Hainanese Chicken Rice

Many Singapore Chinese who originate from the island of Hainan on the southern coast of China entered the restaurant trade. Back in the days of the colonial rule, many were employed as cooks in British households where they learned about western, and especially British cuisine. Thus, oxtail and European-style chicken soups, as well as chicken and pork cutlets, have found their way into Hainanese cuisine - Culinaria Konemann.

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The most well-known Hainanese cuisine in Singapore would have to be the chicken rice, which is served in both the food centers as well as in top class restaurants.

It is not difficult to prepare Hainanese Chicken, which is essentially prepared by poaching the chicken. During our stay in the Happy Valley, we have prepared this dish on a number of occasions and each time, our guests have enjoyed this dish. Unlike Chinese who prefer the drumstick, thigh and wings, Americans prefer the white meat from the chicken breast.

Poaching the Chicken

Ingredients: 3 ½ lb (1.5 kg) oven-ready chicken, 2 slices of ginger (crushed), 3 garlic cloves (crushed), 3 tbs Chinese cooking wine, salt.
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Rinse the chicken inside and out and pat dry. Lay one slice of ginger and 1 clove of garlic in the chicken cavity’s and the remaining garlic/ginger in a large saucepan of water. Bring to the boil, add salt, and Chinese cooking wine. Place the chicken in the saucepan, ensuring that it is completely immersed. Do not cover the saucepan. Bring the water back to boil, reduce heat, and simmer for approximately 20 minutes. The meat should be delicate pink and still moist.

As soon as the chicken is cooked, lift it out of the broth and run under cold water to tighten the skin. When the chicken has cooled, rub it with sesame oil and soya sauce.

Loosen the meat from the bones and cut into bite-size pieces. To serve, arrange the chicken meat on a large plate over a bed of sliced cucumber, drizzle with sesame oil & soya sauce, and garnish with fresh vegetables and coriander leaves.

Serve with rice: To cook the rice, fry the chopped ginger and garlic. Then fry the washed and drained rice until it becomes translucent. Then add one and half times as much cooking liquid (chicken broth) as there is rice, add salt, and simmer gently until all the liquid has been absorbed.

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Chili sauce: 4 fresh red chili peppers and 3 garlic cloves (peeled, chopped), juice of 4 limes, grated ginger, chicken broth, and salt to taste.

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Source: Culinaria Konemann (1998) "Southeast Asian Specialties"

Washington DC - Sights

The Lincoln Memorial (below), designed in the style of a Greek Temple, is sited impressively at the end of the mall.

Did you know: The Lincoln Memorial has 36 marble columns, representing the States of the Union at the time of Lincoln’s death. The names of 48 States, at the date of the completion of the memorial in 1922, are carved on the walls. Alaska and Hawaii are represented with an inscription on the terrace leading up to the memorial.

Erected in memory of the first President of the United States, the distinctive Washington Monument (right) is one of the city’s most impressive landmarks. Completed in 1884, the tapered column, faced with white marble, stands just over 555 ft. Upon its completion, the monument was the world’s tallest structure. It’s still the tallest in Washington. Inside, an elevator takes you to the top for a bird’s-eye-view of the city.

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Washington’s most coveted address – 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

One of the most famous sights in Washington is the White House (left) – the official residence of every American President except George Washington.

To many Americans, the magnificent Capitol building (right) is the very heart of America, for it is here that decisions are made by the Senate and the House of Representatives. Beneath its magnificent dome, the day-to-day business of American democracy takes place. For many, the Capitol is the city’s most impressive work of architecture. The allegorical figure on the top of the dome is Freedom.

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The National Archives (below left) house America’s most valuable and historical documents. The most highly prized of all the documents are the originals of the Declaration of Independence (featured in the Hollywood movie National Treasure), the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

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The National Air and Space Museum (above right) is part of the Smithsonian Institution and houses a fascinating collection of historic and technically significant aircraft, spacecraft, rockets, missiles and memorabilia. Highlights of our visit include seeing the original Wright 1903 Flyer as well as touching a slice of moon rock collected by Apollo 17 astronauts.

