tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67468650252673649072024-03-13T11:27:49.122+08:00An Elephant in a China ShopAn elephant in a china shop is an over-cautious elephant. There are so many beautiful things around him, and he knows that he is clumsy, so he has always moved through life a wee bit too gingerly, to a point where it seems he is afraid even to live to the fullest. Well, that, hopefully, is going to change soon.Dumbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08096394768049149435noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6746865025267364907.post-9478375680544953162010-09-13T00:53:00.002+08:002010-09-13T01:09:08.156+08:00Dumbo in the Kitchen - #18: Pork Belly Porridge with SpinachWhen it comes to food, it doesn't take a lot to make me a happy man. :-)<br /><br />Get a strip of good pork belly (the best one is visibly three- or four-layered: fat, half-fat, lean) and some minced pork, cook them in rice porridge, take out the strip of cooked pork belly, slice it, and serve with the porridge. Serve also with a healthily large serving of spinach dunked into the still piping-hot porridge (this will half-cook the spinach; overcooked vegetables are so... 'eewww').<br /><br />To make it even more perfect, use minced garlic and soy sauce as condiment when eating the sliced pork belly.<br /><br />I can easily down two bowls of this. :-p<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZkFcyuUFuf3tI5xgVPiM8G5qhOTxlhaZ1cfZoxTlhqO7yWHmrhEOikuJcHf8E-ef_piLGYnGCTTKgvjX1hQSBXyETu5vss2cEtjgbf_juKRow8F8CjdBSCfU28eXcbsARH0N4ln4YaCU/s1600/DSC01834.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZkFcyuUFuf3tI5xgVPiM8G5qhOTxlhaZ1cfZoxTlhqO7yWHmrhEOikuJcHf8E-ef_piLGYnGCTTKgvjX1hQSBXyETu5vss2cEtjgbf_juKRow8F8CjdBSCfU28eXcbsARH0N4ln4YaCU/s320/DSC01834.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516071764348771410" border="0" /></a>Dumbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08096394768049149435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6746865025267364907.post-35289218633299373422010-09-12T23:05:00.014+08:002010-10-06T02:13:52.241+08:00Dumbo up the Hills - #13: Maxwell HillMy hill-climbing frenzy came about as a preparation for the climb up Mt. Kinabalu, and to scale that "bad boy" (a Hangaroo expression), you need to trek a total distance of 8 km and ascend a total altitude of 2,100+ meters (the mountain is 4,095 m in height, but the route we would be taking starts at an altitude of about 1,900 m, where the Kinabalu National Park entrance is) in the same day, therefore, one of several good ways to train is to go up Maxwell Hill (or Bukit Larut, as it is called now) in Taiping, which involves a 10 km hike (but the altitude is only 1,036 m, so the average gradient of the path is not so steep).<br /><br />***<br /><br />We started before light, and my phone camera doesn't have a flash light, so, the first picture below was taken when we were already a certain distance up the hill. The spot had a pretty amazing view of the Taiping city, which my 2 mega pixel phone camera did not quite do justice to.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlxKwBx3PrqLfJ35w2lVFNeRWBmB9l4XlVm1ZfH7dLmOo_PFlJGksyGCwjIwOako3MFD20dmTTVDxhndi_OlbshPKOSqWQU4gC9XyJ8DP4OsMFZHjsAW_3ZOl9Z_gMMdUTFZyJ4C9tyZi/s1600/DSC01776.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlxKwBx3PrqLfJ35w2lVFNeRWBmB9l4XlVm1ZfH7dLmOo_PFlJGksyGCwjIwOako3MFD20dmTTVDxhndi_OlbshPKOSqWQU4gC9XyJ8DP4OsMFZHjsAW_3ZOl9Z_gMMdUTFZyJ4C9tyZi/s320/DSC01776.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516049582705387586" border="0" /></a><br />Many elderly hikers hike up the hill almost everyday (I later found out some are in the habit of doing it twice a day - once in the morning, and once in the evening; amazing...), but of course they don't go all the way. Along the path, you can find numerous pavilions like the one shown below in which you can take a rest before pressing on or turning back.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGl25i_9IXgAKBzQP5tF9l35kHJhrUNDWWNCG1cmZ37-ZPhddIA2bI3IwDCQgEAq1h__9AVxwt9RCp24VbSm0j6FgBpCFDS8AANZ2tVAYqeOEjP8Use_s9c7Wo7dnZhh5Sck5FzlkmBujS/s1600/DSC01777.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGl25i_9IXgAKBzQP5tF9l35kHJhrUNDWWNCG1cmZ37-ZPhddIA2bI3IwDCQgEAq1h__9AVxwt9RCp24VbSm0j6FgBpCFDS8AANZ2tVAYqeOEjP8Use_s9c7Wo7dnZhh5Sck5FzlkmBujS/s320/DSC01777.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516049570200125746" border="0" /></a><br />As for us, we pressed on, of course... :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgoGu-BybK_Lw6nuEDVy3h2DSzY52eC-PcYq4jTEqFJSLSXJDgK7tUFL4TfmT6Z4dpMwxUO31cXGJ0IRGaziTpvuAZhsta32LDzxkOjkUnPCviW43YqNBv2pa-IUdtG8tfdNvmWb9snm5w/s1600/DSC01780.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgoGu-BybK_Lw6nuEDVy3h2DSzY52eC-PcYq4jTEqFJSLSXJDgK7tUFL4TfmT6Z4dpMwxUO31cXGJ0IRGaziTpvuAZhsta32LDzxkOjkUnPCviW43YqNBv2pa-IUdtG8tfdNvmWb9snm5w/s320/DSC01780.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516049558626356258" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggD-8EsBWUmopUIS73lYRntKmi2dxORKZiRWcYRI8nvvCp0AlL-EGZCqiJgQvz1pTvik4QCyB7Gq1Y-RnOApvkDm99HAitAYdC51VZBq9hZTeSScbvjSJ7I61ZU-fyAsj4WcaMnkwChX8f/s1600/DSC01782.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggD-8EsBWUmopUIS73lYRntKmi2dxORKZiRWcYRI8nvvCp0AlL-EGZCqiJgQvz1pTvik4QCyB7Gq1Y-RnOApvkDm99HAitAYdC51VZBq9hZTeSScbvjSJ7I61ZU-fyAsj4WcaMnkwChX8f/s320/DSC01782.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516049548562857298" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZH7ptp3yCTFBsSRKEIu_N9KcDVVNiP6Nuf2bAfLrgACkWsoI1H1geODJ45MdDpycN89qUSTIW0NC6Ho7mM5jjfAQFw05r14NKM2H8ftjKhvIblS4YRKlEwR7G6zJOay2yN6pS0CIx1JIQ/s1600/DSC01786.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZH7ptp3yCTFBsSRKEIu_N9KcDVVNiP6Nuf2bAfLrgACkWsoI1H1geODJ45MdDpycN89qUSTIW0NC6Ho7mM5jjfAQFw05r14NKM2H8ftjKhvIblS4YRKlEwR7G6zJOay2yN6pS0CIx1JIQ/s320/DSC01786.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516049537175490850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf74bBaw_X6bC8OEe4D8sWkSHBoNu_UT_v59h9uTnkeArgEcxbCWbHvt5rXVkSwuStqanOfhlrKfOfZGOjYJQeO-0Ax4TiLNYKKlj6aCRgLJPG-x9eHO7ynydSx1U2hq8EAB97d_k3iDvL/s1600/DSC01790.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf74bBaw_X6bC8OEe4D8sWkSHBoNu_UT_v59h9uTnkeArgEcxbCWbHvt5rXVkSwuStqanOfhlrKfOfZGOjYJQeO-0Ax4TiLNYKKlj6aCRgLJPG-x9eHO7ynydSx1U2hq8EAB97d_k3iDvL/s320/DSC01790.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516049312951335634" border="0" /></a><br />At about two-third of the way, you will come to a place where the climate starts to remind you of some cooler countries than Malaysia...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0j8fwgF3nza4-OUWjRbHi5886jfM8kXP7LnThMyp1zkFJyssWL04tyXp6BebCwNjRTEOZjQxMQKF7HX5tm4m52mKblg92wYbtFxPpArSS04FRKcIUDepcYa5Y0qoftFZdaX0YAqiEP0lD/s1600/DSC01791.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0j8fwgF3nza4-OUWjRbHi5886jfM8kXP7LnThMyp1zkFJyssWL04tyXp6BebCwNjRTEOZjQxMQKF7HX5tm4m52mKblg92wYbtFxPpArSS04FRKcIUDepcYa5Y0qoftFZdaX0YAqiEP0lD/s320/DSC01791.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516049296398916034" border="0" /></a><br />The date was 18th April, 2009, and they were building something called the "Tea Garden". At that time, we had no idea what it was meant for, whether a rest house or restaurant or cafe or exhibition hall. During a more recent climb, we finally found out the answer, but I'll leave that for another later post. :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsRiQS2_vJ15HBxHdRnjGPUWm5lSelmd9H5m6_iRvOH6m6x2KhP9Y-UJCi2FHybkj-6zx3SW-V35fPnKXe4QN7ltbvU7m4aXFedKcnm8gmsw08yPO6R8emrKGrm5zfjF6PYX2si69Vd6Rp/s1600/DSC01793.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsRiQS2_vJ15HBxHdRnjGPUWm5lSelmd9H5m6_iRvOH6m6x2KhP9Y-UJCi2FHybkj-6zx3SW-V35fPnKXe4QN7ltbvU7m4aXFedKcnm8gmsw08yPO6R8emrKGrm5zfjF6PYX2si69Vd6Rp/s320/DSC01793.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516049288887361826" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPHTHAB7HQmy6tMvqpTjQGMz_i8qLcz-1E2Z6FZETb1kE8AYkAgSiYdL2jIxAJb2TXOETshTF7hN_r7GUJ8C2jMTAQ-OxMyUnZlSoBx8Ckqdo7TtiouiPipWyNRHRNp75JiLcyGJPZjek/s1600/DSC01794.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPHTHAB7HQmy6tMvqpTjQGMz_i8qLcz-1E2Z6FZETb1kE8AYkAgSiYdL2jIxAJb2TXOETshTF7hN_r7GUJ8C2jMTAQ-OxMyUnZlSoBx8Ckqdo7TtiouiPipWyNRHRNp75JiLcyGJPZjek/s320/DSC01794.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516049278689771938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxEBxLhUMn5fZ9WPHUegnT2cj7hh1ggKholNbqQMkrxj2AyHLciAs9edfda0Tff2bIE3Gr4T5V90GpLJgA49e4XBf2cwpul1dPhR9fJFZm-Y8gm8z2UhDpPk6sdGWDxtiU9Lwy27PHQ-p/s1600/DSC01795.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxEBxLhUMn5fZ9WPHUegnT2cj7hh1ggKholNbqQMkrxj2AyHLciAs9edfda0Tff2bIE3Gr4T5V90GpLJgA49e4XBf2cwpul1dPhR9fJFZm-Y8gm8z2UhDpPk6sdGWDxtiU9Lwy27PHQ-p/s320/DSC01795.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516049267733024642" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6SDQZq4Ayb-hArxlSrb9s2mHu0wiMMNJTk9nihp7p-l5biGVmek5WLNk6HDjz4lb4vTXB_QwxxJYleg-M4Rk6i8yaQW9KjH_DAycNhWKJE9cDefomofr5SP5xpb-h2CBmeQQVr-96qo6/s1600/DSC01797.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6SDQZq4Ayb-hArxlSrb9s2mHu0wiMMNJTk9nihp7p-l5biGVmek5WLNk6HDjz4lb4vTXB_QwxxJYleg-M4Rk6i8yaQW9KjH_DAycNhWKJE9cDefomofr5SP5xpb-h2CBmeQQVr-96qo6/s320/DSC01797.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516049066013609490" border="0" /></a><br />The path up Maxwell Hill has a very unique feature, the picture of which I forgot to take, but I'll just try to describe it with words here: I've already mentioned that the entire path is 10 km in length, and as you travel along, other than milestones to indicate the distance, you will also notice small plates with numbers on them pinned to either trees or poles along the road, at irregular intervals. The number starts from 1 at the foot of the hill, and increase as you ascend. At first I thought they mark distances of 100 m, but then I discovered that their intervals are quite clearly irregular, so we had no clue at all what purpose they serve.<br /><br />And as number reached 90, I was already very exhausted and feeling like giving up. I thought to myself, if 100 marks the destination, I do not think I would have the stamina to go another ten stretches (I noticed that the few stretches before 90 were markedly longer than earlier stretches). Just as I was about to give up, after #93, we saw the following building:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVx-KGiNyQpsHDzJbFk_m2DlqBEJUNbw_JArDNwLDYak4Enne97SBEQuSAnH4OftnGD616Qxy863BLG7srgS1uyRuBmGccSkv4_NnUNeb7wx8i5dWTLTliw9ihU91LD0ch02np2RYQqu4Z/s1600/DSC01798.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVx-KGiNyQpsHDzJbFk_m2DlqBEJUNbw_JArDNwLDYak4Enne97SBEQuSAnH4OftnGD616Qxy863BLG7srgS1uyRuBmGccSkv4_NnUNeb7wx8i5dWTLTliw9ihU91LD0ch02np2RYQqu4Z/s320/DSC01798.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516049055261303890" border="0" /></a><br />It's one of the numerous rest houses (some government-owned, some private, and we heard that there's one owned by the Methodist church) built atop the hill for "land dwellers" everywhere to go for a hilltop holiday, or company trips, or team-building, or church retreats.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5glaDj8Q_yP2_3wStaWh4YSXC4L24phr3g48BnsgITTY8GZCgwPtnZY1cQfdCafL1g0CpvHjWRV4PD7hxWW-3f6AwlqZ0E63YfIJ6pS9E3D04dRzMAxRc4VLJnRz12ixXeDvcdPd7EQ1/s1600/DSC01801.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5glaDj8Q_yP2_3wStaWh4YSXC4L24phr3g48BnsgITTY8GZCgwPtnZY1cQfdCafL1g0CpvHjWRV4PD7hxWW-3f6AwlqZ0E63YfIJ6pS9E3D04dRzMAxRc4VLJnRz12ixXeDvcdPd7EQ1/s320/DSC01801.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516049042313978802" border="0" /></a><br />Sensing that the destination (hilltop) is near, I found strength to press on a little further...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSLMG94WwE-yL-2_ARz-Vs3Os2fy5pZORb-_aByynnCsWIgCYta11j0TIT5312ALF8RmhjY32KJj7ApuFyu0XeXDWoxKaLhMf8JGwdpvyNSF4PeE9FVFupMQSXClReL9IdzrGywkg5yZz/s1600/DSC01802.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSLMG94WwE-yL-2_ARz-Vs3Os2fy5pZORb-_aByynnCsWIgCYta11j0TIT5312ALF8RmhjY32KJj7ApuFyu0XeXDWoxKaLhMf8JGwdpvyNSF4PeE9FVFupMQSXClReL9IdzrGywkg5yZz/s320/DSC01802.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516049028830806306" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2zh0zp068YW0KRFxrcnponpnl8zbeo4e_U7XKU9D1ujCWmAGJPUnp2zZYUMj8ht9mfBBXFH51_UqJAEKdnnlZvaKP5sDVjcR9rMzGXqxdtghzjlEIN8KKC0oqA-zdCF0gCi1WpTfjCEE/s1600/DSC01803.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2zh0zp068YW0KRFxrcnponpnl8zbeo4e_U7XKU9D1ujCWmAGJPUnp2zZYUMj8ht9mfBBXFH51_UqJAEKdnnlZvaKP5sDVjcR9rMzGXqxdtghzjlEIN8KKC0oqA-zdCF0gCi1WpTfjCEE/s320/DSC01803.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516049019841075170" border="0" /></a><br />I was glad I did not give up. The view was fantastic from there...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxumlfHcMP62-5RXnTq4MO1kCvU_Ie0zyHXcx8XFUAYfcEz6cNMgEoa2iXhBEbhhPSs-1J2Boc1Zd-soCWOCAfTFdXw9KQAUKX1tO4khP-mc3yCw6E-S7inldVx49jzqNJAbZpS6udkCM/s1600/DSC01804.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxumlfHcMP62-5RXnTq4MO1kCvU_Ie0zyHXcx8XFUAYfcEz6cNMgEoa2iXhBEbhhPSs-1J2Boc1Zd-soCWOCAfTFdXw9KQAUKX1tO4khP-mc3yCw6E-S7inldVx49jzqNJAbZpS6udkCM/s320/DSC01804.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516048747110385138" border="0" /></a><br />A few hundred meters further from the first rest house, you'll turn a corner to find a rather touristy spot...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAui3HoM4-v6bpyufGPqfVu5FJ_HzsETphuWJ80LVfM6TbcXR64MMX9gQfS997p4729RBVJItyWAa9v4uhRQeI4n0ttkxtsE4wK4pja7U5sgjhCucmmScyN9WJfQUZYftKbu_evDadxL8/s1600/DSC01807.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAui3HoM4-v6bpyufGPqfVu5FJ_HzsETphuWJ80LVfM6TbcXR64MMX9gQfS997p4729RBVJItyWAa9v4uhRQeI4n0ttkxtsE4wK4pja7U5sgjhCucmmScyN9WJfQUZYftKbu_evDadxL8/s320/DSC01807.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516048738480590034" border="0" /></a><br />... complete with a hanging bridge that serves no other purpose than for tourists to take picture on...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintPfe-CfygQmV1IxH5-Az9A3DYcd_F9svkBDp54eT0bgyk3UcHKo66JOv1T1ZfTZg75k5q038xWpNDEYzNAVkJOBJo9K3lXBqcwsm_87dINqoW8dMGHdNFiDNd8tlAjhla10WcCILruRl/s1600/DSC01810.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintPfe-CfygQmV1IxH5-Az9A3DYcd_F9svkBDp54eT0bgyk3UcHKo66JOv1T1ZfTZg75k5q038xWpNDEYzNAVkJOBJo9K3lXBqcwsm_87dINqoW8dMGHdNFiDNd8tlAjhla10WcCILruRl/s320/DSC01810.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516048728631755538" border="0" /></a><br />... and nearby a tower for an even farther view (you could, of course, trek a little higher up the road for the same higher view instead of climbing up the tower).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0Ti2ugd3weR91BKbXm3CSBZpYJZOTYIqe43s-TWBceWk90Zc-BIhcwqDxdE1ir49UYl75R1CvUsAWiXhfLfXgTVeuBQLEITj-bqm-IsLj1VEZ7RfOw73xFBsvTV5qy-CoF3CCPuvdGUN/s1600/DSC01812.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0Ti2ugd3weR91BKbXm3CSBZpYJZOTYIqe43s-TWBceWk90Zc-BIhcwqDxdE1ir49UYl75R1CvUsAWiXhfLfXgTVeuBQLEITj-bqm-IsLj1VEZ7RfOw73xFBsvTV5qy-CoF3CCPuvdGUN/s320/DSC01812.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516048714168707730" border="0" /></a><br />A bit further up, a playground for the children... (how do children go up the hill? Of course, we were among the very few crazy enough to trek all the way up; other "normal" people go up Maxwell Hill by jeep service).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUe60rxDqrmIhM5fwnK3C_H_WW1blE6VrOYnBhTdmD-UwIfgdOvtXw-jaScOfiotUOql34w8xAL9jUQ4U7IR2kMEpyfNZwpTo00wuuSse4_F3iahOyc9ueFf-QSvUXQOMAZ2Yev9moM9E/s1600/DSC01813.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUe60rxDqrmIhM5fwnK3C_H_WW1blE6VrOYnBhTdmD-UwIfgdOvtXw-jaScOfiotUOql34w8xAL9jUQ4U7IR2kMEpyfNZwpTo00wuuSse4_F3iahOyc9ueFf-QSvUXQOMAZ2Yev9moM9E/s320/DSC01813.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516048710518369058" border="0" /></a><br />The place is beautiful... and the climate? Superb. Cool and refreshing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMohRg2KqwEJYP7gyLj00VeiCmzZwC1oJosHITp25LVXefUeSorR4mSWxMqxvApEneqmNvbjjdkwkRw2WTAx4v_QlRpR41E70JLlOdHrLmfDwrHmbC9lmR13IPkJKELlMPOa3_6rrk_6Y/s1600/DSC01814.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMohRg2KqwEJYP7gyLj00VeiCmzZwC1oJosHITp25LVXefUeSorR4mSWxMqxvApEneqmNvbjjdkwkRw2WTAx4v_QlRpR41E70JLlOdHrLmfDwrHmbC9lmR13IPkJKELlMPOa3_6rrk_6Y/s320/DSC01814.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516048456516490146" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiL-fKe0H3YFKqa7eLgnZpIcByGifx6uJV5x1RnTFsDP14cqEHuRXKnKrlVqGRj9jqoR7Wo3_tdkyyVn7k3igFlNIVogWZ2dY7wbJGkZ9BPIz84cub1s2PlWfOKXEI_jl65z0HFc-qZUC2/s1600/DSC01815.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiL-fKe0H3YFKqa7eLgnZpIcByGifx6uJV5x1RnTFsDP14cqEHuRXKnKrlVqGRj9jqoR7Wo3_tdkyyVn7k3igFlNIVogWZ2dY7wbJGkZ9BPIz84cub1s2PlWfOKXEI_jl65z0HFc-qZUC2/s320/DSC01815.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516048442740726370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNohTRPkvSgnaL3rz01iYZ7vhXD9s-AT56jmed9l-iXjf9NGFvjBAXZfd7AVBhC4Zby0lkFJgDRtaByf0q-1Iv-vYem6ZWWIDCRkMximMQV2zvObyGldy6w4nWJR3_wKhF6lVDVdwyU0IG/s1600/DSC01816.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNohTRPkvSgnaL3rz01iYZ7vhXD9s-AT56jmed9l-iXjf9NGFvjBAXZfd7AVBhC4Zby0lkFJgDRtaByf0q-1Iv-vYem6ZWWIDCRkMximMQV2zvObyGldy6w4nWJR3_wKhF6lVDVdwyU0IG/s320/DSC01816.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516048440051858930" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjliSZhJ9XnaYb-DJN9R6z64Sl4iTZQYbXGaG9vQoMi-5xlO-liGKE2X5wDJYNTxXLjY2J029jz3Lbh8jdOts9bhBm4mPhJrfiVksl3618EOqMIU7t_uhnNh04n3g-cAS6qo6LrkD8l7c8n/s1600/DSC01820.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjliSZhJ9XnaYb-DJN9R6z64Sl4iTZQYbXGaG9vQoMi-5xlO-liGKE2X5wDJYNTxXLjY2J029jz3Lbh8jdOts9bhBm4mPhJrfiVksl3618EOqMIU7t_uhnNh04n3g-cAS6qo6LrkD8l7c8n/s320/DSC01820.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516048431445657122" border="0" /></a><br />We found a small cafe, the compound of which serves also as a waiting area for the jeep service. And boy, were we thirsty and hungry!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ccfWwtt78-jSnT3gpRITFgdFOAJqWWNoZRexLJGYXaDFwktlsA4gaIvKTzP2MLugn-KSIM8fZA-99aa9x6iwGwq3AG5q-2q5xHQUuEppfM6M4VhESgwed4XPOuJIKNHku1n_vQmrtTN9/s1600/DSC01823.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ccfWwtt78-jSnT3gpRITFgdFOAJqWWNoZRexLJGYXaDFwktlsA4gaIvKTzP2MLugn-KSIM8fZA-99aa9x6iwGwq3AG5q-2q5xHQUuEppfM6M4VhESgwed4XPOuJIKNHku1n_vQmrtTN9/s320/DSC01823.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516048422794220706" border="0" /></a><br />The <span style="font-style: italic;">nasi lemak</span> was wonderful. Either that, or we were truly, truly famished.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Qp4-gUrTxJ_0gKl3yr16jzxW5ZPV2XMI8K1uPO41_ZkqE8x2oV7bE64F-ZYfIcmYanZaWqVjxtQyz78k8qfJrV5jdW3RNX_fB5UCHx_ouf_oqxGiLtE9Hzh1B5oHSHi7BR_C3LqDWXPn/s1600/DSC01826.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Qp4-gUrTxJ_0gKl3yr16jzxW5ZPV2XMI8K1uPO41_ZkqE8x2oV7bE64F-ZYfIcmYanZaWqVjxtQyz78k8qfJrV5jdW3RNX_fB5UCHx_ouf_oqxGiLtE9Hzh1B5oHSHi7BR_C3LqDWXPn/s320/DSC01826.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516048140901581026" border="0" /></a><br />The place was designed to have a certain European feel, in line with the temperate climate the place enjoys...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtdcYDKaAaDk4ytm2m3fKXC1MuZE7329aIIQOj0dXB7QiogxQnpxtDty94Tr6GfaWsjA2io_CXAmsnuOrqaJbtIjeeI1HUKhfn8FeELMD0lhi6DsRi2E4JvV3hhRdqdPXBWts8CjGaEGq/s1600/DSC01827.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtdcYDKaAaDk4ytm2m3fKXC1MuZE7329aIIQOj0dXB7QiogxQnpxtDty94Tr6GfaWsjA2io_CXAmsnuOrqaJbtIjeeI1HUKhfn8FeELMD0lhi6DsRi2E4JvV3hhRdqdPXBWts8CjGaEGq/s320/DSC01827.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516048133669578290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuinJNcAwD7iskBdvY-HmB0ug7erhd6tiVXlNHB1xoFSfWmkRowRw4NRiukTyKm2XDxwGURcbpfGZ_k7THKpJUgMeBAaN_3Tl0tkSMFYyYlrJNueYE1UG8JQePwo6WrpiZ5eKeLo_tC1Y/s1600/DSC01830.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuinJNcAwD7iskBdvY-HmB0ug7erhd6tiVXlNHB1xoFSfWmkRowRw4NRiukTyKm2XDxwGURcbpfGZ_k7THKpJUgMeBAaN_3Tl0tkSMFYyYlrJNueYE1UG8JQePwo6WrpiZ5eKeLo_tC1Y/s320/DSC01830.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516048125748890018" border="0" /></a><br />But, as beautiful as the place is, we were not in much mood for further sight-seeing. We were all pooped! My wife quickly fell asleep after finishing her breakfast...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKc2cQMqIZpu7m5SZT5wa6KIbR98fZQvXFbDQ-CzGmCqTI4VXqBfKi9JDNAMxF5z64P-6ngfeCYCdCL1A8lP9ujJVsAYNf-ptLf71GkhFWZ57pJZv47QwXnBFk__7I57VroRenSVMFr7f4/s1600/DSC01831.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKc2cQMqIZpu7m5SZT5wa6KIbR98fZQvXFbDQ-CzGmCqTI4VXqBfKi9JDNAMxF5z64P-6ngfeCYCdCL1A8lP9ujJVsAYNf-ptLf71GkhFWZ57pJZv47QwXnBFk__7I57VroRenSVMFr7f4/s320/DSC01831.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516048115794742402" border="0" /></a><br />So did a couple of other friends... :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmyvbBOzC5ajHwMqhq_TjOR7iVJ35jH6Pjzky8vpyApRw8eJDLLxzXHUiY84CwBhX4qgE-nNkpSlPRZ34ejJkTBupkyp-Ia4bHtqaQcM97Axidb-rs78JUqF3MJDOxEKc6530N7psoN1W/s1600/DSC01832.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmyvbBOzC5ajHwMqhq_TjOR7iVJ35jH6Pjzky8vpyApRw8eJDLLxzXHUiY84CwBhX4qgE-nNkpSlPRZ34ejJkTBupkyp-Ia4bHtqaQcM97Axidb-rs78JUqF3MJDOxEKc6530N7psoN1W/s320/DSC01832.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516048109832192082" border="0" /></a><br />***<br /><br />We decided not to trek back down the hill, so we took the jeep, and as we went down the hill in a crazy ride that could only be described as "roller coaster", the driver entertained us with numerous jokes as well as enlightened us about the numbers we saw along the way: those numbers mark the 93 sharp turns in the road (many are hairpin turns). The road was originally built for horses, so, it is only wide enough for one vehicle, and there was no consideration whether a wheeled vehicle would be able to take those sharp and often very steep turns. As such, only 4WD vehicles built for off-road driving are capable of going up the road.Dumbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08096394768049149435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6746865025267364907.post-86462738323062569202010-06-09T23:03:00.007+08:002010-06-09T23:29:05.596+08:00Dumbo up the Hills - #12: A Nameless PathOne day, bored with the usual route up the Ayer Itam Dam, my uncle led me up another route - one of the many cemented paths used by the hill dwellers (mostly vegetable planters) as their access roads.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9t6MBDjoJFBsVvNU7oKZQxVoaxy_yhgmKbPbReebJMsDljnOg2wdWjsNflMQSa1ZgITTcDRM29vx5wAZrGoyyZvyftA-LZ4ZXMc_9mvnRurcncrDItxnDEi7E6jLOiqyhCj3oTwL3Qsto/s1600/DSC01743.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9t6MBDjoJFBsVvNU7oKZQxVoaxy_yhgmKbPbReebJMsDljnOg2wdWjsNflMQSa1ZgITTcDRM29vx5wAZrGoyyZvyftA-LZ4ZXMc_9mvnRurcncrDItxnDEi7E6jLOiqyhCj3oTwL3Qsto/s320/DSC01743.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480792227355646882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqVF3VQiO3vTnb6Nvgn6msrPdvuIWLK7ncRbYBCFqJEkThzkgs9RDL1Uj_-HsLXMRFxeMbSwxu4wEsHFfK2VmPQNYNLX628ZlfvZWDiHP7Ca-aiGXV3hcaOcd6ETH1zd4wKWPQPDrXzqj/s1600/DSC01744.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqVF3VQiO3vTnb6Nvgn6msrPdvuIWLK7ncRbYBCFqJEkThzkgs9RDL1Uj_-HsLXMRFxeMbSwxu4wEsHFfK2VmPQNYNLX628ZlfvZWDiHP7Ca-aiGXV3hcaOcd6ETH1zd4wKWPQPDrXzqj/s320/DSC01744.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480792223236490818" border="0" /></a><br />There was heavy rain the past couple of days, as evidenced by the small landslide seen in the following picture:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPztmdlrD1hSjWV7lK1AY0iX7Gm_8aVctGanPd4eYUnCvY8qKOn44FRf5xkwi0W11kDLPI6DUIyLfU9xR2bLHVQWrKWDi_DsSY4IHFXQeDRDw8fY53JNwKIfk0a32oP3vIM1wg9Q8dTDhU/s1600/DSC01746.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPztmdlrD1hSjWV7lK1AY0iX7Gm_8aVctGanPd4eYUnCvY8qKOn44FRf5xkwi0W11kDLPI6DUIyLfU9xR2bLHVQWrKWDi_DsSY4IHFXQeDRDw8fY53JNwKIfk0a32oP3vIM1wg9Q8dTDhU/s320/DSC01746.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480792205570814178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKpkoHgReQeTFIPgZaqfG1Kfvo7MOG5V2DIe2Zd_AbBltA3YKEDouGP224nzEHDO6D_EAfSotl5jusrLMmYoq-QNjI_VgQ5Jfn0nCdzzKDcffMbXxVEUOSOuvepbdqSicWL6Qe1sRghZl/s1600/DSC01747.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKpkoHgReQeTFIPgZaqfG1Kfvo7MOG5V2DIe2Zd_AbBltA3YKEDouGP224nzEHDO6D_EAfSotl5jusrLMmYoq-QNjI_VgQ5Jfn0nCdzzKDcffMbXxVEUOSOuvepbdqSicWL6Qe1sRghZl/s320/DSC01747.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480792190595869906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-yZDm1Na3YwdzltLclB_C6GNiN55mLXDPfvPNEP15Hr0uvRlHqAvgmJ-oAJrALoYKmqJxZkMJbhebrZnN6jks-DNSQbLMQwPHHqnXzePz04E6M-tXcvUSqZ94GaHqfo8mM1sqEshWj4U/s1600/DSC01749.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-yZDm1Na3YwdzltLclB_C6GNiN55mLXDPfvPNEP15Hr0uvRlHqAvgmJ-oAJrALoYKmqJxZkMJbhebrZnN6jks-DNSQbLMQwPHHqnXzePz04E6M-tXcvUSqZ94GaHqfo8mM1sqEshWj4U/s320/DSC01749.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480792173706160930" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1UBdQgFcnbOP3JGb6CDIfyPv91MTSlUPU5JEIDIHvyfsEYW2gnB76FNtQL0eKVFJ4PTmw_Iie87Smrpkixijnp-ynWtCAjH3_Se9fytjB-uBi5Q01GMXi6YqQRpn9cPIwBWDLm5uoAEkv/s1600/DSC01750.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1UBdQgFcnbOP3JGb6CDIfyPv91MTSlUPU5JEIDIHvyfsEYW2gnB76FNtQL0eKVFJ4PTmw_Iie87Smrpkixijnp-ynWtCAjH3_Se9fytjB-uBi5Q01GMXi6YqQRpn9cPIwBWDLm5uoAEkv/s320/DSC01750.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480791696846293042" border="0" /></a><br />The Penang Water Supply Authority (PBA) has a small reservoir here to collect the streams and channel the water to the Ayer Itam Dam.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvEdRzXOoOyNlHEQESN_A2Hx5larQlrSfryK_5FnKSFUnV7UtFLflLv5VNjl7JkQdVlEsNGIU6ODzbNRIBcgG-hpDbv9KUGOgp4Dxfdkz68DKUZn_isvPS9TohfliaIRKN0GqozddSZpu/s1600/DSC01751.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvEdRzXOoOyNlHEQESN_A2Hx5larQlrSfryK_5FnKSFUnV7UtFLflLv5VNjl7JkQdVlEsNGIU6ODzbNRIBcgG-hpDbv9KUGOgp4Dxfdkz68DKUZn_isvPS9TohfliaIRKN0GqozddSZpu/s320/DSC01751.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480791689994607458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUv-fKrZgC8CT-ExpESSeBH2Q2HBvpr8-STZ1LCvRt6t2miKznIrJAT6-iPsG4Jb0gooOykEh8Vgt3jC5Q0TyTJHbAEFQl5dRKN5-iiosaiPy-phUcDhZoMyQtlzOXllUSgJDb-O6I8OKV/s1600/DSC01752.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUv-fKrZgC8CT-ExpESSeBH2Q2HBvpr8-STZ1LCvRt6t2miKznIrJAT6-iPsG4Jb0gooOykEh8Vgt3jC5Q0TyTJHbAEFQl5dRKN5-iiosaiPy-phUcDhZoMyQtlzOXllUSgJDb-O6I8OKV/s320/DSC01752.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480791679008103842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFFNQ_SSmxcNKJdyOkI0xnUiZgugXXC_f1YpZ1DNU7RqyIj_f1qzoLICsmyg5j-27-IRBHsgnN-bRmEHhKm53AX5OHOhZb8ilMjKy5AH1xyRHGHg4UfmIaZ7xnoKrjHstAFguZjNbEf0P/s1600/DSC01753.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFFNQ_SSmxcNKJdyOkI0xnUiZgugXXC_f1YpZ1DNU7RqyIj_f1qzoLICsmyg5j-27-IRBHsgnN-bRmEHhKm53AX5OHOhZb8ilMjKy5AH1xyRHGHg4UfmIaZ7xnoKrjHstAFguZjNbEf0P/s320/DSC01753.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480791660224391522" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcui_G0fb4fmMbrZzIt7l697OT1NWPIPeW2kauHW4-PkxADBilUR9_WK2aRpwJ66chJvDx5tJCzsV-hNXUUvXHDREG0Oa8DLZD21JK0skBWMQDPDa-ajEZCGN5RCIbJqBd4RQLpYESU7de/s1600/DSC01755.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcui_G0fb4fmMbrZzIt7l697OT1NWPIPeW2kauHW4-PkxADBilUR9_WK2aRpwJ66chJvDx5tJCzsV-hNXUUvXHDREG0Oa8DLZD21JK0skBWMQDPDa-ajEZCGN5RCIbJqBd4RQLpYESU7de/s320/DSC01755.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480791644119862530" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9H0_5lvoyQUA8hTQYnilikJJcYeoFk2jMBGTCck-eBbgINK0AC3UlkDHYFoYASSbalhyphenhyphenIEEUFxL694Cf-3-NaSjND-cCFYmhz8rD_hzk98MwC5AX6sVChxxOGGOpXy81RV8Hk_HGsAeqG/s1600/DSC01757.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9H0_5lvoyQUA8hTQYnilikJJcYeoFk2jMBGTCck-eBbgINK0AC3UlkDHYFoYASSbalhyphenhyphenIEEUFxL694Cf-3-NaSjND-cCFYmhz8rD_hzk98MwC5AX6sVChxxOGGOpXy81RV8Hk_HGsAeqG/s320/DSC01757.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480791164986409538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dqklDfeMFeOUb1pUeuKahSAA0Lxy_NjfFb3a0NDNvE356g8_42bh8y49N0UNhjTBwImJ4kryf5Xbc81_rGhy9E6mFOdXSX4gbSHRTlXThqweff9XEG1HA0jyvh_MG1hY5wZEOkYjt9US/s1600/DSC01758.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dqklDfeMFeOUb1pUeuKahSAA0Lxy_NjfFb3a0NDNvE356g8_42bh8y49N0UNhjTBwImJ4kryf5Xbc81_rGhy9E6mFOdXSX4gbSHRTlXThqweff9XEG1HA0jyvh_MG1hY5wZEOkYjt9US/s320/DSC01758.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480791149438222562" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhG1wlxmGTjcraQ2JfE3wmkZI6g6I1JTVmRq-2JC-bBdHCv2xa2_skrr5MBVpr9UupO_CoaBpgn_4DF7j7No-I8y9GK6rUpuFI4MijUcpmvlh41q4AxdVONzaGtKN69UtAkcPZr2HYuPrD/s1600/DSC01759.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhG1wlxmGTjcraQ2JfE3wmkZI6g6I1JTVmRq-2JC-bBdHCv2xa2_skrr5MBVpr9UupO_CoaBpgn_4DF7j7No-I8y9GK6rUpuFI4MijUcpmvlh41q4AxdVONzaGtKN69UtAkcPZr2HYuPrD/s320/DSC01759.