Malaysian Fish For The Table

It has been quite some time since I posted something. It is rather disconcerting that when you don't do it on a regular basis, you become mentally lazy. That's what happened to me. So I thought I had better do it again just to get that cerebral muscle working again.

For want of something to do, I went to a fish market with John to pick up some fish at Parit Jawa, Muar, about 35 minutes' drive from Batu Pahat. I thought maybe I could snap some pictures of fish and the people buying and selling them. The variety of fish that is available for the table is simply amazing. For all the fish that I have eaten in my lifetime, I don't even know most of their names.

The fish market at Parit Jawa

Outside the fish market

A fish auction

Clerks recording transactions

Sorting out the fish brought in

Cleaning fish

A buyer waiting for his fish to be cleaned

Manisah Mee Bandung

Went to the fish market in Parit Jawa, Muar with John and Ah Seng a couple of days ago to pick up some fish. Parit Jawa is about 35 minutes from Batu Pahat. On the way, we dropped by this inconspicuous Malay eating place, Mi Bandung Manisah, that sells among other Malay food, its famed mee bandung, a kind of noodles in a thick spicy gravy. Those who are weary of Batu Pahat mee bandung could try this place which is about 2 kilometres from Parit Jawa.

Mi bandung Manisah. It was featured in a local magazine

A rather used and faded sign proclaiming its speciality. You could also buy their ingredients to cook your own mee bandung

In addition to the tofu, hard boiled eggs, slices of potatoes, dried squid slices, it also includes a generous amount of shelled clams

Animals As Predictors Of Earthquakes

Many Chinese have blamed the government for not heeding the unusual movement of toads three days before the earthquake struck. However, according to Chinese scientists the unusual movement of animals as indicators of earthquakes is not reliable.

Zhang Guomin, a senior researcher at the China Earthquake Administration, said on the government's website that predictions cannot simply be based on the abnormal behaviour of animals.

Media reports blamed the forecasters for ignoring the warning signs, such as the mass migration of toads in Mianzhu, just three days before the earthquake happened, Xinhua reported.

From: newkerala.com

Mass migration of toads before the earthquake

A girl trapped in the rubble

Claypot Curry Fish

A new eatery has just opened at Jalan Abu Bakar. It took over Ah Tong’s Bak Gu Teh which has moved to the new Bukit Pasir township. We went over there to try out their claypot curry and assam pedas fish which are their main dishes. How does it compare with Ah Piao’s much thicker curry fish which was featured in this blog some time back? Well, I would say that those who prefer the curry to be thicker, hotter and spicier, would find Ah Piao's much better. But the curry and assam pedas fish here would be more acceptable to people who want to eat healthily. Mix the curry with rice, and the taste is masked. However, with white bread, it would be much better. Personally, I felt that both the curry and assam pedas fish are a trifle bland. The other dishes we ordered were fried sambal squids and fried kangkong. The fried squids were pretty good as they were not over-fried. Anyway, older people would find their fare better suited to their health, as the curry fish contains less santan or coconut milk.

The conclusion: to each his own.

The shop

The claypot curry fish

The claypot assam pedas fish

Squids fried in sambal udang

Fried kangkong

Opening hours

Direction to the shop

Coincidentally, we saw a monitor lizard scurrying across the road to avoid cars

Trip To The North (5)

Installing and testing the water diesel emulsion fuel delivery system were plagued by a number of problems. First the pre-heating equipment's thermostat failed and the fuel overheated to vapour; next the rubber hoses connecting to the various equipment collapsed under pressure. We had to make two trips to Taiping, 30 kilometres away to buy the required materials which were hard to find. Time was wasted in travelling by boat to and fro which took about 20 minutes each trip. Finally, working on the main barge against the incessant growling of the huge extraction machine required wearing ear plugs that made only communication by sign language possible. It was only about 7.30 pm that the delivery system worked satisfactorily. The workers were given a dinner treat for working late.

The blending machine that blends water, diesel and a surfactant

The emulsified fuel is pumped and stored in this storage tank

The pre-heating device where the fuel is heated to the right temperature before it is fed to the engine

The engineer from China installing and connecting hoses to the diesel tank as well as the engine

Emulsified fuel is pumped into the engine below

Workers given a dinner treat, among them two Bangladeshis and a Chinese national

Star Fruit Danger

Remember the recent news report on a Malaysian who was in a coma in a hospital in China after eating star fruit? This is the report on the danger of eating star fruit for people with kidney problems.


STAR FRUIT CAN BE POISONOUS FOR KIDNEY PATIENTS

BY AMANDA LEE

KUALA LUMPUR: ALL IT TAKES IS ONE FRUIT OR 100ML OF ITS JUICE AND THE ORDINARILY HARMLESS STAR FRUIT BECOMES POISON IN A MATTER OF HOURS FOR KIDNEY PATIENTS.

University Malaya Medical Centre consultant nephrologist Prof Dr Tan Si-Yen said this was what had happened to Tang Gon Seang in China.

The 66-year-old, who has been suffering from a kidney ailment, was in Shenzhen visiting his son when fell into a coma on March 29 after eating star fruits. 'Star fruits contain a neurotoxin which is not present in other fruits. It affects the brain and nerves. In healthy persons, the kidneys filter it out.
'In kidney patients, it cannot be removed and worsens their condition,' he said.

More than 10 other patients in the hospital suffered the same condition after consuming star fruits. Two of them died.

After discovering the star fruit connection, Tang has been
undergoing dialysis.

His brother-in-law Teoh Thian Lye, 55, confirmed that Tang had been on medication for kidney problems for three years.

The family sought the help of MCA Public Complaints and Services Department head Datuk Michael Chong to transfer Tang back to Malaysia as the family could not afford the hospital bill of RM1,000-RM2,000 a day in intensive care.

According to Dr Tan, there was little awareness of this relatively new discovery and no local cases yet. 'The public must be alert to reactions to star fruit. Look out for initial symptoms including hiccups, numbness and weakness, and neurological symptoms including confusion, agitation and epileptic fits,' he said. 'The risk of death is high,' he added.

Trip To The North (4)

We took a short break to visit Bukit Merah Laketown Resort. It seemed a shame to miss it as we were less than likely to visit the place again.

View of the entrance to the resort

View of the entrance from inside

Sign posts showing various attractions and activities

A poster showing more attractions

Walking towards the jetty

A walk-way leading to the eco-park

Outlets offering souvenirs and games

More activities

An ancient tri-shaw on display

A view of the orang utan island

Pleasure boat rides on the lake

Chalets for those who want to be far from the madding crowd at the eco-park

A view of part of the resort from the jetty. In the foreground, a shelter for white geese

A close-up shot of the geese

The water park for children as well as adults