Washington’s National Gallery of Art (below) houses many beautiful paintings by world-famous artists, such as Botticelli, Renoir, Raphael, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, Da Vinci, Vermeer, Degas and many more.

Source: Washington – A Picture Book to Remember Her By (1978)

Washington DC - Arlington

"And so my fellow Americans ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you but what together we can do for the freedom of man." - J.F.K.

photo: Arlington House

On Memorial Day, we visited the Arlington National Cemetery where over 290,000 servicemen and their family members rest on the 624 acres of Virginia land acros the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial. About every 24 burials are conducted every weekday.

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As we alighted from the subway station, we were greeted with an overwhelming large crowd. Walking into the hallowed grounds, the welcome sign reads, "WELCOME TO ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, OUR NATION MOST SACRED SHRINE - PLEASE CONDUCT YOURSELVES WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT AT ALL TIMES".
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photo: The Kennedy Graves

"With a good conscience, our only sure reward with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love asking his blessings and his help but knowing that here on earth God's works must truly be our own." - JFK

Arlington is a place of ritual and remembrance. A funeral with full military honors is a dignified and moving occasion. All who are remembered here have this in common: service to their country. To each one, no matter what rank or station, whether decorated hero or unknown, belongs a place of honor.

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Because they answered their country's call, their stories will be remembered.

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Did you know: Long before Arlington was a cemetery, it was part of a 1,100-acre estate of George Washington Parke Custis, a grandchild (by marriage) of George Washington. Custis built Arlington House between 1802 and 1817. After his death, the property went to his daughter, Mary Anna Randolph Custis, who wed Robert E. Lee in 1831. The couple made Arlington House their home for the next 30 years.

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In 1861, Lee turned down the position of commander of the Union forces and left Arlington House, never to return. Union troops turned the house into the Army of the Potomac's HQ, and 200 acres were set aside as a national cemetery (source: Washington, D.C., 2008 - Fodor's).

You Decorated My Life

Today marks the 17th anniversary of our engagement... ...

I want to grow old loving you
......................There’s nothing I would rather do,

................................... Than to live my life in love with you – BMW

The fun that being with you brings,
...........Our memories made of little things,
.. ............... The talks we have, the jokes we share,
........................... The hugs, the kisses here and there.
........ ........................... What better reason could there be,
.......................... ................. To ask you to grow old with me!

file photo: Club Med, Cherating

Love is a journey through the years;

A journey two folks take together;

hand-in-hand through wind and weather.

Our Prayer: My loving and generous God, I sense your love all around me and specifically, in the person You sent for me to love and to share my life. May we strive to enjoy the journey together.

Our Song: YOU DECORATED MY LIFE
(Sung by Kenny Rogers)

All my life was a paper once plain, pure and white

Till you moved with your pen changin' moods now and then

Till the balance was right

Then you added some music, ev'ry note was in place

And anybody could see all the changes in me by the look on my face

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And you decorated my life, created a world where dreams area apart

And you decorated my life by paintin' your love all over my heart

You decorated my life

(click to play... listen to only first 3 minutes)

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Like a rhyme with no reason in an unfinished song

There was no harmony life meant nothin' to me, until you came along

And you brought out the colors, what a gentle surprise

Now I'm able to see all the things life can be shinin' soft in your eyes

And you decorated my life, created a world where dreams are a part

And you decorated my life by paintin' your love all over my heart

You decorated my life

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a U.S. federal holiday that is observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, this holiday commemorates US men and women who died in military service to their country. It began first to honor Union soldiers who fell during the American Civil War. After World War I, it was expanded to include those who died in any war or military action.

file photo: White House, Washington DC

Many people observe this holiday by visiting cemeteries and memorials. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 pm Washington time. Another tradition is to fly the US flag at half-staff from dawn until noon local time. Some Americans use Memorial Day to also honor any family members who have died, not just servicemen.

file photo: Washington Monument (Jan 2002)

The Memorial Day is also traditionally viewed by many as the unofficial beginning of summer. Hence, in addition to remembrance, Memorial Day is also a time for picnics, family gatherings, and sporting events.

