Wordless Wednesday: Dangerous Career

We Say Duck, They Say Bebek

Translation: dada = breast, paha = thigh, kepala = head, ati = liver, ampela = gizzard, ceker = leg. Hmm....which means you get to eat all parts of a duck at this shop.

Yeah....he ate and he forgot his family. Yeah, Dad. Where's my portion of the deep fried duck?

It's a simple lunch actually. Just fried duck, white rice, raw vege and hot chili condiments (sambal).

Brad says: Maybe if they had steamed or roasted the duck....won't that be healthier? But not if you eat with buttered rice.... har har har *evil laughs*

Best Gotcha Day Gift

Brad says: No more sharing Mama's MacBook with Angelina or Dad's iPad with Nikki. I have my own Galaxy. Certainly an occasion for har har har *evil laughs* (yeah....that's how I do my evil laughs)

Educating Brad: Tjanting

I learn a new word today - tjanting. Mama's dictionary is too heavy for me so I looked it up at Uncle Google. This is what I found:

Tjantings (noun, plural) are tools used in creating batik patterns. (Batik is a wax resist decorative technique used on fabric.) They hold and dispense hot wax in such a way that the artist can control the pattern laid down by the wax with a great deal of precision. Tjanting tools probably originated in southeastern Asia and are still used in the creation of traditional batik fabrics, notably in Indonesia. They are also used by other batik artists and artisans world-wide, from the traditional to the contemporary.

Pronunciation: Probably most proper is "t' jun ting" which rhymes with hunting. Some do say "t' jaun ting" which rhymes with jaunting. Also known as: canting (cantings, pl.) Alternate spellings: tjunting (tjuntings, pl.)

Now, what brought about this new word into my world?

Well, Dad visited Indonesia in the first week of July and visited a place called Probolinggo in East Java. It was for work, not pleasure. But he did find time to buy some souvenirs for the family. Among others, Dad was brought to visit a village where the womenfolk produced fine hand-painted batik cloth. The Indonesians call the product Batik Tulis (tulis means write in Malay).

Looks like a normal house from outside....

Once inside, a bevy of beauties were busy "writing" on  a piece of cloth. Did my Dad flirt with them? hmmm.....

The lady proprietor showing off a finished product. They also produced stuffs like bags, pencil cases, tissue holders, totes etc.

Dad was told that the silver-grey 2-metre piece carries a price tag of IRD1,000,000 (about MYR400!!!) because of its intricate design. Nope, he didn't buy that one.....

Brad says: I wonder how would I look wearing batik, eh? Thank God cats need no clothes. But I learned a new word and some culture. har har har *evil laughs*

Reality Check

I'm always grateful for the fact that I was rescued from the streets....from an uncertain life. I shudder to think of what would it be if my plaintive cries on that April evening had been ignored by Aunty J and family.... Never mind that they named me after a fruit....

Recently, as a Gotcha Day treat, Mama took me to an animal shelter run by the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). The location of the premises in Ampang Jaya is only about half an hour drive from home.

We met up with Aunty Ee who volunteers at the shelter, had breakfast with her at a nearby stall before visiting. Aunty Ee is a legal eagle by profession, an animal and environment champion by passion. If only there are more hoomans like her....check out her blog www.covertoperations78.blogspot.com.

I must say what I saw was a sobering reality check. Made me realise how lucky I really am, as well as Angelina and Tom as we all belong to that not so rare breed - the rescued breed. What you are going to see next can make you cry. Beware!!!

These felines are newly rescued....this is the first "scenery" that greeted us at the main entrance.

A queen and her litter of four kittens. I notice that the queen is wearing a pink collar, so I assume that once upon a time someone must have loved and cared for her....but abandoned her when she doesn't stop breeding.... Why didn't they spay her??? Mama said she must have pretty once, judging by her semi-long fur.

These lovelies should still be feeding from their momma....I think they're about the same age as I was when I was rescued.

Look at those blue eyes...wouldn't you want to take him home?

There are two of the blue-eyed gingers and they share a cage with a long-haired beauty.

I'm guessing this poor pure breed was abandoned coz the owner didn't know how to take good care of him....

We then moved on to another side of the shelter, which is the cattery where the earlier arrivals are kept. I saw a sign that says there's going to be a Jumble Sale on July 31st. Hmmm...must take note of that.

This tabby was trying hard persuading Mama to take her home....I was miffed at first but then thought better of it. She needs TLC too.

Another tabby trying to get Mama's attention. Hmmm....you know how fond Mama is of tabbies...

Ouch! Is that how I look when I do my "business"????

I lost count of the number of cats at the cattery. There are so many....

Looks like an interesting corner at the cattery....for those who like to climb and rest on high places I guess.

Important notices are also put up at the cattery.

I was told some people have aversion for black cats...I wonder why...

Hmmm...who does this blue-eyed beauty reminds me of? Hmmm.....someone I know well at home!

Brad says: I wish we have a humongous palace so that we can adopt all of those cats we saw at the shelter. Pray that my Mama and Dad will become sooooo rich one day and realise their dream of setting up our own feline paradise. In the meantime, please adopt those poor little felines at the SPCA or make a donation for their keep. You can do so online, their button is on the right column (SPCA Selangor). Let's go visit again next weekend, Mama? har har har *solemn laughs*