Best Sea Food in Penang ?

I am sure that you have heard of the "Beginning of the World" in Batu Maung or the "End of the World" in Teluk Bahang. But have you heard of the "Fishing Village" also in Telok Bahang ?


This is what we had last Sunday at the Fishing Village :-

The lobster (about 800 gm) was fresh and very tasty with the delicious cheesy onions and sliced mushrooms combination. Even, Kimberley asked for more :-)

 

The Shark Fins soup was pretty delicious.

Look at the size of the crab roe, yum yum !

The Honey Buttered Squids was simply delicious !


To get there, at the Telok Bahang roundabout, take a 3 O'clock turn and you will see the "End of the World" restaurant at the corner, proceed straight until you see a left turn and there you are...

Reminiscence: Remembering 6/6/66

What do I remember about 1966 ? Well, I started 1966 as a  8 years old and by 6/6/66, I was already nine. What I clearly remember was that I sat for some examinations and wrote the date as 6/6/66 !

In the above picture, my Class Teacher for Standard 3A, Westlands Primary School, Penang was Mrs Ang. On the first day in Standard 3, I remember a shocking incident whereby one of my classmate (Arabi) was chased out of my class and never to return. Why ? I haven't got the foggiest idea.

From the picture, I can still identify quite a few of my 49 Std 3A Classmates, some of which their names escape me :-)

Front Row, L-R
Loh Chiew Hor, Khaw Teik Gim, Me, Lim Weng Chew, Goh Yoon Wah, Tan Kean Teong, Mrs Ang, Lim Ewe Saik, Zainal Abidin, Barney, Leong Kok Wai, ???, Tang Heem Moh

2nd Row, L-R
???, Leow Teow Wah, ???, ???, Lim Kean Song, Khoo Chee Eng, ???, Ang Chuan Hin,??,Sek Wai Mun,???,???,???,???,???,???,Khoo Kay San,???,???,???,???, Seng Hai


Back Row, L-R
???, Hor Chan Wye, ???, Chin Keat Hoe, Akbar, Lim Seng Hin, Ooi Boo Chuan (Deceased, 2006), Khoo Kah Hean,???, Chee Kin Leong, ???, ???, Ibrahim, ???, Ooi Cheng Chye

As far as I can recall, Chiew Hor, Weng Chew, Yoon Wah, Kean Teong, Ewe Saik, Kok Wai , Heem Moh, Teow Wah, Chee Eng, Chuan Hin, Kay San, Chan Wye, Boo Chuan and me  eventually went on to Penang Free School in 1970.

Since Standard 2, Goh Yoon Wah was always without fail the 1st Boy and the best that I did was 2nd Boy most of the time :-) AFAIK, he left PFS after Form 3 to join the Technical Institute and eventually qualified as a Civil Engineer. He was with the PDC for quite a while before commencing his own Professional Engineering practice. My Mum used to talk to his Mum and till today, I can still visualise his Mum waiting for him outside Westlands Primary School. An avid chess player, he is one of the earliest Penang player to be rated a National Master.

Sadly, Westlands Primary School is no more due to very low pupil enrollment and was converted to the Westlands Sports Excellence Centre.

Almost 8 Million Views of this "Michael Jackson" Video

I was just looking at a controversial NameWee video on YouTube when I stumbled on this video. What caught my eye was that there was almost 8 Million Views (and more than 10,000 reviews) of this Malaysian Idol video which I had happened to view in 2007 on Astro or one of the Malaysian TV channels :-)

Spirits of The Dead Haunting Malaysian Justice System?

CCH: With TBH body being exhumed and found in good condition on 21 November 2009 and the autopsy to be done tomorrow, 22 Nov 2009, I thought that it may be relevant to republish this post that I found on "Putt for Change" a blog that is on the list of socio-political blogs that I generally read.

Spirits of The Dead Haunting Malaysian Justice System?

Friday, November 20, 2009

It’s a common belief among the Chinese community that if a person died in an unnatural way, especially in a homicide, the spirit of the deceased would most likely wander about at the crime scene or a familiar place for a long time, until and unless justice is done to the deceased.

Take the case of DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock for instance. I was recently told by a friend that Teoh’s spirit was reportedly seen by some people, especially those with what the Taoists called the ‘ying-yang eyes’ i.e. possessing the ability to see ghosts or spirits.

Among these individuals was an unidentified little girl (age unknown) who had not only seen Teoh’s spirit wandering about near his workplace but also reportedly became ‘acquainted’ with Teoh’s spirit after a few encounters.

