没写部落的日子

真的很久没写部落格了。

最近的两篇都是Ed代我写的。

在没写部落的日子里，我和Ed在马游了几个旅游胜地。我这个十多年没在马生活的大马人，突然对大马有了另一面的认识。

在没写部落的日子里，我又病倒了。都是在旅行时吃出来的，嘻嘻。在大热天下走了好几个小时后，还要吃煎炒热辣的，还有什么任你吃海鲜生锅啦。不病才怪。

在没写部落的日子里，Ed回多伦多，我拖着一个旅行箱回到墨尔本勤奋工作。老板结婚，我回来帮帮忙。反正，在加国无所事事。加上内疚，做少奶奶也太久了。再出来闯闯，脑袋不会生锈。

在没写部落的日子里，我上班上得像条狗。下班后，累得什么都不想做。写部落很花时间，需要思考，要整理思索，也要整理照片。我虽然有很多感触，可却真的心有余而力不足。

在没写部落的日子里，我都在适应不同的生活，不同的气候。在加国，我是量地的。在马，我向爸爸学中医。在澳洲，我很努力地做一个好的药剂师。加国，现在天寒地冷。大马，天天炎热。墨尔本，天气多变。一个多星期前，气温39度，热。今天，18度，刮风，下雨，冷。

在没写部落的日子里，我都在飞，都在搬。从多伦多飞到大马，再飞到墨尔本。在墨尔本，我先暂住朋友家。现在，已搬到另一个空空的公寓里。迟些，可能会搬到乡下小镇上班。那里的药剂行可能会给我住motel吧。

在没写部落的日子里，日子很忙，有时也很累。还好，我有音乐和小说的陪伴。有家人，有Ed。在三个国家里，都有很多很好的朋友。也有很多朋友，还有我认识和不认识的读者常来这里看我。

所以，在忙和累，在飞和搬的日子里，日子很充实，很快乐。

Happy Birthday Shirley!

The Day After Valentine’s Day

“How much to stay at an old rickety house with no beach front” I exclaim, “are you sure it’s worth it?”

Well the day after Valentine’s Day, we decided to treat ourselves and stay at an upscale resort called the Bon Ton. We could only get one night booking and have to re-arrange our schedule to fit it in. However, after many days looking longingly into fancy resorts while staying in “budget” accommodations, we were pretty sure of our decision and was eagerly anticipating some luxury of our own.

The resort consists of only seven traditional Malay houses, found all over Malaysia and transported to the site and restored. Traditional on the outside and contemporary on the inside, the rooms has an outdoor bathroom with a cedar bathtub, a shower that drains through the deck, and a toilet with an uninterrupted view of the night sky. While we thought that the place might be full of suits and blue hair, it turned out to be friendly and homely with young couples and families. The owner is Australian and has a home for stray cats adjacent to the property. These cats also has the run of the place and are fed and cared for by the staff, who also went to great extent to make the sure the guests are happy and feel at home. The resort has an excellent fusion restaurant with some of the best food we had in Malaysia, or anywhere for that matter. During our stay, they were in the midst of an expansion with similar theme but would more than double their capacity for guests, and quite possibly for cats also.

The blue house to the left, named the Blue Ginger, is the one we stayed in. It is the smallest and least expensive. The dinner above is a Baba Nonya sampler consisting of seven dishes served on a banana leaf.

(Guest blogger)

Our Valentine’s Days

Late last night, while Ed and I were walking on the Cenang Beach in Langkawi, I suddenly realised it is our 4th Valentine’s Day together.

Each of our Valentine’s is celebrated in different countries. We celebrated our 1st Valentine’s in China, 2nd in Australia, 3rd in Canada and now the 4th in Malaysia. Though we did not plan it, it was just co-incident. Yet, it is indeed a beautiful and seemingly ‘romantic’ co-incidence.

Each of our Valentine’s celebrated simply - with no candles, no expensive dinner or flowers or gifts. Well, we both don’t like too expensive stuffs anyway. Yet, each celebrated with hearts. In China, we had a drink in a bar, and Ed ’stole’ a rose in the bar for me. In Australia, I came home from work and a dinner was ready. In Canada, Ed came home from work early to make a salmon (my favourite) dinner for me. And I put together a slide show for him. Now in Malaysia, umm….nothing has planned for tonight. Maybe just some satays for dinner

Being back to Malaysia this time, I have seen some newly wed happy couples, also some couples who have been married for a few years are going through some tough times. Hearing all these stories, it gives me lots to ponder.

