Health/Herbs : Tian Ma

Tian Ma is also called Dong Ma or Calm Wing Herb. It is sweet warm in nature. It expels wind, cures palpitations, and benefits the liver. Among the symptoms of wind are dizziness, nervous prostration and numbness of the limbs.

Living in hot and humid country like Malaysia, we tend to develop wind in the body. Now, I don't mean the normal bloating. In Chinese medicine, wind is one of the 6 main cause of illness. Sometimes when you go for massage, do you find certain part of your body gave out a certain tick inside, as if there is something hard within your body? Those are actually wind that can block our body's "qi" flow. Massage can help, or once in a while consume some wind expelling herb like this one.

Be careful as there are fake tian ma made of sweet potatoes. The best tian ma is big, yellowish white, firm and bright in colour. There should not be any cavity over the cut.

Suggested recipe: Tian Ma with spare ribs in green tea soup

1. Throw in 1-2 pieces of tian ma with 300g of spare ribs, 1 packet of long jing green tea, 3-8 dates, 1-2 tbsp jizi (or jujubes in English), 1-2 tbsp barley, and 3 slices of ginger.
2. Make sure all the ingredients are covered by water.
3. Cook over slow fire for 1-2 hours or cook using microwave at high power for 20-30 minutes.
4. Once done, add a little salt and wine to taste. Bon apetit!

Note:

The picture show other additional herb such as rose bud, chrysanthemum, and bamboo pith. Personal additions to expel wind and dampness, as a result of our hot and humid weather these days (all the rains and extremely hot sun).

Tropical Gardening - Jasmine (Jasminum Officinale)

I love Jasmine. I love the scent, I love the colour of purity. Hindus love to pay respect to their ancestors or deities with this flower. Asian women, used to apply Jasmine oil to their hair or body to enhance their womanly appeal. For me? I just hope my plant could flourish and once in a while offer me some pelasant fragrance.

Where to get
You can alwyas find jasmine at nurseries. They do not cost much. The price shoudl be around RM5. I recall a greedy tauke tried to sell me a jasmine plant at Rm15. Luckily I did not buy. But please note that there are fragrant type and there are normal beatiful type. I have chosen the fragrant type.

How to maintain

Very very simple! Give it a hot sunny spot, water well amd inhale. Just take note that these plant needs pruning.

Note:

Put a plate of Jasmine in your living room, and the whole area will be fragrant. No need all the synthetic air freshener. Natural living and beauty.

Tropical gardening - Thai Basil

Think about Thai Green Curry and you can't forget the strong aroma of basil. It was said that basil originated from Asia. Indians planted them for protection. Easteners use it for funeral. Greeks say it represents hate and misfortune, but Europeans say it stood for love and sympathy. The mixed feelings is exactly how the aroma of basil is to our taste buds. You may sometimes feel the strong aroma too compulsive, yet pleasing. The herb is useful as it has antidepressant, antiseptic and soothing properties.
Where to get
You could find the baby plant in the supermarkets food department (apparently herbs like basil, parsley and mint are the in things now). I seldom see them sold in the local nurseries. But the lazy thing that I did and you could do is to buy the cut basil from wet market and just thrust the trunk into well drained soil. Water them well. Let them settle for a few days. About 10% of them will survive (hehe..).
How to maintain
The plant is rather easy to maintain. Just make sure they are planted in well-drained, moist and medium rich soil. The plant requires full sun (in other word, just leave it anywhere with sunlight). Water them daily. Done. Easy bitsy.
Note:
The herb can be extracted to make essential oil, but the oil should not be used during pregnancy.

Quick cooking tips - My Extreme Kerabu (Salad)
A handful of basil (coarsely chopped)
A handful of mint (coarsely chopped)
A raw mango (shredded)
A handful of shallots/onion (shredded)
Half/Quarter pineapple (coarsely shredded)
3 small chillis (finely chopped)
A bunch of sugar coated peanuts (roughly crushed)

Throw them all into a container and do a samba with the container. Bon apetit!

