Yet another trip to Belakang Padang

A relative had invited us to attend a reception to commemorate their son's circumcision. I had expected a small affair, just some food and prayers and a small gathering.

What greeted me was a full-blown mega reception which involved the whole village, much akin to a wedding.

I've heard of the Javanese Muslims holding their son's circumcision in high regard and this is my first time encountering it.

FYI, in Islam, circumcision to a boy is a must and he must be circumcised, preferably before he reached puberty.

A culture-vulture will be delighted at the presence of the popular 'kuda-kepang, barongan' and even the 'reog', which is native to the region of Ponorogo at East Java.

Guys in 'Barongan' masks.

I arrived at around 2pm, just in time too witness the arrival of these 2 fellas who came from the arena outside, to welcome the 'Prince of the Day', the boy who's just had his circumcision.

My mum was quick to pull me in, knowing my penchant for being really curious and getting near such things. Thing is, barongans are usually associated with things mystical. Given my condition, I should stay away, to avoid the risk of getting 'unnecessarily involved'.

The boy being carried on his father's back.

His daddy swiftly changed out of his smart batik shirt and wore a barongan mask (scaring his little daughter, at that), before carrying his Prince on his back.

They then ventured out to the arena outside, led by the other 2 guys in the masks and followed by a procession of villagers, most of them kids.

Pleasing scenery.

While they precession went away, I took advantage of the dwindled crowd to indulge in their food (not to worry, another entry!)...

..and take in the surroundings.

The dais.

Yes, they've even had a corner done up with a dais and all - not unlike a wedding. They sure go all out, huh....? For a circumcision. Guess we dun see the deal here but over there, it sure is a big thing.

Find her familiar?

Let me jolt your memory through HERE.

I was really surprised to see the tomboy who had harassed me back then, looking all demure. With her face made up, her hair accessorised and dressed like a mini-bride.

I sympathised with her then. The tomboy who had every urge to get out and play, being constrained by that trtaditional wrap-around 'batik wiron' and... her mum.

Having worn that garb during my wedding, I'm well aware as to how uncomfortable that velvety top was. What more in that humid heat.

Poor thing. But bored as she was, she still looked cute....

Waiting for the arrival of her bro.

Soon a small commotion ensued. Her bro was making his way back from whatever ceremonial rites at the arena outside, by the main 'road'.

So little Salsabilla was tidied up went back to her position at the dais, as if to welcome her bro.

Here he comes...

Wow, I had expected him to be re-carried back there on his father's back but I didn't anticipate him being on the 'reog', as if riding it.

The procession being led by a group of female 'kuda kepang' dancers, the 'reog' following behind, with him.

At the dais.

After he got down (and the wraparound batik put in place), he went back to his position at the dais, by his sister.

You may find this pretty contemptuous, but it's all kinda' innocent. Even the royalties of long ago, when the unmarried brother reign the throne, his sister will accompany him while in court.

'Reog' performance.

Meanwhile, the 'reog' outside continued to perform a ritual dance.

Honestly, that whole gear weighed over 20 or 30kg at least. How the performer managed to carry it all the way and EVEN dance in it... I really wonder.

Though it's no secret that 'barongans' DO practice mysticism, involving trance and totemic worship.

Go figure.

Rear view.

It's obvious that the 'reog' is made to resemble a tiger. Read HERE for a detailed explanation on the 'reog'.

Back to the arena.

After around 15mins of performing outside the reception area, the 'reog' finally turned around and made it's way back to the arena outside.

It's amusing the see the whole lot of villagers, who were avidly watching, also following suit. Thus a procession formed behind it - not unlike a scene from 'The Pied Piper'.

The arena.

As we rushed back to head for the jetty, I caught sight of the 'reog' still on with its performance at the arena.

...Pardon that boy, I took this (hurried) shot from the trishaw.

entertainment bits

I'm sharing this article because I totally digg it.

I despise John Mayer and I never did like Jennifer Aniston. And if Pink was rite, he's just the jerky a** that I tot' him to be.

