I was at the SCHOOL of HARD KNOCKS !

Yoon Koon, founder of the Royal Selangor Pewter

1885 ... still growing strong

The late Sultan of Selangor, Almarhum Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah gave the company the royal charter - Royal Selangor Pewter in 1992.

School's in again! Only for 25 minutes but I left school happy as a lark!

Behind the glass doors of the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre, in the School of Hard Knocks, I was really grateful to Mr KC who gave me his undivided attention to try my hand at a pewter smithing workshop. Normally, one has to book and a class has 5 students. I was the only one for that morning. Thanks, KC!

Here I was , hammer in hand, knocking hard ( my grip was so tight!)and then the arm began to ache !! The room filled with the noise of the pounding but it mattered not to KC. Unobtrusively he lent his comments like 'knock harder, keep turning , make it smooth, light taps.' Then I relaxed and patiently hammered away, turning the bowl sitting in the hole of the wooden block round and round to achieve the required shape.

Wouldn't Yoon Koon, the founder of the Royal Selangor Pewter, if he were alive today, impart his words of wisdom - about life and the hard knocks we have to face before we can taste sweet success !

Yoon Koon, a Hakka immigrant from Shantou, Guangdong, China, came to tin -rich land of then, Malaya, at the tender age of 15. He started a business with his pewter making skills and made prayer objects like - josstick holders etc. Soon this caught the attention of the British colonialists and more orders of other items like tankards and ashtrays were made.

The history of Royal Selangor Pewter comes alive daily as visitors stroll through the Visitor Centre, guided by by the inhouse guides. The Centre never sleeps as it is open 365/ 366 days of the year ! Such dedication to tell and show the story of the very humble beginnings of then Malaya Pewter, and how it has grown to be a world name. The 3rd and 4th generations of the this privately -owned business have made Malaysians proud with a truly MALAYSIAN brand.

A new flat disc of pewter - I liken it to a new life we all begin with :)

Letters of the alphabet A - Z to engrave our name - so we make our mark in life.

Spell it out - mine spells K E A T S

Use the basic tools to hammer and shape the pewter - the malleable pewter yields . Never give up even when you get 'knocked' about. Get your life into shape !

Wash with a mild detergent to get rid of grime and other stuff - get rid of negative , impure stuff out of your life - 'coz you're ready to take on the world!

Presto ! The pewter dish is ready - almost all the kinks and rough patches are smoothened by light tapping of the hammer - bright and shiny - you're ready to face the world with help from friends , here and there .

A reward for the hard work - recognition will come - just do!

Mr KC, my teacher for the morning, helped to take some pictures to record the stages of my work - thank you kind KC!

Pewter for everyone - Malaysia for the world to know!

The unmistakeable Selangor Pewter bag - my pewter dish is safe inside.

Photo credit : courtesy of Royal Selangor Pewter

I guess the honourable Yoon Koon will also say the same to ME!!

Royal Selangor Visitor Centre
4 Jalan Usahawan 6, Setapak jaya
53300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: + 60 3 4145 6122
visitorcentre@royalselangor.com.my

Let's Play! - Jom Main !

Was it so long ago that I played five stones, skipping rope, hopscotch? Well, today, at the National Museum, Jalan Damansara , Kuala Lumpur, the good ol' days are back! I had a walk down memory lane as I couldn't resist joining some children and parents playing some traditional games.

Parents and children were happily playing games of yester years in this highly interactive exhibition , JOM MAIN!!' or 'Let's Play!' at the National Museum. The kids played with abandon from one game to another.

Traditional games are simple and easy to perform. Much fun is derived from the togetherness in playing. Also, they encourage teamwork, strategizing, thinking and developing individual skills.

One may ask.Can these games compete with the modern games all packaged with the wizardry of gadgets to astound us? Really, it's not about competition. Traditions always live if we continue them. Anyone can play these games that are handed down from generation to generation.

Dare I suggest, the next time, there's a teambuilding retreat, try as many of these games. They are pure sheer FUN , not mentioning the very minimal costs involved!

Call me a 'tomboy', if you want to! I played this game with gusto - with my legs in the air !! The feathers of the shuttle are attached to rubberised pieces at the base. Players stand in a circle. One player throws the shuttle in the air to the player opposite. The aim is to kick and keep the shuttle in the air with the feet as many times as possibe before the next player takes a turn.

One of the MVM ( Museum Volunteer Malaysia) volunteers couldn't believe my spinning top outlasted hers for a good minute! 'The best for the morning!', she exclaimed. The spinning top is a dried fruit of the berembang tree with a long bamboo spike driven through its core.

This is the 'whirring beetle' game. Use discarded soft bottle caps, beat them flat and bore 2 symmetrical holes in the middle. Pass a string through to tie up both ends. Player twirls string till tight with a series of tensions,then sets the cap in a spin . The aim is to cut the opponent's 'beetle'.

