Teh Tarik Challenge

In Malaysia, if you meet an old friend or a new acquaintance it is always common courtesy to invite the person for teh tarik, or simply tea with condensed milk. School and college students laze over a cup of teh tarik, business deals often begin with a friendly cup of teh tarik. It is a social habit everywhere you go. It is also a good way to catch up on the latest gossip in town !

While we sip our teh tarik, the tea makers look forward to a national challenge each year. The tea makers gather for competitions at the state levels progressing to the nationals. At these competitions, the tea makers will show off their skills in making the teh tarik. Coupled with background music, the best acrobatic routine will be adjudged the champion. There is also much excitement and consumer awareness , as the challenge is captured over TV, equiped with elimination rounds over a few months.

Next time you see a tea maker doing his teh tarik stunts, he may be preparing for the nationals !

By the roadside

British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace describes it as "a rich custard lightly flavoured with almonds". The truth is the king of fruits is unchallenged when it comes to taste. I have many friends from abroad and each time they visit Malaysia, we end up savouring the durian by the roadside stalls. As varieties differ , the Thai , Indonesian and Malaysian durian have its own uniqueness. The various stages of ripeness is also matter of preference.

When one stays at the hotel, there is always a friendly reminder not to smuggle the durian into the premise. Likewise for most public amenities like this Singapore MRT signage. The lingering smell may be too overwhelming for some ! Next time you see some evening crowd by the roadside or waterfront, go get a durian.

Preparing the land - First Stage

The durian tree is very tall and rises over most of the other trees in the area

The cut bamboo can also be used to make a skimpy bridge over  a stream

Close up of bamboo bridge over stream

Preparing the land for planting will probably take six months. There will be three stages of work :-

1. First Stage - Weeding and clearing the undergrowth of the primary jungle.

2. Second Stage - Cutting the bamboo trees using parang shears.

3. Third Stage - Cutting the old rubber trees using chain-saw.



First stage work started in January 2008 with a team of three experienced female farmers. As the landscape was undulating, it took a number of days for us to work through the primary jungle. It was only the 2nd week that we felt we have carved something out. It wasn't easy to maneuver through the eastside of the land. Even the little slopes seem forever, difficult to climb and back breaking ! The rewards though were the cold clear streams, so clear that we can see the tiny fishes with their multi-coloured tails swimming and teasing our feet ...

Origins of durian

Native to South East Asia, durian is found in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Philippines. The durian derives its name from the Malay word Duri, which means thorn. The husk is covered with sharp spines, while the edible inner flesh has a distinctive , fragrant smell. Although some detractors may find the fruit offensive and wicked, generally most Asians love durians.

The average fruit measures 35 cm long and 18 cm in diameter and weighs 2 kg, depending on the size. Shape varies from round to oval. The husks varies from green to brown while the creamy flesh varies from pale yellow to red. Each country have its unique durian cultivars, known by codes starting with the alphabet "D" . Durian exports are on the increase with Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia the main exporters. Some preferred cultivars can fetch very high prices.

Start your little durian orchard

 The best durian :  D24

This is my quest to own a little durian orchard in Borneo.

With zero experience in fruit farming, I will plough through the internet articles and engage the experience hands of local farming community. I will describe the activities I intend to carry out over the next couple of months , and perhaps tell you more about this fruit, typically known as the "King of fruits" in South East Asia.

The location for this durian orchard is about 30 km from Kuching. Next couple of months, together with with a few hired help, we will prepare to transform a partly abandoned old rubber estate and some secondary jungles via various stages of land preparation. The results, of course, to have at least a plot of land resembling that of a durian orchard , in the making !

Special moments

Last Saturday I was on a routine business flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching, on board the no frills, free seating Air Asia airbus. 1105 hrs flight was cancelled, perhaps insufficient passenger load. So my flight was merged with 1410 hrs flight. This meant that it was a full flight whereby all seats would have been taken.

Since I arrived departure lounge early, I was among the early birds at the queue. I was eager to secure a seat next to emergency exit , as that row was a two-seater. Rest of other row of seats were three-seaters. A big difference in leg space I thought ! As passengers trickled in, it wasn't long before the aircraft was filled up. When the cabin crew was about to make their take-off announcements, one young couple hurriedly trooped in.

The latecomers stood in the aisle, anxiously looked around for two adjourning seats. Alas ... the only seats left were one next to me, and another at the rear end of the aircraft. Nobody in the flight were willing to offer their two adjourning seats. Perhaps if it were a senior citizen or disabled person, the offers would have surfaced. Not for this honeymoon lovebirds. But next thing I knew, I obligingly left my seat and walked to the rear end seat. The young girl had whispered and melted my heart .. please sir, I like to sit with my husband, would you mind.. I guess the young couple deserved their special moments up in skies. Afterall we were once young ourselves.

All for a change

At the end of a grueling campaign , many would least expect the agony of defeat. Much less a tsunami. It was a day that shocked most politicians and the entire population. The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition government took a big tumble in the 12th General Elections. It was their worst performance ever in Malaysian history.



Though many expected some winds of change, nobody expected this outcome. Overnight , many top leaders were ousted, leaving huge vacuum in the cabinet and parliament. With top echelon leaders defeated, their political parties were now left in shambles. A case of many overconfident politicians eating humble pies. In many constituencies the winners were young political unknowns, quite a number of bloggers.



Even though the ruling coalition government managed to secure a simple majority in the parliament, the formidable opposition alliance was unprecedented. In five states of Penang, Kelantan, Perak, Kedah and Selangor , the opposition alliance of DAP, PKR and PAS parties had taken over. The Malaysian voter wanted a change !