Growing up in Penang

 The nostril arousing cooking aromas wafted through the house.

It was a hands on encounter of delightfully trying to second guess the source of the ingredient utilised.  At times, it was irresistible to just go downstairs to see what Mummy was dishing up over the stove. 

The equatorial afternoons can be oppressive outside. So on a public holiday or weekend, we would most likely be preserved behind closed doors with the air conditioning fully switched on. I would go through  a spectrum of reading material, which would reveal the wonder and complexity of the world outside.  

Cocooned as I was, I could hear the cries of passing vendors, visitors to the house at the gate and at times, the rumblings of a budding thunderstorm.   Best of all was listening to the radio, with voice inflections, pronounciations and enchanting beats of music. 

Friends from school would drop by on their bikes.  We would chat outdoors during the coolish evenings and rattle about several things, building up our individual art of conversation and developing a rapport not afforded elsewhere.  Time would seem endless, the mood so relaxed and then hunger for street food may arise. 

The casualness and accessibility for dining out were taken for granted.  As a child, it was a treat to go out in the car with Papa late at night, to not go far in a user friendly city, to find groups of people huddled over low tables enjoying their supper, even if it was a school

night.   The diversity of food offerings was taken for granted by me, the charcoal fire pots were feeding into a culinary delight and we bumped into other families known to us.  There was no need to change our clothes, as we took such trips already suited in our pyjamas - all ready to scramble into bed on reaching home in the late of an exciting evening.  Steam warm baos were a late evening treat.

Politics, race and disappointment were not on the menu.  Through optimistic childhood eyes, I recall only encouragement, inspiration and laughter.   Uncles and aunts dropped by, engaged in chatter which only widened my mindset and appreciation of the outside world. My Mum's sis Keow Ee was always there to make sure I was recovering well when I had a childhood ailment.  I particularly looked forward to sitting down in the lounge during visits by Papa's youngest brother Hong Beng.  Their youngest sister Kuchai cooked the best dishes - and still does in Island Glades, south of George Town. Brother Kin On took much of his effort and time to run things around the house, organise logistics for me and  do so much more. Aunt Suan always had a big beaming smile for me.

Inevitably there was cognisance of an evolving and challenging society as another veneer in life to grapple with.   My eldest brother was going to university for the first time, albeit in another city, when his inter-state train arrived smack in the middle of the nation's largest and most serious riots after a general election.  An uncle would be involved in a road accident as the over bright sunlight  temporarily blinded his sight - but he would survive.    The national airline had an aircraft that crashed in a remote swamp on the short haul between the capital city and Singapore. 

My thoughts were already articulated in the English language, although I learnt various dimensions of other languages - in varying degrees. I still recall Cikgu Othman at Francis Light Primary School who sufficiently encouraged me to master the official National Language for me to win an award.

If we see the best of a multi-racial society to make the most of it, we reap the benefits of diversity and harmony.   I rode a manual bike to Penang Free School with Ishak, the son of a navy father.  My Mum infused in me the love of Sri Lankan curries, the recipes of which were taught from a neighbour.   Uncle Cornelius gave me the best Christmases as I was growing up.

Dr. Yeoh and Uncle Harry organised beach outings, dinners at hilltop eatouts overseeing the beach and facilitated sleep overs with their children at their house.  Robert Donald Julian was the first American school boy I met and know of.   

From the base in Malaysia, my first tropical island visit overseas was Phuket.   Suchart and his family took care of me like a brother.   I gradually learnt to be grateful for and appreciative of special individuals who navigated me on my journey and let me see what is truly important, cutting off distractions, managing disruptions and optimising dilemnas. 

My childhood in Penang was enchanting, practical and with a strong foundation for various aspects of life.  

Malaysia marks its 65th year of independence from Britain on 31 August, 2022. 

#yongkevthoughts

Mr. Lincoln Rose

 

Why, How and What Not

 Why is is that Yum Cha is never served like on a sushi train, with diners sitting around a carousel and picking up the moving  tapa sized plates?

