....... of ice cream and ice balls.

This is the first generation ice grater Yours Sincerely ( Y S ) grew up with. It is just a sharp piece of blade mounted on a flat piece of wood with two supporters, acting as legs. In the days of old, this was the machine that grated delights to us children. Of course, to the "Magnolia'" "Hargendass" ( I know the spelling is wrong) and " Swenson" generation, this machine is a dinosaur but it is still being used by vendors selling "cendul" and " ice kacang " in remote places.

In Y S' days of dinosaurs, to enjoy a treat from this machine was like having a "Cornetto". The vendor held the grip which is just a piece of wood with spikes to hold the piece of ice with his right hand then he would cup his left hand under the blade to catch the grated ice.

Mind you, the grated ice is as fine as those produced by the modern grating machines these days. The fine grated ice is then pressed and shaped into a ball. It is then held over a jar of red syrup. Then, a ladle of the red syrup is scooped up and evenly spread over the ball of grated ice. This was when we kiddies screamed, " Anuty, more, more syrup lor!!!" The red syrup coated ice ball would then be quickly given to the buyer before it started to melt. It was 2 cents for the plain ones and 5 cents if dashed with, not evaporated milk but condensed milk.

Some vendors, going against all present day health standards would serve their ice ball on used newspapers. We, kids, we sucked the syrup off ice ball from the old newspapers and when the ice ball had melted, drink the iced syrup "laced with carbon" from the used newspapers. o la la delicious. Pssssssti, don't tell mothers about hygience those days !!!


So, there is so much talks and warnings of HINI and a host of infectious diseases, and that we have to sterilize and disinfect our hands. In Y S' days of dinosaurs, which vendors used tongs and gloves? Fancy, how Y S has lived to be 58 this year !!! By God's grace lor.

This is the second generation ice grater which has made ice grating easier and also toned less muscles on the users. Of course, the third generator of the proto-type comes with a motor which saves much labour. These days, the good old unhealthy but delicious syrup is replaced with an assortment of "coca-cola," " orange cursh," " Sarsi" and what nots? They are served in Styrofoam bowls and plastic spoons, and which further pollute the environment.

There used to be a vendor at the t-junction, opposite the old court house, in Alor Star selling ice balls and "ice kacang." When Y S' kids were younger, they had a fancy for his "ice kacang' and Y would delight his kids with it.

Once, there were rumours about the danger posed by the dye used for the syrup which made Y S asked the vendor not to syrup the "ice kacang" Y S bought. Y S thought of using F & N syrup from home. He took Y S' request insultingly and blurted out : "What ! You think Iam poisoning people with bad dye. My dye is approved dye. I specially bought from only one shop in Penang !!!!"

Those were the days.