Roti Canai - Teh Tarik

I would say that roti canai and teh tarik is a delightful satisfying breakfast for all Malaysians regardless of their age. It is definitely an epitome of Malaysian breakfast. Everywhere you go in Malaysia regardless, Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Klang… from north to south, east and west of Peninsular, you will find food shops selling roti canai and teh tarik, from morning to evening even wee hours in the morning. What make this roti canai and teh tarik so delightful for Malaysians? Even I would sometimes have cravings for roti canai/teh tarik for breakfast and even at late hours of the night. Where does it originate historically?

Surprisingly I start a research on this, as I ‘google’ in website I found several historical versions on the above subject. All this while, we enjoy eating roti canai and consume teh tarik daily, we never bother to ask ourselves where ‘roti canai’ originate or why they call it ‘teh tarik’? Well, it has a long history that connects with merchants from India. These merchants have come and gone over the centuries with their Indian cuisine influence as seen in Malaysian customs and rituals. However, it all started during the 19^th century when British occupied Malaya with mass Indian migration. The Indians brought along their unique spice cuisine. Today, Indian food is not only Malaysian; it is unique and some are not even found in Indian i.e. created to blend in with Malaysian taste. 

So, ‘roti canai’ is made out of flour, you knead it nicely like a ‘flatbread’, often sold in Mamak stalls or restaurant. It is circular and flat shaped, and one is able to see ‘mamak’ twirl and spin the dough into becoming flat thin sheet, then folded in a circular shape thereafter cooked on hot flat ironed skillet in oil. That is the basic ‘roti canai’ that Malaysian consumes. However there are other varieties of ‘roti canai’ like ‘roti telur’ (stuffed with fried egg), ‘roti tisu’ (very very thin like paper), ‘roti bawang’ (with onion inside), ‘roti sardin’ (stuffed with sardine mixed with onion or chili sometimes) and even ‘roti pisang’ (stuffed with banana). Some consumers would add their own varieties in their ‘roti canai’. Usually ‘roti canai’ would serve with traditional dhal (lentil) curry or chickpeas in spicy curry. Those with sweet tooth would add sugar or condensed milk, or some even mixed their dhal curry with sugar. 

We can enjoy ‘roti canai’ as the price is affordable and believe it that one piece definitely filled our belly. Commonly it is eaten hot by hand (right hand of course) with gravy, and of course washed down with nice teh tarik. 

As for ‘teh tarik’, it is a hot beverage of Indian-styled tea which commonly popular among Malaysians. Teh means tea in Malay language whereas tarik means to pull or to jerk. How it is done usually, that milky tea is prepared pulled or poured from one mug to another few times until it has froth on top. The higher the ‘pull’, the froth becomes thicker and becomes yummier in the tummy. It is much appreciated and well-loved by late-night owls. Watching ‘mamak’ prepares ‘teh tarik’ is actually an element of showmanship. Why? Because some would pull higher and higher without giving a shower and it makes the tea more flavourable. There are even competition in preparing ‘teh tarik’ and it has become recognized as part of beverage heritage in Malaysia. Unique eh… 

Mamak... Teh tarik satu! Roti canai satu!

 
   

Life Begins At Forty

As the saying goes ~ Life begins at forty. How true is it? Hard to believe or picture it that life starts at that age limits. What does it mean – literally? Where does this phrase originated? Does it apply to us? 

Literally it means that life begins to be better in one's middle age. As I begin to ponder, I notice that it does rings in our mind. If we observe properly, almost everybody seem to achieve that comfort zone at the age of forty. As I said almost everybody achieve that comfort zone. But where this phrase originate and why is it so commonly uttered especially those at forty? 

The notion that 'life begins at forty' is actually a 20th century phrase. It was in 1930s, an American psychologist Walter Pitkin wrote a book ‘Life Begins at Forty’ which he stated “Life begins at forty. This is the revolutionary outcome of our New Era. Today it is half a truth. Tomorrow it will be an axiom”. Pitkin was credited for this phrase, as society today continue to coin that phrase especially when reaching that middle age boundary. Some would say that by the time you are at the age of forty years old, you would have enough experience and skill to do what you want to do with your life. 

Awake and pondering, if we were to look back and compare forty years behind, we would never dream of having such modern technologies that we have or modern transformation of society or progress that we see in Malaysia today or even in any other countries. From my own life experience, I’ve seen it all ~ from bulky hideous mobile phones during the 1990s to present sophisticated flimsy slimy smart phone, from table top computers to tiny lappytoppy or even Ipad that can be handheld and even to television so technically digitally futuristic as compared to forty years ago. 

SO I guess when they say life begins at forty you go through your life experiencing changes and modernize yourselves in accordance to time. OR once forty you probably have a change of attitude towards life, becoming more relax (probably you own a house, car, children growing up etc. etc.) or becoming a person who wanted more and even more in life as what you have now is not enough. Either way… it’s a choice.

Come to think of it, turning forty is not a disaster and it doesn’t mean it’s altogether healthy either. Well, for starter, once you reached forty, everything finite. Some would shriek knowing that 4-0 thingy is just around the corner and start to wonder. Some would even start to struggle with issues about life itself and start to question 3 things – firstly is identity: ‘who am I?’, then followed by ‘Do I matter?’ and lastly ‘What is my place in life’. Hey… take it easy and let it flow with the show. 

Turning forty helps you make changes in life and able to cope with life’s challenges as compare when you are twenty something – you have resources, experience and developed a maturity that allows you to handle situation more wisely. IF you have gone through emotional and dramatic in earlier time, take the opportunity to let go the past and seize the now. 

I would say that forties is a time to have own self development. We tend to look at the past but use it to make it better now so that it becomes more meaningful, it will help us recover from traumatic time in the past. I believe we should be grateful, appreciate those around us, value our life and know that life is full of surprises. At forty, things can and will change (there’s hope).