Remembering P Ramlee and Saloma - Singapore and Malaya's Favourite Screen Idols

These are the photos taken from Majallah Filem No 32 November 1962 issue to commemorate the time when P Ramlee was awarded the AMN by the Yang DiPertuan Agong in 1962.


Most of the photos feature P Ramlee in his very smart traditional Malay dress posing with his wife, Saloma

Traditional Malay Keris - A pictorial study of three different designs

 1. Indonesian keris with gilt edging and split blade

Details of the gilt

Details of the engraved sheath

More of the gilt on the top section of the blade

The connecting ring between the handle and blade

Details of the pamur on the blade

Overall look of the blade

2. Perak local keris

Handle is made of hard wood

Details of the blade

3. Balinese keris - the largest keris that I have

Ornate handle

Details of the blade

Details of the blade

Intricate carving on the sheath and handle

Details on the sheath

A Malay Robin Hood in Kedah - The Tale of Panglima Nayan

The tale of Robin Hood and his merry men in Sherwood Forest and their exploits against the Lords of Nottingham are well known.

I am glad to find out that in Malaya, we also have our own version of 'rob the rich and give to the poor' type of romantic tale.

I read with great interest the article Social Banditry and Crime in North Kedah 1909 - 1929 by Prof Cheah Boon Kheng in the Journal of the Malayan Branch Royal Asiatic Society Vol 54 Part 2 1951 issue Page 97 - 130.

It seems there is a man in the local folklore named Panglima Nayan who would lead his band of marauders and rob the rich merchants and distribute their loot to the poor.

This folklore was so famous until it was made into a Bangsawan (folk theatre) and a book by Mansor bin Abdullah (Manbina) was published in 1959. That book remains the only written book on Panglima Nayan to this day.

 Reward notice for Nayan's capture $1000




Kedah Police Top Brass in Sungei Petani (Central Kedah)








Map showing the influence of Panglima Nayan and his gang in Kedah.

Nayan's sister, Puteh

Tippling Club Singapore - A Tanjong Pagar Culinary Hidden Secret

The Tippling Club is located in the quiet suburban area of Tanjong Pagar.

This is the place where chef-owner Ryan Clift works his magic, dishing out his very own distinctive brand of modern gastronomy. As a matter of fact, peeking into his reclusive research area reminds me of my secondary school science laboratory.







My three course lunch proves to be an exceptional dining experience whipped up by Ryan who tells me that he wants to one day retire and live alone in the beautiful Japanese countryside.


I begin to appreciate his unique ability to use the best produce carefully sourced from Asia and around the world as well as the freshest herbs picked the very same day from his own farm.


I thoroughly enjoyed my meal comprising of roast chicken consommé, barramundi and mango weiss bar.

All in all my lunch at this award winning restaurant costs only a little more than SGD 60.

Certainly not expensive at all.

Do not forget to check out their extensive wine list.












Each creation is a fest for the eyes even before my taste buds have a chance to sample it.

Razor clams anyone?

Tippling Club is at Tanjong Pagar.

38 Tanjong Pagar Road Singapore 088461

For reservations and bookings call +65 6475 2217.

Things bought at the Flea Market Friday 26 June 2015 - Paper bag advertisinng (Item 6 of 6)

Imagine my delight when I saw this stack of old paper bags lying at the stall of one of my favourite sellers yesterday!

I heaved a sigh of relief and glad that no one had beaten me to this pile of vintage advertising

I quickly snapped them up and clutched them tightly in my arms before anyone else could take them away.

These paper bags were very popular in the past.

They existed during the time when plastic bags were not yet invented.

I always think that people in the past were very environmentally concious.

All my paper bags here are monochrome - have only one colour. This involeves the earlier technique to just allow one colour to be used in a single printing process.

Of course red was the all time favourite back then

I like this one that promotes lots of my favourite traditional food - blachan, hare ah kay and hare kow.

Yummy!

You can still find these products in sundry shops but they will not be packed in paper bags like these anymore.

And yes, I did ask the seller to bring more next week so stay tuned for more ya!

Things bought at the Flea Market Friday 26 June 2015 - A Box of Pencils (Item 5 of 6)

Got this box of pencils yesterday (26 June 2015) at the Kampung Berjaya Flea Market.

This flea market happens every Friday from 6 am till 2 pm when most of the traders head over to the nearby Zahir Mosque to preform their Friday prayers.

These pencils bring back wonderful memories of my childhood days when there were no mechanical pencils.

There were only four boxes inside. Two boxes of pencils with 2B leads and the rest had 3B leads in them

All the four boxes are made of metal and are completely full with 12 pencils in each of them

Details of the pencils - pressure proffed so that they do not break easily

British made

2B leads - soft

Pressure proofed again

These pencils were often touted as the Perfect Pencils - Made in England

Venus de Milo - one of the greatest Greek sculptures is used as the symbol for this brand: Perhaps you will be a great artist too if you use these pencils for your work?

Details on the inner side of the metal case