2 WEEKS WITHOUT KAYA

It was 2-weeks ago today when my 4th daughter Princess Kaya was taken away from us, and I still cannot believe it is real. I can feel her presence, I talk to her when I walk the trails we used to enjoy, and I kiss her necklace, now on my wrist, every so often to remind her, and myself, that the love we shared will never go away.

The picture shows Kaya in her favorite pose with Grandma at our dining table. She knew this is not kosher but she also knew that we are not about to impose house rules on Grandma, who truly enjoys passing on 'treats' and hence their endearing friendship. Such a sweet moment but it is a thing of the past, only in memory now.

Andrea wrote this beautiful prose, delivered at Kaya's funeral before she was cremated.

Cream white curls so lush with love
A teddy's embrace sent from above
Chocolate eyes so deep and knowing
A bundle of thought just sitting and glowing
Elegant on fours she pads silently

Bear paws golden and mellow indeed
Princess Kaya the majestic little rug
Tender kisses and licks that makes the heart fuzz
Velvet shape snuggled in the curve
All one needs to quench one's nerves
Little they know of the comfort they bring
Being without is a void that truly stings
Listening to their peaceful snore
Can strike any heart at its core
Paws reversed are a heart shape indeed
Dog reversed is godliness in a seed
Damp twitchy nose surrounded bu whiskers
Masked face breathing in little whispers
A wisdom omniscient beyond human senses
The canine presence relieving all tensions
Man and woman's mate for the ages

By Andrea Tang 19.8.2014

SUN MAY HIONG SATAY

I am not aware that being a predominantly Muslim country the 5-star hotels are not supposed to serve pork. Generally speaking unless you are in a Chinese biased community, one almost never pork. That said the best Bak Gu Teh or Pork Ribs in Herbal Soup is still in Malaysia, and not Singapore.

Our trusted driver-guide George took us to a top rated satay joint in Malacca for a porky treat ... and indeed it was. The old man on the right, surrounded by 2 circa 1970 fans, is the owner. The sign with 'SATAY' in the background is more than 30 years old, I was told. Lots of nostalgia and lots of yesteryear style, things long lost in Hong Kong.

Not only they serve pork satay, they even have pork liver, as shown. A first for me and it is delicious. The only question mark is replacing peanut with pureed pineapple in the dipping sauce which is a non-starter for us. The skewers kept coming without prompting, and they stopped when we called for the tab. The 3 of us had 12 sticks each plus Yeo Hap Seng Barley Water in cans for a bill of RM 27 or HK$70+ ... where can you get anything even close to this in our World City?

BTW this oasis used to be on the main drag but not unlike its peers, it felt victim to high rents that only souvenir shops that sell junk to unsuspecting tourists can afford. Be patient when you look. It faces the canal, at the end of a long street where most shops have their shutters closed.

SUN MAY HIONG SATAY HOUSE        
50/50A Jalan Kota Laksamana 1/1 Malacca
(60) 06 2817281

CHICKEN RICE @ MALACCA

Searching for the next best Chicken Rice in Malaysia & Singapore is like our search for the next best Wonton Noodles in Hong Kong. I think I did mention in an earlier blog that if you ask 100 foodies for their top choice you will end up with 120 if not more answers as most have more than one favorites. Since it is de riguerer and 'the thing to do' it was what we did in Malacca.

Kedai Kopi Chung Wah on the left had a huge queue but Hoe Kee gave the impression of being better managed so we picked her. We ordered the 'special chicken rice' rolled in meat-ball size bites, with chicken served on a plate, veggies and condiments on the side. While the ambiance was cool, the content was only so-so. The flavor of the rice balls was not there, not as sharp as some I had tasted, and the quality of the meat a far cry from, say, Chan Tung Kee in Singapore. We should have returned to Chung Wah before passing judgment but this was after Satay, Nyonya Laksa & Ice Kachang and we were stuffed. The winner of our eating spree was, without doubt, the locally brewed dark soya sauce at Hoe Kee. It was a heavenly balance of sweetness and saltiness ... we loved it so much we were directed by the owner to a Mom & Pop store nearby where we bought 3 bottles to bring home.

HOE KEE CHICKEN RICE BALL
4-8 Jalan Hang Jebat 75200 Melaka Malaysia
(60) 06 283 4751

NYONYA

For years I have been mesmerized by Malacca or Melaka as she was known in the history books. I was going to do a solo culinary study tour but since it is less than 2-hours from KL Dora and I decided to made our virgin pilgrimage.

