Cross Cultural Communication part2

If you live in a box with horizontal lines all over it, you would think that the world outside are made up of horizontal lines. You would never expect to see vertical lines. Thats why, it is very important to not limit yourself to your own view, especially in cross cultural communication.

All along, I thought that it is very normal to greet your friend's parents as 'auntie' or 'uncle'. I assumed that people all around the world does that? But apparently, not every culture practices that.

Heard from Azusa that in Japan, people would usually greet their friend's parents as *insert friend's name* no okaasan/otousan. (*friend's name*'s mother/father. Some might find it rude if you address them as auntie/uncle. Unless you know them personally, then it might be alright to go ahead and greet them at such manner.Conversely, in a Malaysian context, it would be really weird to do so. We would automatically greet any middle age ladies or men as auntie and uncle.

What about your culture? How do you address or greet your friend's parents?

On a very different note, this entry is suppose to be about me bringing Azusa for some Roti Canai. However, I've accidentally deleted most of the photographs while I was playing around with the camera. And now, I don't know how to blog about it. So I'll just upload whatever picture that is still available in the camera.

Roti Canai master at work

Roti tissue which was really huge! It's called tissue because of it's thin texture.

This is my favorite, Roti Telur. (Telur = Egg in the Malay language)

If you ever visit Malaysia, forget all the expensive food. Roti Canai is definitely a must try..and it's cheap!

Cross Cultural Communication

One Monday night, as I was wandering around the Pasar Malam (night market), I've came to a decision that if I have a foreign friend visiting Malaysia, I'll definitely bring them here. From the way people carry themselves, the language, the food etc... The night market is indeed the living text book of Malaysian Lifestyle 101. Last Monday, I finally had the chance to show Azusa around!

It rained. Stopped and rained again. Sorry if the pictures are badly taken. I'm too lazy to adjust the colors and all.

The first thing we had was Bubble/Pearl drink that originates from Taiwan, if not mistaken. I have no idea why every night market has this drink.

Azusa looks satisfied with her Lychee flavored drink

We were kinda hungry too, so we bought Popiah (Spring Roll) from Stadium Popiah

Close up of a Popiah

And also Char Kueh Kak (Raddish Cake). You can choose with or without eggs and if u like it heavily flavored, u can ask for the spicy one. According to Azusa, its really soft and melts in your mouth.

There's also keropok lekor (Fish sausage?/ Fish flavored chips?) Taste a little fishy but goes really well with chili sauce

Fruits rojak, our very own salad with spicy peanut dressing. A little too spicy in my opinion

Lok Lok, which is the street steamboat. People would pick whatever food they want and deep it inside boiling water or sometimes boiling sauce. It's gaining lots of attention these days.

There's a variety of pastries to choose from too in night markets. Ahh..these cakes are so nostalgic. Used to love these cakesback then when I was a kid.

One thing different about night market in Malaysia and other places is you get to buy fruits, vegetables, fresh fishes, meat etc here.

So colorful ey? Just realize I did not take picture of fruits stall

Big fishes..probably free from oil spill?

Um..frog. I've never tried it but according to my Dad and also Clair, fried frog taste like fried chicken.

There were also non edible goods such as household products, clothes, accessories and toys to name a few. Not forgetting a whole lot of counterfeit goods and bootleg DVD/ PC, PS games

Ding Ding Dang Dang accessories

I don't understand why people often relate clothes sold in night market as low quality. Its funny that they're willing to pay more to buy the same thing from blogshops or shops. Hmmm

Anyway, it started raining quite heavily, so we quickly grab on our very last meal, 'Fried Ice cream' before making a move

It's hot outside and cold in the inside.

For more pictures, click here

Finals are just right around the corner. So I won't be updating until next Friday perhaps? *points at Live Traffic feed* to the reader who click into my blog every 3 hours or so, you don't have to come so often and check on my updates.

