In Search of "KAM CHENG"

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"KAM CHENG".....meaning "in a relationship". For those of you whom has seen the famous Singaporean drama series 'Little Nyonya" will remember the undying love of the lady in the story. I have always been very fascinated by those antique household items and it just started with this one beautiful earthenware shaped like a pumpkin with a lid and articulately decorated with hand painted design & motives. It just got me going in search of the "Nyonya" heritage and my journey started from our very own heritage listed nyonya building in Church Street, Penang.
 

Apart from those antique items, the Nyonyas' culture and traditions are to be reckoned with. Dated back some decades ago, from pre-war till post World War II and even still existing presently (tho' dwindling in numbers now), I am still a great fan of whatever that is of "Nyonya" heritage!

The architecture of the Nyonya's Residence and handcrafted carpentry skills are every bit a pleasure to admire. From the floor tiles to every detailed craftsmanship of those doors and windows.....and even those intricate handicrafts of embroidery and beading skills; there's no comparison in today's era..

 

Not forgetting their fashionable body hugging outfit....ever so colourful and artistically hand sewn patterns and batik prints are sure to turn an eye when being seen anywhere!......so lovely and sexy if i may add......yes!

From here on.......i have gotta buy my wife a nyonya outfit.....and we did find one.....my wife certainly fit the part with the outfit.....so gorgeous and sexy....petite yet befitting that of a princess.....simply beautiful!

Nyonya food........good lord almighty...pardon me.....one cannot go on living in this world without savoring their delicacies. Too many and complicated to name all the dishes.....just feast with your eyes on these photos posted! It would have to be all the painstaking moments and passion in preparing all the ingredients....fresh from every raw herbs and spices you can find to deliver an example of a "Tok Panjang" feast.

 

 

From Penang, we head on to good old Malacca, to further in search of more "KAM CHENG". Ahhh....good old Malacca.....first and foremost on everyone's lips would be the Red Building and Clock Tower. To me...it's gotta be the smell of the river and the aromas of the "Food" hovering in the air....imagining myself seated in one of the heritage homes on a priceless antique chair and table indulging the "Satay" accompanied by the Malaccan Special "CENDOL".......mmmmm.....I could just taste the gula melaka and creamy coconut milk, to wash it down on a hot perpetual summer's day!

 

Hunting down those heritage listed nyonya homes were our next mission.....together with all the lovely desserts (nyonya kueh) as we walked down memory lane. I am very please to find that there's still lots of old charm and beauty being well maintained of the homes. With camera in hand, and with my best ability of my artistic eye...it just go clicking away...... I'll let my photos tell the story!

  

In conclusion.....our journey in search of "KAM CHENG" arrived with fruitful insights and the bonus of savoring those heritage delights. I have to admit that I found my "KAM CHENG" finally.......memories of my photos will always be cherished!

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A Journey to "AVATAR"

Nestled on the north western side of Hunan Province in China is this amazing village, "Zhang Jia Jie" (named after the ethnic tribes of the 'Zhang' family ancestry). Breathtaking landscapes behold...yet presenting a very mysterious feeling. Abundantly surrounded by forest reserves and formations of sand stone 'karst' rising from the ground, creating scenes of a perfect Chinese painting, depicting mountains, streams, river and inhabitants. 

My journey began with the
'10 Mile Corridor' train ride
through the edge of the forest reserve.
Travelling at a comfortable speed
of that like a brush stroke,
cleverly executing the world's longest Chinese painting.
Before our eyes, beautifully painted
sand stone mountains, with giant bonsai thriving on them...
caressed with a misty effect...
...what a sight!
...so mysterious...
...an unsurpassed scene!

 Next came the world's first elevator ever built on the side of a mountain, serviced by clear glass bubble lifts. Ascending some amazingly tens of storeys high is like going onto another world.....so close to the cliff face. A very different perspective awaits us from the mountain top as we start to take in nature's wonder.....some locations allow us to have a bird's eyeview as if from a helicopter ride.

A natural bridge across another mountain gives access to an old house still existing and open to tourists and there are still a handful of dwellings among all these mountains.

Finally.....get to witness the "AVATAR" hallelujah mountain .... majestically standing on its own in full view ... wish I could scale (ab-sailing) this magnificent sand stone and go in search for my 'ikran'...the avatar bird ... hmmmm ... ...unfortunately, I did not have the honour to meet those Navi tribes aka blue inhabitants. 

 A cable car ride down the mountains ended my journey with a most unforgettable experience of such spectacular sights only my memory can cherish!