The Rat scurried away n the Cow mooed in.

So, the Rat had scurried away helter- skelter, leaving behind lots of damages, uncertainties, apprehensions and doubts for the Cow, or the Ox or the bull to work on, something like the poor, new U S President Obama.
Many prophets of doom can quote all the crises that the Bull Year had ushered in down the centuries. And there are more "hindsight" (The hindsight is always 20/20 !) soothsayers who fore see nothing but gloom, glum and glen. My self-professed fungshui friend recommends that a bull-nose-ring be placed above your main door so that you can lead the bull by the nose and be in control of your destiny. He vendors a gold-plated one at about 1 k depending on the type of door your house has, or rather the size of your pockets. Well, this is your first gloom when you have to part with 1 k to ward away the glum.

Aiyaa! Lots of talk about the impending dark clouds. I find that those who lament and sigh the most are the biggest hypocrites. These are the ones with fat bank accounts and properties here and there, and who can stand a double or triple financial crises. They slog, sweat and save not for themselves only but for their children and grand children. They themselves live a pathetic existence which beggars you to understand. These are also the ones who will be in front of the queue hours before the banks open for business when the government launches any " amanah saham." And they can be very stingy and "kira" (calculating) in the most menial matters. Have you own mind. Read the signs of the times. Pray for wisdom.

Don't expect a bull not to attack you just because you are a vegetarian. But, take the bull by the horns and watch out for bullshits. Don't step on them! And put your trust in the Almighty. In Him all our abundance and needs rest. There is still gleam, glow and glit in life if one walks the right path. Steer away from the path of unquenchable greed, vicious jealousy, gallish bitterness and hellish unforgiveness.

May the Lunar Bull Year bring us gleam, glow and glit .

Yours sincerely made a "balik kampong" journey to his younger brother's house to celebrate the CNY. It was more a journey down memory lane as the matriarch of the family had passed over. So, he lovingly took it on his family to host the dinner and accommodate us. The younger brother's wife, a commendable woman, tried her best to recreate the atmosphere of the good old days.

So, this is a signature dish of the Chua's CNY which she had labouriously acquired from Mother through all the years of helping her to prepare it. It is in Hokkien "Hong Bak." A sort of sweet and fragrant chicken and pork cooked together with lot of spieces ( Don't know what to call. Out of my range of vocabulary.) She did it perfectly well like Mother's. This is one of a few dishes which like wine, the longer you keep, the better it tastes, especially when the sauce has seeped into the strains of meat. O... la... la !!!

This is another sinfully "santan" rich curry which goes hand in glove with "nasi dagang" and with a dash of "sambal," you will beg for a second helping.

Of course, when in Kelantan, eat like the Kelantanese. The Malay culinary influence has somehow permeated into our cuisines. This is "ayam percik" or b-b-q chicken spread with another sinfully "santan" rich sauce. It is whittish, not the reddish spicy type. The charcoal burnt aroma on the chicken is another o..la...la..... ( Many people idolise KFC which I cannot understand when we have our very own local delicacy.)

BTW, you should try the new Kulim-Butterworth-Kupang Highway to Kota Bahru . I took it from Kupang, near Baling and cut out at Kuala Rui.(You can go to Gerik from here, too.) It is a smooth drive compared to the "N-S Highbusyway". You will be treated to picturesque mountain scenery but not so virgin jungles because they are being logged. (Sad) . This what we call "Twin Peak." They remind me of some UFO encounters films of the 1970s where the alien space crafts used to hover over.

When you see the grand nieces and nephews growing up so fast, you cannot help feeling old. Well, the better half and I are still waiting patiently for our "Datukships" to feel even older.

Of course, the drinks were free flow. All the siblings are decent people. The closest we came to was only Shandy, 1% alcohol. LOL

The tit-bits and goodies were scrumptious since they were not from the supermarket's shelves which were commercially produced and where you could play ping pong with the cookies. These were meticulously bought by Bor Been, my sister (in-law) (I don't like this "in-law" or law-law phrases. They make me recall unscrupulous lawyers !!!) from her friend who home made them. They were exceptionally tasty. So, we spent a good time munching on them.

This was the CNY eve dinner. Two steam boats; Tomyam and Herbal flavoured., all with natural fresh and tasty ingredients. It was full steam ahead to the last morsel. Another o...la...la....
Then, our favourite for steam boat; stuffed chillies. Natural ingredients make sumptuous steam boat. The commercialised ones use lots of precooked ingredients which are bought in frozen packages at the cold storage. So, the commercialised ones taste synonymously flat.

It was a fulfilling and bonding CNG.

Let's brave the days ahead.