And in the early morning, when the sun rises and warms the surrounding, you see smoking roofs!
And that's not the chimney!
Saturday, 6 August 2005
The smoking roof
Last two nights we had frost and what that means is that the rest of the day...it is nice and warm! The definition of warm here is around16 deg C.
And in the early morning, when the sun rises and warms the surrounding, you see smoking roofs!
And that's not the chimney!
And in the early morning, when the sun rises and warms the surrounding, you see smoking roofs!
And that's not the chimney!
Wednesday, 3 August 2005
Discovered a world of literacy
We joined the local library in Tawa, which is where we live, about a month ago. My initial impression was "wow"! They had books, magazines, video tapes, cassettes, CD's CD-ROM's, DVD's and all for borrowings. They have PC's connected to the internet. They even have a section where you can bring children to play. There are toys in the library. Which I think is a good thing. Then kids will start to like going to libraries and eventually start to love books.
This morning I visited the Wellington City Library which is supposed to be the mother of all libraries. And it is one heck of a library! There are all those things I mentioned above here but multiply that by a 100!!! The whole library is 3 storeys high and each floor is about 3 times the size of the Tawa library! Can't really say how big in words but it is BIG!
There are close to 12,000 CD's alone of every genre of music, classical, opera, instrumental, even international. I even saw a CD of Siti Nurhaliza's music here! As for DVD's there are complete sets of Friends, Sex in the City and almost every movie and documentary released. Go to fiction and every novel of almost every author is there!
Vera will be happy my book buying will come to a halt now! Having 4 weeks to read to book or listen to a CD or watch a movie, why would I want to buy?
This morning I visited the Wellington City Library which is supposed to be the mother of all libraries. And it is one heck of a library! There are all those things I mentioned above here but multiply that by a 100!!! The whole library is 3 storeys high and each floor is about 3 times the size of the Tawa library! Can't really say how big in words but it is BIG!
There are close to 12,000 CD's alone of every genre of music, classical, opera, instrumental, even international. I even saw a CD of Siti Nurhaliza's music here! As for DVD's there are complete sets of Friends, Sex in the City and almost every movie and documentary released. Go to fiction and every novel of almost every author is there!
Vera will be happy my book buying will come to a halt now! Having 4 weeks to read to book or listen to a CD or watch a movie, why would I want to buy?
Sunday, 31 July 2005
The Vege Market / Asian Market
This morning we went to the Asian market as the Asians call it and the vege market as the locals call it. It is in the city inside a car park.
There were so many Chinese traders that it actually felt a little like home i.e. Petaling Street. The vegetables we found here were huge by our standards. Some were like nothing we have ever seen! Just potatoes, there were 5 varieties - white, brown, pink, washed and the usual ones.
Here are some pictures of from the Victoria Street vegetable market.
And some of the vegetable found at the market...
There were so many Chinese traders that it actually felt a little like home i.e. Petaling Street. The vegetables we found here were huge by our standards. Some were like nothing we have ever seen! Just potatoes, there were 5 varieties - white, brown, pink, washed and the usual ones.
Here are some pictures of from the Victoria Street vegetable market.
And some of the vegetable found at the market...
Saturday, 30 July 2005
Friday, 29 July 2005
Another move?
Just when we knew we were getting our stuff, we saw this lovely house nestled in the hills overlooking valley, we were interested in! It had everything we were wanting and at a price that was at the tip of affordability. Actually one more dollar and I would have been forced to take up another job!
The process here in NZ is quite different. If we were interested, we had to make an offer in writing (the seller doesn't say how much - you will need to use your best guestimate) through their lawyers. We being green horns as we are, offered them a price below the market value. Then they counter offered with a price which if we took, we would have to sell all the stuff that just arrived.
This process of negotiation went on for a week or so, back and forth, all in writing where we striked out the price they put and re-wrote a new price, and they did the same. During this time, we were not allowed to speak to them directly. Finally at the end of the week, the negotiation ended and we agreed on a price that would not make us bankrupt and them still having cash at the end of the deal. This process ended today at 5pm.
And this is the home we fell in love with!
This is the view from the living area.
Vera went to the local council to check the title and council approvals. She was shocked to find that it reminded her so much of a Malaysian JKR office, and two oldies working there. She enquired about the house we were planning to buy and they gave her a file containing everything we needed to know. It took all of 10 minutes for this!
Now our lawyers are doing the paper work in making sure the title can be transferred to our names. If every thing goes smoothly, we are expecting to move into our new home by August 12! All this usually takes about 2 - 4 weeks and can even be finalised in 48 hours, we were told. This includes money payments and transfer of titles! What speed!
For the time being, we are sleeping on our own mattress but on the floor and not on a bed. Our clothes are still in suitcases and boxes, not in cupboards. Two of our rooms are filled with boxes. Just another 2 weeks and another box opening ceremony. And with all that comes, learning new things like building a fire to keep ourselves warm.
We dread to think of calling the same guys to move our boxes to our new home just 1.5 km away!
The process here in NZ is quite different. If we were interested, we had to make an offer in writing (the seller doesn't say how much - you will need to use your best guestimate) through their lawyers. We being green horns as we are, offered them a price below the market value. Then they counter offered with a price which if we took, we would have to sell all the stuff that just arrived.