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480791141082490706" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvaKbkOL9GSaoxeY8NscSaBEigjSq10ZSERo3XNs5a9MqrniMcFsI6SoLAVX2clHYlngwDs7yOOwDvLXCzCO85sauD7f_pz-7oK-sB8JtisB5TANVKFhO8bKSFx4Qb4doXKHYw0cakESD/s1600/DSC01760.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvaKbkOL9GSaoxeY8NscSaBEigjSq10ZSERo3XNs5a9MqrniMcFsI6SoLAVX2clHYlngwDs7yOOwDvLXCzCO85sauD7f_pz-7oK-sB8JtisB5TANVKFhO8bKSFx4Qb4doXKHYw0cakESD/s320/DSC01760.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480791131630191250" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVmTIHNVirasUNk2w9TQOQSEYyW4HY9wOaiIl-hzs2rRy4qTDD-Hl9Udezi5iKVuHFv4OaFoWyWsqlgTE6peZB0UTaYZ97TmSm8gJ-DGO4I1q1xaYxM3H2cCJhQo0Mv2A2n-Usni_GMuu/s1600/DSC01763.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVmTIHNVirasUNk2w9TQOQSEYyW4HY9wOaiIl-hzs2rRy4qTDD-Hl9Udezi5iKVuHFv4OaFoWyWsqlgTE6peZB0UTaYZ97TmSm8gJ-DGO4I1q1xaYxM3H2cCJhQo0Mv2A2n-Usni_GMuu/s320/DSC01763.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480791115098294066" border="0" /></a><br />We saw a sign that said "Middle Way", and thought that it leads to the Middle Station of the Penang Hill funicular train; but it turned out to be a Buddhist meditation centre.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzeypVL0DZU-OzVH-5KGdjGpCmm3L5tzR12CHgYrdl8r5CGAhSX-cJGWE-RtLZyTigde5NR4vcAnEQv9Osoy8DQERGAnB8pmrQVXi2zaI1r1gn-gL29uLfaVNyD6XDD3_z3b-JiHw36h7Y/s1600/DSC01764.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzeypVL0DZU-OzVH-5KGdjGpCmm3L5tzR12CHgYrdl8r5CGAhSX-cJGWE-RtLZyTigde5NR4vcAnEQv9Osoy8DQERGAnB8pmrQVXi2zaI1r1gn-gL29uLfaVNyD6XDD3_z3b-JiHw36h7Y/s320/DSC01764.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480790775178018306" border="0" /></a><br />My uncle is a dog lover, so the following picture seems to be telling an interesting tale of man sizing up dog as would-be pet and dog sizing up man as would-be owner.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJaZs-Qq6aMeTzVIviTr3JHdMC6RYfkL3VwAudZe2-yg1120KHjR_PtGJTjbPro9O8ckOa3U4YzOFbb7xD4fjwScv6EwvlcHWV5FyInXNgMPWhOVoWOIqH6XtkPMwI7yytw9tZEboNJI4/s1600/DSC01765.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJaZs-Qq6aMeTzVIviTr3JHdMC6RYfkL3VwAudZe2-yg1120KHjR_PtGJTjbPro9O8ckOa3U4YzOFbb7xD4fjwScv6EwvlcHWV5FyInXNgMPWhOVoWOIqH6XtkPMwI7yytw9tZEboNJI4/s320/DSC01765.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480790764414170882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjzlUeurPM89igjy6EJslkS4FCCmKq_elKB0Pts6zUpF9up-9thnGA9JT7nQLCRdvM241emCn49AWacnOzCkWzHIkAODDN2qfTFifI_0gC3QRiEeSQAIX3NDdmTDyR2xTBWs4Dr8eCqDE/s1600/DSC01766.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjzlUeurPM89igjy6EJslkS4FCCmKq_elKB0Pts6zUpF9up-9thnGA9JT7nQLCRdvM241emCn49AWacnOzCkWzHIkAODDN2qfTFifI_0gC3QRiEeSQAIX3NDdmTDyR2xTBWs4Dr8eCqDE/s320/DSC01766.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480790756289309218" border="0" /></a><br />The following picture was taken at the highest point we reached before turning back downward.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91hZ1vc0DwQ9AJpqZurFWzc3b5d0QJ21ZEpHJafuJQ3s7XyovgBDhDCdQZ9FBuLuY63BTUE0XGOgjEMISZKUHqyGOXFq1NViu3xfOb4v4IRb_WYJ4qXIVg2BeZUByvTk81PEHQ_b7iLdr/s1600/DSC01767.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91hZ1vc0DwQ9AJpqZurFWzc3b5d0QJ21ZEpHJafuJQ3s7XyovgBDhDCdQZ9FBuLuY63BTUE0XGOgjEMISZKUHqyGOXFq1NViu3xfOb4v4IRb_WYJ4qXIVg2BeZUByvTk81PEHQ_b7iLdr/s320/DSC01767.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480790749628113090" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00F04sKkfQS5r4cKcgRwHYIOIqR3mQCxnWQ-xN7MF0UXoB992M9sDx9MEpwfOd12f2dJ1EzzE9lF3wI1v4KkgCyvIvpR9N16FZhnlwsvfY5OcHtcDy_jNH9LoM7htmLTA2Udi7CGSNAyX/s1600/DSC01768.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00F04sKkfQS5r4cKcgRwHYIOIqR3mQCxnWQ-xN7MF0UXoB992M9sDx9MEpwfOd12f2dJ1EzzE9lF3wI1v4KkgCyvIvpR9N16FZhnlwsvfY5OcHtcDy_jNH9LoM7htmLTA2Udi7CGSNAyX/s320/DSC01768.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480790740080346690" border="0" /></a><br />We took a different path down...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuGLhZTTOYHAKj16Z0PiaYGlsl1nDGvYF1-I-gGnz4seaz6YAc6IcSWBA4HaW_1fsT-9z7MVAv6A11FFYveywQD15hbgJM-GGRLx-Gy14HQId96ZZwpNL61iFpItk970M_CcdaqM6tdAS/s1600/DSC01769.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuGLhZTTOYHAKj16Z0PiaYGlsl1nDGvYF1-I-gGnz4seaz6YAc6IcSWBA4HaW_1fsT-9z7MVAv6A11FFYveywQD15hbgJM-GGRLx-Gy14HQId96ZZwpNL61iFpItk970M_CcdaqM6tdAS/s320/DSC01769.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480790271222935042" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ttg-KrR-uMBtJ5kUnT7Ajn2P2I4CFHcKC6TWs4Ezj3FrRpJmwMpoxHbzMqL3OqS0zFXYOY4DeTk7PqgD2xXs_JgbOocxjcJG7i_sdfNMZ6ACrkV1VfcWkJlz-CgGac7aG-LE55eUdGOs/s1600/DSC01770.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ttg-KrR-uMBtJ5kUnT7Ajn2P2I4CFHcKC6TWs4Ezj3FrRpJmwMpoxHbzMqL3OqS0zFXYOY4DeTk7PqgD2xXs_JgbOocxjcJG7i_sdfNMZ6ACrkV1VfcWkJlz-CgGac7aG-LE55eUdGOs/s320/DSC01770.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480790230284293330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDtGudR-5X5-oCqVXGIzBX9WuI3Ml9rvoCg1VHxJNeKUZDcMcrccxciZ2XiOXW8tEnqwZ71Hqg2oxfjpLsFu5MxP3i3LmWGqkKdMyW-UbpCsxLNHlGTp4ZoRalJij0BGKABnRCfOKAkzT/s1600/DSC01771.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDtGudR-5X5-oCqVXGIzBX9WuI3Ml9rvoCg1VHxJNeKUZDcMcrccxciZ2XiOXW8tEnqwZ71Hqg2oxfjpLsFu5MxP3i3LmWGqkKdMyW-UbpCsxLNHlGTp4ZoRalJij0BGKABnRCfOKAkzT/s320/DSC01771.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480790222531890866" border="0" /></a><br />In the following picture, there is a small cemented path on the right branching off the main cement path we are walking down. That smaller path leads to the Ayer Itam Dam.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgrn7AA5y_0_Xje2nxRjKnLduTFIuuHDLqMOHslZA_Me3Xu42mOFoMxGx7OBfIFHLRq-9Wq7nUtOy6UnZ-4PDijcQLsSgLFbVzocNe3TPNwRcda1UajgugpfGhZghUdgdi1bUOVU2uUl_/s1600/DSC01772.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgrn7AA5y_0_Xje2nxRjKnLduTFIuuHDLqMOHslZA_Me3Xu42mOFoMxGx7OBfIFHLRq-9Wq7nUtOy6UnZ-4PDijcQLsSgLFbVzocNe3TPNwRcda1UajgugpfGhZghUdgdi1bUOVU2uUl_/s320/DSC01772.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480790211446296962" border="0" /></a><br />Along the above-mentioned smaller path, we saw the evidence of another minor landslide...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUKRTpl2L-yRKu_RxwDOJJuJXv6qh8S4ecV_CQDEbQpLP7gjzQdFV129-ZlJRe4lR2VeugpNxka3GdPBzblx_nbvl6ZE4Mkbw2bXBkq51-HeIPEsJwz8IPLOEmkeBQtTYokzgWEt5NoVK/s1600/DSC01773.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUKRTpl2L-yRKu_RxwDOJJuJXv6qh8S4ecV_CQDEbQpLP7gjzQdFV129-ZlJRe4lR2VeugpNxka3GdPBzblx_nbvl6ZE4Mkbw2bXBkq51-HeIPEsJwz8IPLOEmkeBQtTYokzgWEt5NoVK/s320/DSC01773.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480790200366802722" border="0" /></a>Dumbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08096394768049149435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6746865025267364907.post-78509267111454331432010-06-09T22:47:00.004+08:002010-06-09T22:58:52.322+08:00Dumbo in the Kitchen - #17: Vegetable Stew with ToastI can't remember precisely, but I think what you see stewing in the following picture are chunks of chicken breast, carrots, white radish, shiitake mushrooms and - floating and bloating there on top - two slices of bread (the end slices) to thicken the stew.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8hb4Nmq3f8i-Y8NPv5RfhPUxxgYuRdWyuWAhu8Mv3zrKOv48KL_TwRfHKKcYoJ8ZPF8A2OF2mekE64-8UBJxM0GnNBIqNoPwZUgLTNN9Wk59ij9ALABpW1nB9arLHKDRCbvAH_KfABma/s1600/DSC01726.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8hb4Nmq3f8i-Y8NPv5RfhPUxxgYuRdWyuWAhu8Mv3zrKOv48KL_TwRfHKKcYoJ8ZPF8A2OF2mekE64-8UBJxM0GnNBIqNoPwZUgLTNN9Wk59ij9ALABpW1nB9arLHKDRCbvAH_KfABma/s320/DSC01726.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480786323510095218" border="0" /></a><br />The vegetables that went in include: Broccoli, red peppers, yellow peppers, and tomatoes. Well, strictly speaking, the last three are actually fruits...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzxRnAhF6CJzz9re2200kfzjH8IG0pBwUc_6i7bdOg4pyJhwzOkRjzMBHt6WodErEfVGazIOAJElPdVC_CJ4nUNAJBFez1BLrvugSPHKIbrf8r0JzNyOJ3Hh5z-c3spIjwTQ4S7Ojn8sWv/s1600/DSC01727.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzxRnAhF6CJzz9re2200kfzjH8IG0pBwUc_6i7bdOg4pyJhwzOkRjzMBHt6WodErEfVGazIOAJElPdVC_CJ4nUNAJBFez1BLrvugSPHKIbrf8r0JzNyOJ3Hh5z-c3spIjwTQ4S7Ojn8sWv/s320/DSC01727.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480786317315624690" border="0" /></a><br />When the stew is almost done (with the two slices of bread fully dissolved)...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJk222bBmUwFMQF0L4I8J83tmjWneRYKVS297ptIB4v-UZm6OFUnoJl9YlX6FfNGA1CgmzgpJO_FbEh1GaPzgH3i2go1vshSxcuFrK5n9Qy9GlQS3_AiO2I0sTloalcZUtyiGQOHRfE3Z/s1600/DSC01728.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJk222bBmUwFMQF0L4I8J83tmjWneRYKVS297ptIB4v-UZm6OFUnoJl9YlX6FfNGA1CgmzgpJO_FbEh1GaPzgH3i2go1vshSxcuFrK5n9Qy9GlQS3_AiO2I0sTloalcZUtyiGQOHRfE3Z/s320/DSC01728.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480786146277916610" border="0" /></a><br />... pop in the vegetables and cook for a short while (not too long lest the vegetables are overcooked).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEDQnJY8uEQWgoEyKNnfCpd6MdUWTC74IQSiUhBpV5YuhHb5_0_miFrMRrvk34djMQLPfl4R73-gr7cbyS6skIi0_DX9AL9Wi9KN7qIBQu1ozB-6gzQ6FuSvbb4JD4CYo2XMb5O9Yi5Zv/s1600/DSC01729.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEDQnJY8uEQWgoEyKNnfCpd6MdUWTC74IQSiUhBpV5YuhHb5_0_miFrMRrvk34djMQLPfl4R73-gr7cbyS6skIi0_DX9AL9Wi9KN7qIBQu1ozB-6gzQ6FuSvbb4JD4CYo2XMb5O9Yi5Zv/s320/DSC01729.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480786139091956578" border="0" /></a><br />Make heart-shaped patterns on slices of bread with beaten egg (actually, egg yolk alone would do; but I hate wasting the white) and toast them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3N130XFW-Bfgnh3VaHA7O8wgMx67l_prjbuJZrsZFlH-cf8PMFv9kScQQIIAIWqeeDHjdixBq_pr4NxYfiBVRadamq-xEZToDC9e8VPxa9ZmPf1MEwBURK1V_V5pRzz28_A8vzwKnD1A/s1600/DSC01730.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3N130XFW-Bfgnh3VaHA7O8wgMx67l_prjbuJZrsZFlH-cf8PMFv9kScQQIIAIWqeeDHjdixBq_pr4NxYfiBVRadamq-xEZToDC9e8VPxa9ZmPf1MEwBURK1V_V5pRzz28_A8vzwKnD1A/s320/DSC01730.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480786133337664338" border="0" /></a><br />Serve with vegetable garnishes and the heart-imprinted toasts...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvymrR54kU-eYMU4DTfH78FjRA9Q7CX8N7mV_OsdaFjqm8kDuGgJP5lB2tmRrzamMQyZkxHOpdjkPYdif9uKvhZJBuR37HNalku2CpzgNRacLoo0G1m9hoglW34ijlyq20d2DYRMXNUmz/s1600/DSC01732.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvymrR54kU-eYMU4DTfH78FjRA9Q7CX8N7mV_OsdaFjqm8kDuGgJP5lB2tmRrzamMQyZkxHOpdjkPYdif9uKvhZJBuR37HNalku2CpzgNRacLoo0G1m9hoglW34ijlyq20d2DYRMXNUmz/s320/DSC01732.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480786124777270562" border="0" /></a><br />A wholesome meal (for lunch that day) to tell my wife how much I love her. :-) It was not any special day that day... just decided to be romantic since I happened to be free that morning.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyKvLTz2hNgLpqEbIXmjWHE54E15N6yI3U4sBrgO0IgSp7Omwn5yalp3yfXCEss9opdP_t0Bd2M1TeUKvbHC4nXi0PJBrzQnjVR9H-jaybllpcUJaJ-WXnMP1sEw6k1C67EZmI42x_E6O/s1600/DSC01733.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyKvLTz2hNgLpqEbIXmjWHE54E15N6yI3U4sBrgO0IgSp7Omwn5yalp3yfXCEss9opdP_t0Bd2M1TeUKvbHC4nXi0PJBrzQnjVR9H-jaybllpcUJaJ-WXnMP1sEw6k1C67EZmI42x_E6O/s320/DSC01733.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480786119387260050" border="0" /></a>Dumbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08096394768049149435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6746865025267364907.post-51795352622186916782010-06-09T22:19:00.007+08:002010-06-09T23:28:48.952+08:00Dumbo up the Hills - #11: Route 84 Up Penang Hill - Attempt #2Having scouted out Route 84 under my uncle's guidance, I talked the "Mt.K Team" into going all the way up Penang Hill via Route 84.<br /><br />***<br /><br />The following picture was taken a small stretch after "<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IaXNsxCBeLT2HEwAU09L5x6Yw93iNwoN_Kw2CKBW4Kfr453Bu0edPnowMGDzmYHQHfR1NE8y5n62kPf6wSQtwP926is_Bk6JlFYiVSa_b-O5VDGMyLja5DiLy50B9hKgEdJQroJdg_vF/s1600/DSC01677.JPG">Area 84</a>".<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqEc3b1Tjc7SHq33wMP7HWvmmn5rcPpB7WbyLkdVmsrUAjvIGeo2-z7hlzCZDsKRMnqb5yOlrKBm36zSwFIx40rRNn2cy43c9M8_eK1ZONb7snH6EX2Soj8bg8wh4RFbPUPw5KpkUW6EI/s1600/DSC01695.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqEc3b1Tjc7SHq33wMP7HWvmmn5rcPpB7WbyLkdVmsrUAjvIGeo2-z7hlzCZDsKRMnqb5yOlrKBm36zSwFIx40rRNn2cy43c9M8_eK1ZONb7snH6EX2Soj8bg8wh4RFbPUPw5KpkUW6EI/s320/DSC01695.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480780132570459122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2GeBhRJMYnzXEvw3RJx8JjOhNGrUw0S1MBsAa-4tP1ELJhooSykrXffp2wqsVXmaxNTTeGRlGZyMIMRB5y07IOZyV81b_CHSE478avgn-LJS0ktxqV_MXb5QKtYmNPeTt1Uvye5jRIsLI/s1600/DSC01696.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2GeBhRJMYnzXEvw3RJx8JjOhNGrUw0S1MBsAa-4tP1ELJhooSykrXffp2wqsVXmaxNTTeGRlGZyMIMRB5y07IOZyV81b_CHSE478avgn-LJS0ktxqV_MXb5QKtYmNPeTt1Uvye5jRIsLI/s320/DSC01696.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480780118511446482" border="0" /></a><br />(Picture above) No, you are not seeing a pedophile molesting a little girl. Mr Cheah was pushing her daughter who was complaining about the steepness of the road and claiming to be completely exhausted. Anyway, she is not in the "Mt.K Team". She was just joining us for a bit of fun. And some fun it turned out to be for her. :-p<br /><br />The picture below shows a beautiful mansion that seems to be telling hikers: civilization - hilltop - is not far off.<br /><br />I didn't notice any, but according to our mates who went way ahead of us, the place was guarded by a bunch of very fierce canine watchers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06z-GRNrgBbhOLzZztHXSAlmHOob5eLygr2RvLqos6OJeec_KyKhw9E5HqoxZAI1r9c6DYZFW4GlcTwKkLdT2-PCXU46ZzNA2GKPa-GW9GGn6rnbuovoI5CBrEZtLQWETt3HfbUmKc2cz/s1600/DSC01700.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06z-GRNrgBbhOLzZztHXSAlmHOob5eLygr2RvLqos6OJeec_KyKhw9E5HqoxZAI1r9c6DYZFW4GlcTwKkLdT2-PCXU46ZzNA2GKPa-GW9GGn6rnbuovoI5CBrEZtLQWETt3HfbUmKc2cz/s320/DSC01700.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480780103574686514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfK9egThhdKybHy_emySlprqEIpmJWKJv9xQMVNlI2PASojtxzXUzuRZ0DYZ3p0OYkL3vag4qr1NOON3JGXKsDrXrmcPrEMXbdfoTMPzvdzvQ7HqiRmhbQvU5lnYAaytqJekx8iJEh6Znq/s1600/DSC01701.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfK9egThhdKybHy_emySlprqEIpmJWKJv9xQMVNlI2PASojtxzXUzuRZ0DYZ3p0OYkL3vag4qr1NOON3JGXKsDrXrmcPrEMXbdfoTMPzvdzvQ7HqiRmhbQvU5lnYAaytqJekx8iJEh6Znq/s320/DSC01701.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480780097493009346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgT48fIn6rz6DzbpRmwYErayen-95zp-KFBPh7BtY48vQfPJuc72W5-rTX5xoWB0j3ni6LC73HQ8PD5l8s6NqsBk8sZgekNHsel1-rW6M9D7IYoQflLs8uvlpZF6CE-rIK5oc_wQCwqwZd/s1600/DSC01704.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgT48fIn6rz6DzbpRmwYErayen-95zp-KFBPh7BtY48vQfPJuc72W5-rTX5xoWB0j3ni6LC73HQ8PD5l8s6NqsBk8sZgekNHsel1-rW6M9D7IYoQflLs8uvlpZF6CE-rIK5oc_wQCwqwZd/s320/DSC01704.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480779406060403906" border="0" /></a><br />At the top finally... we took a rest at the food court, and a photo-shooting frenzy ensued...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodgBmcuyt7dMoV-D8eJfHSG4RAl6nf3ZME-rgYYlX57rT7FHo7kcB5xLXpqGcTpL8lfq-bsiEYuysjFLy05lXVD_lQCJAwQAg5BGsuaf1EUsI06F-63DUDd6Hxyj2hPWHYdytCNf7Y_Er/s1600/DSC01706.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodgBmcuyt7dMoV-D8eJfHSG4RAl6nf3ZME-rgYYlX57rT7FHo7kcB5xLXpqGcTpL8lfq-bsiEYuysjFLy05lXVD_lQCJAwQAg5BGsuaf1EUsI06F-63DUDd6Hxyj2hPWHYdytCNf7Y_Er/s320/DSC01706.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480779396472610658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPanWV20W5yO3TACK1ZrwdE_sCLUWwoJzW4Om5rwOAeuLtQPpVFA-btKluPMOKOvBba5X0kgC5OpYOGYiz1Ygp6mXoC3Bcvv30lkN3vE974MQ24kYjEJnNJ8P2nrYNLJuOzu2O9eUWekL/s1600/DSC01707.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPanWV20W5yO3TACK1ZrwdE_sCLUWwoJzW4Om5rwOAeuLtQPpVFA-btKluPMOKOvBba5X0kgC5OpYOGYiz1Ygp6mXoC3Bcvv30lkN3vE974MQ24kYjEJnNJ8P2nrYNLJuOzu2O9eUWekL/s320/DSC01707.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480779389479625362" border="0" /></a><br />My breakfast: Malay kampung-styled fried rice.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR054DcGD9Khs8FqynC7u7qoBKtWbixCB49ZX5f7bQp0fC_aGjB4y1yWCmwF_XeZV-WVzA6K9SnEzzUj1AEjRxCcIeTATYFeHR-ne89ExHmv44ZzXgrn-fDdFuJEKXI_Eqb_pNtt3uGwrd/s1600/DSC01708.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR054DcGD9Khs8FqynC7u7qoBKtWbixCB49ZX5f7bQp0fC_aGjB4y1yWCmwF_XeZV-WVzA6K9SnEzzUj1AEjRxCcIeTATYFeHR-ne89ExHmv44ZzXgrn-fDdFuJEKXI_Eqb_pNtt3uGwrd/s320/DSC01708.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480779379848446098" border="0" /></a><br />The old funicular train from way back then...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFBsr82I-p8I8N_0k-WDmerRPl7yTihKKQB9Cvt6Wd1jaceBxYshOdFKH_OF6Ax307n9DgH-91fHoWqIA80RWaJ13Vo6APRBLby7_pKFBQ4AzV9W_PDz21npQ8Kg5klEnOi7GXwTpszCE/s1600/DSC01711.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFBsr82I-p8I8N_0k-WDmerRPl7yTihKKQB9Cvt6Wd1jaceBxYshOdFKH_OF6Ax307n9DgH-91fHoWqIA80RWaJ13Vo6APRBLby7_pKFBQ4AzV9W_PDz21npQ8Kg5klEnOi7GXwTpszCE/s320/DSC01711.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480779375687843410" border="0" /></a><br />The road toward the train station - we would be taking the funicular train down, to spare our joints the stress of going down Route 84.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3A8YtZ5EcdpB-IG_baNE7KmqdKrxzCA74StF5Zlm6l0wiRfBGeEXaHybx1KuQMmdnHTMzZzAjMju5Oi22jrukrdx2yc7r8EPQLm6MFM3xxPN4k91bKSduVMCRL9awRn_D1Uu4EeY1neOf/s1600/DSC01717.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3A8YtZ5EcdpB-IG_baNE7KmqdKrxzCA74StF5Zlm6l0wiRfBGeEXaHybx1KuQMmdnHTMzZzAjMju5Oi22jrukrdx2yc7r8EPQLm6MFM3xxPN4k91bKSduVMCRL9awRn_D1Uu4EeY1neOf/s320/DSC01717.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480778778084449970" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqOWRDijh56Et8TJ-ERNcHMyNehtNAJzpPObrq_8mm47JoVatIduCB_jR4i7W4K4Dy0Rai2NcC1ZXgNCzYPZdwhLJrnpsLj6aB2WLlf7Nd-Ue33xO5TmvDrms43lZZaLbnxg8lBEhA-fP/s1600/DSC01718.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqOWRDijh56Et8TJ-ERNcHMyNehtNAJzpPObrq_8mm47JoVatIduCB_jR4i7W4K4Dy0Rai2NcC1ZXgNCzYPZdwhLJrnpsLj6aB2WLlf7Nd-Ue33xO5TmvDrms43lZZaLbnxg8lBEhA-fP/s320/DSC01718.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480778761880260226" border="0" /></a><br />An expensive-looking restaurant was found on the way to the station...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7p3n4dPDxoWnjr9o622boznj1ktl7yUrhRC6iIASoHChf7KljkVm0W38s4JDzNpeI8Fw-hKN4qQ1KTWD_CPPFbc3aeodBRkRctlvvHLMhNCHc-7WC11zRwBPjhjSE7O8x3lZGU80_1liB/s1600/DSC01719.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7p3n4dPDxoWnjr9o622boznj1ktl7yUrhRC6iIASoHChf7KljkVm0W38s4JDzNpeI8Fw-hKN4qQ1KTWD_CPPFbc3aeodBRkRctlvvHLMhNCHc-7WC11zRwBPjhjSE7O8x3lZGU80_1liB/s320/DSC01719.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480778752597786530" border="0" /></a><br />Views down the track of the funicular train:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EmBnPA0ukUKGRipbBUfNUAXHKBCIigNYmarwuwy7UHT08Tf9_3qB6KzA-_hwGJIvgAVKUJ6s5Aju40OzfUhwNyiOiQdYQ-HDAjRGkL2YxJhJ3NN6951d-3OAqk5aWwxh_q5Sqn2DbM83/s1600/DSC01724.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EmBnPA0ukUKGRipbBUfNUAXHKBCIigNYmarwuwy7UHT08Tf9_3qB6KzA-_hwGJIvgAVKUJ6s5Aju40OzfUhwNyiOiQdYQ-HDAjRGkL2YxJhJ3NN6951d-3OAqk5aWwxh_q5Sqn2DbM83/s320/DSC01724.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480778745820031138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MZJnYL7rn9lPJnZnff4cnReGe-Lka5_zd0O1HQeoRFLYuH5E56vSf9j3ULIYp7Te1ih2x8Kg77gbusyzwtm2jawkf0EPkWD7VV0QAz8HW9QrCxSPdtl4__avXDz-I_Rubo_u6yuEEHqd/s1600/DSC01725.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MZJnYL7rn9lPJnZnff4cnReGe-Lka5_zd0O1HQeoRFLYuH5E56vSf9j3ULIYp7Te1ih2x8Kg77gbusyzwtm2jawkf0EPkWD7VV0QAz8HW9QrCxSPdtl4__avXDz-I_Rubo_u6yuEEHqd/s320/DSC01725.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480778740570307346" border="0" /></a>Dumbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08096394768049149435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6746865025267364907.post-28718821787010036362010-06-09T21:40:00.007+08:002010-06-09T23:28:32.745+08:00Dumbo up the Hills - #10: Route 84 Up Penang Hill - Attempt #1One of the most accessible road up the Penang Hill is a service road called "Route 84".<br /><br />It is very STEEP. Especially the first part. It is also used by the Jeep Service up Penang Hill (at the time of writing, this service is especially in demand because the funicular train is being upgraded).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE3A4SWKBUHxgV7JTlxbPir_Vt0UngtqchyphenhyphenWAfWn5RV5OY5DcylH4gksnQDjrQaEmfLDTOEE6yJiP_HHqsy22xjN54CJq0yj4kaEub_P2seoiz7jFHQdXyasdafNE41oWSBJ2MzRtmPX_-/s1600/DSC01664.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE3A4SWKBUHxgV7JTlxbPir_Vt0UngtqchyphenhyphenWAfWn5RV5OY5DcylH4gksnQDjrQaEmfLDTOEE6yJiP_HHqsy22xjN54CJq0yj4kaEub_P2seoiz7jFHQdXyasdafNE41oWSBJ2MzRtmPX_-/s320/DSC01664.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480771371165688450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKamRn6grVcuKRmdTrPe6_QUnxiy1yQ3J3dC1I6bh2aUw0QkbwSYTBEXVoEI-Hpggz9FjA67_ksQPkAhhO_FxdYUboncZcxXX3KI0UNEwJPOdL6M59FfGHwE4ymxeuPaZUa_7TPvdW4Yq/s1600/DSC01666.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKamRn6grVcuKRmdTrPe6_QUnxiy1yQ3J3dC1I6bh2aUw0QkbwSYTBEXVoEI-Hpggz9FjA67_ksQPkAhhO_FxdYUboncZcxXX3KI0UNEwJPOdL6M59FfGHwE4ymxeuPaZUa_7TPvdW4Yq/s320/DSC01666.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480771366182114098" border="0" /></a><br />Before long, my uncle (also my hiking coach) is way ahead of me...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEIXt8XCu3EoyZTRCMaPRPx56HsO7PrfqXqX4PgTy4u4y2CYXAUfyhLz-YcKy6JNd4yriSlLdnVF-0AiQwBvuKJ4sB83potDB_c8Wxvqn7boQYuHTaSPZxNBLuyMWsLMZ6KXEpRQpA-rm/s1600/DSC01667.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEIXt8XCu3EoyZTRCMaPRPx56HsO7PrfqXqX4PgTy4u4y2CYXAUfyhLz-YcKy6JNd4yriSlLdnVF-0AiQwBvuKJ4sB83potDB_c8Wxvqn7boQYuHTaSPZxNBLuyMWsLMZ6KXEpRQpA-rm/s320/DSC01667.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480770939999241378" border="0" /></a><br />That pavilion is a rest stop called "Rest Area 46" (or was it 48? I was still confused because the locals call it "48" but the sign there says "46"). More pictures of it on the way down.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEh6IVXq-iJf3kRnjbk_KREJjqqO-kWLDD_H5iGSDBSaFC_gT5-YNOoS92QdvERVzGYO6Pj3VLZhl3iMCBQUZGfP6wmtz_dveVVVWr_fsjROkLyQ1NIQA6ljjb8H_X72knAksr7xTvCSpq/s1600/DSC01670.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEh6IVXq-iJf3kRnjbk_KREJjqqO-kWLDD_H5iGSDBSaFC_gT5-YNOoS92QdvERVzGYO6Pj3VLZhl3iMCBQUZGfP6wmtz_dveVVVWr_fsjROkLyQ1NIQA6ljjb8H_X72knAksr7xTvCSpq/s320/DSC01670.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480770920727294658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TuEOfGc6PbGZq2sgeWmw0RQ6rmvWaHKUPRu293Qu6I5E8l0B3fIilFXcUnHUgu4YpH59eVSArmdoixZZNvNGHUXKb6RVzk2xX2LVqETEWMitwiX5KIKsxyqMLBCkyQS8LKKXx0cM_XGa/s1600/DSC01671.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TuEOfGc6PbGZq2sgeWmw0RQ6rmvWaHKUPRu293Qu6I5E8l0B3fIilFXcUnHUgu4YpH59eVSArmdoixZZNvNGHUXKb6RVzk2xX2LVqETEWMitwiX5KIKsxyqMLBCkyQS8LKKXx0cM_XGa/s320/DSC01671.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480770918107461362" border="0" /></a><br />After Area 46, there is an easy stretch lasting about 1 km or less.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTvBdCoK-Fpx0jVYjQjHloWia9yUktDN-204PMRXbpuUYC2hCAokKLiM2D2mlfCfX4yH1Zes9N9yDe_l6w6ZL0_LW-UaycIRl_1k0mThlYFQ982hmGKbEM2-Q6TWRoCnHSVobKjm2bsOd/s1600/DSC01672.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTvBdCoK-Fpx0jVYjQjHloWia9yUktDN-204PMRXbpuUYC2hCAokKLiM2D2mlfCfX4yH1Zes9N9yDe_l6w6ZL0_LW-UaycIRl_1k0mThlYFQ982hmGKbEM2-Q6TWRoCnHSVobKjm2bsOd/s320/DSC01672.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480770910561769906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VzY0_-Jtle9SD933CSCLzI6N1CbCz8c8SHA_Gsi_fOSxskKRTDni-cfCH9qTZCybJXzJ_1AEoPUCmVrd_IX_9gLzJEzT8lzKczrsHKjRS6hr82AEsqj1wRe3LM-NBbyv_c00pLuYqBFm/s1600/DSC01673.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VzY0_-Jtle9SD933CSCLzI6N1CbCz8c8SHA_Gsi_fOSxskKRTDni-cfCH9qTZCybJXzJ_1AEoPUCmVrd_IX_9gLzJEzT8lzKczrsHKjRS6hr82AEsqj1wRe3LM-NBbyv_c00pLuYqBFm/s320/DSC01673.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480770317273458834" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7L-vtW-ThAs3bt-tkDyu5cy9K4Sm0bMlgYlDUE0gYdaonIhlpHQu6S_hJqXooVn8FT3OES5asImwtohx74vZIjd3JH3dZmxbJzHjvZIleasBPWbylh_ga7VfHPZu8j94Y0cm_odszhm4m/s1600/DSC01675.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7L-vtW-ThAs3bt-tkDyu5cy9K4Sm0bMlgYlDUE0gYdaonIhlpHQu6S_hJqXooVn8FT3OES5asImwtohx74vZIjd3JH3dZmxbJzHjvZIleasBPWbylh_ga7VfHPZu8j94Y0cm_odszhm4m/s320/DSC01675.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480770309730047442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwr3A6Qh4TPUHiGZ61jo2003Y7Ws0X9nHuk2-9Y0BxWrEDRXkLz820duho8_V9B4ovOgLsZsCMZxIWotX0Pr6EUKLY-YqyHDms7C7O0tCmwdtS8tCaax6MXPMG3jjwzjT_MrTOxEaqHg9/s1600/DSC01676.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwr3A6Qh4TPUHiGZ61jo2003Y7Ws0X9nHuk2-9Y0BxWrEDRXkLz820duho8_V9B4ovOgLsZsCMZxIWotX0Pr6EUKLY-YqyHDms7C7O0tCmwdtS8tCaax6MXPMG3jjwzjT_MrTOxEaqHg9/s320/DSC01676.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480770300273983618" border="0" /></a><br />The building in the following picture is a rest stop called "Rest Area 84", from which the road got its moniker. It is located around halfway up the hill.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IaXNsxCBeLT2HEwAU09L5x6Yw93iNwoN_Kw2CKBW4Kfr453Bu0edPnowMGDzmYHQHfR1NE8y5n62kPf6wSQtwP926is_Bk6JlFYiVSa_b-O5VDGMyLja5DiLy50B9hKgEdJQroJdg_vF/s1600/DSC01677.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IaXNsxCBeLT2HEwAU09L5x6Yw93iNwoN_Kw2CKBW4Kfr453Bu0edPnowMGDzmYHQHfR1NE8y5n62kPf6wSQtwP926is_Bk6JlFYiVSa_b-O5VDGMyLja5DiLy50B9hKgEdJQroJdg_vF/s320/DSC01677.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480770289840115554" border="0" /></a><br />After a short rest - and a cup of coffee (regular climbers prepare the coffee every day for other climbers to enjoy; all you have to do is drop some money according to your conscience into the collection box after enjoying the drinks) - we went back down.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQqx0euW2KMSfWJM7XFOhTWGgBxpn_m8wOiY_uG5Gaty0jXHIw7xh1jg0RBv2l8iGqUVkaDn9wjK92xChPeqWh7wknM_NzjkORUrpbzO-ClODDa1uBWj5t-mTviLC6-_NCUTNW0PY1PrE/s1600/DSC01678.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQqx0euW2KMSfWJM7XFOhTWGgBxpn_m8wOiY_uG5Gaty0jXHIw7xh1jg0RBv2l8iGqUVkaDn9wjK92xChPeqWh7wknM_NzjkORUrpbzO-ClODDa1uBWj5t-mTviLC6-_NCUTNW0PY1PrE/s320/DSC01678.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480770281741408530" border="0" /></a><br />More pictures of "Area 46". :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVQ4wiU_2xyuxottxzv9LqtCG7yLd7bEHhNDnToYeHv_3Mq8eOrTPsQ2jCpQlJo5Pc4oiZuOUNh7OYUItUIzIsY8iJ9vzF9FVjrxTrZlC69kW1bKOVTRO7P55WFReM15mES_mk8YqdZcW/s1600/DSC01679.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVQ4wiU_2xyuxottxzv9LqtCG7yLd7bEHhNDnToYeHv_3Mq8eOrTPsQ2jCpQlJo5Pc4oiZuOUNh7OYUItUIzIsY8iJ9vzF9FVjrxTrZlC69kW1bKOVTRO7P55WFReM15mES_mk8YqdZcW/s320/DSC01679.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480769610368240514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5f8CLN5o72ZqH0Q2HqFiquxZi1XmdtJIb4FHozZyNvXtZ68GATPrnDT9DYAP25RIn0tLv0KJOEgts-uOSBXqufhhqbeqp324u6aVuDHTKZhAbqWaZHoUxnccuzxmeqOBK4bMv2XNkLmx7/s1600/DSC01680.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5f8CLN5o72ZqH0Q2HqFiquxZi1XmdtJIb4FHozZyNvXtZ68GATPrnDT9DYAP25RIn0tLv0KJOEgts-uOSBXqufhhqbeqp324u6aVuDHTKZhAbqWaZHoUxnccuzxmeqOBK4bMv2XNkLmx7/s320/DSC01680.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480769603901334274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrLFnEqMuZ12oT61asBlb0JaMJN24omk27-15KzxrezF6ImyPukvP2Fs42thXcs1_Vvp7UpqU-BtaA53uJsjdvL2T0eVSWQC5yaJ9c8reA4jjUve0tSTh334x6Gobjnpzn1XfS3NOM9Ww/s1600/DSC01681.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrLFnEqMuZ12oT61asBlb0JaMJN24omk27-15KzxrezF6ImyPukvP2Fs42thXcs1_Vvp7UpqU-BtaA53uJsjdvL2T0eVSWQC5yaJ9c8reA4jjUve0tSTh334x6Gobjnpzn1XfS3NOM9Ww/s320/DSC01681.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480769589426123778" border="0" /></a><br />Actually, the pavilion is not the REAL "Area 46". The real thing is a small distance down the dirt road (off the main tarred road) shown in the following picture:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMIeAwDnGlLXJhCicjTYPBSn62FF2q95FhZl1sfWpD543U3rZs0nsqpC1PrjDxFAyptzPbAQyrTVcj8L2C-gJvh4HpxVt4HILijsCVszx2tfyKAihHBekv6msoC16yZ83Sox0uXtF9aCP/s1600/DSC01682.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMIeAwDnGlLXJhCicjTYPBSn62FF2q95FhZl1sfWpD543U3rZs0nsqpC1PrjDxFAyptzPbAQyrTVcj8L2C-gJvh4HpxVt4HILijsCVszx2tfyKAihHBekv6msoC16yZ83Sox0uXtF9aCP/s320/DSC01682.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480769566658357874" border="0" /></a><br />Going down Route 84 is very stressful for the joints. I decided that the next time I would climb all the way up and take the funicular train down (that was before they started upgrading the funicular train).