The truth is, I found a million treasures in Terengganu. The friendship, the skies, the sea-shells - the sound of waves roaring in the night. I will write about that later for I need more than an hour to relate it all down.
For now, I will share my absolute delight in this single extravagant purchase I made in Pasar Payang, Kuala Terengganu, an authentic brass kuali. I used it for the first time today, and it was an experience that made me tear a little.
When I was a little girl, my grandma cooked our rice in a beautiful brass pot. I took that pot for granted, not realizing it was a heritage of our past. Now I know I will never need a non-stick super frying pan anymore. This brass kuali of mine somehow ensures that the oil is heated up evenly and the splash of the oil hardly rises higher than the pan. It is non-stick and gives me the added pleasure of connecting with my past!
Looking at the golden brass pot, being in the kitchen was pure pleasure (I hated cooking) and a trip down memory-lane.
Sigh...
24 commentaires:
Aunty Ninot,
My Mama, upon seeing a celebrity chef used it in a TV cooking show, decided to purchase one too, circa late 1990s. It remains unused coz.....sayang nak pakai.... She bought it at the same shop that celebrity gog it from, at not even one-tenth of the price. One day...she said...perhaps to cook gulai kawah.... please pray for her sanity. purrr....meow!
Tell your Mama to use it. These things were meant to be used and such a pleasure too. I am slowly chucking all my old, really decrepit pots out (malu nak pass on these bent cheap pots. Even my cleaning lady did not want them)
Now you understeng why I am so in love with my hometown.
Dear Pok Deng
I fell in love too with KT. With the islands in the middle of the river. With kite-flying with my children by the beach.
Yes, I can understand it.
The biggest island in the middle of the river if you do not know yet.. is tanah tumpah darah Ayoh Wang.. Pulau Duyong .. the place famous for boat-making.. where boats are made from memory... no plan, draft etc.. however.. the master craftsman are paid less than the currently proposed lowest salary .. do not ask for apprentice salary ;(
I do not have a lot of stuff in my kitchen, being a weekend chef only. As such I use all my best China for the family whenever I cook. I assume the presentstion would make the food taste better. Same tactic with the brass pot!
Ayoh Wang,
I wanted to drop by Pulau Duyong. It looked so quaint from atop the bridge. Definitely will go bavk to Terengganu one day soon. The visit wss slso part of my prepaRation for my new novel. I met another storyteller by the name of Nesrina. Fascinating.
http://naga-pelangi.blogspot.com/
I found this. An
Dear Asrul,
I absolutely loved the blog on Naga Pelangi and had the chance to visit yours too (both!)
The blog on Naga Pelangi was absolutely useful for a project I have at the moment.
Thank you for dropping by. And do keep those posts going. Great wisdom - your sister!
Hhhmmm, no wonder Terengganu bloggers always declare they are from Gganu.
So you have read Naga Pelangi blogspot.. the guy who was in the photo " selecting timber" is Hassan Ali some 6 years my senior. He is now one of the more famous boat builder in Duyong other than Haji Abdullah , my late father's neighbour (in his boat making day).
Hi Ninot,
I'm Ganu blogger as well...but of course you know that..hehehe..
Glad you enjoyed the KT trip..did you go to Tmn Tamaddun Islam? My kampung is along the way just before you reach it.
I should have one of that as well..but with many pots and pans in the kitchen, have to KIV.
:-)
Yes, Cheqna. The Gganu bloggers share a wonderful trait, down to earth heartwarming posts. You are in great company.
Dear Syoh Wang
Hopefully you can inttofuce me to him. Would like to interview him on bost making.
Just realised, kita ni sama sama dari pulau.
Pls forgive all typos. Clumsy fingers.
I think the white guy who purchased the Naga Pelangi was the man who once appeared in our local television show (morning talk show). The interviewer asked him questions in English. He answered them all in perfect Terengganuspeak.
Ha ha ha ..that trenganuspeak ( from Sir Pok Deng) must be pure duyongspeak as well ha ha ha.. I can introduced En. Hassan and Haji Abdullah and other boatmakers as well.. Should the need arise... Would a son of a boat maker suffice ..Ninot?
No problem, the more the merrier. I need to understand the old technics of boat making.
I think the pinas was never being constructed with nails. Pinas was made up of 100% wooden planks.
Was at Pasar Payang last weekend and passed by the brass/tembaga shops..and immediately thought of you :-)
This whole post is a treasure indeed Ninot! :-)
Dear Ona, the more I use my brass pot, the mire I love it. Everything tastes better. Honestly. It is sad that these brass pots are not a major export of our country. Why not???
I so wish you could be here, Carrie. You would not believe the treasures of Malaysia.
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