This process of negotiation went on for a week or so, back and forth, all in writing where we striked out the price they put and re-wrote a new price, and they did the same. During this time, we were not allowed to speak to them directly. Finally at the end of the week, the negotiation ended and we agreed on a price that would not make us bankrupt and them still having cash at the end of the deal. This process ended today at 5pm.
And this is the home we fell in love with!
This is the view from the living area.
Vera went to the local council to check the title and council approvals. She was shocked to find that it reminded her so much of a Malaysian JKR office, and two oldies working there. She enquired about the house we were planning to buy and they gave her a file containing everything we needed to know. It took all of 10 minutes for this!
Now our lawyers are doing the paper work in making sure the title can be transferred to our names. If every thing goes smoothly, we are expecting to move into our new home by August 12! All this usually takes about 2 - 4 weeks and can even be finalised in 48 hours, we were told. This includes money payments and transfer of titles! What speed!
For the time being, we are sleeping on our own mattress but on the floor and not on a bed. Our clothes are still in suitcases and boxes, not in cupboards. Two of our rooms are filled with boxes. Just another 2 weeks and another box opening ceremony. And with all that comes, learning new things like building a fire to keep ourselves warm.
We dread to think of calling the same guys to move our boxes to our new home just 1.5 km away!
Tuesday, 26 July 2005
Santa Clause arrives
It felt like Santa just arrived! Our container was released today and all our stuff came home. Santa did not arrive riding a snow sled but this 20 foot truck!
164 boxes of all shapes, sizes and weight! There were 4 guys moving the stuff and was cursing the weight of the stuff all the way. One of them said there should be a weight limit for the stuff they pack at the other end. One of the boxes said "soft toys" but it was so heavy which made him comment that probably the soft toys were filled with sand!
Now the whole house is filled with boxes!
164 boxes of all shapes, sizes and weight! There were 4 guys moving the stuff and was cursing the weight of the stuff all the way. One of them said there should be a weight limit for the stuff they pack at the other end. One of the boxes said "soft toys" but it was so heavy which made him comment that probably the soft toys were filled with sand!
Now the whole house is filled with boxes!
Monday, 25 July 2005
Mid year Christmas
Well, yes! In New Zealand there is such a thing as mid year Christmas. It is actually an event although I was expecting a holiday.
A few days ago, as I was walking back from lunch, I saw the bank I was working with decorating a Christmas tree at the foyer. I thought I was lost in time. It is only July and the Christmas I know was like 5 months away.
Later I found out that since it will be summer during the actual Christmas in December, New Zealanders "celebrate" a winter Christmas in June / July as a mid year function. Although it is not a public holiday, it is a celebration by any means. Most of the departments at BNZ had lunches and dinners as part of the mid year function.
My department went out to a nice Indian restaurant in Courtney Place for lunch at 1.30pm. I thought lunch meant lunch but found out that it took the most part of the afternoon and evening. The "lunch" ended at 5.00pm!
A few days ago, as I was walking back from lunch, I saw the bank I was working with decorating a Christmas tree at the foyer. I thought I was lost in time. It is only July and the Christmas I know was like 5 months away.
Later I found out that since it will be summer during the actual Christmas in December, New Zealanders "celebrate" a winter Christmas in June / July as a mid year function. Although it is not a public holiday, it is a celebration by any means. Most of the departments at BNZ had lunches and dinners as part of the mid year function.
My department went out to a nice Indian restaurant in Courtney Place for lunch at 1.30pm. I thought lunch meant lunch but found out that it took the most part of the afternoon and evening. The "lunch" ended at 5.00pm!
Sunday, 17 July 2005
The world's largest finger painting!
This morning at 7.30am the four of us went over to Porirua City for a New Zealand attempt at the world's largest finger painting...
Just after the 48 hour fame Ashwini had yesterday, we braved the cold morning and went in our warmest clothing to join the thousands already there since 6.30am and forming a 1km queue outside the Porirua Recreation Centre.
After about 90 minutes in the queue, with every facet of Kiwi life, young and old, thin and fat, tall and short, black and white (with some shades of grey in between), carrying others and being carried! We had the nation's TV stations, radio stations and the newspapers all there. And among the crowd, even the Prime Minister!
Just after the 48 hour fame Ashwini had yesterday, we braved the cold morning and went in our warmest clothing to join the thousands already there since 6.30am and forming a 1km queue outside the Porirua Recreation Centre.
After about 90 minutes in the queue, with every facet of Kiwi life, young and old, thin and fat, tall and short, black and white (with some shades of grey in between), carrying others and being carried! We had the nation's TV stations, radio stations and the newspapers all there. And among the crowd, even the Prime Minister!
Saturday, 16 July 2005
Stardom in New Zealand!
Who would have guessed that Ashwini would be appear in a New Zealand widely read newspaper? But she did!
She was at a local library in Tawa, yesterday, listening to Harry Porter stories recited (this is done twice a week, every week - just this school holidays it was Harry Porter books). And apparently she was the “cutest” of the younger kids there! So the local Dominion Post took her aside and took some pictures and asked her some questions! And….she appears on today’s edition! Front page some more!!!