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuUAMDra0zlSyViyJduerg6trtdFKsbFEl8xhGE9ftf8Dn7BuZRw0l0K7dAvkGVneB4DpifZbGSVJdJugmEdfQ-AwtVdQw-oy1L6Ve0zozooaYBUYxIK-Vwo-MJTXAXUPfPF9NFRXqHAb/s1600/DSC01683.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuUAMDra0zlSyViyJduerg6trtdFKsbFEl8xhGE9ftf8Dn7BuZRw0l0K7dAvkGVneB4DpifZbGSVJdJugmEdfQ-AwtVdQw-oy1L6Ve0zozooaYBUYxIK-Vwo-MJTXAXUPfPF9NFRXqHAb/s320/DSC01683.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480769555171104786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAK4x3MEplg0BtFVRXgYA31pqqCCF7rSDAmPuPspJeAXOMiWL20PYoPmA08pZRoH_WNw5zTMWjBw_VsApKnjXykmQ-cY6RxmuqmSmEMHNbjQah2buUGTVyq9VYW6rNCduue_jqRzSIJM8m/s1600/DSC01684.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAK4x3MEplg0BtFVRXgYA31pqqCCF7rSDAmPuPspJeAXOMiWL20PYoPmA08pZRoH_WNw5zTMWjBw_VsApKnjXykmQ-cY6RxmuqmSmEMHNbjQah2buUGTVyq9VYW6rNCduue_jqRzSIJM8m/s320/DSC01684.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480768956587585874" border="0" /></a><br />At the foot of the hill, finally...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPl5dYZRsi5Yl8Vv2_3b6m9dt5LQRAEm7uQ_alovycZr_sdnvUFBBJyvkZGE9aY4Ls0pGhuRddOdIvGx-7TsgmWjgzdFQSc98VGVP1YJ7yq3qL2XgMYIekgl4JIuPf-2DMzgrW5um-e7Gl/s1600/DSC01685.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPl5dYZRsi5Yl8Vv2_3b6m9dt5LQRAEm7uQ_alovycZr_sdnvUFBBJyvkZGE9aY4Ls0pGhuRddOdIvGx-7TsgmWjgzdFQSc98VGVP1YJ7yq3qL2XgMYIekgl4JIuPf-2DMzgrW5um-e7Gl/s320/DSC01685.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480768944002492034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqXhipeF6KdXh3r1hF1Dsi4-txJOeZlpIv1_7wf5w5FJNJmuRV1NYDo_G8sa34p3edxnMACjbLqpZk4IbLntJV3-TUCHctCL1DCbXONtllC3iqg9h6e4L9FjX02nnRjIX1NTsDRJ-X6Fp/s1600/DSC01688.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqXhipeF6KdXh3r1hF1Dsi4-txJOeZlpIv1_7wf5w5FJNJmuRV1NYDo_G8sa34p3edxnMACjbLqpZk4IbLntJV3-TUCHctCL1DCbXONtllC3iqg9h6e4L9FjX02nnRjIX1NTsDRJ-X6Fp/s320/DSC01688.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480768932470379154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUO3s9sjBAw0-pv-JyglF-bFCpO8n3sLVNOZuvJjofUU_dzNrxfn-HUhVjjJ3BWQyIN-5LcABHGRGc0zv0ZMMyl0xkyX6SBqOarSdYgWyiUeMF0srwK97JV9UNx4v9gzAAOVvXrJmjtt7/s1600/DSC01691.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUO3s9sjBAw0-pv-JyglF-bFCpO8n3sLVNOZuvJjofUU_dzNrxfn-HUhVjjJ3BWQyIN-5LcABHGRGc0zv0ZMMyl0xkyX6SBqOarSdYgWyiUeMF0srwK97JV9UNx4v9gzAAOVvXrJmjtt7/s320/DSC01691.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480768919702827506" border="0" /></a><br />These stairs lead to another route up Penang Hill. But my uncle said it was not safe to climb at that time because it was raining season and the route could be slippery.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VMtc8rthI24wH_PgphM9BibpbrJUK-1_cl0KyK3ojtMMy6YHcrWxCEoAjD3eQz39mWVHOX10pzW6qBuR1m82UMlQWNj4WwEL6U0p4jQNJKNCRwyGd9L5FoP1iPh6SdHoD9wvhpWcHgsJ/s1600/DSC01692.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VMtc8rthI24wH_PgphM9BibpbrJUK-1_cl0KyK3ojtMMy6YHcrWxCEoAjD3eQz39mWVHOX10pzW6qBuR1m82UMlQWNj4WwEL6U0p4jQNJKNCRwyGd9L5FoP1iPh6SdHoD9wvhpWcHgsJ/s320/DSC01692.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480768906874739554" border="0" /></a>Dumbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08096394768049149435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6746865025267364907.post-73886209664091835842010-06-09T20:55:00.006+08:002010-06-09T23:28:14.628+08:00Dumbo up the Hills - #9: TokunAs part of our preparation for Mount Kinabalu, we practiced on the hill of Tokun. The road is, again, actually a service road for several telecommunication towers on the top of the hill.<br /><br />***<br /><br />We started when it was still dark. The first part of the climb was in pitch darkness, and, without a flash on my phone camera, I took no picture. But at the first light, I set my phone camera to "night mode" and took the following picture:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytrnm0CELPeaufQelwIWLdIi1JGoEUHXfm12uX38_QByd6gRmU3htBZGvG22qu4Z-naLNE9ZIBRW4Tx4bV5o7oY7nyo2-X1AYYruQRVy8W0CUSpWs5vOBFVZ8BB7cBCHQ-zQ00-kl3_G0/s1600/DSC01625.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytrnm0CELPeaufQelwIWLdIi1JGoEUHXfm12uX38_QByd6gRmU3htBZGvG22qu4Z-naLNE9ZIBRW4Tx4bV5o7oY7nyo2-X1AYYruQRVy8W0CUSpWs5vOBFVZ8BB7cBCHQ-zQ00-kl3_G0/s320/DSC01625.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480759600259230002" border="0" /></a><br />OK, there's nothing impressive about the photo. But it was beautiful in real life. :-)<br /><br />It was during the first part of the climb in complete darkness that I came to realize why God would not give us ordinary folks (as opposed to His prophets) glimpses into the future: the first stretch of the road was very steep, as can be felt by the angle my ankles had to bend upward. But it was quite easy to climb, because I could not see what difficulties (a long stretch of very steep road) lied ahead of me, so I climbed without the psychological burden. I just took each step as it came. But later, after the first light broke, and I could see when lied ahead, all of a sudden I felt heavy in my feet, even though the road was not as steep as the first stretch.<br /><br />I believe that God is sparing us the psychological burdens as well by not letting us see the future. If you can see what difficulties lie ahead of you, your heart will melt before you even come to that evil time. Our Lord taught us that, "<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.</span>" (Matthiew 6:34).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVb8zXpMz1U_2kZTLKbUaXuPPki21B9_gfMswQyzKyCWLe2bNQMGvrjCkN1cHVi1Oq82Wt8q9QB0BL8LeMq4-ib6nX0QL60gcCDfPK4LD5hkhcFhzSX2BvLPuclLSvrCY0XNrUUYEPmUOp/s1600/DSC01627.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVb8zXpMz1U_2kZTLKbUaXuPPki21B9_gfMswQyzKyCWLe2bNQMGvrjCkN1cHVi1Oq82Wt8q9QB0BL8LeMq4-ib6nX0QL60gcCDfPK4LD5hkhcFhzSX2BvLPuclLSvrCY0XNrUUYEPmUOp/s320/DSC01627.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480759590015805474" border="0" /></a><br />Some interesting-looking rest facilities are strewn along the way... the picture below seems to be a lookout platform or something like that. Eager to get to the top, we did not stop here to have a look.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LfwOiboZZDR8o4hgNU8z2p4AwsgGFyMWPvgUAaZX3m4WuGM8WBVa50TGiBKsdcA986bAdWVvoCkKHGQEABBQ8pAjF7uTkefDpjgdGKyUqkPyNjKRBXN0Ey_KTadfJOClmdXrFFDTp-8a/s1600/DSC01629.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LfwOiboZZDR8o4hgNU8z2p4AwsgGFyMWPvgUAaZX3m4WuGM8WBVa50TGiBKsdcA986bAdWVvoCkKHGQEABBQ8pAjF7uTkefDpjgdGKyUqkPyNjKRBXN0Ey_KTadfJOClmdXrFFDTp-8a/s320/DSC01629.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480759585157074050" border="0" /></a><br />The picture below shows a resting area where many hikers take their rest here and turn back downhill.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyf8aLFu-M800SMfFXQeQwnEDYVCgrdsvl9fLNpvKgFIcLEHeTtGqWaRNxJr28lPLVKqDaRV6uuX2sUv-H5fCMEXcO6CB6PGTAkcqTQSya9VjICH0cO6zBZuB_vkADoiGcsZymOyyjWhE/s1600/DSC01633.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyf8aLFu-M800SMfFXQeQwnEDYVCgrdsvl9fLNpvKgFIcLEHeTtGqWaRNxJr28lPLVKqDaRV6uuX2sUv-H5fCMEXcO6CB6PGTAkcqTQSya9VjICH0cO6zBZuB_vkADoiGcsZymOyyjWhE/s320/DSC01633.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480759576180850322" border="0" /></a><br />There, we took a rest...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0j4HZtfiBvKdvvG-4TL6-ZO76rPjIgTbnxSY5kC8YwStfPjPRZjFYKFBuMLqU-5be-OqmoGN2KLLHa-Sany9psO2iW3sdgraeXnYaf089dNoK4KS-vDYWDaT7cx-53ztboQKSACHCYiku/s1600/DSC01635.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0j4HZtfiBvKdvvG-4TL6-ZO76rPjIgTbnxSY5kC8YwStfPjPRZjFYKFBuMLqU-5be-OqmoGN2KLLHa-Sany9psO2iW3sdgraeXnYaf089dNoK4KS-vDYWDaT7cx-53ztboQKSACHCYiku/s320/DSC01635.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480759564210916706" border="0" /></a><br />... and pressed on.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLiF8Lx-2fOqLPXG-CVFAo_dMQzEi5WTKewnwA0jtVyrHyU5mIKhD405c0Kj4MgxzFXFCbO5_iBjnkb85c-22muKCOpdSmsAbiHmi4I4Qd9MHnkd6GlWorIW79E69YRlJpp-mnrf4gacb/s1600/DSC01636.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLiF8Lx-2fOqLPXG-CVFAo_dMQzEi5WTKewnwA0jtVyrHyU5mIKhD405c0Kj4MgxzFXFCbO5_iBjnkb85c-22muKCOpdSmsAbiHmi4I4Qd9MHnkd6GlWorIW79E69YRlJpp-mnrf4gacb/s320/DSC01636.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480759214994950082" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClDdR8iLwbtyD9lNcN0NWWSh3vT0TGTLzYywp9Ap9HiUuQj_peC64zEVt-aEfdyGnzwFZULUMu298gkBX9StEueiEivSLG4dRpLNGroa7RYto-3gZn9yNpQNCL7zBmSEMH5VsUMLHTNf2/s1600/DSC01637.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClDdR8iLwbtyD9lNcN0NWWSh3vT0TGTLzYywp9Ap9HiUuQj_peC64zEVt-aEfdyGnzwFZULUMu298gkBX9StEueiEivSLG4dRpLNGroa7RYto-3gZn9yNpQNCL7zBmSEMH5VsUMLHTNf2/s320/DSC01637.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480759200151838642" border="0" /></a><br />That body of water in the following pictures is the Mengkuang Dam.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjHIvO-Do666CQvYYMzwYyuFvXb7clXMh13VfwNOtbc0-Lt3PJyyHNJHZW1cn2UBzA0ohgHkKOAEjHzVqwutXzYHbJM4JuH0G6o6NCQcwXBbQWlgDVrg7KZWgq1p_ge9NPTYZe-IUhvHw/s1600/DSC01641.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjHIvO-Do666CQvYYMzwYyuFvXb7clXMh13VfwNOtbc0-Lt3PJyyHNJHZW1cn2UBzA0ohgHkKOAEjHzVqwutXzYHbJM4JuH0G6o6NCQcwXBbQWlgDVrg7KZWgq1p_ge9NPTYZe-IUhvHw/s320/DSC01641.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480759181807042306" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7roJYsXpK9RKdwAxP9unGAptf1KexWauaI5GcFRfBrc-qWwIpxosFcx8C2EDaRBXx8KVdeopoqQ-EMPyahlU5tPZiBEuCaVde2HOmiTZgCH6SdUX6EboTLpqfHRSSY-9AUasFNQ0DWxsM/s1600/DSC01642.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7roJYsXpK9RKdwAxP9unGAptf1KexWauaI5GcFRfBrc-qWwIpxosFcx8C2EDaRBXx8KVdeopoqQ-EMPyahlU5tPZiBEuCaVde2HOmiTZgCH6SdUX6EboTLpqfHRSSY-9AUasFNQ0DWxsM/s320/DSC01642.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480759177083717794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrWp7U7oQEU-irnWgZ5IHOUsuvQUD5qVHln60CuK-0exnvGTS0N90uypucJRFV__F2V21Ch3yeyyRmkgMpqPzWGIeUEnVWyt9Tlp1mgXHFe5tYn8Hr3hLxUpA-pHm7IVqu0gybJPY2XGp/s1600/DSC01643.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrWp7U7oQEU-irnWgZ5IHOUsuvQUD5qVHln60CuK-0exnvGTS0N90uypucJRFV__F2V21Ch3yeyyRmkgMpqPzWGIeUEnVWyt9Tlp1mgXHFe5tYn8Hr3hLxUpA-pHm7IVqu0gybJPY2XGp/s320/DSC01643.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480759170379081442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnXOD2H_e6REGldXDIjuBn2g3bDxljGSJXoYz7PzwD0YfbQEmqQi8J94aVHSNsMrGxt3G7q5GhVKQC71XIkobxxkRfvuMb2fC6373JzaVMhZVTFLJ-avaIUgi0PtR_UktXE1tO1s_2CGk/s1600/DSC01644.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnXOD2H_e6REGldXDIjuBn2g3bDxljGSJXoYz7PzwD0YfbQEmqQi8J94aVHSNsMrGxt3G7q5GhVKQC71XIkobxxkRfvuMb2fC6373JzaVMhZVTFLJ-avaIUgi0PtR_UktXE1tO1s_2CGk/s320/DSC01644.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480758737561035154" border="0" /></a><br />At the end of the road (hilltop) looking back on the road whence we came...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4nivCZ-21etQI1Vs7tRHQCaJy42M44P2y3oVmYIvwV43XwHr8vayq-pwgiVAZhv9ysslS7IrYbod3i3Dyrip8CKHr2714ELuunF-Qui7O2BisMl5vb1yJBzx4SoEpqG5di5k6DgMUEvH/s1600/DSC01646.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4nivCZ-21etQI1Vs7tRHQCaJy42M44P2y3oVmYIvwV43XwHr8vayq-pwgiVAZhv9ysslS7IrYbod3i3Dyrip8CKHr2714ELuunF-Qui7O2BisMl5vb1yJBzx4SoEpqG5di5k6DgMUEvH/s320/DSC01646.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480758728518010290" border="0" /></a><br />Back at the foot of the hill, I saw what I did not see when we arrived before it was light: a recreational area featuring a sort of man-made water cascade fit for the whole family to bathe in.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJxdEDtRdQ12DzISVrrzjKeD9UG8sR1xf1_AeEKVObCriryRqcoBTEhQzskXYL4IaSFtrtEu8tiHDoh90ZtwRk-fZiVhXFpfLxUwh6y1Lbqj6BMxoe1VHhSm8zOpqWfDsl46qaFB_MJHl/s1600/DSC01656.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJxdEDtRdQ12DzISVrrzjKeD9UG8sR1xf1_AeEKVObCriryRqcoBTEhQzskXYL4IaSFtrtEu8tiHDoh90ZtwRk-fZiVhXFpfLxUwh6y1Lbqj6BMxoe1VHhSm8zOpqWfDsl46qaFB_MJHl/s320/DSC01656.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480758721006069554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvg8KPToe4Vpc8ZjQtF713sfQSazQHUgyrPeHQS9zwbXYtyu80TJ9fsQJzSedg-MGW91We6JY5nwhtaM5cwpzpBhsHwtAEwyNdaLwg2DuRVqDZ3mCuNOxAKbgJ6aUujpRO7D-KKUN_psUz/s1600/DSC01658.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvg8KPToe4Vpc8ZjQtF713sfQSazQHUgyrPeHQS9zwbXYtyu80TJ9fsQJzSedg-MGW91We6JY5nwhtaM5cwpzpBhsHwtAEwyNdaLwg2DuRVqDZ3mCuNOxAKbgJ6aUujpRO7D-KKUN_psUz/s320/DSC01658.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480758710907094610" border="0" /></a>Dumbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08096394768049149435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6746865025267364907.post-15273801854841968342010-03-07T11:56:00.008+08:002010-03-07T14:07:47.235+08:00Dumbo the Accidental Baker - #5: The Eventual SuccessesI'm still not 100% sure how I suddenly crossed over from the <a href="http://dumbo-studio.blogspot.com/2009/11/dumbo-accidental-baker-4-various-misses.html">previous failures</a> to the first success, but suffice to say, it happened. :-)<br /><br />***<br /><br />The recipe I have been using since the very beginning, which I am still using now, is a very simple one, which I adapted from a recipe for Simple English Muffins. You can find the recipe at the end of this post. But the dough for the following series of photos in this post were made with a proportionately reduced amount of ingredients, that is, only two-third cup of water, two cups of flour, and so on.<br /><br />First, it started as a small, unimpressive lump of dough.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSs2mGOhRxbd01TzPwlDV4Zbcgqng2lDvL5jVnnUaosaP6OxirRHOdR400MW11kngC9Gt9fWUH2ZV805XUXcAUYkSC84OSn9gAiLTn-Q-xSMYgKI96EQne2ibXzMfiYOt7T3uuFNDHwh-b/s1600-h/DSC02519.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSs2mGOhRxbd01TzPwlDV4Zbcgqng2lDvL5jVnnUaosaP6OxirRHOdR400MW11kngC9Gt9fWUH2ZV805XUXcAUYkSC84OSn9gAiLTn-Q-xSMYgKI96EQne2ibXzMfiYOt7T3uuFNDHwh-b/s320/DSC02519.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445738718708313426" border="0" /></a><br />About twenty or twenty-five minutes later:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_2zV6rxRA6E8da1QdObYGvvdj-HLWEpPnLYtxoHtQ1IadotLXIB3GYct0zTGeO3n7iMgVlbbtWKxkOWoeOcsrMnWDIzZsxZwfBKDcHnlQKe4XLSrsSYeEVoJnCu08Y_iLIVaGZ9gMleD/s1600-h/DSC02520.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_2zV6rxRA6E8da1QdObYGvvdj-HLWEpPnLYtxoHtQ1IadotLXIB3GYct0zTGeO3n7iMgVlbbtWKxkOWoeOcsrMnWDIzZsxZwfBKDcHnlQKe4XLSrsSYeEVoJnCu08Y_iLIVaGZ9gMleD/s320/DSC02520.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445738713225802034" border="0" /></a><br />Punched down and added with slightly toasted chunks of walnuts (love them). Knead in the walnuts to evenly distribute them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOQ1MINx7yZqgQk58e4c9Vaapf8liaV9ACTORJDQELMeg9K0f8nTxKs8PMFl_aAWrabY4acTH81YlCPhN-fpiFqu7pCLfZl95b-n_D1XmU2372htO4jlRPsHmhO7KO83ixQl71ZOdkApP/s1600-h/DSC02521.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOQ1MINx7yZqgQk58e4c9Vaapf8liaV9ACTORJDQELMeg9K0f8nTxKs8PMFl_aAWrabY4acTH81YlCPhN-fpiFqu7pCLfZl95b-n_D1XmU2372htO4jlRPsHmhO7KO83ixQl71ZOdkApP/s320/DSC02521.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445738491734511250" border="0" /></a><br />I used (and am still using) 4-inch-by-8-inch loaf pan(s). I wish I could find stainless steel ones, but the only ones available are either aluminum (suspected of causing Alzheimer's disease) or non-stick Teflon (when heated above 245°C - around there; my memory is not very precise - it emits chemical fumes that are carcinogenic). So, between the risks of Alzheimer's and cancers, I decided it is worse to lose one's faculty than health. :-)<br /><br />Those blackish things are poppy seeds... there was no particular reason (neither from the standpoint of taste nor aesthetics) to add them except that I happened to have some, and I do not know how else to use them. Though I have heard it said that they have very mild tranquilizing property.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgnxpsF9U9837h2s3CjPk-ewXLoT93Wc1wgiAXqYt1WjC3Qruu-1UVT3j8xG_b6x95ONZHNljj6fs1Gx5tYLXS6Oa-MnzLKDbHjJZK0c4LFVF9Vpf0I80ERsTflwB6fKXtUFcZ81koN7H/s1600-h/DSC02522.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgnxpsF9U9837h2s3CjPk-ewXLoT93Wc1wgiAXqYt1WjC3Qruu-1UVT3j8xG_b6x95ONZHNljj6fs1Gx5tYLXS6Oa-MnzLKDbHjJZK0c4LFVF9Vpf0I80ERsTflwB6fKXtUFcZ81koN7H/s320/DSC02522.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445738488845059378" border="0" /></a><br />Let it rise for about half an hour to at least double the original size (while waiting, preheat the oven to 180°C to 185°C):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_GcC4N-cc0lbX0VqHz1Wpc68Psilgy1JE9-Al8VQ6ZPOohT26Q5MOIXZ723GrhdMzp5eGDIlETCwEc5xi0Kc-WN9GJP_c8DVozx2GDExpYuY65xca9nulYv7-zNf-QMTd81koh8cJCY0/s1600-h/DSC02523.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_GcC4N-cc0lbX0VqHz1Wpc68Psilgy1JE9-Al8VQ6ZPOohT26Q5MOIXZ723GrhdMzp5eGDIlETCwEc5xi0Kc-WN9GJP_c8DVozx2GDExpYuY65xca9nulYv7-zNf-QMTd81koh8cJCY0/s320/DSC02523.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445738480750768962" border="0" /></a><br />Bake at 180°C to 185°C for 15 to 18 minutes, and immediately remove from oven to cool:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZEuaLZnDmY8eymOkLlKPMNjhiC52w9H4OMMdPW-4bXyQFMaZ6qfMeB_jYrlhmwlILlOrzEAgIXOM0c-D2lrpLwrxQPPFfk1ri4xulaZGa5a4pCeV1Er0YYsYezjmCqKVAfEHu-UEEYBG/s1600-h/DSC02524.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZEuaLZnDmY8eymOkLlKPMNjhiC52w9H4OMMdPW-4bXyQFMaZ6qfMeB_jYrlhmwlILlOrzEAgIXOM0c-D2lrpLwrxQPPFfk1ri4xulaZGa5a4pCeV1Er0YYsYezjmCqKVAfEHu-UEEYBG/s320/DSC02524.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445738475100835218" border="0" /></a><br />Preferably on a rack or whatever that allows good ventilation (but do not blow with fan; it will dry up the bread):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAr-DJKhmJU7Coq_-KLCQfBoYOsYBIWIiq5MlJTxwrjoxvOTEABleW86RRbs3MPCW-aewEWTgQ3zssTbUQxk6OXz42ISTxtm7Wj9wkUK7RWBE5FFJzEv_GmWx94FM4f_jS_vwAPTvI0bVt/s1600-h/DSC02525.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAr-DJKhmJU7Coq_-KLCQfBoYOsYBIWIiq5MlJTxwrjoxvOTEABleW86RRbs3MPCW-aewEWTgQ3zssTbUQxk6OXz42ISTxtm7Wj9wkUK7RWBE5FFJzEv_GmWx94FM4f_jS_vwAPTvI0bVt/s320/DSC02525.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445738470522069106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshyKZsRSCXEhiSHTdj0jvGVdOZ7kW6mEu2e1ibYwaEtLnRGf-8WDez5HfYZdzH2RuxtJ_qFGYYQkohsoWkGQ4dSkMXAUX8VmXeSlZOW3npv-CEIdoxxYouNlzqb8SP1QernhrpL4jEzk4/s1600-h/DSC02526.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshyKZsRSCXEhiSHTdj0jvGVdOZ7kW6mEu2e1ibYwaEtLnRGf-8WDez5HfYZdzH2RuxtJ_qFGYYQkohsoWkGQ4dSkMXAUX8VmXeSlZOW3npv-CEIdoxxYouNlzqb8SP1QernhrpL4jEzk4/s320/DSC02526.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445738079584408546" border="0" /></a><br />The result? Soft (not the kind of fluffy-soft that has no substance; but firmly soft, if you know what I mean) and moist and absolutely delicious bread!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8bXlr4UfnV4Yo2q7VZEVXJvYFU1o8y8d0xAunxE33g4BGt5YRZ-A85c4P0P52MpERexLeIc4X-rHN5BbpdfkGMwCmC_8A2UO2rfoo8DC3y9-JviNWfaqTELk6Q5pgr7t8LbawQWXRjlH/s1600-h/DSC02527.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8bXlr4UfnV4Yo2q7VZEVXJvYFU1o8y8d0xAunxE33g4BGt5YRZ-A85c4P0P52MpERexLeIc4X-rHN5BbpdfkGMwCmC_8A2UO2rfoo8DC3y9-JviNWfaqTELk6Q5pgr7t8LbawQWXRjlH/s320/DSC02527.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445738076045782914" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKC0ejN6q8ttB8MmIguEcFddLe16J15zZiyPjxolCgenVFYMpRaH6vhPNLFF5DrATj5fnhQnKUDobfTRqlAuT2OSXmhQfkQ5Mnsi0VmtWQ6o5QSRHGCSyQSLWeVd_h4lWMt20Moui_irb/s1600-h/DSC02528.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKC0ejN6q8ttB8MmIguEcFddLe16J15zZiyPjxolCgenVFYMpRaH6vhPNLFF5DrATj5fnhQnKUDobfTRqlAuT2OSXmhQfkQ5Mnsi0VmtWQ6o5QSRHGCSyQSLWeVd_h4lWMt20Moui_irb/s320/DSC02528.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445738073197194946" border="0" /></a><br />***<br /><br />With one success under my belt, it was before long that I made a second attempt, this time, with slightly different addition: pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds, with black and white sesames as the decorative topping.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Kq4VkZ9ombrSsddYiKywK7KVoh9xhRkZqMRDcC1J9dIu2wiI-Cdyj4MYBDbsKka9EVTZIiuOV22s_FJz579114W3ilTY8KQewg2kQZm7ZhcvPZcpk2X0ab8TpIvgPJe-exutotNZ1u_G/s1600-h/DSC02530.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Kq4VkZ9ombrSsddYiKywK7KVoh9xhRkZqMRDcC1J9dIu2wiI-Cdyj4MYBDbsKka9EVTZIiuOV22s_FJz579114W3ilTY8KQewg2kQZm7ZhcvPZcpk2X0ab8TpIvgPJe-exutotNZ1u_G/s320/DSC02530.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445738065057511714" border="0" /></a><br />For some mysterious reasons (one of which I think I finally understood some time later), this second time around, the dough did not rise quite as much as the first success; nevertheless, it rose enough to give me another loaf of soft, moist, delicious multi-seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, and two types of sesame) bread:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4W5Gkj5FIOK5nAScX4KEcaaJbkKOw2dC-RRBiVzkwHw3LYgQvGAJQl1tCx8M_hlJQZJL8YFDqekjUqZVv9SagaC2B2A4sl0gj_M3v23My-Z8ag42Q8GMfnUAbbcEa9XKSbbEj2aOQs0bY/s1600-h/DSC02531.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4W5Gkj5FIOK5nAScX4KEcaaJbkKOw2dC-RRBiVzkwHw3LYgQvGAJQl1tCx8M_hlJQZJL8YFDqekjUqZVv9SagaC2B2A4sl0gj_M3v23My-Z8ag42Q8GMfnUAbbcEa9XKSbbEj2aOQs0bY/s320/DSC02531.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445738060883584306" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyu3axYwdhJYHWXxJa8B_1xHZdegfk9UUDhyphenhyphenprps8K0Zn8u2e16zXZCTzRaVbDQNuyObTpM6BnkTQviQxpa3u8yx6fLF9cZmmSXimz4EhyE5I3oIyUolQDf3xXC5tmvkFnFeO3ARyXJUP/s1600-h/DSC02532.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyu3axYwdhJYHWXxJa8B_1xHZdegfk9UUDhyphenhyphenprps8K0Zn8u2e16zXZCTzRaVbDQNuyObTpM6BnkTQviQxpa3u8yx6fLF9cZmmSXimz4EhyE5I3oIyUolQDf3xXC5tmvkFnFeO3ARyXJUP/s320/DSC02532.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445736746613875442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwIa-IoJCJ-lVMPh_VP-4sXzDqw66Iysz2OcLy8hFKYAVO1AFIB7WxDD5wspSmfPU6T2rFyE-3u0_MkBz0HYHlojKyHSngdIVQ0glQ6EjPdscZShXthsNlIyA1g9CRJDoxPVmTNVTwmWY/s1600-h/DSC02533.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwIa-IoJCJ-lVMPh_VP-4sXzDqw66Iysz2OcLy8hFKYAVO1AFIB7WxDD5wspSmfPU6T2rFyE-3u0_MkBz0HYHlojKyHSngdIVQ0glQ6EjPdscZShXthsNlIyA1g9CRJDoxPVmTNVTwmWY/s320/DSC02533.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445736742153817186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQhicPlivdjrUR3DoZ7BOdVMN2WMb8xhkceB_DcivbWbgFPs1uPkL1apou8MF_Nz3Jy2dRAWMDoFVnXlF8XqlfLxauw_QiD6cpQdTzommcSlDmFG1yvI4JxiLm2KuDb_LZPZpVP16BTX2/s1600-h/DSC02534.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQhicPlivdjrUR3DoZ7BOdVMN2WMb8xhkceB_DcivbWbgFPs1uPkL1apou8MF_Nz3Jy2dRAWMDoFVnXlF8XqlfLxauw_QiD6cpQdTzommcSlDmFG1yvI4JxiLm2KuDb_LZPZpVP16BTX2/s320/DSC02534.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445736730835571570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOThMm6CPXB5qVF5GOygp2Jckt_wk-GcYo7l0406wuo6eenvkJc1CL0VY545ChQjoYY64fREmRU5zIkFWdgW09aw101KQGKJNqDR0LjvMa6FC6nCLI2p6G7vmzPh_Fk3NsSsrHDuOnVL8W/s1600-h/DSC02535.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOThMm6CPXB5qVF5GOygp2Jckt_wk-GcYo7l0406wuo6eenvkJc1CL0VY545ChQjoYY64fREmRU5zIkFWdgW09aw101KQGKJNqDR0LjvMa6FC6nCLI2p6G7vmzPh_Fk3NsSsrHDuOnVL8W/s320/DSC02535.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445736723859903218" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7clAbuZFTFtjJa2lkaAkImuiPUQQ76PTbcZCczYe-4ybCJMbGboiL4drVEbGUu37qJ3r0XN0C2p_t3oosmnDAth-bw6uMPnxkzWflt0bP9oAySXTsIEUOE3j3y3ic9yyQ1jPjloyhzMc/s1600-h/DSC02537.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7clAbuZFTFtjJa2lkaAkImuiPUQQ76PTbcZCczYe-4ybCJMbGboiL4drVEbGUu37qJ3r0XN0C2p_t3oosmnDAth-bw6uMPnxkzWflt0bP9oAySXTsIEUOE3j3y3ic9yyQ1jPjloyhzMc/s320/DSC02537.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445736718930040178" border="0" /></a><br />Yummy...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJq5rkqxCRC6tlFbAtG8_IotYOVf5t1KsDoMRU_LHM3oh1HXeYKb7dyzsP4X6Ku4BYZ3tTjW_VrGLwP9zcu_cl1ZFatr7WMM8l7t733cxU5opIU31nagsQr9zXuQVqK5TT3_GBZbSXxHW_/s1600-h/DSC02539.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJq5rkqxCRC6tlFbAtG8_IotYOVf5t1KsDoMRU_LHM3oh1HXeYKb7dyzsP4X6Ku4BYZ3tTjW_VrGLwP9zcu_cl1ZFatr7WMM8l7t733cxU5opIU31nagsQr9zXuQVqK5TT3_GBZbSXxHW_/s320/DSC02539.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445736474146576498" border="0" /></a><br />***<br /><br />After the first two successes, I actually failed another couple of times, and at that time, I was totally clueless as to why I couldn't not succeed every time. One of the reasons might be moisture control: how much additional flour to add if you find your dough too sticky? Another might be how much gluten you want to induce in your dough by kneading (that is, how long do you knead)?<br /><br />Anyhow, success was not totally elusive after than, and I managed another near-perfect loaf several attempts later:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbmdh9_1LRhJizXKa4rLlRylXK0sTZvU6A5JL2DFYmUh1n7EYsgae8XIEW3POJxAmi_wGOVgZSIKuPBz22AcYea2Ty-zxth2tRxV-gMmPDxXTgN_ORvrEJWJfLxT-MrqLhJcuRYJDw5nd/s1600-h/DSC02555.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbmdh9_1LRhJizXKa4rLlRylXK0sTZvU6A5JL2DFYmUh1n7EYsgae8XIEW3POJxAmi_wGOVgZSIKuPBz22AcYea2Ty-zxth2tRxV-gMmPDxXTgN_ORvrEJWJfLxT-MrqLhJcuRYJDw5nd/s320/DSC02555.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445736470512452866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2E-t26vuugOcP_ABeHH0-vHhquGztsBWJ14KXhTz6JsXHXawYj46uQL95HB4iwH0AOZk71oNN_okN_PXuI3lhvb9JMIqnjkyL_VkgyK6FtrvQwleUcVKRH9_va0oBxWoqNt9NICIwfPwM/s1600-h/DSC02556.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2E-t26vuugOcP_ABeHH0-vHhquGztsBWJ14KXhTz6JsXHXawYj46uQL95HB4iwH0AOZk71oNN_okN_PXuI3lhvb9JMIqnjkyL_VkgyK6FtrvQwleUcVKRH9_va0oBxWoqNt9NICIwfPwM/s320/DSC02556.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445736458189954802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPp1vnnS7xOxFTVBUfBZeiZ0XljppDmgHd_gBUAXTXCezsrdO7Ej7uDl5f8GXpcZK-QNyLzpk5cMadFkneHajxs2y1tWDhyphenhyphen7JJonR2LpRRrYVGaR1eliQ4Y8wRodDVoSqzuU2Nmw4j5Z_K/s1600-h/DSC02557.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPp1vnnS7xOxFTVBUfBZeiZ0XljppDmgHd_gBUAXTXCezsrdO7Ej7uDl5f8GXpcZK-QNyLzpk5cMadFkneHajxs2y1tWDhyphenhyphen7JJonR2LpRRrYVGaR1eliQ4Y8wRodDVoSqzuU2Nmw4j5Z_K/s320/DSC02557.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445736454826441074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsf-EFzPrY9SUaKOm7VkaaHGlZH0bt5hZcma88tp62cHXmPQuVajvkBx1ViqcJqKQY9YP0R3wPtOOGIqzyawWBln6D6fVdRTxuGFPm-Y1L2zcyUY7BlqMzLuDxkyv6_UhZI-vwISyl7pf/s1600-h/DSC02558.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsf-EFzPrY9SUaKOm7VkaaHGlZH0bt5hZcma88tp62cHXmPQuVajvkBx1ViqcJqKQY9YP0R3wPtOOGIqzyawWBln6D6fVdRTxuGFPm-Y1L2zcyUY7BlqMzLuDxkyv6_UhZI-vwISyl7pf/s320/DSC02558.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445736448627526786" border="0" /></a><br />And now, I think I have discovered the most important reason for the inconsistency of my success: yeast.<br /><br />I had bought a large pack of dry instant yeast, because I couldn't find those individually sachet-packed varieties. And for a time, I did not know that I need to store the yeast in the refrigerator. The result? The yeast loses its "potency" over time, and that affects how well my doughs can rise.<br /><br />Then I discovered a way to ensure that I do not waste my flour on weak yeast: let it sit in warm sugared water for a quarter of an hour first to see if it rise. :-)<br /><br />***<br /><br />If you are interested in making your own bread, try the following recipe and instructions:<br /><br />Recipe:<br />======<br />Water - 1 cup --> warm (test with finger: should be good for bathing on a slightly cold day)<br />Flour - 3 cups --> I usually use 2 1/2 cups of high-protein flour plus 1/2 cup wholemeal flour<br />Yeast - 1 tablespoonful or 1 sachet (11g)<br />Sugar - 3 tablespoonful<br />Salt - 1 teaspoonful<br />Oil - 2 tablespoonful --> I usually use extra-virgin olive oil, but any vegetable oil would do<br /><br />Steps:<br />=====<br />1) Prepare some warm water. Make it just nice for a bath on a slightly cold day.<br />2) Pour 1 cup of the said warm water into a large mixing bowl (I used an 8 1/2-inch earthen pot with rounded bottom edge)<br />3) Add yeast and sugar and salt. Stir to mix well. Let the mixture sit for about 15 minutes. If a thick layer of foam forms on top of the mixture, proceed to the next step; if not, start all over.