And what was even more interesting was that Teoh had during their purported ‘conversations’, confided what had actually transpired during his controversial ‘interview’ with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC) officers, which was recently declared as illegal by the High Court . It was said that the details of the “paranormal episode” subsequently related to Teoh’s former boss cum Seri Kembangan Assemblyman, Ean Yong Hiang Wah, besides a few other top brass of the DAP.

This was recently reported by Malaysia’s leading Chinese language political weekly, the Special Weekly in its 452nd’s issue, which focused on the issue of Teoh’s second autopsy which has been scheduled for this coming Nov 22, following an application by the late Teoh’s family.

The little girl also purportedly told someone that Teoh’s spirit was unable to return to his residence in Melaka as there was a shrine of a Thai deity outside his house, which purportedly prevented Teoh’s spirit from entering the house. It was mind-boggling when the tale by this young girl who had never known Teoh nor gone to his house in Melaka, was confirmed to be true upon checking by the Weekly later.

The Weekly later managed to track down the parents of this mysterious little girl but its attempt to interview them in order to verify what it had gathered earlier failed when the parents declined to speak, except for saying that they are non-believers.

There was also talk that Teoh had conveyed a message through a woman by appearing in her dream, requesting her to pass his message to his wife urging her to continue to pursue her studies after this. This particular subject matter concerning further studies was said to be privy to Teoh and his wife.

With Teoh’s second autopsy on Sunday 22nd November, this particular report by the Weekly has now become a hot topic among the Chinese community in the country, especially those in Peninsular Malaysia.

On Nov 4, Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas allowed an application by the family of the late Teoh Beng Hock to exhume his remains for a second post-mortem.

They (the Chinese community) are anxiously waiting to see whether the second autopsy would yield some new evidence that would match and confirm the earlier statement by renowned Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojansunand during the recent inquest on Teoh’s death that there is a 80 percent of it being homicide.

Many supporters and sympathizers of Teoh are also hoping that the information confided by Teoh’s spirit through the little girl, that is now known to a few top DAP brass including Hiang Wah, could somehow bring justice to Teoh and his family.

It is a known fact in some countries like Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong (China) that the spirit of homicide victims had led the relevant authorities to solve crimes contributing to their homicide.

More at http://advocateviews.blogspot.com/2009/11/spirits-of-dead-to-rescue-of-malaysian.html


Other relevant posts includehttp://khookaypeng.blogspot.com/2009/11/last-chance-to-right-wrong-teohs-body.html

• http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2009/11/21/teoh-beng-hock’s-body-exhumed/
• http://freemalaysiatoday.com/english/?p=1943
• http://rockybru.com.my/2009/11/politicking-even-as-tbhs-body-was-being.html
• http://bangmalaysia.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/thailand’s-justice-crusader/
• http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/11/21/nation/20091121134941&sec=nation

Kau Ong Yah Procession in Kota Baru ?

Late last month, I was in Kota Baru for a project where 99 % of the population are muslim and where a Islamic party  PAS is the state government.

Strangely enough, the coffee shop that I was having a delicious dinner of Tong Yam, Eng Chai Belacan, Egg Omelette and guess what a unique pork dish,  was openly selling alchohol to diners ! Wow, so what I had read in the mass media about  alchohol and pork being banned in Kelantan seems to be wrong.

Half-way through dinner, I heard the familiar sounds of cymbals clashing and to my astonishment I was witnessing the Annual Nine Emperor Gods (Kau Ong Yah in Hokkien) procession coursing through the streets of Kota Baru ! Wow ! Talk of religious tolerance in an overwhelming  muslim majority state :-)

BTW, you may be interested to know that the longest sleeping Buddha in South-East Asia at 40m is located at Tumpat.

                                        Photo by 7caught7my7eyes7

In addition, the tallest Standing Buddha in South-East Asia, which is porcelain white and looming over its surroundings, is definitely a sight to behold. It is situated at Wat Phothikyan in Kampung Balai, which is a small village, 35 minutes from Kota Baru, Kelantan. It is just opened to the public on August of 2008.

Kelantanese Food

As far as I can recall, my 6th Maternal Auntie from Kota Baru, Kelantan will always drop by to see my mum (Eldest in the Tan Family) in Penang with a packet or two of delicious Ayam Percik (aka Kay Peng in Hokkien) skewered on sticks and wrapped in newspapers. This was how I acquired the taste of Ayam Percik :-)

Recently, I was in Kota Baru with my Senior Software Engineer to implement a project which was first demonstrated to the customer 7 years ago !  On the first day, we were treated by Ridzuan  to Sup GearBox at Pantai Cahaya Bula (previously known as Pantai Cinta Berahi).