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Note: The Memorial Day was originally fixed on May 30. However, the problem with a fixed date, just like birthdays, is that it can fall on any day of the week, whereas most people like to have their public holidays on Mondays (Bryson). Hence, one pattern we noticed during our stay in the US (as well as in England) is that most of the holidays are fixed on a particular Monday of the month/year, rather than on a fixed date, so that Americans get to enjoy a nice long weekend.
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We will be visiting Washington D.C. from Sunday to Thursday. On Sunday and Monday, we will watch the Memorial Day parade as well as visit some of the famous landmarks in the capitol city. Then on Tuesday and Wednesday, I have signed up for a housing conference. It will be a good opportunity to hear some good research papers on the sub-prime and mortgage crisis in the US. On the way home, we plan to stop over at Gettysburg, one of the most significant battlefields during the American civil war.

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Washington DC is one city that is full of memorials and monuments to commemorate the service of famous leaders, such as Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson, as well as common soldiers who have died in the various wars. There is also a tomb for an unknown soldier.

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Reflection: The way you live today will determine how you will be remembered by others. When your life is over, will people remember more than just was in your bank account or the number of years you lived? What you do now does matter!

The Scented Garden

“Just as the sense of smell is one of nature’s most precious gifts, so the fragrance of flowers provides one of life’s greatest pleasures, but only to those who are aware of the flowers’ generosity.” – Rosemary Very

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Photo: A blooming Star Magnolia tree in the neighbor's garden

Flowers were once grown mainly for their fragrance. But in our frantic pace of life, we have almost lost the art of stopping and smelling the flowers. Staying in Happy Valley, we have slowly come to notice this spring the exquisite beauty of the flowers as well as the delightful scent of their perfume. We could appreciate L.B. Wilder’s experience, “to walk along the garden is to enjoy a continual bath of fragrance.”

Let me introduce three scented flowers that are common in this part of America. You would probably be familiar with their names and scent:

Hyacinth – The first of the fragrant flowers to bloom in early spring. Arrayed in different colors, its perfume will easily fill a room.

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Lilac – In America, it is the lilac chiefly that scents the May world. My wife and I like to go from bush to bush drawing down the branches and burying our nose in the grand bunches of bloom.

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Magnolia – In spring, before it leaves unfurl, the magnolia bears erect goblet-shaped flowers, fragrant blossoms of creamy white or deep purple.

Did you know? (1) In the medieval time, there was a wide spread belief in the efficacy of flower and leaf scents as cures or alleviations for all sorts of ills of the flesh, but more especially the spirit, and as a protection against infection. (2) For the most part, with some exceptions, fragrant flowers are light in color or white. There are more white scented flowers than any others, and perhaps the purple come next.

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Reflection: Go smell the flowers

Slow down long enough to notice the people, places and things that we pass along the way. Slow down and take due note of the wonders that surround us. Slow down and take time to express our gratitude for those wonders.

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Father, your blessings are all around me. Have I thanked you for your genorosity, your mercy, and your love? So, thank you, Father, for the many blessings - visible and invisible - that you have bestowed upon me.

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Source:

Rosemary Very (1981) The Scented Garden

Louise Beebe Wilder (1974) The Fragrant Gardent

Prawn Tempura

Sunday, 30 minutes to noon. We have just returned from church. It's cold and damp outside. My wife is busy preparing lunch. Instead of helping her in the kitchen, I decided to relax: post on the blog one of the dishes she is preparing, i.e. Prawn Tempura. Why?