<br />4) Stir in one cup of high-protein flour. Mix well, but there's no need to make the batter really smooth. Tiny lumps are acceptable. Let the mixture sit for about 15 minutes. If it becomes all foamy and bubbly, then proceed to the next step; if not, start all over or just give up for the day. :-)<br />5) Stir in the rest of the flour (including the wholemeal flour, if you use any) and knead it into a soft, pliable dough. I usually knead it with a fold-and-flatten action, using only one hand (because I knead it inside the said earthen pot, which doesn't have room for both my hands to work inside). Knead it until the texture is consistent (well-mixed) and soft (like your earlobe), and in terms of stickiness, like the adhesive on <a href="http://www.3m.com/US/office/postit/">Post-It</a> notes. :-) If it is totally "non-stick", it might be too dry.<br />6) Roll the dough into a ball, slightly oil it and the container (I use back the same earthen pot) you want it to sit in (while proofing), and let it proof for about twenty to twenty-five minutes. It should enlarge to at least twice the original size. If not, something is wrong with it; you may go ahead with it, but success is much less assured. :-) While you are proofing the dough, slightly oil the baking pan(s) you are going to use.<br />7) Punch down the "inflated" dough, knead it a bit more if you want, then form it into whatever shape you need it to be (I use 4-by-8 baking pans, so I need to make it longish).<br />8) Place your properly-shaped dough(s) into the properly-oiled pan(s), and let sit for about half an hour, or until the dough(s) doubled in size. While waiting, pre-heat the oven to 180°C to 185°C.<br />9) Put the properly-proofed dough(s) into the pre-heated oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes. If your oven comes with top heating element and bottom heating element, start with both heating elements on; after about 8 to 10 minutes, when you perceive that the top of your bread is starting to brown, switch off the top heating element to avoid charring the top of your bread.<br />10) After the preset amount of baking time, remove the bread immediately from the oven to cool on a rack (leaving it in the oven, which is still hot, will over-bake the bread). Only store it in a container after it has completely cooled down. Or, enjoy it while it is fresh and hot from the oven. :-)<br /><br />Good luck trying. :-)Dumbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08096394768049149435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6746865025267364907.post-50412803008294745222010-03-03T17:59:00.011+08:002010-03-03T19:12:51.635+08:00My New Toy and Her Wedding Anniversary PresentFor my birthday last year, my wife bought me an easel, and I painted her a picture of how I envision us <a href="http://dumbo-studio.blogspot.com/2009/07/my-birthday-present-and-her-anniversary.html">growing old together</a>.<br /><br />This year, my new toy is a Schmincke watercolor box set (the cake type - which I have been thinking of getting for sometime - not the tube type).<br /><br />It costs RM 180 (12 colors, graded as "finest artist's watercolor"), which is quite expensive; but if you think about it, it would actually be a saving in the long run, because with tubes, you are more likely to squeeze out more paint than you would actually need, whereas with watercolor cakes, you only lift off as much as you need with your brush. Although this is quite a bother if you are making a large pool of paint for background painting, but I still have my tubes for that purpose, so, for painting small areas, this is more effective in preventing wastage.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSorEzYEIon_k33TYpIASxe-1gVuccrLdteD9K-bWQOUnX6iOPydlpPtN0DBcIZRTNhngCyY8qeYZZXrEWzeETtsvEP4qNvR-b4XWvLQg-cjQWDsz_GKOAcTarX0VqiC78SxtxAgmi-eOz/s1600-h/DSC03081.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSorEzYEIon_k33TYpIASxe-1gVuccrLdteD9K-bWQOUnX6iOPydlpPtN0DBcIZRTNhngCyY8qeYZZXrEWzeETtsvEP4qNvR-b4XWvLQg-cjQWDsz_GKOAcTarX0VqiC78SxtxAgmi-eOz/s320/DSC03081.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444346606348451922" border="0" /></a><br />This "new toy" actually sat on my desk for quite a while before I actually started using it. I decided to use it - for the first time - to paint another picture as this year's anniversary gift to my wife (although it was already six days past our anniversary - I was too busy with work the week before to sit down for a few hours to paint a picture).<br /><br />I decided to do her portrait this time. The inspiration came from a sketch I did of her during an outdoor sketching trip we took with a friend who was visiting us in Penang at that time. My friend (one of my "artsy" friends) and I were the ones doing the sketching, while she (not interested in sketching or painting) was just accompanying us. She was reading a book (I forgot what book; perhaps "<a href="http://home.pacific.net.hk/%7Erebylee/text/prince/contents.html">Le Petit Prince</a>" by <em>Antoine de Saint</em>-<em>Exupéry</em>) when we were sketching some plants growing along a small creek. I turned to see her looking very serene as she immerse herself in her reading, and I was touched by what I saw, so I quickly made a sketch of her.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyxusrzAz7jtEF5IZp5PLUN_hbEgOuckOKGMNTHCYJj7OJOewVAWbGkbUCInDSi36K70YyTgY0J4KfuejZDjMNrHplF3DA-bQ9BorZgM8gfkPxOehAknTwTZ-qmTMaULDA67fX_t5Oh0wy/s1600-h/esther01.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyxusrzAz7jtEF5IZp5PLUN_hbEgOuckOKGMNTHCYJj7OJOewVAWbGkbUCInDSi36K70YyTgY0J4KfuejZDjMNrHplF3DA-bQ9BorZgM8gfkPxOehAknTwTZ-qmTMaULDA67fX_t5Oh0wy/s320/esther01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444350032572967314" border="0" /></a><br />Her hair has grown long since, so I modified her look as below, and I added a verse from <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=songs%206:9&version=KJV">Songs of Solomon, chapter 6, verse 9</a>: "<span style="font-style: italic;">My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.</span>" (note: my wife <span style="font-style: italic;">is </span>the <span style="font-style: italic;">only </span>daughter of her parents, the only "flower" among the other FIVE "thorns", that is, sons.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijujrsptv-jxl9wUqsGz6OnEEiEqK6ZbrTwMMVuP77sABCPiIbP4eY9SeI2e3EMh1cZnrnsUIBjyNAanJ6uoxOmeAG_FNYv392ejSnOXd-osa-BQWubHcCrTJ4KeXyhuLiNmWkJy0wr2pJ/s1600-h/DSC03079.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijujrsptv-jxl9wUqsGz6OnEEiEqK6ZbrTwMMVuP77sABCPiIbP4eY9SeI2e3EMh1cZnrnsUIBjyNAanJ6uoxOmeAG_FNYv392ejSnOXd-osa-BQWubHcCrTJ4KeXyhuLiNmWkJy0wr2pJ/s320/DSC03079.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444347327745137346" border="0" /></a><br />I was quite happy with the sketch, but alas, I spoiled it when I was painting the background. For one thing, I should have used the Series D cadmium yellow (the best grade among those of the same brand, tube-type) instead of the Series B yellow, and for another, I should not have added in the green, which failed to blend in with the yellow as I intended (perhaps the paper was not wet enough). I had to discard this (and I used it later to try out color mixtures).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7aGE8B_AFQUR4tjWuk9pZ-upAyfV1uF4umBu_ygyYwlOQsN50n6lX8jN1DT_c2yu8juXj4tPOM6XgaWFC1DXtywa-jHYeVYp442A8mbElw0vwyOc9cF0FuHUHh-_mN0kAJPdie7ndWWO/s1600-h/DSC03082.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7aGE8B_AFQUR4tjWuk9pZ-upAyfV1uF4umBu_ygyYwlOQsN50n6lX8jN1DT_c2yu8juXj4tPOM6XgaWFC1DXtywa-jHYeVYp442A8mbElw0vwyOc9cF0FuHUHh-_mN0kAJPdie7ndWWO/s320/DSC03082.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444346602854213298" border="0" /></a><br />My second attempt was not as good in terms of the sketching, and now in retrospect I am glad that I spoiled that one too. What happened was that while trying to wet the face for a wet-on-wet effect, I had accidentally used the brush that I had used earlier in the first attempt for the green in the background (and I had failed to wash it thoroughly after that). It gave the face an eerie green undertone, and I had to discard this second attempt as well (I also used it later to test my color mixtures, as you can clearly see below).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOl7ZAV2fgPhlLNnqgpCMjNAa4xGGZPj7ZtfV1ULlMPMxXwaC5GjtivgteqAgjNhKCGZ4OxRypCVTMerb-uVyZeqP2VbBBXMduB1P8aDXRPy_Dz8Qd1tyIYtsIseHZZBP1Iq-zrvrerqs-/s1600-h/DSC03083.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOl7ZAV2fgPhlLNnqgpCMjNAa4xGGZPj7ZtfV1ULlMPMxXwaC5GjtivgteqAgjNhKCGZ4OxRypCVTMerb-uVyZeqP2VbBBXMduB1P8aDXRPy_Dz8Qd1tyIYtsIseHZZBP1Iq-zrvrerqs-/s320/DSC03083.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444346594857796690" border="0" /></a><br />Having learned painful lessons from the previous two attempts, the third attempt went without much glitch. Praise the LORD.<br /><br />Of the entire picture, only the face was done with wet-on-wet technique. The rest was wet-on-dry. In this updated version of "the serene reader", I depicted her as reading the <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/">Bible</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24LjlM2WGg9nPq1Nx-FqZNS6IVHMgEEP4BG8_JNpmmL7S3t9Su7mdCiL8GHpkp3vcfgkXmuCg7tjQeCiFvRiuSniXDfB6HTcOojeNq2IwHQc81r2U1JfcpNfynJBYbOPr86P1TcQ-jgjd/s1600-h/DSC03084.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24LjlM2WGg9nPq1Nx-FqZNS6IVHMgEEP4BG8_JNpmmL7S3t9Su7mdCiL8GHpkp3vcfgkXmuCg7tjQeCiFvRiuSniXDfB6HTcOojeNq2IwHQc81r2U1JfcpNfynJBYbOPr86P1TcQ-jgjd/s320/DSC03084.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444346589764438434" border="0" /></a><br />The picture below shows all the tools used in producing this painting:<br /><br />- Watercolor block (can't remember the grade, but definitely more than 135 g/m2)<br />- a 2B pencil and a small chunk of eraser (how stingy I'm getting)<br />- Rowney's Series D Cadmium Yellow (for the background)<br />- Schmincke watercolor cakes (I used "cadmium red light", "permanent carmine", "yellow ochre", and "ivory black" - plus surplus yellow from the background - in various mixtures to produce the skin tones, the lip color (which is later darkened and used on the blouse, and then further darkened and used to write the bigger text and my signature), the hair color (also used on the cover of the Bible and for writing the smaller text and the date)<br />- two nylon brushes of different sizes (too lazy to get up now to go find out the actual sizes; let's just call them "small" and "medium") for the smaller areas and for writing<br />- one broad nylon brush for the background and the hair and the blouse and the Bible cover<br />- masking liquid (applied with a fine brush) for the words "圣经" (Holy Bible) on the cover and for the white edge of the Bible pages<br /><br />Strictly speaking, you don't need many things for painting a picture.<br /><br />Oh, I almost forgot: I also used two containers (the bottom halves of two 1.5L mineral water bottles) of filtered tap water. These I forgot to include in the picture below.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3AxHQYgw4hBplyg1yWJhrCMbNbEfz875st8ribjCZhItsstoGDAl2joyT2WavJ7ybTPiR9dRVBg6Q4KYIPRnCX3RqxaQcyr8OoeICVIoma7XEEsWa61AkzTsugu2diJhyphenhyphenj1KzD0eE5lG/s1600-h/DSC03085.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3AxHQYgw4hBplyg1yWJhrCMbNbEfz875st8ribjCZhItsstoGDAl2joyT2WavJ7ybTPiR9dRVBg6Q4KYIPRnCX3RqxaQcyr8OoeICVIoma7XEEsWa61AkzTsugu2diJhyphenhyphenj1KzD0eE5lG/s320/DSC03085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444346583348319858" border="0" /></a><br />Having claimed how simple painting can be, I must confess that I have not painted anything between this and the last painting I painted as last year's anniversary gift to my wife...<br />Sometimes, busyness can be such a good excuse even for procrastinating doing things that you love to do. :-)Dumbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08096394768049149435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6746865025267364907.post-36505273914474790532009-11-04T16:13:00.005+08:002009-11-04T16:46:29.713+08:00Dumbo up the Hills - #8: The Three Towers<div>The <a href="http://dumbo-studio.blogspot.com/2009/07/dumbo-up-hill-1-good-old-ayer-itam-dam.html">Air Itam Dam</a> was full of surprises.</div><div><br /></div><div>My uncle (also my hiking coach) revealed to me on this particular occasion that there exists another TM service road branching off from the circumferential road around the dam. It leads to some communication towers at the nearly-highest point of the hill.</div><div><br /></div><div>We went up to the dam by car, then embarked on our conquest of yet another TM service road. :-D</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBrD_IzObqRLVT4OKNBnwDufrUDoH8yWVA1E8zlQIdHGeYrGfduhdmgvjnDbFlEwh1YYirxAO6GPvA8HPzhf7pANbuiUn7q_Tem-7jyIO5LdYAdmRGVI85bjeibObGkzNNJIQ7Qpu2vBn/s1600-h/DSC01608.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBrD_IzObqRLVT4OKNBnwDufrUDoH8yWVA1E8zlQIdHGeYrGfduhdmgvjnDbFlEwh1YYirxAO6GPvA8HPzhf7pANbuiUn7q_Tem-7jyIO5LdYAdmRGVI85bjeibObGkzNNJIQ7Qpu2vBn/s320/DSC01608.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400160138712096018" /></a><br /><div>The road was very steep. One of the steepest I had climbed so far.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ay7_22PWch655iUCaBDu184habWEhgmF-OU6798sDtg8Ej31O7z9s1ZceM3He_3yyv0Yl3oCo4RqURVVnlu1w6zcE8_NELy-L0XKwKX-_IlNR-uAF_vZatVu9mz7UlRCgXnlfAAjgwGu/s1600-h/DSC01609.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ay7_22PWch655iUCaBDu184habWEhgmF-OU6798sDtg8Ej31O7z9s1ZceM3He_3yyv0Yl3oCo4RqURVVnlu1w6zcE8_NELy-L0XKwKX-_IlNR-uAF_vZatVu9mz7UlRCgXnlfAAjgwGu/s320/DSC01609.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400160130970077570" /></a><br /></div><div>At a point not very far from our destination, my uncle decided to pause there a moment and carry out his elaborate stretching routine (I never quite understood why the stretching does not come before the climb... perhaps because the air is fresher up on a hill and more conducive to his elaborate routine).</div><div><br /></div><div>Having nothing to do - and not wanting to carry on ahead by myself - while waiting for my uncle to perform his stretching routine, I decided to explore a small cement path that branches off the service road nearby...</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvcHyjlUj77ja23w7mD2h69qJnD5ypGys1w6JxEn-dMcwzxf5QKshK-6FyJTHCgNRPj08OVtKTVi2Mt6mfJthN3c0790IvoWzEj7YtwOBprFfsG5CruQzepf3SFwnPFBwjsMXQ9ZENulG/s1600-h/DSC01610.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvcHyjlUj77ja23w7mD2h69qJnD5ypGys1w6JxEn-dMcwzxf5QKshK-6FyJTHCgNRPj08OVtKTVi2Mt6mfJthN3c0790IvoWzEj7YtwOBprFfsG5CruQzepf3SFwnPFBwjsMXQ9ZENulG/s320/DSC01610.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400160131658263522" /></a><br /></div><div>The path was very tranquil and beautiful...</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_mwByApu7Z4zFg32qbbuaQybbT52UDAKLAplhzgcYqIRXDZJfGlFM9LpKYPuppdqm1xkWasPRDs71B9-aaPpMzZWmcmVnbylQgo5PMflgfxpcEdTguA2OfH3fBp1WazOOpHWjBYugIWdQ/s1600-h/DSC01611.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_mwByApu7Z4zFg32qbbuaQybbT52UDAKLAplhzgcYqIRXDZJfGlFM9LpKYPuppdqm1xkWasPRDs71B9-aaPpMzZWmcmVnbylQgo5PMflgfxpcEdTguA2OfH3fBp1WazOOpHWjBYugIWdQ/s320/DSC01611.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400160129605155330" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsIOKxrLTrFetpw_w5ju8AnLF2qujyllAnuJdbr9ie_SXiPPqzQLRe9fK3tQmWMSUsqZ8r_KDSevFEjw1j7RiXeHjfKlztM8uhJmF5xjMCyD1LedyZPs7EtQg3mS-n5Lx_bpnmNrTCUvu/s1600-h/DSC01612.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsIOKxrLTrFetpw_w5ju8AnLF2qujyllAnuJdbr9ie_SXiPPqzQLRe9fK3tQmWMSUsqZ8r_KDSevFEjw1j7RiXeHjfKlztM8uhJmF5xjMCyD1LedyZPs7EtQg3mS-n5Lx_bpnmNrTCUvu/s320/DSC01612.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400158990758861522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSeu5NmJoyWIMuAHJ6RdlnKrqVBU9HPrz5tzgIoRSlf8AR1OeQWkUevw8XrcimmvJywNtdGkZkDMW4Us-U9L9Rta-oNLliqjrM_4iZK7Adv0TmD0FYExWORdm5nDR3oqC_M1kcy9tp_0Zh/s1600-h/DSC01613.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSeu5NmJoyWIMuAHJ6RdlnKrqVBU9HPrz5tzgIoRSlf8AR1OeQWkUevw8XrcimmvJywNtdGkZkDMW4Us-U9L9Rta-oNLliqjrM_4iZK7Adv0TmD0FYExWORdm5nDR3oqC_M1kcy9tp_0Zh/s320/DSC01613.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400158984456623570" /></a><br /></div><div>The path had been descending with a rather level gradient, until the point shown below in the picture, where it starts ascending by way of some stone steps. Before I took off on this path, my uncle had informed me that it eventually leads to the same spot we had visited on the previous occasion: the <a href="http://dumbo-studio.blogspot.com/2009/11/dumbo-up-hills-7-one-thousand-two.html">One Thousand Two Hundred Steps</a>. So I turned back at this point.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4f_KShQwIS0cg4vX7A1e5IMCc8BuPsjTK-XW3QTlZkEqN4yncHokDIHS8bnKOTud5wgLAR20zRYUmPwH-d8f5lUczPbXwB1V3qUdvHWPOXbTOZLeC7Ae4t2l-HyvVga9U8KDDsdz07P4W/s1600-h/DSC01616.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4f_KShQwIS0cg4vX7A1e5IMCc8BuPsjTK-XW3QTlZkEqN4yncHokDIHS8bnKOTud5wgLAR20zRYUmPwH-d8f5lUczPbXwB1V3qUdvHWPOXbTOZLeC7Ae4t2l-HyvVga9U8KDDsdz07P4W/s320/DSC01616.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400158983257277602" /></a><br /></div><div>After my uncle's stretching routine, we continued onward and shortly after, arrived at the "top". There were three communication towers situated nearby one another (I think they belong to the three major mobile companies: Celcom, Maxis and DiGi).</div><div><br /></div><div>I was suddenly not very sure if it was legal for hikers to be using this road. But a TM 4x4 Land Rover happened to pass us by a couple of times, and the TM people inside took no particular notice of either us or the other hikers, so I guess it is kind of "unofficially not illegal" for hikers to use that road. :-D</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, here's a reassurance to any TM big-shots that might be reading this: we leave nothing (not even footprints, because the road is tarred) and we take nothing except a few photos of the scenery (but no photo of the communication towers). Hopefully that makes you feel better. :-)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2CB9IkqiX1BzO2Na4epM-tC2H2jGThImz0xDiLV9Tv6a9ki4Rw6rN0zjOn2zzoVpXmXOWm5Phpop8yzJU8qQaJSq1sJkn6RMqgfkh_RrxoLYbsL5Vk2w_zPLUxrPc2Lbe7ssdBPdq4Fk/s1600-h/DSC01617.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2CB9IkqiX1BzO2Na4epM-tC2H2jGThImz0xDiLV9Tv6a9ki4Rw6rN0zjOn2zzoVpXmXOWm5Phpop8yzJU8qQaJSq1sJkn6RMqgfkh_RrxoLYbsL5Vk2w_zPLUxrPc2Lbe7ssdBPdq4Fk/s320/DSC01617.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400158979170577378" /></a><br /></div><div>I particularly like the following picture:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWw0ErJx96hC5UEaYmMljsdJl_rxIrTT4Ww7FDJQLO7ysAMjlLkR9fXE8IfMqNRhCc4wWQkNwrTDvlP5qwKZuUii5SdOc-6Nxmuy_wqWybVCg-x1PB46Lok9dEe9_c_WDzCXipEb3_XHrl/s1600-h/DSC01618.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWw0ErJx96hC5UEaYmMljsdJl_rxIrTT4Ww7FDJQLO7ysAMjlLkR9fXE8IfMqNRhCc4wWQkNwrTDvlP5qwKZuUii5SdOc-6Nxmuy_wqWybVCg-x1PB46Lok9dEe9_c_WDzCXipEb3_XHrl/s320/DSC01618.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400158973521704450" /></a><br /></div>Dumbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08096394768049149435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6746865025267364907.post-33641552588242003302009-11-04T15:36:00.005+08:002009-11-04T16:08:03.917+08:00Dumbo up the Hills - #7: The One Thousand Two Hundred Steps<div>Many hill paths in Penang leads to temples and such... the famous "One Thousand Two Hundred Steps" (千贰层) is also one such path.</div><div><br /></div><div>***</div><div><br /></div><div>The OTTHS comprises stone steps that purportedly justify the name, i.e., there are around one thousand and two hundred of them. But the path we took that day was not exactly the stone-step path, but rather, an alternative route up to the same point (a temple, that is).</div><div><br /></div><div>The path we took was actually a Telekom Malaysia service road, I think. It branches off the road up the <a href="http://dumbo-studio.blogspot.com/2009/07/dumbo-up-hill-1-good-old-ayer-itam-dam.html">Air Itam Dam</a>, at the point where the new columbarium of the Kek Lok Si Temple is being built at the moment.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbxnnD9SzLhT4ajllH5t6eV9FBWDAbuoIFbdxo0VDUxYnKiNP9Eu3qTAk4O1K_jywCPTwPiYK2BlSKN16to47lHOfJaejQI9SdhYQEVyCE5G1wlRs_IQxQUUE070TM0EVLVAE-8hkTVBO/s1600-h/DSC01580.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbxnnD9SzLhT4ajllH5t6eV9FBWDAbuoIFbdxo0VDUxYnKiNP9Eu3qTAk4O1K_jywCPTwPiYK2BlSKN16to47lHOfJaejQI9SdhYQEVyCE5G1wlRs_IQxQUUE070TM0EVLVAE-8hkTVBO/s320/DSC01580.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400149961504342994" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHovqQv6OGdD0ANuDf3xpcnDwjzP5pQ_n2oHZoDAJWfASGvor01RTEsishzVCvs60i_Y3Fqgs98mCGCJbXTxdzQbj9l5ZT8b9Gj8qmUm535vmN8QMJtj0El9Lm7RMlWgnKJsneSnbHMAY/s1600-h/DSC01581.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHovqQv6OGdD0ANuDf3xpcnDwjzP5pQ_n2oHZoDAJWfASGvor01RTEsishzVCvs60i_Y3Fqgs98mCGCJbXTxdzQbj9l5ZT8b9Gj8qmUm535vmN8QMJtj0El9Lm7RMlWgnKJsneSnbHMAY/s320/DSC01581.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400149958810937186" /></a><br /><div>It was a moderately difficult climb, considerably steep, with few level stretches to ease my tiredness... :-p</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1K4QL_4VBrlXY7z8LWnme72crSfMYZKMfGmI4hra3jT50cra2Kpd1DrCYeN-miYUx2sIYFvYfZTt7s2dFBXDwc6wjIWEzcmS_hwQZ9dgmVIYnY0k80VsZTXXnWJm__-4rPl4tEQEzOSL2/s1600-h/DSC01584.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1K4QL_4VBrlXY7z8LWnme72crSfMYZKMfGmI4hra3jT50cra2Kpd1DrCYeN-miYUx2sIYFvYfZTt7s2dFBXDwc6wjIWEzcmS_hwQZ9dgmVIYnY0k80VsZTXXnWJm__-4rPl4tEQEzOSL2/s320/DSC01584.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400149954632915442" /></a><br /></div><div>Oh, and, it was during that climb that I wore for the first time the high-ankle hiking shoes that I would be wearing to climb Mt. Kinabalu.</div><div><br /></div><div>But what about <a href="http://dumbo-studio.blogspot.com/2009/07/dumbo-up-hill-1-good-old-ayer-itam-dam.html">the other pair of shoes</a> I bought for the climb? Well, the story is: my sixth aunt saw that other pair of shoes I was wearing for my practice climbs, and she declared that those are not fit for a serious climb like Mt. K. So she and my third aunt and fourth aunt and my uncle Daddy (also my hiking coach) pitched in to buy for me this pair of rather expensive hiking shoes. A very gracious gift, and a crucial one. Later during my descend down Mt. K, these tough little fellas played a big part (besides God's grace) in sparing me a sprained ankle - on more than one occasion!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJbu2EeqVGcJeyulKgGyF_aqXxguHIaOsAxeTAdado1snGlbI2amqLPZ5bZBXTAoY_qncBdXG_HsifSN0ueIBpySS2xBd-qDunNUObsaExn6fUiMsnOD31FMYoUK5iJ2mPyxQiH2KgKlsW/s1600-h/DSC01585.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJbu2EeqVGcJeyulKgGyF_aqXxguHIaOsAxeTAdado1snGlbI2amqLPZ5bZBXTAoY_qncBdXG_HsifSN0ueIBpySS2xBd-qDunNUObsaExn6fUiMsnOD31FMYoUK5iJ2mPyxQiH2KgKlsW/s320/DSC01585.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400149948754528114" /></a><br /></div><div>The views at a point near our destination...</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrWZqdJdNLND5KgBc_QxEHJoc8-FQ8IDCVzoKyC4BVHpqLGkhKyIN7NbycNzlB1ts5aAzR8W8Bi-6Sb5ep2vAe4v1dmEHRoQLQrw5X6cfKdIV6oVh395sJvXv_eFiZX7sEnxP51CH2GJS/s1600-h/DSC01587.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrWZqdJdNLND5KgBc_QxEHJoc8-FQ8IDCVzoKyC4BVHpqLGkhKyIN7NbycNzlB1ts5aAzR8W8Bi-6Sb5ep2vAe4v1dmEHRoQLQrw5X6cfKdIV6oVh395sJvXv_eFiZX7sEnxP51CH2GJS/s320/DSC01587.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400149688361194066" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQS2KaF5MgrIuqxfz_SSzpaUHOTxnhHMzKQv2aTxWZN5Gp06TD1Ip87c26LafzU6hwndRlrQSjkuj3A7ynQWyjoRc4DFI_M0VEb_NfcWjcbRLh-Ew17_Lj9Fk1IHkgJLTCoMEyAzakMpQ6/s1600-h/DSC01589.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQS2KaF5MgrIuqxfz_SSzpaUHOTxnhHMzKQv2aTxWZN5Gp06TD1Ip87c26LafzU6hwndRlrQSjkuj3A7ynQWyjoRc4DFI_M0VEb_NfcWjcbRLh-Ew17_Lj9Fk1IHkgJLTCoMEyAzakMpQ6/s320/DSC01589.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400149683496747938" /></a><br /></div><div>Finally, we reached our destination point. Looking down, you could see the stone steps that are part of the one thousand and two hundred. The sizes of the steps are not uniform, varying according to the terrain and gradient.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1cNURF7pjXI6Y1WFmh5sLvl28q-DAMKRACksfGlAj1DoBKn_Ff_bXcMBCRR0IMlgh3nF2fvDG_VMQM4ZMtMtQUNo19Udl4omHDaoYopOl1gcd2aiBUOPM4gkc2tREvOSh-vvOnE4sQEg/s1600-h/DSC01593.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1cNURF7pjXI6Y1WFmh5sLvl28q-DAMKRACksfGlAj1DoBKn_Ff_bXcMBCRR0IMlgh3nF2fvDG_VMQM4ZMtMtQUNo19Udl4omHDaoYopOl1gcd2aiBUOPM4gkc2tREvOSh-vvOnE4sQEg/s320/DSC01593.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400149679635589842" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQ8FMmXTc12rUnUrQ5JZfQhoJV69pRCPKUX_8KhgBkmClJZ-lIaH0GSKhbq_EXZDYpkJlDea-_F57X_VuYFkvZ7dQeHpc7td5bOH90l1B05DncF5lYsDiwdE8qPnjbbXmNhy0oEWFEkgo/s1600-h/DSC01595.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQ8FMmXTc12rUnUrQ5JZfQhoJV69pRCPKUX_8KhgBkmClJZ-lIaH0GSKhbq_EXZDYpkJlDea-_F57X_VuYFkvZ7dQeHpc7td5bOH90l1B05DncF5lYsDiwdE8qPnjbbXmNhy0oEWFEkgo/s320/DSC01595.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400149672605310930" /></a><br /></div><div>It was still early morning, and the scenery there had this misty dreamy kind of effect...</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pxjUQz_hERrmGfI2PL0PcqaY1FI5C4QhxWKmgMFKioCxJjO2bfCIFBMQ3nFrndh4u9ksq1tznkl8XJar_4j6YWat8nGS3MIYbGP8d9wR174mpPLWjWFDXqtIJ-pDHpbht0asNaUEN0SU/s1600-h/DSC01596.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pxjUQz_hERrmGfI2PL0PcqaY1FI5C4QhxWKmgMFKioCxJjO2bfCIFBMQ3nFrndh4u9ksq1tznkl8XJar_4j6YWat8nGS3MIYbGP8d9wR174mpPLWjWFDXqtIJ-pDHpbht0asNaUEN0SU/s320/DSC01596.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400149668339053106" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2lC-MoDUeQwRmsIDHcDuX2jGJDmKQ5rVsYOl2jnbSJvuktRGI7qY8VeZG5IixglT3RanYK-IgV2W-6vth-PMO5bKLJ3-VkMVw6edJUBZ2z3nnF506eF7QFFz-K1LBUH5G3Zc0N4c1AkM/s1600-h/DSC01597.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2lC-MoDUeQwRmsIDHcDuX2jGJDmKQ5rVsYOl2jnbSJvuktRGI7qY8VeZG5IixglT3RanYK-IgV2W-6vth-PMO5bKLJ3-VkMVw6edJUBZ2z3nnF506eF7QFFz-K1LBUH5G3Zc0N4c1AkM/s320/DSC01597.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400149360639003858" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ek219eCOi-avvBb-tZ-WlJTrmmVLAZi4lTxu7yjANQxa1V-_ZtUC_nA6GXNyuh1L3cItouOL5luH7PIHKAU5ZkCvucaZ6LNgxq3fOBxyNKhwFHz0He0BD39U5VcpC1AcJ68jsTP0IMuO/s1600-h/DSC01598.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ek219eCOi-avvBb-tZ-WlJTrmmVLAZi4lTxu7yjANQxa1V-_ZtUC_nA6GXNyuh1L3cItouOL5luH7PIHKAU5ZkCvucaZ6LNgxq3fOBxyNKhwFHz0He0BD39U5VcpC1AcJ68jsTP0IMuO/s320/DSC01598.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400149353297227970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QvvJLcKpxUQTJ3wLTSgQfO1LQ2sv0_06tnTM6eJfExTQ2WjVcs5BQrrVZO8vCCAACi5iNmWsspwmzzEn3AWpA4Senk404FgSxeGF4AW_NZBqkgeuAMdlsQO5Mjsrc9fY7bU0KwtmxwxL/s1600-h/DSC01599.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QvvJLcKpxUQTJ3wLTSgQfO1LQ2sv0_06tnTM6eJfExTQ2WjVcs5BQrrVZO8vCCAACi5iNmWsspwmzzEn3AWpA4Senk404FgSxeGF4AW_NZBqkgeuAMdlsQO5Mjsrc9fY7bU0KwtmxwxL/s320/DSC01599.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400149349789193570" /></a><br /></div><div>On our way down, we followed a small stretch of the stone steps...</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhi0opP2Sx72aej2b9YcWP43FcJQ7Pix3qRj8HuQjGImSDw7EGmIyJYgtUuFi-ZK0Ool8OQk1ZDJhtQVzCbd6f-zSPLQ9BgpX_cz9Xhvkw-T2eHZIVjc8qqnAFP5PwFAHeU0cgQ6WXr4f9/s1600-h/DSC01606.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhi0opP2Sx72aej2b9YcWP43FcJQ7Pix3qRj8HuQjGImSDw7EGmIyJYgtUuFi-ZK0Ool8OQk1ZDJhtQVzCbd6f-zSPLQ9BgpX_cz9Xhvkw-T2eHZIVjc8qqnAFP5PwFAHeU0cgQ6WXr4f9/s320/DSC01606.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400149343622665506" /></a><br /></div><div>We stopped following the stone steps at the point shown in the picture below, and got back onto the tarred TM service road. You can see from the picture that the stone steps were very slick from the rain the previous night, making the path very perilous to travel on. That was why we used the TM service road instead. So, here's a warning to all hikers who intend to attempt the "One Thousand Two Hundred Steps": don't take the path if it had been raining.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglu9n3Hq7-rC6JeiGyyPvGJAOWrNZwok_QlFS-biRrkJ40QpVflkILfpC76qz6OtIo5xng81a7MpPGz4wYZ8aA6TveijWX7liCndjIKbINXE7wdfxJfNpG8-vl-bbthXYdtN4uuX6cntEg/s1600-h/DSC01607.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglu9n3Hq7-rC6JeiGyyPvGJAOWrNZwok_QlFS-biRrkJ40QpVflkILfpC76qz6OtIo5xng81a7MpPGz4wYZ8aA6TveijWX7liCndjIKbINXE7wdfxJfNpG8-vl-bbthXYdtN4uuX6cntEg/s320/DSC01607.