When in-laws meet

Titiwangsa, the Main Range. That was what I crossed travelling on the East-West Highway between Penang and Kelantan last weekend. It was a six-hour drive eastwards on Saturday, followed by another equally lengthy journey back west on Sunday. My wife and I accompanied her sister and brother-in-law to Tanah Merah to deliver the pheng-kim to their future daughter-in-law’s parents, ahead of their younger son’s wedding in a fortnight. We felt honoured to be asked to help carry the siah-nah and other wedding gifts. Saw See led the way into the house with the siah-nah while my brother-in-law and I brought up the rear with the fruits. The pheng-kim is the traditional dowry ritual offered by the groom’s parents to the bride’s family, while the siah-nah is a woven rattan wedding basket used to carry those dowry items. All deeply rooted in Chinese custom.

On Sunday morning, we arrived at the bride’s parents’ house in Tanah Merah. They were well prepared for our arrival; a red banner was already strung across the main doorway, and to the left, a lavish buffet spread awaited. We arrived with minimal fanfare, met by the curious eyes of close relatives meeting us for the first time. Without much ado, Saw See entered the house first with the siah-nah, carefully prepared the night before in our hotel room, followed by her sister carrying additional traditional gifts such as a pair of dragon and phoenix candles, wedding biscuits and two bottles of brandy. Meanwhile, we men brought in the fruit—apples and oranges adorned with the double happiness symbol—which we placed on the table before the family altar. With the worship and dowry presentation completed, we gathered for lunch before exchanging farewells and setting off on our long journey home.

Hutchings thanksgiving service 2024

Another year, another Thanksgiving memorial service for Robert Sparke Hutchings at his grave in the heritage Protestant Cemetery on Northam Road, George Town. I have been attending this service since 2012. Initially, it was out of curiosity, as I had just finished co-editing Fidelis with Molly Ooi. I wanted to see how much the Penang Free School Prefects were still involved in the annual tradition of visiting Hutchings' grave. That first visit reassured me that the tradition was still very much intact and observed to this day.

During the 2012 service, I drew a lot of curious stares from the Prefects and teachers, as none of them had seen me before. There I stood, a complete stranger in a PFS tie, shoulder to shoulder with them as the service went on. At the time, there were no representatives from The Old Frees' Association, and I found myself unofficially representing them.

Over the years, I managed to encourage more Old Frees to join in the annual visit. The school's Bicentenary helped raise awareness of this tradition, and gradually, The Old Frees' Association became more involved. Now, the OFA President and other members of the Management Committee attend as well.

Under the capable leadership of Revd Stephen Vello and Revd Ho Kong Eng, this morning's 15-minute service ran smoothly, with representatives from The Old Frees' Association, Penang Free School, Hutchings Sixth Form College and St George's Church in attendance. As tradition, the school songs were sung, and the PFS School Rally was duly performed. Regrettably, however, the students from Hutchings College came unprepared for their own school song. Their school authorities could have better prepared them, especially as their students attend the service every year.

St George's Church and Penang Free School

Whenever a new picture of St George's Church surfaces, I’m always more intrigued by its surroundings than the Church itself. There’s a good chance that neighbouring buildings are included as well. Take this one from the 1880s, for instance. When my friend, Eugene Quah, first shared it on Facebook, the focus of discussion was on the two bicycles in the foreground—one a penny farthing, the other a regular bicycle. However, my attention was immediately drawn to the single-storey building to the right of the Church. There's no mystery about it. Those familiar with local history will know that this low building was once part of Penang Free School, back when it was still located on the edge of Church Square. The school occupied this plot of land adjacent to the Church from 1821 until 1897.

Almost round

According to the Chinese lunar calendar, today is the 14th day of the ninth lunar month. Tomorrow will be the 15th day. Two aspects to note about the moon tonight. Firstly, it is supposed to be one of the brightest full moons this year as its supermoon status means that it is closer to the earth than usual. Secondly, it is already almost fully round, but it is only 98.7 percent illuminated. With the weather being so unpredictable, I cannot take the chance that I can see the full moon clearly enough tomorrow. So there I was, standing outside the house with my camera at 10 o'clock to capture this picture. It's given the name of Hunter's Moon because it is the hunting season in the northern hemisphere. 

