Riang Ria Hari Raya

This is the moment every Muslim in general and Muslim employees in particular, are looking forward to as we enter the fourth and final week of Ramadhan. It's beyond the threshold of fasting - where thirst, hunger or any kind of withdrawal symptoms would no longer be inflicting any more discomfort to the devotees.

As in the Olympic marathon, the last leg of Ramadhan would be similar to the marathon runners nearing to the stadium entrance tunnel as the sound of wild crowd ever cheering and applauding - with increasing roar as one emerges through the running tracks. The crowd goes ballistic as the runners spontaneously increase their running pace - striding effortlessly to the finishing line in all glory and jubilantly satisfying.

We will also be striding in the last few days of Ramadhan with mixed feelings of contentment, humbled, exalted and grateful to Almighty in blessing us yet another year of living, Insha'Allah.

Coincidently, it's also the end of the July where all the employees will be emptying their ATM salaried accounts without bothering with any of the interest-bearing opportunities that the banks would like to hold on to your monies.

No, this is not the time to worry about savings, retirement funds or even repayment installments - some petty financial jargons that can be done with a few months down the road...!

This is the final few days of Ramadhan before Eid al-Fitr or Hari Raya Aidil Fitri in Malay. It will be awfully busy for all parents or even singles alike.

Where to celebrate would be telling on the budget. Crisscrossing both sides of the families to please the other half would be draining on travelling expenses. More so when it involves air-travelling across the China Sea-divide.

Then how about the inevitable new clothes and shoes for the kids - and it must be differing attires for the couple of days they are on holidays visiting the kampong folks!

What about the cakes, cookies and special dishes? It would be totally rude and unbecoming to balik kampong empty handed. More so to your in-laws household.

Especially when your rival sibling-in-laws got back not only with their perfect ketupat-rendang or lemang dishes, or that their fully-attired ipaded or ipoded children all in-tow, but they drove back in their brand new shining sleek BMWs or at least any of the latest curvaceous Korean models (cars mind you, cars not K-pop version).

Not forgetting treating the in-laws to fancy unforgetful outings with or without meals! Surely one can't be too cheapskate to pack meals to recreational parklands or resorts. How about the over-priced entrance fees with or without the rides?

Happy holidays to all of you out there.

KL - Sempoi Selalu

The meaning of the blog title 'Sempoi Selalu' being an increasing popular Malay catchword among the younger generation. It is a common misnomer even among the Malays who wrongly associate the origin of the word ‘sempoi’ from English adjective of ‘simple’; as the actual meaning of it is totally different to being ‘easy’, ‘plain’ or ‘uncomplicated’.

Some examples of wrong usage to the meaning of the word in Malay spoken conversations by the youngsters :-

“Sempoi giler ko nak pegi kenduri.... pakai la smart-smart sikit..!”

‘You are (dressed) crazily simple for thanksgiving function, wear (something) smart a little bit!’

“Macam haram buat kerja, sempoi giler!”

 ‘Damn bastard doing the work overly simplified!

Don’t bother to check your Malay or Indonesian dictionary on this fascinating lingo originating from the cultural laid-back, melting-pot lifestyle of Penang Malays. The birthplace of the cultural Boria stage singing performance - a form of Malay theatre of Indian origin which has through adaptive processes, becomes the one and only theatre of Malay community in Penang.

A typical Boria troupe consists of a leader, a chorus team in identical costumes, comedians and musicians alike. The performance normally begins with a short comic sketch, followed by a song-dance routine featuring a juxtaposition of choral and solo parts in rhythms of course. Totally opposite in all aspects to the African-American successful hip hop rap music!

Dressing of the performing troupe and the stage as well as the comic actors will be said to the act of ‘pakai sempoi-sempoi’ – an overall expression of achieving the best – in performing the show, attractive glittering costumes and delightful entertainment overall. It is the act of sophistication, awesome, fantastic and astonishing all roles into one!

 

Most commonly used by the youngsters with the adverb of ‘giler’ (gila) or ‘crazily’ after the word ‘sempoi’ in the following example.

