Saturday 11 July 2009
Saturday is a good day to look up Portobello - the world's largest antiques market. Historically speaking, London has been an influential city for two millenia and its history goes back to the founding by the Romans. Therefore, it is only natural that London has become a depository of international antiques. All antique lovers would browse away the day in Portobello's galleries and arcades. There is an astonishing variety of antiques and collectables from all around the world and dating back from the Roman times to 1960's.
People from all races jam the streets of Portobello every Saturday, trying to acquire bits and pieces of history left by their forefathers. I saw some old *Malacca tiles, being remade into functional items such as wall hangings or just being dispalyed as wall decoration. Such items are actually available at my gift boutique at blog http://www.tulengiftshop.blogspot.com/
*The antique tiles from Malacca actually originate from Great Britain. I saw 'Made in England stamped at the back of the tiles.However, some did come from Japan by my observation.

Friday 10 July 2009
Today, my family and I were invited for lunch at the home of my my old schoolmate , Chee Khan Neo, who had settled down in the UK since early 1970's. The whole family, comprising Michael and Elly Wong and their two daughters are now permanent residents (PR) of UK. The menu was a very special one, with chicken curry, fresh salmon, prawns, fried asparagus and a delicious fresh garden salad, served with steamed white Bhasmathi rice. Michael said it is a special menu for a special reunion, considering we have not met each other since 43 years ago when Elly moved to UK to start her nursing career.
Both Michael and Elly, I found out later, are descendants of the Nyonya and Baba heritage, the former from Penang and the latter from Malacca. Both Penang, Malacca and Singapore were the former states of the Straits Settlements, a legacy left by the British when they governed the country beginning 1800s.
It was a beautiful reunion indeed, with my telling Elly what had happened to our friends. It was easily remembered because Elly brought out the old school photos since 1961 as a source of reference!

Thursday 9 July 2009
Today my family and I went to the more popular tourist attractions in London - Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden. More so to familiarise my 2 1/2 year-old grandson , Iman Hezrin, with these landmarks of British greatness. Yes, the British race, for whatever other people may say and think, had done great things for our country Malaysia, before we gained our national independence in 1957. They brought development to then Malaya by starting ( some people say they exploited) the tin industry, then the rubber and palm oil industry of the country. We must not forget they brought the first few seeds of rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) and the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) from Africa to headstart the econonomic development of Malaysia. Even though the oil palm was brought in and planted initially as avenue trees in 1870s, it turned out to be a great investment opportunity and the oil palm industry has always remained as one of the greatest income revenue earner for the country, next to petroleum.
For me, revisiting these places is just a trip down memory lane. I was here in 1975-1977 to do my masters at Loughborough University. Then in 1982, I went for a short course on Agricultural Information organised by Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau International (CABI). Ten years later in 1992, I went again on a familiarization visit to the great museums in the UK to harvest ideas for the Palm Information Centre that I built for MPOB. It was at the Natural History Museum that I managed to piece together my thoughts on the look and feel of the Centre - an integrated approach of providing palm oil information to the world. I also took a trip to the Palm House in Kew Gardens to view the early oil palm trees planted there, one of which was brought to Malaysia that started the industry in our country.

Branding Palm Oil

8th July 2009
Today my family went out shopping at Oxford Street, firstly at Primark, Selfridges and Marks & Spencer. Two days ago, we went to Harrods at Knightsbridge. To me, shopping is just a preference for brand names - names that you associate with quality, price and your lifestyle to boost up your ego and image.
Talking about branding, the Malaysian government is in the midst of branding Palm Oil, despite it being a commodity. The Industry needs to create an identity for Malaysian Palm Oil - a need to differentiate Malaysian Palm Oil vis-a-vis other palm oil producers in the world.
Palm oil from Malaysia represents sturdy features such as quality, sustainable practices, speed of delivery and Research & Development(R&D). And this is supported by a brand name - Malaysia Palm. This brand will give the assurance that palm oil produced under this programme comes from plantations grown on legally approved agricultural land in Malaysia.