A few weeks back, we were in Mitre 10 one weekend and this guys walks to us and said…”we are celebrating Porirua City’s 40th anniversary next month and I am looking for people born in each of the 40 years to talk about their life here. So, was wondering if you would allow your son to take part in this programme”. That was really nice but too bad we couldn't participate. One, Anil was not born in New Zealand and two, we don’t live in Porirua.
This is the one thing I like most about this country. The people here don’t see what colour your skin is or what ethnic group you belong to. They see you as you are! Plain and simple. Which is so different from where we come from!
When I first started work here in Wellington, every non Caucasian I meet, I would be curious to find our where they came from, but no one was interested to find out if I just arrived or have been in this country for 40 years! It made no difference to anyone. Wherever I went, I was treated as another Kiwi (although I am not).
She was at a local library in Tawa, yesterday, listening to Harry Porter stories recited (this is done twice a week, every week - just this school holidays it was Harry Porter books). And apparently she was the “cutest” of the younger kids there! So the local Dominion Post took her aside and took some pictures and asked her some questions! And….she appears on today’s edition! Front page some more!!!
A few weeks back, we were in Mitre 10 one weekend and this guys walks to us and said…”we are celebrating Porirua City’s 40th anniversary next month and I am looking for people born in each of the 40 years to talk about their life here. So, was wondering if you would allow your son to take part in this programme”. That was really nice but too bad we couldn't participate. One, Anil was not born in New Zealand and two, we don’t live in Porirua.
This is the one thing I like most about this country. The people here don’t see what colour your skin is or what ethnic group you belong to. They see you as you are! Plain and simple. Which is so different from where we come from!
When I first started work here in Wellington, every non Caucasian I meet, I would be curious to find our where they came from, but no one was interested to find out if I just arrived or have been in this country for 40 years! It made no difference to anyone. Wherever I went, I was treated as another Kiwi (although I am not).
Thursday, 14 July 2005
Where is our stuff???
When we shipped our stuff from Malaysia in May, we were told by the forwarders that our 20 foot container will arrive in Wellington by the June 19! We were even given the name of the vessel that was to carry our personal belongings! We were impressed and this company we hired to do all this was a subsidiary of a public listed company, KC Dat! Who would have guessed that they would mess things up?
It is now middle of July and we still have not gotten our stuff! We have been chasing everyone possible in the chain but nothing seem to move.
The story is that KC Dat has not paid their counterpart in New Zealand for over 6 months and as a result, the agents in New Zealand do not want to release our goods, making us chase KC Dat on their behalf!
After so many phone calls to Malaysia, we are still awaiting for the stuff to be released. This is so disappointing because, KC Dat is so irresponsible. They are not answering our calls and neither are they interested in resolving this issue. They got their money, so why bother?
It is now middle of July and we still have not gotten our stuff! We have been chasing everyone possible in the chain but nothing seem to move.
The story is that KC Dat has not paid their counterpart in New Zealand for over 6 months and as a result, the agents in New Zealand do not want to release our goods, making us chase KC Dat on their behalf!
After so many phone calls to Malaysia, we are still awaiting for the stuff to be released. This is so disappointing because, KC Dat is so irresponsible. They are not answering our calls and neither are they interested in resolving this issue. They got their money, so why bother?
Tuesday, 12 July 2005
A pattern with Asians…
I am not generalising here. That will be the last thing I would do! But there is a pattern with Asians coming to New Zealand. Actually you see that all over the world, not just here…
When you see a corner neighbourhood news stand or a dairy, 9 out of 10 times, it is run by an Indian or someone of Indian descent.
When you see a not necessarily corner, neighbourhood take away, 9 out of 10 times…actually I think it is 10 out of 10 as I have yet to see an odd one, it is run by a Chinese or someone of Chinese descent. They will sell “English Fish & Chips” but still operated by a Chinese. They will sell Malaysian “Nasi Gorang” but still operated by a Chinese. They will sell “Beef Rendang” but still operated by a Chinese.
Another odd thing is, 6 out of 10 Malaysian take away’s are not run by Malaysians let alone someone who has been to Malaysia. I know that since they don’t speak any decent Malay and I said 6 out of 10 as there are Malaysians running authentic Malaysian restaurants here! Next time, I must ask them if they know where Malaysia is on a map!
I pass by a taxi stand outside the Ibis Hotel on Featherston St here in Wellington twice a day to and from work, and again 9 out of 10 taxis I see parked there are driven by someone of African descent!
Slightly off the subject here, every time I touch down in London, I see a man wearing a turban welcoming you to the UK at the immigration but I have not seen that here. A cloth merchant in Malaysia or Indonesia would in all likelihood be someone from India, but not here. Someone who sells carpets in Malaysia would hail from Pakistan or the Middle East, again not the case here.
It is kind of weird seeing a construction site not filled with Indonesians. Not seeing nannies wearing the familiar blue uniform, carrying babies and trotting behind parents. Not seeing people going gaga when a politician turns up somewhere. Not seeing the police, bodyguards and outriders when the Prime Minister walks in (I actually met her once). Not seeing drivers so obligingly open the rear doors for their bosses who are too busy to open the door or that ever so important businessman who has better things to do than carry his own briefcase. Maybe I haven’t been around that much but in a month here, these are my observation.
