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Showing posts from July, 2009

Jehan bagged it!

Journalist Jehan Mohd is 30 today. I thought she would like a mer? original handbag so I invited Ice to design one that would suit her charming and vivacious personality. Ice did not disappoint and I am very happy with her creation. I think Jehan likes the stylish tote ( see picture ) too. Happy Birthday Jehan and enjoy the bag!

When a card came out of the blue ...

This post is prompted by a remark made by my good friend Wei Lin. She saw me reading a card I had received from a friend recently and said: "Traditional cards are so old-fashioned." I wondered if that was true and decided to probe into the issue. A Google search revealed numerous articles on the debate between traditional paper-based cards and e-cards. Tracey Grady's examination of the pros and cons of each type is informative. In my opinion, e-cards are not substitutes for the real (traditional) ones and they shouldn't be. I treat e-card e-mails with suspicion because spammers could be using them to download viruses and software onto my computer. I have never sent anyone an e-card and I don't plan to; I dislike the cold impersonality of conveying greetings electronically. I have always liked sending and receiving cards the traditional way. The ritual of going to a bookshop, browsing at the card section, picking a suitable one for the recipient and then walking to

Slow boats to nowhere

Wouldn't it be nice to take a slow boat to nowhere? The picture of these small boats with flat bottoms, used along the coasts and rivers of Southeast Asia was taken at the Jetty Complex, Sungai Merbok in Kedah, Malaysia. These boats or sampans remind me of Gavin Young's Slow Boats to China (1981) and Slow Boats Home (1985) which detail his "ship-hopping adventures". These books are standing in the bookcase in my living room, beckoning to me to read them again. And I will do that soon.

Follow the trail

Nature trails such as the one pictured above make me want to go for long walks. It is a joy to take a path through countryside, along which interesting plants, animals, among others can be seen. When was the last time you got out of the city to enjoy the countryside? When was the last time you reflected on the state of the environment? Do you even care what happens to our green areas? There is nothing better than treading a new path with congenial company and savouring the sense of freedom that it gives us. Equally important, the activity allows us to assess the extent of damage we have inflicted on our natural world, which biologist E.O. Wilson says "is in deep trouble". "Scientists estimate that if habitat conversion and other destructive human activities continue at their present rates, half the species of plants and animals on Earth could be either gone or at least fated for early extinction by the end of the century." For more read The Creation by E.O.

A blissful afternoon

Close your eyes and imagine that you are sinking your teeth into the creamy, custardy yellow flesh of premium durians. The company is good and the conversation is light and amusing. You roar with laughter at all the funny bits. You scoop another piece of durian from its shell and put it into your mouth as you sit back to enjoy the view from the terrace of a modern farmhouse which overlooks durian trees and the mountain. If that is your idea of bliss, then an afternoon at Bao Sheng Durian Farm in Penang is just the thing for you. The seven-acre spread is situated in Balik Pulau and is becoming increasingly popular with serious durian lovers especially those from Penang and Kuala Lumpur. I was there with my siblings recently and it was an afternoon that would be hard to forget. For starters, the durians here are of the highest quality. Bao Sheng has 180 durian trees and they belong to the kampung (village) varieties with curious names such as Red Prawn, Horlor (Hokkien for melo

Odour and passion

These are some of the varieties of durian that you will find at the Bao Sheng Durian Farm in Balik Pulau, Penang. Many Malaysians can't get enough of it yet there are also those who can't stand it. It is that overpowering smell, they say. Yes, it is a complex relationship. Find out more about the Bao Sheng Durian Farm tomorrow.