On last Thursday, I asked to be taken to Restoran Yati where we feasted on Ayam Percik, Nasi Kerabu, Grilled Beef and Stuffed Lady Fingers :-

Ayam Percik

Nasi Kerabu

 

Stuffed Lady Fingers

 

Grilled Beef

80 % Homicide & 20 % Suicide says Thailand's Dr Death !

See the following links with different perspectives on the above but what really galls me is that Teoh Beng Hock was ALIVE (though unconscious) when he hit the ground on the 5th floor after falling or being thrown from the 14th floor !

Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand appears to suggest that TBH was whacked on the head with a blunt object, manually strangled and had something inserted into his anus from a bottom-up direction.

• http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2009/10/21/porntip-expert-testimony-at-tbh-inquest/
• http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/10/21/nation/20091021102728&sec=nation
• http://bangmalaysia.wordpress.com/2009/10/21/thai-expert-says-teoh%E2%80%99s-death-%E2%80%9880pc%E2%80%99-homicide/ 
• http://rights2write.wordpress.com/2009/10/21/death-at-macc-my-csi-iv/
• http://khookaypeng.blogspot.com/2009/10/justice-for-beng-hock-is-justice-for.html
• http://www.skthew.com/2009/10/21/dr-pornthip-teohs-death-was-80-percent-homicide-and-20-percent-suicide/
• http://anilnetto.com/accountability/dr-death-testifies-in-teoh-inquest/
• http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/40991-thai-expert-says-teohs-death-80pc-homicide
• http://www.mysinchew.com/node/30408
• http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/115514
• http://masterwordsmith-unplugged.blogspot.com/2009/10/suicide-they-cried.html
• https://airkosong.com/_/2009/10/21/startling-revelations-on-tbh-deat/
• http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/20091021121934/Article/index_html
• http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=448445
• http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/27986/84/
• http://malaysianmirror.com/homedetail/45-home/16149-its-80-homicide-20-suicide
• http://ktemoc.blogspot.com/2009/10/teoh-beng-hock-tortured-murdered.html
• http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=39300
• http://jonathan66-my.blogspot.com/2009/10/just-watch-how-20-overturns-80-in-teohs.html
  

Justice for Teoh Beng Hock !

Happy Birthday Dad !

Just bought a Cannon Scanner and decided to preserve a handmade Birthday Card given to me by my youngest daughter, Krystle :-0

Penang Hawkers Food : Wan Tan Mee [Updated 2nd Dec 2009]

Based on a poll carried out by the Penang State Government , Wan Tan Mee was voted # 12 with 1109 votes out of 2,018. The objective of the poll was to select 12 food that will be featured in the special brochure called the “Penang 12 Best Food”. However, I read somewhere that Mee Goreng (ranked # 15 with 997 votes) will replace Wan Tan Mee as Penang Best Food # 12 :-)

There is 2 basic version ie the Dry and the Wet version and this is how Wan Tan Mee (at New World Park) looks like  :-

For me, the version at New World Park is just okay.

This how the version at the New Cathay Coffee Shop opposite Belissa Row, Pulau Tikus looks like

All I have to do is to say "Good Morning" to the Lady and the above will be served to me automatically :-) I love the fried Wan Tan and the bowl of wet Wan Tan but I think the wet Wan Tan will taste better without the taste of prawn in it.

Updated on 2nd December 2009

This how the version of the Wan Tan Mee sold by the seller beside Union Primary School in Jlan Burmah

.

Astronomy: Massive New Ring Detected Around Saturn

An undated handout of an artists impression released by NASA to illustrate the extent of the largest ring around Saturn An undated handout of an artist's impression released by NASA to illustrate the extent of the largest ring around Saturn

A three-member team of U.S. astronomers say they have discovered a giant new ring around the planet Saturn. A thin sheet of ice and dust particles extending about 12 million kilometers out from the planet's surface has been detected by the U.S.-built Spitzer Space Telescope.

Officials with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory says the ring is so big it would hold the equivalent of one billion Earths.

The trio of astronomers, led by Anne Verbisher of the University of Virginia, believe the ring was formed by debris from the impact of comets striking Phoebe, a moon of Saturn that orbits within the ring. The astronomers believe the ring also solves the mystery behind another of Saturn's moons, Iapetus, which has a light and a dark side. They say the dark side of Iapetus is caused by dust particles from the ring striking its surface.

