Aunties, uncles???? Be careful with your designations...

Malaysians can be blinded when it comes to designation. Through experiences which I dare say can be embarrassing to the person the designation is shot towards. Example, I was called 'auntie' by people who are very much older, little older, a little younger or of same age. Shouldn't we just asked, " Excuse me, may I know your name please?" And from there just acknowledge the person using her/his name or surname. That simple. If you do not know her/him just acknowledge her as "Madam" or him as "Sir" or "Mr."

It would be wonderful for sales personnels not to call future customers as "aunties" or "uncles" for you are never related. I noticed that we never call foreigners as "aunties" and "uncles"....Why, may I ask? Well, shouldn't we practice doing this to locals? I taught my son to acknowledge the hotel guests where he is working as "Sir", "Madam" or if he knows them, by their surnames. I assure you many would appreciate that. The graph of your sales may even shoot upwards.

A friend of mine had her youngest boy during her late 40s. While we were browsing around a supermarket one fine day, a sales person approached her. She was holding on to her 5 year old son's hand. To my amusement, this guy went, "Auntie, how about buying this educational toy for your grandson?" with a smooth smile on his face. The smile went off when he got a rude reply. It was "Look I am not his grandmother. I am his mother. Do I look that old? I did want to look at your products but because of your acknowledgment, I decided not to purchase any item from you. Please do be careful next time". She walked of unhappily.


I know of a man who is near 70 but still very active. Someone called him "uncle" and he just turned round and told that person, "Don't call me "uncle" as I am NOT your uncle. Call me "Sir" or "Mr". He looked very displeasured from his facial expression and the tone of his voice.

I know to many it is a normal thing. But believe me, I am sure most people preferred not to be called "aunties" and "uncles" unless related. Some Chinese would follow their kids calling neighbours as such. Not very amusing though. We should be addressing each other by name since we are neighbours.

I do not call people such unless they call me the same. There was one day at the market, this lady who is a fishmonger called me 'auntie". "Sweet", I said in my head. My next step was to call her the same back. One point for me as I can see from her face that she wasn't very glad. Hahaha anyway, she looks older so I was just being 'polite' like her. My way of getting back.....sarcastically well done.

Rukun Tetangga Gathering on 20/9/08

On this day, I was asked to help by shooting photographs by the committee members of the Rukun Tetangga for our Mount Erskine area. Recently a gathering was organized because a group from Kuala Lumpur made a goodwill excursion here.

A buffet dinner was catered for this occasion. Everyone had a good time not only with the food but getting to meet new friends from afar. The members were very cooperative. Many good singers were discovered during the karaoke session.

Garbage Enzymes

A month ago a friend introduced me to garbage enzyme. But as I did not have the proper method of doing it, I put it off until I read it in The Star publication. Later on, my brother talked about it and he got me the method of making garbage enzymes.

At first I tried it out in a small plastic container with screw-top cover. Note the container with the yellow cover. I have to stir it every day. After about two months, discovering that I was successful in this enzyme making, I decided to go for larger container. So see the red plastic container which I bought for this purpose. I added kamquat skins and some vegetables for my first experiment. Then for the red container, I added quite a few things like pomelo skins, papaya skins, lemon grass and kamquat skins.

This garbage enzymes will only be ready in 3 months period. The readied enzymes can be used for many purposes. To wipe your oily kitchen, to neutralized harmful chemicals in your shampoos and body shampoos, rub on your pimples, wash your vegetables to get rid of insecticides, just to name a few.

I noticed that at the Fettes Park market, a fruit seller is selling a small bottle of 500ml for RM3.

Next I am thinking of making eatable enzymes but have to go find the recipes from book available in health shops.

Python caught at New World Park

On 18th September, 2008, as my friend, Doris, and I were walking towards the side entrance of New World Park, we saw a large crowd gathered there. For a moment we thought that there was some kind of emergency like someone had a heart attack or someone may have fainted. Upon walking closer being curious, we saw the fire brigade. A large crowd surrounded in circle. I pushed myself into the crowd to have a glimpse of the happening. As I tucked my head in between a man and a fireman, I saw this python being held in custody by another fireman opposite. Awesome sight.. as I started to fish out my mobile phone camera. I began to snap as many photos as I could.