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400149339620090930" /></a><br /></div>Dumbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08096394768049149435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6746865025267364907.post-25877387647236210352009-11-04T15:11:00.003+08:002009-11-04T15:31:14.315+08:00Dumbo up the Hills - #6: The Balik Pulau Hill<div>I don't really know what that hill is called. I think I didn't even asked. After all, there was a local - Thomas - to guide me, so I did not really ask a lot of question. Except "will it be a difficult climb?" and "how long will it take?" :-)</div><div><br /></div><div>***</div><div><br /></div><div>The path is actually a cement path wide enough for small trucks, which local durian orchard owners use to carry their durian harvests down the hill during the durian season. On normal days, the orchard owners use motorcycle to access their "turfs", while us hikers take advantage of this path to advance our health. :-)</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XfzpKHWLReaWEo4KE2R6u3UCR-LXpGjybECn2POgsDSWqQL5rOHy53GlgXEfQVigu7Wt5Bvd7HwUgB1IPFGGFp7WKTbVc152-6GGvlSgrfZFsOb9-PM70G_M5PDtTnvl-Wa35T2tGvxB/s1600-h/DSC01563.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XfzpKHWLReaWEo4KE2R6u3UCR-LXpGjybECn2POgsDSWqQL5rOHy53GlgXEfQVigu7Wt5Bvd7HwUgB1IPFGGFp7WKTbVc152-6GGvlSgrfZFsOb9-PM70G_M5PDtTnvl-Wa35T2tGvxB/s320/DSC01563.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400143435519971090" /></a><br /><div>The view was marvelous all along the way... that is, if your mind is not yet preoccupied with the thought of how tired you are. :-D</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZej5LnvPQ11rmsCDDF8G7bPpz-SE4lpfM9dYz5goVZcT_s39KqlzX2O789A26tf4Q7WwkD70gCy-vB-MLie5844O9qG-NjTSyQMYLTXJ2sx__kNRhKhgJlT6QDoO9T35aBs_vNkv-b-k/s1600-h/DSC01566.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZej5LnvPQ11rmsCDDF8G7bPpz-SE4lpfM9dYz5goVZcT_s39KqlzX2O789A26tf4Q7WwkD70gCy-vB-MLie5844O9qG-NjTSyQMYLTXJ2sx__kNRhKhgJlT6QDoO9T35aBs_vNkv-b-k/s320/DSC01566.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400143431253633762" /></a><br /></div><div>I particularly like the following stretch along which some Pinang palms (from which the Penang Island derived its name) were planted.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQKjqLK10BpNmD2uLhffeI8_CmkWquC_VdTjr_LUUKZGNZhG9rvQ2TxBOyMg8yRjkLOC2GCxNe2JFqnX9qLAr4iGJ2ZH4WMudvWjLmSxDDXGX6btPtMib37YWFJd4oLi_JBXnNvJ115u1/s1600-h/DSC01567.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQKjqLK10BpNmD2uLhffeI8_CmkWquC_VdTjr_LUUKZGNZhG9rvQ2TxBOyMg8yRjkLOC2GCxNe2JFqnX9qLAr4iGJ2ZH4WMudvWjLmSxDDXGX6btPtMib37YWFJd4oLi_JBXnNvJ115u1/s320/DSC01567.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400143423689331922" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69RQSFiPI4uj086amSr4m3p1H8d8xd56GJu-PP1EgCLhcchk9JI7xWQthYfZmr69nUaRg4C2xvju6mLubnSi2IIG2iI3mw_l-hAZRvT9HIHXb9AxAbJWLgmykUzXkz28TA8LxAsf3Oxts/s1600-h/DSC01568.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69RQSFiPI4uj086amSr4m3p1H8d8xd56GJu-PP1EgCLhcchk9JI7xWQthYfZmr69nUaRg4C2xvju6mLubnSi2IIG2iI3mw_l-hAZRvT9HIHXb9AxAbJWLgmykUzXkz28TA8LxAsf3Oxts/s320/DSC01568.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400143421831572818" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65jIkhfZbdmzmnzNdAh8SBVnga8DUahbUASYXAGyK16w8lH-CNwogO3gho3lk7XCBte1CN5Tk46sWDo9gaaBi2d3EugbvkR6ezVTDxrwqBTeyzd2O1eQ4YF0UA7VFqDd0wjf3o9pxByXJ/s1600-h/DSC01569.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65jIkhfZbdmzmnzNdAh8SBVnga8DUahbUASYXAGyK16w8lH-CNwogO3gho3lk7XCBte1CN5Tk46sWDo9gaaBi2d3EugbvkR6ezVTDxrwqBTeyzd2O1eQ4YF0UA7VFqDd0wjf3o9pxByXJ/s320/DSC01569.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400143417993532898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmvxkf6kiw8Ggyf1YPWQ-YMt1CiE-riicLdiSKB4Fpynm9gQAhXHO1tnedKFvpf9dOICUNb26nCxFVTaGdnaTHtsz5WMz3i3DyaQlshfhi0RIK_Jbq8jcxbLB5J8YDzucBmTT7rKLFN3U/s1600-h/DSC01570.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmvxkf6kiw8Ggyf1YPWQ-YMt1CiE-riicLdiSKB4Fpynm9gQAhXHO1tnedKFvpf9dOICUNb26nCxFVTaGdnaTHtsz5WMz3i3DyaQlshfhi0RIK_Jbq8jcxbLB5J8YDzucBmTT7rKLFN3U/s320/DSC01570.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400143117113189426" /></a><br /></div><div>It took us nearly two hours (if I remember correctly) to reach the "top". It is not exactly the peak of the hill, but for hikers, that serves as a main destination point. It is actually a crossroad of sort, with a pavilion built smack at the middle of it.</div><div><br /></div><div>During durian seasons, orchard owners and durian middlemen would gather here to sort of "auction" for the fruits. It's a rather happening place at those times. :-)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPY2Qy7klvIihe79kTZ13pkIQpOy_QcOeA82aGB-jNzh5GKe6FXVHTTtU65eQI5BsjJrdHLVpPbhmXBSxf0WrvFwCZP3ErklU6lXN-9Xe5gQOy5SuVJ-6Nt_ee20YRcgkBWNZiuNadpLj/s1600-h/DSC01573.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPY2Qy7klvIihe79kTZ13pkIQpOy_QcOeA82aGB-jNzh5GKe6FXVHTTtU65eQI5BsjJrdHLVpPbhmXBSxf0WrvFwCZP3ErklU6lXN-9Xe5gQOy5SuVJ-6Nt_ee20YRcgkBWNZiuNadpLj/s320/DSC01573.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400143110076274706" /></a><br /></div><div>If you continue onward, you would descend to the <a href="http://dumbo-studio.blogspot.com/2009/07/dumbo-up-hill-1-good-old-ayer-itam-dam.html">Air Itam Dam</a>...</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfHgKAruVExqymTFTPcgf1Wg_Yo8fy2fMXyL-VRWUVmEOZdX6rfxtwA2Q4cKPiO4ltM3FChrGOgSouFp32FSLKyGqXdjOpZoL332O3ZrZqa5tSudfbUqJiNglJ45F3Lz-xZVA7_rkgvL_/s1600-h/DSC01575.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfHgKAruVExqymTFTPcgf1Wg_Yo8fy2fMXyL-VRWUVmEOZdX6rfxtwA2Q4cKPiO4ltM3FChrGOgSouFp32FSLKyGqXdjOpZoL332O3ZrZqa5tSudfbUqJiNglJ45F3Lz-xZVA7_rkgvL_/s320/DSC01575.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400143107019371490" /></a><br /></div><div>And if you turn left, you would ascend further to a higher point at which a temple was built (I would on a later occasion follow my uncle on a hike up to that point; but that's another story for later). And if you turn right, um... I don't quite remember now where it leads to, but I think it is also another temple or something.</div><div><br /></div><div>The view from the "top" was wonderful...</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_2rOypDdB59EdGKIey8F4sVXPjqguOClY0BfAy3CwDO3nFi5v9NK66_Tibq_RwOlenrBTtEreCT3mYYQfzJcOW0gGo1iYapGFe52SsxdyF2xcJyo-IRuI6KwONvXsFlXu8tbMy7k8EbS/s1600-h/DSC01576.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_2rOypDdB59EdGKIey8F4sVXPjqguOClY0BfAy3CwDO3nFi5v9NK66_Tibq_RwOlenrBTtEreCT3mYYQfzJcOW0gGo1iYapGFe52SsxdyF2xcJyo-IRuI6KwONvXsFlXu8tbMy7k8EbS/s320/DSC01576.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400143104699174786" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnfnXARgmZb6q9BVqJTZ53oy0fiZNwEx1FPSzguMUIoi9pchU1N08NH3XWJtUXYoIEGmcLu8EfjhQXAdU70jXoet3NZnNf8yacydeGlrxSsJjXyD6WWqM3PYNN_U0tkidquSoaNnlLGYg/s1600-h/DSC01577.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnfnXARgmZb6q9BVqJTZ53oy0fiZNwEx1FPSzguMUIoi9pchU1N08NH3XWJtUXYoIEGmcLu8EfjhQXAdU70jXoet3NZnNf8yacydeGlrxSsJjXyD6WWqM3PYNN_U0tkidquSoaNnlLGYg/s320/DSC01577.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400143096958057698" /></a><br /></div>Dumbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08096394768049149435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6746865025267364907.post-21302074131471613742009-11-04T02:40:00.007+08:002009-11-04T03:52:02.908+08:00Dumbo the Accidental Baker - #4: Various Misses Before the Eventual SuccessIt was bruised ego rather than perseverance, I think, that made me continue to churn out load after load (or rather, loaf after loaf) of failed breads. :-) I eventually got it right (to an acceptable extent), but here below are some of my "notable" failures before the final success:<br /><br />***<br /><br />#1: Chocolate Bun Wannabes<br /><br />The chunks of chocolate on top of the buns was the only useful "discovery" here...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2NjQEYjOgEM1Bw5A01VJaxqfmJ8plvIbCfq7I_PfcrktWO7yX5itmOzPopbUmo7FSEbcoXRaVmRIIVEX0tUqXOa1x5CcAGRjiXjVqHCmduayIJ0vkwifUlzMG5JjgeSKsmckfi_e_m7-/s1600-h/DSC02433.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2NjQEYjOgEM1Bw5A01VJaxqfmJ8plvIbCfq7I_PfcrktWO7yX5itmOzPopbUmo7FSEbcoXRaVmRIIVEX0tUqXOa1x5CcAGRjiXjVqHCmduayIJ0vkwifUlzMG5JjgeSKsmckfi_e_m7-/s320/DSC02433.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399953240541842226" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomu37bU7iIVlEbvtotCxonKBarp-O_slcTLUDOi_NYIVbqNCgZ74Kcv8AfqN9wvanUYR7YhaiF_wacWGNIOiSLmbgLpT0hcgQeJR2LDBCZB-zQDVvLqwWIDmSJ1JQ-sWDFIIyVHfQKIGl/s1600-h/DSC02434.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomu37bU7iIVlEbvtotCxonKBarp-O_slcTLUDOi_NYIVbqNCgZ74Kcv8AfqN9wvanUYR7YhaiF_wacWGNIOiSLmbgLpT0hcgQeJR2LDBCZB-zQDVvLqwWIDmSJ1JQ-sWDFIIyVHfQKIGl/s320/DSC02434.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399953233652138226" border="0" /></a><br />They were edible - and we did finish eating them, eventually - but the texture was still rather dense.<br /><br />***<br /><br />#2: What Happened to the Leftover<br /><br />Remember the leftover from the <a href="http://dumbo-studio.blogspot.com/2009/11/dumbo-in-kitchen-16-very-simple-but.html">previous post</a>? This happened to it. :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnf4vJd6fv-aRfvaSWHpLMiFf_ZWk8A6rYcw_bx4sftfeYDeoGsIFhSlkz9xKeERzMaKMtCXL1GUwXWvDKJmhqtwSUaEiHNvIVBJ4DhHa-OOyaG_Qev53yxhxw25Z4gAl9NnwkKJIN7OY/s1600-h/DSC02448.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnf4vJd6fv-aRfvaSWHpLMiFf_ZWk8A6rYcw_bx4sftfeYDeoGsIFhSlkz9xKeERzMaKMtCXL1GUwXWvDKJmhqtwSUaEiHNvIVBJ4DhHa-OOyaG_Qev53yxhxw25Z4gAl9NnwkKJIN7OY/s320/DSC02448.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399952997071843890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAVIx3VGwqfxYVNyuooNRPIgRq_ZNfo93ZCzzv9zCxTKFB3m5FbDBEM1EGPNbPhu_ETDb38issFi1khS7oNL2vzNcDvIwgRog1V8W4fRS9mCxhioYqah5UT_Oob3plMei4RKIUlOhngepu/s1600-h/DSC02449.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAVIx3VGwqfxYVNyuooNRPIgRq_ZNfo93ZCzzv9zCxTKFB3m5FbDBEM1EGPNbPhu_ETDb38issFi1khS7oNL2vzNcDvIwgRog1V8W4fRS9mCxhioYqah5UT_Oob3plMei4RKIUlOhngepu/s320/DSC02449.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399952993132818402" border="0" /></a><br />It looked really interesting as it was taken out of the oven.<br /><br />Then the texture just collapsed after I cut it into slices.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0CAWhtQYxKRmg04QlFFnRJI49CKN7IOaraJ64VmJ0Ii5KRsj_ymu4Apke3brSbGJ3iB0JpjGBF5hDh2ka-GO6Ok3GsBzZ32mJAH7mVzEIFcq4VRwtBJG8SL_7bxhwCrSj44vsTOi1UaWC/s1600-h/DSC02452.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0CAWhtQYxKRmg04QlFFnRJI49CKN7IOaraJ64VmJ0Ii5KRsj_ymu4Apke3brSbGJ3iB0JpjGBF5hDh2ka-GO6Ok3GsBzZ32mJAH7mVzEIFcq4VRwtBJG8SL_7bxhwCrSj44vsTOi1UaWC/s320/DSC02452.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399952990964931042" border="0" /></a><br />The taste of the sweet potato was not very obvious. But the chunks of lotus seeds were interesting.<br /><br />***<br /><br />#3: The Nutty Seven<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwnCznHXT55meG3jmKU16ARfzu5fL0pmjxOEYngla3MkELp88eftT0sEKlNkLu0-9B-SyWaSQZ1iONQ_01ZfU6_thpR5O62P8KFlw8koMchxZwgdJCYYreSe1oCLG8bOb0MP7GmaA7zDTD/s1600-h/DSC02454.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwnCznHXT55meG3jmKU16ARfzu5fL0pmjxOEYngla3MkELp88eftT0sEKlNkLu0-9B-SyWaSQZ1iONQ_01ZfU6_thpR5O62P8KFlw8koMchxZwgdJCYYreSe1oCLG8bOb0MP7GmaA7zDTD/s320/DSC02454.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399952984825745970" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEpfT-A8PPegpdbwliDUqU5zAK7DyG8zY-EdiS6snBfMeBSDQNhcuFsj88dS5dB06YUVhHHJqyweMzl4QE_sq1j3LtSPCpWnoARcu4Uwyuu1wBWuktxMgsyu6WAAb4s7qAVZPCz3OENw_/s1600-h/DSC02457.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEpfT-A8PPegpdbwliDUqU5zAK7DyG8zY-EdiS6snBfMeBSDQNhcuFsj88dS5dB06YUVhHHJqyweMzl4QE_sq1j3LtSPCpWnoARcu4Uwyuu1wBWuktxMgsyu6WAAb4s7qAVZPCz3OENw_/s320/DSC02457.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399952982814251154" border="0" /></a><br />Verdict: Again, too dense; and somehow, the almond chunks were not very tasty.<br /><br />***<br /><br />#4: The Seedy Character<br /><br />I discovered pumpkin seeds at the baking supply store. Wonderful stuff for men, particularly their prostate glands. :-p<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7eW6F0NihXtLGbFwi6AOo8dVW2jIZftDo2wPrQ9b_fkXokkemOrwprzNgnpBAcLXwUC3HyUEzEUJDeZDUjmHDzkUUnCTS13XVqSIP1oZa6bs-0JiL-hUntT10-Jxqr8SMFosq1wQPj7F/s1600-h/DSC02462.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7eW6F0NihXtLGbFwi6AOo8dVW2jIZftDo2wPrQ9b_fkXokkemOrwprzNgnpBAcLXwUC3HyUEzEUJDeZDUjmHDzkUUnCTS13XVqSIP1oZa6bs-0JiL-hUntT10-Jxqr8SMFosq1wQPj7F/s320/DSC02462.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399953373229849874" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvsww2rt5IllNS2T7HJLsvCF-KSN98uH1Mtr3qjL-trmagSR2Sa900vFcJiTZVHtYyq-sKPnprCjSC8KxRGoh8R7Wx_1DvTCsFs1gf-EA2UpvU609WyZzJaF82fgxgipIQXhJMGn-bdPt/s1600-h/DSC02465.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvsww2rt5IllNS2T7HJLsvCF-KSN98uH1Mtr3qjL-trmagSR2Sa900vFcJiTZVHtYyq-sKPnprCjSC8KxRGoh8R7Wx_1DvTCsFs1gf-EA2UpvU609WyZzJaF82fgxgipIQXhJMGn-bdPt/s320/DSC02465.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399952597033326642" border="0" /></a><br />Again, this looked good fresh out of the oven.<br /><br />But - again - it collapsed under the knife. This prompted me to get a real bread knife later.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqTA3KQIV2k6hiODaM7HhuA8Ct3Pdb1LkA657yYutREMqbBvKglzAo3eY3_v2M8vfgCQJEZZVGcjhx67VZ-AlP42OeEo8LA3DClMt6Lt_7VodAgvxsRm9TFcElsqF7EtxCiOuBuVXg7on/s1600-h/DSC02467.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqTA3KQIV2k6hiODaM7HhuA8Ct3Pdb1LkA657yYutREMqbBvKglzAo3eY3_v2M8vfgCQJEZZVGcjhx67VZ-AlP42OeEo8LA3DClMt6Lt_7VodAgvxsRm9TFcElsqF7EtxCiOuBuVXg7on/s320/DSC02467.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399952587376433538" border="0" /></a><br />***<br /><br />#5: Quasimodo<br /><br />It started out looking "normal".<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGm8jbSzcZRengqYwQ0TGUdpl4Bjtu0x0BD4YHz88CZ6APJ-Sn3oUyM81G7-ypVUBndSNQp3POabuSrEhJH1lIQhTfp59B-t-g3U4lwNNA3EMAvx6rQISrKWrGC2aqb015CcHBcmcS4R5/s1600-h/DSC02468.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGm8jbSzcZRengqYwQ0TGUdpl4Bjtu0x0BD4YHz88CZ6APJ-Sn3oUyM81G7-ypVUBndSNQp3POabuSrEhJH1lIQhTfp59B-t-g3U4lwNNA3EMAvx6rQISrKWrGC2aqb015CcHBcmcS4R5/s320/DSC02468.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399952581174059202" border="0" /></a><br />But actually, the lump of dough you see in the picture above was not a spherical piece of dough. It had been rolled into a thick "rope" and then twisted into a "heap".<br /><br />So, it rose into a weird shape...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQtGB-qzjmMfM_-AuXAFf4hGAhR5336Jc9ww5E-Y7P25vrmBpYi-ZGVBKe6NHoaRSUYZGcb3SgkhxL9KmIQHHxPeaZN4q1hpIYe22as8Gt_OTAAjE6cHNpkPe1c_3lhUS1Zk28UiyuGTN/s1600-h/DSC02469.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQtGB-qzjmMfM_-AuXAFf4hGAhR5336Jc9ww5E-Y7P25vrmBpYi-ZGVBKe6NHoaRSUYZGcb3SgkhxL9KmIQHHxPeaZN4q1hpIYe22as8Gt_OTAAjE6cHNpkPe1c_3lhUS1Zk28UiyuGTN/s320/DSC02469.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399952579690331106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkcAU1KyeSD7fFCrri68k3cjQlffA7gbI1V6-7QvMva5wdmrRQmYQO8zSfCNei77Y1szchs6K7ccAyKKiv2tg1w2vMYkrQlfMY1l2Knz2wiiScJFTkgLhn00iw4MFnlq_e9yFF8crSfaTL/s1600-h/DSC02470.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkcAU1KyeSD7fFCrri68k3cjQlffA7gbI1V6-7QvMva5wdmrRQmYQO8zSfCNei77Y1szchs6K7ccAyKKiv2tg1w2vMYkrQlfMY1l2Knz2wiiScJFTkgLhn00iw4MFnlq_e9yFF8crSfaTL/s320/DSC02470.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399952576006655826" border="0" /></a><br />I actually ate most part of it. The rest, well, it's another story, for later. :-)<br /><br />***<br /><br />#6: The Not-to-be Banana Buns<br /><br />Being unhappy - extremely unhappy - with my previous attempt at the "<a href="http://dumbo-studio.blogspot.com/2009/09/dumbo-accidental-baker-3-rock-mushy-and.html">Banana Clouds</a>", I made another attempt at introducing banana to the dough.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakCJaJDG6PcyxlokLZOaJ6-9IKStIpYQTryVOsHYWo5l8L6d4rYWKn_jTqB6M3XO7knBydZ1F0RwOa9fm8sU2ywm0VHFK7fREzQbZGkZinso7kykJBQMIB5-NDGXgLjy6C08Jd58d-iDd/s1600-h/DSC02473.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakCJaJDG6PcyxlokLZOaJ6-9IKStIpYQTryVOsHYWo5l8L6d4rYWKn_jTqB6M3XO7knBydZ1F0RwOa9fm8sU2ywm0VHFK7fREzQbZGkZinso7kykJBQMIB5-NDGXgLjy6C08Jd58d-iDd/s320/DSC02473.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399952317221252434" border="0" /></a><br />Well, it was again unsuccessful, and what became of them - most of them anyway - was another story, for later (together with Quasimodo).<br /><br />***<br /><br />#7: The Half Success<br /><br />I just bought a couple of pound-cake/loaf trays, and I decided to make a small chocolate loaf for my wife's breakfast.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDlgcO6J5G0MeR7lepdTxF_xxskuvD1JRLZGWP4L2SBy_6-K22RUnzv-Y8lyCP0JU16SDfaC17AWPENo3WWyy48SGT_Yb6NohjuNzhwEY4uz-5BBQV5idrAO_saWUMtiJi7v3OZdzDmi7X/s1600-h/DSC02491.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDlgcO6J5G0MeR7lepdTxF_xxskuvD1JRLZGWP4L2SBy_6-K22RUnzv-Y8lyCP0JU16SDfaC17AWPENo3WWyy48SGT_Yb6NohjuNzhwEY4uz-5BBQV5idrAO_saWUMtiJi7v3OZdzDmi7X/s320/DSC02491.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399952311155987682" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezIMVRQEzmuznUmAU9RM8gSSKfxvem-HczQoEdfTEy1-SvTfRoh7Cx5ctHwyGWlp71grDpMYzeq1Ok4wzewqbyjFgOfmsEbCyAID_G1RtafRHOqtwPV0itlgJQ1qO8oxyB4Zkh4bJPhwc/s1600-h/DSC02492.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezIMVRQEzmuznUmAU9RM8gSSKfxvem-HczQoEdfTEy1-SvTfRoh7Cx5ctHwyGWlp71grDpMYzeq1Ok4wzewqbyjFgOfmsEbCyAID_G1RtafRHOqtwPV0itlgJQ1qO8oxyB4Zkh4bJPhwc/s320/DSC02492.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399952309021867026" border="0" /></a><br />The mistake I made was that I put the tray this time on the bottom rack (because I felt that for the previous attempts, the bottom part of the loaf/bun tended to be less "cooked", if you know what I mean), and it charred the bottom of the loaf. :-(<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOPdgPw42qRn-zwUPilcb1txbhvhHjMoV7_SWJcWWMmJjHBFlYsEvr5m2Mt24FtdNtPdYj5e44rhcIt7BvsAlusaBg3f64Ph6FryaXzXU-1hhX-0yBeSMOm7x1Rrc9kLKsI9wrDncdp6w/s1600-h/DSC02493.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOPdgPw42qRn-zwUPilcb1txbhvhHjMoV7_SWJcWWMmJjHBFlYsEvr5m2Mt24FtdNtPdYj5e44rhcIt7BvsAlusaBg3f64Ph6FryaXzXU-1hhX-0yBeSMOm7x1Rrc9kLKsI9wrDncdp6w/s320/DSC02493.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399952303275616018" border="0" /></a><br />But the top was delicious! (After cutting away the charred bottom half, that is.) And the texture was kind of soft - almost the way I had been wanting it to be.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3p8YtqMt28D6rxpx8KWNJI-4OQoppyEwXK8qYbKc4ZFsUiZrTRIpab7pwWoLE4WKKK3JIFOyqSV3h1crtUETKQ0rRz-F7ge1_qyaKaOaSzPL-TrFez3Kq1VbnsxgSyLkO-GCKMS3JQQKp/s1600-h/DSC02494.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3p8YtqMt28D6rxpx8KWNJI-4OQoppyEwXK8qYbKc4ZFsUiZrTRIpab7pwWoLE4WKKK3JIFOyqSV3h1crtUETKQ0rRz-F7ge1_qyaKaOaSzPL-TrFez3Kq1VbnsxgSyLkO-GCKMS3JQQKp/s320/DSC02494.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399952298305754818" border="0" /></a><br />And what made it doubly delicious was the chunks of chocolate I just simply rolled inside the dough. It was especially yummy when it was still steaming hot from the oven, as the chocolate would be in this melted state that just filled up your whole mouth with its tastiness. Yum!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3OUFgLat_0F9qZ2rBQ7NYKR3goQBzdkSubu0TFX2XcKEtDHFD-ud0XXDr09ciFz3IViQLTnwH8G24XjF4-T8Fs8GrUSw7m3y-mgAc9Kss4fZfDxDrSMhJJR5hQ09tKv3MBMKIUWbZTxP/s1600-h/DSC02495.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3OUFgLat_0F9qZ2rBQ7NYKR3goQBzdkSubu0TFX2XcKEtDHFD-ud0XXDr09ciFz3IViQLTnwH8G24XjF4-T8Fs8GrUSw7m3y-mgAc9Kss4fZfDxDrSMhJJR5hQ09tKv3MBMKIUWbZTxP/s320/DSC02495.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399951553925469330" border="0" /></a><br />***<br /><br />#8: The Failure Before the Success<br /><br />The chocolate half-success above was made with one cup of flour. This one here used one and a half. It was still not enough to fill the tray (even after rising). I would later discovered that it takes two cups of flour to make a loaf large enough to fill the tray.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-l8Bu-c5f1vd075VojRQ-S3i7njwO9Pgx8ydzkMwbJbi7_WMDS5rykcGkTw8a2MyfsOX7W13w2NAmMCV1wj1_F0y0ZMAg_7oTXEd22FDTMtXb-GCIDG_QEngtG4CzXxKwUp27sz9brba/s1600-h/DSC02498.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-l8Bu-c5f1vd075VojRQ-S3i7njwO9Pgx8ydzkMwbJbi7_WMDS5rykcGkTw8a2MyfsOX7W13w2NAmMCV1wj1_F0y0ZMAg_7oTXEd22FDTMtXb-GCIDG_QEngtG4CzXxKwUp27sz9brba/s320/DSC02498.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399951549882243394" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitzf7e7SAOAvs62_4OIpp5uJ-Wyz5rteRa3E0lTwlMmX7KocVaQdtGlnPeKrtl-c1uHNI9yfkOmlwP8fF8_1kkKrmHqpYDSy2FM78C883S-p6SJCJWUL6E4O8AlARjrvi8_dzp4aNFwB3Z/s1600-h/DSC02499.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitzf7e7SAOAvs62_4OIpp5uJ-Wyz5rteRa3E0lTwlMmX7KocVaQdtGlnPeKrtl-c1uHNI9yfkOmlwP8fF8_1kkKrmHqpYDSy2FM78C883S-p6SJCJWUL6E4O8AlARjrvi8_dzp4aNFwB3Z/s320/DSC02499.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399951552429203138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCIosGLXeCAODKOcatQ2OS-KYtBFvgj7IkejdzAcEt6b9lHpDXkqxTncqlyddS_ysjSYULpQ0b9-Rk1Ts_qWczLM_pjVKNMQIZsOR1flKi_wEZ4XoEPIEf-o8RqqxQbqb8lFIMJ9-Hpvp/s1600-h/DSC02500.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCIosGLXeCAODKOcatQ2OS-KYtBFvgj7IkejdzAcEt6b9lHpDXkqxTncqlyddS_ysjSYULpQ0b9-Rk1Ts_qWczLM_pjVKNMQIZsOR1flKi_wEZ4XoEPIEf-o8RqqxQbqb8lFIMJ9-Hpvp/s320/DSC02500.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399951546422434034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJ05fPIGEkOkXo7g74EumO_OWP8k5JfAHemswTdkHmGVOpRdKpRLAsvnQDI2M9LQdcz7nG9VHilga6zklYmdSEh5yEwH0HZvY13iIu01i0Qq72x31I6TNybs6BA13HLiQ3MYM0qaxmxab/s1600-h/DSC02503.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJ05fPIGEkOkXo7g74EumO_OWP8k5JfAHemswTdkHmGVOpRdKpRLAsvnQDI2M9LQdcz7nG9VHilga6zklYmdSEh5yEwH0HZvY13iIu01i0Qq72x31I6TNybs6BA13HLiQ3MYM0qaxmxab/s320/DSC02503.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399951544561715394" border="0" /></a><br />Other than being too small (not filling up the tray), this was again not yet a success because the texture was still dense. :-(<br /><br />As the bad guys in cartoons are wont to say: I'll get you next time!Dumbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08096394768049149435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6746865025267364907.post-19548677678546379352009-11-04T02:09:00.002+08:002009-11-04T02:27:18.666+08:00Dumbo in the Kitchen - #16: A Very Simple but Very Delicious DessertFresh lotus seeds. Sweet potatoes. Rock sugar. Water. And fire, for the cooking, of course.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPzVhcHswJwKdyS0F__-L3ciS-fJuOOGmqlg9Kum44kugvMX8_PERoZY_23no-PCyuMQ5TZIoE3TQdE-HD1vKKvQ5Z_caUDr-8KGQjX1wD-MwnfoUqlzp_5PJvYfew8G98pPKmg3mxn2Z/s1600-h/DSC02439.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPzVhcHswJwKdyS0F__-L3ciS-fJuOOGmqlg9Kum44kugvMX8_PERoZY_23no-PCyuMQ5TZIoE3TQdE-HD1vKKvQ5Z_caUDr-8KGQjX1wD-MwnfoUqlzp_5PJvYfew8G98pPKmg3mxn2Z/s320/DSC02439.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399941352015775234" border="0" /></a><br />I almost always buy vegetables from the same stall. Not that it offers the lowest price, or that it offers the most varieties, or that it offers the freshest vegetables (I'm happy with the varieties and the freshness, nonetheless), but because the stall owner - an early-middle-age auntie - often spontaneously offers customers cooking advices without being asked for. And sometimes you do find gems in her advices.<br /><br />It was the eighth month of the lunar calendar, when traditionally the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mooncake">mooncake</a> festival is celebrated by us Chinese. And the filling of the traditional mooncake is made of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_seed_paste">lotus seed paste</a> (with lots of sugar added, of course). Therefore, the vegetable stall happened to have some fresh supplies of lotus seeds. "Try a pack of these," said the auntie, "these make some wickedly delicious sweet soup with sweet potatoes. I happen to have some nice sweet potatoes over there, too." What a wonderful salesperson she is. And I was persuaded.<br /><br />And I must say, I did not regret it at all. The amount of fresh lotus seeds and sweet potatoes I bought was enough for a huge pot of the sweet soup (again, I used the thermos pot; wonderful invention, that), so, for the entire day that day, my wife and I ate almost nothing but this sweet soup. It was lunch, tea, dinner, supper, and the leftover, well, you will find out about the leftover in another post later. ;-)<br /><br />If you happen to come across some fresh lotus seeds, don't think twice; just grab a pack and some sweet potatoes. You won't regret it. :-)Dumbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08096394768049149435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6746865025267364907.post-53635947338877425432009-09-17T08:49:00.005+08:002009-09-19T06:06:44.489+08:00Dumbo the Accidental Baker - #3: The Rock, the Mushy, and the DenseFollowing my first two near-successes, I became very - even overly - enthusiastic about bread-making, and in the few days that followed, I made several more attempts (sometimes, twice a day). Listed below, in order of "occurrence", are attempt #3 ("The Rock"), attempt #4 ("The Mushy"), and attempt #5 ("The Dense").<br /><br />***<br /><br />A few bananas hanging on the kitchen wall were getting over-ripe, so I decided to puree them and throw them into the dough. My first - and I'm sure not the last - attempt at banana bread (most of the times, "banana breads" are actually a kind of quick bread; here, what I was attempting was an ordinary sort of bread, since I did not know - and do not intend to learn yet - how to make quick breads).<br /><br />I had wanted to make a half-size bread using only 1 and a half cups of flour, but I forgot that banana puree contains moisture - and lots of it - on top of the half cup of water I put in, so I found myself kept adding flour to the mixture, and it ended up a full-size one, with about 3 cups of flour in it. =.=<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uMGMZd1QAyBc_FagIKHjezDwHx6cA-PCgeKAjIYKv-ILUWlh01dSnWZa6WIZIlDNRDqqgwkOkAj-KCw4FGiSWK9u-hHSLxKWwlmyohSCvPNB8MsRiszZjmKI7jcOxUkj5HAaq62JkcY0/s1600-h/DSC02416.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uMGMZd1QAyBc_FagIKHjezDwHx6cA-PCgeKAjIYKv-ILUWlh01dSnWZa6WIZIlDNRDqqgwkOkAj-KCw4FGiSWK9u-hHSLxKWwlmyohSCvPNB8MsRiszZjmKI7jcOxUkj5HAaq62JkcY0/s320/DSC02416.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382233039766779922" border="0" /></a><br />I tried to shape them into "rolls", like cinnamon rolls, but it ended up looking more like comic depiction of you-know-what. But I prefer to think of it as "clouds". Banana clouds. Not bad, I thought.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtBuwtPy6QSbOpxa54Yp_T7sVLgypF7iUkgwVgY9u_ujT80EkZmajpog_AR-I4PIMD35SyukbU4mHu4Ri5wcKJIBk0GRhaps_QN6PPuttpph9QNrjjgRoCh3fIqJgdN6ZxqjN8xAAyTaK/s1600-h/DSC02417.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtBuwtPy6QSbOpxa54Yp_T7sVLgypF7iUkgwVgY9u_ujT80EkZmajpog_AR-I4PIMD35SyukbU4mHu4Ri5wcKJIBk0GRhaps_QN6PPuttpph9QNrjjgRoCh3fIqJgdN6ZxqjN8xAAyTaK/s320/DSC02417.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382233028615486050" border="0" /></a><br />Well, so much for calling it banana "clouds". They ended up having none of the fluffiness of clouds, but plenty of hardness as when you have not gone a few days. :-p At least the color looks healthy, if you know what I mean. And I'm sure it will float. :-D<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4FNnxVjqnIYLJQJ77vaItSsX2TcL-ufY3YprVHcXwD0xLOeYgsiiHVtOpanzn9S7FNwKuQrjcdLrXWYW3K58Qm9LIjn9wzemC7mf8oraoHfUNIEN-rmQ7K64Iz9fQd0uJ61YhpVjTVJ3/s1600-h/DSC02418.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4FNnxVjqnIYLJQJ77vaItSsX2TcL-ufY3YprVHcXwD0xLOeYgsiiHVtOpanzn9S7FNwKuQrjcdLrXWYW3K58Qm9LIjn9wzemC7mf8oraoHfUNIEN-rmQ7K64Iz9fQd0uJ61YhpVjTVJ3/s320/DSC02418.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382233025607377490" border="0" /></a><br />But, to be fair to myself, it was quite good, when dunked in hot chocolate or spread with peanut butter. O, it had only a very faint smell of banana, and did not taste like banana at all. It was kind of bland. Hence the need for dunking in hot chocolate or spreading with peanut butter. =.=<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOc7s6OBVY5IShqRnklNOnLVQzOjM6LU-M86ymMBKOenkyU9jof8ZUdx2TtxLO0dxQW6Exjs_eCTqKoa6coBogacSG49gHWAPRoxNQqzW_38KCs11xv-FY2w48DYAJWiWVS7HXDi1z1Ga/s1600-h/DSC02427.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOc7s6OBVY5IShqRnklNOnLVQzOjM6LU-M86ymMBKOenkyU9jof8ZUdx2TtxLO0dxQW6Exjs_eCTqKoa6coBogacSG49gHWAPRoxNQqzW_38KCs11xv-FY2w48DYAJWiWVS7HXDi1z1Ga/s320/DSC02427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382232446928623794" border="0" /></a><br />***<br /><br />Then I tried to use butter instead of cooking oil in the recipe. And I used two tablespoons of butter (mistake, which I was to realize later) for the 1-and-a-half-cup-flour dough, which was twice the amount of oil required by the recipe. I was hoping that butter would be the key to the thus-far elusive fluffiness...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbO21WvzkQ8XwPvwulJ8ULCnzyHr8rPSibHNq-dZiIU4Oqy0-0QwUJXmhJdwh4MKHizQ_gmpHBg3_azW1Vet6kql0N-G0aQA96sRXg_PPymEHZjz4372CUKrJFrp4KTv6eaaXSnQXSalTH/s1600-h/DSC02419.