Since each of us are very different persons, for two persons to come together and being together needs extraordinary efforts. I think all efforts in relationship are efforts to understand ourselves and our partners more deeply and respectfully. From there, it will challenge our wisdom and creativity to find a way to be together happily, and hopefully for a long time.

Well, just some of my thoughts on this day.

May I, on this Valentine’s Day, from Langkawi Island, wish each and everyone of you a very Happy Valentine’s Day !

Wishing you all a happy, sweet, long-lasting and respectful relationship, not only with your partner, also with all your loved ones, and more importantly, yourself….

新年快乐 ! Happy Chinese New Year !

在新加坡的牛车水拍到这张照片 - 米奇老鼠向大家拜年！

今年是鼠年，家喻户晓的米奇老鼠顺理成章成了大主角。

除了大型模型外，很多新年春联或摆饰都有米奇。

Ed这半 个鬼佬开始时，不明就理，还错以为迪斯尼公司大花手笔在亚洲拉客。

我解释后，才恍然大悟。

好啦，费话少说，要在大年初一祝大家新年行好运, 万事顺利和身体健康！

I took the above photo in Chinatown in Singapore - Mickey Mouse and friends send their best wishes for Chinese New Year.

Apart from the huge models, we also saw Mickey in many new year decorations. Initially, Ed who is quite westernised, was quite confused and wondered why Disney spend so much monies for Chinese New Year this year. I told him this year is the year of Rat according to Chinese calendar, that’s why mouse is the main character this year. Only then, he realised why Mickey Mouse has suddenly become popular.

Anyway, on this first day of Chinese New Year, I wish everyone has a great year ahead with abundant joy and prosperity and excellent health.

Falling Ill in Singapore

It is not pouring outside (yet), but I am in the internet room in the hotel, waiting again.

I have to wait for 3 hours or so until the departure time of our bus back to Kuala Lumpur (KL).

Ed is out shopping while I can only rest in the hotel because I have fallen ill ! I have diarrhoea, stomachache, and feeling weak with no appetite. We could not pin-point what went wrong, possibly due to food poisoning or virus. Frankly, I do not get it because I have been eating street foods in Malaysia (supposedly a dirtier country than Singapore) without any problem. Well, I guess it is just bad luck.

In addition to that, I also suffered from some sorts of skin allergy. At first, we thought they were mosquito bites but now I have more than 30 to 40 very itchy small raised red dots across back of my neck and on my right arm. So, it is unlikely to be mosquito bites but possible allergy to either bedlinen or street food I ate. Well, bad luck again.

I think this is bad luck because I had traveled to many more remote places or countries but seldom experienced any troubles excerpt once in China and once in Tibet. Similar problems : skin allergy caused by bedlinen and diarrhoea caused by Tibetan butter tea. However, I would not expect to have the same problems in the clean Singapore.

I am glad this is our last day in Singapore and we are heading back to KL. I just want to get better soon before Chinese New Year.

As for my travel experiences in Singapore, apart from the above problems and the daily rains, we enjoyed Singapore. I will write more and upload some photos when I return home.

Waiting in Singapore…..

It is pouring outside, and I am in Hangout Backpackers Hotel in Singapore writing this post.

I arrived Singapore yesterday with a few friends from Malaysia. Thankful for one of them who drove such long distance. Each of them coming here for different reasons, and I am here for Ed. He will be arriving midnight tonight. We planned to spend 3 days in Singapore, then back to KL for Chinese New Year. After Chinese New Year celebration with family, we will then travel to a few places, including Penang, Langkawi and Melaka. Well, yes, the typical Malaysia trip.

I am, of course, excited, yet a little nervous. This is his first time in Malaysia and his first time to meet with my family. Hee hee….meeting the parents is not easy for him but I am sure he will do well. He loves to eat and my family loves to eat. So, there is a common ground ;)  I know he loves Chinese grilled pork slices. We have already received a few boxes as Chinese New Year gifts from relatives, so there are something to keep him happy and busy I hope Ed will also enjoy the Chinese New Year atmosphere here.

As for traveling in Malaysia, it is something I am a little concerned -  the Chinese New Year congestion. I have booked all the accommodations and transports weeks ahead which is something we don’t normallly do. We love to play things by ear and hangout around somewhere we like longer and move on to something else if we don’t like the place. I hope we won’t get stuck in somewhere we don’t like or nothing opened or too busy during Chinese New Year. Nonetheless, never really have the chance to travel in Malaysia, it is exciting that I can travel in my own home country as a backpaker.

While waiting for Ed to arrive, I am spending some times with friends who live and work in Singapore. Great to see them, especially my high school friends who provided accommodation for me last night. They are a lovely couple with two really young and gorgeous kids. I have not seen the husband for over 10 years and the wife for a few years. And the kids are so cute !