‘Kat Seberang Perai pun apa kurangnya pi pekena char koey teow Sungai Dua teloq ayam berbasuh. Perghhhhh.... sempoi giler!’

‘What’s the difference in Seberang Prai, with the taste of Sungai Dua fried char-kwey-teow . Perghhhhh…. Crazily awesome!’

 'Sempoi' also means another way of describing the highest order of standard in taste - be in in food, fashion or even in daily lifestyle. Another example of the usage :-

‘Aku memang original mat Penang. Tok moyang aku beranak di pulau ni. Sebenarnya ada banyak lagi tempat makan yang sempoi-sempoi di sini.’

‘I am a true Penang man. My ancestors were born on this island. Frankly there are plenty more of fantastic eating places here.’

 

In summation, 'sempoi' translates into multi-facets of excellence that you may fancy. And the city of KL certainly reflects that in many ways.

Sempoi-sempoi – Top notch.

Sempoi giler! – Crazily awesome!

Sempoi selalu – Always the best/sophisticated/excellent.

 

Ramadhan Bazaar - Sungai Penchala

Bazaar Ramadhan Sungai Penchala is located conveniently a few hundred meters of Penchala Link junction to Taman Tun Dr. Ismail in this Malay reserved enclave residential neighborhood. It is an unpretentious bazaar of about 40 odd stalls laid out in encircling two rows of stalls.

 

Vehicular off street parking would be testing one's patience around 5 to 6pm as both sides of the road leading to the mosque and shops beyond would be congested. If you are familiar entering Sungai Penchala from LDP highway, that would be the better route to the venue.

 

In previous years there were interesting stalls selling unique selections such as barbeque stingray, dim sum, authentic cakes from the original stoves and hands of Kelantanese mothers and grandmothers settling in the kampung.

 

However, in passing of time and maybe the maestro chefs themselves the current traders are keeping safe to commercial varieties much available in bazaars anywhere else. Yet the uniqueness of certain home-cooked dishes would certainly reward anyone making a trip to this edge of Kuala Lumpur.

 

It is also encouraging to witness the city council's health officials in hand taking random samples and overall inspection of the stalls.

 

 

 Klate + KL = Klatel

Ain't that simply sumptuous?

Kuih-muih - Variety of cakes

Lauk-pauk - Variety of dishes

Interesting visitors pioneering the neighborhood.

Shorts for the ladies would be practical in the hot and humid afternoon weather, that is understandable. However, shorts in midst of the locals in the month of Ramadhan can also be disrespectful. Alas the uninformed!

The friendliest & happiest traders.

Legendary couple selling Murtabak solely outside the bazaar premise by the roadside. That's their young son on standby help.

 

And our friendly city council health inspectors - DBKL- drop by taking random samples from this drink stall.

The yellow officer's job would be to drag the sampling container around and take it back to the lab for health testing obviously.

 

Another team at the other end of the bazaar.

While the boss would be doing behind-the-counter inspection, as well as getting a few packed dishes to carry home.

Anak-Beranak - Family members

Air tebu - Sugar cane juice

Lemang brother, lemang special...!

 

Colored iced-drinks - just name your favorite color!

Even Supergirl would get her meal from here!

Mother-of-all-cholesterol ....!

Recessed wok counter-table - sempoi!

 A cutie looking back at you.

This poor guy got stuck by another Parker behind his car for quite a while.

 

Kuala Lumpur - Ramadhan Bazaar Taman Tun Dr. Ismail

Ramadhan Bazaar, or Pasar Ramadan in Malay, would be the monthly annual affair for all Malaysians alike - in sharing the merriment of buying local foods, or more specifically Malay delicacies in the late evening before sunset.

Follow the snapshots of the more popular bazaar of Taman Tun Dr. Ismail.

Nasi Ambeng - Javanese rice meal

Claypot cooking

 

Nasi Kukus Ayam Berempah - Steamed Rice Spiced Fried Chicken

Dapur Minang - Minang Kitchen

Satay of course!