The Summer Calls

The aroma of slowly but surely ripening mangoes from Queensland permeates my house in summer.  Just as sure as the cool breezes from the ocean blow in after dinner time in Balgownie, these fruity sensations remind me of a childhood growing up in a tropical airy place, where seasonal fruits make up for the lack of changing climate seasons, and where the variety of such produce can also mean the fruits of long term labours.  It takes gestation periods, monsoonal changes and planning ahead to arrive at the grin on the faces of darkened fruit growers, their tan resulting from days walking on their orchards udner the intense equatorial sun.

Summer officially arrives on a Wednesday this year, but the last Saturday of November already gave a good show of what it can be. The sun was up too early, as expected, and I felt too excited for the day in chilling out and now feel so bad texting a mate so early. As I write this, there seems to be a synchronisation of temperatures up in the northern hemisphere - it is precisely minus one degree Celsius in Moscow, London and Toronto.  In contrast, the singlets, boardshorts and thin t-shirts of blokes and light fabric dresses of women underscore how fortunate and moderate Australian weather can be.  There can be the risk of bush fires flaring up, especially when one is not at home, and there was a strange smoky presence over Parramatta this afternoon - but otherwise it is a season of forgetting about schedules, laundry not drying or just about time itself.

End of year can also mean stocking up on favourite movies for the home or lazy afternnoons on trips away; waiting for cherries to reach just the right taste and maturity; re-affirming personally what it was that we were rushing at work for; pondering how electronic stuff for the lounge and kitchen seem to get cheaper, whilst petrol prices, gold and utilities get more costly; remembering to do the annual things like changing the water filter catridge; catching up with mates and relatives to show how much we appreciate them for their company, communciation and things they do for  the rest of the year; and throwing never used items to allow room for the new. It can offer a hiatus, but it can also be a time to look forward to the future.  Heck, it also means everyday one can feel the salt in  our faces and legs as the ocean winds cocoon us in a magical time.

Back to Parramatta for me and my mate today. There was a market day along Church Street Mall, with the ubiquitious stalls  offering almost the same things like in Windsor near the Blue Mountains last week. I could not resist the outlets with plants, and this time there was dear Gary with his bonsai-like creations of succulents and cacti on little lovingly made wooden holders. Okay I got three - a prayer plant, a bears foot and a miniature pine tree.  Okay, they are all names anyway - the miniature creations caught my eye.  I finally got to taste the curry laksa at Oriental Tucker along George Street - and they seem to have nice curries, snacks and desserts on offer as well. I got into summer mood and mode - do things unplanned, allow the delightful unexpected and after all, it already feels like what summer should be.

Oh yes, the mangoes.  They are R2E2 and not even related to the Star Wars trilogy. Such fruits are best eaten slurpy, with their nectar flowing easy and flesh melting in our mouths.  They complement the body heat from too much barbecue and keeping up with the sun.
Mangoes also reflect the essential spirit of summer - let it be, relish the juicy growth built up in the past year and enjoy the rewards.
We can let our hair down - and let the drool create a little mess.  We can take it easy with the clock, for sunset is late and tommorow is another day.  And make sure we create the postive childhood memories for the next generation - and our mates.

Only Yesterday

Soon, it shall be the completion of a decade for the new millennium.

I ponder about what it was like on the cusp of new century, and more.  Who are the mates who continue to nourish me from that time,way back when?

Was it only yesterday when things, that mattered then,  do not anymore? I relish in the new ideas that have emerged since and in persons who still matter. I look around my house, cherish in things that still persist, things that I continue to appreciate using and people who still nourish my soul and mind in my journey of life. I recall the difficulty of letting go when others did not likewise experience my emotions, whether of friend ship, organisations or habits. The advantage of hindsight can make me think these things could have been so funny, but when then caught up in those significant moments, I remembered that such things were not easy to adjust to. Having survived, and allowing the healing power of time gone by, I am glad that things happened as they did.  Somehow I always believe things happen for the better.

Like the throw away pattern of a high turnover consumer goods society, what was new has become outdated and forgotten. What comes first to mind are first the successive models of  mobile phones,flat monitors and internet-enabled gadgets - but there is more. Maybe I am a sentimentalist at heart, and value items of life that last.  At other times, I appreciate the replacement of old turf with new, or the benefits of culling leaves and branches to promote and encourage for better things to come. I have kept most of my goldfish for just over seven years, and still have not felt the urge or itch to change them.  When I look at my family and relatives network, we still keep very much in touch.  When I look at mates, several have moved on with the working place, others continue to network and yet I am on to my fifth motor vehicle in my memory of use. Kumquat plants remain rooted in my garden beds, but the window of entertainment has changed in the living room.