"You can only have one cook in the kitchen." :)

Tempura: The classic “batter-fried” food in Japan, which is no stranger to everyone. What is not well known about this so-called typical Japanese dish is that in actual fact, it was introduced, or at least devised, centuries ago by Europeans living in Japan – the Spanish and Portuguese who established missions in southern Japan in the late 16th century. The dish caught on with the Japanese, who added the thin, delicately seasoned dipping sauce with grated daikon mixed in.

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We have tried making tempura a number times but somehow never really managed to "straighten" the prawns. It was only in April 2008, when we hosted the Ambrose family to a Japanese dinner at our home, that we finally cracked the code: You need to break their spine (located on the bottom-side of the prawns) and they'll become limp. I suppose the same principle applies to human beings - to "straighten" them, you break their backbones.

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To prepare prawn: Shell and devein shrimp, but leave tails attached. Chop off the tips of the shrimp tails and gently press out moisture from shrimp with the flat of the knife tip. To prevent shrimp from curling as they are deep-fried, make 3-4 incisions along the belly, and then lightly tap across each shrimp with back of knife blade (play video below).

The Art of Making Tempura: To achieve good results, three essential points must be observed in making tempura, – (1) fresh ingredients, (2) oil at a constant temperature, and (3) lumpy batter. The reason for using fresh ingredients is self evident. Keeping oil at a constant, proper temperature means even frying, and precise control, and light food. But perhaps lumpy batter is a sine qua non for good tempura. .

Photo: The marks of a good tempura batter are a powdery ring of flour

at the sides of the mixing bowl and a mixture marked with lumps of dry flour.

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Batter: Make the batter in 2 batches, the first batch just before you are ready to begin deep-frying (as you are waiting for the oil to heat). In a mixing bowl, lightly beat 1 egg york, then pour in 1 cup of ice water and give this a few strokes. Add 1 cup of shifted flour all at once. Stroke a few times with chopsticks or fork, just till the ingredients are loosely combined. The batter should be very lumpy. Mix the batter with the least amount of movement (if you overmix, the batter will be sticky and the coating will turn oily and heavy). Make the second batch of batter as the first is used up.
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Important: With tempura, the goal is to achieve a lacy, golden effect with the deep fried coating, not a thick, armorlike package casing. To avoid a heavy, oily-tasting coating, do the opposite of all that you would do to make good pancakes.
(1) Make the tempura batter just before you are ready to begin deep frying. Do not let the batter stand. In fine tempura restaurants, for instance, batter is made in small batches as orders come in.
(2) Tempura batter should never be mixed well. It should not be smooth and velvety. It should be only loosely folded together (with chopsticks, which are not an efficient tool for mixing and hence the perfect utensil for this job).

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Depending on how much lacy, golden coating you like on your tempura, you may adjust the coating technique and the consistency of the batter. If you like a thick coating, make a thick batter using slightly less ice water than in the recipe below. For the thinnest coating possible, make a thin batter by using more ice water than indicated below and gently shake dipped items over the batter bowl so excess batter returns to the batch.

Seasonal fish and vegetables are used in tempura. Common ingredients include prawn, squid, sweet potato slices, bell pepper, mushroom, lady finger, asparagus and brinjal.
Make sure all foods to be coated are thoroughly dry (pat dry with toweling if necessary) and then dredge lightly in flour. This flour coat allows the batter to adhere well to the food.

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Oil: The oil should be fairly hot, about 340*F/170*C. Test by dropping a tiny bit of batter into the oil; it should descend beneath the surface of the oil, then be buoyed up to the surface, the oil gently bubbling round it edges.

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Sequence: Begin with the vegetables, then move on to shrimp and fish or other foods that need a higher oil temperature.

Process: Each food item progresses through the assembly line in this way – use finders to dip food in flour, shake off excess, then dip in batter; slide coated material in hot oil and deep-fry till golden, around 3 minutes, turning in the oil for even cooking. Retrieve with slotted spoon or cooking chopsticks and briefly drain before transferring to serving plate. Skim the surface of the oil occasionally to keep it clean. Stir batter once or twice, as you work, to prevent it from separating.

