Entry 3 : Serunding

 After 26 years on this island, at last, I managed to cook serunding. I used to buy packets of serunding on my annual trips to Singapore but this time covid-19 prevented me. Due to restrictions on travel, it's been three years since Nov. 2018, that I've traveled. 

I've gone out of serunding and this situation forced me to cook my own serunding. I googled for the simplest recipe to make sure that I've all the items. 

The recipe called for lemongrass which is thriving well in a couple of styrofoam boxes, and kafir lime leaves (daun limau purut). Six years ago, I wrapped up a small limau purut plant from Singapore. I planted it and it has grown well ever since. In fact, the houseman successfully planted a couple more pots from its first batch of kaffir lime. Then, I need turmeric. Do you know that this island itself has a turmeric plantation? It's a local industry, that produces turmeric into powder. We grow our own turmeric. Every year I dry the turmeric harvest and make our own turmeric powder.

Last of all I need galangal or lengkuas. (https://images.app.goo.gl/VWDNS633rRdagWYM9). The island has its own variety of galangal or getto plants known locally. Some people swear both varieties have the same taste for cooking but I'm not convinced. I still prefer the galangal from Malaysia for my Malay food. 

All set, I've all the cooking ingredients for serunding. Since the recipe claims that desiccated coconut is better for serunding, this gleefully is an advantage for me.

When I was frying, trying to reduce the moisture in the serunding, I felt dislocated temporarily. It seemed surreal with the beautiful sweet coconut fragrant coming from the kitchen and enveloping the whole house. 

I use the serunding in all onigiri (rice balls), throw it lavishly on my rice as lunch on lazy afternoons. 

Best of all I can eat as much serunding as I like now. Life is simple.

Haiku

Frying serunding
memories of my grandma

picking lemongrass.

Entry 2 : Top point in Okinawa.

 Even though our house is in the main city of the island, which is Naha, we do get stretches of open fields and forest. Our house is at the edge of the Naha city border. The front of our house faces the city. We have the main road with a bus lane, a primary school that I can see when I'm standing on the second floor of the house, and rows of shops along the main road. 

But to the rear of our house, 250m walking past rows of apartment buildings and double-story houses, there is a dramatic drop that level towards the sea (top photo). In fact, our house is in the highest location on this island. This high point overlooks the University Hospital of Ryukyu, Ikeda Senior Home, and facility, the Naha Golf Ground, the beginning of toll highway that winds all the way towards the north in Nago. 

The sea is about 5km away and on a good day, we can see Kudaka island floating far off. By the way, Kudaka is a strong surname on this island.

When the photo above was taken, it is autumn and the average temperature is set at about 15c at night with the day around 25c. Even as the autumn breeze cruise along, it does not suck off the humidity in the house which, like today, can go up to 70%.

At this time of the year, every little space on this island is filled up with the blossoms of pampas grass, and autumn grass. I know some deco shops in Singapore and Malaysia, sell these dried-up blossoms. I must admit, after touching up with colors, these dried autumn grass do make a pretty corner in the living room.

Haiku

Pampas grass bowing

while I take a leisure stroll

'konnichiwa' dear.

Entry 1 : Coming back to Haiku again.

It has been almost two years since covid trouble started, we need to temporarily stop our monthly haiku meeting. This month, for the first time, in two years, there are no death stats for the whole of Okinawa island-chain. Locals are more confident in their daily goings. 

Under this circumstance, it's high time to start our haiku meeting again with the "I've overcome" song running in my head. Yes, at last, we've conquered the hideous virus and wishfully, life will go on like before.

What better moment than to open a new entry on this blog with such conquest.

The kigo or season words for this opening session are mushroom and kannazuki. There is a traditional name for months for Japanese. For October or juu-gatsu十月, it is traditional called kannazuki神無月. People who are kanji literate can read the kanji as 'the month without god'. I did some readings about this month without god. How come only this month there is no god? It seems that for the month of October, all gods in Japan gather at a certain shrine (you can google it). That leaves all places without god. That defines the term the month without gods. 

Anyway, some haiku mention the warring situation in Afghanistan by saying the god left that country and people there are left unprotected. Anyway, we can pick many season words, so for people who are questioning the existence of god, just don't break your brains over season words like this.

Overall, I am happy with my performance, after the long hiatus. Out of 5 haiku, 4 haiku received a commendable point. Not bad, eh?

Haiku

Sunny autumn day

dissecting haiku pieces

together again.