Melaka is epicentre to the Nyonya Culture which defines all things to do with the interracial mix between the Malay & the Chinese. Those from Chinese ethnic origin are Peranakans or Straits Chinese. Men are 'Babas' women are 'Nyonyas' ... Chinese descendants who have adopted much of the Malay culture into theirs. These settlers have created a unique life style in; traditions, arts, businesses, spiritual identity, dialect, dress, and needless to say in the culinary space where an entirely different entity is enshrined as the Nyonya Cuisine.

Our driver, a Malaysian Chinese from generations of KL stock, taught us a not very complimentary term. 'We call these folks OCBC ... Orang Cina Bukan Cina ... literally translated as ... Man China Not China ... or simply, Chinese but not Chinese'.  Is he right, or is he wrong? I do not think this is worthy of a debate, suffice to say the Straits Chinese have carved a place in history, and firmly established themselves as successful contributors to what the country is today. It is Malaysia's job to ensure the Nyonya Culture survives, and better still, to help it thrive lest it will fade on the way side of history.

There are many Nyonya themed restaurants in KL and of course in Malacca, including a few tourist traps I am sure. Not an expert I dare not recommend. but if one samples enough one would arrive at the real thing. Start with the Laksa and the Fried Chicken .. you cannot go wrong.

JALAN ALOR

Jalan Alor off Bukit Bintang is arguably one of the hottest Night Food Markets, if not the most popular in KL. We made our first pilgrimage many moons ago, it was bustling then but it must be 10 times today  ... it is plain madness. The entire avenue was jam-packed with locals and tourists galore, including us who simply wanted to saunter. Jalan Alor is the Crown Prince of Malaysian street foods par excellence, there is no argument there, at least in my book.

To us, the Gold Medal still goes to the Durian outlets, selling Musang King at RM 16-30 per kilo and they are worth every penny.  I shall never forget that embarrassing episode back in the early '90s. Dora and I were hosted to dinner in KL, at the end the party was taken to Jalan Alor, for Durian. To reciprocate I insisted that I should pick up the bill, thinking it was just 'fruits' after dinner. I produced RM 100 - worth a lot some 20+ year ago - and the boss of the stall looked at me with this hard-to-forget expression that could only read ' ... are you from Mars, you may think it is funny but I think not, please do not play the generous card and embarrass yourself ...'  I could still feel that heat on my red face when I passed that same stall last night.      

THE PERAK MAN

The Perak Man was discovered more than 10,000 years ago on the Malay Peninsula. He was the ancestor to what became the Australo-Melanesoid race around an expansive region which is now known as the Pacific Islands.

Fast forward to more recent times and not very far from where the Perak Man was found, an empire was eventually built and the picture on the left is a replica of the Perak Throne. From cavemen to kings to conquerors, it is quite amazing to witness how history is made, and recorded. It is always good to look back to where things began, to where things are, and to reflect where things are going.

The Muzium Negara or National Museum is nothing spectacular but it offers a good layman's introduction to Malaysia, to as far back as the Perak Man. While the ethnic development mix between the Malays, the Indians and the Chinese are adequately covered, it seems a key part of recent history is missing ie the Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad years. I wonder why?  

MUZIUM NEGARA
Jalan Damansara 50566 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

PS : do you know 'Kuala' means an estuary, and 'Lumpur' is mud in the Malay language? A new musical - 'MUD'  - on the history of KL recently premiered at the City Hall, apparently with great reviews.

NASI LEMAK

You know you have arrived, in Southeast Asia, when you see Nasi Lemak served at breakfasts. We are at the Traders' Hotel in KL, a member of the Shangri-la Group and this is the pre-mixed version, obviously for the in-a-hurry crowd. It is like pre-mixed yogurt with fruits and muesli which is absolutely not my thing. I do my own.

This is Malaysia's National Dish ... fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk, Pandan leave, garnished with Ikan Bilis aka deep fried crispy anchovies, roasted baby peanuts, hard boiled egg segments, cucumber chunks and a generous helping of Sambal or chili paste. This is Malaysia's challenge to the Bibimbap from Korea, to the British Fry-Up from England, and to Congee and Fritters from Hong Kong. Since I am in Rome ... I had a very gratifying plate this morning, along with a few curried additions, so gratified I had to skip lunch.

Do you realize Nasi Lemak literally means 'oily or fatty rice' which of course is a major no-no in the obsessed world of healthy eating. Today words like 'rich & creamy' are used to describe the coconut flavored rice. It is often wrapped in banana leave, brown paper (as shown)  or even newspaper and it is now a 24-7 meal instead of just breakfast. To me it tastes better on the street, with sweat running down your forehead from the delicious and super flavorful Sambal. I have 2 more breakfasts here, you know what that means.

