Your words - wonderful! You wrote, "... :traditional Chinese biscuits called tau sah peah and durian kuih,..." Now I am hungry for traditional Chinese food. I look forward to reading more on your site.
In Guyana, we make something called Chinese cakes...A sweet paste made with black eye peas and pastry. It's VERY popular. (We're highly multicultural in Guyana, lots of Chinese immigrants went there too.)
Sometimes, I hear my mother talk about "tau sah". I must ask her what it is. The older folks know these things.
I didn't have Cheng Beng experience when growing up because my Ah Gong requested to have his ashes scattered into the sea. I've always think that he was very cool for his time and I didn't miss the Cheng Beng rituals. But reading yours does make it sound like a nice family ritual to have together, while remembering ancestors that come before. Bonus is all the good food in Penang!
My dad's family is more traditional while my mum's one is more relaxed.Dad even records the rituals in a book, which i'm positively sure I'll be inheriting lol
When I was visiting as a kid I used to walk up and feed the turtles. The turtles are gone, and now my grandparents are up there. Some day we'll take our kids out there but it's a long trip from the US.
I do remember the turtles!! And i remember climbing the stairs up the temple. Back then the stairs were not very sophisticated, so I remember them as being winding gothic-looking stairs leading to some scary destination lol.
Does nobody think that the school is unlucky for being built around a temple? Or is it a symbol of luck—“they’re being watched over by wise elders” and so on?
Heya! My brain is now fully back online. Lots of schools built by religious institutions so having a church/temple on premises is not unusual in Malaysia but i have to say this is the first time a memorial temple is right in the middle of a school lol. I don't think it's considered bad luck ... cos the bodies are not there, just the spirit tablets.
Aww, I feel this as I appreciated the fact that I know where a lot of them are buried. However, I only know up to where my great grandparents are, and I don't really know anything beyond that. Not even the village in Fujian province where my family hailed from. But having that little bit helps. I wonder if it's possible if you could trace your ancestry with those special services or something....
I’m sure I could. But this post also makes me nostalgic for the kind of culture that keeps track of these things. It feels like a cultural loss that cultures like mine let the dead be forgotten so quickly.
Your words - wonderful! You wrote, "... :traditional Chinese biscuits called tau sah peah and durian kuih,..." Now I am hungry for traditional Chinese food. I look forward to reading more on your site.
Thank you for reading!And welcome to my humble digital abode. ;)
Penang and KL can fight over who has the better food all you want but we all know Ipoh has the best. 😉
lol let the war begin! We Penang people will fight to the death for our crown ;D
I took the train from Hua Hin to Penang, and yes, that is tiring. But worth it!
This is such a good read!!
In Guyana, we make something called Chinese cakes...A sweet paste made with black eye peas and pastry. It's VERY popular. (We're highly multicultural in Guyana, lots of Chinese immigrants went there too.)
Sometimes, I hear my mother talk about "tau sah". I must ask her what it is. The older folks know these things.
Your mum! Why are all mothers the same? 😀
IKR. That sheer stubborness and maternal instinct to overfeed everyone lol
I didn't have Cheng Beng experience when growing up because my Ah Gong requested to have his ashes scattered into the sea. I've always think that he was very cool for his time and I didn't miss the Cheng Beng rituals. But reading yours does make it sound like a nice family ritual to have together, while remembering ancestors that come before. Bonus is all the good food in Penang!
My dad's family is more traditional while my mum's one is more relaxed.Dad even records the rituals in a book, which i'm positively sure I'll be inheriting lol
That is endearing of Daddy Tai!
What a beautiful and captivating read. Thank you for sharing this part of your culture.
Thank you for reading!:D
When I was visiting as a kid I used to walk up and feed the turtles. The turtles are gone, and now my grandparents are up there. Some day we'll take our kids out there but it's a long trip from the US.
I do remember the turtles!! And i remember climbing the stairs up the temple. Back then the stairs were not very sophisticated, so I remember them as being winding gothic-looking stairs leading to some scary destination lol.
Does nobody think that the school is unlucky for being built around a temple? Or is it a symbol of luck—“they’re being watched over by wise elders” and so on?
Heya! My brain is now fully back online. Lots of schools built by religious institutions so having a church/temple on premises is not unusual in Malaysia but i have to say this is the first time a memorial temple is right in the middle of a school lol. I don't think it's considered bad luck ... cos the bodies are not there, just the spirit tablets.
This is so beautiful. I couldn’t tell you where any of my ancestors are or where they are buried. It truly is a loss!
Aww, I feel this as I appreciated the fact that I know where a lot of them are buried. However, I only know up to where my great grandparents are, and I don't really know anything beyond that. Not even the village in Fujian province where my family hailed from. But having that little bit helps. I wonder if it's possible if you could trace your ancestry with those special services or something....
I’m sure I could. But this post also makes me nostalgic for the kind of culture that keeps track of these things. It feels like a cultural loss that cultures like mine let the dead be forgotten so quickly.