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Showing posts from November, 2015

Gunung Rapat's Heong Peah - 14 Nov 2015

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'189' and Seng Kee are household names for handmade  'heong peah ' in Gunung Rapat, Ipoh. '189' has been around longer than Seng Kee, but both are old timers, building their business from their backyards. Seng Kee is one of the very few remaining shops making the traditional 'heong peah ' broiled with coconut husks. Most of the other shops, like '189', are using the modern electronic ovens to enable them to produce big quantity of the biscuits. '189' has recently moved out of the residential area to a nearby shoplot.    If you're not a die-hard fan of ' heong peah ', you'll probably not able to tell the difference of the two ways of production. We're so used to buying from the famous Ching Han Guan, handmade using the modern oven, in Ipoh New Town. Only recently, we stumbled upon Seng Kee's traditionally broiled biscuits. Piping hot 'heong peah ' from the traditional barrel oven broiled with c

Tambun Rock Art - 14 Nov 2015

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We're privileged to join the researchers from Universiti Sains Malaysia in their last public heritage walk at Gua Tambun for the year. The site  is located just over 7 km from Ipoh Old Town. It seems like an odd place, situated in the midst of some residential houses and a polo club with horses grazing in the field.    The hill looks like just any other limestone hills in Ipoh. What made this place special was the discovery of hundreds of ancient paintings and drawings dated 4,000 - 2,500 years ago, known as Tambun Rock Art. The rock art was first reported in 1959 and later in 1984.   A steep, almost upright steps leading to the Tambun rock art site. The view from Gua Tambun, situated in Gunung Panjang limestone hill.  The rock art site survives the modern times in Ipoh, and seems oblivious to the fact that it was once a sacred site for local spiritual ceremonies. The hill also survives blasting by the quarry operators. The researchers were quick to point out to us a par

Gracious Hope - 12 Nov 2015

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The end of another school year has come. I've enjoyed spending time with my students, all teenagers, being there to talk and listen to them as they grow and thrive in foreign land. Most boys and girls in Malaysia will be taking a break before they continue their secondary education, whilst the older ones will be busy making preparation for tertiary education. What about these Myanmar teenagers, from ages 13 to 18 yo? My class is the highest level provided by the learning centre, and they know they're coming back to the same class next year. There's not much motivation for the older teens. Two of them have dropped out during the year. Their future as refugees in Malaysia is bleak.  They continue to hope in our heavenly Father.  "To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. This is generally expressed with a sigh of sadness, but it should be an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the

Tinkering at KLESF - 30-31 Oct 2015

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Malaysia has caught on the Makers' fever as we've seen a few fairs this year promoting the Makers' culture. The KL Engineering & Science Fair at The Mines, KL was another successful feat promoting STEM education through various workshops, activities, display of the Makers' capabilities. It has all the party-like atmosphere, with exhibitors from large corporates, universities, schools and even individuals.  Though held in KL, we did not see a lot of participation from the schools in KL or PJ. Programming a life-size robot made from junk materials. KakiDIY booth was run by a 15 year old! Notebook-sized circuit boards that can even replace computers one day! Working at Mad Science workshop! Rumpelstiltskin spinning chemistry into gold! A DIY Telescope that works and does not cost a bomb. 'Junk Redefined' - a game of table football made from plastic water bottles and discarded wood. Walking tall on stilts! We met