Trip to the border of Malaysia and Thailand

My nephew took me & my sisters to visit his god-parents in Perlis, a Malaysian state bordering Thailand. 

We went to visit Gua Kelam before heading to their home.

My sisters.

I couldn't believe the ticket is just RM1 per adult. 

 

Gua in Malay means cave, Kelam means darkness.

Then we went to Wang Kerlian in Thailand. We just walked across the border without having to show passports.

A Thai dessert with shaved ice.  

It was the first time I'd seen this kind of machine to shave the ice.

Red syrup topping.

Cost is only 20 Baht

Little pineapples, very sweet, 20 Baht

His god-parents booked a Malay home-stay (RM95 for 3 persons room) for us.

The 9th day of Chinese New Year is the big celebration for Hokkien (FuJian) people.

His god-mom took us to visit a Chinese temple in Thailand, about a half hour drive.

However, we needed to go through Customs.

Both coming in and going out of Customs, the Thai staffs requested RM1 before giving back my passport. 

Thaipusam in Penang

Thaipusam is a big festival for Hindus.

Men pierce their cheeks with arrows, and hook on their bodies as part of 'kaavadi'.

Some organisations providing free food and drink along the way of procession.

Some carry offerings of milk on their heads.

Some carry large burdens as part of 'kaavadi'.

They dance or walk, pulling ropes with hooks through their back.

I went cycling with a friend.

Many shrines along the procession.

The pilgrims coming to the end, climb up to the temple. 

Because we were on bikes, we didn't visit the temple that day. But I came a few weeks later.

513 steps up to the temple.

Beautiful window frame with a peacock design.

Statue of Shiva

馬年在馬

已有多年没在檳城過年。但這個馬年的新年就在馬來西亞過完了。
都是因緣，爲再主辦〈心理劇工作坊〉，我16/1到檳城，25～27/1的工作坊。
這次的主辦，讓我發現自己太不能承担壓力了！也許這幾年我太好悠閑，心臟調適不來，鬧起别扭！
而且我是一個不善於表達，不貼心又不會討好人。
我有很多不足，要改善的。

不過，又認識幾位新朋友，真好。

這趟，謝謝朋友給住宿，我去走走了一些地方，感恩。

日子真快！26/2 我回家。

Apom

2014年頭一天，我做我們喜愛的甜點，馬來西亞印裔的Apom。
I made our favorite Indian-Malaysia dessert called Apom, on the first day of 2014.

很久没做了。
Have been long time not making it.
我在檳城買的小鐵鍋，質料不好，我只好用回小平底鍋。

The little  tin coated wok I bought in Penang, Malaysia and brought here seemed to not be good material for cooking, so I use a crepe pan.

我們拿 Apom 到朋友家聚餐慶祝新年。
We took Apom to a friend's house to have a small gathering lunch for new year celebration.

Christmas Lights

For the first time in the Missouri Garden with hundreds of thousands of lights.

 Northern Lights

 Candlelight Village

Snow Ball

Twinkling Tunnel

Snow World 雪的一生

他們説五顔六色的食物才是美味
他們説繽紛色彩的影色才是美景
他們説多姿多彩的人生才是美妙
怎麽我的世界只有白色
當我的生命到了盡頭時
怎麽却不是白色了

色即是空呀！

They say the meal is delicious if there are a variety of colors
They say the scene is beautiful if there are many colors
They say life is wonderful if it is full of colors
Why is my life just only white
When I am dying at the end
Why wasn't I white any more

Ah
Form is emptiness!

Persimmon 柿子

我喜歡柿子。
I like persimmon.  

一位朋友家附近有很多美國土種的柿子樹。
The area around a friend's has many native American persimmon trees.

她說它們像小珠寶。
She describes them as little jewels.
的確是。
They really are.

這些樹都很高，長在自行車道旁。
These trees along the bike trail are tall.

我拾落在地上的，及採一些低枝已熟的。
I got some that had dropped on the ground and picked those on lower branches.

你看這是美國土種和亞洲種柿子的不同。
You can see the difference between native American persimmons and Asian persimmons.

Funny Harvest 收成笑料

9月中種下的白蘿卜種子。。
11月葉子還不是很茂盛。。
今天被雪蓋着，才想起忘了收成。。
Steve 拔起一棵。。
叫我趕快拿相機來。。
我以為什麽大事。。
看他拿給我的白蘿卜。。
我們笑到不行。。

Plant the daikon seeds on the mid of September..
The leaves still had not grown very tall by November..
They are covered by snow today, and we just wondered how they are..
Steve went out to pick one..
He yelled at me to come and take a picture..
I thought, what is happening?
He hands me this daikon..
We both laugh out loud..