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbO21WvzkQ8XwPvwulJ8ULCnzyHr8rPSibHNq-dZiIU4Oqy0-0QwUJXmhJdwh4MKHizQ_gmpHBg3_azW1Vet6kql0N-G0aQA96sRXg_PPymEHZjz4372CUKrJFrp4KTv6eaaXSnQXSalTH/s320/DSC02419.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382233016462407682" border="0" /></a><br />I rolled in some honeyed sunflower seed kernels, and dusted the top with oat powder...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7MAnt-6H8hYE7omYd5oFHqzki2q6SqB-ZeVj0rD_4jZsCODDRmVSdiEtiE6TbcawFOhnqPZdMq-bDBbYd-PSbR17sFfFdlwNtk7SCJQzHMGw9W5L6lWAznlz__fWvbcQoCkMygrIN3IB/s1600-h/DSC02420.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7MAnt-6H8hYE7omYd5oFHqzki2q6SqB-ZeVj0rD_4jZsCODDRmVSdiEtiE6TbcawFOhnqPZdMq-bDBbYd-PSbR17sFfFdlwNtk7SCJQzHMGw9W5L6lWAznlz__fWvbcQoCkMygrIN3IB/s320/DSC02420.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382232776513113202" border="0" /></a><br />Baked the bunch...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1tYbYkxNL3V8MT34BiwigvIVdLPO9J0FEfn6E3cZGQ-3Y426sjL3i6C3DyOBIjxR0-9Tp1HGie-XVGpDN9GBLLety-u-JjtjDJ1F05Djwl-tGYRQIFQ_Hg1zU83XRSAjkvarNMzV2uHb/s1600-h/DSC02422.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1tYbYkxNL3V8MT34BiwigvIVdLPO9J0FEfn6E3cZGQ-3Y426sjL3i6C3DyOBIjxR0-9Tp1HGie-XVGpDN9GBLLety-u-JjtjDJ1F05Djwl-tGYRQIFQ_Hg1zU83XRSAjkvarNMzV2uHb/s320/DSC02422.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382232768994516722" border="0" /></a><br />And got some impressive-looking buns!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUni4O73_a6Jxi5eTwhCN7kSTnMqiugLGJ1ziLZR8Rsk5L3QS6a5OhKFfD-bp9fFPWVVXm0Ek90f-fAuowktiCi8lOch7xkgsoYGLz9aUUmPt8LOraEZJV-QoifWQaIY45WJQA1FQ_55A/s1600-h/DSC02423.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUni4O73_a6Jxi5eTwhCN7kSTnMqiugLGJ1ziLZR8Rsk5L3QS6a5OhKFfD-bp9fFPWVVXm0Ek90f-fAuowktiCi8lOch7xkgsoYGLz9aUUmPt8LOraEZJV-QoifWQaIY45WJQA1FQ_55A/s320/DSC02423.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382232760948805554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOuzWw-e-jSpTt_0WWcE9sAnykGd1hlzttqcMa9VkDCebkD9RmWRSNsWw1fiufqq4OsTxTci6qmZUxSaXtQMUM0sq_tXgSs0-X1snWVce1iUPZImZ3mMMEGYq-ee1evlqmSBpzUlwQvPo/s1600-h/DSC02424.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOuzWw-e-jSpTt_0WWcE9sAnykGd1hlzttqcMa9VkDCebkD9RmWRSNsWw1fiufqq4OsTxTci6qmZUxSaXtQMUM0sq_tXgSs0-X1snWVce1iUPZImZ3mMMEGYq-ee1evlqmSBpzUlwQvPo/s320/DSC02424.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382232753326713618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9RdxZE4vjJHsKAucNl0DDZfc-s35ZS5B4qwk18ADgkxjARoLCQ2FJVAIZFhS9uu8PN8DzPTnTh0fJMQXYA24Rj5bPa7yKzul-7q1QtHAzasE1E354OVCSdWxNjuuLM57eV7YtrfZ3F69/s1600-h/DSC02425.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9RdxZE4vjJHsKAucNl0DDZfc-s35ZS5B4qwk18ADgkxjARoLCQ2FJVAIZFhS9uu8PN8DzPTnTh0fJMQXYA24Rj5bPa7yKzul-7q1QtHAzasE1E354OVCSdWxNjuuLM57eV7YtrfZ3F69/s320/DSC02425.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382232746780113138" border="0" /></a><br />And it tasted soft... and fragrant... it was a success!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXf0Z8am6X2bKUysD7ILFAOwy0k9VECJNGKfC3W_jCg11ziNZWlSOZA4wWtbD0Bprj1zgCI8Lry5NqPnRiUDl4R2xbc0zyR7I2j2TeOQuZBlSrxkBSPCyTxAnWGRY5fbic6_vuaLEKdRW/s1600-h/DSC02426.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXf0Z8am6X2bKUysD7ILFAOwy0k9VECJNGKfC3W_jCg11ziNZWlSOZA4wWtbD0Bprj1zgCI8Lry5NqPnRiUDl4R2xbc0zyR7I2j2TeOQuZBlSrxkBSPCyTxAnWGRY5fbic6_vuaLEKdRW/s320/DSC02426.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382232455117476866" border="0" /></a><br />... or so I thought. I realized in my second bite that the buns were too mushy. The softness is not fluffiness, but rather cake-like in texture, and kind of oily. The description that came to mind was "mushy". =.=<br /><br />And it only tasted good when hot. After it cooled... well, "not nice" is an understatement. :-p<br /><br />***<br /><br />Then <a href="http://mybalikpulau.blogspot.com/">Thomas</a>, our master-baker, advised me that I should sift my flour, and put in a couple of eggs, as emulsifier.<br /><br />Eggs. Hmm.<br /><br />I sifted my flour, and I ignored the egg part. :-D Sorry, Thomas... Because most of the bread recipes I found do not use eggs, therefore I wasn't really convinced. But I listened to your advice about sifting the flour. :-)<br /><br />I tried to make a couple of loaves of wholemeal bread with nuts and seeds (particularly, walnuts and almonds and sunflower seeds and poppy seeds).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqn0mumAK62fNcS-eoxww9o00OVCzpwI8ZIRcpnUaUwKfweiDJ_jAdWge-GsOTxJ-1__Tn56VFSXVY18qrXICtQf1EEwy70yV8pvYetZ-_Dhgkw4LNsCl5RySVxGF4b685ab3kvFL9OUe/s1600-h/DSC02428.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqn0mumAK62fNcS-eoxww9o00OVCzpwI8ZIRcpnUaUwKfweiDJ_jAdWge-GsOTxJ-1__Tn56VFSXVY18qrXICtQf1EEwy70yV8pvYetZ-_Dhgkw4LNsCl5RySVxGF4b685ab3kvFL9OUe/s320/DSC02428.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382232439976486306" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZftcuSsaHR2iGvYenWx6dcpEMaOSYeOuLtolE37nlGik2RJ6s8HbM4mepDYgYEGhnXcMhzWjN9Ht8TuC6UeqKeuPnU52C7bO9n1E44j0l47IVaTqZuyNWhB3wAed1Kiz3qM1x5cHJoaWJ/s1600-h/DSC02429.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZftcuSsaHR2iGvYenWx6dcpEMaOSYeOuLtolE37nlGik2RJ6s8HbM4mepDYgYEGhnXcMhzWjN9Ht8TuC6UeqKeuPnU52C7bO9n1E44j0l47IVaTqZuyNWhB3wAed1Kiz3qM1x5cHJoaWJ/s320/DSC02429.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382232431346023042" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6iLZSXwK1pzWgEMlZ1pHCGoMhEIY7VOWJtQc9oUym22jsouNAX1_xaz6U1rJHWXEn7g0mF_E23p4GkMQxf4w8W5YLtSw0F-yr5S7G080kuFXAapezxkg7ToJruAGhu-Czo02JGIO2WuR/s1600-h/DSC02430.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6iLZSXwK1pzWgEMlZ1pHCGoMhEIY7VOWJtQc9oUym22jsouNAX1_xaz6U1rJHWXEn7g0mF_E23p4GkMQxf4w8W5YLtSw0F-yr5S7G080kuFXAapezxkg7ToJruAGhu-Czo02JGIO2WuR/s320/DSC02430.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382232422087794786" border="0" /></a><br />They looked OK... but a bit flatter than I had hoped.<br /><br />I brought them to our Saturday evening worship service to be shared with the brothers and sisters after the service, and they said they liked the taste. But the honest opinion? "Too err... how do you say?... Dense. The texture is too dense." And I totally agreed.<br /><br />But they bravely stomached them all. You've gotta love them for that. :-)<br /><br />Well, that's what brothers and sisters are for, right? ;-pDumbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08096394768049149435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6746865025267364907.post-32461611253887311292009-09-14T12:51:00.006+08:002009-09-14T13:13:50.174+08:00Dumbo the Accidental Baker - #2: Saving a Limp Lump of DoughSo, what fate became that <a href="http://dumbo-studio.blogspot.com/2009/09/dumbo-accidental-baker-1-simple-english.html">first lump of limp dough</a>?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgsi0Zk9pGkUv_DaOkQzy5w8TuJE-wCph8Xi0xfWkf9AD31ShCXTotexK2gPw7BAhH5c_LIisZF8b-CY-31uD8X040xs776jSGdGO55poM3czC-3TcX8GLo6BfxJ50FmseRKW7Z_iodkD/s1600-h/DSC02393.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgsi0Zk9pGkUv_DaOkQzy5w8TuJE-wCph8Xi0xfWkf9AD31ShCXTotexK2gPw7BAhH5c_LIisZF8b-CY-31uD8X040xs776jSGdGO55poM3czC-3TcX8GLo6BfxJ50FmseRKW7Z_iodkD/s320/DSC02393.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381183633111970114" border="0" /></a><br />I took half a tablespoon of the new batch of active dry yeast, added a little bit of warm water, poured it onto the dough, added a bit more flour, and kneaded away...<br /><br />And finally, after another half an hour, it rose.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdy6SXqhz-OoRj1omwAyxVvJ5fqMK65UlztXqMIP6JjyJk2uF65ce3UWHyjubAS4B9ZoFULIc6ZpSXqjsUSIPnpkUpbKJwCBnlQ7H0ZLXqWzsSTCVThUavqohL2wuza4S8w0EiUIx79Y8-/s1600-h/DSC02400.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdy6SXqhz-OoRj1omwAyxVvJ5fqMK65UlztXqMIP6JjyJk2uF65ce3UWHyjubAS4B9ZoFULIc6ZpSXqjsUSIPnpkUpbKJwCBnlQ7H0ZLXqWzsSTCVThUavqohL2wuza4S8w0EiUIx79Y8-/s320/DSC02400.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381183621033957506" border="0" /></a><br />I happened to have prepared quite a lot of fried shallot the day before, so I rolled the dough into a long strip and twirled in some of that fried shallot...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFK2slM2cc1c_RVgCI7A54rE6ndhmASXcbYUccg4iUbDESH6qYdlCxmeUZN5eq8LhI1S_5PqSQxH3T8GmX6mAwJUy9QVrxgft2VoTb22SQP7FNUEuAarw57o4tzjDF2Nzag41e5gOScfj/s1600-h/DSC02402.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFK2slM2cc1c_RVgCI7A54rE6ndhmASXcbYUccg4iUbDESH6qYdlCxmeUZN5eq8LhI1S_5PqSQxH3T8GmX6mAwJUy9QVrxgft2VoTb22SQP7FNUEuAarw57o4tzjDF2Nzag41e5gOScfj/s320/DSC02402.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381183618392033218" border="0" /></a><br />And let it sit for the second proofing. This time, I was going to bake it in the container it was proofed in.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dY6CFFLTGeVXUjS8xAWwhudAPNuon-SAfRs0awdapLpF-3JTqXq9dHxZ5VMf_d9tX2GJgxhnogIZHbtlLjgIFlaiDwv8v7zaIZr53PKg3xDNxrg-yqqr7sltZNAkC98P1CKYaWjmMDyA/s1600-h/DSC02403.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dY6CFFLTGeVXUjS8xAWwhudAPNuon-SAfRs0awdapLpF-3JTqXq9dHxZ5VMf_d9tX2GJgxhnogIZHbtlLjgIFlaiDwv8v7zaIZr53PKg3xDNxrg-yqqr7sltZNAkC98P1CKYaWjmMDyA/s320/DSC02403.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381183607713879890" border="0" /></a><br />After the second proofing, I dusted it with the same oat-and-muesli dust I prepared for the <a href="http://dumbo-studio.blogspot.com/2009/09/dumbo-accidental-baker-1-simple-english.html">English muffins</a>...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIQlWGNlz43XRrlG4GdPTWWNvpsTjzPWDY81Igvs3uTy7VAu866AiwCiustru18NM_G8DYYwMRObO45LUhMEzI-I4rV6UdUtr6ZFf_cC0AldyrH6NA0iTcL5KGUr2jt9VOgh-fJWoNMUG/s1600-h/DSC02405.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIQlWGNlz43XRrlG4GdPTWWNvpsTjzPWDY81Igvs3uTy7VAu866AiwCiustru18NM_G8DYYwMRObO45LUhMEzI-I4rV6UdUtr6ZFf_cC0AldyrH6NA0iTcL5KGUr2jt9VOgh-fJWoNMUG/s320/DSC02405.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381183599173251746" border="0" /></a><br />And baked it at 175 degree Celcius for twenty minutes (I would later find out from <a href="http://mybalikpulau.blogspot.com/">Thomas</a> that twenty minutes is too long for bread, making the texture too dry and hard).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMUgExECvrG_TVIqliXNgwNIKdpzigZkOnqkHfofuaUjCwy0lE1Fz7ePUpR8RINSo0FOrScMCnWoiQKvK4B7v5UCYYFFu559eeFsw4zsYOIT9HZYxVtdcW6_E4OiMtc9CK2cP6l67YNZB/s1600-h/DSC02409.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMUgExECvrG_TVIqliXNgwNIKdpzigZkOnqkHfofuaUjCwy0lE1Fz7ePUpR8RINSo0FOrScMCnWoiQKvK4B7v5UCYYFFu559eeFsw4zsYOIT9HZYxVtdcW6_E4OiMtc9CK2cP6l67YNZB/s320/DSC02409.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381183272867184962" border="0" /></a><br />It turned out to be rather good. :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9ovOvuN931i4h2G9B_SCdvmkO3U3Mq530MSeNgUiGNikH3CMVo4G73Y8woIcqhGL-46DJTyu6OlbJZ-Fay6_q6K0Y89hmQNDe1Ok6O8DpW0dsfFKMwkSmzlgImHogu6sRMhg2l2OIr2x/s1600-h/DSC02410.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9ovOvuN931i4h2G9B_SCdvmkO3U3Mq530MSeNgUiGNikH3CMVo4G73Y8woIcqhGL-46DJTyu6OlbJZ-Fay6_q6K0Y89hmQNDe1Ok6O8DpW0dsfFKMwkSmzlgImHogu6sRMhg2l2OIr2x/s320/DSC02410.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381183268633811154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuX0RbRv-iu_sdN9HvlRg8KWIgU8-rti-UIs8_cqHNNup0sHWovBrmgjfey3Fle9wW7NXrdcu-tMcwTV7Xf-_2AbCvOAKTSf6x_GuV8mBnh-WwLkJtxItEcPyHSbZBXMMhosbPvmesbsFI/s1600-h/DSC02411.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuX0RbRv-iu_sdN9HvlRg8KWIgU8-rti-UIs8_cqHNNup0sHWovBrmgjfey3Fle9wW7NXrdcu-tMcwTV7Xf-_2AbCvOAKTSf6x_GuV8mBnh-WwLkJtxItEcPyHSbZBXMMhosbPvmesbsFI/s320/DSC02411.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381183262371198962" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHs4H-tSr0WWyAXGotxc0vbAlczN_7XMVeszfV268IdAyo1IBfpbfpo88L7n8nzNGK8c9ni3PLmnJqQp8EejsRMJR3ZnKwZeuJlCH8g_GsP18vFOeuXCPaUhOYydcQoNSZoA0Mw8E5euZ-/s1600-h/DSC02412.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHs4H-tSr0WWyAXGotxc0vbAlczN_7XMVeszfV268IdAyo1IBfpbfpo88L7n8nzNGK8c9ni3PLmnJqQp8EejsRMJR3ZnKwZeuJlCH8g_GsP18vFOeuXCPaUhOYydcQoNSZoA0Mw8E5euZ-/s320/DSC02412.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381183251446689778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qpzoY52ayhPd_MGtAqxXyMh4ZFfvgxBW1ql5y7s4IhRAdfIo8GhImX51zm4wwdVfcDC_ibMGBZkvRwqh06RO86HcuSlOXopet-YcS6LhwJ3HEK9KEYizJyVwW-eoM_lI2AzYcn_joiNg/s1600-h/DSC02413.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qpzoY52ayhPd_MGtAqxXyMh4ZFfvgxBW1ql5y7s4IhRAdfIo8GhImX51zm4wwdVfcDC_ibMGBZkvRwqh06RO86HcuSlOXopet-YcS6LhwJ3HEK9KEYizJyVwW-eoM_lI2AzYcn_joiNg/s320/DSC02413.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381183247870370498" border="0" /></a><br />You can tell from the number of pictures I took that I was rather proud with this attempt. ;-)<br /><br />The bread tasted nice when it was fresh from the oven, with a hint of the fragrance of the fried shallot. It is rather bland when it is cool, because I did not really put in any flavoring.Dumbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08096394768049149435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6746865025267364907.post-80661765449409280562009-09-14T12:05:00.004+08:002009-09-14T12:51:40.890+08:00Dumbo the Accidental Baker - #1: Simple English MuffinsI had always wanted to try my hands at baking bread. Long I had dreamed of the days when I no longer need to buy those mass-produced-bland-tasting-bread with who-knows-what-additives inside. But somehow, I never really, seriously, attempted to make a bread, until the events I related in the <a href="http://dumbo-studio.blogspot.com/2009/09/of-gatherings-and-baking.html">previous post</a>.<br /><br />My eldest sister had once tried to convince me to buy a fully-automatic bread machine from her (she is really into her Amway business), but I still preferred the idea of making breads with my own hands, so I declined. (Besides, she demonstrated making bread with the machine, and the loaf turned out to have one corner not properly mixed - you could still see the flour and sugar and what-not we added as the ingredients.)<br /><br />Actually, after the events related in the previous post, what I was trying to make was muffin, not bread, but then I came across this unbelievably simple recipe for "<a href="http://www.muffinrecipes.net/simple-english-muffins.html">Simple English Muffins</a>", and my direction was all together altered from that point on.<br /><br />***<br /><br />An English muffin is more bread-like, unlike the cake-like muffins (American muffins) that we normally think of when we use the word "muffin". And I like the recipe I found because it is the simplest recipe I had ever seen for baked good: everything is spelled out in terms of cups or tablespoon or teaspoon rather than the complicated units of pounds and ounces and grams and liters. The simplicity of the recipe makes it very easy to remember.<br /><br />Nevertheless, the recipe being simple did not mean the process of making it was simple. For my first attempt, I made only half the amount stated in the recipe, in case it was not successful.<br /><br />I rolled the ingredients into a lump of dough, as instructed, and waited eagerly for it to rise.<br /><br />Five hours later, it remained this limp lump of dough. :-(<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoq6tRv8-4fD4HK0t_AjzikpiglmsYd4cpe70LOVuhPRUv2nHnNAZ_hyphenhyphen2UuHmcN6VJqqX1DZ4NV_XNpIEH52KouhfVIG9NZoFLbLg82nmtrZh9tlqn_1wxVFHP_e9IfpOG2kBv9EUsCotE/s1600-h/DSC02393.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoq6tRv8-4fD4HK0t_AjzikpiglmsYd4cpe70LOVuhPRUv2nHnNAZ_hyphenhyphen2UuHmcN6VJqqX1DZ4NV_XNpIEH52KouhfVIG9NZoFLbLg82nmtrZh9tlqn_1wxVFHP_e9IfpOG2kBv9EUsCotE/s320/DSC02393.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381171356069219858" border="0" /></a><br />The dry yeast that I used in that batch was bought over a year ago, and I wasn't sure it was still active, so I went out a bought another bag - a huge bag; they ran out of the small sachet version - and made another dough with the new "instant dry yeast". The following picture shows how it looked like in the beginning:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjreNinlX9ZRgI32yrsaT_i84mfUhEce-OKZK0gol7_3AyD5PGBFMm0WsFBDPMpEFZHxdor1R5Ym0u2Y9CZKQOfEXBmGOv6jKJm1wBnTDNTnJmr0gBzLuZI-epnHAiMQ1VmBfV9J0keUBBn/s1600-h/DSC02392.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjreNinlX9ZRgI32yrsaT_i84mfUhEce-OKZK0gol7_3AyD5PGBFMm0WsFBDPMpEFZHxdor1R5Ym0u2Y9CZKQOfEXBmGOv6jKJm1wBnTDNTnJmr0gBzLuZI-epnHAiMQ1VmBfV9J0keUBBn/s320/DSC02392.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381171348110034978" border="0" /></a><br />Barely ten minutes later, it had already risen visibly.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPmXYBI1u3B5HRBwHFV03En4hT1Tq913FbV3CaJZPNwU387thcbWwbpYMNREDUDXtESN5FkJYotYQRdm4Y5Qe8A1ELIJc9-31bzb81mt-x5RUaliGR3DW5HAYYJaSoT9R_4iXh-J9UZGq/s1600-h/DSC02394.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPmXYBI1u3B5HRBwHFV03En4hT1Tq913FbV3CaJZPNwU387thcbWwbpYMNREDUDXtESN5FkJYotYQRdm4Y5Qe8A1ELIJc9-31bzb81mt-x5RUaliGR3DW5HAYYJaSoT9R_4iXh-J9UZGq/s320/DSC02394.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381171341679281394" border="0" /></a><br />About half and hour later, it had doubled in size. I was elated!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyJCb5mygneBOOl2QgCplE-ActVC_K63oSRhQYAkdMkCyvp6-FbNbzEUBBnmC-e8o3FK2RAQwlMBt9hlHDllirPYFLfk5S3mJmNX9uo7EfUMPUd6IkOVuUNtjXqF3LfF2ms9JikrTZgdw/s1600-h/DSC02395.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyJCb5mygneBOOl2QgCplE-ActVC_K63oSRhQYAkdMkCyvp6-FbNbzEUBBnmC-e8o3FK2RAQwlMBt9hlHDllirPYFLfk5S3mJmNX9uo7EfUMPUd6IkOVuUNtjXqF3LfF2ms9JikrTZgdw/s320/DSC02395.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381171335383857890" border="0" /></a><br />The recipe calls for some cornmeal for dusting, but I did not have any, so I took some instant Quaker oat, some muesli, and ground them together into fine powder using the blender.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM51ckJkHVlE16RWM4iYmS9TOE0-4kArZHPrjGvkeWyW12sOGe_GY1OpgaibGGXIFSWqLeMbw7OQjCrsXPERlEDJ0kzUcqcCcmNEO-x_HNCC6QiLydpqBBkoFCqdbjfrtknIl7PQixHyD4/s1600-h/DSC02397.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM51ckJkHVlE16RWM4iYmS9TOE0-4kArZHPrjGvkeWyW12sOGe_GY1OpgaibGGXIFSWqLeMbw7OQjCrsXPERlEDJ0kzUcqcCcmNEO-x_HNCC6QiLydpqBBkoFCqdbjfrtknIl7PQixHyD4/s320/DSC02397.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381171328294815570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8ZEqkShYOR7FMHPm_VHwU9HoWVOA9dfL52xj7ytTrcqrlh7vhW-9OYksWfGrqyjEbbQsTZd_T_RhjBczvyWs8HqSO5zBJietGIHxz4UFtYs_ZMEY_Yt-1u6lpnQXJWeZ9OoKjchmyeTr/s1600-h/DSC02398.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8ZEqkShYOR7FMHPm_VHwU9HoWVOA9dfL52xj7ytTrcqrlh7vhW-9OYksWfGrqyjEbbQsTZd_T_RhjBczvyWs8HqSO5zBJietGIHxz4UFtYs_ZMEY_Yt-1u6lpnQXJWeZ9OoKjchmyeTr/s320/DSC02398.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381171081381092962" border="0" /></a><br />I added dried fruits into the dough, then I divided it into six smaller pieces. Here, I believe I had made a mistake: I should have directly placed the small pieces onto the baking pan for the second proofing, but I let them proof in one pan and then transfer them to the other for baking. Big mistake...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDIyzD5cg_1vUwEtgSgeDFZoTEONVDdpcSfMIYWAfS_V95ke475egvAK9w-00jxztP-BNONLLpDF2Ade7sQZR3_uRUADGJCEoX46V6cH5a-XXKNuTGyfpMHpgrWRq0I_Uy8UNcixBaqEO/s1600-h/DSC02399.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDIyzD5cg_1vUwEtgSgeDFZoTEONVDdpcSfMIYWAfS_V95ke475egvAK9w-00jxztP-BNONLLpDF2Ade7sQZR3_uRUADGJCEoX46V6cH5a-XXKNuTGyfpMHpgrWRq0I_Uy8UNcixBaqEO/s320/DSC02399.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381171079142265954" border="0" /></a><br />As soon as I touched them, they "degassed", and went limp. So, after baking, the texture turned out to be denser than I had hoped.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9AAFX4UaOWabttPoA6vI30q-dy3QyZtGZR1QnvrjpA2Z9_Sqq1HJeEa7PHAtqFRIMFtNyNUfod8VrrIVvl4Z8U_TJsZGQ2EZGrzDv2s9n9x2i5eOxbWXbUB5uTeYhPuBbSyzrvIFj7da/s1600-h/DSC02404.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9AAFX4UaOWabttPoA6vI30q-dy3QyZtGZR1QnvrjpA2Z9_Sqq1HJeEa7PHAtqFRIMFtNyNUfod8VrrIVvl4Z8U_TJsZGQ2EZGrzDv2s9n9x2i5eOxbWXbUB5uTeYhPuBbSyzrvIFj7da/s320/DSC02404.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381171067611651058" border="0" /></a><br />Nevertheless, for the first attempt, I was quite happy with the result.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxtiMp3yjXtWWVHIppB2zduYtCd1JcgufeKzqV3xv_Y5pPvzSw2OByTYY7TKxa8hh1hkbrOsvlKy1LgeJBOO6ajsKN66POPevBZ2MiD0g7q_d4KzxNK6p-9UvgVqb_s-DwcfI-PpJij2V/s1600-h/DSC02407.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxtiMp3yjXtWWVHIppB2zduYtCd1JcgufeKzqV3xv_Y5pPvzSw2OByTYY7TKxa8hh1hkbrOsvlKy1LgeJBOO6ajsKN66POPevBZ2MiD0g7q_d4KzxNK6p-9UvgVqb_s-DwcfI-PpJij2V/s320/DSC02407.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381171062762417058" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRse720lE2n1hnN4J8sY7uJ3AHb374nRShOXOhjDsvYvUaW4Gy3RgtXDyGtFb0ePANHe7m5m6c1DhlYx7toD1bBtWbUaQo1WK2aQXh233k0xduBv27a5a1W8GSL2Vs2zHrAMNl2ZnRf0m_/s1600-h/DSC02406.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRse720lE2n1hnN4J8sY7uJ3AHb374nRShOXOhjDsvYvUaW4Gy3RgtXDyGtFb0ePANHe7m5m6c1DhlYx7toD1bBtWbUaQo1WK2aQXh233k0xduBv27a5a1W8GSL2Vs2zHrAMNl2ZnRf0m_/s320/DSC02406.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381171053542297826" border="0" /></a><br />It tasted quite nice, actually, if you think of it as a cross between a bread and a cookie. :-pDumbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08096394768049149435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6746865025267364907.post-8907620979322380172009-09-14T10:45:00.004+08:002009-09-14T12:02:41.423+08:00Of Gatherings and BakingIn the past one week, I had baked over half a dozen batches of buns and breads, and it all started because of a fortnightly cell-group gathering at our place, an aspiring master-baker named Thomas, and some last-minute change-of-plan he twice pulled on us. :-D<br /><br />***<br /><br />The story started a couple of months ago, when we decided to change the way we conduct our cell-group meetings.<br /><br />Our gatherings used to be just a half-hour session of singing praises followed by a one-hour (or less) session of bible study, for which we seldom managed to get any non-believers to attend.<br /><br />Then we decided to do it in a more "out-reaching" way. And we targeted this small fishing village that we presently lived in, in which the children grow up perilously exposed to constant influences from gambling adults, gangsters, and drug addicts. We decided to bring a more positive influence into the lives of these young ones by turning our cell-group gathering into a combination of Sunday School and Young Adults fellowship, where fun, food and faith are served in a short one-and-a-half-hours session. :-)<br /><br />***<br /><br />The gatherings are held every first and third Fridays of the month (used to be second and fourth), and a typical gathering would go as depicted below:<br /><br />Primary-school-aged children will have their gathering in the living room (we don't have sofas and TV and the other usual nonsense in the living room, therefore it is a perfect place for the fifty or so children who usually attend to run around and do what children do), in which they sing praises, listen to some Bible stories, play some simple games, and have refreshment (some snacks and drinks).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYFgoRGLwbKRhy0kKoGAqy5BR7cJW8rjE6sYNjJWD8L79xh8E7R18kFcdeYUEKEHcIR373UvxsLtuamGCUrYgX0rgeKlsUX2qdBsxez8VHHQDw6HGg3kluN0BHeD0hAxk073VWjFn0QqI/s1600-h/DSC02206.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYFgoRGLwbKRhy0kKoGAqy5BR7cJW8rjE6sYNjJWD8L79xh8E7R18kFcdeYUEKEHcIR373UvxsLtuamGCUrYgX0rgeKlsUX2qdBsxez8VHHQDw6HGg3kluN0BHeD0hAxk073VWjFn0QqI/s320/DSC02206.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381151489889702114" border="0" /></a><br />At the meantime, in the kitchen, the adults and young adults (secondary school and older) get to see a cooking demonstration, and while the food is cooking, a very short session of Bible study wil be conducted, and when the food is cooked, everyone will get to taste it. :-)<br /><br />In the particular occasion depicted below, sister Lay Hooi was demonstrating how to make "bao zi" (包子), or Chinese buns (with fillings).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1eDD-xBeLRtu0kkGOnn1ohxuKMS4H83wBBJ6B1VG5C1GbjqocYg1WL9p9jDfeKSKnqYZ6RuuHh2HeUfSNIYtO6A1KXLtC8RzhvLyWBmDRtcsA_qf98NJS1zbPgwpIiyqdufqIadmdwJjZ/s1600-h/DSC02208.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1eDD-xBeLRtu0kkGOnn1ohxuKMS4H83wBBJ6B1VG5C1GbjqocYg1WL9p9jDfeKSKnqYZ6RuuHh2HeUfSNIYtO6A1KXLtC8RzhvLyWBmDRtcsA_qf98NJS1zbPgwpIiyqdufqIadmdwJjZ/s320/DSC02208.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381151481459770770" border="0" /></a><br />Two types of filling were available that evening: stir-fried pork and sweet red bean paste (红豆沙).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RFG-LCEzycxpS_7j0Z0Wm_QV7q77FhKbZeYXWZ0FipBc7ZwrKq96GdShZyROf5w4-qH56mzdsUTBctJNe4sy33GrYwjKfsReKj_EmYTKumQdoVuyT_qPYzq6VAOmvdH38y0Ks_dLaq3K/s1600-h/DSC02209.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RFG-LCEzycxpS_7j0Z0Wm_QV7q77FhKbZeYXWZ0FipBc7ZwrKq96GdShZyROf5w4-qH56mzdsUTBctJNe4sy33GrYwjKfsReKj_EmYTKumQdoVuyT_qPYzq6VAOmvdH38y0Ks_dLaq3K/s320/DSC02209.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381151331333368578" border="0" /></a><br />The dough was made by the master (Lay Hooi, center, white polo shirt), but every spectator got to get his/her hands dirty by making a bun.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrwaP0CbyYtDoEch16CUrGzSMy64gAm3wOEvAniDCpXZPF_UyDGQl4qvqjycSh6HJ_mKEpKbFK539vgfVPXkTIJC7TzvvaWq_jT2-C_99mywPowCiSf8x8M-UHGtMwaANFEJ8tqT1lLkOq/s1600-h/DSC02211.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrwaP0CbyYtDoEch16CUrGzSMy64gAm3wOEvAniDCpXZPF_UyDGQl4qvqjycSh6HJ_mKEpKbFK539vgfVPXkTIJC7TzvvaWq_jT2-C_99mywPowCiSf8x8M-UHGtMwaANFEJ8tqT1lLkOq/s320/DSC02211.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381151325810461826" border="0" /></a><br />While the adults were having fun making buns (no pun intended), the children were having their refreshments, which, on this particular occasion, was quite lavish...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjey4GvAJIzH_rOKtbEkCCUYop-aWSGL46Mfm_HvYceI_sBjcwywanv2nuGhWLF8ZaxD8QiBEtVc9PvuLqd_WchGrVAHXOBF9db-rPMn2BnwlxZRPaS7oahyuq25huacc_LS_VVjTRZK6t6/s1600-h/DSC02212.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjey4GvAJIzH_rOKtbEkCCUYop-aWSGL46Mfm_HvYceI_sBjcwywanv2nuGhWLF8ZaxD8QiBEtVc9PvuLqd_WchGrVAHXOBF9db-rPMn2BnwlxZRPaS7oahyuq25huacc_LS_VVjTRZK6t6/s320/DSC02212.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381151315728184402" border="0" /></a><br />... someone even brought durians! The durians were from <a href="http://spmcc0.tripod.com/chuandurianhouse/">bro. Chuan's durian orchard</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZ63zbElPzIF32BePz02m3zzYoQuPritMpDIUsVJWcnGgs9M15KZ1_jCeIA65-vY3Ktr6a0bLkPDlKd4cJpl5Z_6rsCVCLpefuIzOz9mnmzBO61sNj5cO9Pvy_9yuVSfX-_ynIjozPjA2/s1600-h/DSC02213.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZ63zbElPzIF32BePz02m3zzYoQuPritMpDIUsVJWcnGgs9M15KZ1_jCeIA65-vY3Ktr6a0bLkPDlKd4cJpl5Z_6rsCVCLpefuIzOz9mnmzBO61sNj5cO9Pvy_9yuVSfX-_ynIjozPjA2/s320/DSC02213.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381151310763208994" border="0" /></a><br />Seen below are all the weird-shaped buns churned out by our secret sweat shop of under-aged young adults. :-D (I wondered if all of them remembered to properly wash their hands...)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLhp8XbQVPbI2T9tJNlsvIS9Uy3csbjbs-BP6F-jMr3GQ-XUPGcm_3RAzZ8izESWStL1nUkMQrUtI7j4aLLyPwEwAtAX8DSxm_cpI4sn7Erjra1LZka7dyigb7p8R-tMsX7zqTjzAFBnB/s1600-h/DSC02214.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLhp8XbQVPbI2T9tJNlsvIS9Uy3csbjbs-BP6F-jMr3GQ-XUPGcm_3RAzZ8izESWStL1nUkMQrUtI7j4aLLyPwEwAtAX8DSxm_cpI4sn7Erjra1LZka7dyigb7p8R-tMsX7zqTjzAFBnB/s320/DSC02214.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381151305016274130" border="0" /></a><br />Chinese buns are steamed, not baked.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvI_ui36w9pbJbfTdrjd5zMCCChHfRqJqYB_8CyaCFzVmwTmiTIXzw8_chfDTXWq3rQuYrhY0NgA6WsGmYGGXpvAy40pj996oh0nZvLV4y1TljBjRBiRPfr4JeTEN9sGJXm6icOHzW9W-/s1600-h/DSC02216.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvI_ui36w9pbJbfTdrjd5zMCCChHfRqJqYB_8CyaCFzVmwTmiTIXzw8_chfDTXWq3rQuYrhY0NgA6WsGmYGGXpvAy40pj996oh0nZvLV4y1TljBjRBiRPfr4JeTEN9sGJXm6icOHzW9W-/s320/DSC02216.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381151006624187634" border="0" /></a><br />Seen below is Thomas holding the steamed buns. (You understand that I must emphasize here the word "steamed"). Thomas is our aspiring master-baker (his day job is project manager at a major MNC in Bayan Lepas), and you may visit his baking blog <a href="http://mybalikpulau.blogspot.com/">here</a>. More story on him later. :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflj2KzYdw1nzvw8Ca5tz4XjxtquilmLjiwLfj8chTM5TDLbGCXY1Aeilyu1pbjrWNUStOc45Pc5s-LoPJdI634ijymST3a4WKVuKMmPyq6w8ZSJg9u4ZpMjfDepnXwbjKq9nyHpqzACo0/s1600-h/DSC02215.