I'm a full-time mummy

I have been sharing some of my favorite angpow pieces on an angpow collectors group in Facebook and some members have been telling me to continue sharing my memorable stories and so I thought, why not write it down, that way, our kiddos can read about it when they grow up next time, eh?

For those of you who are not familiar or never heard of the words 'Angpow' (also known as 'ang pau', 'ang pao', 'angpau'), here is a quick definition:

Angpow = Red Packet (filled with cash inside) given during festivals

I have previously shared another kopitiam angpow story but for today's angpow story, it comes from this piece of lovely angpow:

Looking at this angpow, of course it reminded me of my childhood memories during my kampung holiday time. Every morning, I will wake up at 7-ish and followed my late mum, walked about 5 mins to the pasar pagi (morning market) and we will meet up with my late popo at this kopitiam for breakfast.

I always have the fishball noodle soup while my mum will have her curry noodles with a glass of kopi ping (iced coffee) which I only learned to like this recent few years. On rare occassions I would get to order 2 long slices of steam white bread with butter (not a kaya fan then)

The fishball noodle soup is heavenly. I can never find anything that taste as good as that noodle ever since and still not giving up finding the alternative.

Back to this angpow, looking at the uncle pouring out the hot coffee reminded me of course of my beloved popo. My late popo's breakfast will be a cup of hot coffee with her kuey teow noodle soup. I was always amazed at how my late popo can just drink up her hot coffee from that small cup with that small plastic spoon. She stirred few rounds and brings up the cup and slowly sips and savors the coffee.

From time to time whenever I think back of my kampung days, I can always think back of the memories of walking along the paths towards the pasar pagi, then to the kopitiam and sitting at our usual corner table right behind the noodle stall. The smell, the sight of pasar pagi all around, the sound of people buying and selling... aaahhhhh... money can't buy all these memories....

** Note: I have disabled the commenting feature on my blog engine thanks to all the spammers who happily spam my blog every day. If you wish to ask me any questions, you can find me at my Facebook page (I'm there almost everyday) or just drop me an email if you wish to maintain some anonymity.

I have been sharing some of my favorite angpow pieces on an angpow collectors group in Facebook and some members have been telling me to continue sharing my memorable stories and so I thought, why not write it down, that way, our kiddos can read about it when they grow up next time, eh?

For those of you who are not familiar or never heard of the words 'Angpow' (also known as 'ang pau', 'ang pao', 'angpau'), here is a quick definition:

Angpow = Red Packet (filled with cash inside) given during festivals

So for today's angpow story, it revolves around these few angpows:

What do they all have in common?

Hibiscus.

Malaysia' own national flower.

The red one that is. There's a light pink one which is South Korea's national flower. The red of the petals symbolizes the courage, life, and rapid growth of the Malaysian, and the five petals represent the five Rukun Negara of Malaysia.

I remembered back when I was in primary school (no Internet, no Google, no Youtube, heck not even PC), we rely on natural resources whenever we were assigned with homework. To bring a type of flower, to bring a type of spice, to bring a type of plants, to bring a type of fruits and so on.

I remembered asking my late father to look for flowers for me. Something different from the usual ones that my classmates brought. They brought bougainvilla (bunga kertas), orchid (which my late mum planted but was not flowering at that moment), bunga tahi ayam, kemboja and don't know what else. He rode his motorbike around our old neighborhood (terrace houses where there is small plot of garden for people to plant stuff) looking for these beautiful flowers. I was so happy when he brought home some!

So I brought hibiscus. And very happy to be the different one.

Till today, whenever I see a hibiscus flower, I will remembered my childhood memories. And I will make sure to tell this story to our kiddos, so that he knows and be proud of our own national flower. (refer comments for the few designs)

** Note: I have disabled the commenting feature on my blog engine thanks to all the spammers who happily spam my blog every day. If you wish to ask me any questions, you can find me at my Facebook page (I'm there almost everyday) or just drop me an email if you wish to maintain some anonymity.