This game is a boy's favourite. These guli( stone marbles), made of limestone can still be found in shops. Be on the lookout for them. Play it on flat open ground. See how many flicks of the guli will propel one's guli to the opponent's side.

Yes, it's me having fun. The game is 'One Wheeler' ( Main gerek). Position the long pole over the shoulder and hold on to the short 'stabiliser rod. Then guide the little wheel round the the grid following the figure of 8. I had thrice the fun!!

Another group of MVM volunteers from Japan. The kids were engrossed in making origami,the art of paper folding. Some made horses, boat, star etc. I made a crane for good luck!

Congkak, a traditional Malay game - the winner is the person who gathers all the congkak seeds ( pebbles/tamarind seeds)on her side of the congkak board. It attracted all ages, including adults.

A MVM volunteer from KL showing how the puzzle works.

A game of draughts using bottle caps. Think! think and strategize!!

Lat,our nation's foremost cartoonist - kid having fun in One Wheeler( main gerek)

How the time flies when one is having fun! What a nostalgic visit!

Hands that See and Feel...

Brickfields holds a special place in the hearts of the visually impaired. A huge community of the blind live and work there, having acquired skills as masseurs/ masseuses. Fortunately, the hanky panky tag of massage parlours is not associated with the blind though in the early days there was the initial misconception when blind massage centres first began.

The blind have definitely earned their respect from the public in the massage and reflexology services they provide. They are known for providing clean, honest services and ready to pamper us with their skills , so essential for an invigorating massage.

Along Jalan Thambipillay and Jalan Tun Sambanthan, you will see many blind massage centres . Brickfields has earned its name for these wonderful services by this special group of the community. Within walking distance of these centres, is the MAB (Malaysian Assoc for the Blind), the premier Association, since 1951, providing opportunities for the blind in the country - tertiary education, vocational training, work placements , Braille lab etc.

Just take a walk in Brickfields. You will definitely see tactile guiding blocks (embossed tiles) to guide the blind in the walking. These were laid by City Hall as early as year 2003. The tiles are at least 5 mm high and are made of concrete/ rubberised materials. Also, at the traffic lights, there's the sound indicators which alert the blind when to cross safely.

My visit to the Urut Tradisional PB opened my eyes to the skills of the blind masseuse,YL. This Centre is owned by another blind, Mr Lee Sheng Chow. He provides employment for 33 masseurs, male and female.

YL, the blind masseuse, a lovely,neat looking lady took charge of me in the calmest of manner.Not long into the massage, she asked if the pressure applied was alright. Just checking.I liked it nice and firm.

She massaged well with oil and with the successive strokes, I could feel it was already working on my meridian points. Only a skilled person knows how. The invigorating strokes soon relaxed me and I let the 'sifu' help make amends on my body! To finish off, YL massaged my forehead and then my head. What a lovely,light feeling sitting upright on the long sofa! I must admit, I even had a few cat winks, just like that, which isn't usual in the normal tedium of the day. Thanks, YL!

Would I have known I was being attended by a blind masseuse? Not at all! I've had full body massages done by sighted people - in Thailand, Bali and Kuala Lumpur. Knowing that she is blind, I can say that YL's hands CAN SEE and FEEL! YL has that superior sense of touch. She's just a wonderful masseuse in every sense of the word.

She didn't even have to ask me where my troubled spot was as she worked on the exact spot of the inner shoulders that felt crampy and knotty.

In our brief chat, I learned that YL has 10 years of experience as a masseuse. her husband like her,is blind and shares the same profession. They met at the Gurney Training Centre at MAB , Brickfields.

'For the blind, this job is important. We do our best to look after our rice bowl', she confided.This is a job she excels and it is her bread and butter. YL upgrades her skill by attending courses conducted by the blind masseurs from China and Japan.

Her sentiments are echoed by another masseuse I got to know, AL. Born in Jinjang, Kuala Lumpur, AL's partial to total blindness was a big blow. It hit her at age 12 when she was in school and soon she lost her friends. Due to her parents' ignorance of seeking prompt help, her condition deteriorated and it was only at age 23 that someone advised her to seek help at the MAB. Initially she started basketry work. Now she has found her niche and love for providing massages services.

'My clients are my contact with the world. I love exchanging information and I learn so much from them, 'she said. Well, I can't help thinking how blessed I am to have hands that see and fell to ease my tensions away !!

I briefly met the owner of Urut PB , Malaysia's first massage centre by the blind, Mr Lee Sheng Chow at talk. His is a truly inspiring story.Though blind at age 21, he went on to achieve much - for himself and the blind. His smiling disposition warms my heart as he shares Winston Churchill's words which have given him strength, ' Never, never, never, never, ever give up'. His finest hour was representing the nation at the Paralympic Games - Seoul (1988), Barcelona (1992), Atlanta (1996) and Sydney (2000), placing fourth three times in the shot putt and fifth for the discus throw. To date, his national record of more than 12 m in the shot putt has been unbeaten since 1983. Talk to him, and you'll find he wears many other hats!!