When you see a corner neighbourhood news stand or a dairy, 9 out of 10 times, it is run by an Indian or someone of Indian descent.
When you see a not necessarily corner, neighbourhood take away, 9 out of 10 times…actually I think it is 10 out of 10 as I have yet to see an odd one, it is run by a Chinese or someone of Chinese descent. They will sell “English Fish & Chips” but still operated by a Chinese. They will sell Malaysian “Nasi Gorang” but still operated by a Chinese. They will sell “Beef Rendang” but still operated by a Chinese.
Another odd thing is, 6 out of 10 Malaysian take away’s are not run by Malaysians let alone someone who has been to Malaysia. I know that since they don’t speak any decent Malay and I said 6 out of 10 as there are Malaysians running authentic Malaysian restaurants here! Next time, I must ask them if they know where Malaysia is on a map!
I pass by a taxi stand outside the Ibis Hotel on Featherston St here in Wellington twice a day to and from work, and again 9 out of 10 taxis I see parked there are driven by someone of African descent!
Slightly off the subject here, every time I touch down in London, I see a man wearing a turban welcoming you to the UK at the immigration but I have not seen that here. A cloth merchant in Malaysia or Indonesia would in all likelihood be someone from India, but not here. Someone who sells carpets in Malaysia would hail from Pakistan or the Middle East, again not the case here.
It is kind of weird seeing a construction site not filled with Indonesians. Not seeing nannies wearing the familiar blue uniform, carrying babies and trotting behind parents. Not seeing people going gaga when a politician turns up somewhere. Not seeing the police, bodyguards and outriders when the Prime Minister walks in (I actually met her once). Not seeing drivers so obligingly open the rear doors for their bosses who are too busy to open the door or that ever so important businessman who has better things to do than carry his own briefcase. Maybe I haven’t been around that much but in a month here, these are my observation.
Sunday, 10 July 2005
Mom the hairdresser
It has been a month since we are here and it has been a month since I cut my hair! Hmmmm…. It takes all of one month for my already short hair to grow to a length where annoyance starts to set in.
We scouted around for a barber in Wellington. Oh there were plenty but I could not find my neighbourhood Indian barber! All the Indians here open diary shops and news stands. There is a pattern actually, but will come to that in another thread… Since there were no Indian barbers, I enquired from some of the local ones. The cheapest was $10 for a hair cut, and that was for children below 12. For those of you who have seen me, the barber doesn’t actually have a lot of hair to deal with and $10???
What shall I do? We had a round table discussion over this. Actually we have a rectangle table but a rectabgle table discussion doesn’t have a ring to it. Anyway, the conclusion was to cut our own hair.
We went to Mitre 10 (a Hadimart DIY variety here) and picked up a hair cut set with all the frills thrown in and electric, all for only $18.69. I can’t cut my own hair, can I? But Vera was not brave enough to start with mine. So, our 6 year old was to be the guinea pig! Of course he doesn’t know that his Daddy was a greenhorn when it came to cutting hair.
After about 10 minutes of fidgeting with his head, he still looked presentable although I must say a little off balance but its school holidays now! So by the time he goes to school in 2 weeks, my work of art will be nicely covered up! Next was my turn. I chose the shortest possible cut and told Vera to cut as much as possible! Turns out, it was so short, whatever “mistakes” was invisible to the naked eye!
So, my return on investment was excellent!
We scouted around for a barber in Wellington. Oh there were plenty but I could not find my neighbourhood Indian barber! All the Indians here open diary shops and news stands. There is a pattern actually, but will come to that in another thread… Since there were no Indian barbers, I enquired from some of the local ones. The cheapest was $10 for a hair cut, and that was for children below 12. For those of you who have seen me, the barber doesn’t actually have a lot of hair to deal with and $10???
What shall I do? We had a round table discussion over this. Actually we have a rectangle table but a rectabgle table discussion doesn’t have a ring to it. Anyway, the conclusion was to cut our own hair.
We went to Mitre 10 (a Hadimart DIY variety here) and picked up a hair cut set with all the frills thrown in and electric, all for only $18.69. I can’t cut my own hair, can I? But Vera was not brave enough to start with mine. So, our 6 year old was to be the guinea pig! Of course he doesn’t know that his Daddy was a greenhorn when it came to cutting hair.
After about 10 minutes of fidgeting with his head, he still looked presentable although I must say a little off balance but its school holidays now! So by the time he goes to school in 2 weeks, my work of art will be nicely covered up! Next was my turn. I chose the shortest possible cut and told Vera to cut as much as possible! Turns out, it was so short, whatever “mistakes” was invisible to the naked eye!
So, my return on investment was excellent!
Friday, 8 July 2005
The 5 Malaysians I met in Wellington
What I wrote here was taken the wrong way by the 5 Malaysians I met. I had a string of emails copied to me explaining how my blog was seen as being discourteous to them, although no names were mentioned. I had no intentions of being discourteous or had any intentions of hurting anyone. I have therefore taken out my original blog!
Sunday, 3 July 2005
MEME - What is this?
