thin king

Speaking up for Wet Markets

Another attempt is underway to do away with our wet markets. It is not difficult to figure out the motives for turning wet markets into dressed up air-conditioned establishments.

What are wet markets ? These are markets that sell fresh food for people's daily needs as well as cooked food for those who find it convenient and less costly to eat out.

For the fresh food section they are wet because they are cleaned and flushed at the end of each business session, after which they are closed for the day. Each wet market consists of many small businesses. Here each individual owner mans his own stall, sells his specific goods and has his own clientele; there is a personal relationship between vendor and customer.

This relationship has flown over the super-clean cool-climate wealth-elevated people who do not like these markets; they just do not understand. A particular vendor and customer relationship maintains the opportunity to chat, to discuss recipes and methods of cooking: why certain vegetables go well together, what is the best way to cook a certain fish, why different parts of meat are suitable for certain dishes, etc. A new cook will learn many things quickly buying from these vendors. The curry ingredients vendor will easily concoct the required rempah for any size of any dish of rendang or keruma, or for curry fish head on the spot.

Here a person can buy only what he needs, whether for one person, two, three or for any number of diners, there is no need to buy the whole packet and keep the excess to spoil. One will even get the little anything like a leaf of pandan, a lime, a couple of chilis, one stalk of kersom or laksa leaves, for free; it comes as goodwill. At wet markets one can buy half a bunch of bananas as the man will cut the bunch as required; bananas do not keep well after a day or two; one does not have to buy apples, oranges, pears etc, in multiples of fives or any other number. There is always the vendor to attend to a customer's needs, personal friend like. This is the special characteristic of wet markets.

The vendors are self-employed; doing away with wet markets will deprive these people of their occupation and livelihood; it will naturally transfer their businesses into the pockets of wealthy individuals.

People who frequent wet markets do so for certain reasons, particularly for really fresh food and to meet minimum expenses, the lesser the frills the better. These people do not wish to have their cost of living increased, there is no need to load their burden for the unnecessary comfort. These wet markets are their way of life and their remaining alternatives to keep their cost of living containable.

There are already many well-established supermarkets everywhere, in the city and in the heartlands; those who do not like wet markets do not have to go there.

Doing away with wet markets is eliminating a way of life !

Ron

The Story of Bartimaeus.

As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a sizable crowd followed. By the wayside a blind man sat, begging. He was Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus.

Hearing that Jesus was passing, he cried aloud, "Jesus, son of David, have pity on me."

Many of Jesus’ followers rebuked him, telling him to shut up.

But he kept calling out all the more, "Son of David, have pity on me."

Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called the blind man, telling him, "Take courage; get up, he is calling you."

Thereupon Bartimaeus threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.

Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" Bartimaeus replied, "Master, I want to see."Jesus replied, "Go your way; your faith has saved you."

Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the way.

Mark 10 46-52

At that time a man’s greatest possession was his cloak, and Bartimaeus, being a beggar, threw away his cloak. Such was his faith; thus he was transformed from defiled to honoured. The name Bartimaeus has two meaning, from his ancestry, defiled in Aramaic or honoured in Greek.

This is a renarration of this morning's sermon.

Ron

What is Life ?

Having arrived at being a septuagenarian I realize that:
stepping out into the world it pays to have a pleasant attitude,
living peacefully in society I need some sound policies,
attaining ultimate salvation a good philosophy is the key.

Thus I have arrived at
My simple way of life:

Every day I have 24 hours,

I live as I like within the laws of God, state and society

within my means,

guided by the teachings of the wise,

and do what I can for myself and others

to leave my surroundings better than it received me.

My little efforts well spent

is better than letting my day pass me by.

WatmoI1.

Hi,
Just to make fun, lah !

If you want to be FAMOUS say something like BOOMZ.
Ris Low said that, and by now who does not know about it.
Never mind if you do not know what BOOMZ means,
and never mind what you are going to say means.

On my part I tried to pronounce the word as it should sound
and each time I get the same feeling in my mouth,
a mouth full of saliva, lau-nuah plenty.
So it could mean launuah or leaking saliva.

Thus if BOOMZ or launuah can make her famous,
then coining a word which will lead to meaning sneeze snot
or lau-phee-sai should do the same trick, will it not ?
Or you would rather not be FAMOUS this way.

Ron