ousted in the semi-finals by Laura Massaro, so it was an all-English affair for women and for the men, all-Egyptian (no Malaysians, so sad). But Nicole was there to watch Massaro triumph over her compatriot Alison Waters. Nicole gamely posed for my phone camera while in the company of the Squash officials. Tqvm, love.

World no. 1 Nicole David (CNB 2013)

For Squash to be in the Olympics, I am guessing that we all back the bid. B does, do you?

B: Yes, I am backing the bid. (CNB 2013)

31 March 2013

A Very Simple Fruit Jam

Apple jam, simply made (CNB 2013)

A good friend passed on to me this very simple recipe to make jam with carrots or apples. Enjoy it with your bread and butter not only for breakfast but for any time of day. 'Fresh' and delicious, this jam saves you money. Seriously! It costs far, far less than the imported jams on the supermarket shelves. Halve the ingredients if you like to make less, or reduce the sugar if you dread diabetes (I do too).

Ingredients
1 kilo fruit (apple/carrot)
1 kilo sugar
Juice of 1 lemon
Vanilla/rose & cardamom (optional)

1. Peel fruits, then chop or grate as preferred.
2. Boil sugar in water for 7-10 minutes. (Use less water for carrot.)
3. Add the fruit.
4. Add vanilla/rose & cardamom (optional)
5. Lower the heat. Add lemon juice.
6. When fruit is transparent and syrup is no longer thin, the jam is ready. Enjoy!

A Railway Station that was: Tanjong Pagar

 Tanjong Pagar Railway Station (CNB 2011)

On 30th June 2011, the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station was closed and ceased to operate after nearly 80 years. Also known as the Singapura, or Keppel Road Railway Station, it was Malaysian (on a 999 year lease), run by the KTM (Keretapi Tanah Melayu) as an intercity station. But new Points of Agreement between Malaysia and Singapore moved the KTM terminus to Woodlands instead.

Architecturally, Tanjong Pagar is a beauty in the art deco style built in 1932, by Swan & Maclaren. The station has two long platforms, covered by umbrella reinforced concrete roofs.

The ticket counter (2011)

The main building has a barrel vault roof with the main public hall decorated with panels displaying batik styled mosaic murals depicting Malaysian scenes of rice planting, rubber tapping, and activities of shipping, tin mining, etc.

FMSR inside CNB 2011)

Murals on the station walls in the interior  hall (CNB 2011)

The facade of Tanjong Pagar Railway Station (NA 2011)

The decorative features on the facade include the letters F, M, S, R, to stand for the Federated Malay States Railway and four marble relief figures - representing Agriculture, Commerce, Transport and Industry (allegories of then Malaysia's economic pillars). They are works by Alfredo Nolli.

F and Agriculture (CNB 2011)

On 9 April 2011 the main building of the station was gazetted a national monument. So is it being converted into a railway museum now, I wonder?

Visited: 4 Feb & June 2011