Dipping sauce: 1 cup of dashi (fish stock made from dried bonito), 1/3 cup of mirin, 1/3 cup light soya sauce, 1 cup of grated white radish (daikon), few teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger.

Source: Shizuo Tsuji (1980) Japanese Cooking – A Simple Art.

Used Book Sale

"In my garden I spend my days; in my library I spend my nights. My interests are divided between my geraniums and my books. With the flower I am in the present; with the book I am in the past. I go into my library, and all history unrolls before me." - Alexander Smith

Used Book Sale: Organized by the State College Branch of the the American Association of University Women (AAUW) - an organization dedicated to promoting equity and education for women and girls. The proceeds of the event, which this year marks the 47th annual sale, benefit scholarship funds and educational projects in Centre County of Pennsylvania.

With more than 250,000 used books, the State College AAUW Used Book Sale is reputed to be one of the largest on the East Coast, attracting dealers and private patrons from as far away as Maine, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, New York and Ohio. We can testify to this, we saw one buyer purchasing > 10 large boxes full of books!

Besides the wide selection of books (26 categories), the main reasons for the sale's popularity is that the books are priced to sell. In addition, the books are culled throughout the year by volunteers who discard damaged, highlighted and out-of-date books, making this one of the “cleanest” book sales around.

In total, we bought 10 books, all in fairly good condition and some even appear new. The books only cost us US$30, which is a real steal. For example, one particular book which I had wanted to get for a while would have cost at least S$50 in Singapore!

We visited the sale on the first day (Saturday). On the third day (Monday), it is Half-Price Day and on the last day (Tuesday), it is Bag Day, during which patrons will be able to buy a plastic bag of books for $5. We would have gone back to buy more books, if not for the fact that we need t0 worry about how to ship them back. Also, "What refuge is there for the victim who is oppressed with the feeling that there are a thousand new books he ought to read, while life is only long enough for him to attempt a hundred?" (Oliver W.l Holmes, Sr.)

A little library, growing larger every year, is an honourable part of a man's history. It is a man's duty to have books. A library is not a luxury, but one of the necessaries of life - Henry Ward Beecher.

It's A Wonderful Life

Rainy Days: Weatherwise, it has been raining intermittently over the past few weeks. We all have those days that are dismal and dreary, and we feel sort of blue and lonely and weary. In her poetic way, H.S Steiner wrote, "sometimes the road of life seems long as we travel through the years. And with a heart that’s broken and eyes brimful of tears, we falter in our weariness and sink beside the way… In that deep, dark hours of our distress, our unworthy life seems a miserable mess".

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In this posting, I would like to recommend a classic movie entitled, It’s a Wonderful Life. A black and white movie, produced and directed by Frank Capra in 1946, it is often referred to as one of the most inspiring films ever made. It is often played over the Christmas holidays in America.

The Plot: The film takes place in the fictional town of Bedford Falls shortly after WWII and stars James Steward as George Bailey, a man whose attempted suicide on Christmas Eve. As we see in flashback, George Bailey spends his entire life giving up his big dreams for the good of his town, family and friends. But in the present moment, on Christmas Eve, he is broken, suicidal and wished he had never been born. His guardian angel, Clarence, shows him how things would turn out had he never been born. Through a series of flashbacks we see all the people whose lives have been touched by George and the difference he has made to the community in which he lives.

This is one film I could enjoy watching again and again. Truly, inspiring! Brent, thanks for suggesting this movie. The full length movie can be enjoyed free-of-charge on the internet: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4867975537967299162. Click to play but first turn off the background Imeem music (using the "pause" button).