The Spitzer telescope, launched in 2003, is currently 107 million kilometers from Earth in orbit around the sun.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP, CNN and NASA.

Durians : Raja Kunyit

After a great Chicken Rice lunch with my 2 Software Engineers Doris and Stanley at Chai Leng Park, I spotted a Durian Store at the entrance to Chai Leng Park from Jalan Chain Ferry. I couldn't resist visiting the stall and discovered that they were only selling branded durians such as D24, Sultan and Raja Kunyit.

The vendor claimed that the Raja Kunyit from Pahang was the best and once you ate it, it would be pointless to try the D24 and Sultan :-)

This is how the Raja Kunyit (Mau Wong) Durian looked like before opening

After opening :-

The flesh was smooth and had a nice kick and a slightly bitter taste. Costing RM 18K per Kg, it was more than enough for the three of us to enjoy stuffing our mouths with it :-)

Penang Hawkers Food : Penang Curry Mee

Just before noon, I suddenly had the urge to eat Penang Curry Mee. I was in the Pulau Tikus area and walked into the New Cathay Coffee Shop opposite Belissa Row in Jalan Burmah.

A typical bow of curry mee will comprise :-

• Yellow Mee
• Bean Sprouts
• Bee Hoon
• Tau Hoo Pok
• Prawns
• Fish Ball
• Jew Hoo
• Pig Blood Curd
• Mussels
• Long Beans
• Mint Leaves
• Curry Soup
• Special Curry Mee Paste

As usual, I ordered a bowl with no prawns, pig blood curd and mussels but with plenty of tau hoo pok. Here is how it was served to me...

Penang Hawkers Food : Endangered Hawkers Food

Whilst there are plenty of stalls selling Hokkien Mee, Char Koay Teow, Wan Tan Mee, do you know that certain Penang Hawker Foods can hardly be found such as :-

Traditional Nasi Lemak

There seems to be 2 basic versions of nasi lemak that is easily available in Penang

• Nasi Lemak Bungkus (curry with ikan billis or fish plus boiled egg) that is commonly sold by the roadside
• Nasi Lemak sold at coffee shops and food court (pandan rice + a selection of add-ons)

The one that I like best is none of the above !

Up to the mid-70's, you can buy a packet of the real Nasi Lemak as peddled by itinerant Indian Koay Sellers. This simple but very delciious Lasi Lemak comprises

• Delicious Pandan-flavoured Rice cooked with Coconut Milk
• Assam Prawns or Fish
• Belachan Sambal

Sadly, this traditional Nasi Lemak is no longer sold by these intinerant Indian vendors :-) Fortunately, you can still get this version at the Coffee Shop opposite the Supermarket at Cantonment Road :-)

Satay Babi

This yummy hawkers food comprises

• Stick of marinated alternating pieces of lean meat and fat
• Pigs Intestine (Hoon Chiang)
  
• Traditional satay sauce (not peanut sauce)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Slices of cucumber
• Toasted bread (optional)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

When I was a boy living at Immigration Road, I remember a man carrying a kandar stick selling satay and there was a boy always following him.

This boy is now an old man known as Tung Ah Chun selling Satay Babi on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at Bangkok Lane. Apparently, no one is going to take over from him. He uses to also sell delicious Hoon Chiang but does not do so anymore and it is simply too much work. :-)

Previously, there was a woman selling almost the same version at Penang Road beside Kampung Malabar. but since the Rent Control Act was repealed, she has moved away and I have not been able to locate her since :-)

Penang Hawkers Food : My Favourites [First posted in 1996, Updated 2nd Dec 2009]

I know...I know... There is bound to be better places which I may not aware of !  Anyway, one man's meat... another's poison and these are my favourite hawker food :-

Traditional Nasi Lemak - Updated 21 September 2009

• Cantonment Road, opposite Supermarket (Morning only)

Traditional Pork Satay (Satay Babi) - Updated 21 September 2009

• Bangkok Lane (Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays Morning)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Traditional Siew Mai, Kow Chee - Updated 21 September 2009

• In front of Sisters Char Koay Teow in Macalister Road (Saturday/Sunday Morning)
• Along Pahang Road & beside Padang Brown (At Night only)

Curry Mee - Updated 21 September 2009

• Lorong Seratus Tahun
• Corner of Tavoy Road/Burmah Road (At Night only)
• New Cathay Coffee Shop at Pulau Tikus (Morning only)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Hokkien Mee - Updated 1st Nov 2009