We were tagged by Boo Licious from Masak Masak to answer some cooking questions and so I will try. She has lots of good yum yum recipes on her blog, some of them, off the eaten track but still Dee Licious.
So here they are!
What is your first memory of baking/cooking on your own?
Vera is a born chef! She must have started cooking when she was in the womb. Okay, okay not that young but you get the idea.
Me? My first "experiment" was when I was staying on my own. I had the most ridiculous meal which consist of anything and everything that I could find in the fridge. Can you imagine sweet and savoury all blended together? I can't but I did!
Here in New Zealand, I was open to new possibilities as this house we are renting comes with a huge oven. My first was a lamb roast. Marinated it and roasted it and it was really good to look, smell and taste but only to about 2 inches from the outer layer. Turns out it was not cooked inside. So it's back to the drawing board. But this other thing I experimented with was surprisingly good. Fresh NZ mussels baked in white wine! Hmmmm...
Who had the most influence on your cooking?
In my family, my dad was the "cook" as his cooking almost always beat my mom's flat but he has since retired from the kitchen and he is known to not follow the rules. So his cooking was always too much of something or too little of something but nevertheless, still good. Perhaps, that is my greatest influence.
But since 10 years ago, my dear wife has been the master or mistress of the kitchen and can I replicate my dad? Time will tell... I have sharpened my skills while I was in Indoensia alone for a year so, I have New Zealand to prove that all is not lost!
Do you have an old photo as "evidence" of an early exposure to the culinary world and would you like to share it?
I don't have photos of my early experiments (I do not want to be black mailed) but I do have pictures of some of my Indonesian delicacies but they are in the Tasman Sea now. Will post it when the stuff arrives.
Mageiricophobia - do you suffer from any cooking phobia, a dish that makes your palms sweat?
Magei... what? As my dishes and what I use in them are out of this world, I have no competition in that sense, but my wife is my greatest threat. Her simplest dish always tastes better than my most extravagent! But who knows? Her skills will wear out I am sure! He he he...
What would be your most valued or used kitchen gadgets and/or what was the biggest let down?
Have wok will cook! I have even cooked rice in a wok.
Let down? Probably not in terms of gadgets but in terms of skill. Whenever I call my wife or mom for tips on how much salt or spice to use in a dish, it is always a pinch or a handful of this and that, or some other means of measurement which I could never figure out! They call it "agak - agak" but I am sure it is some kind of "trade secret" - not wanting us men to outbeat them women!
Name some funny or weird food combinations/dishes you really like - and probably no one else!
My food combinations are never weird to me but my wife sometimes think spreading yogurt on bread when I make a sandwich or dipping sweet pancake in chilli sauce is disgusting. What can I say? Men will be men!
What are the three eatables or dishes you simply don't want to live without?
Did I say chilli?
The best chilli I found was in Indonesia. It is called "Sambal Lampung". It is the hottest and the most mouth watering chilli paste I have tasted. For awhile, all my dishes had a dash of sambal lampung in it! Now I am looking for the New Zealand equivalent which I think might be growing in our own backyard! Details in future blog.
Any question you missed in this meme, that you would have loved to answer?
I am sure I will find one after I have posted this blog!
Three quickies:Your favorite ice-cream? : Actually a combination. Tip Top ice cream (my current favourite in NZ) with mix nuts thrown in and topped with fruit flavoured yogurt! If you think that was yuck! You are not alone!
You will probably never eat? : Chinese and Indian herbs! I think they are just too good for the body and spoils going the overboard bit when I cook. I always believe things that taste really good are usually not so good for the health and healthy things are usually not so tasty to eat!
Your own signature dish? : Chappati! I make the best chappati in the family! At least for now.
Who do you want most to cook you dinner? : My wife of course! A close second would be my dad!
There aren't that many things to say about New Zealand food here at the moment as Vera's "cooking toys" have yet to arrive but I bet from next month, I will have lots to say about what we eat here, as the food we find in New Zealand is so very different from home.
There are loads of Malaysian take aways at every corner of every suburb in Wellington but most who run them are not Malaysian let alone have anything to do with Malaysia. So you get dishes called "Nasi Gorang", "Bami Gorang" and "Mie Memek". And price wise, it is no where near affordability! Roti canai costs $6 for two pieces with chicken curry and a glass of teh tarik costs $3 (which actually came from Aik Cheong sachets). The most authentic Malaysian restaurant I have come across is one called "Kopi" near where I work. The owner hails from Kulim in Malaysia and he has a special "spice/chilli strength" for Malaysians. So you tell the waiter you want the real thing and you get the real thing! Not the adulterated version for "Mat Sallehs".
So here they are!
What is your first memory of baking/cooking on your own?
Vera is a born chef! She must have started cooking when she was in the womb. Okay, okay not that young but you get the idea.
Me? My first "experiment" was when I was staying on my own. I had the most ridiculous meal which consist of anything and everything that I could find in the fridge. Can you imagine sweet and savoury all blended together? I can't but I did!
Here in New Zealand, I was open to new possibilities as this house we are renting comes with a huge oven. My first was a lamb roast. Marinated it and roasted it and it was really good to look, smell and taste but only to about 2 inches from the outer layer. Turns out it was not cooked inside. So it's back to the drawing board. But this other thing I experimented with was surprisingly good. Fresh NZ mussels baked in white wine! Hmmmm...