Despite the trials and tribulations, like George, we have to admit that life is worth living... Remember no man is a failure who has friends.

photo: lilac bush in our backyard

God, grant us wider vision
to see and understand
That both the sun and showers
Are gifts from Thy great hand,
And teach us that it takes the showers
to make the flowers grow
And only in the storms of life
when the winds of trouble blow
Can man, too, reach maturity
and grow in faith and grace
And gain the strength and courage
to enable him to face
Sunny days as well as rain,
high peaks as well as low
Knowing that “April Showers
will make the May Flowers Grow”
- Helen Steiner Rice -

For each trial we suffer and every shed tear, Just gives us new strength to persevere, As we climb the steep hills along life’s way, That lead us at last to that wonderful day, Where the cross we have carried become a crown, And at last we can lay our burden down!

photo: Life is Wonderful sculpture at Penn State campus

Shower of Blessings: I will make my people and their homes a blessing. And there shall be showers, showers of blessing, for I will not shut off the rains but send them in their seasons. Ezekiel 34:26

Reflection: April Showers will make May Flowers Grow.

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Reference:

Wikipedia & H.S. Rice (1989) Daily Stepping Stones

Deceptive Appearance

Dandelion: Everybody knows it. Originally came to North America as a garden plant, it is now a mostly unloved weed. Jagged little leaves form a springtime rosette cluster. Warm weather sees the leaves turn tougher, to support the upcoming flower stalk that springs from the center. It blooms a sunshine yellow, closing each night, and days later reappearing as a fluffy puffball, scattering seeds to the slightest wind.

Did you know? The leaves may be eaten fresh or cooked, and the roots can be cooked. Some cuisines hold the dandelion in high esteem for its tender, nutritious greens. Chefs have even developed methods of growing blanched dandelion leaves – leaves grown in dark places, so only a little chlorophyll develops. The result is more tender, sweeter greens.

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“All that glitter is not gold; all that wander is not lost”

- J.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings.

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Beauty is skin deep. There is a similar theme embedded in many folks and fairy tales. A pretty face can conceal a cold deceitful heart. Until Snow White came of age, her wicked step mother was unrivalled as the fairest in the land. The White Witch who hold sways over CS Lewis’ Narnia is pale and cold but perilously beautiful. The message is clear! Appearance can be deceiving! Outward loveliness can be a screen for deep seated evil. We know that the devil can masquerade himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).

file photo: Switzerland, 1993

But the deception of appearance can be a double cutting blade. What about the other edge? Can something look foul but yet be fair? Is it possible that God sends his most precious gifts to us in little packages we are little tempted to open. Can truth and beauty be concealed behind an unattractive, even repulsive veneer?

He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not... For he bore the sins of many - Isaiah 53: 2-3, 12

It is vital for those who set out on the adventure of faith to recognize that deception work both ways: "All that is gold does not glitter, and not all those who wander are lost"

Reflection:

Look closely. Good and evil seldom come clearly labeled.

Source:
S.T. Hitchcock (1984) Wildflowers on the Windowsill
The Audubon Society (1986) Pocket Guides - Familiar Flowers in North America (Eastern Region)
Finding God in the Lord of the Rings

A Fleeting Life

Some spring flowers literally bloom and fall within a week. In this posting, I invite you to feast your eyes upon one of the earliest spring beauties: Snow Crocuses.

Snow crocuses get their name, as they are the earliest of spring flowers. The flowers will begin to grow with a warm spell in late winter or early spring. They often burst into bloom, while snow is still on the ground. These small plants grow just 3-4 inches tall.

A relaxed attitude lengthens a man's life; jealousy rots it away - Proverbs 14:30

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It only takes a few days growth to blossom into the first bright colors of the year - brightening up the landscape with their white, yellow, blue, and light orange flowers above thin grass-like leaves.

Did you know? There are many species of crocus. Whilst most are early spring bloomers, some varieties of Crocus will bloom in the fall. The word "Crocus" is Latin for Saffron. Knowing this, it should not surprise you that Saffron comes from the stigma of the Saffron Crocus. The stigmas of this autumn crocus (three on each bloom), when harvested and dried, make the most expensive of spices. But, it takes thousands of flowers to get an ounce of Saffron.

