Life In A Pond

Below Mount Keira
Twice at mid-day they scurried across the grass and footpath from one pond to the next. In two separate groups,they represented two different generations of the protected species dwelling in the reserve where my office is located. At dawn, I can see them lying on the slopes surrounding the pond, in couples or in family groups. I think these ducks live in a world of their own, but they are not oblivious to the on-goings of other denizens who share their environment.

There are many different types of ponds on Earth, the biggest being the planet itself. However, most of us have carved out niches and perspectives according to the requirements and pleasures of the specific ponds we choose for ourselves. Some of these ponds need not be side by side, but they have to be connected, whether in belief, physical facility or cyberspace. Some ponds remain in a corner of a part of the world. There are systems and ways of behaviour in each pond - they can involve rituals, laws or a relative sense of freedom, self-imposed or regulated by those in power by sheer majority or ownership of controlling tools. Although most recognise the concentric circle nature of such social pond structures, some choose to succumb to the realities of limited ponds, and others thrive in moving flexibly from pond to pond. Yet others yearn to return to the pond of their birth, or their forebears do so.

Individuals do get yanked from the pond of their comfort to new, alien communities. The new ponds may not even offer the same quality and conditions of sustaining water.
Many yearn for ponds which they see beyond the horizon or have not visited but have heard about. Others do not believe at all in changing ponds and cope with whatever comes in the pond of their birth, come hell or high water. An individual's preference can be an aversion to another. Increasingly, large or small ponds - depending on how they organise themselves - are becoming fused with cultures and thinking amalgamated from the influx of various migrants from other ponds.

I think of the ducks outside my University office. There seems to be a leader to lead the convoy of fast-paced ducks crossing from one pond to the other. There are the followers, all lined up in a straight order of things. There is the deep sense of joy splashing in the water once they have reached the safety of the destination pond. The ducks happily splash their feathers in the otherwise still water. New generations are born and someone always keep watch over the group. To outsiders, it may look like a placid and serene life. I am sure they have their share of political drama, personal feelings and social togetherness.

The only difference between their and our human ponds is that we have better ways of transversing between our network of ponds.

The News

Why is that the free-to-air TV news bulletins are all presented around the same hour? And why are all pay TV news bulletins repetitive, trying to be more like magazine formats instead of finding their own niche.

Most news stories thrive and aim for the spectacular and the sensational. Is that the only reason why viewers tune in and stay tuned in? Around the world, there is this presumption that the market wants to know about national and local news first, followed by international stories in the middle and then topped up by sports before a filler on arts just when the bulletin ends. News of local interest in Australia aim for those events that find individuals in distress, being treated unfairly or with a surprise element. There are seasonal flavours, those revolving around an impending national or festive holiday, or the monthly timing of political or economic triggers.

The use of live telecasts can get to ridiculous dimensions, as a camera fixated on nothing but waiting for someone to appear.The current trend is to over utilize the term "breaking news", when it is even obvious the news story broke out some time ago and the station had adequate time to prepare for it. "Breaking news" are especially suspicious in timing when placed at the beginning or end of a scheduled news bulletin. The tendency to interview "live" business and financial specialist commentators standing in their cbd offices way past midnite obviously suggests the use of pre-recording mechanisms.

What I still treasure is the late news bulletin for a snappy highlight briefing before we go to sleep. The news webpages can offer perhaps a better summation than listening to someone articulate the leading items verbally, but there is nothing better for me than listening to them in this manner with a nightcap on hand. Many individuals I know get their cyberspace news first thing in the morning over a mobile phone or laptop whilst commuting, but I suggest the best feel good factor first thing in the day is to collectively scan through news highlights on a large lcd screen with the whole family over breakfast.

I buy hard copy newspapers for the glossy magazines they insert in them these days on a regular basis. I believe news should be disseminated on a complimentary basis on the internet, and not on a paid basis - that is why I still appreciate the Sydney Morning Herald and Channel News Asia. Weekend newspapers still are bulky in Australia but I wonder if anyone really has the time to trough through all the sections. To me, selective reading is the way to go, as our cyberspace reading habits merge with non-cyberspace reading patterns in a combined response to the increasing lack of personal discretionary time. Most of the main Sydney and Wollongong newspapers have an internet-styled summary page at the very start to help us navigate through their features and sections.

I know of close mates who do not bother about any news. It may be that the more things are made more easy to get, the more they get ignored. Or perhaps some of my friends are tired of the way the news are dished out. It was very telling when a colleague - Sharon - remarked about the rather bleak and violent content of the world news served every evening by SBS-TV in Australia. It reinforces the perception that outside Australia, everything is depressingly negative and disturbing.

