CALL ME CAT

i call it quit

we all need to start fresh, along the way somehow.

The way we live our life, it should be the fullest.

Sway your hip, pout like a champion, and flirt. It gives you the best feeling in this world, girls be girls.

Watching the girl in red, with his brother on-tow, i had to giggle.

Ow..How i love this life.

Venue: Teluk Bahang Jetty

Oookay.

Rais, from Tapai (read Off the Edge) has arrived here, with his friend, one lecturer in USM. He did a fair review of this place.

The journey to explore the 'original' authentic Malay laksa in Penang (Penang is famous for the authentic assam laksa, and i hate assam laksa, i want real laksa, minus assam), one has to go to Kampung Perlis, in Balik Pulau.

My journey to reach Laksa Pokok Janggus, was ridiculously full of teka-teki, or, riddle. I am directionally-challenged, so i had to get all sorts of clue to get here. MRSM Balik Pulau, jalan Baharu, Kompleks Sukan, Pekan Teluk Kumbar..

But it was illustrious. It's like stepping back into time, only that it is not in black and white.

Go Google.

One big bowl of laksa, complete with the otak udang sauce, and chilli padi, cost an amazing RM2.50 like that. Accompanied by the cool, syrupy ABC, ha ha..

The laksa broth is thick,juicy,fishery, and plenty. Be my guest, slurp them to oblivion. The noodle is friendly, easy to chew. I am glad that the laksa is not infested with loads of weird vegetables, they're not supposed to. Instead, it has the correct condiments of ulam-ulaman. Not too much, but it was okay.

Mmmm..I guess they call it Laksa Pokok Janggus (Cashew tree Laksa) because the place is literally full of them. I read the sign board. I looked around. The place itself, offers many Malay youngsters extra income. At the kitchen area, i spied a crowd of giggling girls segregating and chopping the condiments, another routine to eke a living. It's good money, for the owner.

Be sure to get here by 3pm onwards, or the que will turn you off. But i doubt that. When i arrived, it was one minute to 3pm, and here, they start to operate sharp at 3.00 pm.

Avoid Wednesday. For the reason only God knows, they choose Wednesday for their off-day.

I admit, i'm a sucker for these scenic, rustic, yet full of life places.

I never had time to explore Balik Pulau, let alone this simple fisherman village, Kampung Pulau Betong. It's pasar nelayan, betcha it's famous in Balik Pulau, and the catch are fresh, too.

Here, locals come and go for the catch of the day at the village. Two friendly Chinese Uncles gave us the direction to Pasir Panjang, a port for the fishing mania. Die-hard anglers sometimes hire the villagers, who are mostly Chinese fisherman to take them to Pulau Betong, which could only be reached by boat from the village.

This kampung was badly affected by tsunami in 2004,where the killer waves had damaged most of their fishing boats. but the government has since taken the necessary action to protect the village.

The pace of life is too slow for comfort, though on a humid afternoon. But i would love to spend some time watching them loading their catch of the day. In some of the boats, tired fisherman chatted friendly among themselves, some were seen scrubbing their boats, two or three were sleeping peacefully in hammocks.

This kampung is honest.

Expect spiritual guide upon ascending these time-weathered staircases to Pekan Rabu, Alor Setar.

The situation improves. In the past years, the over bridge was crowded with beggars, mostly the Bangladeshis. Nowadays, the Malay Warga Emas have reclaim the thrones, but to me, they're never beggars.

Because they don't beg.

They bartered instead. Some dollars for a piece of solidarity, a piece of mind with their recital of the holy Quranic verses, or with a pack of tissues.

1. Ikan bakar tawar.

Recipee:

Fresh Ikan Temenung (Kembung)
Charcoal
Buntut ayam (firestarter)
Lots of guts, and love

Strictly no cats should be around while performing the grilling.
Best eaten with ayer asam cair (tamarind sauce with cili padi), with steamed rice.

Baca Bismillah dahulu...Oopss...burrrrPPPppp...

 

2. Ikan Tamban Kering Bakar

Recipee:

Same as above, replace ikan kembung with tamban kering/masin. Grill to perfection. Enjoy.

We spent 3 days in Bongor, Baling at arwah Tok's house.

Wickedly fun, and totally refreshing, since it has been over a year from our last stay there.

This view is taken from the porch, while relaxing the cluttered mind of mine. The compound is extremely spacious, enough to hold 2 futsal games simultaneuosly, and is along the way to Kolam Ayer Hangat, Baling. I'm thinking of inviting a few friends for a sleepover (camping) and have bbqs here next year. It should be fun. What more with the wickedly wet the pants genuine hantu kampung stories.

Tok's house, in Baling, is the ultimate place to ease a troubled mine.You don't need air conditioning systems, all is natural here, and by 11 pm, you're tempted into pulling the blanket over your head, and dream of ice creams.

We used to  have picnics in a nearby stream at a friend's orchard, but have since stopped when the place's a bit developed. But there are plenty of Latas, and picnic areas around.

I hate it whenever we had to leave this place.

Living here is like being reborn, where nobody knows your name, but would still smile at you, from the heart.