Why are not more different culinary dishes served in small snack sizes late at night to accompany laughter, the party mood and small shots of alcohol after midnight?

Why are not more non Japanese restaurants using the useful Bento boxes to showcase samples of their food?

Why are serves of food still sticking to rather large bowls or plates - and diners wanting small serves are not catered for?

Why does the asking price for simple street food dramatically rise in price with the addition of a piece of seafood?

Why do we appreciate knowing the source and origin of ingredients used in our restaurant serves?

Do we welcome complimentary serves of appetisers like Korean Banchan - or hot piping soups and free fruit platters at the start and end of Cantonese banquets?

Must hot curries be accompanied by cooling yoghurts or pickled vegetable slices?

Must fries accompany battered or deep fried seafood?

Is sitting around a simmering hot pot or grill adding to the sharing of eaten food?

Why are dumplings found across Russia, Austria, Poland, Italy, China, Korea, Mongolia and south-east Asia?

Why do Thais traditionally use forks and spoons instead of chopsticks?

The Middle East, Mexico, Ethopia, Indian subcontinent and south east Asia encourage the use of hands to help down food at meals.

Why are Italian pasta hardly used in Chinese cooking - and Chinese noodles not used in Mediterranean cooking?

Why are diners forced to agree to 90 minute sessions of meals, hurried up especially in crowded suburban and city locations?

Why is the cooking fire and heat preserved endlessly through so many years in several traditional restaurants?

Why do most restaurant operators not own their venues?

Most eating places in Australia no longer open for the whole day.

Why is it mostly so difficult to find reasonably good eats near transport hubs?

#yongkevthoughts

Comparing Between Two Nations

 

What a contrast, or more of the same?

Nation I left behind: Malaysia with a population of around 33 million, turns 65 on 31 August 2022, given independence by Britain that long ago.

1.  Political leadership encouraging
looking inwards.
2.   Society becoming more divisive over plural and religious diversity.
3.    Getting less competitive than its neighbours.
4.     Falling ranking significantly in corruption management and occurence, according to Transparency International.
5.     Rewriting and recognising history according to the view of the powers that are.
6.     De-emphasising the language of her past colonisers.
7. A federation that is showing cracks on its structure, although still with strong central control based on a sort of Westminster system.
8.   Rampant misuse of public monies, third party commissions from projects and socio-political enrichment of a few kleptocratic individuals.
9.    Increased empowerment of royalty in the governance, economic and cultural landscape.
10.  Reduced social cohesion, due to long term strong discrimination practices in official government policies and mainstream media manipulation.
11.  Unceasing exploitation of her natural resources, high need for foreign investment levels and belittling of its Indigenous population.
12.   Joyous diversity and heritage in culinary offerings.
13.   One of the highest vehicle accident rates on her public roads and highways.
14.   Increasing commercialisation of personal health care.
15.   Aging society risks are not that high, due to larger family sizes in her majority population.
16.   Nothing like understanding the Malaysian, of whatever racial background, on the street like in a coffee shop.
17.   Heavily reliant on migrant labour, while at least 2 million of its citizens have emigrated and settled overseas in past 10 years. Largest group of immigrants are from Indonesia, Bangladesh and the Phillippines.
18.   Many of her students are studying in universities overseas.
19.    Equatorial climate assures almost the same timing of sunrise and sunset, with only monsoon and dry seasons.
20.   Strategic location in terms of geopolitics, shipping and air flight routes, natural resources and possible manipulation by powerful nations.

Nation I embraced: Australia marked its 234 years since it was colonised and 122 years as a Federation in 2022. Population of around 26 million in its Great Southern Land.