Another 6 hours or so, Ed will be here……and I am patiently waiting……at the mean time, will be going to my friend’s place to have steamboat dinner !!

新年来啰！

新年要来啰 ！

所以，把部落格换回白色， 再加红红的照片来迎新年。

虽然很俗气， 算了，反正新年就是这样的

在此，先向大家拜个早年 ！

祝大家身体健康，事事顺利，心想事成 ！

小学同学

近几年回马都来去匆匆, 没时间和一些朋友见面。

这次，机缘巧合下，在一个婚礼上遇到一位已失去联络几年的小学同学。

于是，就有机会和一群小学同学出来聚聚。

有几个我已十多年没见了 !

除了谈近况，我们坐在一起还记得小学时的羞事，顽皮事和无聊事。

突然想起，小学毕业纪念册时，我们喜欢写什么- 友谊长存啦，保持联络啦…

我想，我们真的是做到了….

健康要紧

这次回马，有一个重要的原因 - 就是要跟爸爸学习中医。所以，这三个星期来，都坐在爸爸的诊所内旁听。

有个现象，我觉得很值得思考。我发现，有蛮多的病人是年轻人。即使是中年人，很多时候中年时病发，也是因为年轻时没照顾好身子。 生病已不再是老年人的专利。

很多身体上的毛病归根究地，多起因于学业或工作压力，或饮食不适，或情绪不稳定。

年轻人在长期学业，接着工作上的压力的压迫下，透不过气来。因压力，学习或工作时间就越长，天天开夜班至深夜。可能连发梦都会梦见工作。不但，没足够的时间休息，也没时间自己煮。在外头吃，尤其在马来西亚，辣的，炸的，煎的，味精多多的，吃个不亦乐乎，却不知病从口入。加上，精神长期紧张下，脾气就暴躁，或怎样都开心不起来。

还有，华人总是有一种爱比较的心理。不管是父母，或是对自己。什么都好，一比下去，一定有人比自己好。这种不健康的心理，造成更大的，无形的生活和社会压力。使人更不开心，更要拼了命。

这是个恶性循环。 在这种情况下，身体哪会健康？

我知道，生活艰困，不拼就被人抛在后头。我知道，要趁年轻，好好捞一把。我知道，不做好，会被人看不起。我只希望，我们也同样放心机在健康上。

希望大家需要休息时，就好好学习放松下来。也希望吃得健康些，多做运动。心理感情上多做调适。看开些，多在心灵上努力。该放慢脚步时，就走得慢些吧。一路风景很好。别人怎样看是别人的事。如为了别人嘴巴说的，弄垮了自己的身体，值得吗？钱即使赚多了，又怎样？到最后还不是拿出来交医药费。我看着这些年轻人，年纪轻轻就那么多病痛，以后年长了会怎么样。

健康要紧啊！

(Dear English readers, due to my busy study schedule, I may not have times to translate most of the posts for the next few weeks . My deep apology. Sorry. )

上海一夜 （2）

终于，有时间写写在上海一夜的感想。

其实，等到我们把误机的一切手续办好后，时间已不早。虽然，我和一位在机场认识的朋友已累坏，也不要放过看看上海市的机会。我俩从酒店，乘了四十五分钟的德士，到了上海市著名的南京路。

我都看到了 - 看到上海的繁华，看到上海夜亮丽的灯光，看到上海人（至少是在南京路逛街的上海人）蛮不错的生活。

不过，我不想写城市，倒想写一写德士司机的故事。

—————————————————————————-

“去哪啊？” 德士司机问 。

“去南京路。我听说车费约 150 元。” 我上德士前已向酒店柜台小姐查询过。先咬价，是避免被欺骗。

“嗯。对，约150元左右。”

“那好。” 价定了，我就转过头和朋友谈天。

“小姐，你们什么时候要回酒店？ 要不要我来接送你们？”

“咦？ 你来接送？ ”

“对啊! 你给我一个时间，我来接你们回酒店。我算你们便宜点。只收 150 元。一过了晚上十点，别的可要你200元哟！”

我们半信半疑。可是，想了想，不管是200元或150元是真是假，如果他来接送就方便多了。而且，他人看起来不像坏人。于是，答应了。

———————————————————————————

十点半，德士司机准时来接我们。他的车停泊在一旁。我惊讶地问：“你在这里等我们等了两个多小时？”

“ 我跑了一圈，赚了60元。” 他用手比一比，一副很高兴的样子。“我刚刚去喝了杯茶。”

