Discovering Kunak

I am sad with the turn of events in Sabah right now. Many hoomans from both sides have lost their lives and I don't know how many more will lose theirs. I wonder if the evacuated locals remember to bring their pets with them....

Anyway, a few districts have been mentioned in the news, where the militants are supposed to be still at large - Lahad Datu, Semporna and Kunak. My Mama is a frequent traveller to Semporna, en route to her projects on the islands, and....has also visited the least known Kunak. Serious! Now, how many of you know where this place is? Hmmmm....? (raised one eyebrow!)

Kunak first came into our radar when we saw an agriculture TV programme that highlighted Kunak's salak madu. Salak is a kind of fruit from the palm family that has a snake-like brown skin and white flesh that tastes kinda sweet, sour and tart. The one from Kunak is said to be extra sweet (hence madu or honey) and crunchy.

Hmmm...people say the proof of the pudding is in the eating. In this case, we'd have to find the fruit and eat it first. Or so my Mama said. And so we made a more than 20km detour off the Tawau-Semporna road into Kunak, in our quest for a fruit.

First roundabout we came to in Kunak has these humongous prawns basking in the sun.

Then we stopped at this row of stalls selling tidbits and fruits, and ask around for the whereabouts of the fruits.

We found some! They were selling for about RM4 per kilogramme. The stall owner was kind enough to give directions to the fruit farm.

Just go along the road from the fruit stalls until you find this sign by the roadside.

Not too far off the main road, you'll see this signboard. The name of the fruit farm owner is Sudirman or better known as Pak Sudir among the locals.

The salak trees resemble oil palm trees, only smaller.

Bunches of unripe salak fruits upclose. The young ones are very thorny. Oooh...beware of snakes!

I assume that these are the seedlings. Hmm...maybe should have bought one or two and try to plant at home.

Is this woofie the guardian of the farm? He was friendly though. I hope he's fed for his services.

Brad's notes: Our verdict? The salak fruit from Kunak is sweet as honey and crunchy, as publicised. Nowadays, whenever we come across anyone selling this fruit, the first question we'll ask: is this from Kunak? har har har *evil laughs*

YVCM

Yummy Vegetarian Chocolate Muffins. Yup. That's what YVCM stands for. You know...the purrrson with the opposable thumbs was too lazy to type...but I've whipped her into shape.

More than that, she's even whipped up a yummy concoction for me to taste. I don't know how long this herbivore phase of hers will last but as long as the felines remain carnivores, am not complaining.

So, what has she come up with? Yes...it is the Yummy Vegetarian Chocolate Muffins. One bite and you'd never thought that there's neither eggs nor butter in the recipe. Honest.

The end results....very dark chocolatey muffin....the hazelnuts are the bonus!

The recipe: (makes 8)
3/4 cup flour
2 1/2 tbsp cocoa powder (we used Majulah cocoa powder by HoKo)
1/2 cup sugar (we used brown sugar)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup oil (we used Carotino)**
1/2 cup cold water (from the fridge)
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 tsp lemon juice/vinegar (we used apple cider vinegar)

16 pieces whole hazelnuts (optional)*

1. Sieve flour, cocoa and baking soda together to ensure even mixing, and then mix in salt and sugar. Reserve the lemon juice. Mix the dry and wet ingredients until sugar is dissolved.
2. Preheat oven to 190oC. Add lemon juice just before spooning batter into muffin cases. Mix well.

3. Spoon one tablespoon batter into muffin case, insert one piece of hazelnut, spoon another half tablespoon and then another piece of hazelnut.

4. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpicks come out clean.

*Hazelnuts are atrociously expensive in this country. So, it's optional. Nope, can't substitute with peanuts.

**Carotino gives a very rich taste and texture similar to butter based cakes. Yes, you may substitute with any other type of cooking oil but I can't guarantee the taste.

The Majulah cocoa powder we used came from Tawau, Sabah.

Brad's note: Best eaten the next day. Serious. Your pawrents may want to try baking this over the weekend. har har har *evil laughs*

Life in Malaysia: Corn.... but not as we know it

This, to us, is the best way to eat corn. Steamed. lathered with butter and a sprinkling of salt.

Then we found these at a restaurant in Semporna, Sabah.

Upclose....looks like mashed up corn steamed in its own skin. The taste? Hmmm....sweetish...reminds us of polenta...

Oh....he must be the chef who prepared the steamed corn a la Semporna!

Brad's note: Mama says the more you travel, the more weird stuffs you discover. But this is weird good, not weird bad. I just love corn....no matter how it's cooked. har har har *evil laughs*

Mama @ Work: Banggi, Sabah

Hiya peeps! I'm going to start a new series of writing, mainly about my pawrents and the work they do. Well, my Mama tried starting a new blog dedicated to her work but...eerrmmm...seeing how bad she is at maintaining even MY blog, sustaining her own would be a disaster (as there'll be no feline nagging her there!). Anyway, we don't want to bore you with just the technical detail hence the travelogue feline style we'll be adhering to.

In this first article, we'll take you to a remote island right at the northernmost tip of Borneo. It is called Banggi, the largest among all islands in Malaysia, with a population of about 20,000 people. The people there earn their living by fishing and farming, mostly below the poverty line. Last we heard the government has started a land scheme where the locals get a few hectares of land to farm plus a house and a regular stipend.