Who had the most influence on your cooking?
In my family, my dad was the "cook" as his cooking almost always beat my mom's flat but he has since retired from the kitchen and he is known to not follow the rules. So his cooking was always too much of something or too little of something but nevertheless, still good. Perhaps, that is my greatest influence.
But since 10 years ago, my dear wife has been the master or mistress of the kitchen and can I replicate my dad? Time will tell... I have sharpened my skills while I was in Indoensia alone for a year so, I have New Zealand to prove that all is not lost!
Do you have an old photo as "evidence" of an early exposure to the culinary world and would you like to share it?
I don't have photos of my early experiments (I do not want to be black mailed) but I do have pictures of some of my Indonesian delicacies but they are in the Tasman Sea now. Will post it when the stuff arrives.
Mageiricophobia - do you suffer from any cooking phobia, a dish that makes your palms sweat?
Magei... what? As my dishes and what I use in them are out of this world, I have no competition in that sense, but my wife is my greatest threat. Her simplest dish always tastes better than my most extravagent! But who knows? Her skills will wear out I am sure! He he he...
What would be your most valued or used kitchen gadgets and/or what was the biggest let down?
Have wok will cook! I have even cooked rice in a wok.
Let down? Probably not in terms of gadgets but in terms of skill. Whenever I call my wife or mom for tips on how much salt or spice to use in a dish, it is always a pinch or a handful of this and that, or some other means of measurement which I could never figure out! They call it "agak - agak" but I am sure it is some kind of "trade secret" - not wanting us men to outbeat them women!
Name some funny or weird food combinations/dishes you really like - and probably no one else!
My food combinations are never weird to me but my wife sometimes think spreading yogurt on bread when I make a sandwich or dipping sweet pancake in chilli sauce is disgusting. What can I say? Men will be men!
What are the three eatables or dishes you simply don't want to live without?
Did I say chilli?
The best chilli I found was in Indonesia. It is called "Sambal Lampung". It is the hottest and the most mouth watering chilli paste I have tasted. For awhile, all my dishes had a dash of sambal lampung in it! Now I am looking for the New Zealand equivalent which I think might be growing in our own backyard! Details in future blog.
Any question you missed in this meme, that you would have loved to answer?
I am sure I will find one after I have posted this blog!
Three quickies:Your favorite ice-cream? : Actually a combination. Tip Top ice cream (my current favourite in NZ) with mix nuts thrown in and topped with fruit flavoured yogurt! If you think that was yuck! You are not alone!
You will probably never eat? : Chinese and Indian herbs! I think they are just too good for the body and spoils going the overboard bit when I cook. I always believe things that taste really good are usually not so good for the health and healthy things are usually not so tasty to eat!
Your own signature dish? : Chappati! I make the best chappati in the family! At least for now.
Who do you want most to cook you dinner? : My wife of course! A close second would be my dad!
There aren't that many things to say about New Zealand food here at the moment as Vera's "cooking toys" have yet to arrive but I bet from next month, I will have lots to say about what we eat here, as the food we find in New Zealand is so very different from home.
There are loads of Malaysian take aways at every corner of every suburb in Wellington but most who run them are not Malaysian let alone have anything to do with Malaysia. So you get dishes called "Nasi Gorang", "Bami Gorang" and "Mie Memek". And price wise, it is no where near affordability! Roti canai costs $6 for two pieces with chicken curry and a glass of teh tarik costs $3 (which actually came from Aik Cheong sachets). The most authentic Malaysian restaurant I have come across is one called "Kopi" near where I work. The owner hails from Kulim in Malaysia and he has a special "spice/chilli strength" for Malaysians. So you tell the waiter you want the real thing and you get the real thing! Not the adulterated version for "Mat Sallehs".
Wednesday, 29 June 2005
Fuel price on the rise.
I just heard from my kakis in Malaysia that fuel price is likely to go up again!
You guys back in Malaysia are so lucky. Here in New Zealand they don't tell you there is an increase in fuel price. No fore warnings, no sms from buddies, no queues at petrol kiosks the night before. You just wake up one morning and go to a petrol kiosk and see new prices displayed and they increase prices as and when the world market prices increase.
When we first arrived, which is only a month ago, petrol was selling for 118.7 cents per litre. Since then, it went up 3 times and down once. Went as high as 133.8 cents per litre and is now hovering at 131.9 cents per litre.
Initially we waited for our tank to empty before filling up the 3 litre Odessey but seeing the fluctuation we fill it up the moment the needle touches a quarter tank of usage.
Here's the thing, despite all this, there is no change in prices of public transportation (I take the train to work daily). The government here does not control price increases in public transportation nor does it control fuel prices sold to the public or industry. Most of the busses in the city and trains run on electricity and 90% of the electricity runs on hydro electric and water is free! At least in Wellington it is free. The price of coffee does not increase in proportion to the increase in fuel price. Roti canai is still sold at $6 and you can get some commodities at below cost if you wait for the right time when they have "specials" on! No one ever protested or even came close to making a comment on the increase.