New addition to my family - Guppies

I love water plants, but with our tropical weather, it is prone to aedes mosquitos breeding. So I have been trying very hard not to have any water plants. But I have recently obtained some from my company's gardener (with his permission, of course). This is a version of the money plant. Easy to maintain type of plant, where you can either plant in in soil or water. Moreover, I have picked up rocks and corals from the Port Dickson beach. How can I resist from such perfect combination?
I gave in to my desire and got myself a beautiful bowl. But after I had the plant for a month, I found mosquitoes kept laying their offsprings in my bowl. I do not want to use chemicals to spoil my plant or the earth, just to kill the larvae. So I have this - tada.... My 5 brave little guppies.
3 males and 2 females.
These are clear water fish. Beautiful and easy to rear. Now that I have combination of sexes, they can actually breed to produce more little beautiful guppies :)
But what I didn't expect was how intelligent these little cuties are. When I came back home and started calling guppy, they will swim towards me. No, I wasn't feeding them or knocking on the glass. They can really hear and know that I am calling. Hope I am not hallucinating :P

This is the best photo I could manage, as I could not use flash or the glass will reflect when I capture, but if I don't use flash, the fishes are too fast before my camera can capture them. Sigh... naughty little things!

p/s: Will update you when there are baby guppies. hehe..

To Anita With Love

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"I wonder how many people will remember me after I leave the business for good. My hope is that when they feel bored and look at the stars in the sky, people will think of my name."

--- Anita Mui

Dear Anita,
I would like to tell you that you will never be forgotten. The spirit and bravery you left behind will live on for many many years to come.
I have always wondered how did I fell for your music, when I am not a strong follower of pop songs. I would like you to know that I was and am a fan of yours. I heard you on the radio when I was in primary school. And your image and music stuck with me ever since. Your music is catchy and lightening. Your music is also soft and heart wrenching.
I have always found your performance prowess unmatchable. Your singing, acting and performances were full of feelings. Your daring attitude in singing, performing and facing life is incomparable.
I hate it when many people felt sad for your life. I think that everything happens for a purpose. If not for this life, then I hope for your next life. Of course it would be even better if you do not have to go through another cycle of life. Let just bygones, be bygones.
My only regret is that I have never met you in person. I have not attended any of your concerts. But I truly want you to know that you will be remembered for all the greatness you have done.
I will remember your generosity to all your friends and young singers. I will remember your strong sense of responsibility for your family. I will remember your brave fight with all that life throws at you. I will remember all of you inside out from your music. The place where you seek solace and lash out.
With this, I celebrate your legacy!

The empress dowager of China - Tzu Hsi

Empress Orchid

I have recently bought a book on the well known empress dowager of China named "Empress Orchid". I love history, so I have read quite a number of accounts over this well known empress that had been blamed to have caused the downfall of China's monarchy, or more specifically the Ch'ing Dynasty. This book shows a totally different aspect of Tzu Hsi. It basically humanized her and rationalised her actions. I find this a good read as it gives me a fresh perspective. After lodging my mind with all the accounts of her tyrannies, viciousness and superficialities, this book refreshed my ideology that people are not born good or bad, but moulded and perceived as what they are. And what anybody else think will not matter except to the person himself/herself. All things said and done, there is no way to judge or really know a person. How many of us know our ownselves? She may be a victim of circumstances, or she may be a fighter in situations. All I know is that it certainly needs a lot of character to be where she was. Histories changes as people and ideas evolves. If looking backwards really help us to move forward, I think 1 simple lesson learnt here is that although things may be dampen if 1 person do not proceed with the chain effect of the environment, things will not stop just because 1 person stops.

We are all but a grain of dust in the revolving universe...

Beautiful Spring - Prologue

“Hello. How are you? I am fine.”
I learnt these when I sent my daughters to pre-school. In actual fact, I may not be so fine after all. What can I say, I’ve been long dead since 1991. At least physically I am dead. Acknowledgement of my physical existence has long been replaced with memories. Memories held by my family and friends. Fond memories, I am sure for I have spent my life as a god/karma fearing person. I’d spent my life abiding social norms. I’d stuck to Confucious’ teachings. I have never done unto others what I didn't want others do to me. Yes, I know about Confucious eventhough I am not highly educated. This has been my life values: Be a good daughter and sister before you are married; Be a good wife and mother after you are married. I followed through them all. Anyway, it is through these fond memories that I am able to relay to you my life story.
I was born a girl to the Lee family in 1949 at an island called Leng Kee, which is slightly off the coast of Bagan Panchor, Pantai Remis, Perak. My parents were Hokkiens originated from Eng Chun, China. I was the second among six brothers and sisters. I was named Beautiful Spring in Chinese. But because my parents were worried that my birth might incurred the wrath of jealous evil spirits, I was also named Ah Kan, which means maid in Hokkien. Never had I thought that names could have such a big impact on my life. Sigh... never!