Temperature Rising Researching the Research Centre

[IQRA'-READ]

I should be studying. I should be revising. I should be memorizing cases and sections of some Act of Parliament. I should be dissecting and scrutinizing the four scholars of Islamic jurist opinions. But I am sitting in front of my lap top churning ideas into words, words into sentences and sentences into paragraphs with a hope that it will eases my stress and tension. I think the panic button had fully become operative and there is no way to turn it off. It is ringing, blaring and buzzing into my heart, body, soul and mind. At last folks, I am writing this very piece of my observation of myself as per my tagline.

The panic button actually did not suddenly go off blaring reaching 7 or 8 on the Richter scale. It is more like the volcanic activity, slowing spewing smoke out. It started few weeks ago when I realized I needed a certain book published by the IIUM’s Research Centre. I drove to the varsity and making a mental note of the centre. Since it was a week day, I cannot park at the Law Centre where I could easily walk to the Research Centre. There is ample parking at the Research Centre, but then, IIUM is a one way street. And the Centre though situated near the entrance, one has to drive a full circle, and I missed the entrance. Hence, I have to make another circle around the varsity!

Circling the varsity campus twice gave me a different perspective of things. First, do not take for granted that you know the place, given the fact I frequent it every Saturday for the last 7 months! Secondly, driving and walking is two different activity altogether. Third, do not do things last minute, i.e. do not procrastinate. The walk to the Research Centre was pleasant with nicely crop greenery and well trimmed pathway. A beautiful garden. Well, IIUM tagline is Garden of knowledge and virtue anyway. With minimal signage I ended up in the office level instead and was politely directed to the ground floor where they sell their publications.

Sitting for an examination after years of obtaining my first degree was an over whelming experience. The answering technique is another 300 word story by itself.  Though the tension and stress is the same, being matured students have its advantages. Upon observing fellow course mate leaving the examination room a good hour ahead of time, I calmly told myself that they must be writing at neck breaking speed while I have to practically write each alphabet like preschoolers!  Two papers down another 2 to go. To our disappointment, no one died today, no one commit murder either intentionally or accidental except for one euthanasia.  The day before, people died by the dozen and we had our hands full handling all their estate and distributing them to their rightful heirs! Exam temperature is rising on Acepaizah...

[motivating frame greeted me @ the Research Centre]

exam fever butterfly kisses
~Acepaizah~

NASI LEMAK FINALE in NEW ZEALAND

Acepaizah & NZ's Nasi Lemak

By now every one knows that I am a Nasi Lemak addict. I have Nasi Lemak for breakfast, lunch or dinner. And sometime even supper. Originally Nasi Lemak is eaten only in the morning. A plate of Nasi Lemak with some delicious sambal, fried peanuts and anchovies and few slices of crunchy cucumber. It is a basic morning meal full of calories for our fore fathers (and mothers) to kick start the day and sweat it out in the fields.

As time passes by, the humble Nasi Lemak initially finds it way into the evening as late tea’s quick snack after office. This is about two decades ago when my own mother was flabbergasted when I told her that I just had a packed of the elusive Nasi Lemak triangularly wrapped in banana leaf with friends after office while stuffing my self through dinner at home.  Thereafter the evolution was fast and furious. We can have them at any time of the day. There are few outlets that specializing in them. The humble Nasi Lemak has not only evolved in full circle in Malaysia but abroad too.

 As a Nasi Lemak fanatic, my first choice is always Nasi Lemak. Sometimes, I will diligently leaf through the menu but ended ordering Nasi Lemak! When I was in Wellington New Zealand, we came across a Malaysian restaurant, Istana Malaysia Restaurant. Without much ado, I ordered the humble Nasi Lemak. Oh my God, it was really humble. A dash of sambal, half hard boiled egg, some peanuts and a piece of minute chicken rendang. It was the most expensive humble Nasi Lemak I ever ate at $NZ15 per plate. Unfortunately, it does not have that distinctive taste or aroma of Nasi Lemak for want of ingredients, I presumed. But it relieves me of my hunger pang and addiction in the land of kiwis.