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflj2KzYdw1nzvw8Ca5tz4XjxtquilmLjiwLfj8chTM5TDLbGCXY1Aeilyu1pbjrWNUStOc45Pc5s-LoPJdI634ijymST3a4WKVuKMmPyq6w8ZSJg9u4ZpMjfDepnXwbjKq9nyHpqzACo0/s320/DSC02215.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381151009979908930" border="0" /></a><br />And everyone enjoyed tremendously the buns they made with their own don't-know-whether-properly-washed-or-not hands.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMZ_4R40ers1WF3A2ug_o8pziQjHLpP9wSiZbtnnM4OA_AtZZeaQKD-K_uNVMvZ38fVG2lVYK63q5Ep__Honlpw44XN5WClcSFX8m5acktS9YBrz25rx15040Zkg1C13hMqoTqb3b8Mvv/s1600-h/DSC02219.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMZ_4R40ers1WF3A2ug_o8pziQjHLpP9wSiZbtnnM4OA_AtZZeaQKD-K_uNVMvZ38fVG2lVYK63q5Ep__Honlpw44XN5WClcSFX8m5acktS9YBrz25rx15040Zkg1C13hMqoTqb3b8Mvv/s320/DSC02219.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381150997257283378" border="0" /></a><br />Now, the further story about Thomas, and how it got me baking...<br /><br />After the event depicted in the pictures above, we suggested that Thomas demonstrate making muffin during the next gathering, and he agreed, so we duly spread the word that a muffin-making demonstration would be held the next time we meet.<br /><br />The following gathering, Thomas was rather late in coming, and when he appeared, he held in his hands a butter cake, which he had made at home. He said it was not practical to bring the huge oven over to my place (I only had a smallish toaster oven), so he baked the cake at home.<br /><br />OK. No muffin. :-/ But the cake was very nice, so all was forgiven. :-)<br /><br />After that incident, Thomas proposed that we all chip in to buy an oven to be put at my place for the sake of the gatherings, and everyone agreed, so a brand new oven took its place in our kitchen the following week.<br /><br />Then came the next gathering, and we had again spread word that Thomas was finally going to demonstrate muffin-making, for real. :-D<br /><br />But before the gathering, as a contingency plan, we - my wife and I - bought two boxes of pre-mixed muffin powder, just in case Thomas changed his mind in the last minute again. (Sorry, Thomas, for not having faith in you, he-he).<br /><br />To his credit, Thomas showed up early this time with all the baking thingy: mixer, bowls, spatula, baking pan, flour, butter (REAL butter), orange juice, poppy seeds, sugar... wait, did I say, "baking pan"? What about muffin cups?<br /><br />So, it turned out he did have a minor change of mind after all: he decided to bake an orange and poppy seed cake instead of muffins (actually, come to think of it, he was being practical: with muffins, you can at most make two dozens at a time, which would not be enough to go around; but with a huge piece of cake, you can cut it anyway you like and get even a hundred small pieces out of it, which is more practical for a group gathering for which you cannot predict the number of attendees).<br /><br />And his orange and poppy seed cake turned out to be "heavenly" (which is an honest description; I had never tasted a cake so soft and fluffy and light and all together delicious).<br /><br />***<br /><br />But what should we do with the two boxes of pre-mixed muffin powder we bought? Well, if life throws you a couple of boxes of muffin powder, you make muffins. :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Lws-YASxPZQ2reEOBMxUKTma6DbZqAZ9nuCwT5JTdIqR4maIdlfazvu76EnlZzxyE4Y7rsyE29i9fLngA523MHId-XEj5s6BDa6RmQzfswbvon2QqQ6gbcFkSAOJFBLLFRrV_Cj1e2DR/s1600-h/DSC02387.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Lws-YASxPZQ2reEOBMxUKTma6DbZqAZ9nuCwT5JTdIqR4maIdlfazvu76EnlZzxyE4Y7rsyE29i9fLngA523MHId-XEj5s6BDa6RmQzfswbvon2QqQ6gbcFkSAOJFBLLFRrV_Cj1e2DR/s320/DSC02387.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381150994715415714" border="0" /></a><br />Our first attempt at muffin making! And it overflowed. :-( ... not to mentioned over-baked.<br /><br />In the picture below, I had trimmed away the charred tops using a pair of kitchen scissors.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxuBx4mELGew2rr9YC-8yR8CbSIIk2D0BwH0OKgO-8Qss4x1XDDmKdedpfDq1AhcfMT-8JQhdAFSPLNUWVdaZF-jma1uCZzKINilMUCTPmJ4DgTwa0B3qBKD8ssVU9WAsyLTBjMPjbunX/s1600-h/DSC02389.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxuBx4mELGew2rr9YC-8yR8CbSIIk2D0BwH0OKgO-8Qss4x1XDDmKdedpfDq1AhcfMT-8JQhdAFSPLNUWVdaZF-jma1uCZzKINilMUCTPmJ4DgTwa0B3qBKD8ssVU9WAsyLTBjMPjbunX/s320/DSC02389.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381150985148706338" border="0" /></a><br />Incidentally, it was also orange and poppy seed flavor. :-) And of course it could not compare in taste and texture with the orange and poppy seed cake that Thomas made, but, they were edible, nonetheless.<br /><br />***<br /><br />We haven't opened the second box of pre-mixed muffin powder yet, because I had decided to look around for REAL muffin recipes and try my hands at making them from scratch instead of relying on pre-mixed powder (which contains who-knows-what chemicals and additives). And in the process of looking for muffin recipes, I came across this recipe for "<a href="http://www.muffinrecipes.net/simple-english-muffins.html">Simple English Muffin</a>", and my "destiny" was forever changed...<br /><br />Find out what this means in the next post. :-)Dumbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08096394768049149435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6746865025267364907.post-4710139917374722832009-09-14T10:27:00.003+08:002009-09-14T10:37:35.509+08:00Dumbo in the Kitchen - #15: The Near-Perfect Poached EggWhen I have noodle soup, I prefer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poached_egg">poached eggs</a> over fried eggs or hard-boiled eggs. But it is not easy doing it right - solid white and runny yolk - without some special equipment.<br /><br />The other day, I got it near perfect (without any special tool), and I realized the following keys to a successful poached egg:<br /><br />1) Fresh eggs (as anyone who knows how to cook eggs will tell you: the white of fresher eggs stick together better);<br /><br />2) Shallow water (whatever type of pan you use, make sure you have only enough water to cover the eggs; if the water is too deep, the momentum of the eggs "plunging" into the water will surely disperse the egg white); and<br /><br />3) The water should be simmering rather than boiling, that is to say, make sure the water is still. To do this, after bringing the water to a boil, turn the flame down as low as possible, then wait till the water calms down before carefully putting in the eggs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2IERT4Shh1kJTHW8iiPxnDVdYWo3Rb1tZdFVviscBZlfzalfmxGqr4o0WU4igzEO9PW6x8XanmVRbRxZ_ZU9rYDD3bpA6ct10Q_ZTIvPh65co3zPrkbckvOnBp-DSP5IP-RoNf-SOI01/s1600-h/DSC01561.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2IERT4Shh1kJTHW8iiPxnDVdYWo3Rb1tZdFVviscBZlfzalfmxGqr4o0WU4igzEO9PW6x8XanmVRbRxZ_ZU9rYDD3bpA6ct10Q_ZTIvPh65co3zPrkbckvOnBp-DSP5IP-RoNf-SOI01/s320/DSC01561.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381144344340897026" border="0" /></a><br />And the result was marvelous. :-)Dumbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08096394768049149435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6746865025267364907.post-16780541209670445852009-09-12T14:04:00.011+08:002009-09-12T18:01:28.580+08:00Dumbo up the Hills - #5: Half-way Up Penang HillI was a bit apprehensive when my uncle told me that day that we were going half-way up the Penang Hill. I mean, prior to that, I had only done the Ayer Itam Dam and the "Happy Hill" in Jawi, and both were not very high in altitude. With Penang Hill, even at only the half-way point, it would be more than double the previously attempted altitude.<br /><br />I almost chickened out of it, but then I thought: I would be attempting Mount Kinabalu in less than three months, which is more than three times the altitude of Penang Hill (the actual altitude of Mt. K is more than six times taller, but the "climbable" stretch is only three times taller than Penang Hill), and here I was, worrying about climbing half-way up Penang Hill?<br /><br />So I boldly went where my feet have never trekked before. :-)<br /><br />***<br /><br />We started when it was just getting light. There are a number of hill paths that will eventually lead to the top of Penang Hill, and on that day, the path we took starts from a point quite near my grandma's place. The first few hundred meters of the path were stone steps that were a bit slippery due to the rainfall the previous evening.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIU07bGGiTqMm6Zk0QqTieTTj04jK0HBaxTYmcSjOCmzEHA8X1BLNOvqQ6Qo1qjgKV8p1VNam0YrMAVSUS9_HfAkngKbytLElhyGKx4jfIBlSIPclvUFDWLCFUJgw51dPmpzoQJVfX_DIv/s1600-h/DSC01524.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIU07bGGiTqMm6Zk0QqTieTTj04jK0HBaxTYmcSjOCmzEHA8X1BLNOvqQ6Qo1qjgKV8p1VNam0YrMAVSUS9_HfAkngKbytLElhyGKx4jfIBlSIPclvUFDWLCFUJgw51dPmpzoQJVfX_DIv/s320/DSC01524.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380460001663981010" border="0" /></a><br />The stone steps, together with another mud/cement path (wide enough for motorcycles) that ran roughly parallel to it, are the access roads for vegetable farmers around that area.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_dXHfAJEF5KQYZdJog7eKjgJQ5mtsuzbRdvvmqKgn14aDYS9FV5uXf2qSIYqyeQW34nOGWy4gszM8fEApKjg26mVeimYuujc70VzM9gzKeohLEtmJuFtF-gYofiOiV21ea3J2kJZfSBs2/s1600-h/DSC01525.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_dXHfAJEF5KQYZdJog7eKjgJQ5mtsuzbRdvvmqKgn14aDYS9FV5uXf2qSIYqyeQW34nOGWy4gszM8fEApKjg26mVeimYuujc70VzM9gzKeohLEtmJuFtF-gYofiOiV21ea3J2kJZfSBs2/s320/DSC01525.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380459995347272914" border="0" /></a><br />Below is the view of part of the Ayer Itam town (old town, as opposed to the "new town" more commonly known as "Farlim" after the main developer of the area) from the stone steps.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9sj6j43_CzcBUn9B7FWIMoGJa3ybbB63aMB1x05oZn6sTV0-RSx84qxWy_wIF85avKWnU1QVwifS2S-GBbmpIbVPSNcUHjPMNzi1qVQq6rSPo61-WdDCaQgOsT2IHDg8NoUrvqpRqPXW/s1600-h/DSC01526.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO9sj6j43_CzcBUn9B7FWIMoGJa3ybbB63aMB1x05oZn6sTV0-RSx84qxWy_wIF85avKWnU1QVwifS2S-GBbmpIbVPSNcUHjPMNzi1qVQq6rSPo61-WdDCaQgOsT2IHDg8NoUrvqpRqPXW/s320/DSC01526.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380459990514835714" border="0" /></a><br />Another view of the Ayer Itam town through the woods.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SPhNy3jQxnvMcK6zCJvn0ZW25zLRCizHhCnOo95cYAgoCzKmXwOo8ZKR_wpNVjQSi5vkwOaDyUImCRUnC_rhS6eOmHeNrk36_uSreiefKN0LZr4Ksx1XliYMeqv5lpXL5KPxA9npD9jx/s1600-h/DSC01528.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SPhNy3jQxnvMcK6zCJvn0ZW25zLRCizHhCnOo95cYAgoCzKmXwOo8ZKR_wpNVjQSi5vkwOaDyUImCRUnC_rhS6eOmHeNrk36_uSreiefKN0LZr4Ksx1XliYMeqv5lpXL5KPxA9npD9jx/s320/DSC01528.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380459808484544802" border="0" /></a><br />The stone steps stretched on...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzfw2w0Q87BCao_cstKO3Vxpl4YJXRlYT_IszxHQpe5cs1Nc7iWDlxAILcxhkCrVmf5yG2I1rxbYAEw8MPv-c7A4g8LGankZuQcBf0vcuNYpt8Q-3Yq0qA5_PKK2fjsTNEvOULF8DXyde/s1600-h/DSC01529.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzfw2w0Q87BCao_cstKO3Vxpl4YJXRlYT_IszxHQpe5cs1Nc7iWDlxAILcxhkCrVmf5yG2I1rxbYAEw8MPv-c7A4g8LGankZuQcBf0vcuNYpt8Q-3Yq0qA5_PKK2fjsTNEvOULF8DXyde/s320/DSC01529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380459806729730642" border="0" /></a><br />... and on...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lh5tZ-AhKR7LAyNt7HWEA8dyibzEwRwFBd03uupihi8-l_S9UaU_iwIPrS8JrDN9dZnmMg1X8UL1uBfm0GVBjYibDwlkW1pLXqnhOVoF7XdR4syiLcGRXZBra608DeHbBAx6YiGR3aHe/s1600-h/DSC01530.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lh5tZ-AhKR7LAyNt7HWEA8dyibzEwRwFBd03uupihi8-l_S9UaU_iwIPrS8JrDN9dZnmMg1X8UL1uBfm0GVBjYibDwlkW1pLXqnhOVoF7XdR4syiLcGRXZBra608DeHbBAx6YiGR3aHe/s320/DSC01530.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380459797207824626" border="0" /></a><br />... and finally, came to an end here. On the left is a house, and the compound area is rather picturesque, but I dared not openly take pictures of a private residence while there might be eyes looking out the windows or something. :-p<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg28KLsvR0nHldBl-GxtKLfBP8hRF8pK-ozcCrLe0_U81TdFI8YzyvlQGVxXOfEjjsT29SxXSifKzzcTdX8UNhboeYLD6glcrWe05Mdi70CBMEJmgjqZP2hFbb3mL6_bnWK4-4XSPfPq0W2/s1600-h/DSC01531.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg28KLsvR0nHldBl-GxtKLfBP8hRF8pK-ozcCrLe0_U81TdFI8YzyvlQGVxXOfEjjsT29SxXSifKzzcTdX8UNhboeYLD6glcrWe05Mdi70CBMEJmgjqZP2hFbb3mL6_bnWK4-4XSPfPq0W2/s320/DSC01531.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380459789806995218" border="0" /></a><br />We then switched to the cement path...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24cCVYl5rlpsvMKcP6i6Ba9Huz0EHBl218BG56f13VsFE0yfL0dP282gfGZDyQVMRxFyt0vGHXDQErmZBz1f_dK00vyJRfMtCwleYhh9PawIijAFyn89lZgpZSvzrmGiYzOKjkbk1OZXq/s1600-h/DSC01532.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24cCVYl5rlpsvMKcP6i6Ba9Huz0EHBl218BG56f13VsFE0yfL0dP282gfGZDyQVMRxFyt0vGHXDQErmZBz1f_dK00vyJRfMtCwleYhh9PawIijAFyn89lZgpZSvzrmGiYzOKjkbk1OZXq/s320/DSC01532.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380459781394723154" border="0" /></a><br />... or, mud path, for certain stretches along the way.<br /><br />At one point, we came to this open area, with a mud path going right through a shack used by the farmers to store their fertilizers...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauhHa8-m6XwwGdExiVrtE2KoqNOvSJGUwB0S18GLvgZRyqAkO3OW7tPAZxkMimpGAh9qe7_bd7hk-_Y1iw2bMI5zZsHOR74Y_XbYl8iitQ-QC6CV7_7hUPZbuMoJ8QdEw6d3p8q2b3HkA/s1600-h/DSC01534.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauhHa8-m6XwwGdExiVrtE2KoqNOvSJGUwB0S18GLvgZRyqAkO3OW7tPAZxkMimpGAh9qe7_bd7hk-_Y1iw2bMI5zZsHOR74Y_XbYl8iitQ-QC6CV7_7hUPZbuMoJ8QdEw6d3p8q2b3HkA/s320/DSC01534.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380459481705394050" border="0" /></a><br />And from that vantage point, you could almost take in the whole Ayer Itam Valley.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5V0V3np-IuSckvJNCtiX8f3GU7KySLr-PMyhg1w4SnshW4QiznNBjmn5364kJp5UIaq4gns93XZzc_zgATulrK3MQTUI14yy73mNvYRYYGTO-2RdP4rJFVkr8Uit2Ax7gcJEVGJeVse8/s1600-h/DSC01536.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5V0V3np-IuSckvJNCtiX8f3GU7KySLr-PMyhg1w4SnshW4QiznNBjmn5364kJp5UIaq4gns93XZzc_zgATulrK3MQTUI14yy73mNvYRYYGTO-2RdP4rJFVkr8Uit2Ax7gcJEVGJeVse8/s320/DSC01536.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380459477039542402" border="0" /></a><br />For our reassurance, we came across this huge boulder spray-painted with the words "F3 PG HILL -->" to tell hikers which way to go. Actually, a while back before we reached this point, my uncle had asked a middle-age lady going down the path whether we were on the right path that leads to the middle station (half way point) of Penang Hill, and she had assured us that we were, and had given some detailed directions. The residents of those hill slopes regularly go up and down those hill paths to run their daily errands, some more than one time a day. That middle-aged lady had the look of someone going to the market to buy something, and she was walking bare-footed with her sandals in her hands! I felt embarrassed that I was gasping for air like fish out of water... :-p<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hUypOjlajbkp5tUSiVfhd-6LW-MEsBFX_Vs7BruTpyOZdkE3qd8SIBXi281mVW03r8Xz9He6Qm7B-ae9yzbqrwnL_hTgt-h0biN2-OgDNjEqWm2lFNzdX8btXvGeZdYThJQzD8BOWfuJ/s1600-h/DSC01537.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hUypOjlajbkp5tUSiVfhd-6LW-MEsBFX_Vs7BruTpyOZdkE3qd8SIBXi281mVW03r8Xz9He6Qm7B-ae9yzbqrwnL_hTgt-h0biN2-OgDNjEqWm2lFNzdX8btXvGeZdYThJQzD8BOWfuJ/s320/DSC01537.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380459469195025682" border="0" /></a><br />The path that we took was definitely not the shortest path to the middle station (that is, the middle station of the funicular train; there's this "bottom station" at the foot of the hill, and a "top station" at - where else? - the top of the hill), but the remaining journey was rather uneventful, except at one point when an Indon worker going up the same path overtook me and turned to jeer me, "Eh, tired already? Come on, go faster!" What cheek!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgguCxcXr2jtZOYqd8t5wWZn9xvlixHLlzR-ySl8Xbd1SzqdbYO8WKo6LPmfrQbaTzXPe7sKa5Bos80p98dIi_pLw6TKsnyIN4RmUodkLcLt0G1r5aYDSPo4nkj9UcRupm-tpwB-noJm-Qz/s1600-h/DSC01538.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgguCxcXr2jtZOYqd8t5wWZn9xvlixHLlzR-ySl8Xbd1SzqdbYO8WKo6LPmfrQbaTzXPe7sKa5Bos80p98dIi_pLw6TKsnyIN4RmUodkLcLt0G1r5aYDSPo4nkj9UcRupm-tpwB-noJm-Qz/s320/DSC01538.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380459463727108386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaif-3_ar7gmF1MEq-59ErhOxAS_FxfWGt6HUMLl_Qbz0Q-8lflnAFU50dzhTiqvzFDrBJZq5gMCU8rinbCAQ4eXZ4yg5-FmbUYj8OKDIZEWqDr4cep8dMJ2MC3NV3bB5aV2pF8tKLCjO1/s1600-h/DSC01539.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaif-3_ar7gmF1MEq-59ErhOxAS_FxfWGt6HUMLl_Qbz0Q-8lflnAFU50dzhTiqvzFDrBJZq5gMCU8rinbCAQ4eXZ4yg5-FmbUYj8OKDIZEWqDr4cep8dMJ2MC3NV3bB5aV2pF8tKLCjO1/s320/DSC01539.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380459455514322354" border="0" /></a><br />A glimpse of the rising sun...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyI3WOTZXATG4xci2zXIYU-0VN1bBJX4vjkrxPNwNd_v8TSdaE_EtY8NaU2Igq_vqmoxkEIN0nH59yVFu_gxYgZF0QE5n5thvP5XPVwDXqZlcZTlLdLx02aUa0Prd7YPqDxnzZUqmHUVv/s1600-h/DSC01540.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyI3WOTZXATG4xci2zXIYU-0VN1bBJX4vjkrxPNwNd_v8TSdaE_EtY8NaU2Igq_vqmoxkEIN0nH59yVFu_gxYgZF0QE5n5thvP5XPVwDXqZlcZTlLdLx02aUa0Prd7YPqDxnzZUqmHUVv/s320/DSC01540.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380459169471901442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41EKOCHftiTvVQ8FTCqKBUgk4WIffF5aWCmosiARgU6YDekZ-7xlGYIBk6oczoeLVQXWCHmGCRcHm49uvoGVJ_QH__sEf2-GMIPbOC5HlDUcEKR5CZFVlCfW0pdx4HnNFwd7R5wWvsBfy/s1600-h/DSC01541.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41EKOCHftiTvVQ8FTCqKBUgk4WIffF5aWCmosiARgU6YDekZ-7xlGYIBk6oczoeLVQXWCHmGCRcHm49uvoGVJ_QH__sEf2-GMIPbOC5HlDUcEKR5CZFVlCfW0pdx4HnNFwd7R5wWvsBfy/s320/DSC01541.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380459162298171090" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_aI8w8iP0yy-LVYmQuso_b-MUDoBK5464r9cMPSuYkX2GzvZGvC4k3SCBfwyE8Vn211jG2a_q11VPugH2dvXbxKQzWKtrlW-NjJgDfqm02sR5p2UtNzVAr18tjP-md3TByyR9_cvixzR/s1600-h/DSC01542.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_aI8w8iP0yy-LVYmQuso_b-MUDoBK5464r9cMPSuYkX2GzvZGvC4k3SCBfwyE8Vn211jG2a_q11VPugH2dvXbxKQzWKtrlW-NjJgDfqm02sR5p2UtNzVAr18tjP-md3TByyR9_cvixzR/s320/DSC01542.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380459154166199890" border="0" /></a><br />An interesting house on the slope...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMuhb2Fm5x3VfgztIY82DhzKIlk0ysbJmoKqnHu6uSm1k-KItILz36nrDRu1v4Qzb1Ky0vv26XpK7ytty_mTHXzsgvdrv-jqTng8CtLWjN4-ewi5vURL2dtBlLKqWxCXmZzhAJdWTaEYA/s1600-h/DSC01546.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMuhb2Fm5x3VfgztIY82DhzKIlk0ysbJmoKqnHu6uSm1k-KItILz36nrDRu1v4Qzb1Ky0vv26XpK7ytty_mTHXzsgvdrv-jqTng8CtLWjN4-ewi5vURL2dtBlLKqWxCXmZzhAJdWTaEYA/s320/DSC01546.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380459151238853714" border="0" /></a><br />If your are the romantic type, think mist. If you are the practical type, think haze. =.=<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtLbNzmo_Z1T-GYj5xrwQOlGzb0RjdccjzfCFt73Dc_5pvsukfUyuDF0F5MgtxTA6TX8MU10u_s1xhP-iPSi2gIDHu5fC_0l1LlKe0_4q6uhVOII-0pGXXYDL7BpWoV1VzNfT9p8mlysm/s1600-h/DSC01547.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtLbNzmo_Z1T-GYj5xrwQOlGzb0RjdccjzfCFt73Dc_5pvsukfUyuDF0F5MgtxTA6TX8MU10u_s1xhP-iPSi2gIDHu5fC_0l1LlKe0_4q6uhVOII-0pGXXYDL7BpWoV1VzNfT9p8mlysm/s320/DSC01547.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380459145168509666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbiZ74zb2dEWEGY8I7leGxaqiSaB5O7f4szdU69vSCicz_fjQGnfQtnFeuuNaGm6rCB0atmlsFnCd4fZIFe9TK15UPxMoTBdwXrfoU8UBIOvggkQPq-oCMSKztMz2QI-E8DP5Err4CF1V/s1600-h/DSC01548.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbiZ74zb2dEWEGY8I7leGxaqiSaB5O7f4szdU69vSCicz_fjQGnfQtnFeuuNaGm6rCB0atmlsFnCd4fZIFe9TK15UPxMoTBdwXrfoU8UBIOvggkQPq-oCMSKztMz2QI-E8DP5Err4CF1V/s320/DSC01548.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380458742737947810" border="0" /></a><br />At one point, we came to this fork in the road, and there were these signs nailed to the tree telling us: left, top station; right, middle station. And we took the right turn.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLf1LarsDKkFJZCwUD4YSCQaBq1niDTlEu32tZN41SvZ4zjT0kfbCAt8gINU8kJaBf3o2J54m28aCJQTtCGc_4y7xUV5FBhfCKOAc52HRaDSsKviZAJjOePLnRPL0vKaYoUJHkFf2uGUd/s1600-h/DSC01549.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLf1LarsDKkFJZCwUD4YSCQaBq1niDTlEu32tZN41SvZ4zjT0kfbCAt8gINU8kJaBf3o2J54m28aCJQTtCGc_4y7xUV5FBhfCKOAc52HRaDSsKviZAJjOePLnRPL0vKaYoUJHkFf2uGUd/s320/DSC01549.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380458738389134850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjhllUJNhEje8IlzF6ykbLPehYuqx11rdTNZXzItFWo7jjQG4ZXtIF20ppSjoMVNEBu4wAQEJO6KZWnKEFlH262z2Cono4f4r9_a081ECOXZPgALrgTUB8_iZfMHmEv9Iy4feBpgoIPP-/s1600-h/DSC01550.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjhllUJNhEje8IlzF6ykbLPehYuqx11rdTNZXzItFWo7jjQG4ZXtIF20ppSjoMVNEBu4wAQEJO6KZWnKEFlH262z2Cono4f4r9_a081ECOXZPgALrgTUB8_iZfMHmEv9Iy4feBpgoIPP-/s320/DSC01550.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380458732365578274" border="0" /></a><br />Finally, a glimpse of the middle station...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRMPwmI_J-F-mje88YeTwa4XTxCpgB_0YF9l9xAzYTacNSQruNHQxeSC47-zP1xjTAL3GU0FiukbA1hKb1gottdfRlDJy5b9QiaZU3BULlIE395WyrOa-1Vs1EaJwhmrsjJGaUm6MNyjF/s1600-h/DSC01551.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRMPwmI_J-F-mje88YeTwa4XTxCpgB_0YF9l9xAzYTacNSQruNHQxeSC47-zP1xjTAL3GU0FiukbA1hKb1gottdfRlDJy5b9QiaZU3BULlIE395WyrOa-1Vs1EaJwhmrsjJGaUm6MNyjF/s320/DSC01551.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380458724602399922" border="0" /></a><br />My uncle pointed out to me something growing by the roadside. The plant looks like grass, each with about five leaves, but it is not grass; according to my uncle, it is a type of CORIANDER! And indeed, it smelled like coriander (cilantro).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Vx8aF3dhu6NqlMZgOCO9JfN5SJFikR0RPTF3FyNHGc-23LGTjEbYU9PgTomAEKJGpMYjD7muzgk1b0OSss7B5Mim_EV2A6SdZuFjPxEsuaPOZsnlmZ4AE1Yyu0R78Dt9mDzmngTBXde9/s1600-h/DSC01552.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Vx8aF3dhu6NqlMZgOCO9JfN5SJFikR0RPTF3FyNHGc-23LGTjEbYU9PgTomAEKJGpMYjD7muzgk1b0OSss7B5Mim_EV2A6SdZuFjPxEsuaPOZsnlmZ4AE1Yyu0R78Dt9mDzmngTBXde9/s320/DSC01552.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380458717170540194" border="0" /></a><br />We finally came to the middle station. We decided to take the funicular train down, because two and a half hours of hiking was decidedly quite enough for a morning! And my stomach was already screaming for breakfast.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6ejdy6GMYfHoHCFUCELOhEidGDf1uPB4vkHYxv2LBLeJ9SWzhx2umF68YS-qdCxOK9-TXUsgY9cv7SZE9aRVIbnN8MkPR5I_7iBYFaGAIQUdRwZM6dx1V94O6tJD49IzvMWXRYn-i5zi/s1600-h/DSC01554.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6ejdy6GMYfHoHCFUCELOhEidGDf1uPB4vkHYxv2LBLeJ9SWzhx2umF68YS-qdCxOK9-TXUsgY9cv7SZE9aRVIbnN8MkPR5I_7iBYFaGAIQUdRwZM6dx1V94O6tJD49IzvMWXRYn-i5zi/s320/DSC01554.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380458404441428930" border="0" /></a><br />A tram arriving from the top station.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkUA-8uobfugHa3Os4hlsE_eSHPBXGKsTKV__9qebJ_qPuGO4TkoaA1rTPImrwH1vIKK8szlellBPKuo3rO3N-30aM5G8Wiwkh4kYSum3vO-OM3cHZY7rrUQyxNVWg0apPwSIIwVtyV1-/s1600-h/DSC01555.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkUA-8uobfugHa3Os4hlsE_eSHPBXGKsTKV__9qebJ_qPuGO4TkoaA1rTPImrwH1vIKK8szlellBPKuo3rO3N-30aM5G8Wiwkh4kYSum3vO-OM3cHZY7rrUQyxNVWg0apPwSIIwVtyV1-/s320/DSC01555.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380458399591318066" border="0" /></a><br />On weekdays, during off-peak hours, you can practically have the whole train to yourself. On that day, there were only three passengers on the tram: a middle-aged Indian man, my uncle, and I.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3vjbRZl1Wi0jrkPzXCTxtCQaeqYoYwi-XY6D2GK5zEU4ozSeuB9B_RZ3NB9VMFMNBx6LWHp4tgnkqzaRGg5KowCcNQWoNLzt8uKNcXDvd0oad8DCuh4WDIyImT-YbM_dntUTmpyk7-_l/s1600-h/DSC01556.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3vjbRZl1Wi0jrkPzXCTxtCQaeqYoYwi-XY6D2GK5zEU4ozSeuB9B_RZ3NB9VMFMNBx6LWHp4tgnkqzaRGg5KowCcNQWoNLzt8uKNcXDvd0oad8DCuh4WDIyImT-YbM_dntUTmpyk7-_l/s320/DSC01556.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380458389930186034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvALNUuAeKrtGf7WYTjd821UkzwJM_h8CF2cG7bIB7ujkWMccbRPW4vQu29kdtxzlblKvhg_BujRNOOyRlpR6-mDE7bvnKp1tsqisMtOvCH3NeALVzACFkjdQtF0Z7ayHxdwBrHgRrWGRc/s1600-h/DSC01557.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvALNUuAeKrtGf7WYTjd821UkzwJM_h8CF2cG7bIB7ujkWMccbRPW4vQu29kdtxzlblKvhg_BujRNOOyRlpR6-mDE7bvnKp1tsqisMtOvCH3NeALVzACFkjdQtF0Z7ayHxdwBrHgRrWGRc/s320/DSC01557.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380458384294645922" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsbpWq0wekLC8GHRGI4ducvDMgSmCXQoWy_J7i7eKrXyeq9hSUpvHwTiFGx5daMbf56IfY4wWdg1G1HyOe0u0ozJ1QODLvQDq47k2WhPTu0L0nAw4Ivdh0bGB10Vi6VgKSqy2KgNRMFLS/s1600-h/DSC01558.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsbpWq0wekLC8GHRGI4ducvDMgSmCXQoWy_J7i7eKrXyeq9hSUpvHwTiFGx5daMbf56IfY4wWdg1G1HyOe0u0ozJ1QODLvQDq47k2WhPTu0L0nAw4Ivdh0bGB10Vi6VgKSqy2KgNRMFLS/s320/DSC01558.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380458373180849202" border="0" /></a><br />Next time: to the top!Dumbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08096394768049149435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6746865025267364907.post-49210287362778956542009-09-12T12:32:00.002+08:002009-09-12T13:11:29.755+08:00Dumbo in the Kitchen - #14: All-in-One FareFor a Chinese couple without children - yet - we face the same dilemma that a bachelor would face when it comes to cooking at home: to have a nutritionally balanced diet, ideally there should be two (or even three) vegetable dishes and one protein dish (meat, egg, bean, etc.) to accompany the rice; but to go to all that trouble of preparing three separate dishes just to feed two persons?<br /><br />One of my favorite answers to that dilemma is the following "all-in-one" fare.<br /><br />***<br /><br />First, let's look at the main ingredients: Chinese cabbage (not the whole plant, just six to ten leaves, depending on the size), carrot, broccoli (a quarter of a plant, I would say), celery (I have finally come to love this wonderful vegetable, having hated it since childhood), green pepper, shiitake mushrooms (lots of them!), and a couple of tomatoes. And, of course, there would also be some minced meat, which is not shown in the following picture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTE_AuhEqg4r0LRNFYG7WQ1uL9-ajVB0rmUAesS-VAs2ZhXAaUWAAK3IX19hcgn0bO3SCzWTygpqebmY5N2f5C_V1Fr1udcC8-ya87Aa-_0dluT9Rq6c6nb9Yd1LTnplMMcqnXsNdJbEs/s1600-h/DSC01520.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTE_AuhEqg4r0LRNFYG7WQ1uL9-ajVB0rmUAesS-VAs2ZhXAaUWAAK3IX19hcgn0bO3SCzWTygpqebmY5N2f5C_V1Fr1udcC8-ya87Aa-_0dluT9Rq6c6nb9Yd1LTnplMMcqnXsNdJbEs/s320/DSC01520.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380435189916280306" border="0" /></a><br />You will notice that the assortment of vegetables cover a rather complete range of colors, which is how we should eat our veges, to make sure we get all the different types of vitamins and minerals. And the mushrooms are a wonderful source of antioxidants.<br /><br />Oh, and of course, lots of garlic, too. In Chinese dishes, it is often the first thing to go into the heated oil, to lend its fragrance to the oil, and thereby adding a wonderful aroma to the overall dish.<br /><br />For the minced meat, I marinated it with the usual mix of soy sauce, white pepper powder, and rice wine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7pIqv7eXUGQ1866EpdSIuk-z0emaXy8TTDGVpTALlBQHCWUdHfbIattsp8uwkQ6__gVTBchN2rG_xDJKOMvSP4HDJhjds1DoHbP1Rg7mvMev6Rqc0mdTfwBD4b2YrYOpaVMSUHqPFhQb/s1600-h/DSC01522.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7pIqv7eXUGQ1866EpdSIuk-z0emaXy8TTDGVpTALlBQHCWUdHfbIattsp8uwkQ6__gVTBchN2rG_xDJKOMvSP4HDJhjds1DoHbP1Rg7mvMev6Rqc0mdTfwBD4b2YrYOpaVMSUHqPFhQb/s320/DSC01522.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380435180653452098" border="0" /></a><br />The various ingredients go into the wok in roughly the following order:<br />Oil --> chopped garlic (bring out the fragrance, but don't brown it) --> marinated minced meat --> carrot --> shiitake mushrooms --> (when the meat is almost done) green pepper --> broccoli --> Chinese cabbage & celery. Season with salt, and serve hot with rice or porridge.