Every insignificant action has an impact on others, whether you realize it or not.

I happened to read the Navel gazer  by Alexandra Wong in the Weekender of the Star recently. The article was about how she met a stranger during a train journey to Ipoh,  who happened to read her article using his blackberry. His last words before they departed really motivated her regarding her writing.

" Your stories remind me that every insignificant action has an impact on others , whether you realize it or not."

Just like Alex and probably many others, I had almost given up writing having experienced many times producing books ,then cheated by individuals and book publishers. This had led to a lot of frustrations and demotivations.
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I used to love writing. There were times when the moment I scribbled on pieces of paper, ideas kept pouring that I could write several pages in one go. This happened normally when I'm alone. However, now  I have to take more time in getting ideas after a long break from writing. Adding to that, I have to look out for the suitable vocabularies needed.

I had read one of my daughter's book  Murabbi Cinta written by Ustaz Hasrizal Jamil which tells about his experience of being a father and how he handled his kids Islamically. Besides giving some knowldge about Islam,Ustaz Hazrizal also urged us to write(be it our experiences or views) so that it can be shared with the future generations. This could also a part of dakwah.especially to muslims. I've read another book by Ustaz Hazrizal called ' Secangkir Teh Pengubat Letih' which is a travelogue. This book is a bout his student days and how he spent much of his time in Turkey observing the people, culture and politics.

As a housewife and a mother of 24 years( Yep, my oldest dauughter is already 24 years old), I did not have much chance going out station i.e., out of state or overseas by myself. The only opportunity I had was to accompany my husband whenever he went out station.  Of course, accompaniment means everyone in the family which includes all my children. I started following my husband when my daughter was still a baby. Yes, it was tough travelling with babies. Having to take care their needs- milk diapers, travel discomforts made me weary even before we reached the destinantion. But it was worth it since it involves less expenses.

When both my husband and I were blessed with 3 more kids, travelling still includes the whole lot, which means more expenses. How did we did it? We lead a simple life. Buying luxury household and unecessary items were not on our priority list. Dining out was only during weekends.  

When the kids were older, we started going on family vacations. For a start we went to East Malaysia since we had travelled in Peninsula Malaysia during the short school holidays. It was fun having to organize our very own itinerary. And it was also fun to be able to take the flight for a change instead of driving.(more relaxing for my husband who was normally the family driver)

Then a year after that we went to Lake Toba, our first family overseas vacation. It was one of the best holiday package that we had experienced. We had a excellent tour guide an were given a first class treatment(of course, that was our personal opinion).

Shopping was usually not our favourite ittinerary especially when it was a package travel. We felt like we were forced to buy things that we did not need and it was really tiring. ( This disappointing itinerary happened when  we travelled to China. We were forced to go to so many shopping places which were required by the Chinese governemnt). We normally enjoyed the sights and sounds of different cultures and picturesque sceneries  of the lush greeneries, snow capped mountains and beach.

Now that my children had grown up, the youngest already in secondary school,  travelling is less frequent. Maybe age is catching up or is that just an excuse? I remember reading in one of Dr HM Tuah's book where he told us how he had encountered with a 70 year old woman taking the  same tour package with him. I wondered how she got the energy and guts to travel alone. However, I do look up to her wish to see the world eventhough it means travelling alone.  She had used the safest way to travel by using the travel packages.

I do not know when was the last time I travelled just with my husband( without my kids) except when we went for Haj back in the 80's.  Nevertheless I am grateful having able to travel  to many countries and all the states in Malaysia, together with my kids, to be able to cherish  the moments together and witness the spectacular panoramic view of God's creations.      

I do wish  that my travel stories here will have an impact on others, if not large, well... maybe  a little.

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Makanan Melayu di Pulau Pinang -Bahagian 1

Takua Rendang 

Kat mana nak dapat makanan Melayu di Pulau Pinang? Kena tahu tempat- tempat penempatan Melayulah. Walaupun kadangkala kita nampak kat Pulau Pinang ni sekali imbas memang banyak makanan China, ada tempat- tempat tertentu yang banyak makanan Melayu. Sekiranya kita berada di kawasan Padang Kota Bharu( kat mana ni...biasanya orang luar tanya.) padang Kota baru tu Gurney Drivelah. Padang kota lama tu dekat dengan jeti. Padang kota Baru ni berdekatan dengan pekan Pulau Tikus dan Tanjung Tokong. Arah pergi Tanjung Bungahlah.

