Kindly Yours

Sydney can be lovely, but I do miss authentic Penang Char Koay Teow , which I must emphasise is a Hokkien or Fujian or Chiuzhou  street food delight and not a Straits Chinese or Nyonya dish. CKT, or literally stir fried rice noodles, has humble origins, prepared only when you are ready to eat and makes use of the experience and skills of the ladle stirrer, cooked on a well fortified metal contraption that has been seasoned and heated through the years.  Ideally, charcoal fire is best to bring out the taste and texture of this dish. Those rice noodles prepared several hours ago and served from a hot plate at food courts or even some so called restaurants, do not qualify to be called Penang CKT. Whether you use more of dark soy sauce, or the lighter version, can be due to personal preference, but for Penangites, we do not serve the CKT looking well dosed with dark soy sauce, like in Singapore and Johor, where they have a dish called Orr Koay Teow. To deserve to be called Penang C

CHRISTMAS 2019 My long time gardener,  Glenn , has moved on to different pursuits.   I have cut down the stocks at my home food pantry  - in fact, I even managed to change my  day-to-day nutrition, on a consistent basis, for some time now.    There seems to be more choice in contemporary society, but it has not meant a rise in in the quality of what has been offered.   The fish in my home tank are weary hardy, continuing to do their swims, both horizontal wise and vertically, providing me, still, with some measure of inspiration. The 90 minute long commute by train to the Sydney Basin gets increasingly crowded.  Some commuters selfishly continue to prevent others from sitting next to them on three seat rows.  Those who deserve seats for a rather long commute have to stand or ask the more able to move over.   Occasionally, there are signs of human civility in public but ethical standards are lowering or people are not talking at all to each other but staring at their po

As the contemporary world offers continued mobility, physical entry across national borders also face increasing restrictions. Yet technology frees up such constrictions across the world while at the same time provides greater control within a country. The human spirit thrives on migration - across economic, spiritual, intellectual, cultural, political and military platforms. On the cusp of 2020, would you leave where you have grown up or stayed for so long to move to anot her part of the world? Would you consider relocating to a so called remote part of Earth, seemingly far from most of humankind's problems, or still prefer to be close to world centres of activity? We see that the apple falls near the tree, but so do lemons. Centuries of human attachment to a place of heritage, whether as an individual or community, are still challenged by the vibes, reality and consequences of invasion, discrimination, oppression and economic disadvantage. If you had

In the event of war, how would Australia possibly be affected? The natural resources of Western Australia come to mind. Would a foreign power eye and corral this rich bed of minerals which Nature has endowed upon this land, particularly in the State's north and centre? The significant numbers of tertiary students paying full fees to our universities cannot be under estimated in times of military conflict. Will they be recalled home, dabble in political matters here or remai n neutral in a time of war? The extensive coastlines in our nation's north can become more vulnerable and risky, especially when not many of our naval, land and air forces are based there, apart from Darwin. Will there be questions raised about naturalised Australians who come from diverse multi-cultural backgrounds, or will they be embraced for political loyalty? Will Australia have adequate and relevant types of military equipment in a holistic sense, especially in relation to our s

Perfumes and aromatics used to be found only in uptown counters of elegant retail outlets. Now they are also sold in warehouse environments. There was an opportunity to develop, practise and enjoy the art of conversation when using the phone. Now misspellings, acronyms and graphics are used for instant communication. A beauty of a business starts to go downhill when the fancy exceeds the substance, when the greed subsides the inspiration and when demand is taken for granted . The masses can only suffer so long, before the heavens churn to bring in a new order in human society. Soon customers will no longer mind paying more for services which interact with just human beings. Try to be like Earth's Moon, consistently reflecting the light when you can, even if others choose to harp over the dark side, for which you have no say in. Uniqueness can be celebrated if they bring positive outcomes. The herd mentality can be consuming, addictive and falsely comf

What the news media ignores, or omits. For example, how strong those umbrellas are folded out and used in street protests in Hong Kong. I wonder who manufactures them. How news can be repeated throughout the day, whether anyone is tuning in or paying any attention to them. How sensational news is prioritised over good news. How advertorials continue to be blatantly pushed through in news items, without respecting the intelligence of the recipient. How breakfast shows can thrive with the unimportant, the trivial and in rush hour of early morning. Why there is a proliferation of read news at set times of the day or night, when the public wants to be able to access the news at their own leisure. How the agendas of broadcasters and web site publishers reinforce the attitudes and mindsets of people who already think alike, instead of opening their mindsets. How news can be faked, how authentic news can be twisted, and how facts can be selectively argued. H