• Perak Road, opposite Padang Brown
• Coffee Shop at junction of Moulmein Road and Burmah Road (Usually finished by 9.00am ! Not opened on Thursday)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Gurney Drive Hawker Centre (Starts in the Afternoon)
  

Wan Tan Mee - Updated 10th October 2009

• Near Union School, Burmah Road (When he feels like it :-) )
  
  
  
• New Cathay Coffee Shop at Pulau Tikus (Morning only)
• Along Pahang Road & beside Padang Brown (At Night only)
  

Char Koay Teow- Updated 1st Nov 2009

• Lorong Selamat, most expensive but very tasty
• Coffee Shop before Tanjung Bungah Market (Tuesday - Sunday Morning)
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Jalan Burmah, opposite Police Station
• Behind Pulau Tikus Market (At Night)
• Bee Hooi Coffee Shop in Pulau Tikus
  

Indian Mee

• Bangkok Lane
• Gurney Drive (formerly Edgecumbe Road)
• Behind Pulau Tikus Market
  

Pasembur

• Bee Hooi Coffee Shop , Lorong Kuching, Pulau Tikus opposite Haagen Das (At Night)
  

Loh Mee - Updated 21 September 2009

• Bee Hooi Coffee Shop , Lorong Kuching, Pulau Tikus opposite Haagen Das
• Next to Kuan Imm Temple at Pitt Street
• Corner of Jones Road/Burmah Road
  

Fried Oysters (Oh Chien) - Updated 22 September 2009

• Carnavon street (Afternoon)
  
• Bee Hooi  Coffee Shop, Lorong Kuching, Pulau Tikus opposite Haagen Das (At night only)
  

Koay Teow Thn'g - Updated 21 September 2009

• Hutton Lane
  
• Anson Road
• Tanjung Bungah Market (Morning only)
  

Laksa - Updated 21 September 2009

• Air Itam market
• Balik Pulau market
• Summer Cafe, Jalan Lembah Permai
  

Pork Porridge - Updated 21 September 2009

• Kampung Malabar, off Penang Road - 7:00 pm onwards (At Night, Please be prepared to wait at least 45 minutes)
• Junction of Macalister Road/Lorong Selamat

Reminiscence : Chartered Accountants are very powerful...

Chartered Accountants are very powerful... So said Lim Soo Keat aka Lau Kiah on a date between 1964-1969.

It was on an evening and we were a bunch of neighbourhood boys sitting at the drain side at Immigration Road, Georgetown. I asked him why ? He replied that Chartered Accountants have the power to go into any bank or government office to check their books ! Wow, I was properly impressed by what he said.

Moving forward to 1978, I started my Accountancy career with M.S Ahmad Abdullah and Goh Certified Accountants and qualified as a CPA in 1983 and became a member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) in the same year as a PA(M). Guess what ? Some years ago, the MIA after a restructuring redesignated me a Chartered Accountant :-)

Why Hokkien... Hokkien... Hokkien ?`

I was born, bred and will probably die in Penang where Hokkien is the predominant spoken Chinese dialet. Penang Hokkien is quite different from the Hokkien spoken in the rest of Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and China in that it is sing-song in nature and contains quite a number of Malay words.

Being born a Hokkien would probably make you assume that I am very proficient in Hokkien. Believe it or not, English is my native language in that I think, dream and have nightmares in English ! I only realise that I hardly speak any Hokkien when in the early 1980's my "Jee Tneoh" i.e husband to my Mum's 2nd Sister asked why I reply in English when he asks me in Hokkien !

The crunch came somewhere in the mid-1980's where I was involved in assisting Bank Negara in raiding a major deposit-taking co-operative during the "deposit-taking crisis". After the investigations, the Accounting Firm where I was working was appointed the Receivers and one of my task was to go on a road-show to almost all the co-operative's branches in order to return part of the money deposited. That is when I discovered my handicap in Hokkien :-(

I clearly remember trying to tell a depositor that the quantum of the deposit to be returned has yet to be decided as follows :-

Depositor : Lu eh heng wah jua cheh

CCH: Ah boi choo teah (translated as It has not been fated !)

What I should have said is "Ah boi kuat teng !

That's when I decided to try to learn and speak better Hokkien !

This blog basically documents what and how I am teaching Hokkien to my 2 daughters living with me i.e Kimberley and Krysle who are both studying in a Chinese School after 3 years in an English Pre-school.