The bystanders looked curious, awed and were whispering among themselves. Curious to know how this python got here. Questions were hurled at one of the fireman. We were told that this python belonged to a pet shop nearby. Gosh, how could it have escaped? Was the owner careless to have left the latch unlocked? Or was the cage sabotaged by some mischievousness?

The poor reptile could have been dead trying to escape. Many things could have happened like a car running over it. Perhaps it may have died of hunger hiding in some polluted drains...or someone may have killed it unknowingly out of fear.

Anyway I am glad that it was taken care of by the firemen. Pythons are endangered species. Kudos to the firemen who were so calmed and reacted very fast.

Politics???

Lately we were entertained by political issues. Some of them were like comedies to me. Well, episode after episode just like the Taiwanese dramas. When will the story end....and everyday something like a continuance with the last episode would arise. I would end the day with, "Let us see what is for tomorrow". Nothing can be predicted. Decisions just cropped up. And dreams shattered yet still persistent to dream on and on and on. Unrest were stirred up some unscrupulous scandalmongers. Texts were sent via mobile phones and emails. Some can be very funny, some false rumours and some too sensitive. We have to be very careful of what we are resending out. Usually I would delete those which I judged as too sensitive to be continued. Let there be peace instead of disharmony in our country. We do not need to hate each other for reasons of some irresponsible doings and words. The citizens hold the right to unity and for them to decide what they want...to live in peace or to go for disharmony and fight. I would rather that we live in peaceful harmony whereby we can carry on as proud Malaysians - not as Chinese, Malay, Indian, Eurasian or others. Let us not degrade each other but instead respect each other irrespective of race and religion.

What a big shock!!!!!!

Melamine was found in baby formulas and some dairy products like yogurt, regular milk and ice cream. 22 producers in China were found guilty of tainting this dangerous chemical into the products. It had so far killed 4 babies and 6,244 were sickened which 158 were diagnosed with acute kidney failure. The irony was that it took them so long to recall those in the market. 69 batches of formula made by well known manufactures were found contaminated. Normally this industrial chemical is used in nonfood product.

I am truly skeptical about produces from China. The canned goods may contain stuffs which we might not be using as food. I was sent a few shocking emails on how chickens were processed. Made my tummy churned to be precised and I am glad that I am more on vegetables.

Not that I am against China products but they should be of international standard. They should not abused the quality of the products. Why must they add melamine to falsify protein? Knowingly that melamine can never replace protein at all. We do not need chemical for making plastic in us. Or are they trying to make us into plastics???? How can they cheat on their own countrymen? I dare say that they are trying to make more money by giving low quality goods.

What is the Health Ministry there doing? Don't they go into factories to make random checks on them? Human lives are at stake. We have heard so much about poor quality products from there BUT please do not take lives to make a living.

Chinese Opera

Recently the Taoist celebrated the Hungry Ghost month which falls on 7th Chinese moon every year. During this month the Taoist would pray to the dead. It was believed that during such month King of Hades would open the doors of Hell to let out all the ghosts. Some superstitious people will not go out during the night. Parents would disallow their children to go to the sea fearing that they may be captured by these so called hungry ghosts.

It is considered an inauspicious month and weddings are not encouraged. Fears were instilled into the minds of the Taoist.

But according to Theravada Buddhism, the explaination is about filial piety. The story started from a disciple of Guatama Buddha named Mongalana. He had dreamt that his mother was suffering in hell. And he went into hell to help his mother get out of the misery.

During this month the Buddhist would do dana (charity) in memory for the wondering souls. Prayers are offered and some will offer monks' requisites. The Mahayanas will be chanting for the lost souls for a number of days as stipulated by the different temples.

The Chinese operas will be employed by committees managing this celebration. This is a dying trade. But recently they are making a come back. They were replaced by singing. The irony is that the singers of such entertainment were dress scantily to attract more audience.

In my opinion, the Chinese opera is more suited. When I was a small girl, together my cousins and I would carry benches and we would place them at the best spot whereby we could get a good view. There were times we would cheekily sneaked back staged to have a peek at how the performers did their make-ups.

These operas if one can understand the story is very interesting. The story are based on ancient history.

Most of these performers come from Thailand. The costs of these are on daily basis. If not mistaken it is like MYR2000 per night.

The costumes are the main attraction. They are made of sequins and having seen them before, I can tell you that it is an easy task to tailor them.

Nowadays, the young do not appreciate such operas. When I went to take shots, I noticed that the crowd was not like those good old days.