Passover 2015

For the past three years since I've been with Tal, we're always invited to his cousin's Tammy's place for Passover. Since I'm new to the Jewish culture and tradition, I find Passover and Seder (Jewish ritual service and dinner for the Passover) to be very interesting and elaborate experience every time. Tal, of course said the celebration is different in Israel than here because we spent a lot of time reading and singing the haggadah (Jewish text). It was fun and I get to learn about the history at the same time. One thing to remember, no flour allowed for Passover - that means no bread, or cake or anything made with flour. Zero flour tolerance!

We arrived around after 8PM because we forgot the dessert that we were supposed to bring and had to drive all the way home to get it, good thing Tammy only live 20mile away from us!

The table was already set with seder plate and this is what each item represent:

- Salt water (not shown) represents the tears of Jewish ancestors shed during their years of enslavement in Egypt

- Parsley or bitter veggie (supposed to dip in salt water before eating) represents the bitterness or harshness endured during slavery

- Radish also represents the harshness of time during slavery

- Charoset (mix nuts/fruits paste) represents the mortar the Israelites were forced to use while building structures for Egyptian

- Hard Boiled Egg represents fertility or for mourning

There were also lots of wine or grape juice poured and drank, matzah passed around to hold the tummy and after a little more than an hour, we finally got started with matzo ball soup. Tammy made them really good!

Up next was a choice between stuffed cabbage or gefilte fish - Tal opted for cabbage and I fish, shown above is the latter and it was YUM! on the spicy side.

I think we kinda abandoned the seder and started with the main courses. As usual, it's a buffet setting that we all went to pick what we like. Tammy's specialty is the beef ribs/shank in barbecue sauce - incredible! Clockwise - I also got quinoa salad, chicken leg, some olives, salad, and roasted beets! 

During seder, we passed around the matzah and this is what we spread on them - chopped liver pate, Totally out of this world! So awesome and I don't even like liver!

Our contribution which Tal made the nite before - flourless or they call it Israeli cheesecake. Made with sour cream, yogurt, the crumbs were from matzah.

We skipped dessert because we were so stuffed with all the food and grape juice - left Tammy's close to midnight.

Shakshuka

Made this at the same time I made the baked beans, very simple middle eastern fish that's full of protein with tomatoey goodness. Cube 7-8 tomatoes, I mix fresh with canned. Stir fry some onions and garlic, mix the tomatoes, cook until most moisture is absorbed then break the eggs on top and cover. That's it, great with toast and hot sauce!

Biggest and Bestest Prank of 2015, and it was only February

When I received news and confirmation that I was going to be in HK late Jan, I immediately informed my sisters and cousins. Since I was going to make a detour home for a week after the business trip, I thought it would be nice to pay my parents a visit. They wouldn't possibly think that I would come home without telling them and this was precisely the best opportunity to surprise them!

My company pays for the flight from HKG-KUL, my initial plan was to visit PCC first and she said she could drive me home along with her mom and aunts that were staying with her that weekend. I'm glad I didn't choose this route, her car was small and I had one big luggage and backpack. I didn't think we'd all be comfortable for the long drive back to SP. I didn't want to spend so much time in car anyway. So, I booked a flight out to SIN to visit the kakilangs there. 

Coincidentally, Sean Ee was also in SIN that week taking care of Meagan, she was scheduled to leave for PEN the following Monday, I thought that was great timing because I could book the same flight and have Uncle pick us up and drop me off at the house since Sean Ee needs to pickup her car from Tua Ee's house.

The flights were booked at the last minute, the one from SIN-PEN cost so much more but it was worth it and glad I was able to catch the same flight as Sean Ee's and everything worked out in the end, total flights that one week (!):

HKG-KUL

KUL-SIN

SIN-PEN

PEN-KUL

KUL-HKG

HKG-LAX

On the first flight home, I didn't think I'd be emotional - it's really been almost nine years since my last visit in 2006. When touched down, I almost shed tears to be back in home country, only this time I bore a different passport hehe

I was tempted to look around for nasi lemak since my next flight wasn't for a few hours. I kept all the sisters and cousins updated and PCC informed I'd have to transfer to KLIA2 terminal for my next flight.

It wasn't hard to find the train at all, except that I have to purchase the ticket and I didn't have any RM on me, and the tix only costs RM2! I asked them to charge on the CC which took a couple of attempts but 15mins waiting at the kiosk holding up the line. Thankfully there weren't a lot of people.

Fast forward four days later, Sean Ee and I reached PEN, waited a bit for uncle to pick us up and headed back to SP. Everything changed in SP but surprisingly from the toll exit, I kinda gave direction to the house to uncle haha not bad still remember. But boy, so much developments and new roads everywhere.

In the car, Sean Ee called mom to wait for her to have lunch together, to ensure that she'll be home when we arrive. She also asked uncle to be involved in the prank, uncle was hesitant, he anticipate a lot of tears, he said he will tear up as well. Sean Ee was confident that there will be no tears, her words: "Mary bak eu teng eh" which roughly translates to: it'll be hard to squeeze any tears out of Mary. 

We arrived at the house after 2PM. Sean Ee and uncle got out the car first and Sean Ee went to the gate to greet mom, she said she brought something for her. Good thing is uncle's back windows were tinted so they couldn't exactly see me. As soon as mom unlocked the gate, I got out of the car and call her by her name a few times like how the lau langs would do. Her reaction was priceless and thank goodness I have it on video hahaha

Papa was just plain surprised, from his looks, he didn't quite understand how I was there. 

But best of all, and Sean Ee and I were wrong, mom's bak eu not so teng kekeke and here's the proof:

Bestest prank to date!