Author: tvsmith

Nasi Tomato Ayam Masak Merah

I love tomato rice. At Warong Mak Tim, I ordered a plate of Nasi Tomato Ayam Masak Merah (with red cooked chicken). Not sure if it is of Johor origin but it is nice that they used long grain Basmati rice. Mak Tim also serves Nasi Beriani Gam and they most likely use the same long grain.

Mak Tim, comes from a family of cooks and is now 75 years young. She started the business in the late 1970s to cater to weddings and corporate functions. She still oversees the business, albeit from home. Picture of Mak Tim (inset) sent by her daughter. The area I know as Setiawangsa is Taman Desa Keramat, it seems.

On Facebook, their address is given as 23 Jalan AU1A/2B Taman Keramat, 54200 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 016 226 5939

Panasonic Lumix GM-1, ISO 200, f4, 1/80 sec.

#localfood #malayfood #johorfood #johor #warung #maktim #setiawangsa #muar #rice #nasitomato #ayammasakmerah #tomato #tomatorice #red

Women’s Day Treat

It is International Women’s Day and a nice woman took me out for lunch at a woman’s place. When I was lamenting recently about friends letting me down when I needed help to go run errands, Elizabeth Chong, was one few empathetic people who contacted me to tell me she can help when necessary. It cheered me up greatly, on that day. Since we have not met in person, I suggested we meet up for a “trial run” in the form of a meal or drink.

She suggested the Johorean place Warong Mak Tim, operated by the mother of her former colleague at The Star. I like Muar and Johorean food and it was a wonderful suggestion. It bills itself as “Sajian Asli Warisan Johor” (original Johor heritage fare). Picture is of the famous ‘Johore Laksa’ that Elizabeth had today. Incidentally, Elizabeth is from Muar and can attest to the authenticity of the food at Mak Tim, whose family also originates from Muar.

Mak Tim is now at Setiawangsa and not, where it used to be, in Jalan AU2C Taman Desa Keramat, three months ago.

Panasonic Lumix GM-1, ISO 200, f5, 1/200 sec.

#localfood #malayfood #johorfood #johor #warung #maktim #setiawangsa #muar

Happy International Women’s Day

Happy International Women’s Day, today.

Re-posting an image of Bonda Emma in conjunction. She’s the very successful woman lemang entrepreneur, mother and matriarch of a big extended family. Yet she behaves with humility and is down to earth always. She giggled like a bashful teen when she saw me walking in

Original post : Motherly Emma.

Bonda Emma appeared genuinely happy and excited when she saw me walking towards her. I was surprised she didn’t do a double take nor was there delay in recalling or recognising me. She has thousands of repeat customers, after all.

She giggled like a teen and asked me what I like as she will give me a treat. I last met her during Hari Raya and she told me subsequently she will treat me after seeing her lemang pics and the ensuing publicity.

I normally don’t accept free stuff from places I reviewed as a matter of principle and ethics. Nevertheless, receiving lemang as a festive gift is a tradition like how we give lemang to relatives, friends and neighbours during festivals. I accepted it in that spirit.

The Malay word Bonda in her moniker is old world, palace usage and an affectionate term for mother. Bonda Emma may be motherly but she is no ordinary woman. She runs a very big operation with 20 or 30 staff and her turnover is higher than that of many other sole-proprietorships.

I complimented her on being active on Facebook. She comes to like many of my daily posts and not just of those that featured her. She blushed and said it is to kill time after work. She even remembered my recent Penang trip posts.

So much humility and ‘humaness’ from a very successful and busy entrepreneur. Awe and respect.

Behind her in red shirt is the chain-smoking, firestarter. chef and family friend Hamdan who I interviewed during the Hari Raya feature.

When I was leaving and as parting words, Emma told me she will share my upcoming posts when it is published 🙂

To be continued…

Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 4000, f4, 1/60 sec.

#streetphotography #documentaryphotography #lemang #lemangbonda #bondaemma #emma #harirayahaji #eidaladha #eid #festival #stall #entreprenuer #candid #night #sonyalpha #a7r #zeiss

The Orang Asli Of The Gold Coast

Me and Alex tried to enter Pantai Cunang beach in Tanjung Sepat and found the sandy track accessible to only motorcycles. While looking at the map, we saw an Orang Asli Village (indigenous or aboriginal people) nearby. Further reading revealed they are of the Mah Meri tribe and many are fishing people like the town folk.

Not too long ago, I met a Chinese man in Morib who is married to an Orang Asli woman with a daughter in tow (inset). When the woman told me she is Mah Meri, I instinctively asked if she is from Carey Island. They told me they are from Sungai Pelek near Tanjung Sepat. Thanks to the friendly chat with the couple, I found out there are many interracial marriages between Orang Asli and the Chinese farmers in the area.

According to them there is a big Orang Asli community in Sungi Pelek and the modern Orang Asli town has a fried chicken outlet in the middle now, as I was to discover later. Sad. Hehe.

Sungai Pelek has a checkered history with British Field Marshal Sir Gerald Templer accusing the residents of supporting communist insurgents at one time and the town’s pig farming industry was tragically wiped out by the JE virus epidemic in 1989. The town is back on its feet.

I hope this Orang Asli family by the roadside near Cunang Beach were not walking back from Sungai Pelek. It is quite a distance by foot.

#tanjungsepat #orangasli #mahmeri #goldcoast #sungaipelek #rural #smalltown

Seaside Cats

Morib Beach is sort of bizarre. I saw wild monkeys and stray cats on the same day. The sunset was dull and cool at the esplanade on that day but I saw something heart warming. Hard to see in this pic but some of the of the human visitors were sharing their snacks with a couple of appreciative homeless cats.

The A7R camera’s resolution is so massive I can crop in (on another shot), recover from the shadows and show the close up as an inset.

Sometimes, seeing a sunset can cheer you up, sometimes seeing a simple act of kindness can too.

Sony Alpha A7R, ISO 2000, f10, 1/60 sec.

#morib #cats #strays #beach ##sea #homeless #sunset #silhouette