Base on the true story written
by Novalyn Price in her book about her passionate relationship with Bob
Howard. Very heartbreaking and compelling love story.
Yesterday, we were roaming the neighborhood at Pluit Village for a place to eat dinner and came across Ajisen Ramen. I come here once every few months with DH. We love it. The host always find us table quickly and we really enjoy the food. This is not supposed to be a fancy restaurant, they serve basic, well-made ramen and sushi. We ordered Tong Yam ramen, a Krakatau roll, a karaage, and a pan-fried dumplings.
However, when we had the wasabi, we found the
wasabi served was quite fake/ imitation. Usually it has more a kick, very much
like the “hotness” hits the back of the throat and clears your sinuses. This
one was plain. Nothing.
Note that eating wasabi together with sushi
is a good habit as the spiciness of the wasabi may kill bacteria/ parasites
that still hide in the raw fish.
I am thinking maybe the real wasabi is simply
to expensive, that’s why they have some mixture inside. Hence my question, does
the fake wasabi which we get served have similar health benefits as the real wasabi?
Before I get married, my family
used to have a Christian middle-aged helper, who was very thrifty. She loved to
collect items uncontrollably without being able to throw anything away. Sometimes she tried to “recycle, reuse
and reduce” all those unnecessary items which was good, but in other times it
created unsanitary, dangerous and unhealthy living environment.
One day on Cheng Beng (Qing Ming/
清明節) also known
as Tomb-Sweeping Festival, a festival or an opportunity for celebrants to
remember and honor their ancestors at grave sites where young and old will pray
before the ancestors, sweep the tombs and offer food, tea, wine, chopsticks,
joss paper accessories, and/ or libations to the ancestors.
But for those who do not go to
the grave sites, some families will remain or gather at home as a group to burn
paper shoes, clothing and joss paper accessories for their ancestors, as our
neighbor did at the front side of their house (garage).
And when our helper noticed that,
she abruptly ran outside and yelled out, ”Auntie, why on earth you burn all
those shoes? They still remain in a very good condition. Why you burn them? If
you don't want them, you can give it to me, I would love to keep them.”
All the families (neighborhood)
literally just burst out laughing (very loudly), even my mom unable to hold back
her mirth, and left out our helper standing alone in greatly perplexed. Later
on our neighbor tried to explain to her - what they burnt was a paper shoes for
the ancestors, not a real shoes. She was so embarrassed and ran away back home.
Since that day, Cheng Beng for my
family had never be the same again. For us, those funny moments remained in our
memory. :)
As the Buddha quoting the words
of ancient proclaims, ”Those who do good receive good and those who do evil
receive evil, man reaps according as he sown.”
I am the owner of my deeds
[k.a.m.m.a.s.a.k.a], heir to my deeds [kammadaya], born of my deeds
[kammayoni], related to my deeds [kammabandhu], and abide supported by my deeds
[kammapatisarana].
Kurumie (Oshie) craft is one of Japanese artwork with long history. The
Japanese paper using for Kurumie is Japanese paper called Chiyogami having a
beautiful pattern. The past Japanese's shapes are depicted using Chiyogami and
sponge. Kurumie is made by handwork one by one. So, the pattern and color of
Chiyogami and the design in Shikishi differ subtly one by one. Kurumie is the
Japanese artwork with warmth. Enjoy the beauty and the spirit of Japanese
artwork.