在回酒店的路上，我才知道原来他不是道地的上海市人。他原是崇明岛的农夫。为了生计，带了妻儿来上海找吃。难怪他看起来那么地朴素，一种打从心底里的朴素。

一提到崇明岛，他就很自豪。他告诉我，崇明岛是中国第三大岛，很美很美。他是要回去退休的。

当我问他在上海的生活如何，他答不错。有想家吗？ 没关系，崇明岛不远，一个小时就可以回家乡了。

到达酒店时，德士内的计程表为135元。我们给他150元， 他还要找钱给我们，我们说不用了。反正我们说好了是150元。他很高兴。

那时，我有点内疚。因为，我起初将他看成狡诈的城市人。

同时，我也很欣慰，因为我在繁华大城市中见到了难得一见的纯朴…..

见到了一个背井离乡的小市民想过好一点的日子的纯朴之心….

酿豆腐 Deep Fried Tofu

星期天，我们店铺休假。早上，爸爸把我带到茨厂街逛。

每逢我回马，爸一定带我到茨厂街，是来怀旧吧。

茨厂街内有几个食档是我们的最爱。

今早，我建议吃中华巷里著名的酿豆腐。

酿豆腐的特色是软软白豆腐内的美味肉酱。

经在油中快快煎一煎，豆腐和肉酱更是香喷喷和可口。

我本还以为酿豆腐是马来西亚华人的美食，在其他国家找不到。

上网一查，才知道它属客家人的菜肴，源自中国。

我家是客家人，难怪爱吃酿豆腐 !

(有兴趣多阅读者，可点击这里。)

Since today is Sunday, which is our day off for our family business, my father took me to Petaling Street in the morning. Petaling Street is also referred as Chinatown by tourists. We spent lots of times there during our childhood, hence my father likes to take me there when I come home.

There are a few food stalls in Petaling Street are our favourites. This morning, I suggested to have our breakfast at the famous deep fried tofu stall in a small lane in Petaling Street.

This type of deep fried tofu is quite special. The tofu is stuffed with very tasty pork mince paste. We also called this type of tofu, Yoong Tau Foo. I always thought that Yoong Tau Foo was a Malaysian Chinese’s specialty and I won’t be able to find it anywhere else. Not only till today after I googled it online, I realised it was originated from Hakka people (one ethic group amongst Chinese) in China. My family is Hakka origin and no wonder we love Yoong Tau Foo !

他们好好生意，做得没停过手。

The business of the Yoong Tau Foo stall was really good !

豆腐，鱼丸，辣椒等在锅内大火煎炸一下。

Tofu, fish balls, chillies etc were quickly deep fried in these huge woks before serving.

有人忙煎，有人忙将肉酱塞进豆腐内。

Workers were very busy with stuffing the special pork mince paste into tofu.

旧朋友和三个小瓜 Olds friends and three little ones

(Dear English readers, please scroll down to find the ‘click’ for English translation)

昨晚和两位旧朋友 - Ah Ben 和慧沁，出来吃个饭。

认识他俩有十五年以上了。

Ah Ben 是我的小学和中学同学，慧沁是我的中学同学。

他俩已是夫妇多年，带着三个儿子出来。

我们失去联络蛮久了，是最近才在Facebook重遇。

多年不见，难得又聚在一起。没想到有说不完的话题。

或许也因为我找到慧沁的部落 ，常上去‘看’她。

也在那认识到他们的另一面 - 爱上长跑。

我们谈他们的长跑，谈我的背包旅行，谈我们和身边朋友的近况，谈他们的儿子经…

我们一边谈，一边看着那三个小瓜嘻嘻哈哈在餐厅玩。

他们甚至和用餐的顾客打成一片，好活泼

旧朋友就是旧朋友。

虽在过去很多年，在不同的国度，过蛮不同的生活。

再相聚时，感觉还是很温馨。

很难得 ，真的很难得….

可惜没拍到朋友小康之家的照片。

那三个小瓜真的好可爱哟 ！

这两个星期在马，因两场婚礼，碰上了很久没见的旧朋友，都感到很贴心，尤其是昨晚。

或许是因为那三个精灵的小瓜。

突然，觉得我们都长大了。

不但要为自己的快乐负责，有些朋友已经要为下一代的幸福努力….

Langkawi or Pangkor ?

