I could've kicked myself for not carrying my camera on my morning run. I was on the other side of Castle Islan, the side facing the deep sea and there was a humongous oil tanker passed by. It wasn't a beautiful ship, nothing extraordinary about it: rusty, chips and cracks on the white and brown body. It seemd the ship needed a face lift pretty bad, but I don't think she was going to get any makeover anytime in the future. After all she was an oil tanker.
I ran all the way to the side where a bunch of fishermen waiting on their lines. We stood in awe watching the big ship cut effortlessly across a deep water.
This summer Castle Island attracts more fishermen than previous years. And one thing I've noticed is the numbers of father and son fishing teams have increased over the weeks. Fathers in their 30's and their young sons actually.
I remember when I was a little girl, every time my father was home, I would tag along him everywhere he went, like his second shadow.
During the first 12 years of my life, my father was away a lot more than he was home with us, but he made every effort to be with us, let us feel his presence. He asked me to read for him an Editorial section from three daily newspapers he bought while he sat on the couch sipping his pulled tea -tehtarik. I was so proud of it. I carry those beautiful memories until now.
When I got back to my apartment, the sun was already high. I was thinking of making fluffy pancake for breakfast , but I changed my mind when I switched milk to coconut milk into a pancake mixture.
Why don't I make akok?
Last year when I went to visit my family I had an opportunity to eat kuih akok I bought at Pasar Malam (night market). It was sweet, creamy and heavenly delicious. It was so sweet, the first word I uttered after I took a bite was: Manis tergedik-gedik. I don't know where did I pick up the phrase but I like to use it.
The result wasn't bad, but I knew something wasn't right. I picked up the phone and called Kak N. She was ready to go out to get her car tuned up.
"I've just made kuih akok, but they don't taste right."
"Tell me the ingredients you used."
"I used fluffy pancake ingredients, but I switched the milk to coconut milk."
"You have to use rice flour. "
"Aaaahhhhhh....." Well, maybe next week.
Nina,
Akok is from East Coast. The ingridients are rice flour, sugar, coconut milk, screwpine leaves (for coloring), plenty of eggs. I use kuih cara mold.
Betul lah tu, kadang-kadang orang utara cakap lain sikit :))
Posted by: anasalwa | August 16, 2007 at 07:59 PM
You know what? I have no idea what kuih akok is. I also don't recognise the look...Is it possible that it is called by another name by people in the south? Kadang-kadang orang utara bahasa dia susah sikit saya nak paham...
Kisses.
Posted by: Nina | August 16, 2007 at 04:05 PM
elsa,
Thank you for a visit. Kak N is like a second mother to me even she is only seven years older than me. She is the best sister anybody could ask for.
Posted by: anasalwa | August 16, 2007 at 08:00 AM
you know, what i like most in your entries are noting the relationship between you and your sisters, Kak N.
Posted by: elsa | August 15, 2007 at 09:57 AM