[Thursday's update] Just as I feared, the weather wasn't great on Thursday evening. Cloudy most of the night. I did happen to see the full moon at nine o'clock—100 percent illuminated—but the edges were rather hazy, lacking clear definition due to the cloud cover. (See the second picture below.) But it turned out worse about an hour later. The cloud cover thickened considerably and with that, the whole moon vanished from sight. 

Wednesday night's moon

 

Thursday night's moon

Fine dining

We recently had the occasion to indulge in some fine dining experience, courtesy of an event organised by HSBC Global Private Banking at the Orinea Restaurant in Sunrise Gurney. It was a gathering of around 50 people. Apart from us, I believe most of the guests were clients of this private bank from Singapore. 

Naturally, the dinner was preceded by a mandatory talk—a forum discussion, actually—where a few lawyers and financial services professionals were invited to speak on succession and legacy planning. I was hoping to pick up something new, but unfortunately, the panel covered only the basics, leaving little to discover.

Now, about the fine dining. The cuisine was unmistakably French. Each course was exquisitely crafted and beautifully presented, but the portions were incredibly tiny. We left feeling as though we could have gone for a late-night supper, though at our age, we thought better of it. 

Alongside the meal, we were served an impressive selection of whiskys—four varieties in total, all excellent. Perhaps the only real takeaway from the evening was learning how to truly appreciate whisky: swirling the liquid in the glass, inhaling the vapours through the mouth and sipping the whisky slowly, rather than gulping it down. Although, we did notice a few people doing just that, throwing back their heads to down all that fine stuff in a jiffy! Poor sods, I thought, completely missing the point of the evening.

Note: I was checking up on this Riverstown Invergordon 30-year-old single grain Scotch Whisky online and saw this description of its aroma and taste:

Aroma: Spicy and rich with notes of vanilla, caramel, honey, hay, and notes of tobacco and oak.

Taste: Lots of spices; Pepper, ginger, allspice, cinnamon and sweet vanilla. You can also feel nuts, marzipan and sweet notes of oak.

Finish: Long and spicy with aftertaste of burnt sugar and nut notes.

I suppose there’s a lot of eloquence to describe the whisky when a bottle costs around RM1,100. Incidentally, the retailer mentioned it was the very last bottle of his stock—one that we had knocked back. Should we feel privileged or not?

  

FIDE ID application

Don't feel out of place; apply now for a FIDE ID. This is a unique identification number issued by the World Chess Federation (FIDE) that allows participation in any FIDE-recognised tournament worldwide. 

NOTE: With the OFA Rapid Chess Tournament coming up very soon on 24 November 2024, which is one such FIDE-rated event in Penang, a FIDE ID is definitely needed. (Click here for more information.)

Whether one is a school-going chess enthusiast, a serious adult player or a chess professional, a FIDE ID is an essential requirement as it formally registers the individual within the worldwide chess community. It provides one with a credential.

The application process is straightforward. If one is Malaysian, simply visit https://malaysiachess.org/fide-id-application/, then click on the icon next to the state's name. Fill in the necessary details and make sure to attach the payment receipt for RM50 (this is important!!). The Malaysian Chess Federation will process applications on behalf of FIDE. 

A short-cut tip: Penang-based players can click on https://tinyurl.com/y2xyyy2c to apply.

Bear in mind that the approval process typically takes about a week. If a player is planning to compete in a FIDE-rated tournament and doesn't yet have a FIDE ID, be sure to apply well in advance. Don’t leave it until the last minute!

SRI LANKA: Travelling through Buddhist eyes

When my wife and I went to Sri Lanka in January this year, all that I thought of doing once back in Penang was only to chronicle our travel on this blog. But my writing soon got the better of me and before long, I discovered that I had quite a decent narrative, one which I believe could benefit friends who were into Buddhism or at the very least, interested to know about life in Sri Lanka. 

