Penang, Pearl of the Orient (Part 1)

Girl with 'balloon'

A general air of neglect hangs around the 1940s Art Deco style building with its walls of peeling paint and overgrown shrubbery. There was a time though when this building in the heart of George Town used to be a meeting point for commuters waiting for their bus.

But today, art works and murals decorate its crumbling walls.

The old Hin Bus Depot has been given a new lease of life, not by way of extensive restoration, but by being the perfect canvas for a street artist like Ernest Zacharevic.

Portions of the walls have crumbled due to years of neglect, some of the roof is also gone, leaving exposed wooden beams and the formerly yellow paint is peeling, exposing different layers underneath, some down to the bare red bricks that form the walls.

Instead of seeing rubbish, decay or ruin, Zacharevic’s inaugural solo exhibition turns what would have been repulsive into something fascinating and artistic.

His exhibition, accurately themed “Art is rubbish/rubbish is art”, focuses on finding beauty in unexpected places and consists of a mixture of wall murals and art works using recycled materials.

The old Hin Bus depot along Gurdwara Road, formerly known as Brick Kiln Road, stood abandoned and vacant for many years ever since Hin Bus Company stopped operations sometime in the 1990s.

Fortunately, the company, which is also the main distributor of Murabond Paints, decided to show Zacharevic the space and this is where the idea to turn it into an art exhibition space came about.

The exhibition starts from17January 2014 till 14February 2014. The main building itself is closed, but, no worries! The wall painting exhibition (beside the main building) is still open! Me and my friend visited the place today!

Somewhere over the rainbow 

She's so flexible 

Put your hands up in the air! 

Wow! You're HUGE!

Hey pretty! 

Stay away from him!

Art is rubbish is art

Double Romance

Bubur cha cha

Love birds can enjoy a double dose of romance today (Friday) because it’s Chap Goh Meh and Valentine’s Day are on the same day this year. This rare occasion only happens once every 19 years! (wow!)

Today is Chap Goh Meh, the fifteenth and last day of Chinese New Year. In the old days, this is celebrated on a much larger scale. It’s after all the Chinese Valentine’s Day, the only day that young maidens in Penang were allowed to leave their home and stroll down Gurney Drive for all and sundry to gawk at and admire. If hearts went a-twittering, then marriage proposals were sent out. And let’s not forget the tradition of throwing oranges into the sea, wishing for the dream partner.

A tradition that is less well-known because it’s not so romantic and certainly doesn’t make for such compelling recollection is the serving of bubur cha cha on Chap Goh Meh. Bubur cha cha is a sweet dessert made of coconut milk, with steamed dainty diamond-shaped steamed yam, sweet potatoes (in yellow, orange and purple), tapioca flour chunks, sago and black-eyed peas. Some people coat banana (Pisang Raja) with syrup before adding them into their bubur cha cha.

A bowl of bubur cha cha is a pretty sight with its myriad of colours. It’s also one of the best-loved Peranakan dessert because it’s sweet and lemak. Contrast in textures – the soft potatoes, the chewy tapioca pieces, the crunchy black-eyes peas and the slithery sago – also make downing bowls of bubur cha cha a pleasure.

In Penang Hokkien patois, bubur cha cha is pronounced bubur che che – and che che means lots or abundance. So, it’s considered auspicious to distribute bubur cha cha to family and friends. 

Foods That Heal

Asian basil

Basil (Ocimum basilicum), also known as Saint Joseph's Wort, is a herb belonging to the mint family Lamiaceae often used as a seasoning in cooking. Basil is native to India and other tropical areas of Asia.

The herb is well known for its use in Italian cuisine - it is a major ingredient in pesto sauce. Basil is also commonly used Indonesian, Thai, and Vietnamese cuisine. Basil is used in traditional Tamil medicine and in ayurvedic medicine, which is a form of alternative traditional medicine in the Indian subcontinent.

Reduce inflammation and swelling - a study presented at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's annual event, revealed that "extracts of O. tenuiflorm (Holy basil) were shown to reduce swelling by up to 73%, 24 hours after treatment".

Anti-aging properties - according to research presented at the British Pharmaceutical Conference (BPC) in Manchester, basil has properties that can help prevent the harmful effects of aging. Holy basil extract was effective at killing off harmful molecules and preventing damage caused by some free radicals in the liver, brain and heart.

Rich in antioxidants - results of a study published in the Journal of Advanced Pharmacy Education & Research showed that ethanol extract Ocimum basilicum had more antioxidant activity than standard antioxidants.

 

Mulberries

 Mulberries are among the food that proves beneficial to health. It is beneficial due to its dense nutrient content like antioxidants, phytonutrients, fiber, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, etc. It is effective to prevent damage to DNA cells from free radicals which are the cause of many health problems like cancer, cardiovascular disease, macular degeneration, ageing and many more. It is also effective to improve eye vision, immunity, improves memory and promotes hair health.

Ageing: Ageing is caused due to cell damage caused due free radicals. Free radicals are produced due to oxidative stress. But antioxidants leutin, zea-xanthine, carotene and phytonutrients. These nutrients neutralize free radicals and protect from ageing. Eating nutrient rich foods nourishes skin and promote healthy skin.

Cancer: Mulberries are rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients which protect from cancer. It is also effective to stop the growth and spread of tumor cells.

Anemia: Mulberries are rich in iron which protect against anemia. It is effective to cure anemia.

Diabetes: Flavonoids present in mulberries proves best food to prevent sharp rise and fall of sugar level in the patient. So it is effective to prevent the complication in diabetes patient due to sugar level spike.