His fellow blind family and friends can only be so proud of him . His staff too beam with pride as they talk about him as I enjoy the massages. Truly inspirational, all of them !

Massage by the Blind
Urut Tradisional PB
4A, Jalan Thambipillay
50490 Kuala Lumpur

MAB ( Malaysian Assoc for the Blind)
Kompleks MAB, Jalan Tebing, Off Jalan Sambanthan 4,
50470 Kuala Lumpur

Nine Emperor Gods festival

Pekan Ampang is synonymous with the Nine Emperor Gods festival when it comes every year, on the 1st day of the ninth Lunar month.

The Nine Emperor Gods festival started on 18 Oct and the temple To'kong Tian Di Gong , Pekan Ampang was a hive of activity. I eagerly awaited the visit to get a first hand experience of a festival I had last seen when I was a child !! That's a really long time ago, folks! Equally eager and ready to soak the atmosphere in were some 15 ladies of the Malaysian Culture Group , all expatriates, that morning.

Taoists from all over the country, and as far as Singapore thronged the temple to pray to the nine deities. The Nine Emperor Gods are believed to be the nine sons of Dou Mu, the Goddess of the North Star, who is said to control the books of life and death. Her sons, deified as jen huang (human sovereigns) are said to cure sickness, and bestow good luck, longevity and prosperity .

Known to the locals as Kew Ong Yeah, this 150 year old temple has never ceased to to draw generations of people to keep coming back to pray . Donations are soely for community projects. What a great communal spirit! - praying for good things in life and doing good things at the same time.

I saw some devotees wearing white from head to toe and the occasional white head bands too. They had gathered to pray. During this time, all devotees go on a vegetarian diet. The purpose is to keep themselves in as pure a state as possible. Volunteers are countless and some 700 devotees have taken up temporary board in the dormitories.

It was the 5th day that we visited and it was 'quieter'. Not to me, as we had to weave among devotees and all. Cheryl , our MCG guide and Mr Ong, volunteer at the temple gave us interesting insights into the goings -on. Gosh! at times, we had to find a slightly quieter spot to hear them . Moreover, we ourselves were dazzled by the ceremonies, sights . The cameras just clicked like crazy !! I took over 60 pics and really could have taken more :)

Inside the temple, around the altars, smoky incense filled the air. Worshippers held jossticks above their shoulders to to offer and place in urns.

The temple flanked on either side by 2 other temples

It was my LUCKY day to be sitting in a Chinese opera performer's chair ! Imagine how many beautiful faces of characters in operas have looked through the mirror! The travelling 'suitcase', a metal trunk , so compact to fit all the paraphernalia of an opera actress and doubles up as a make -up table.

A devotee hard at work folding the paper money for prosperity for the thousands of other devotees. The paper money will be burned as offering to the Gods.

Helping hands to pack away a big incense coil (RM10 ) for one of the visitors.

The red paper bears wishes for health and prosperity. It will hang on the coil and when then coil is lit each time, wishes can be made.

The Nine Emperor Gods festival attract worshippers from near and far. I saw a few Indians praying in the main temple and having their fortune told too.

The auspicious red tortoises, made of flour with black beans for eyes were aplenty .

Some had babes on top their backs .

Fortune tellers were at hand.

The ornately embroidered clothes of the trance master who plays an important part in the ceremony.

Huge, colourful lanterns adorn the doorways.

A devotee releasing a a few birds from a cage . He was seen gently coaxing the birds , one at a time, into his hand, and when caught, chanted some prayers. ... then , up, up and away!

I spun a small wheel for RM1.00 and got a rooster flour doll and bought my daughter a Monkey God doll. My friend, Suzanne spun the wheel and got a fish! Not too old to play :)

The sedan chair to invite the Nine Emperor Gods to the temple for the start of the festival and for sending them back to Heaven at the end of the nine days.

The dormitories (for 700 ) of the devotees who stay for the entire festival .'It's the cheapest hotel in the world! Only RM70 for the entire stay!' says Mr Ong, our temple guide. Just bring your own mat and clothes and everything is provided for !!

Devotees , young and old come to pray, generation after generation. ' We are lucky that people keep coming back to donate to the temple. All donations go towards community projects - example, old folks home, dialysis centre, schools and the poor. May blessings be upon you!

The stoves behind the walls that cook huge vegetarian meals for the devotees and visitors . How the fires burn !

Volunteers , selfless , among piles and piles of yam to clean, scrape and chopped.

Work to be done, food to prepare for thousands of people .

Not for the faint - hearted cook! It's years of experience to tackle this job, with great faith and dedication.

Come next year, I'll be there again. This time to spend more time and to catch the ceremony of male devotees walking on the coal and the Chinese opera. It had been a enriching, rewarding
experience. Do visit , if you have the chance !