Padang kota baru ini satu kawasan di sepanjang tepi laut. Terdapat kawasan pejalan kaki  di tepi laut dan kita boleh memandu di sepanjang Padang Kota ini  sambil menghirup udara laut. Kalau  kita pergi masa yang sesuai  kita dapat merasai hembusan bayu laut yang dingin di sini. Bermula dari Jalan Kelawei  ia berakhir di sebuah bulatan(roundabout). Di hujung roundabout ini terdapat  satu open air foodcourt yang menyediakan makanan  Melayu dan makanan Cina. Foodcourt ini terbahagi kepada dua bahagian. Bahagian halal dan bahagian tidak halal.

Sebagai orang asal Pulau Pinang, makanan kegemaran saya dan emak saya yang di jual di food court ini ialah takua rendang. Hah... takua yang dibuat rendang ke? Takua tu tauhu. Orang Penang kadangkala menggunakan perkataan rendang ini menggantikan perkataan goreng.. Jadi takua rendang ni tauhu gorenglah. Tapi yang specialnya bukan tauhunya. Sebenarnya hidangan ini terdiri daripada cucur udang yang campurkan dengan  taugeh dan daun bawang di dalam tepungnya, tauhu yang digoreng dan timun.Itu saja. Tapi ingat kesedapannya tetap terletak pada kuahnya  yang di bubuh keledek, bijan dan lain-lain. Biasanya mamak jugaklah yang buat tapi hidangan ini tidak boleh didapati di kedai nasi kandar, hanya di gerai-gerai tertentu sahaja.

Seterusnya jika kita meneruskan perjalanan ke arah Tanjung Tokong kita akan dapati deretan gerai-gerai Melayu di hadapan tanah yang telah ditambak dan dibuat rumah. Dulunya kawasan ini berhadapan laut dan terdapat sebuah padang kota juga.. Malangnya ia kini telah di tambak dan ini menyebabkan pemandangan di sini kurang menarik lagi. Walaubagaimanapun ia masih satu perkampungan Melayu yang terletak tidak jauh dari Georgetown. Saya biasanya pergi ke Pasar malam Tanjong Tokong ini untuk mencari makanan kegemaran saya iaitu popia dan putu mayam.

Rasanya makanan Melayu  di Pulau Pinang hampir sama dengan yang terdapat di tempat lain. Kalau lauknya, biasanya semasa saya kecil-kecil dulu, asam pedas, kuah pindang, gulai dan kuah lemak merupakan hidangan biasa bagi kami. Cuma lauk yang kami makan taklah pedas terganga-nganga macam masakan orang Negeri Sembilan. Kami jarang menggunakan cili padi dalam masakan kami. Kalau tak silap, makanan Melayu Pulau Pinang banyak di pengaruhi oleh pedagang Arab, mamak dan juga Cina. Maklumlah dulukan pulau ini  mempunyai antara pelabuhan yang termaju di Semenanjung Tanah Melayu.Jadi banyak berlaku perkahwinan campur sehinggakan makanannya  pelbagai.

Antara kuih yang biasa saya makan sewaktu kecil dahulu ialah dangai, serabai dan pulut udang. Dangai ini dibuat daripada tepung pulut, kelapa muda dan gula pasir. Serabai pula perlu dimakan dengan kuah manis atau kuah durian. Serabai ini biasanya di buat daripada tepung beras. Rupanya sama seperti penkek.Pulut Udang ialah kuih yang di balut dengan daun pisang. Pulut udang ini ialah pulut yang intinya dibubuh kelapa dan udang. Kalau dulu setiap keping pulut udang ini mesti ada udang di dalamnya. Tapi sekarang ini, janganlah di harap sangat kecuali kalau kita pergi ke arah kedah dimana makanannya lebih murah.

Antara kawasan penempatan Melayu yang  terbesar terletak di kawsan Gelugor. Kawasan ini memang mempunyai banyak restoran Melayu dan gerai Melayu. Kawasan ini  terletak berhampiran dengan USM, dan ini menyebabkan ia cepat membangun. Oleh itu mudahlah kita menadapat makanan melayu disini.

Satu kawasan yang special yang sudah lama tidak saya kunjungi ialah Gerai Ikan bakar Teluk Tempoyak. Kawasan ini  merupakan kawsan nelayan yang terletak betul-betul di tepi laut. Untuk sampai ke kawasan ini kita perlu pergi ke arah Batu Maung dan pandu kereta menaiki bukit kemudian menuruni bukit semula. Pemandangan disnin memang  indah, biasanya gerai ini hanya dibuka lewat petang saja. Oleh itu  ia biasanya dikunjungi oleh pengunjung selepas pukul 6 petang.

Itulah sedikit sebanyak makanan melayu Pulau Pinang dan kawasannya atau tempatnya.



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