Comfort food

Recently, there is a discussion about "comfort food" in a mailing list. But I thought these people were talking about favourite food rather than comfort food.

Can food actually give comfort? Apparently it can and frequently it is due to pleasant association of childhood.

In the animation Ratatouille, the harsh food critic Ego was won over by a dish ratatouille (a French vegetables stew) because it was a dish his mother cooked for him when he was a child. It brought him memories of his mother's love.

My comfort food is not my favourite. It is not something I eat frequently or even yearn for it. But when I am sick or down, I find a bowl of hot porridge extremely comforting. Perhaps that's because whenever I am sick, that's what my mother would cook for me. It is something I associate with care and concern. Also, being plain on its on, I like its blandness when I do not have appetite and just want something simple.

The following is something I wrote a while back.

The porridge of my life

May 21st, 2007 by laink

Haven’t been sick for a long time. Almost had forgotten how bad it can be.

My head was throbbing, my nose dripping and my mouth was dry and bitter. But when I tuck into the hot bowl of porridge my mother cooked for me, I suddenly found it so comforting.

I am not much of a porridge person. But when I am sick and have not much appetite, a bowl of hot plain porridge with a bit of preserved bean curb and salted beans is still the best. It may not be something I eat much when healthy and well. But when sick, there is something very comforting in a bowl of porridge.

And I remember the time when I was living alone in the USA, as sick as I was, I had to get out of the bed to cook myself some porridge.

And I remember, in the show My Lovely Samsoon, how Samsoon cooked porridge for Hyun Bin when he was sick.

And so I am thankful, for my mother for the love she put in in the bowl of porridge.

And so I wonder, if there will be some one else who will cook porridge for me when I am sick, and for whom I will cook porridge when he is sick.

红尘路上，我不敢期望太多。只想，生病时，有人给我煮一碗热腾腾的粥。

Melaka Trip 29-31 Dec

This was a backpack trip to Melaka.

I meet my friend at Kranji MRT and took a bus across the border to the Larkin bus terminal. We reach Larkin about 9:40am and went around looking for a coach to Melaka. The price of the coach ticket to Melaka were all RM19. However different bus companies had different departure times. We bought one which departed at 10am.

The coach was quite new and it was pretty comfortable. It departed on bus and only stopped briefly at a rest stop for a toilet break. We reached Melaka Sentral station at 1pm.

From the Sentral bus station, we took the Panaroma bus (RM1) to Chinatown.


Jalan-Jalan Guesthouse

I had booked guesthouse which was right in the middle of Chinatown. It was a relatively new guesthouse called Jalan-jalan along Jalan Tukang Emas,just a stone's throw away from the Kiling Mosque (see pic). The manager Sam had converted it from a tradition shophouse that was in ruins into a guesthouse just a few months ago.

I paid RM35 per night for a twin private room. For that kind of price, you really can't expect much. It was a small room with a double-decked bed and a fan (no air-con of course). There is a common toilet and bathroom and there is hot water shower. You get free use of internet service as well, but as there is only one computer, you have to wait if someone is using.

It's basic, but the house has a nice character. However, my friend did not sleep very well because the bed was rather creaky. I liked the location as it was convenient to wander around Chinatown.



Chinatown

Jonker street was the tourist belt in Chinatown. The place is being invaded by tourists with the award of UNESCO heritage status to the old town. Tourist souvenir shops, galleries and eateries are over taking the houses.

However, if you wander beyond the tourist belt (not many tourists do), you will discover the charming part of Chinatown. There are many distributors still plying their trades there (I saw dried food, cigerates, plastic wares, coconut milk, metal ware). There were also many craftsmen still working their crafts there. I saw a metal smith smelting a cleaver, an old man making wooden buckets, rattan weavers, a lady making popiah skins. There are interesting things to see, if you have the interest to look for them.




Baba Nonya Heritage Museum

I visited the Baba Nonya Heritage Museum. It is a private museum. The entrance fee of RM8 comes with a guided tour.

It is well worth the money and I would strongly recommend any one visiting Melaka to drop by.

The museum was owned by a third generation baba family. The collection were actual items used by the previous generations. Obviously, the family was very rich.

The guide told me that she was seeing a sudden spike in Singaporean tourists, obviously thanks to the Media Corp TV serial Little Nonya. According to her, previously, most Singaporean visitors were students. But recently, she was seeing a lot more Singapore tour groups and visitors.