After procrastinating for quite a while, I have now my first Kindle e-book, SRI LANKA: Travelling through Buddhist eyes, published at the beginning of this month and selling for USD8.99 on https://www.amazon.com/SRI-LANKA-Travelling-through-Buddhist-ebook/dp/B0DJFD9WCB/ref=litb_stb_nodl?nodl_android=1

A very modest, unassuming experiment, if I may say so myself. Almost a hundred pages thick and filled with lots of pictures seen through my camera lenses. Book was divided into seven chapters, and it includes an epilogue with two Sri Lanka-related stories. Do show some support and encouragement by purchasing the e-book from the amazon.com website.

Chief Arbiter of choice!

I am writing this on behalf of the Penang Chess Association. We have learnt today that the World Chess Federation (FIDE) has appointed Abdul Hamid bin Abdul Majid, one of the PCA's life members, as the Chief Arbiter of the forthcoming World Chess Championship match between China's defending champion, Ding Liren, and India's challenger, Gukesh Dommaraju. 

This is a singular achievement and we heartily congratulate Hamid. He had been active on the chess scene, organising both local and international chess tournaments, since the 1980s and this is surely the pinnacle of recognition for him. 

For this world chess championship match, both champion and challenger were each allowed to nominate up to five persons as their Chief Arbiter of choice. Hamid was the one person that both Ding and Gukesh trust entirely to officiate at their match which kicks off in Singapore on 25 November 2024. Congratulations again, Hamid Majid.

From fragrance to budget

Fragrance in 2018

Life has a funny way of repeating itself. Way back in November 2018, my wife and I went on a short break to Singapore, and I decided to book us into one of the Fragrance Hotels—Sunflower, in Geylang. Now, even mentioning the name Geylang might ring a few alarm bells and raise several red flags of all sizes for some, but I thought, “How bad could it be?” Plus, we were on a budget. So, there we were at 10 Lorong 10. Of course, as soon as we checked in, my wife had opinions, lots of opinions. The bed was acceptable—clean sheets, which was crucial—but the shower’s hot water wasn’t great, and to top it off, the floor was a bit sticky. Behind the bed was filthy, like it hadn’t seen a broom in months. Oh, and the phone didn’t work. I swore right then: never again.

Budget in 2021

That, as I mentioned earlier, happened in November 2018. Fast forward to today, and I’m heading back to Singapore, this time with a couple of chess mates, to watch the World Chess Championship match between China's defending champion, Ding Liren, and India's official challenger, Gukesh Dommaraju. I left it to one of my mates to handle the travel and hotel arrangements. Guess where we’re staying? He booked ourselves into one of the Ibis Budget hotels in Singapore, name of Ametrine. I thought, “Great! I’ve stayed at Ibis Styles in KL and Hong Kong before, and while I know Ibis Budget is, well, budget, it’s still got the Ibis name, okay?”

Being me, I wanted to know exactly where this hotel was, so I pulled up Google Maps, zoomed in on Streetview, and—wait a minute—something about this road looked way too familiar. Especially the buildings. I double-checked and had a good laugh when I realised: Ibis Budget Ametrine is at Lorong 10, Geylang. Yes, the very same road as that memorable Fragrance Hotel. And the building's number along the road? Confirmed number 10. Yup, the very same address: 10 Lorong 10.

Turns out, yes and no. After some digging, I found out that Accor bought up the Fragrance chain not long after my stay and rebranded them as Ibis Budget. They even tore down the old four-storey Sunflower building and replaced it with a brand-new six-storey structure on the very same spot, reopening in 2021. So, here I am, about to step back onto the same road with fresh hope that this time, my Geylang stay won’t let me down... Keeping my fingers crossed! 

PS. Not travelling with the wife this time. It's fully a chess-infused trip. Besides which, she says my activities in Singapore are too boring for her!

A Japanese experience

When I was in Kuala Lumpur for my chess competition last month, a friend suggested I check out the Don Don Donki outlet at the MidValley Megamall. I’d actually spotted one at Nu Sentral the day I arrived, but I didn’t fancy popping in to see what the fuss was about. So, when I eventually found myself at MidValley, I decided to give it a go. Boy, was it something! The place was unlike anything I’ve seen in Malaysia—it instantly reminded me of my brief trip to Japan about five years ago, walking the streets of Osaka. The brightly decorated grocery and sundry shops, especially at night, had the same overwhelming vibe. But now, I don’t need to hop on a plane to Japan for that experience. Just visit any Don Don Donki outlet in Kuala Lumpur, and I'll get a taste of that garishness right here. Now I’m left wondering, when will Penang get its own Don Don Donki? I'd like to immerse myself in this quirky Japanese culture again, but preferably not in KL.