Tourism is not a big thing yet and general infrastructure is still so-so. There's only 25km of tarred road and only one ferry service linking the island with the mainland. Last we checked, there are two services in the afternoon (1.30pm and 2.30pm) from Kudat (mainland) to Karakit (island) and another two in the morning (7.30am and 8.30am) from Karakit to Kudat. So, you'll have to really plan your stay there.

What the work was all about? Oh, several months ago Mama's office received a letter from the teachers at the island's only secondary school there, requesting help for some students who have poor eyesight but couldn't afford to buy prescription glasses. Mama's office then initiated a fundraising drive and managed to collect some funds to cover the costs of making the spectacles. Mr Lee, who is Mama's optician at Bangsar Optometry, supplied the frames and glasses at cost. (Thank you Uncle Lee....). In the meantime, the teachers took the students concerned to the hospital and get their eyes examined, took their mugshots and emailed everything to Mama (isn't the internet wonderful???)

As Mama and Dad were already going to visit Sabah for another project, the trip to Banggi was added to the itinerary. They took the 5pm flight from Tawau, reached Kota Kinabalu Airport at almost 7pm, took a taxi to KK, stopped for dinner, then another taxi to Kudat, arrived there three hours later. So they spent some time getting to know Kudat before boarding the 1.30pm ferry to Banggi.

The jetty in Kudat. Lovely clear blue sky there.

The sweet lady manning the ticket "counter" at the ferry terminal.

Economy class at just RM15 one-way.

Hustle and bustle at the jetty in Banggi.

There is no public transport in Banggi but there are private utes for hire. They charge per head per journey.

Dancing troupe, teachers and students await at the school. There was a formal event organised...Mama cringed as she was very casual for the visit...you know....jeans and sneakers...

Some of the students who received the spectacles. Mama coined that phrase: Better Vision for Better Future. There's a recording of her speech somewhere.

After the formal event, there was late lunch and then some rest. The two pawpawrazzi didn't rest for too long. They had to explore the island before dark. As I said before, there isn't much tourist attractions yet but they could be interesting if you look hard enough. (OK, that's a pawpawrazzi's philosophy...)

Now...this is interesting. A replica of a bunch of tapioca (also known as cassava). I'm guessing that this is the main produce of the island.

The rest house where they stayed. Old and rickety but clean and NOT haunted.

Where they had dinner - a row of stalls selling fried rice, noodles etc.

"Downtown" Karakit.

Interesting stall selling local produce....

Note the price on the coconut...

...and the cucumber....interesting indeed.

While we applaud the tree planting effort of the locals...err....may we point out that this plant is not a tree? More like...errr...shrub?

The two ferries that would take us back to the mainland the next morning.

Angelina's note: Mama says her organisations accept cash donations that will be used for similar efforts in the future. Not just for spectacles but also for other education related stuffs like books, uniforms, shoes etc. For donations, go to www.muslimaidasia.com. purrr....meow!

Weekend Wishes

Wish number one - to look at that sunset everyday....sigh....

Wish number two - grilled tuna for dinner....NOW!!!

Wish number three - personal fisherman fisherboy...

...who can bring home a catch like this in just two hours....

Wish number four - deep fried mantis prawn....(drools on the keyboard...)

...or steamed....will do too!

Sorry...can't get over the fact that these beauties were fished from the verandah at the kitchen! What's the name of fish again? Bolong? Belawis? Never mind, we'll call it Delish!

Wish number five - sumptuous dinner of tuna, mantis prawn and Delish. Burp!

Angelina's note: Apparently, all my wishes can come true at Mama's island. Huh? Mama's island? Yeah...wishful thinking indeed. When are you taking me there, Mama? purrr....meow!

Brad's Homecoming Pawty

Mama has put me in charge of Brad's pawty...you know...to celebrate his return from the hospital. I need help deciding the menu (which may not even be delivered as everything depends on what Mama has in the fridge....).

Should it a combination of grilled catfish (and hot sour dip) and chili prawns?

XXXL prawns from Sabah....fit for Prince Brad...

Or....chicken and beef satay? Oooohhh...am drooling....

What about this humongous concoction for dessert? This is a Malaysian specialty called ABC - Air Batu Campur (literal translation - Mixed Ice) - a heavenly mixture of shaved ice, milk, syrup, jelly, cendol, nuts, dried fruits etc...

Angelina's note: Don't fret, fans of Brad. He can't eat any of those. This menu is for us, the guests. Brad will stick to his RC UT diet kibbles...the poor sod. har har har *evil laughs* Hey...the pawty will be in his honour....purrr....meow!

Friday with Mama: Does She Still Have It???? - part 2

The Amazing Race - KL to Mabul (pictorial)

Early morning at KLIA....waiting to board 00830hrs.

Sabindo Square, Tawau - main terminal for taxis, vans and buses.

The express bus taken to Semporna. (manis = sweet)

Bus counter at Tawau Airport....unreliable, I must say. Considering that Tawau is the main gateway to the famous diving sites off Sabah's east coast, public transport services must be improved.

Accident on the highway. This delayed our journey by at least half an hour.

Rendezvous point with boatman in Semporna. Made a note to stay at this hotel one day.

Was expecting a proper jetty and not this makeshift one. Hmm....another infrastructure needs upgrading. The locals call this type of boat as jongkong. The design is heavily influenced by the Bugis of Celebes.

The sky was dark as we were leaving Semporna for Mabul.....The sea wasn't rough though.

A glimpse of the northern part of Mabul....before the storm...

In the boat, during the storm.

Finally.....soaked to the undies but arrived safely.

Angelina's note: Will there be a part 3, Mama??? purrr.....meow!