More at http://cch4hokkien.blogspot.com

Reminiscence : Ah Hock Ko, I don't think your son can walk...

I was told by my mum that I was a late bloomer when it comes to walking. In fact, quite a number of my relatives told my worried father that I would probably be unable to walk although I was already 4 years old !

So, how did I go from I place to another ? Apparently, I moved around on my bottom i.e by Cheh Lai Cheh Khee (in Hokkien).

So, when I did I actually start to walk ? The story told to me was that one day, I saw my your sister Alice (then about 2 years old) started to walk and I just stood up and started to walk :-)

Reminiscence : Going Up the Roof

One day in 1960, I found myself on a Hin Bus and half an hour later I was in front of a house in Georgetown.

It had a large hall and going to the second hall, I notice some steps that seems to be going up the roof. As far as I can recall, I asked my mum whether I can "Khee Choo Teng"  as I have never been inside a double-story house before and was amazed that one can go up the roof :-) 

I was about 3- 4 years old then that was the beginning of a 16 years stay in 3 rented houses at Immigration Road, Penang.

PFS : facebook [Updated 25th Sept 2009]

21 June 2008

Just joined facebook out of curiosity in Apr 2008 and added Goh Boon Hoe (PFS Class of 74) as the first friend.

Got a confirmation request from Tan Gaik Cheng (PFS, 1975-1976) to be added as a friend. From Gaik Cheng's profile, I found Chin Teng Lum (PFS Class of 74) and Ding Kec Chuan (PFS Class of 74)

From Boon Hoe's profile, I found Tan Ban Leng (PFS Class of 74) & Boon Sin (PFS Class of 74) and guess what, Yoon Kwai Lok (PFS Class of 74) requested to be added as a friend this morning :-)

The point is that I think Facebook is a great way to rekindle links with old friends.

Updated on 20th September 2009

As at today, more than 25 members of our PFS Class of 74 have facebook profiles including :-

• ABC (was online for a while and since then removed :-( )
• Chan Hock Aun
• Charles Fong Chin Tuck
• Chee Chong Hwa
• Cheng San Tan
• Danny Quah
• Ding kec Chuan
• Eng Khoon Chuah
• Goh Boon Hoe
• Jan Lim
• Jefffey Tang
• Keith Yeoh
• Lim Kean Huat
• Michael Yap
• Po Seng Yuen
• Ricky Chng
• Simon Yeoh Eng Huat
• Siow Jin Keat
• Steve Teoh Hoy Chee
• Sung Boon Leong
• Tan Ban Leng
• Tan Gaik Cheng
• Tan Geok Leng
• Teng-Lum Chin
• Teoh Boon Sin
• Veiven Goon
• Yeoh seng Hooi
• Yeong Mun Leong
• Yoon Kwai Lok

Updated 25th September 2009

Sukumar Mahesan is the latest addition to facebook and was found via Simon  Yeoh Eng Huat's facebook friends list.

Astronomy : Deep Sky Objects [Originally posted in 1996]

Deep sky objects are celestial objects including nebulae, star clusters, galaxies etc. Astronomically speaking, they are classified as Messier's Objects or NGC (New General Catalog) objects

These objects are best observed at Dark Sites. Due to light pollution in the city areas, the best place to view such objects are in the rural areas or open fields with no street lamps around.

A bit of history, a long time ago, an astronomer by the name of Charles Messier started to catalog a list of celestial objects to assist amateur astronomers to avoid confusing them with comets. the result is the catalog known as the Messiers's Objects

Astronomy : What can you see in the Malaysian Skies ? [Originally posted in 1996, Updated 20 Sept 2009]

Although generally cloudy, there's lots of things that you can see in the Malaysian sky.

Personally, these are the celestial objects which I've seen using my naked-eye, a Vixen 7 X 50 binoculars and a Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain 8" Telescope from my front garden in Prai, Penang.

• Comet Hale-Bopp in April/May'97
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Comet Hyakute, a spectacular sight in 1996
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Moon, with its craters, mountain peaks etc
• Jupiter, with its moons dancing around it
• Mars
• Saturn, with its famous rings
• Venus, bright but featureless
• Orion nebulae, a Messier object
• Constellations including, casseopia, scorpio, orion, tauraus...

Astronomy: Star Parties [Originally posted in 1996]

What are star parties ? In the USA, where astronomy is popular, Star Parties are held on the annual basis or when a major celestial event is due to occur.