Advertisements! Are they the bane of website readers or media viewers, forced upon us, or allowed to be skipped, whether on a You Tube vid or during the finale of a sporting event or more. Commercial parties with large funding ability still churn out so called unique editions of ads aimed at millions of potential viewers, presumed all tuning in at the same moment. This defies the ability of target consumers to view at their own leisure, on separate media platforms and on reshared channels. Do advertisements work by playing on our emotions when purchasing the products or services focused on? Do our products really live up to the hype of the emotion suggested in the ads? What have advertisements become? Customers can get turned off when the marketing and selling are put in their face. So subtleness and indirect influence have begun to be utilised, hiding behind other formats. Advertorials now appear more often on so called news bulletins, especially when there is nothing

Do we change smart phone, computer and electronic screen models and pads more often than our smartest wardrobe? At the end of each calendar year, the major electronic screen device makers launch new models, new shows, new buzz.    Software and App providers add more fancy and content to ensure we require more operating power and capacity to run them.   Screen devices have become more useful to capture, send and store images rather than be used for oral communication.  Don't we text or image more than talk to other people in our daily lives?  Each of us listens more attentively to the ting from a software App than from a telephone ring.  We cannot help to check our electronic devices several times a day, as we store and rely more on that hand held gadget more than on a physical folder, the desktop or our bag.   We can access daily used information on that small device that increasingly costs more than the rate of inflation each year.   When we travel, we only need a passpo

Yesterday afternoon, I had a most unexpected catch up with an ex colleague on the train from Sutherland. It was positively delightful. It was encouraging. We smiled. We eased off our own separate individual concerns for the day. It was something that money cannot buy. Fortunately it was not a quiet carriage that we were sitting in. Scott and I quickly got in to easy conversation, even if we have not caught up for a few years. We talked of over coming challenges that crop up inevitably in our career and personal timelines.  I learned how Scott transformed and changed whatever recent lemons were thrown his way. He spoke of how his young family adapted and supported the things he had to do to navigate from a discouraging environment to one where now he finds he can optimally practise his professional passion with engaging work team members and bosses. He had to make sacrifices along the way but he never wavered. On a 50 minute train ride, I was inspired, moved and

There is nothing free for convenient access to Apps and information from the Web. Something is taken by us inevitably for something else seemingly so amazingly without cost. How much of yourself are you willing to give up, and how much of this can come back to bite you?     It is not just privacy, integrity, dependency, addiction and vulnerability that we are at risk of. There are health risks with over use of eyes and slack posture when dealing with mobile and desktop devices. Human invented tech and devices have shown a long track record of being abused and misused, apart from bringing benefits.     The inter-connectivity of  various smart devices can amplify the risks arising from just using one.  On the other hand, it is not a zero sum game between us individuals and the powers that rule us in cyberspace.   The latter obviously make use of us, but how can we make use of them as well?    As with any danger, the first step is to realise and acknowledge.  Then comes the

In Australia, so far, I have never been told off to go back where I came from. When asked politely where I came from, I often say Epping NSW - and then I get a quiet shock that this cannot be, on the part of the questioner. There can be this unnerving but not intended to be rude perception that one cannot be from a place outside of stereotyped convention. While I was back packing through Vietnam, I was approached on several occasions by the locals if I was an overseas returned Vietnamese guy. When I replied that I was from Australia, they winced in half disbelief. In societies with populations of diverse backgrounds in the 21st century, it is important to recognise the separation between citizenship, residency, ethnicity and nationality - and celebrate the shared humanity in each of us, no matter where we were born. Malaysians have been told by their own fellow citizens in their own country to go back where they came from, so Trump's remark is not original - and