The following morning, a good friend of my cousin, invited our group to her abode for breakfast before we took off to Lake Taupo. I was expecting a simple breakfast of some toast with jam and probably some scrambled eggs. Instead we were served with near authentic Nasi Lemak with all its condiments and some fried rice vermicelli!

What differentiate one Nasi Lemak to another is in its sambal; when all the ingredients is mixed and cooked in harmony. Next is the rice; It must be cooked with just the right amount of coconut milk with a sprinkle of salt, few slices of ginger and few pieces of pandan leaves. Yes, the pandan leaves will give “the” Nasi Lemak aroma. There you have it. A perfect plate of the humble Nasi Lemak way out of its country of origin and definitely satiates my typical Malaysian palate at 5*C! Thank you NS & lil’ Yan.

However, the most delicious Nasi Lemak is of course Nasi Lemak prepared with love and passion by my sis Dr S. Dr S’ sambal is the true prototype as prepared by my late mom. The anchovies in the chilies paste were roughly grounded to soften the bony anchovies.

I am giving a 6 for Istana Restaurant Nasi Lemak for satisfying my cravings. A 9 for its atmosphere and hospitality since it was nice, warm and friendly. And lil’ Yan’s Nasi Lemak an 8 on Acepaizah and 10 for NS and lil' Yan hospitality. And Dr S? Well as the legal Latin maxim: res ipsa loquitor! (The thing speaks for itself), of course a perfect 10 on Acepaizah scale!

lil' Y's Nasi lemak  & piping hot tea

Another version- NS' @ Palmerston
(home grown salad!)

kiwis kisses

~Acepaizah~

Vermicelli Chicken Soto @ Sri Melaka Satay

[Soto- shredded chicken pegedil & hot chili on the side]

On most days I have my meals in a proper and decent family restaurant. The upmost criteria are their cleanliness, hospitality and delicious finger licking good food.  In that particular order. Once in a while I will scout the streets for hawkers’ delicacies either at a lonely stall, along rows of them or simply open air hawkers’ fare. On one of the previous Thursday, when my BFF was in town we went to have a quick warm tea time snack at one of our old food joints. It was initially an open air stalls built in a row with one common eating space. The early days of food court before the concept being hijacked by marts, giant shopping complex and up market commercial center. I am going off tangent again. This place is at the far end of the eastern part of Kuala Lumpur. The area is called Taman AU. (It is really “A” and the alphabet “U”- my guess is that it stand for Ampang/Ulu Klang- and that’s another story altogether.)

The stall that we always frequent is called “Sri Melaka Satay”. Besides selling satay (meat on skewered bamboo stick), they serve a varieties of soupy dishes. On this day, besides ordering their famous satay, both my BFF and I ordered a bowl of soto. Soto is a traditional soup made of broth, some pieces of chicken and blanched bean sprouts.

I ordered vermicelli soto ayam (ayam=chicken).The bowl is reasonably small but the soto is full to the brim.  The soto broth is flavored and colored with turmeric and other spices.  It was topped with shredded chicken, blanched bean sprouts, chopped celery leaves, golden fried shallots and pegedil (fried mashed potato patties) with hot chili black sauce on the side. It shredded chicken were tender. However the broth’s flavoring was too overwhelming for me with loads of spices. There was clear aroma of galangal or garlic. To soften the aroma, I squeezed some lime and the citrusy flavors really balance the strong spicy taste of my bowl of soto.

After a hard day at work and I was on the road driving from one end of the city to another it was really refreshing to sit among strangers spooning one after another a bowl of warm comfort food which was easy for the gastronomic desire.

The vermicelli chicken soto only manage to notch a 6 on Acepaizah scale, food presentation a 7 and for comfort, atmosphere and value for money an 6 base strictly on the street food compass.

soupy soto smiles 

~Acepaizah~

13/9