Maybe those women aren't stupid on their own. They're just damn foolish to fall for that sleazebag.

John Mayer's painful Pink injury

'Gravity' singer John Mayer claims Pink kneed him in the genitals outside a luxury Hollywood hotel last year.

'Gravity' singer John Mayer claims Pink kneed him in the genitals outside a luxury Hollywood hotel last year.

John Mayer claims Pink kneed him in the 'nuts'.

The 'Gravity' singer posted a cryptic message on his Twitter account, suggesting the 'Sober' star attacked him outside a luxury Hollywood hotel.

The 31-year-old musician wrote: 'Last year Pink kneed me in the nuts outside Chateau Marmont. I was p***ing blood for days. Did I make a scene? (sic)'

If the attack happened, it wouldn't be the first time the stars have clashed.

Pink branded John her 'most-hated celebrity' last October, after they met at a party in the Hollywood Hills.

Pink said afterwards: 'I got into an argument with him. I don't believe him as much as he believes him. He said something along the lines of, 'I only sh*g really stupid women.'

'And I said, 'I guess they would have to be.' I don't get him at all.'

Jennifer Aniston, who was dating John at the time, was said to be enraged by Pink's comments.

courtesy of MSN sg

oh, nostalgic food!

Yesterday I ate one of the best things ever!

The maid and I were having a little workout session at the fitness corner last Saturday, when she mentioned 'toasts'. I gave her a bewildered look.

"Toasts?"

"Oh, I forgot. We always have it in the afternoon, when you are away at work..."

Hmmm..... Ok, I sense some envy creeping over me. I LOVE, love, love toasts!!

"Wait, I thought there's no oven in the house..?"

"Oh we just spread the margarine, sprinkle some sugar and put it on the flat pan, the one you used to cook the prata the other time... The kids love it!"

"Oh." ok, now I'm jealous. I can't believe I'm feeling this way over toasts.

And when we came back, she cheerfully commented on our conversation to grandma, "Kakak (big sis) was wondering how we prepared the toasts. I forgot she's never had them before."

Yesterday, after tending to the antics of the littlest niece, actually doze off that afternoon, the sun shining on my face (which was rare cos' I hardly can stand light when sleeping!). I woke up a couple hours later all groggy and ventured to the kitchen for some water. Grandma was at the stove preparing something.

"Oh you're awake. I'm preparing toasts here."

"Toasts??! Really? I love toasts. Wow, you seem to know!" Man, I sure am wide awake right then.

She just snickered. "Your grandpa wants some. You want some. Good, so everybody can have the same thing. The kids will also want later."

She went out to check on them. And she came back in saying, "You're in luck. The maid brought them to the playground. You can have all that in the pan. Can make more for them later. Better to eat them hot."

I just beamed. "Thanks grandma!" She then left me alone.

I looked into the pan. There're 4 little bread slices, folded into half with the sides trimmed (aww, too bad. I love the sides!) sitting neatly in the pan. All four slices for me... ME!

I made a cup of hot milo and gingerly took one out of the hot pan and put it nicely on a plate. Oh, how crisp it was to the bite! And then slightly salty and melted margarine dripped onto my tongue, followed by the crunch of the sugar granules that gave it such an awesome kick!.. Ahhhh...

Now, that's bliss!

I looked around and spotted a bottle of nutella. The next 2 toasts had a generous layer of choco-hazelnut in them (yes, on top of all that margarine and sugar).

The last toast, I had it the way it is. Savourrrrr....

Ah... Talk about loving my life!

** sorry no pics. so eager was i, to wallop all those beauties!

barcelos

Chicken, Cheese & Egg Pitta Pocket

Sweet Chilli Cheese Burger

Pine & Cheese Burger

Chicken Pasta Meal

bro's bdae meal

Oh the ordeal we went through just to get here...

W E B S I T E

The address was simple: 228 Tajong Katong Road. Ok, so we know that the address has '2' and '8' and it's in the 200+ range. My mum had seen the ad in the malay paper BUT she forgotten the date of that paper.....