Life is brief Terribly brief! In his book, Swindoll wrote... "Several years ago one of my children and I walked through a cemetery. We paused and read the stones. We knew none of the deceased. It was a nostalgic, gripping encounter. Hand in hand we walked and talked. Softly. Thoughtfully. It was a though we were on sacred soil. Time stopped at each marker. Quietness swept over us as we drove away. I shall not soon forget what I learned. First, life is brief. Second, opportunity is now. Third, death is sure... The only thing that will live on will be your personal contributions, your unique investments during your lifetime.

Psalm 39:4-7

"Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life.

You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath.

Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it.

"But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you."

Source: wikipedia & http://www.gardenersnet.com/bulbs/crocus.htm

A Whirlwind Tour

The past two weeks have been very hectic as we have been on the road most of the time.

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April 28-30: We visited Jim and Anais in Hudson, Ohio to admire their garden in bloom, particularly the many varieties of daffodils.

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I also presented a research seminar cum lecture at the Cleveland State University. Driving time between Happy Valley and Hudson, Ohio was approx. 4 hours.

May 1 - 7: We visited Georgia and South Carolina for a whirlwind visit of three universities: University of Georgia, Georgia State University and Clemson University.

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In Atlanta, we stayed with Geoff. His house is in Roswell, which is a charming suburb of Atlanta. We heard that Julia Roberts, Kenny Rogers, and Whitney Houston own houses in the vicinity. One afternon, we took a leisurely stroll around town and did some shopping in an interesting antique market. We managed to find a bargain (a set of 3 cds by Kenny Rogers for $8).

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On our first day, we had lunch at "Fickle Pickle", where we tried fried pickles for the very first time. Truly, quite appetizing.

On Thur evening, we met up with CF and Elaine, who were also visiting Georgia, for dinner.

May 2: We drove 1 1/2 hours to Athens, for a research discussion at the University of Georgia. Jim and Henry hosted us to a meal at their regular lunch-joint in an Italian restaurant.

photo: Terry College of Business, UGA

May 4-5: We rented a car ($16/day) and drove 2 1/2 hours (north) to Clemson in South Carolina, where we stayed with Elaine. On Sunday afternoon, Tom gave us a 2-hour driving tour of the area, which include scenic lakes as well as huge and pricey mansions. We also drove past a nuclear power plant.

On Monday, my wife and I toured the pretty Botanical Garden in the morning. It was a wonderful time, enjoying each other's company as well as the many flowers in bloom - Japanese Camilia, Iris, and Rohdendrum. After that, Elaine gave us a quick tour of Clemson University campus.

Dinner (curry chicken and sautee vegetables) was prepared by Nikki, Elaine's 9-year old daughter.

May 6, Tue: I gave a seminar to the doctoral students at Georgia State University. It takes approx. 45 minutes (off-peak) to travel from Roswell to downtown, where Georgia State University is located.

photo: downtown Atlanta

We lunched with Julian, Karen and Geoff. After that, XiaoRong, whom we met earlier in Captiva, gave us a quick tour of the city of Atlanta. We visited the Coca-Cola museum. Other memorable places we visited during our trip in Atlanta include the famous giant chicken billboard at Marietta and the National Battlefied Park on Kenneshaw Mountain.

May 7, Wed: We finally reached home at 5 pm. We are happy to return to Happy Valley, which is surprisingly still arrayed with colorful tulips and the dogwood trees blooming gloriously in pink and white everywhere!

Below are some more photos of our trip.

Specialist or Generalist?

Here is an interesting parable, entitled "A Rabbit on the Swim Team".

Once upon a time, the animals decided they should do something meaningful to meet the problems of the new world. So, they organized a school. They adopted an activity curriculum of running, climbing, swimming and flying. To make it easier to administer the curriculum, all the animals took all the subjects.