RESTORAN OVERSEA @ KL

We booked a trip to Kuala Lumpur months ago using CX miles and decided to go ahead, despite our family tragedy.

Restoran Oversea is known to many and it is, without question, our top favorite Chinese restaurant in KL We made a bee-line for it, accompanied by Voon, a young local friend and a true blue Foodie. We ordered the house specials and, voila, they were as impressive as our first visit which was 30 years ago while we were dating colleagues at Johnson & Johnson. Look at the roast ducks, they are ducks, in the size of pigeons or squabs ... Princely Ducklings as they are called, with an incredible WOW factor. Perfectly roasted, perfectly crispy skin, with perfect softest and texture. While the menu is pages after pages it seems most patrons order the following, as we did. Service is no nonsense and efficient, attentive but no pretenses, a classic.

* Princely Duck, as soon as you sit down, since supply is limited      
* Char-Sui in dark soya sauce
* giant Tiger prawns sauteed in 'Caramel' another form of sweet soya sauce
* mixed veggie called '4 Heavenly Kings'
* fresh Shun Hok fish, steamed or deep fried
* braised Chicken in a herbal medicine sauce
* fried Mee-Hoon with salted fish

RESTORAN OVERSEA - www.oversae.com.my
84-88 Jalan Imbi 55100 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
(60) 3 2144 9911

FINAL REST FOR KAYA

The family and a few closest friends gathered at Pet-Hospice for Kaya's funeral and cremation. We surrounded her, resplendent in her coat, 'lying-in-state' in her favorite sleeping position looking as though she would wake up any minute. In tears we each said our goodbye and Andrea wrote a very moving poem which I read for her as she was swamped by emotions.

We learned 2 major lessons ... 1) about Life & Death, how transient they can be, and how we must treasure what is around us at every moment as nothing is guaranteed 2) about Love & Devotion from our sorely missed guru, from Kaya, as shown in our elated 'Daddy's Girl' moments together.

I smiled for the first time in 3-days, through a torrent of tears, when I was handed her ashes in a petite urn. Kaya is back in Daddy's arms again, going home, and this time it is forever. The girls inscribed a message that says .. 'A Bundle of Love and Joy who showed us True Devotion' .. which summarized Kaya's short sojourn on earth well. Tess, our helper who took extremely good care of Kaya like her daughter, coped with her sorrow with these beautiful words ... 'we may have lost Kaya but we brought an Angel home today'.

Per my beloved Sister, a devout Tibetan Buddhist, Kaya is being guided through prayers in a transition zone called the Bardo, where she will spend the next 49 days before she transcends to the next being. She will need not only our prayers, but our loving thoughts to get through this step. Those of you who know her please remember her, continue to love her, think of the sweet moments you shared with her, and say prayers for her. This is all I ask as the Father who just lost a loving child.

KAYA - RIP

Kaya, my soul mate and my youngest girl, left me today. She probably died from a heat stroke while hiking with my daughters. Only 6-years old, her passing was totally premature and unnecessary. I am devastated and cannot control my tears, even though I am told those very tears of love might inhibit her transition to her next life, to a higher form of being since she was such a loving soul in her short sojourn on earth.

Since joining the family when she was 7-weeks old from Rutland Manors in Melbourne, Kaya has always looked to me as her Daddy, and her soul mate. Our bonding reached new heights since my retirement as I spend more time at home. She would come to me, almost hourly, to get a hug or just to make sure I am around. Satisfied, she would happily wag her tail away, only to return later for round 2, 3, 4 and so on throughout the day. I became just as needy as she was, as we looked for each other, for that morsel of mutual affection. She means everything to me, her love for me was unquestioned, unselfish and unyielding ... the same way I loved her when she was alive, and even more so now that she is gone.

A fellow Labradoodle lover, and a close friend wrote ... 'I can feel your grief for your little treasure, who was basked with love by you and your family. She was cherished, cradled, sheltered and supported. Even though her life has been short, but every moment of it was full of love and happiness. You have given her a good life ...'    

I miss you so very much Kaya. You were more than a dog or a pet, much more, because you made me whole. One day, you will hear Daddy's whistle, and we will be together again in each other's arms. I hope that will be soon. In the meantime I am sure you are already in the open arm welcome of Leroy, Gus, Sage & Egas who were with us before you. I loved them all, just like I have loved you. Daddy is wearing your 'necklace' around my wrist so you can be next to me, always. I am looking at you and touching you, right this moment. Can you feel me?

Rest in peace, Kaya ... with all my love ... Daddy