Leading A Good Life

7 July 2009
Today, 07072009, our son Ammar Zaid graduated with BA (Hons) Marketing Management from Middlesex University. It was the proudest moment in my life to see my son go up the stage and receive his scroll in full ceremonial robes. Syukur Alhamdullillah....all our efforts have borne us fruits. As the Hon. Chancellor advised the fresh graduates in his inaugral address, that the degree is just a beginning to life ahead. He singled out the 3 factors that would help all of us to have a good life. Firstly, use your common sense in whatever you say and do. Secondly, enjoy yourself and maintain humour in your lives. Thirdly, treat others well, just as you want yourself to be treated by them. I consider this advice as very wise indeed...to be followed, not only by the fresh graduates who are starting life, but all of us in order to maintain the good life that we have been blessed with.

Palm Oil vis-a-vis Olive Oil

My family and I had lunch Lebanese style in front of Harrods at Knightsbridge yesterday. The food spread was enormous, served Japanese style, with the complete array of appetizers moving on in front of us. It was really a feast for our eyes, before we decided to feast our tummies, of course. I am not adventurous with food, so I decided to order something ala carte, something that I am more familiar with at home. I ordered lamb kebab, but on the menu, it is categorised under Wraps.
What is more interesting to note is the edible oil used in all the food preparation in the Lebanese kitchen. It must be olive oil used in the salad dressing and in all other food concoctions prepared by the chef.
So I was thinking to myself, how much of our palm oil was imported by the United Kingdom. I suppose palm oil is very competitive to make its mark here since there are so many other non-indigenous eating outlets offering their local cuisines - Italian, French, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai and the Chinese takeaways.Perhaps, these outlets are not using palm oil in their respective kitchens. Maybe that is one of the reasons behind the relocation of the MPOB TAS Regional Office from London to Brussels recently in order to aggressively promote and monitor the increasing European market better from the new location in Europe itself.
FACT: Virgin palm oil is rich in carotenoids(pro Vitamin A), tocotrienols and tocopherols(Vitamin E). Like all vegetable oils, it is cholesterol-free. Furthermore, it contains no trans fatty acids. Palm oil is just as healthy as olive oil, and more. This is beacause palm oil contains the richest anti-oxidants in the form of Vitamin E, especially tocotrienol.

Michael Jackson 1958-2009

I was packing my bags to go to London when I heard the news that Michael Jackson died on 25 June 2009. Ina lillah wa inna hirrajiun....My first thoughts for him was May Allah Bless his soul. On the MAS flight, I took the Daily Mail and there were several pages regarding the sudden death of the King of Pop, with sideline stories of him being charged with child molest(the Jordan case) and also the confessions of Lisa Presley, his ex-wife of 2 years telling about the fact that he "was hot in bed". The stories carried contrasting views about the real life of MJ. Only God Knows the truth.
Michael Jackson's death reminded me of the sudden death of my idol, Elvis Presley. In fact, over the Internet, the deaths of these two icons were reported to bear some similarities, ie both died due to an overdose of prescription drugs. But now we know the MJ's sudden death was due to cardiac arrest.
It was to attend my son's convocation that brought me to London this time. My son Ammar Zaid told me that some years ago, he saw Michael Jackson being driven down the road in Section 11 Shah Alam where we live. It was in mid 1990s when MJ made a historical visit to Malaysia and his trip was sponsored by Datuk Seri Syed Yusof (popularly known amongst fellow Malaysians as Jojo). That was when my 12 year-old son then, who was on his bike, saw MJ in person in the car being driven down the road in Section 11, Shah Alam. What a story, believe it or not! But it is true.
It seems MJ's Muslim name was Mikaeel. Semoga Allah mencucuri Rahmat keatas rohnya. Al-Fatihah....