Use by, best before

Does anyone ever stop to check whether your food says best before or use by when glancing at the date? I know I’ve overlooked it plenty of times, but understanding the difference between these two labels could actually save us money, reduce food waste and keep us from eating something we shouldn't.

According to research by Food Standards Australia New Zealand, a surprising number of people are confused about these dates—22 per cent of us get best before wrong, and 33 per cent don’t quite get use by either. So, let’s break it down in simple terms.

A use by date is serious business. It's non-negotiable. If our food has this label, it means we should eat it before or on that date. If we miss the deadline, don’t chance it—it’s not just a taste issue, it’s a health and safety risk. This applies to perishable items like meat and dairy. So, if that chicken in our fridge is past its use-by date, don’t cook it! We could freeze it before that date, but be careful how we defrost and prepare it. That’s not something we want to mess around with.

Now, best before is where things get a little easier and a bit more flexible. Foods with a best before label—like biscuits, chips, or pasta—are still perfectly fine to eat after the date, but they might not be at their best in terms of taste or texture. It’s not an exact science, so if our crisps are a month past their best-before date and they still taste good, go ahead and munch away. Just remember, the quality might not be top-notch, and we might lose a bit of nutritional value over time.

So, how long do best-before foods actually last? In general, best-before foods can last well beyond the date on the packaging. As a rough rule, they’re good for about six months past the best-before date, and sometimes even longer. I’ve definitely found some forgotten biscuits at the back of my cupboard that were months out of date, but they tasted just fine! Foodbank, an organisation that helps distribute food to those in need, gets plenty of products close to their best-before date and even asks suppliers how long those foods will still be safe to eat. So, if it looks fine and smells fine, it probably is.

However, the same can’t be said for anything past its use-by date—don’t take any chances there. Even if it looks and smells okay, just toss it away.

At the end of the day, being mindful of these dates can help us cut down on food waste and make sure we’re not eating anything that might make us ill. And if we ever find ourselves in doubt, remember the golden rule: trust our senses, but always respect the use by date.

Disclaimer: What I write here is based on information easily found on the Internet. My readers can choose to believe or dismiss my opinion. Also, this discussion is strictly about food and not medicine—that’s a whole different ball game!

OFA chess tournament 2024

I am glad to disclose here that The Old Frees' Association shall organise the second FIDE-rated OFA rapid chess open tournament on the 24th of November this year. This tournament comes in the wake of the successful OFA Centenary chess tournament that we ran last year on the occasion of the club's 100th anniversary. This time, we shall be holding the tournament at The Old Frees' Association itself and not the Penang Free School. The association's multi-purpose hall in its Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah premises should be big enough to host this tournament but we also have a fallback plan to additionally utilise the karaoke room should the need arises. Playing aside, the amenities around the clubhouse are excellent. There are food courts or coffee shops nearby while the Wayla Kin Restaurant within the OFA premises offers very good food too. Therefore, I'd like to ask chess enthusiasts to keep this date available to participate in the OFA's second FIDE-rated rapid chess tournament. Details are given below.

Date: 24 November 2024 
Venue: The Old Frees’ Association, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, George Town 
Main Organiser: The Old Frees' Association (OFA) 
Co-organiser: Penang Chess Association (PCA)

Entry Fees:

RM40 (OFA member and Penang Free School student)

RM60 (Non-OFA member, FIDE rating 2000 and above)

RM70 (Non-OFA member, FIDE rating 1999 and below)

RM80 (Non-OFA member, FIDE unrated)

FIDE ID:

1) IMPORTANT NOTICE: Players without FIDE ID will not be allowed to compete.
2) Local players without FIDE ID must register early through their respective state chess associations.
3) Foreign players without FIDE ID must register through their own national chess federations.
4) Registration fee for local players’ FIDE ID: RM50 per person, to be borne by the player concerned.
5) STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE to apply for FIDE ID: https://tinyurl.com/26babum6 
(Note: An average of SEVEN days for processing. Please apply early to avoid disappointment.)

