SINI-SANA with Patricia Wee

Wednesday, 6 August 2008

SINI-SANA with Patricia Wee

'EAT-ALL-U-CAN' DURIANS

Once again I'm in and out of the country! Just got back from Siem Reap, Cambodia. I have had so much fun in the nine days and nine nights and no accidents this time around (heeh!). Fancy seeing another one of the Wonders of the World - the Angkor Wat (Angkor what?).

Yes Angkor Temple! No accident? Good, but read the fine prints of Air Asia! Those of you travelling to Indonesia, Cambodia and Vietnam, please be prepared with airport tax departing from these countries! Do not be stranded there. My sister and I almost did, if not for my nephew, Wilson Cheah Hui Ping, VID Public Bank Manager in Ho Chi Minh city in Vietnam.

Hi friends, are you all looking forward to the upcoming Children’s Wish Society (“CWS”) Fund Raising Durian Fest in August? I AM!

Please DON’T forget that we will be welcoming your kind participation on Sunday, 10th August 2008 for our charity drive of 'Eat-All-You-Can durians campaign'!

All monies and donations collected will be channelled to this newly formed society. Its goal is to make these terminally ill patients’ last wish come true! It will definitely be deeds of virtue on your part. So please do your fair bit of charity to put smiles back onto their faces, ok? It is a very important event which CWS is planning to organise annually depending on your response. Just make a donation of at least RM10, then EAT-ALL-U-CAN. There will be loads of fun, so bring your relatives and friends along. Hope to see you all there!

Durians always bring fond memories to me. It is my favourite fruit of this lifetime and that is for sure. In the eighties, I used to describe durians to the Canadians when I was living there then.

They hadn’t the slightest idea what it really was; nor how it looks or tastes like. They had never seen it. The differing taste of each type of fruit makes it even harder to describe! It was rarely or not imported into the country.

I remember I’d once yearned for it. Therefore, I bought the only kind available, that is a frozen Thailand one from China town, Vancouver, and gleefully rushed home only to find that it was what you called in Bahasa "pulas hati".

One that, even with all your might, was impossible to open. Worst of all, after chopping it, there was not even a fruit for my salivating mouth! There goes my joy and ten Canadian dollars (about RM25 at that time).

Strange, with durians, it is either you like it or you don't instantly. But if you don't, you could acquire a taste for it sooner or later...if only you will give it a try.

Durians and roti canai were the two main foods that I missed when living overseas, and I wonder why. Could I have been an Indian in my past life?..heeh... who knows eh?

So at one point when I returned for holidays here, I saw durians at the 'pasar malam' (night market) and wanted so badly to buy them; but my girlfriend dragged me out of it because we were rushing to a movie.

I pleaded and she jokingly said, "Just smell it and it will satisfy your desire". So she and I took a deep, deep breath whilst thorns were pricking our noses. So now you know what 'durian crazy' people will do...sshhh!

Okay lo, you too can just smell them come this 10th August...but also for RM10!