Today is A Beautiful Day

I got up at 6.28 am. Eveyln wanted to go to the wet market. We lazed on the Dunlop mattress for almost half an hour before we jumped off the bed.

On a nice weather, Evelyn thought today is Sunday.

We have to go market this week. 

A vacant lot was just nice for our small Perodua Viva. After we got off from the car, we looked at the Golden Mansion, a nice Chinese restaurant. 28 years ago, a handful of my Tunku Abdul Rahman College buddies celebrated my wedding on a Jiu-Can (Note 1) makan at this restaurant. Who are they ? Ask Tarc4 whatsapp members ! A flash of reminiscence before we walked onto a shoulder-wide lane in between two shops.

At other end of the lane we appeared to the uncles and aunties with smiles. Rain drops keep falling on our heads as we submerged ourselves to the morning. The MelakaNegeriKu wishes us a "Good morning #Melaka ! How is everyone today ?"

Beng has been fatherly to me and my wife. He had delivered pork to our home when Evelyn was on maternity confinement. Chinese "Man-Yue" style lor. (Note 2) Beng is a nice man.

While waiting for Beng to prepare what Evelyn want, I roamed the market to see what are the stalls putting up. Honestly, this is the first time I see Soon Hock.

The noices led me to watch the grinding of coconut Evelyn is using to squeeze for the milk.

Drizzles decorated the floors of the century old market as we proceeded to the chicken seller. While Abang removed the skin of the seven drumsticks, Evelyn and Daniel disappeared through the back-door of a cottage noodle-maker. One man was milling out sheets of flour paste while another was feeding those sheets through the shredder. The third took the raw noodle and shouted "Heng Ah" before he dumped bundle by bundle into the boiling water. He stirred just for a short while. She has get Sandra to cook "Lor-Mee" in Hokkien and that is for lunch today.

A hawker sell Langsat, a local Malaysian fruits now in season, just next door to the noodle seller. Hi Traveler, if you are now visiting Heritage Melaka, don't miss Langsat. 

As Melaka become bio-technically greener, the heritage remained as old as ever.

One fabulous home-made appertizer is Hai Lam Tau Kua which you cannot find in cafe, restaurants or any eatery outlets. The secret recipe is with Mr. Chew.

"Quick, let's go, Darling" Evelyn whisper to Daniel as Mr. Chew hand to her 10 pieces of Tau Kua.

Our thought linked to the boy who is studying hard for his Sijil Peperiksaan Malaysia. Daniel voiced, "$1.30 for a copy of China Press, the boy enjoy reading on Saturday"

On Egerton Road, there is no congestion and it is unusual or maybe the drizzles play a role.

Plying the curves of the Bukit Cina, Daniel and Evelyn reached their favorite Nasi Lemak stall. Nasi Lemak is a warisan (Note 3) to the Malay community.

Watch how Babu's Teh Tarik Nasi Lemak stall looks like.

Before heat-resistant plastic is available, the older folks would order their hot drinks by telling this way, "Teh Kong satu ya."

Today, Daniel like to show what his boy don't see. Daniel seeked the anak of Warong Babu to make one. Niatnya ? Demi membuka minda anakanda nikmat dulu. "Boss ! Teh Kong satu ya" Teh Kong (Note 4) is no longer on sale.

If not for Chow Kit Yap's remark on whatsapp at 8.09 this morning upon reaching home, I would not have notice that today is America The Beautiful. I take this chance to wish all Americans a Happy and Blessed Independence Day.

By the time I completed the drafting of this Blog Post, Sandra has done her Lor Mee.

Want to see how Lor Mee is cooked ?

Note 1 : "Jiu-Can" is a Chinese pronunciation for "9-course cuisines"

Note 2 : "lor" is a local Melaka's Chinglish dialect for "It is a tradition"

Note 3 : Nasi Lemak is a steamed coconut milk rice.

Note 4 : Teh Kong is a mixture of Malay Language and Chinese Language. Teh is Tea. And Kong is Can. Malaysia can mah.