Can I suggest this to each tv station - once a week, for a start, have a 30 minute news bulletin that is arranged in the following manner. Commence with ten minutes of obvious good news, with hope and inspiration. Continue with another ten minutes of the possible good within obvious disturbing stories. Finish up with a quick summary of other news items summarised in internet web style and not detailing too much during the bulletin. End the news bulletin by referring interested viewers to the actual website for the full version of key items.

Return to Thai Pothong

Fifteen years ago, this restaurant was already a highlight, operating on the southern side of King Street, Newtown's main strip in Sydney's inner west.

A weekend ago I had the opportunity of re-visiting Thai Pothong. It has significantly expanded its floor space and street frontage. There was a healthy hustle and bustle about the ambiance on a Saturday night. My group had initially wanted to re-visit another of King Street's continuing and consistent performers, a Vietnamese restaurant called Than Bin, but we had not booked earlier and obviously expected a full house. We had sauntered along King Street and then remembered this Thai place.

The same sanuk (love for life) feelings from way back when were accentuated by the waiting staff members, as they clasped both hands in traditional greeting to customers. The menu however is totally revamped, with packages labelled as Chiangmai, Bangkok or Phuket settings - what a terrific idea. We ordered ala carte ca rte, and I noted the larger servings compared to before. The dessert variety remains limited, but not the smiles offered from some effective synchronised team spirit in attending to the nuances of different clients.

At the entrance, there are two distinct lines offered - those with prior bookings and those without. Once you get a table, there are no restrictions on time allocated, as an increasing number of some Asian restaurants in Sydney suburbs are practising. We stayed almost the whole night, once we ensured the parking meter was covered.

I had a taste of my perennial favourite, roast duck curry. What stood out that evening was the three flavoured marinated deep fried fish. It was interesting that a Malaysian Pernanakan dish, kueh pie tee, was served as an entree, disguised under the name of Singapore's Katong.

Deja Vu

I hardly watch tv anymore, but just for the memories, here are my best delights:
- Slumped down on the sofa with the family watching Cantonese-language soap operas;
- Getting entranced and absorbed with Discovery Channel documentaries, especially those with eye-captivating graphics and well portrayed historical re-enactments;
- Enjoying the Red and White New Year musical stage performances from Japan's NHK or the suave and smooth live shows from Hong Kong's TVB;
- following intently with Mum on the exact recipe measures given out on Malaysian television cooking shows;
- Literally double-tasking with both the images and subtitles on Euro movies screened late night on Australia's SBS channel;
- Sitting through three hours of Hindi-language movies that cover the whole plethora of issues under a life, from dancing around trees to having sumptuous feasts; and
- Soaking in my first cosmopolitan arts programme on the telly box from Singapore's Channel 5.

New Supply Chains

Five years ago, the Wollongong area's concept of Asian food and ingredients was seen to be caught in a time warp, with anything labelled short and long soups, sweet and sour or satay sauced expounded as the representatives of something Oriental. East Asian or South-east Asian parents of overseas graduands at the nearby University did not stay around after the ceremonies to partake in Wollongong cuisine - they rushed off north to Hurstville, Cabramatta or Sydney's Chinatown, to have their seven to ten dishes in celebratory banquets, which may reflect their unfounded fears of non-Asian food or just reinforces their gusto for food from back home.

The so-called Chinatown Street in Wollongong Central - Keira Street - has several outlets of Vietnamese, Cambodian, Thai and Malay origin - but they do supplement these offerings with a sampling of southern Chinese dishes. Asian food is accepted in Wollongong as noodles, peanut butter laden sauces and small mouth bite pieces of meat or vegetables marinated with lemon grass and chilli pastes. Some go brave and provide upmarket surroundings in furniture and decor. Some practical places charge at reasonable prices but can review their food taste strategies. Attempts at yum cha resulted in a limited variety of choice. It can be confusing to other Australians - but it only takes to realise that many South-east Asian dishes are prepared by ethnic Chinese.

In the past 12 months, there has been a change of scene and slight improvement in offerings of Asian cuisine. I can now get duck cuts with egg noodles in a refreshingly hot soup in Corrimal. Chinese-styled barbeque meats (whether in chicken, pork or duck) are now seen hanging in a small shop window along Keira Street. The night strip along Corrimal Street in downtown Wollongong also has a new Chinese restaurant to compete with the Spanish, Greek and Italian fare. With all the fresh produce from the ocean and farms in the Illawarra and South Coast regions, I long for an Asian restaurant to come up with a refreshing cuisine utilising such local produce and inspiration.