<br /><br />If possible, I avoid cooking tomatoes. In this dish, the sliced tomatoes are used as garnishing, but, they will end up in our stomachs, nonetheless. :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iSJdRzP5-qezELjzIWrDbw6Q3UHqnXMUEBWi33DvmrI7u0nWemWIos-4R_QBNLeFXwYCP2L6rufDXoqDBT9lUbLwKBcbXhTbv2ZPk4vodDTY5nqRTYkRcUlE6uijiBOF23MQwz7C1b-B/s1600-h/DSC01523.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iSJdRzP5-qezELjzIWrDbw6Q3UHqnXMUEBWi33DvmrI7u0nWemWIos-4R_QBNLeFXwYCP2L6rufDXoqDBT9lUbLwKBcbXhTbv2ZPk4vodDTY5nqRTYkRcUlE6uijiBOF23MQwz7C1b-B/s320/DSC01523.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380435178110124786" border="0" /></a><br />I have a colleague - a young bachelor - who is going to further his study in New Zealand next year, and we (the busybody fatherly and motherly sort in the office) have been urging him to learn cooking. I told him that he should learn at least seven recipes, so he could have one different dish on each different day of the week (he just stared back at me in disbelief - he knows only how to fry an egg without burning it). And I think this is one of the seven dishes he should learn (in NZ, just replace the Chinese cabbage with cabbage, the shiitake mushroom with button mushrooms or some other mushrooms with similar texture). Another one is the <a href="http://dumbo-studio.blogspot.com/2009/09/dumbo-in-kitchen-13-lanzhou-style.html">Lanzhou-style noodle</a> from the previous post (imagine: fresh tomatoes and celery from the local market, and some nice NZ beef! Or NZ lamb! He doesn't realize how delicious he could make that dish in NZ...).Dumbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08096394768049149435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6746865025267364907.post-20336999228500983672009-09-12T01:58:00.003+08:002009-09-12T02:58:12.695+08:00Dumbo in the Kitchen - #13: Lanzhou-style NoodleSome years ago, we had the honor of acquainting a couple from Lanzhou, China, who came to Malaysia because of the husband's engagement to teach at a local university, and on that occasion, they made noodle as a treat for all of us.<br /><br />According to them, people there - and generally, people in Northern China - do not eat any of the instant noodles that we are so accustomed to. When they want to eat noodle, they simply make it from scratch - flour, water, and a pinch of salt.<br /><br />And if you believe them, even little children there know how to make <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_mian">la-mian</a>. :-)<br /><br />You may choose to not believe that even little children know how to <a href="http://dumbo-studio.blogspot.com/2009/03/dumbo-gourmet-extraordinaire-11-la-mian.html">"pull" noodles out of a lump of dough</a>, but you must believe this: that hand-made noodles are the <span style="font-style: italic;">real </span>noodles. Machine-made noodles - especially instant noodles - simple taste <span style="font-style: italic;">fake </span>after you have tasting hand-made noodles. The smoothness, the pureness of the taste -- man, you've got to try it yourself.<br /><br />***<br /><br />Another characteristic of the Lanzhou noodle is the simplicity of the soup. According to our friends from Lanzhou, they do not use a lot of artificial condiments. They use salt, and the natural tastes of certain herbs and vegetables and fruits to give flavors to the soup. What they prepared during that occasion - as far as I remember - involved only beef, celery, tomato, and salt.<br /><br />In my version below, I used minced pork, tomato, celery, and a little additional seasoning in the form of onion, and of course, salt (or soy sauce).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvUxcD7WGWHwqjQTiy08cBMdw-IsqclJyMOCzczy6NGYYHJvwCoX8zIGKSz7F-e6sSI-0X09c8IqSrtTXzOLuEc7rPDHPs5uFIlA7SmCxVHH7_4resAXEW1cQUyGvJiubLTnXWvuN8DqU/s1600-h/DSC01509.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvUxcD7WGWHwqjQTiy08cBMdw-IsqclJyMOCzczy6NGYYHJvwCoX8zIGKSz7F-e6sSI-0X09c8IqSrtTXzOLuEc7rPDHPs5uFIlA7SmCxVHH7_4resAXEW1cQUyGvJiubLTnXWvuN8DqU/s320/DSC01509.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380271369488521106" border="0" /></a><br />As for the noodle, I wasn't skilled enough in "pulling noodle", so I "pinched" the dough into small pieces and boil them to a springy consistency (el dente).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFD1p9AWf-gJlaz39o0KEDnnuOZFsKojAURygCGh6HPlM54Uez4L6sg97ubD7r0ezbpLXCJXCSOGZELP19XTfuB5X2fqiI82zjFwXVTTkwrE4v73fP1yibU8zcSTPTOsWfdlp8kbS9r7h/s1600-h/DSC01511.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFD1p9AWf-gJlaz39o0KEDnnuOZFsKojAURygCGh6HPlM54Uez4L6sg97ubD7r0ezbpLXCJXCSOGZELP19XTfuB5X2fqiI82zjFwXVTTkwrE4v73fP1yibU8zcSTPTOsWfdlp8kbS9r7h/s320/DSC01511.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380271358484758194" border="0" /></a><br />For the soup:<br /><br />1) Heat some oil in the wok, stir in chopped onion and some celery stalks (the smaller branches on top), fry till fragrant;<br /><br />2) Put in the minced meat (which, in my case, was marinated with some soy sauce, and added with a bit of tapioca starch so that you can form the minced meat into small lumps like meatballs);<br /><br />3) Add water, bring to simmer;<br /><br />4) Finally, add in the sliced tomatoes and celery, cook for a few minutes (but not too long, lest the vegetables turn mushy; just long enough for the flavor of the tomatoes and celery to be released into the soup), and season with salt.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx9rWKO5zaVTjtNvm13J5lTIwMNkhSn8kaWoro3AR59zYVCYbGl0xLv_CjsafeJgMSba3orba-bvqr-r8ATkkPwPYiSy3SBqjkQpnuV3DUE7l9Wq5j2dnMe80Dm1-4g8MEkmLwiHZa-YbS/s1600-h/DSC01512.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx9rWKO5zaVTjtNvm13J5lTIwMNkhSn8kaWoro3AR59zYVCYbGl0xLv_CjsafeJgMSba3orba-bvqr-r8ATkkPwPYiSy3SBqjkQpnuV3DUE7l9Wq5j2dnMe80Dm1-4g8MEkmLwiHZa-YbS/s320/DSC01512.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380271355395504514" border="0" /></a><br />Put cooked noodles in bowls...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXY5c0Tg_vVdeayoTHv_RdZThOinC8w3ClyizTJTJdwBkhGYD1V4NjAJ-y9y0muz4wPi4hnmwQkeW5hIk4b09DyMB31kaXUDkKzD7scEXZ8njJ9w79jSvBYS6MsIpdshmjr4St6g78FcML/s1600-h/DSC01513.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXY5c0Tg_vVdeayoTHv_RdZThOinC8w3ClyizTJTJdwBkhGYD1V4NjAJ-y9y0muz4wPi4hnmwQkeW5hIk4b09DyMB31kaXUDkKzD7scEXZ8njJ9w79jSvBYS6MsIpdshmjr4St6g78FcML/s320/DSC01513.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380271341053320930" border="0" /></a><br />Pour in the soup (with the meat lumps and tomatoes and celery, of course), and serve hot.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_d0E5YrERKGxRi99h-Ip20RXLqXMT-lmBNHGAqdZ2z0kRbhnziMRfE_N51DiLUp1dj9HZZwoAIGwsfCnALjEXg8znbrOVIwUqsjhctdJj6P5dyFGa8pHibhD7K7D6ZUBuKi3Lo2GLnOu/s1600-h/DSC01514.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_d0E5YrERKGxRi99h-Ip20RXLqXMT-lmBNHGAqdZ2z0kRbhnziMRfE_N51DiLUp1dj9HZZwoAIGwsfCnALjEXg8znbrOVIwUqsjhctdJj6P5dyFGa8pHibhD7K7D6ZUBuKi3Lo2GLnOu/s320/DSC01514.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380271337757539330" border="0" /></a><br />A very appetizing dish, with the fragrance of the celery, the refreshing sourness of the tomatoes, and the sweetness of the minced meat.<br /><br />And more importantly, it is a very healthy and nutritionally-balanced dish. :-)Dumbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08096394768049149435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6746865025267364907.post-80897962573448689212009-09-12T01:40:00.005+08:002009-09-12T01:54:45.537+08:00Dumbo the Occasional Poet - #2: "Branches"<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>The picture was taken during my <a href="http://dumbo-studio.blogspot.com/2009/09/dumbo-up-hills-4-solo-hike-up-ai-dam.html">fourth hike up the AI DAM</a>, training for my Kinabalu climb.<br /><br />Looking at the picture, I had imagined that I was sitting by a window, and there was this tree growing outside the window, stretching its branches across the view through the window. Hence the poem.<br /><br />***<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3Lu996LBRJ3M9JoNC6LptJGOce7tSUO7ScsN_mwthRqQpZjXCzmcjdMJ6HCIRHtda61bvKnJWGMUJR29x5uB5gRN37GCum98jacdl_IxHyL8A3zD39ZGbzPszwGA7Glkk_kOOz6NDtT_/s1600-h/DSC01502.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3Lu996LBRJ3M9JoNC6LptJGOce7tSUO7ScsN_mwthRqQpZjXCzmcjdMJ6HCIRHtda61bvKnJWGMUJR29x5uB5gRN37GCum98jacdl_IxHyL8A3zD39ZGbzPszwGA7Glkk_kOOz6NDtT_/s320/DSC01502.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380267039477251874" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">"Branches"</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Slowly my branches grow</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">across your gloomy window</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">You will think me obtrusive</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">or even find me repulsive</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">for I have come uninvited</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">and I will grow uninhibited</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">But in time you will know--</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">(though long it may take to show)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">--that my branches will music bring</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">in the robins of the spring</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">--that my branches will a shade make</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">from the heat of the summer bake</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">--that my branches will a picture show</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">with autumn colors red and yellow</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">And ere the coming of the snow</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">when the heart is prone to sorrow</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">A patch of beauty will yet I bring</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">to awaken your heart to sing--</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Therefore will I grow</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">across your lonely window...</span><br /><br />***<br /><br />This poem is a reflection on things that are out of our control, that nonetheless are never out of God's control. And in everything, God's plan for those of us who trust in Him and love Him is always the best, even though we may not realize at the time.<br /><br />"<span style="font-style: italic;">And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.</span>" (Romans 8:28)Dumbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08096394768049149435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6746865025267364907.post-1856328129944764242009-09-12T01:14:00.003+08:002009-09-12T01:40:10.479+08:00Dumbo up the Hills - #4: Solo Hike Up the AI DamFor my fourth session of training, my uncle was busy with something and could not go hiking that day, so I went up the Ayer Itam Dam - again - solo. Nothing remarkable happened during that hike, I'm just putting up this post for the sake of a few photos I took along the way. :-)<br /><br />***<br /><br />I made an effort to start early that day, so I could catch the following photo while it was just getting light. The point where I was standing is only about 300 meters (distance, not altitude) from the starting point of the hill path, and is the steepest stretch of the path.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlij8cfE96QnhneteiGrWmHO6991YgtoIgxk2VbNvVriO9TOzhXEpkrCe_1ydizjwhBfPMVq0ahtWBZu_1WtK6HxnLNpufH7hFeC7lzkoy5TIHga6vg6OFfarikHosbiGY6tice6916AYZ/s1600-h/DSC01497.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlij8cfE96QnhneteiGrWmHO6991YgtoIgxk2VbNvVriO9TOzhXEpkrCe_1ydizjwhBfPMVq0ahtWBZu_1WtK6HxnLNpufH7hFeC7lzkoy5TIHga6vg6OFfarikHosbiGY6tice6916AYZ/s320/DSC01497.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380260295702095506" border="0" /></a><br />The following photo shows the derelict playground beside the dam. It is no longer safe for children, but the adults have found creative uses for it, particularly as a makeshift "gym". I usually use one of the low horizontal bars to do push-ups.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5qiMyQGqggEDzT9hHzEPl7gA_gAapnhlm0hCbzbj1gSlhvCZV7SLC9ufI2afWbxglYZsu_t2DWxPj9CEOImyEo_5WAhnlGMNb5ZUNx3wZwVk2okjNsrD2gPeGKUDAdtjBnPC6ZkzrpxF/s1600-h/DSC01498.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5qiMyQGqggEDzT9hHzEPl7gA_gAapnhlm0hCbzbj1gSlhvCZV7SLC9ufI2afWbxglYZsu_t2DWxPj9CEOImyEo_5WAhnlGMNb5ZUNx3wZwVk2okjNsrD2gPeGKUDAdtjBnPC6ZkzrpxF/s320/DSC01498.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380260290426339442" border="0" /></a><br />On the way down using the main tarred road, there is - was - a beautiful field beside the road, in which I used to see children bringing kites to fly. It would later be turned into another team-building site, which I think is a shame, because it is now off-limits to the public. :-(<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLEGB62UTbmebxqLODYMYEI5_2HDF5BwRDw7YN9tLdV3dRkaeV49IlSxPLDHV6arUPVnGJj3errclo9CLSVvf3WrK9gOzl5SECc87PFyGhX8NiuHWcaPBU0RklHx8iWTj11pIbG_UlbOY/s1600-h/DSC01499.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLEGB62UTbmebxqLODYMYEI5_2HDF5BwRDw7YN9tLdV3dRkaeV49IlSxPLDHV6arUPVnGJj3errclo9CLSVvf3WrK9gOzl5SECc87PFyGhX8NiuHWcaPBU0RklHx8iWTj11pIbG_UlbOY/s320/DSC01499.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380260283022104674" border="0" /></a><br />That junction on the left would lead down to the field in the previous picture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNgoRiZhtzA5CPhEAOzBu4xf3UGJn5xQaSN_FoMHUJu58lJebQKCyOwFNlFBND2JxpxNIVpLhyWidsxuwhNOxAbs0xb3uIHk-wYLfJZ8b__l2LXALUu-qlfRoEw8pI9j7ZEudw5GDcua9/s1600-h/DSC01500.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNgoRiZhtzA5CPhEAOzBu4xf3UGJn5xQaSN_FoMHUJu58lJebQKCyOwFNlFBND2JxpxNIVpLhyWidsxuwhNOxAbs0xb3uIHk-wYLfJZ8b__l2LXALUu-qlfRoEw8pI9j7ZEudw5GDcua9/s320/DSC01500.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380260279725118306" border="0" /></a><br />The sky was not fully light yet, and I thought the nearly barren branches of a certain tree made a very interesting picture against the not-fully-light blue sky. This would later inspire a poem, which I will share in the next post.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwnw_wj__P14OUuehoZOxOgnKBwS5CiUPlX6xk6U5GfpF6egVUsDjtVfx09WpTNCjE8f5fbYFDlOr5DJUwICQGfQZ_HBQ7CkVqSO9MV1vOEO8gnFYcLDjib4MZkDc5MSz1dJBw0vojkRCj/s1600-h/DSC01502.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwnw_wj__P14OUuehoZOxOgnKBwS5CiUPlX6xk6U5GfpF6egVUsDjtVfx09WpTNCjE8f5fbYFDlOr5DJUwICQGfQZ_HBQ7CkVqSO9MV1vOEO8gnFYcLDjib4MZkDc5MSz1dJBw0vojkRCj/s320/DSC01502.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380260031278549586" border="0" /></a><br />I tried to take another photo of trees with blue-sky backdrop, but it was not as interesting as the previous one...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHay8oovvAOX5YizO2a5VZzaJXyqHwKfKyvqRMsawLZlo-U0FHk4yAAkYkSwUKR8qCGBtFvYe9mkeP7EyBf9AjezfkLO4DeaWqNlYGPb0T6lhYy42L6Nt4v-gKDgj2l0vKyyuM9pP8JRt/s1600-h/DSC01503.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHay8oovvAOX5YizO2a5VZzaJXyqHwKfKyvqRMsawLZlo-U0FHk4yAAkYkSwUKR8qCGBtFvYe9mkeP7EyBf9AjezfkLO4DeaWqNlYGPb0T6lhYy42L6Nt4v-gKDgj2l0vKyyuM9pP8JRt/s320/DSC01503.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380260020455801954" border="0" /></a><br />I enjoy the following stretch of the road very much. There are lush, beautiful trees to the right, and to the left, you can have a beautiful view of the dam at the highest point of the rise in that stretch of road.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoav6C6oj_3XvDJTa064zayg-rrzwlHZ6iPynx7ItmzTF0IEc22mALRAV4Ka3YN6IeLPksH-MhARHog8UqKrjFcoxxiJRBF-ln86hZFKRSCMV5uE80001h7JbemxjX_vsVW4YRgByNsax/s1600-h/DSC01504.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoav6C6oj_3XvDJTa064zayg-rrzwlHZ6iPynx7ItmzTF0IEc22mALRAV4Ka3YN6IeLPksH-MhARHog8UqKrjFcoxxiJRBF-ln86hZFKRSCMV5uE80001h7JbemxjX_vsVW4YRgByNsax/s320/DSC01504.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380260012006554386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Hlcrwmcqq88gDQRRCm-l5nQ9qg_cEXkJByShHrFy_dwkD1F60PiM1e7RKhycuizOrBYa77Q1ELcTqtrFnx6kxT1TNg_8PFHbWvEZ0aqqSW1OyY2-WGnVUDJ5s9KtYcJJS2yE6jo0f3Wc/s1600-h/DSC01506.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Hlcrwmcqq88gDQRRCm-l5nQ9qg_cEXkJByShHrFy_dwkD1F60PiM1e7RKhycuizOrBYa77Q1ELcTqtrFnx6kxT1TNg_8PFHbWvEZ0aqqSW1OyY2-WGnVUDJ5s9KtYcJJS2yE6jo0f3Wc/s320/DSC01506.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380260006795994226" border="0" /></a><br />The following picture is the view looking back at the highest point of the above-mentioned stretch of road.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbP0gFWYgaNvhXez8ylZTgFh10w_XhZIlYmw9UcJceZqwJiXVqEmGbcU66TeCj9ovTBbqOHdxm1EIDB2zpha125wHEWbJk0oVw0zYUrPrKZcC5EfTJGy0Fyw4VJeomQcEyXMe_WhxirHO/s1600-h/DSC01508.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbP0gFWYgaNvhXez8ylZTgFh10w_XhZIlYmw9UcJceZqwJiXVqEmGbcU66TeCj9ovTBbqOHdxm1EIDB2zpha125wHEWbJk0oVw0zYUrPrKZcC5EfTJGy0Fyw4VJeomQcEyXMe_WhxirHO/s320/DSC01508.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380259996722201682" border="0" /></a>Dumbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08096394768049149435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6746865025267364907.post-32211573860324418862009-08-24T21:22:00.005+08:002009-08-24T23:32:50.055+08:00Dumbo up the Hills - #3: Up the AI Dam AgainFor my third session of hiking training (which happened in the second week of my training), my uncle (my hiking coach) decided to do the hill path up the Ayer Itam Dam again.<br /><br />This time, I brought along my camera phone (I have to carry two phones, the one with the camera has 3G capability, so it doubles as my modem for mobile broadband, while the other one is a basic phone for making calls; and yes, somehow, the phone company could not bundle the calling account and the mobile broadband account onto the same SIM card; so much for technological advancement).<br /><br />***<br /><br />We started when it was barely light... I had to use the "night mode" of the phone camera because it does not have a flash light.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGzCXX2E3xaxr1pQAFmUMOlHtyF-hJt8mW4UQgFIee7f05ho4n9ijoqcwYFzdYicSBBXFqU9udFIr2YEMwregdeCemCuQKatsEfd1q5ZI5v9ImONgsykA5O6ne2MrqCZJCYpAjzltlLi5/s1600-h/DSC01461.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGzCXX2E3xaxr1pQAFmUMOlHtyF-hJt8mW4UQgFIee7f05ho4n9ijoqcwYFzdYicSBBXFqU9udFIr2YEMwregdeCemCuQKatsEfd1q5ZI5v9ImONgsykA5O6ne2MrqCZJCYpAjzltlLi5/s320/DSC01461.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373521634550045970" border="0" /></a><br />A few minutes after the first picture, my uncle was already way ahead of me:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6iDGEe_qPqrSN2CYmiSmwyoZpZ4pWjJIiY7a0EKKbs6Jn7m5zpRZwknJsB1p2a5w7PNyzR-gnWg8-iovY0kEWCDGdu71UTrBgMQhySdoLsvng099rjFvXPfpTEXUdUYeKBcmmnETKgydZ/s1600-h/DSC01462.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6iDGEe_qPqrSN2CYmiSmwyoZpZ4pWjJIiY7a0EKKbs6Jn7m5zpRZwknJsB1p2a5w7PNyzR-gnWg8-iovY0kEWCDGdu71UTrBgMQhySdoLsvng099rjFvXPfpTEXUdUYeKBcmmnETKgydZ/s320/DSC01462.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373521630237573618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNAnJvaTf30wCOThaNjpfHKWU4ZF1bFUgLwwlEqSmEQ2osbXi4be4KhYe_v-Qg7rm1vafbVo-KT5495ahZkxLxcwDR7e-Nlm3-TtXS-_tg7hZOqx2SEAFaL8vIDlFfngfIz_ovb9BUxZ6G/s1600-h/DSC01467.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNAnJvaTf30wCOThaNjpfHKWU4ZF1bFUgLwwlEqSmEQ2osbXi4be4KhYe_v-Qg7rm1vafbVo-KT5495ahZkxLxcwDR7e-Nlm3-TtXS-_tg7hZOqx2SEAFaL8vIDlFfngfIz_ovb9BUxZ6G/s320/DSC01467.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373521447804150978" border="0" /></a><br />As mentioned before, this cemented hill path is used by the residents of that hilly area (a lot of whom are vegetable farmers or orchard owners) as their main access road.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEG4hdiNZW9diPm9NY2d3lPP9G5vsvsoQsTs8IyHnedFJWHJ4FR9-xOtP1qAZ7JMIHoMqtOp4Ad6rpQfsHnHhSExSP0UIGqgjTvpInWL8MmhDmOwvf45Zl8ESmDKMh1yGMJvJvp4fIq5j/s1600-h/DSC01468.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEG4hdiNZW9diPm9NY2d3lPP9G5vsvsoQsTs8IyHnedFJWHJ4FR9-xOtP1qAZ7JMIHoMqtOp4Ad6rpQfsHnHhSExSP0UIGqgjTvpInWL8MmhDmOwvf45Zl8ESmDKMh1yGMJvJvp4fIq5j/s320/DSC01468.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373521438114328690" border="0" /></a><br />At one point along that cemented hill path, we have to branch off to a still smaller path that will eventually lead to the dam.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfq3B3TEW6rp3PriInc9AVBo66bE2ZyXVSsi_9meiI2F40h58t5Tm2Fvsxk1wXJNMqY9wZk1UePtyJruF9xO9IvBljcOsYbKpG_UEOxxeHGdr2zsepHinYiht0WtGkHwiCzxp8Def6G4k6/s1600-h/DSC01469.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfq3B3TEW6rp3PriInc9AVBo66bE2ZyXVSsi_9meiI2F40h58t5Tm2Fvsxk1wXJNMqY9wZk1UePtyJruF9xO9IvBljcOsYbKpG_UEOxxeHGdr2zsepHinYiht0WtGkHwiCzxp8Def6G4k6/s320/DSC01469.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373521432760395634" border="0" /></a><br />After we reached the dam, my uncle decided that we would do extra workout that morning, by walking around the circumference of the dam. The two pictures below show the starting point from the side of the dam where the abovementioned hill path leads to.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRodxu-2p32zr-6LDXp1qj9NsrzT3KGNR3XcgIM-QinFB4ofR3S7YCohpS9a7yDnQwVpmNISZzW3LsU2R9t7pWZ9TAbT7IeNb-AJrW7UI7urX2TNs1NqraEIpIhbMjZdphtqH4iGfhDI6t/s1600-h/DSC01473.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRodxu-2p32zr-6LDXp1qj9NsrzT3KGNR3XcgIM-QinFB4ofR3S7YCohpS9a7yDnQwVpmNISZzW3LsU2R9t7pWZ9TAbT7IeNb-AJrW7UI7urX2TNs1NqraEIpIhbMjZdphtqH4iGfhDI6t/s320/DSC01473.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373521428704018482" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVn8q4Vje1ags2Wha8PotX2dY0ZWeGPQlEmA2CEUh_kv_wb_26KOem3OnjqWJ9gDSaMM9PhFoEsDQwv5dS_Po1ejNH5UWP1ehRa6NCe5JPi0dm0SdMgKQZhyphenhyphenvEtsP0UYskv76Te1boLY4-/s1600-h/DSC01474.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVn8q4Vje1ags2Wha8PotX2dY0ZWeGPQlEmA2CEUh_kv_wb_26KOem3OnjqWJ9gDSaMM9PhFoEsDQwv5dS_Po1ejNH5UWP1ehRa6NCe5JPi0dm0SdMgKQZhyphenhyphenvEtsP0UYskv76Te1boLY4-/s320/DSC01474.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373521417279934930" border="0" /></a><br />According to some ancient-looking signs, this circumferential road - measuring about 2 km in length, used by the water supply bureau as the service road around the dam - used to be off-limit to the public. But the public's need for a healthy jogging trail and certain orchard owners who access their orchards through this road won the day, and today, we get to enjoy a very scenic jogging trail around what IMHO is a very, very beautiful dam.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9c83Y1SlY3lX4F7xbdQyq07ehGmfJlVJb5E9nJ2kv6CXTLCn3f0uJpSVIn-i8_-1sodwYJx2oDj7KIu-zvvbOXXqqrUzgUFijY5GN1auOZl8139vNd7rNlpzpuVfhc6B2tcnTnWJMrxe_/s1600-h/DSC01475.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9c83Y1SlY3lX4F7xbdQyq07ehGmfJlVJb5E9nJ2kv6CXTLCn3f0uJpSVIn-i8_-1sodwYJx2oDj7KIu-zvvbOXXqqrUzgUFijY5GN1auOZl8139vNd7rNlpzpuVfhc6B2tcnTnWJMrxe_/s320/DSC01475.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373521044032200594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhryhdQiHQqsno9YnVTjK4uvgLNhKdkws_jB4h4nPpvP2uh5pzY0Xtf9ZWRN9eQ6xTBWdhdjqJOLl2tW3LmSkfm5jB41MZ36d6I_q4BahGn1fdleFXQ6oPlT1p5bEao39TZ1qK82WQ7xg/s1600-h/DSC01476.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhryhdQiHQqsno9YnVTjK4uvgLNhKdkws_jB4h4nPpvP2uh5pzY0Xtf9ZWRN9eQ6xTBWdhdjqJOLl2tW3LmSkfm5jB41MZ36d6I_q4BahGn1fdleFXQ6oPlT1p5bEao39TZ1qK82WQ7xg/s320/DSC01476.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373521042315660850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3SNosx8EscIJtqZWsh6LrJDdqYXZggiYNr8sFR7EuOxRYrIg4doyxndkgJ_jtZZcy6jgis4WsfwRPt4LTRRhYrLW8HVQLLbOtOYfxhgTIyyACCs0AKsFr3wEgaTZFPRechUNeDEQyoW2/s1600-h/DSC01477.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3SNosx8EscIJtqZWsh6LrJDdqYXZggiYNr8sFR7EuOxRYrIg4doyxndkgJ_jtZZcy6jgis4WsfwRPt4LTRRhYrLW8HVQLLbOtOYfxhgTIyyACCs0AKsFr3wEgaTZFPRechUNeDEQyoW2/s320/DSC01477.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373521032532220738" border="0" /></a><br />Along the circumferential road, you would come across a few lovely streams, all of which empties into the dam.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQO4n8ZAZbSxGQhHU08Hc2dZfYkMutU3Mx8rYv2nYccnCQ8EdJwqJRnS3-SALUZvC8p1Xxu2l27K5rHwsISXw-GbGExjnaxJbe_e6dy5-JIZP5c8hHKuFMeQp_9dIEqJW2KDGuKhh5jdlc/s1600-h/DSC01481.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQO4n8ZAZbSxGQhHU08Hc2dZfYkMutU3Mx8rYv2nYccnCQ8EdJwqJRnS3-SALUZvC8p1Xxu2l27K5rHwsISXw-GbGExjnaxJbe_e6dy5-JIZP5c8hHKuFMeQp_9dIEqJW2KDGuKhh5jdlc/s320/DSC01481.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373521022135268002" border="0" /></a><br />Fresh air, cool shades, beautiful scenery, what more could you demand from a jogging trail?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZccN7MKh0_wxk8TsG4rpJVGDHqEfPeW0Vt0eTxZmoAZfMgTA7p3Ewl6zeqhArfav5_zPfHNeqzdhEvaaA3tHdbT2Qnk7N-Ot9bNlBAIYGW_GceEhfFaeHpN3MKurKCGx2PByhxpzaNUy/s1600-h/DSC01485.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZccN7MKh0_wxk8TsG4rpJVGDHqEfPeW0Vt0eTxZmoAZfMgTA7p3Ewl6zeqhArfav5_zPfHNeqzdhEvaaA3tHdbT2Qnk7N-Ot9bNlBAIYGW_GceEhfFaeHpN3MKurKCGx2PByhxpzaNUy/s320/DSC01485.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373521019220053122" border="0" /></a><br />After a two-kilometer walk, you will emerge on the other side, which the main tarred road up the dam leads to. And it was decided that we should go down via this tarred road, because the hill path was still considerably wet from the rainfall of the previous night, and might prove treacherous for the downhill hike.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92MFFNUlOTa39PEQuEo8e2wDg7kf1pvS_UnkhfSyQxKCevLtnDotzXfpTLOOqkTrRKRAdzM0gnJdCNwcP-T2N8xuNqBU1GACHNjQW3YpUw_rRpk6aF0AlrFaNpmiK4aW1k2rimYOWJkZQ/s1600-h/DSC01487.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92MFFNUlOTa39PEQuEo8e2wDg7kf1pvS_UnkhfSyQxKCevLtnDotzXfpTLOOqkTrRKRAdzM0gnJdCNwcP-T2N8xuNqBU1GACHNjQW3YpUw_rRpk6aF0AlrFaNpmiK4aW1k2rimYOWJkZQ/s320/DSC01487.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373520619895752770" border="0" /></a><br />The following picture shows the steepest stretch of the main tarred road, and it's practically a monkey playground.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKvuhTyP6qTKnvd1em2tLqWSBlGlyIPt9t8olTgeGOdBs6h3KoNRJMJJDDjLDxbRR8aaoJc29CFj8d7KpyLyTyr5iXh_A7aVtuhyphenhyphendi0H4PyCMS_znbm1AW3lVjveP3mWnIoMQKpjOFsCz/s1600-h/DSC01490.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKvuhTyP6qTKnvd1em2tLqWSBlGlyIPt9t8olTgeGOdBs6h3KoNRJMJJDDjLDxbRR8aaoJc29CFj8d7KpyLyTyr5iXh_A7aVtuhyphenhyphendi0H4PyCMS_znbm1AW3lVjveP3mWnIoMQKpjOFsCz/s320/DSC01490.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373520611672357282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLcZnaqWI1SraxNCXqKthgxav1JsIWgrhB1Kw_bQTkOHjcuk9Wo8dTUcHKCUl3p4701TmpK5rHYMnokqTkuzN2V-oOQ9-wlmFoKdnxSozcJRiP54RsX9IOHJ5HRfmoxzqC1GwBj_6QDq3/s1600-h/DSC01492.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLcZnaqWI1SraxNCXqKthgxav1JsIWgrhB1Kw_bQTkOHjcuk9Wo8dTUcHKCUl3p4701TmpK5rHYMnokqTkuzN2V-oOQ9-wlmFoKdnxSozcJRiP54RsX9IOHJ5HRfmoxzqC1GwBj_6QDq3/s320/DSC01492.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373520601832975234" border="0" /></a><br />The building shown in the picture below used to be dilapidated, and I had always found it a pity, that such a beautiful piece of architectural art should one day become a pile of rubble. But thank God, somebody finally realized its worth and turned it into a team-building center, managed by the PBAPP (Penang water supply bureau).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQk9pz09q2Wp5FUCDmFK8b-xq49sDgTtVJl8hV26sjPy6RPXuVyRSIWKuzW9o1Clt8YsmF6TodLm6cT7if_munq9s2PKMeekVfA3uNKf5lTqKeIIdJDV2_0s4hlItdx9O4juDCiSWds1oI/s1600-h/DSC01493.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQk9pz09q2Wp5FUCDmFK8b-xq49sDgTtVJl8hV26sjPy6RPXuVyRSIWKuzW9o1Clt8YsmF6TodLm6cT7if_munq9s2PKMeekVfA3uNKf5lTqKeIIdJDV2_0s4hlItdx9O4juDCiSWds1oI/s320/DSC01493.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373520593575138002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoScVsDOIizqpuvAz5kmJ9jDt3GEPKeysBC3JOAPekvXulduB5UsspdzQYguVgmJh2Ib4vo0vjEHDtqbyuB2h_QZsXaZh8WHvLSWQu-QuXQQqKO7Y9zq7HWYu7SwAjdtQWEm5tCr72dRTr/s1600-h/DSC01494.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoScVsDOIizqpuvAz5kmJ9jDt3GEPKeysBC3JOAPekvXulduB5UsspdzQYguVgmJh2Ib4vo0vjEHDtqbyuB2h_QZsXaZh8WHvLSWQu-QuXQQqKO7Y9zq7HWYu7SwAjdtQWEm5tCr72dRTr/s320/DSC01494.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373520583288485714" border="0" /></a><br />***<br /><br />Day 3, and it felt exhilarating to be physically active again (I used to hike up to the dam regularly during school breaks when I was in secondary school). :-) Kinabalu: here I come.Dumbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08096394768049149435noreply@blogger.com0