Chinese New Year... Year of the Tiger...

Gong Xi Fa Cai...Xin Nien Kuai Le...Happy New Year... these are the phrases we taught them to say when they meet people during CNY. They can even sing the Gong Xi Gong Xi song perfectly. Teaching them and getting them to do it all to perfection with us was a doddle but to get them to say/sing it when they meet people was close to impossible... Stage fright I suppose... Haha... better luck next year.

The traffic to and from my towntown was surprisingly smooth this year, such that it was like a normal weekend trip rather than a festive season journey. In all it was rather pleasant (typical CNY scorching weather notwithstanding) and the girls feel asleep in the car as usual during long trips.

As the girls are older and hence more aware this time around, they enjoyed the trip much more as they were able to play with their elder cousins. Their cousins did play with them last year too but the girls were still too young to join in and really have fun. It helps that the girls can talk now and are able to communicate with their cousins I suppose.

Hurray! It's Chinese New Year again...

How's this for a New Year smile?...

Jun Lee & Jun Yen with cousins...

More to add later, and pictures too. As usual, all of hubby's sophisticated equipment cannot seem to get photos online any faster... :P

Update: Pics added...

Babies in Teluk Intan...

Last Saturday we finally found a chance to visit wifey's hometown, what with the babies being too small earlier, father-in-law's travelling, and our own schedules, settling on a slot was a bit vexing.

We originally aimed to leave by 0830, but what with one thing or another only got moving by 0930 after dropping off the maid at my parents'. Even though it was only a day trip, the amount of stuff we packed is simply beyond belief. You'd think we were going away for a week!

Traffic was very smooth, and weather very good, being cloudy most of the way, so there wasn't much use for the sunshades I bought last Thursday. The babies were naturally very curious and looked all around, but quickly fell asleep within half an hour after we left. Their normal pattern is usually a nap after their breakfast anyway, so they pretty much kept to it.

They slept all the way until just after Bidor, Jun Yen woke up first followed shortly by Jun Lee. It was quite amusing as Jun Yen woke up quite cheerfully and started chattering with Mommy, but Jun Lee was actually frowning quite a bit and looked distinctly grumpy at having her nap interrupted.

Due to the clear traffic, we made pretty good time and arrived in just under 2 hours. We put them down on a mattress we laid on the floor to play, and had to keep a close eye on them as they began crawling off the mattress when no one was looking.

Had lunch at Gulam Rasul, a nearby nasi kandar place, and it was simply fantastic. If you're in Teluk Intan give it a try. The Ayam Goreng Berempah (spicy fried chicken) was sensational!

Went to visit wifey's aunt who took care of babies a while ago, and she was quite delighted to see them, and had some dresses for the babies. A bit large for them now so saving it for later. Jun Lee didn't protest much being carried by their grand-aunt, but Jun Yen cried whenever grand-aunt tried to hold her. It's been many months since they saw her, so it's no wonder they don't recognise her.

Stopped by Sin Guan Hoe to buy the obligatory Heong Peng (biscuits with a molasses filling) and mooncakes. Left Teluk Intan around 1630. The babies fell asleep more or less as soon as we started off. Too much excitement for the day perhaps...

And so they slept all the way until we arrived back at parents' place at 1830. They've been very good girls throughout the trip, and the travelling didn't seem to bother them. Hopefully we'll be able to take them to more places in future.

Liew Kee Chee Cheong Fun, Teluk Intan

After having read through quite a few reviews of "Teluk Intan Chee Cheong Fun", I was positively aghast at some that tries to pass off as the real thing. Those quote marks you see above are no accident...

The thing is, I have yet to come across any decent Teluk Intan Chee Cheong Fun (for the rest of the article referred to as TICCF) in Klang Valley. For some odd reason this is one of those things that rarely tastes right outside of its place of origin. For the very same reason, Penangites whine about the state of the laksas and char koay teow here compared to Penang.

Most people think of TICCF as simply your usual CCF with fillings in it. Be it dried prawns, pickled turnip (choi boh), spring onions. I have had some with one of the above, some with all of the above, some even with sweet CCF sauce (horrors)... And quite frankly, before I met my wife (whose hometown is Teluk Intan) I thought all those pretenders tasted okay, but really nothing extraordinary. Couldn't for the life of me understand what the fuss was about.

Then one night in 2002 enlightenment set in... From the CCF point of view anyway...

Arguably the most famous of the establishments that produces TICCF in Teluk Intan, Liew Kee is located in a wooden house somewhere near the town centre. Dont have the exact address, but any true blue TI-an would be able to tell you where it is. This place also goes by the name of Ah Lek, so if one name draws you blanks, use the other. Same thing.

Watching the workers is a treat itself. Here they make the TICCF from scratch, grinding grains of rice to make the rice paste. They take up a large rectangular aluminium tray, slop the rice paste over it, roll it around to spread the mixture, toss in some dried prawns, some choi boh, and feed it through the conveyor.

This conveyor thing moves the tray through a steamer. When it emerges from the other end another worker uses a spatula-like thing to scrape the solidified TICCF and roll it up, cut it into smaller sections, pack it in plastic sheets, toss in some pickled green chillies, and wrap it up with newspaper. Finally, it makes its way into your hands in exchange for RM2.50 a pack.

The taste? When you unwrap the newspaper and plastic packaging, the aroma of rice, and the fillings waft out in a combination of what I can only describe as heavenly. Open up a pack in front of me, and even if I have had a 8 course dinner beforehand, I'll still find room.

Use your chopstick (or fork, or hands if you're desperate) pick up a piece of the TICCF and the pickled chilli, pop it into your mouth. The texture of the thin rice paste is smooth and firm, the dried prawns add a bit of crunch, the choiboh adds a savoury element, and lastly the chili throws in a bit of fire and tanginess to the whole mouthful.

There are a few things you need to be aware of Liew Kee though. Firstly the best time to buy is at night, all the way till midnight (and later). Secondly, the lines get impossibly long during weekends and public holidays.

If all else fails, you can still get a pack in the morning from many coffee shops and stalls throughout Teluk Intan. Liew Kee's main business is after all, making and distributing the TICCF. Be warned though, once you've tasted the stuff you got from Liew Kee on a cool breezy night, these too will seem like shadows of the original...