kena saman, lagi

“’tis the season to be married… fa la la la laa la la la laaaaa”
And so it has begun (actually a long, long time ago), the time of the year when invitation cards for weddings descend fast and furious like owl mail over breakfast in the Great Hall of Hogwarts. Opening each card or e-mail invite (whatever happened to good old-fashioned cards?) conjures up the image of crossing out another face on the old class photographs while muttering “Another one bites the dust… one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight… EIGHT WEDDINGS!!!” *cue The Count of Sesame Street’s maniacal laughter, flustered bats and lightning flashes*

Kooky imaginations aside, I enjoy attending weddings, really, I do… Maybe for the simple fact that they are not mine hee… or that weddings are interesting distillations of the blessings, tribulations, drama and aspirations of life, all in just a ceremony and a day or two. Weddings are also great events to observe people: the celebrated couple, the parents, the siblings, the friends, the bridesmaid, the best man, the exes, the relatives, the priest, the tai kam che, and numerous characters among strange faces. Salutations, cheers and toasts are expressed abundantly during the subsequent merry feasting but it is often those unspoken that are much more interesting. Words may deceive or exaggerate but facial emotions and body language seldom do. I have often wondered what were the stories, feelings and thoughts behind the faces that ran the gamut from joy to sadness.

At weddings too, you can watch how tradition and respect for the elders merge with the modern desires and trends of the younger generation. A wedding can be simple but almost always filled with complex personas, beliefs, nuances, rites and expectations. Most of the time, weddings leave me in awe and misty-eyed from the rich display of love, joy and kinship. Sometimes I leave more than hopeful about that thing called love. There are also times when I can’t help but leave a wee bit skeptical, bored (try watching the fourth Powerpoint presentation about how the couple grew up or the chronological account of their courtship), mortified (disastrous sermons or being assaulted out of your senses by kitschy karaoke singers) or even poorer after say, the third wedding in a row!

Nevertheless, attending weddings is still exciting for me, except for the stress-inducing indecision of what to wear, that is. Among my closest friends, only one has tied the knot thus far. Maybe my view will be different once everyone else has taken the plunge or should my turn arrive someday. Till then, weddings will remain lovely reasons for reunion among friends and family, a celebratory testament to love, commitment and sigh, the beautiful unions of blessed souls… and of course, reminders of a little wish for some magic in the air… *wink*

bites in a jiffy

when hungry, lazy and bored of eating out

penang delights

Between Ah Chan, Ah Tan and I, we finished three plates of char koay teow, two bowls of asam laksa and one bowl of prawn noodles. It was unbelievable sitting there at the foodcourt, polishing off delicious food that meets the standards of home. In all our years in Singapore combined, we have yet to find a place that serves proper char koay teow or excellent asam laksa, the way Penangites have theirs, until Mingshi alerted us to this gem-of-a-stall in Aljunied Avenue 2. Finally, a local place to satisfy cravings for Penang food! Mdm. Lucy Tan, the owner of the stall and herself a Penangite, came over to chat with us and was delighted to know that a Malaysian trio approves of the authenticity of her Penang hawker fare.

The prawn noodles’ broth was just heavenly addictive and the asam laksa gravy had the right thickness and proportions of sweet, sour and spicy flavours! The char koay teow had a lovely mix of lard, taugeh, prawns, chives and egg, not too oily and the noodles were delightfully springy. Only ingredient missing much to Ah Tan’s dismay was some cockles a.k.a. si ham. Mdm. Lucy Tan explained that most Singaporeans prefer it without the si ham so she made the default dish without it. Anyway, we got her mobile phone number and the next time we have cravings for some char koay teow, we shall call her in advance with the si ham request!

abundantly rewarding

I offered to accompany her search for the books she wanted to get while the others finish their dinner. I was done with mine and she would need my student card to get the special discount anyway. In truth, I was dying to get away from a most uncomfortable dinner whereby the most interesting thing amidst the accented banter was the plate of Waldorf Salad. So there I was, seeking refuge among shelves of books and fluorescent lights as we spoke about writing, favourite authors and books. Much to my delight, she loves travel writings too.

I recommended Tiziano Terzani’s A Fortune-Teller Told Me which I had read and enjoyed several years ago. In return she introduced me to Pico Iyer’s writings. She wasn’t sure if I would like them but said she found them to be excellent reads, very celebral ones in fact. There were several of his books on the shelf and I picked out Tropical Classical: Essays from Several Directions. Ethiopia, Bombay dabbawallahs, Dalai Lama and Salman Rushdie were some keywords in the blurbs on the back cover. The author’s introduction mentioned that he writes for Time magazine and lives as much as possible in Japan. Sounds promising, I mumbled as I scanned the content page and promptly added the book to the stack in my arms.

Seven months later, I finally finished reading it.

message on a card

“So, what would you like me to get you?”
“Mail me a postcard please!”
“That’s all?”
“That is all. Thank you!”
I love postcards and everything about them. Whenever friends and loved ones travel, that is the only souvenir I’d request without fail. The colourful stamps, the printed images or illustrations, the handwriting and drawings, the messages (one-liners, travel blurbs and cramped essays), the annoying white USA postal barcode strips, the dog-eared corners, the little creases, the ink smudges, the joy and excitement of seeing one in the mailbox and the mystery of those that went missing!

Behind some of the postcards:

Here’s a postcard like you ordered. Just want you to know that I had a fantastic 30-hour stay in that edgy city some call Berlin. Wiyang and I spent it searching for remnants of the Wall. We found a memorial where a stretch of it (2 walls and death zone in the middle) has been preserved, from the kilometers that once kept East Berliners in misery. Impressive! Over at Amy’s a Msian restaurant I’ve proudly sampled Penang Char Kuey Teow with teh tarik. Was really cool coz the owner Amy (who actually has a pic of her and Muhammad Ali) doesn’t try to sell her cuisine and concept as anything but truly Malaysian. I had the perfect place to test out my Nikon with beautiful sights like the Reichstag, Brandenburger Tor and Berliner Dom. Overall I guess I found what I’ve been missing: my passport and a generous dose of internationalism, style and Cold War history courtesy of a very modern Berlin. You must come here sometimes. Love xx Sugeo xx

been a long time coming

of memoirs and musings
has moved to its new home here.

P/s: Am missing my Flash Flickr badge, my favicon and the `graph paper’ background graphic. Otherwise, am really pleased with this new site.

Much thanks to Blogger for the great two years++ and especially to YOU for visiting!

nueng song sam

Black and white university uniforms- clean lines, sensuous curves, a tenacious spirit within a gentle mien, a study of contrast and all that are more than what meets the eye. Nueng song sam… natural light, clean face and blown out highlights enveloped in shadows… Following a thought and letting it fly, I love that.

Thai dreaming

`…Welcome you to Bangkok!!, Let me know what’s convenience time that you’ll have when you arrive at Bangkok. I’ll take you to go to somewhere to eat (Kaiyang, Thod Man Pla, Tom Yam Kung etc), to shop and to relax…’ Puen’s reply had me grinning like a giddy goat as I read it aloud to Ah Tan, who appeared by the door smiling like a Cheshire cat. Bangkok in December will be a riot indeed: Pohf and sis will be there, a reunion with Puen who’s back from Finland and then onwards to Kanchanaburi with Ah Tan and Meng Teck!

Krungthepmahanakhon Amornrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharat Ratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphiman Awatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit (The city of angels, the great city, the residence of the Emerald Buddha, the impregnable city (of Ayutthaya) of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated God, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarn.) i.e. Bangkok, I am looking forward to falling in love with you all over again…