最近都在烦一件事 - 为Ed编排马来西亚的旅程。

Ed二月会来马。这将是他第一次游大马。

我这个所谓的地主和大马人，其实很没用。

我这十多年来都住在墨尔本，对大马旅游胜地真是一知半解。

我啊，有很多地方都没去过。

即使去过，很可能是十多年前的事。

我只知道游马一定要去马六甲和槟城，

还有，就是马来西亚著名的热带岛屿。

虽然知道东海岸的岛屿比西海岸来得漂亮。

可是，二月还是雨季，不适合去西海岸的岛屿。

剩下的选择只有Langkawi 和 Pangkor岛了。

我却无法决定，因为读到或听到的意见很参差。

有者说Langkawi 已太商业化了，有者说Pangkor的沙滩有时蛮肮脏的。

不知你们是否去过？ 意见又如何？

我们不在乎很好的resort或多样化的水上活动, 反正也不想花太多钱。

唯一想的，是在岛上好好休息，看看书，晒晒暖和阳光，吹吹清凉海风，走走洁白沙滩。

如必选一个，不知你们会选哪个岛， Langkawi 或Pangkor?

你们曾在二月去过东海岸岛屿吗？ 如有，想听听你们的经验。

新年愿望 New Year Resolutions

不知你们是否有许新年愿望？是否有定新年目标？

听说很多人都没怎么许愿定目标了。或许是因为目标常无法完成，经历太多的失望，所以，以一切随缘的心态来迎接新年就是了。

我嘛，则年复一年，从不间断地又许愿又定目标。还没认识Ed之前，我在新年除夕都不出门。当很多人在外派对疯狂尖叫时，我则留在家中，回顾过去的一年学了什么，和思考在新的一年想要做些什么。这是我为新年倒数的一套。

有个目标，生活有了个重心点，我做起事来也加把劲。今年没完成，没关系。尽了力就好了。明年再努力。我也常不能依时完成愿望。但都没放弃，一年年地做，至到完成为止。

可是，当Ed知道我这个除夕夜不出门的‘习俗’时，他几乎要喷饭，觉得我又‘畸形’又天真。他觉得生活不用太认真。于是，过去几年的新年除夕，他都有事无事地拉我出去凑热闹。

今年，碰巧我俩分两地庆新年，我没太失望，反而有点期待。因为，我又可以遵守我以前的‘习俗’。虽然，我和Ed出门狂庆新年后的第二天，我依然会写目标。可是，好像还是在除夕晚写下的较进心坎里。

好啦！我长篇大论了一番，其实是想和大家分享我在除夕夜写下的新年愿望和目标。

• 第一，当然是希望家人个个身体健康快乐，一家和乐，出入平安。世界和平，真的不想天天打开报章都要伤心好一阵子。至于, 要有健康，就要努力经营。所以，新的一年，我和Ed要吃得健康，少在外吃。要多褒汤，多煮中药调身体。

• 第二，爸爸生意顺利，Ed事业顺心。这个嘛，我虽帮不到，但我希望自己少发小姐脾气，不唠叨，做好家务。这样Ed回家时，可以好好休息恢复。（我怎么变成了个家庭主妇？哈！别问我，我自己也很惊讶！）

• 第三，今年我决心考取加拿大的药剂执照。要拿执照，就有好几个试要考。最令我头痛的是，考试范围竟包括所有以前大学的科目。大学是七，八年前的事了，很多日常工作不需用到的死板知识已忘了。现在要重考，真讨厌。没办法啦，我拖了这么久，也是时候要面对了。

• 第四，这两，三个月在马，要好好跟爸爸偷师，学好中医的临床经验。等我一拿到加国的永久居民证，就要跟多元诊所租间房来开始看病。虽有点战战兢兢的，可我已做好心理准备，知道我可能要等一段时间才有自己的病人。没关系，不踏出那一步就永远前进不了。还好，Ed也很支持我。

• 第五，今年，我想开一个新的部落。新部落和这个日记式部落有点不同。在新的部落里，我希望分享一些中医保健常识。写写对中医的体验和思考，还有提供一些容易在家烹煮的草药茶剂。希望你们也会捧场啦。

等新部落概念较完整时，会告诉你们多些。如果新部落受欢迎，希望有朝一日可以集合成书啦。嘻嘻！我又在发白日梦。至少，如果我的永久居民证申请继续拖延，我不可以工作时，我有个可以努力的目标。

暂时这么多。其实，我还有几个愿望。不过，知道自己性格不专注，很容易分心。定下越多目标越难实现，这个做一点，那个做一点，到头来什么都没好好完成。所以，今年五个就好啦。如果，我懒散了，或想要半途而废，或开始分心时，希望你们会提醒我，会为我加把油。嘻嘻！我太了解自己的弱点了。

你呢？你的新年愿望是什么？

愿共勉之。