Who decides what product to pull off the shelf at our grocery stores? It can be disappointing to customers, but it looks like as big business grows even larger, there can be a disconnect between what makes a customer happy and the decisions made behind the scenes based on macro factors, artificial intelligent analysis and shareholder returns. The live local and slow food movement has supply decisions based on a lot of customer interaction, but what we see from huge and impers onal corporate decisions makes me frustrated at how difficult it is to still have access to products I love. The upside for me is spending less time and purchases at retail stores that are out of sync with what I like to buy. Even contacting directly with the makers of such products can be of no help, as some inform me that they only deal with wholesalers. The relentless push to drive big margins and ever higher returns can be devastating but that is how contemporary capitalism seems to thrive on. So

Significant Addictions on the cusp of 2020 They used to be excessive consumption of grass, alcohol, gambling, sugar and porn. Many remain as issues for many individuals.  As we approach the third decade of the 21st century, what do you observe and acknowledge as serious manifestations of other significant addictions affecting perhaps yourself, family members, your community and society going forward? 1. Screen addiction. It used to be free with broadcast TV, but binge interaction with cyberspace delivered screens now has a monthly bill, perhaps costing more than getting clean water supply. The effectiveness of smart phone apps, including streaming to watch at any time, to keep anyone hunched over a device for many hours is not to be underestimated. 2. Preoccupation with and overuse of specific obsessions. The art of moderation is increasingly lost, whether with the use of opioids, dependency on manufactured and processed foods or foods that are high in fat but induce a hig

What do you reckon are the key threats to Australian security as a nation? In the mist of walking through the hype of different agendas of different factions, let us examine some realities. 1. Why countries were invaded in history includes diversion away from the internal problems facing the leaders of invading armies. Will Australia play into the hands of such ploys? 2 Interference in the internal affairs of foreign nations. The penchant of western societies to criticise other countries for alleged and real breaches in human rights and democratic practices can trigger flashpoints in international relations. 3. Significant decreases in the technological, military and economic power of Australia. Unlike post World War 2, competition stakes have shot up. The largest buyers of arms in the world are all in Asia, a region which the largest island nation is located so close to. Australia is increasingly seen as a place to dig out unprocessed raw materials. It has not sufficie

As the world hurls to 2020, what are the significant impact matters that can churn the economy, cause social grief and affect key things in our life that we may have taken for granted so far? History has always been an account of tensions and conflict between conservatives and progressives, between the haves and have nots and between those with superior technology and those without. Wars have been fought in the name of religion, control of financial interests, ideological beliefs and the alliance of manipulative politics. The greater movement of populations, the increased power of captured analytical information, more powerful military means and a shift in world power patterns have however changed the strategic game. Yet our world is still divided into nations, a system perhaps outdated by commercial expansion, technology dominance and heightened means of mobility. Cultural imperatives continue to complicate the progress of mankind to cooperate on a holistic platform instead of on t

The grass has obviously dried up. Lamb prices have shot up, perhaps more than the costs of commercial child care, aged care and vet services.   Retail is not selling as much as before, the roads are more traffic congested and inflation as usual bites more in reality than as reported. Loading speeds for the internet are uncompetitive.  Near monopolies exist for key service providers on many fronts in Australia. Public infrastructure has to be renewed. So what is going right? 1. There are more choices in supermarket products and prices. 2. There is more activity after dark in city centres and specific suburbs across Australia. 3. The sky is still blue and the beaches clean all over this vast island nation. 4. The variety of cuisines available in a country of such diverse populations is so unmatched. 5. The wisdom of our town planners cannot be under appreciated when they ensured green space, outdoor venues and public transport for our communities. 6. Medicare has sustained the qualit

The owner's name is Orlando.  The restaurant has a family like setting in a light industrial area along an extended Keira Street just maybe ten to 15 minutes stroll south of Wollongong City Centre and its main rail station.  Nearby are Delaney's , an institution of a cake shop for the region, a BP station and Europa , a reliable supplier of eastern European groceries that I use. Is the cooking style from Rome?    The popular item is freshly fired pizza, with toppings from Margarita to veg to meat, attracting many take aways and delivery runs.  One can see the wood fired stove immediately in front of the entrance.  The venue provides some outdoor seating, but the internal tables are often packed at every meal time.   Da Orlando is open every day now, after a few years of operations.  Vehicle parking is street side, with the restaurant a hub of lit buzz on evenings when the neighbours only open for the day, due to the inherent nature of their businesses.