Hungry Ghost Festival 1

As a kid growing up in KL, the only thing I remember about the Hungry Ghost festival is the Chinese Opera that used to be held at the temple at Lorong Tiong Nam 5.  Of course I never understood what was going on, but which kid can resist playing with other kids at night, and without supervision at that.

Later it was the food offerings on display along Jalan Pahang, notably the whole roast pigs with a fruit stuffed in the mouth.  After moving to Setapak Gardens in the 1970's, it meant a few days of being stuck in a jam every August/September - the bus being the regular means of transport and the traffic was not as busy as what it is now-a-days.

Recently, the celebrations have been brought very close to where I live and after resisting for a few days, I decided to pay the site a visit last Wednesday (August 25) night. (Also the fact that I had sent my camera to be serviced and only got it back on Wednesday.)

The first thing that greeted me was the smouldering giant joss sticks...

...which would have started off looking like this.

The main activities for the day were over (I was there at 11.00 p.m.) but there were plenty of food offerings along the sides of the tent.   

However, the roast pigs were nowhere in sight.  

I found out that, that night was a Buddhist celebration, which goes to prove how much of an 'ignoramus' I am when it comes to understanding the culture, beliefs and traditions of my fellow Malaysians

There were various alters dedicated to the different aspects of the Buddha.

This must be the main alter...

... based on the stool for kneeling found here.

There were also other offerings besides food...

... and these looked like they were meant for infants.

There was also this mansion complete with a male servant.

 There were also these 'posters' hanging on the wall in Chinese and English.

This is a sample of what was on the posters.  I suppose you get the picture, so behave.


Tomorrow is going to be the Taoist ceremony.



 

KL KrashPad

In early August, I received this email:

Saudara Shaik,

I came across your Shaik's KL blog while researching on the history of Kuala Lumpur online. 

My name is Fahmi Reza. I'm an independent documentary filmmaker. In 2007 I made a short historical documentary called 10 Tahun Sebelum Merdeka.

Right now I'm working on a community mapping project at a new youth centre in Chow Kit called KL Krashpad, working with Chow Kit teens to map out their community and also do an oral history of the people in Chow Kit.

You mentioned on your blog that you lived in the area on Broadrick Road until 1973. I'm wondering if it's possible to meet up with you to borak-borak and hear stories of your experience growing up in the area.

My phone number is 019-------. Do let me know whether you're free to meet up anytime this week.

Thanks.

x

Fahmi Reza

A 'filmmaker' reading my blog, of course I was excited, and I made an appointment to meet up for the borak-borak session.

So what is KL Krash Pad? (A Google search came out with more than 5,000 results.) It is a collaboration between the Federal Territories Welfare Department and Yayasan Salam Malaysia to provide an activity centre with a safe, healthy and loving environment (sort of a 'safe house') for children in Kuala Lumpur, specially in the Chow Kit area. 

The welfare department is under the preview of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development..

 ..while Yayasan Salam Malaysia, according to their website, is about promoting the spirit of volunteerism among Malaysians.

It operates from a rented shop-house along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, right opposite Yaseen's the popular nasi kandar restaurant.

It is sponsored by a number of corporate entities which includes Sime Darby and HSBC Bank.

By the way, the community mapping project is called Chow Kit Kita.

 logo courtesy of Fahmi Reza 

I did follow Fahmi and the children on their first walk-about last Saturday (7AUG10) and I must admit that I probably learned more being with the children than they did from being with me.  (I'll save that for other postings)

While you are here, do check out Fahmi's documentary 10 Tahun Sebelum Merdeka on Youtube.  I found it enlightening.

Jaleel's at Selangor Mansion (Masjid India area)

Ramadhan Mubarakh (Wishing you a Blessed Ramadhan).

Maybe Ramadhan is not the most ideal time to talk about a restaurant that I recently visited, but I haven't been posting anything for a while, so what better subject to resume posting then with food ;-)


I was in the Masjid India area with a cousin of mine, with the intention to stock up on my supplies for Ramadhan.  As it was nearing lunch time, my cousin suggested that we have authentic 'Mamak' (Indian Muslim) food as we were in the right area.  He even suggested the place.

If you are at the Masjid, the building next to it is the Malayan Mansion.  The similar looking building across and slightly away from Malayan Mansion is the Selangor Mansion.

Find your way to the lifts or staircase.  You do need to be a little bit brave, but then if you are a connoisseur of street food this should not pose a problem.

The restaurant is on the first floor.

 It's relatively clean and tidy inside.

 It's owned and managed by the cook.  I've somehow managed to forget his name.

The spread isn't that varied.  You have a choice of briyani, ghee or plain white rice.  There's also the choice of chicken, fish or mutton curry, and some fried fish and chicken.  Of course, in typical 'mamak' fashion, the vegetables are over-done.  

There are also daily specials like quails (burung puyu), duck or venison (daging rusa).  I had tripe (perut) curry that day.

They have flavored anise (jintan manis) and Supari or scented betel-nut (pinang) as breath fresheners at the cashier's counter.  

The restaurant is opened from 11.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. daily serving lunch and dinner.  I however forgot to check their opening hours during Ramadhan.

I must say that the food was good (it tasted more 'home cooked', not the 'commercial' taste of many 'nasi kandar' restaurants) and the price was reasonable.