All players will receive a Certificate of Participation; Medals and e-Certificates of Achievement for winners.

Schedule:

08:45 - Briefing by Chief Arbiter

09.00 to 10.00 (Round 1)

10.15 to 11.15 (Round 2)

11.30 to 12.30 (Round 3)

12.30 to 13.30 (Lunch break)

13.30 to 14.30 (Round 4)

14.45 to 15.45 (Round 5)

16.00 to 17.00 (Round 6)

17.15 to 18.15 (Round 7)

18.45 - Prize Giving

Format:

7-round Swiss System with time control of 20 minutes + 5 sec per move

Tie-breaks:

1) Direct encounter

2) Bucholz

3) Sonnenborn-Berger

4) Tie-break determined by the Organisers

For the purpose of this tournament:

1) Veterans are defined as players 50 years old and above (born in 1974 or earlier).
2) FIDE Rating refers to either FIDE Rapid or FIDE Standard ratings only.
3) Winners are entitled to only one prize each.
4) Maximum 100 participants only.

Online tournament registration: https://tinyurl.com/2zbvu2fj or scan the QR code

Payment method: Maybank A/c 5570-4564-4882 (The Old Frees’ Association)

Closing date: 22 November 2024

Players’ listing: https://tinyurl.com/2vsfdbu4

Contact persons: Quah Seng Sun 0124703700, Alex Ung 0174775418, Terry Ong 0124611865

Notices:

The organisers reserve the right to amend the terms of the tournament. Entries may close early at the organisers’ discretion. The Chief Arbiter’s decisions on all chess matters, including results, are final and shall not be challenged.

New life for an old workhorse

This is an occasion too significant for me to overlook. At around 1.22pm today, the iconic Penang ferry, Pulau Pinang, was successfully towed past the KTMB railway bridge at the Bagan Dalam Slipway, marking a key milestone in its transformation into Asia's first floating museum. For now, it is temporarily docked at the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) while awaiting its final move to Tanjung City Marina.

According to Buletin Mutiara, people of all ages gathered along the slipway to witness this historic event. Some cheered with excitement, while others, overcome with nostalgia, bid the vessel a heartfelt farewell. Pulau Pinang, along with five or six other ferries, once played a vital role in ferrying passengers between the island and the mainland. Now, instead of transporting people, it will preserve Penang's rich heritage and carry the stories of generations who once sailed on it. Thank you, Pulau Pinang, for your incredible service to Penang. You’ve made Penangites proud, and we are grateful for the memories.

The yellow double-ended ferries that chugged across the Channel were once a crucial mode of transport to ferry both passengers and vehicles between George Town and Butterworth. Penang's ferry service was the oldest in Malaysia, introduced by local entrepreneur Quah Beng Kee and his brothers under the name Beng Brothers back in 1894.

The old iconic ferries, some of which were commissioned in the 1970s, were officially retired at the end of 2020 and replaced by faster speedboats. One ferry continued to serve vehicles, specifically motorcycles and bicycles, until July 2023. By August 2023, a fleet of four modern ferries, costing RM100 million and operated by Penang Port Sdn Bhd, took over the route.

As for Pulau Pinang, which belonged to the Penang Port Commission, it was leased to Printhero Merchandise Sdn Bhd for conversion into the Penang Ferry Museum. Its new role is no longer just about moving people, but about preserving the stories, history and legacy of Penang’s maritime heritage. (This picture from Buletin Mutiara's facebook.)

South of the border

For anyone heading to Singapore this November and December for some incredible chess events – the World Chess Championship match between defending champion Ding Liren (China) and challenger Gukesh Dommaraju (India), as well as the Singapore Chess Festival which features mainly the Singapore International Chess Open, the events to be held at the Resorts World Sentosa – I’ve put together a summary of the schedule for both. 

I’m still on the fence, but there’s a good chance I’ll be in Singapore for a few days to soak in the atmosphere.