Charity that is finger – licking – good!

Here’s the chance to enjoy your favourite fast food without being weighed down too much by guilt.

From 14 October 2008 to 16 November 2008, KFC and Pizza Hut – among all big names – are gathering donation to aid the World Food Program. At KFC, simply add RM2 to each purchase you made an get yourself a wristband in return.

Fast food has never been so good. In another sense, of course. I’m not encouraging it to be part of your staple diet. After all, KFC and Pizza Hut booth offer salad on their menu.

A day on Tanjung Lipat.

I've never known that on the days when the tides are low, you can actually look for oyster and mussel (kupang, a greenish - black mollusc) on Tg. Lipat beach. I had always pass by on my way back to UMS and saw kids from the opposite water village and picnickers splashing around, but never thought that the above activity ever existed.

So when a friend asked if I'm interested to join her, I said yes immediately.

Of course, they had to tell me to go upstairs and changed again, my jeans deemed unfit, and also to fetch a pair of old gloves if I have one, seeing that my hands are the soft and smooth ones of a student's.

Unlucky for me, the tide was high when we reached there at 2 pm under the blazing sun, so we settled to photographing ourselves silly while waiting for the tides to settle down. Until the dark clouds appeared, that was.

The rocks extending into the sea. When the tides are low enough, you can climb upon it. Even lower, you can see the oysters attached to lowere parts of the rocks.




The floating Likas mosque. The re - painting started somewhere earlier this year but still is getting nowhere. Anyway, this is one of the favourite tourist spots.



The Kota Kinabalu seaport seen from the rocks "island".



The Yayasan Sabah building. Another tourist spot. An exclusive revolving restaurant called @tmosphere presides the top level.



Next time, I'll get my kupang... till then, then.

McDonald oh McDonald...

Think you got anything to complain of to McDonald (Malaysia only)? Try here http://www.mcdonalds.com.my/ and click “Just Tell Us”. Well, the page stated there to describe any unforgettable moments you’d experienced in McDonald’s, and well, let’s just say that not all memories are the good ones alone…

Another raya story… Of competition and engagement

I was invited to celebrate raya in Kudat with some friends recently, and after much contemplation, I decided to attend it as I’ve never celebrated raya there before and was very curious on how the folks there celebrate.

Turned out I got more than what I’d bargained for. In fact, the trip turned out to be very amusing indeed. And interesting, of course.

When we reached the village, a blast of raya songs greeted our group. A tent was already erected on the small field encircled by the houses, where underneath it a group of adults and children were singing raya songs karaoke. We were told later that it was a preparation for an upcoming competition.

Competition?

We were ushered into the house of my friend’s relatives, and a huge spread was already waiting for us. Turned out that not only there was the competition preparation, but also an engagement was occupying the time of the villagers. But I was more curious in the detail off the competition than engagement. After milling around among the ladies who were stirring huge pots of food, including my favourite chicken in satay sauce, one of them disclosed the much sought out info. This competition apparently was held between villages in the area of Sikuati, where the each competed to see which village was the most festive in celebrating raya. So now they were going all out, preparing all sorts of food, rehearsing, cleaning and setting up their compounds etc to receive the judges, one of them being a prominent MP in the area.

Of course I was amused. Back in my hometown, such thing was unheard of. Or maybe they do it somewhere back there in Peninsular. But anyway, this is another thing I can add in my collection of raya memories in Sabah.

So anyway, the engagement. Actually, more like a marriage proposal and engagement planning. Which turned slightly sour when the future groom expressed his discomfort of being surrounded by too many of the other party relatives during the dowry negotiation. I suppose some off the relatives felt snubbed and uninvited as some were seen huffing on the way out. Then my friend’s mother returned home, fuming along the way. Apparently she could not tolerate the future groom any longer after he absurdly slashed the dowry down by half of the requested amount, shocking the whole family. “Whoever heard of RM5000 dowry nowadays” was her greeting words.