I had so confidently driven to the public carpark in that area (thankfully, my parents never asked how I even knew of it). And my parents (who must have been really hungry) walked ahead. So my bro and I followed suit.

After a loooong walk in the wrong direction, we finally found the place almost 1/2 hr after parking.

Seriously, if we had turned RIGHT instead of LEFT, the eatery was a mere 20metres from the alley that we came out from! Pfft!

--Ok, gripe over. Now the food--

The eatery was tucked away in one of the shophouse along that road, which played hosts to numerous eating places. It's located right beside a branch of the Donut Empire chain.

The interior was bright, one side lined with a row of long shelf with a lower compartment to tuck your drinks away (that's what my family did anyway).

The top shelf had little knick-knacks (all ornaments from the island of Java) on display, supposedly to give the 'Javanese feel' despite it's modern outlook.

The other side had walls plastered with nice graphics of various foods and their nutrition value (I'm thinking of how to feed hubby more gallangal!). It helps to distract one from immense hunger, reading all that and discussing what will be good for whom while waiting for the food to be served.

Our drinks/dessert order. (L) Jus Alpukat (Avocado juice) for mum, Happy Soda ( fizzy Bandung) And Es Dawet/Chendol (with bits of jackfruit) for dad.

Plain water is available- free flow at the front counter.

Here's MY dessert/beverage order. Es Delima (red Ruby).

Chinese chestnut coated with coloured starch, bits of coconut and jackfruit with coconut milk...

Ayam Cobek - my bro's order

It's a tad similar to the famed 'ayam penyet'. That soy sauce was available on the table and my bro added it to the chili for good measure.

Honestly, I think he's afraid it'll be too spicy.

Rawon - my order

It took me so long to decide on what I shall have, thinking that my appetite had somewhat waned that afternoon. Believe me, I was equally surprised when I chose this.

I had initially wanted the gado-gado, however, both my bro and dad had placed an order for that and a 3rd plate would have been too much.

The set comes with salted egg and sambal belacan. However, I missed the 'kecambah' (young bean sprout) that I could get when ordering the same set at Ayam Bakar Ojolali.

Close up of the Rawon.

I'm quite pleased with the cut of meat that they used in the Rawon, which is beef stewed with 'buah keluak'. They used the layered meat, the one where the meat and tendon are layered alternately, not unlike the 'kueh lapis'.

My mum said that she simply ask for 'daging kari' (curry meat) when she ordered that cut from the butcher.

Soto Jawa (Lamongan) - my mum's order.

Unlike the ones we can get from the local hawkers, it seemed that the one served at these Indo eateries tend to be overzealous with the turmeric, hence the yellowish tint.

And they tend to already squeeze the lime into the soup.

So much for Soto (Spiced Chicken Soup) Jawa. I remember that the famed 'Soto Madura' taste similarly.

'Sup Buntut' - Oxtail Soup - my dad's order

I noticed that some places also added the ribs amongst the oxtail. Well at least they didn't cut the meat up into smaller pieces....

Gado-gado - Vegetables and lontong (rice cakes) with peanut sauce and keropok (crackers).

Both my bro and dad ordered this. Seeing that my bro already finished 2 plates of rice prior to having this, both my mum and I helped him polish this plate down (yes, so much for my waning appetite!).

I can see that they chose a pretty good spot to open such an eatery, seeing that the Tanjong Katong zone is teeming with Indonesians (esp. the school kids).

In fact, when we left around dinner time, the place was slowly being filled up with various families. Yes, all Indonesians.

Sri's wedding

Here's a hopefully-it's-not-too-late congratulations to my friend/colleague/travel-buddy Sri on her getting hitched last Sunday!

You look gorgeous, la!

And since I was a tad busy that Saturday, making it difficult to wake up nice and early- in time to catch her solemnisation, that Sunday morning.

I'm looking forward to the pics, babe. And regale me on the happenings when you come back this Thursday!