1. Political leadership unduly follows the Government of the USA and the political landscape is divided strongly on labels and party thinking.
2.   Society getting more divisive due to less equality in incomes, social interaction, less shared cultural values, mainstream media
manipulation, political structures and more emphasis on disagreement than on common values.
3.   Getting less competitive than its OECD nations.
4.   Greater incidence of public and commercial rorts, corruption and misuse of public monies, especially relating to infrastructure projects, bringing down Australia's Transparency International ranking to below the top ten in the world.
5.  Greater recognition and acknowledgent of the history of the peoples and Country before 1788.
6.  Aussie speak continues to evolve and grow, despite the presence of minorities who came from around 200 nations and a growing cohort who cannot speak
English well.
7.  The Federation is relatively still strong, although the wider independent powers of the separate States were highlighted during Covid management in 2020 and 2021.   The shrinked actions, role and responsibilities of the Federal Government in  Canberra also came to the fore.
8.    Increasing divide between consumers, workers and the public on one hand and the well funded, strongly networked with strong political connections on the other.
9.     The love affair with British royalty continues, the Republican movement gets some attention every few years and Australia participates in the annual landmark Eurovision singing contest.
10.    High level of political correctness demands exist in official government policies, but there can be a different reality at ground level.
11.    Continued exploitation of its natural resources with little value add, a wider extent of foreign ownership and increasing awakening for more recognition of its Indigenous First Nations.
12.   Joyous diversity and heritage in culinary offerings.
13.   Vehicle and driver safety has dropped with more aggressive behaviour on the roads, laden with more and larger vehicles, less civility and more traffic in capital city areas.
14.   Increasing commercialisation of personal health care, although the Medicare public health system is still better than in the UK or USA, though behind Canada's.
15.   An aging society, with birth rates higher amongst immigrant demographics.  Refer to Point 17.
16.    Nothing like understanding the Aussie on the street like in a footy or cricket game, a cafe, a private exclusive club or a RSL joint.
17.    Heavily reliant on migrant labour for many services - and also on permanent migration to ensure economic growth. The current biggest contributors to immigration are Brits, New Zealanders and Indians.
18.    Many young people still make the trek overseas for work, fun and adventure, even if for a short while.
19.   A unique range of climate zones from monsoonal to temperate, with daylight savings practised in the more populous states and a transposition of the British seasons over a rather different climate pattern in Australia.
20.   Location of the Antipodes, which should be safely tucked away with clean environments, umcontaminated produce and far away from the troubles of the rest of the world.

#yongkevthoughts

Interdependencies!

 

When I had an unexpected electrical supply cut:

I did not have wifi to phone the related electricity wholesale supplier for help.

It was single digit temperatures outside during a winter night, so I learnt to appreciate when I could easily keep warm inside by the flick of a switch.

I could not boil kettle water to make a hot drink for comfort - nor cook on the stove top.

I had to depend on battery powered devices to shine a light in the dark.

I had to just read a good book beside a solar garden light, as my electronic interface devices had run out of power - and there was no electricity to recharge the power banks.

I had to take a cold shower and could not do the laundry.

I could not open automatically operated doors, windows or gates.

What do they always say, "Never put all your eggs in one place".

You can still rely on your separate and independent sources of power, away from the commercial grid, if you have them.  As the population grows, as supply chains get disrupted, as the number of suppliers are fewer and more events outside our influence and control arise,  it is more important than ever to update our personal and collective risks.

Do we have a back up choice if petrol prices hit the roof at the bowser?  EVs still require us to use electrical power, the critical question is from.which source do we generate the electric power for such vehicles.

Gas may cause breathing health issues indoors if not used properly, but can be a back up to electricity for hot water and cooking requirements. 

Looking further beyond to diversify your business or personal needs, do you depend on only a single provider for most of your needs? Remember several retail providers, whether in insurance, tourism, telecommunications, food supply, construction or utilities, can be owned by the same parent company - and if the latter collapses, we can find ourselves with the carpet being pulled under.

Large businesses around the world tend to be vertically integrated, owning different parts of the chain of sourcing, production, logistics and sales - so if your business is dependent on such scenarios, do prepare for back ups, not just in supply, transport and parts, but also in the higher risks of being pressured in pricing dynamics.

Review your dependencies, whether in over relying on a small range of markets, customers, suppliers, revenue options, sales channels or only a few large players that can make or break your choices.

#yongkevthoughts