Names like Michael Kalos, Iain Lockie, Andrew Holland, Alistair Walker, Simon Bruzzone and Glen Smallwood linger on my mind. Ten years ago, I felt the spirit of volunteerism, civility and celebration with the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Are most of these still alive in today's Australian society? On the cusp of a new decade, I appreciate the joys and benefits of accessing both an urbane and out-of-capital city environment; being able to venture out to various parts of the world both physically and in cyberspace; and realise my plans despite the expected roadblocks from some quarters.

I look back at long drives between Wollongong and the varied corners of the greater Sydney region.
I reflect on changing requirements for travel, including what not to pack, carry or to be aware of. I still hold on to souvenirs and personal things from various chapters of life.  I can feel the relaxing social meals taken with friends, relatives and colleagues.  I am conscious of the long hours at work on weekdays and at times during weekends.  I relive the concerts, from Human Nature to Joey Yung; miss helping out at charity food fairs; and have a special place in my heart with memories soaking in places like Hangzhou and the Tamar Valley.

Wedding Day Moments - 23 October 2010

Image Credit for above: Mr Yong Chung Shen

Image credits for above and below:  Miss Adelyn Yong

 

There Are Places

There are places I remember.....

Above: The Harbour at Ulladulla, NSW South Coast.


All my life

Above: A corner of Sydney's emerald Harbour.

Above: Mollymook's enchanting and panoramic views.

All these places have their moments, I still can recall......

                       Above:  A placid change to Manly Beach, north of Sydney,on a week day.

I've loved them all........

                           Above:  Rosie,who dropped by every morning at the Henley Point townhouse.



Lyric Credits from the composition "All My Life" by Chantal Kreviazuk and inspired by the singing of Jose Feliciano

Long Ago and Far Away

I glanced at beyond the ornate glass door to the left of my dining table.  The heavy rains had created a misty effect showering the hills lined up on the coast. I was reminded of Somerset Maugham and perhaps this was his inspiration for his novel entitled 'Rain".  At the same time, it dawned on me on how hilly the island is, a fact not brought out before in the way how the skyscrapers now contrasted with the natural steep slopes.  I thought of isles in the South Pacific which revealed their underwater mountain peaks as jagged piercings into the humid tropical swirling atmosphere.  The inter-monsoon rains had come down on this particular isle - my home island - for the past few days, and it showed in the heady moist air and cooling breezes that offered comfort to the swaying palms and colonial age stone ramparts protecting the hotel from the sea.

Behind May, the sea did however look placid and calm. The swimming pool deck was absolutely damp but there were some guests who still could not resist from sitting out there doing literally nothing - but actually relishing the views and soaking in the timeliness of this corner of Earth so far away from their homes and routine. In the washrooms, elegantly tiled floors matched the old fashioned set up, complete with potted plants and high ceilings. One could walk through vistas of architecture from another age, another time - and still get all the modern comforts of pampered service, relaxing drinks at the bar and delicately prepared locally inpsired cuisine.  It was initially strange that May and I took hotel prepared street hawker food, and they were dished up tasty and well - but then such food are becomong more of a rarity and hardly served in such comfortable surrounds.

Sarkis Bar has shades of the Raffles Bar located an hour by plane flying  south, but was obviously started in the same spirit and desire for both. In the late afternoon, before Happy Hours, there was a potential connundrum in that there were very few locals, only the varying Euro voices of visitors jabbing the lazy ambience.  There were groups of Indians at some tables and most of the staff were behind the counter. May and I chatted about the recently restored Suffolk House, the very first official residence of the island's founder, Captain Francis Light. The timing could not have been a coincidence, as Georgetown was declared a joint UNESCO heritage site only a few years ago. Sentiment and longing cannot bring into reality something which should have been completed long ago - in today's world, as in the past for human societies, funding and political backing are important.  It must be acknowledged that for whatever reason, Suffolk House was allowed to literally rot for a few generations until now. 

Down Gurney Drive, a new set of commercial hotels have sprung up, but also beside the bay. These were part of the skyscrapers that I had a glimpse of whilst sipping my coffee and consuming my plate of char koay teow (Penang-styled stir fried rice noodles).  The new fangled hotels may look the same all over the world, but they are in their prime and currency. How does one embrace the new while ensuring one's uniqueness?  This may precisely be the challenge and opportunity for Penang's Eastern & Oriental Hotel, which has to be relevant not just for tourists with greater purchasing power,  but also ensure its continued place in the soul of Penangites.

On  the day I re-visited, the E & O hosted a sizeable buffet lunch for the employees of the island's US multinational business called Intel.  Although it was  a weekday, the wholesome sized and round  shaped lobby had greeters adding to the bositerous liveliness of the publicly accessible areas. In contrast, the compulsory gift shop was empty, although beautifully decorated with aretfacts and souvenirs of the various influences that have shaped my home island - from Thai masks, Indian fabric and Straits Chinese books to Royal Selangor pewter.  What was Suffolk House like in its heyday?  Could we have seen the young Colonel William Light, son of Francis, cavorting with a maiden amongst its pillars?  Today, chamber music have returned to Suffolk House, but we need more than that.