With prices of many goods hiking up, RM5000 is indeed too little to fund a wedding reception. Thank goodness the price of petrol is decreasing, but still, the decrease is not that significant back here as once the price of good hikes, they will never come down. So RM5000 is really out of question. I really pity the future bride in this case… such cheapskate guy, 2 years wasted. Too bad …

There is just something about the road of Sabah…

That simply infuriates you. Most of the time. All the time. All the way. Half of the way.

Trust me, you would have felt some of the sentiments above when you drive anywhere in Sabah, Kota Kinabalu included.

The buses. They are big, heavy, laden. SLOW. But they’ll simply slow down to stop anywhere along the road, or slow you down when they are leaving their stops, nosing their way out regardless that you are speeding 70 - 80 km/hour. They leave you seething as they crawl into the fast lane, oblivious to you who are coming at the speed of 70 – 90 km/hr.

Mini vans. Same case. So no repetition.

The rest, I rest my case. Seeing is believing.

My last Sabah raya

My raya celebration passed by peacefully, and not as bad as I thought it would be. Bad, as in no food, jam, bad weather etc. But certain things surely had sparked up my raya this year in this Land Below The Wind (literally, with its stormy weather recently…)

On the first day itself, I visited a lecturer’s house then off to the Likas stadium open house. I’d learn my lesson well on that day, if I ever do go to any public open house in the future (if EVER), I’ll go with a full stomach, or a partially full one. For a start, this event requires you to have some adrenaline pumping in your blood before you join the mad rush for food, as well as some energy reserve to wade through the thick crowd. Balancing skill, tall and strappy build, large numbers are a bonus as you can defend your stand when the crowd went mad. Keeping alert is another thing, one minute the crowd is very docile, the next thing you know someone has started screaming about the unfair way the caterers are catering to the line and out – of – que people or suddenly the line will “fold” into itself. The ferocity people show towards food is indeed a scary thing.

The next day, off to more open house by some Peninsular friends working in Sabah. Finally, real raya food. I think everyone dove into the spread of nasi impit, roti jala, lontong and laksa, and ate to their heart content. Only the Sabahan were pondering on how to eat the laksa Penang, and soon were downing them with gusto. Of course, we’re talking about the REAL laksa Penang here.

More open house, each getting better and better. The Sabahan ones tend to not serve the traditional Peninsular raya food, but instead opt to serve beriani, bakso, noodles, sometimes spaghetti, chicken wings and telupis, a glutinous rice local delicacy. And everywhere in Malaysia it seems, people celebrate raya for one whole month, just as they fasted the one whole month. Is this good, or bad? Shrug. I guess this let the extended families from faraway also get the chance to complete their endless to – visit lists.

Actually, to be honest, I’m not such a raya – person, unless food – associated. I’m the kind who hides in the kitchen on the pretext of helping out to avoid the comments and questions of my aging, my single status, my studies, my future plans… yada yada… coming from distant people who barely knows me and only materialize once a year in front of you, it feels kind of intrusive, almost like a stranger on the road asking you about your personal life. One even had the nerve to pinch me on the arm, for God sake.

Anyway, for my last raya in Sabah, I’m actually pretty happy with it. I got to spend time with mutual friends that I’ll see less of or never see anymore in the future. After 20 years spending raya back in my own hometown, skipping a year wont hurt. And I got to see and attend my first public open house, enjoyed the holiday peacefully, the empty roads without jam… I’d say this is one of the best raya in my life.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri!

First, I'd like to wish Eid Mubarak to all the Muslims out there.

Today is the first day of the Syawal month, signifying the end of fasting month. Again this year I'm spending my raya in Sabah. I'm already getting used to that.

Of course, I'm anticipating the collage celebration, my lecturers' open house, the TYT open house and so on. Among the main things today, one of them of course is food, food and more food ^_^ And for FREE.

And also food shortage. Not exactly a general thing but for the students without any mode of transportation, the collage cafes are closed during this festive season and will only open on their whim. So good luck to them, the poor students... But today is supposed to be a happy day so by and by something good will come along.

A rather short post, this one but I'll come back soon. A little break for now ^_^ Cheers to all!