Now, if it was Malaysia, you will be hearing it all over the radio, TV and newspapers and why the government should step in to control the price or the taxis will have to increase their fares and busses will have to charge more and the fella with a stall under the tree in an abandoned car park who pays no rental will have to increase his price of "ais kosong" for some unknown and unrelated reason, etc etc.
And if it was Indonesia, another kettle of fish, demontrations would start at the ever so famous Bundaran HI in Jakarta. Students will be carrying placards asking Susilo Bambang to step down and there will be major public outcry becasue the population would now be suffering. Yet Jakarta will be congested and on a Friday afternoon, Jalan Sudirman will be a massive carpark! People will still be queuing up to buy fuel guzzling cars like Jaguars!
Monday, 27 June 2005
Is winter over?
Despite the mid winter having past on June 21, 2005 and the days are actually strating to get longer although by a few minutes each day, or so they claim, the temperature is nowhere near heading North!
We had hail yesterday, the hills around Wellington were snow capped, last night it went as low as -2 deg C in some parts of Wellington and this morning, despite a display of clear blazing sunshine, it was only 4 deg C higher than it was the previous night. It is still freeeeeeezing!
Am not sure if it is all that walking or the temperature. Both my ankles are terribly painful. Parts of my feet are slightly swollen at the soles and walking is becoming more of a challenge to me now. I enjoy it though.
I went to see the local doctor to find out if there was something wrong. She checked my feet, charged me $62 and told me to get a new pair of shoes! She referred me to a outlet called the "Shoe Clinic". I went there after seeing the doctor.
These guys are amazing! They told me to walk through a scanner placed flat on the floor, which recorded my problem, my shoe size, my weight and how much pressure I put on my feet and where exactly on my foot was the pressure. Amazing! So the end result was for me to purchase a pair of shoes that fit my feet exactly, softens the places I put pressure on and I must say it is comfortable. I have 30 days to try the shoes and if my problem still does not go away, I can get a full refund! By the way, I am poorer by $299.00! That is a lot of money for a pair of shoes but very cheap for the comfort of walking daily.
Not only my feet are feeling the effects of the cold. My digital camera takes a long time to store a shot. I initially thought it was the batteries. Changed them but still the same.
Can't wait for summer.....
We had hail yesterday, the hills around Wellington were snow capped, last night it went as low as -2 deg C in some parts of Wellington and this morning, despite a display of clear blazing sunshine, it was only 4 deg C higher than it was the previous night. It is still freeeeeeezing!
Am not sure if it is all that walking or the temperature. Both my ankles are terribly painful. Parts of my feet are slightly swollen at the soles and walking is becoming more of a challenge to me now. I enjoy it though.
I went to see the local doctor to find out if there was something wrong. She checked my feet, charged me $62 and told me to get a new pair of shoes! She referred me to a outlet called the "Shoe Clinic". I went there after seeing the doctor.
These guys are amazing! They told me to walk through a scanner placed flat on the floor, which recorded my problem, my shoe size, my weight and how much pressure I put on my feet and where exactly on my foot was the pressure. Amazing! So the end result was for me to purchase a pair of shoes that fit my feet exactly, softens the places I put pressure on and I must say it is comfortable. I have 30 days to try the shoes and if my problem still does not go away, I can get a full refund! By the way, I am poorer by $299.00! That is a lot of money for a pair of shoes but very cheap for the comfort of walking daily.
Not only my feet are feeling the effects of the cold. My digital camera takes a long time to store a shot. I initially thought it was the batteries. Changed them but still the same.
Can't wait for summer.....
Saturday, 18 June 2005
Free weekends...
We just came back from a wonderful weekend (actually the weekend ain't over! It's only Saturday). And all it cost us was the petrol, and some shivers as the weather is still pretty darn cold and days are still pretty darn short. We are so looking forward to summer.
We went to this park somewhere near Titahi Bay. It was about 15 minutes drive from where we are an the view was spectacular! We frist drive up to the top of an awesome hill, then drive down to the bay. There are lots of places to park and walk and run and do whatever you want. And it was not crowded, there was only like 5 others cars there. We were told during summer we can expect to see maybe another 2 cars! That's a crowd in Kiwi terms. Then again, there are so many such parks dotted around the city. There were people swimming (yes swimming!) and some surfing. Actually the water is not that cold. Just the wind that makes it cold.
Later after a nice roast dinner we drove down to Petone Foreshore for some spectacular fireworks display! We stood by the esplanade for about 30 minutes witnessing some great mid winter fireworks. It was freezing cold at least for the kids it was. We had a bottle of nice white wine and the cold did not feel that cold after all. It took us 20 minutes to get to the esplanade. (June 21st is the official mid-winter in NZ. The day is the at its shortest on this day!)
There are loads of things to do on weekends and I wonder when we will run out of things to do. Most of them are actually free of charge.
And sorry there are no photos. Yours truly forgot to bring the camera. But tomorrow we are heading for the Te Papa Musuem and the camera is all loaded!
We went to this park somewhere near Titahi Bay. It was about 15 minutes drive from where we are an the view was spectacular! We frist drive up to the top of an awesome hill, then drive down to the bay. There are lots of places to park and walk and run and do whatever you want. And it was not crowded, there was only like 5 others cars there. We were told during summer we can expect to see maybe another 2 cars! That's a crowd in Kiwi terms. Then again, there are so many such parks dotted around the city. There were people swimming (yes swimming!) and some surfing. Actually the water is not that cold. Just the wind that makes it cold.