Heart Health: Eating mulberries prove beneficial to the heart. It strengthens the nervous system and reduces bad cholesterol thus prevent blockage in the flow of blood. So it is effective to prevent heart attack and stroke.

Immune system: Mulberry is rich in Vitamin C which increases immunity to fight against common disease like cold, flu or any infections.

Eye vision: Eating mulberries improve eye vision. It also protects the eye from free radicals which is the cause of eyesight loss and retina degeneration.

Hair: Eating mulberries strengthen, nourishes and promote hair growth. It is used to prevent early graying of hair.

Brain: Mulberries are best brain tonic to increase memory and promotes healthy brain.

Blood purifier: Mulberries are best blood purifier. It also improves blood circulation.

Constipation: Mulberries are rich in fiber which improves digestion thus prevent constipation.

Curry leaves

Curry leaves are perhaps one of the highly popular herbs used in India since times immemorial. As the name suggests curry leaves are herbs which are added to curries, stews, soups, legumes, and many such preparations. Curry leaves are an integral part of Indian cooking style where many of the traditional and contemporary recipes are incomplete without curry leaves. Curry leaves are added not just for the flavour that they add, but they also stand to provide many benefits from health point of view.

§  Diarrhoea: The carbazole alkaloids present in curry leaves play an important role in controlling diarrhoea. For this purpose, curry leaves can be taken either as juice or as a freshly ground paste.

§  Protects gastrointestinal tract: The presence of antioxidants, vitamins and alkaloids in curry leaves helps in promoting health of digestive system.

§  Controls diabetes: The number of people suffering from diabetes has increased in India in the recent years. Diabetes is not just a standalone disease and it affects many organs. So, there is a need to control diabetes. Studies on curry leaves have shown that they can help in controlling the blood glucose levels.

§  Cholesterol control: The antioxidants present in curry leaves help in controlling the LDL or bad cholesterol and aid in increasing the HDL or good cholesterol levels.

§  Better eyesight: Curry leaves are a good source of vitamin A and it is one of the most important components for maintaining good eyesight. Taking fresh curry leaves on a daily basis promotes good eyesight.

§  Reduces chemo and radio side effects: The incidence of number of cancer patients has increased in India in the recent times. Though, there are effective treatments available to reduce cancer, the side effects of the treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy can also be troublesome. Research on the extracts of curry leaves has shown a reduction in the side effects of both chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

§  Protection of liver: The process of metabolism releases several free radicals which can damage the organs, and liver is one of the very susceptible organs. Taking curry leaves on a regular basis can nullify the effects of free radicals.

Spring Toss

Spring Toss (Yee Sang)

In celebration of the Chinese lunar calendar’s most important festival, Chinese New Year, numerous dishes from different origins are savoured. Yee Sang is one such traditional dish. It is symbolic of good luck, prosperity, health and all things auspicious.Yee Sang comprises thin slices of pickled vegetables and other ingredients which are mixed together thoroughly when the dish is eaten. The taste of the dish is enhanced by its special sauce which imparts a distinctive flavour.

The popular custom is for all round the dining table to toss the ingredients high in the air with joyful exclamations of "Loh Hey" (toss high). The significance of the tossing is to wish for abundant luck and happiness for all. The enjoyment of Yee Sang during Chinese New Year is an age-old custom steeped in ancient tradition and culture.

Everyone seated at the table must "loh hey". It's tradition but not only that, it's good fun. Some hilarity ensues when people wish for unorthodox blessings such as "good business for the year so I may get a big bonus". At the heart of it, the act of "loh hey" is a gesture among friends and family to invite prosperity and joy into the lives of the people they care about. It's the definition of what reunions are really about - sharing happiness.

The higher you toss, the more luck and prosperity will come to you

All the ingredients are mixed together and it's time to EAT!

9th day of Lunar New Year

3D dragon joss stick

Yesterday (Friday midnight) was the 8th day of the first month of lunar calendar. On the 9th day, it would be the celebration known to the Hokkiens as ‘Bai Ti Gong’, which literally means ‘praying the Heaven God’.

During a Chinese New year of the Ming Dynasty, there was a bandit raid in the province of Hokkien. These intruders however robbed and burned down villages, attacked and killed the villagers. The people of the villages were in fear and escaped from their burnt villages during the night.

Some of the villagers then hid themselves among the sugarcane fields. Needless to say, those villagers prayed to Heaven God (Ti Gong)  for salvation during their hideout. The pursuing intruders spent many days trying to locate and hunt them but to no avail. On the ninth day of that Chinese New Year, they finally gave up and returned to their region.

The Hokkiens then happily emerged from the sugar cane fields, and praising the blessings of the celestial deities and owing gratitude to the sugarcane plants for saving them from destruction. Thus, in all Hokkien celebrations, the sugarcane plant is given prominence.

Realizing that it was also the 9th Day of the Chinese New Year and coincidentally the birthday of Heaven God, they decided to make votive offerings and prayers to the Jade Emperor for their salvation. 

On the eve of the 9th day, a pair of sugarcane plants are used by the Hokkiens usually placed one on each side of the offering table or  the front door of the house. The pair of the sugarcane symbolises unity, cooperation and strength. The sugarcane itself is a symbol of harmony and a token which can bring good and ‘sweet’ results. The very straightness of the sugarcane stem also ensures that the Hokkiens can become a clan of honest and sincere people.

Offerings to the 'Ti Gong'

Lighting the joss sticks

Sugar canes

Fire crackers

Fire crackers :D

Burning the Chinese joss papers