Dutch Square

I guess a visit to Melaka would not be complete without a visit to the Dutch Square and St Paul's Church. It's a nice visit, but nothing particularly special.







A walk through the cemetry

Bukit Cina is the Chinese cemetry ground. There is a small temple at the foot of the temple. I thought the temple was supposed to be dedicated to the Admiral Cheng Ho of Ming dynasty, but the statue of the admiral was at a corner outside the shrine hall.

It was quite pleasant walk through the cemetry grounds to the top of the hill.





Cendol

I lost count of how many bowls of cendol I ate over the 3 days in Melaka.

Cendol in Melaka is good. Rich cococut cream, thick and sticky gula-melaka (palm suger) makes this unforgetable. You just don't get the same thing in Singapore!

雷雨

我是一蕾忍不住的春天
为你的来到绽出少年
而你却远远打住
望不见我翕敛的眼睑

你是夏末的一场焦躁的雷雨
匆匆促促自来自去
明天时干干净净
把我的心事全都不许

安克强《我恋你依然如昔》

Acquired taste

This morning I made a cup of coffee from a coffee bag. It was only half way through the coffee that I realized that the coffee appeared to be unsweetened at all. What I was amazed is that I was not even aware that it was unsweetened.

I remember many years ago, I made unsweetened coffee for my diabetic uncle. I had a taste and found it totally "undrinkable".

Yet, unsweetened coffee is now quite palatable.

It's all really an acquired taste. For the past year, I have been reducing sugar intake for health reasons. Over time, I guess my palates must have adjusted.

I remember when I was very young, I hated vegetables. Back then, becoming vegetarian is probably unimaginable. Yet I have been a vegetarian for 8 years now. Again, it was a slow process of getting acquainted with vegetables over time. In my teens, when I realized I was not going to get enough nutrition if I don't eat any vegetables, I forced myself to eat some every time. But the time, I was ready to become vegetarian, it was not a problem any more.

Taste can be acquired and changed over time. So too habits and practice can be changed.

I think I need to apply the same attitude towards the practice of meditation. It's something I have not been able to get into regular practice yet.

It will be a good new year resolution and I will start with observing a day of silence and meditation at a temple on New Year's day.

《印记》

不要因为也许会改变
就不肯说那句美丽的誓言
不要因为也许会分离
就不敢求一次倾心相遇

总有一些什么
会留下来吧
留下来作一件不灭的印记
好让 好让那些
不相识的人也能知道
我曾经怎么深深地爱过你

席慕蓉《印记》

快乐是一种选择

幸福掌握在自己手里，
快乐是一种选择。

我常常这么想。快乐就是一种人生观，乐观则幸福，悲观则忧伤。

最近一个朋友选择了一很不错的男朋友，感到非常幸福，也觉得快乐是是一种选择。其他朋友也都祝福他们。

然而“有来只见新人笑，有谁听见旧人哭？”

这次，我看见旧人哭了。

猛然发现，原来，“快乐是一种选择”，对在选择中被抛弃的人，是多么残酷的。

Dhammavadaka & Desiderata

Dhammavadaka

Remember always that you are just a visitor here, a traveler passing through. Your stay is but short and the moment of your departure unknown.

None can live without toil, and a craft that provides your needs is a blessing indeed. But if you toil without rest, fatigue and weariness will overtake you, and you will be denied the joy that comes from labour’s end.

Speaking quietly and kindly and be not forward with either opinions or advice. If you talk much, this will make you deaf to what others say, and you should know that there are few so wise that they cannot learn from others.

Be near when help is needed, but far when praise and thanks are being offered.

Take small account of might, wealth and fame, for they soon pass and are forgotten. Instead, nurture love within you and strive to be a friend to all. Truly, compassion is a balm for many wounds.

Treasure silence when you find it, and while being mindful of your duties, set time aside, to be alone with yourself. Cast off pretense and self-deception and see yourself as you really are.

Despite all appearances, no one is really evil. They are led astray by ignorance. If you ponder this truth always you will offer more light, rather than blame and condemnation.

You, no less than all beings, have Buddha Nature within. Your essential Mind is pure.Therefore, when defilements cause you to stumble and fall, let not remorse nor dark foreboding cast you down. Be of good cheer and with this understanding, summon strength and walk on.

Faith is like a lamp and wisdom makes the flame burn bright. Carry this lamp always and in good time the darkness will yield and you will abide in the light.

---

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others,
even to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.