Later after a nice roast dinner we drove down to Petone Foreshore for some spectacular fireworks display! We stood by the esplanade for about 30 minutes witnessing some great mid winter fireworks. It was freezing cold at least for the kids it was. We had a bottle of nice white wine and the cold did not feel that cold after all. It took us 20 minutes to get to the esplanade. (June 21st is the official mid-winter in NZ. The day is the at its shortest on this day!)
There are loads of things to do on weekends and I wonder when we will run out of things to do. Most of them are actually free of charge.
And sorry there are no photos. Yours truly forgot to bring the camera. But tomorrow we are heading for the Te Papa Musuem and the camera is all loaded!
Friday, 17 June 2005
Friday drinks...
There is this Kiwi culture of Friday drinks at the workplace. So every Friday, we all get together for drinks at the company's expense. Firstly we get to dress casual to work on Fridays, then at about 4.30pm (work finishes at 5), we get to roll up our already "short" sleeves, and those with hair to let your hair down, and sit down for drinks. There is beer, wine, juices and finger food!
Now this is life... Not bad eh!
Now this is life... Not bad eh!
Tuesday, 7 June 2005
Peculiar Things about NZ
New Zealand is an amazing place and it never fails to facinate me. Each time I see something peculiar, I ask myself "if this was back home....." When I mean peculiar it is purely how a foreigner would see it.
Here are some of them....
You need to pay to park your car in the CBD during business hours. That is nothing peculiar, but in addition to dropping coins into a parking meter, there are two other options. You can swipe your visa or mastercard credit card on the parking meter to pay for your parking. This is even more peculiar...you can send an sms from your mobile phone to pay for your parking! I have yet to figure that out but, MPSA and DBKL wake up!
The Wellington city council does not charge for water in the entire city. So you can use to your hearts content without having to pay a single cent. And...you can drink straight from the tap! Back home one would see multiple joints from the mains going in all directions!
I walked into a public toilet once and saw that the ingredients that made up the hand wash used there was displayed. This I was told was to ensure that if you were allergic to something in that hand wash you would not use it. Back home, some toilets don't even have a bar of soap, let alone what it was made of!
Phone calls within the same area code are absolutely free!
Here are some of them....
You need to pay to park your car in the CBD during business hours. That is nothing peculiar, but in addition to dropping coins into a parking meter, there are two other options. You can swipe your visa or mastercard credit card on the parking meter to pay for your parking. This is even more peculiar...you can send an sms from your mobile phone to pay for your parking! I have yet to figure that out but, MPSA and DBKL wake up!
The Wellington city council does not charge for water in the entire city. So you can use to your hearts content without having to pay a single cent. And...you can drink straight from the tap! Back home one would see multiple joints from the mains going in all directions!
I walked into a public toilet once and saw that the ingredients that made up the hand wash used there was displayed. This I was told was to ensure that if you were allergic to something in that hand wash you would not use it. Back home, some toilets don't even have a bar of soap, let alone what it was made of!
Phone calls within the same area code are absolutely free!
Thursday, 2 June 2005
Windy Wellington
Wellington is often referred to as "Windy Wellington" and it sure is one heck of a windy city! The wind is so cold, it bites into you. I go to work with 6 layers of clothes and it stll feels cold. Despite me wrapping myself up, there are still people walking about in a tee-shirt and shorts!
Back in Malaysia, most people I know won't think twice about watching the weather. Tell me, how many actually watch the weather after the news to find out if tomorrow is going to be rainy, dry or cloudy? Ok, how many actually watches the news, to begin with? Here, I notice that waiting for the weather forecast is so very important. So far, they have been darn accurate. It at least prepares you for the next morning. The other day, the forecast was hail and that morning, I saw small ice cubes falling on my window sill at the office.
We shut the windows tight every night and yet, we can feel the wind finding its way inside our house! I bought one of those clocks with a temperature reading. It is now about 8pm in the evening and we have two heaters blowing in the room and the temperature is 16.1 deg C. In doors! No joke!
Skin can easily dry out in the cold and the cold wind can make things worse by indoor heating. Vera's fingers started cracking and bleeding and Anil has also started developing dry and craking skin.
Back in Malaysia, most people I know won't think twice about watching the weather. Tell me, how many actually watch the weather after the news to find out if tomorrow is going to be rainy, dry or cloudy? Ok, how many actually watches the news, to begin with? Here, I notice that waiting for the weather forecast is so very important. So far, they have been darn accurate. It at least prepares you for the next morning. The other day, the forecast was hail and that morning, I saw small ice cubes falling on my window sill at the office.
We shut the windows tight every night and yet, we can feel the wind finding its way inside our house! I bought one of those clocks with a temperature reading. It is now about 8pm in the evening and we have two heaters blowing in the room and the temperature is 16.1 deg C. In doors! No joke!
Skin can easily dry out in the cold and the cold wind can make things worse by indoor heating. Vera's fingers started cracking and bleeding and Anil has also started developing dry and craking skin.
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