Photo: Botanical Garden, Clemson

The duck was excellent in swimming; in fact, better that his instructor. But he made only passing grades in flying, and was very poor in running. Since he was slow in running, he had to drop swimming and stay after school to practice running. This caused his web feet to be badly worn, so that he was only average in swimming. But average was quite acceptable, so nobody worried about that – except the duck.

sketch from internet

The squirrel was excellent in climbing, but he encountered constant frustration in flying class because his teacher made him start from the ground up instead of from the treetop down. He developed “charlie horses” from overexertion, and so only got a C in climbing and D in running.

..

The rabbit started at the top of his class in running, but developed a nervous twitch in his leg muscles because of so much make-up work in swimming.

photo: Bald Eagle at Shaver's Creek

The eagle was a problem child and was severely disciplined for being a non-conformist. In climbing classes, he beat all the others to the top of the tree, but insisted his own way to get there…

The obvious moral of the story is a simple one – each creature has its own set of capabilities in which it will naturally excel – unless it is expected or forced to fill a mold that doesn’t fit. When that happens, frustration, discouragement, and even guilt bring overall mediocrity or complete defeat. A duck is a duck – and only a duck. It is built to swim, not to run or fly and certainly not to climb. A squirrel is a squirrel – and only that. To move it outs of its forte, climbing, and then expect it to swim or fly will drive a squirrel nuts. Eagles are beautiful creatures in the air but not in a foot race. The rabbit will win every time unless, of course, the eagles hungry.

What is true of creatures in the forest is true of us. God has not made us all the same. He never intended to. It was He who planned and designed the differences, unique capabilities, and variations in the body. God has given you a certain mixture that makes you unique. Nobody else is exactly like you… When you operate in the realm of capabilities, you will excel, the whole team will benefit, and you will experience incredible satisfaction.

If God made you a duck saint – you’re a duck, friend. Swim like mad but don’t get bend out of shape because you wobble when you run or flap instead of fly. Furthermore, if you’re an eagle saint, stop expecting squirrels saints to soar, or rabbit saints to build the same kind of nests you do.

Why not just be you? Why try to be somebody else? Stop comparing. Enjoy being you! There’s plenty of room in the forest.

Identify one thing/action you are involved in that is forcing you to be something you’re not: _____ If possible, remove yourself from that activity and see if you sense relief.

When you compare yourself with others, what do you generally find you don’t match up to? ____ Now evaluate whether that’s due to your trying to be something that simply is not you, or ever will be … and accept that.

Look at your friendships and determine if you’re pressuring anyone to conform to your standards or skills. If so, back off, let the person be himself, and do something to encourage him to be himself.

Source: Charles Swindoll

Vegetable Curry

My wife makes great vegetable curry, which I like to eat with roti prata. Below is the recipe which she e-mailed to a friend who requested the recipe:

Ingredients: 1 large onion (chopped), 1 large carrot (peeled and cut at an angle, abt an inch) , 4 medium-sized potatoes (peeled and quartered), 10 string beans (cut into halves), half medium-sized round Chinese cabbage (or a full small one; cut into pieces), 1 pkt regular tofu (quartered and halved again to get triangular pcs) , 2 tbsp of curry powder (add accordingly if you wish to make it more spicy), abt 1 tsp of chilli powder ( add to taste), abt half evaporated milk or coconut milk; salt to taste

Method:
1. Pat dry triangular tofu pcs on paper towel
2. Add 5 tbsp of oil to pan and pan-fry tofu until golden brown
3. Drain cooked tofu on paper towel to remove excess oil. Set aside.
4. In a medium-sized pot, add oil to saute the chopped onions on high heat until nearly fragrant
5. Add currry powder and chilli powder and incorporate the ingredients
6. Put in all the vegetables (except tofu) and mix well
7. Add abt 2 cups of water to prevent the curry powder from burning
8. Continue to stir and reduce to medium heat
9. When veg are cooked, add in the milk as well as the tofu pcs. Add salt to taste.
10.Stir gently on low heat and turn off stove when curry is done.

Hope you'll enjoy preparing and eating this dish.