Annual or regular Star Parties normally held to observe :

• Messier Objects
• NGC objects
• Major planets etc

The adhoc parties are to observe major celestial events like

• Jupiter Crash of 1994
• Persid Showers
• Comet Hyakute, 1996 etc

In Penang, there are star-gazing activities held at the USM every Friday and supervised by Dr. Chong Hon Yew.

I used to join Dr. Chong on a very infrequent basis at USM. What I am really interested is to gather a group of enthuasitic star-gazers to join me to obseve major celestial events.

The latest event which I observed was the Great Comet Hyakute at Telok Bahang on March 25, 1996 together with CCH Web's Webmaster, Choong En Tet and my brother-in-lay Francis Phoon.

Astronomy : Guide on buying a Telescope [Originally posted in 1996]

When buying a telescope, you should consider the following:

• What do you intend to observe ?
• Focal Length
• Aperture
• Reflectors versus Refractors
• Availability of lenses
• Telescope mounting
• Telescopes can be classified as either refractors or reflectors.
• Reflectors, which are generally cheaper than refractors include :
• Dobsonians - cheapest
• Newtonians
• Schimdt-Cassegrain - most expensive
  
  
  
  
  
  

Palmistry : Mixed Hand [Originally posted in 1996]

The mixed hand occurs once in a while. Several characteristics are combined on one hand. You could have a couple of spatulate fingers, two conic-shaped fingers and perhaps a tapered finger on the same hand !

This is fascinating because it denotes a complex character with several interests. In fact, if you have a hand that is mixed, you may well have so many interests you just don't know what to focus on. But your greatest asset is the adaptability and resilience that accompanies a hand like this. You can meet all the demands made upon you by fate,

with chameleon-like ability. And you don;t just change, you accept and make the best very best of every situation. As for me, fortunately or unfortunately, I have mixed hands and most if not all the above is absolutely correct !

Palmistry : Spatulate Hand [Originally posted in 1996]

The Spatulate Hand is characterised by fingers that splay out at the tips rather than tiny spatulas. The palm tends to be on the broad side and all in all, this sort of hand is curious enough to warrant a remarkable owner.

If you have spatulate hands, you are remarkable in many ways. You are restless and brimming with energy, you bubble with enthuasim and high spirits. Musicians, surgeons, sculptors, mechanis, etc often possess spatulate hands.

You are highly independent and most likely a non-conformist. Your mind is original, inventive and you may be well on the way to being a genius in your own field. You love exploring and adventure and you will always be a total individual no matter what.

You will probably make a success of whatever you turn your mind to, and you will bring to it your own special brand of origiality. If your palm is broader at the base of the fingers than at the wrist, you are more practical than the pure spatulate type. The reverse, ie with a palm that is broader at the wrist than at the base of the fingers, could indicate a really bright career if you aren't there already.

Palmistry : Conic or Creative Hand [Originally posted in 1996]

The Conic or Creative Hand is medium-sized and has a slightly tapering palm. The fingers are fuller at the base and narrow at the tip, giving a cone-shaped effect.

Women with conic hands tend to be impulsive and act on instinct. If your hands are conic, you are likely to be charming, imaginative, enthusiastic, creative and entertaining. You are clever and quick with ideas and will excel in areas like advertising or acting, art or writing as you have an honest-to-goodness zest for life and living and a brain that moves speedily.

Trouble is, of course, that you end up with little patience and a rather fickle nature. You run the whole range of affections, blowing hot and cold in such a short space of time, that your current man or woman will find it hard to believe you when you say you love him or her ! Moreover, you are quite capable of falling in love several times, too !

You are flexible and you absorb much from your surroundings, even the people you move around with. This means that you are easily influenced and you can switch moods and change your mind rather frequently. You could rave about someone or something today and be completely turned off by tomorrow... However, your generosity and your sympathy make up a good deal for what you might lack in dependability.

You are the one that comes up with bright, bold, exciting plans for so many things... but unless you have someone around, driving you to the finishing line, you simply don't have the discipline to get there on your own.

Palmistry : Psychic Hands [Originally posted in 1996]

The Psychic Hand is a very beautiful hand to look at. It is long and slender, well-shaped and smooth. The fingers are long, tapering or pointed at the ends, and the palm is narrow nad elongated. The skin is generally paler in tone than usual.

The instant impression this type of hand gives, is one of refinement and elegance. There is something fragile and spiritual about the physic hand and the owner is a person (likely to be a female) who loves beauty in every form and shape.