Next update: Cross Cultural Communication Part 2

I ain't no killer

It all started with a facebook status stating that "okonomiyaki is universal ;) maybe cooking tomorrow again" and everyone started craving for okonomiyaki. "Someday, Lets cook it!" someone suggested. And that someday was last Friday.

[L>R: Brendan, Irene Mandy, Nadia, Anitt. Kaireen, Azusa, Jocelyn in the bottom and Me]

The people who were present for the dinner. It was like an unofficial vegetarian cultural food night. We had Okonomiyaki, Japchae, Pasta and durian. and fortune cookies


Okonomiyaki prepared by Azusa. She's a cooking master! The way she chop the vegetables... we were like "WOAHHH! Restaurant way!" I'm so gonna ask her some Japanese food recipe.


Japchae prepared by Nadia, the Korean who speaks better Malay than Malaysians. I did not take this picture..so don't ask me who's finger was that. This was really good! Should have taken home some.


And Pasta, prepared by the other Irene . The sauce was really good! (not in picture) Lots of mushroom and carrots in it. My favorite!

And others, just eat helped out in the cooking preparation from cutting vegetables, mixing batter, cracking eggs, serving the food etc etc.


Thats me trying to flip the Okonomiyaki. And I did it at the first try. Beginner luck or not, I'm gonna make it for my sister next time and lets see whether she'll have an upset tummy after meal. And my amigos, you won't be able to escape from my okonomiyaki too.

After makan, we played the mafia/killer game. I was never once the killer and yet almost every round, I was on the suspect list. "It's so obvious that Ai Rene is the killer!" "The way she smiles, she's the killer!" I am that innocent citizen, in the risk of being murdered by that cold hearted killer and yet everyone's saying that I am the killer. Do I have the Yokoyama Yu bad guy face or what?

nom nom..lets have some snacks!

Japanese snacks have been making an impact in the Malaysian market lately. Specialty stores have been mushrooming in malls and you no longer need to travel all the way to Isetan to buy your favorite overcharged Japanese snacks or wait for the Jusco Japanese Food Festival.

Japanese are very creative with their snacks. They come up with new flavors that I've never seen before. However, although I'm a frequent Japanese snack-er, I find myself buying the same flavor/type of snacks again and again. For instance, I always wanted to try the Banana flavored Morinaga caramel sweets, but I always end up with the black sugar flavored because I think it's safer. I mean banana and caramel or black sugar and caramel. Which one will probably taste better? I'm really worried that I might not enjoy the taste and end up regretting it and by the end of the day, wasting it.

Yes, I do love Japanese snacks. But another reason for me to consume it is because of their endorsers.

Should I go for Morinaga DARS dark chocolate instead of Meiji Black just because KinKi Kids had DARS commercial about 10 years ago

or should I go for Lotte Plus X because of the fun looking commercial that featured KAT-TUN or Meiji's Xylish because Kimura Takuya spells cool. Or sometimes, you're amazed by the variety of flavors available for Pocky and just don't know which one is goes well with your cup of coffee.

How how how? Which one to get? Furthermore, Japanese snacks are not cheap over here. And you can't be buying too many of it or you'll end up getting sick of it.

If you're as indecisive as me, worry no more! Japanese Snack Reviews is here to save your day. Check out their huge archives. From chocolates to umai bo.. any Japanese snacks, you name it and they have it. The Sumo rating system will definitely help you in deciding which snack to get. In my case, I wasn't too sure about Crunky at first. But after reading the Crunky review, I was pretty sure that I'm gonna like it and I was so wrong.. I love it!

When your there, check out the Variety Friday section too. Some really cool food that you'll never find it over here were featured and it never fails to make my tummy go 'peko peko'.

Recently, they're having a contest and the prize is a cool looking Kit Kat Gokaku Mug.

picture credits: Japanee Snack Reviews

Isn't Kit Kat everyone's all time favorite break time snack? If only they have other Kit Kat flavors in Malaysia besides Milk and White chocolate. Curious about other flavors of Kit Kat? Check out the Kit Kat section of Japanese Snack Reviews! Not only you get to find your right snack, you get to learn about other snacks as well.