You are a dreamer...impractical, emotionally susceptical, and sensitive to everything...words, atmospheres, gestures and even looks.

You have no business head at all but you are gentle in manners, and placid in nature. You show little or no temper although you can suffer from acute depression at times. Your friends have probably told you countless times how impractical, unpunctual and undisciplined you are but it hasn't really changed this side of your nature.

You are just not cut out to face the harsh realities of life. You are idealistic and a 9 to 5 job would cripple you unless it happened to be really creative. Otherwise, you would e happiest in something that would allow you to express yourself fully without binding you down to office hours and office routine.

Painting, sculpture, drawing, or any other creative career is right up your alley. You could be a decorator, color consultant, designer or architect because you love colors and nature in the most positive way and you react fully. You instinctively like and trust anyone who is kind to you and this is something you will have to learn to be more selective about, or at best, you could end up being more depressed than happy.

Palmistry : Knotty or Philiosophic Hands [Originally posted in 1996]

The Knotty or Philosophic Hand is usually long and thin. A long palm and long slender fingers with long nails, more often than not. The general impression is one of the of boniness and length; its an angular hand and the unmistakable features are the well-developed, knotty looking joints A thinker.

If your hand is long and narrow and knotty at the joints, then you are kind-hearted, incredibly faithful and a true friend. You are happiest as a student of odd subjects and not just any old subject. You would perhaps study mankind, people and the things that make them tick, mysterious philosophies and culture and you would be attracted to mysticism, transcendental meditation or yoga. Famous people with this type of hand include the poet Tennyson.

You are inclined to be reserved and almost secretive but this is because you tend to sit on the sidelines and observe the players rather than plunge uinto the game yourself. You make a few friends but these are really close friends and with them you are warm, open and totally unreserved. The rest of your circle consists of
fun acquaintances whom you treat lightly.

You don't take any notice of what people think or say of you. Once you have made up your mind that you are going to do something a certain way, its because you believe in what you are doing and nothing else matters. You must have been the originator of the do your own thing philosophy.

You say few words but each one means a lot because you have given them much thought in the first place. In extreme cases, this can make you a rebel or innovator but one thing for sure, you are certainly an interesting and original sort of person.

Palmistry : Square Hand [Originally posted in 1996]

The Square hand has obviously a square sort of look about it. Square palms, blunt fingers of about the same lenghth, squared off at the top, and even nails, that are generally short and square.

This is a highly practical type, and if your hand is square, you are likely to be a down-to-earth person who loves punctuality, order and discipline. You are easy to get along, inclined to be precise and conservative.

You are likely to be a conformist and have a respect for authority.. You use your brains rather than your intuition, you work out things logically rather than fly off the handle and you are seldom quarrelsome or argumentative.

Your element is earth which makes you solid and reliable. You are determined without necessarily being stubborn or unyielding. Your power of reasoning is excellent and your judgment is sound.

You are a tidy sort of person who keeps a neat and orderly home. You might find it difficult to demonstrate affection. A spontaneous hug or quick tender kiss is not something you do easily but you love well and is sincere and true in your feelings.

As a friend, you're loyal and a staunch supporter due to your honesty and reliability. You would do more than merely signing your name to a cause and would likely contribute more of your time and ability.

Heliconias... Heliconias... Heliconia

On 3rd October 2008, I started a blog on growing Heliconias, an exotic plant not native to Malaysia. All pictures shown are digital photos of the actual species in my garden such as Rostrata,

Dwarf Jamaican,

Latispatha and several psittacorums such as Andromeda,


Lady Di, Fuschia,

Strawberry & Cream and hybrids such as Golden Torch

and Alan Carle.

Heliconia are close relatives of gingers, bananas, birds-of-paradise and traveler’s palms. There are more than 200 (350 including cultivars) documented species of the single genus, with the bulk of them originating from Central and South America such as Guyana, Costa Rica, Berlize, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil. You may be interested to note that about 6 species have evolved separately in the South Pacific and Indonesia, and typically have green inflorescence.The name "heliconia" actually comes from Greek mythology after the great Mount Helicon, the abode of the muses of the arts and sciences.

The beauty of the heliconia lies in the brightly coloured bracts that are mistakenly called the flowers. The actual flower is the tiny little flowers that emerge from the large showy bracts. Each stem can only flower once, after which the entire stem deteriorates, drives up and collapses. As such, it is recommended to cut at the base of 'flowered-out' stems.

More at http://myheliconias.blogspot.com