It’s nonya time!  I learned things even I didn’t know, for shame.  And scroll down for a yummy recipe from my mummy.

The Peranakan Museum

A lot of effort has gone into injecting some cul-cha into our fair isle. So why let the wonderful museums and galleries we have become monuments or just somewhere for tourists to go to? We now have a plethora of art and museums, and usually much quieter than shopping malls.

Niece Samantha and I recently went in search of our roots at The Peranakan Museum. If you have never willingly gone to a museum before, this is a great one to start with. It’s small, a single subject, and will only need about an hour or so of your time.

It’s housed in a heritage building on Armenian Street, over 3 floors. You start on the ground floor with a multi-media display that explains the provenance of Peranakans (colloquially known as Babas (m) and Nonyas (f)). (Peranakan is a unique hybrid culture, between the early traders and local women around the trading routes of Malaya, Sumatra and Java).

I’d always thought Peranakans were like me, Chinese-based. But no, there are Chitty Peranakans (South Indian Hindu mix, whose patois is Malay crossed with Tamil) and Jawi Peranakans (South Indian Muslim mix). All this resulting in a unique mix of customs, ceremonies and costume. Not to mention the amazing jewellery and of course, the food.

The next 2 floors cover displays on the various keys ceremonies, weddings, funerals, and of course the clothes and fabulous jewellery (I remember my gran used to wear kebayas with kerongsangs). Deeply elaborate, and sadly, no longer practiced.  You get a sense of the rituals, the significance of a piece of cloth, the position of a sign. And of course, a lot of these were occasions to show your wealth.

A glaring omission though, is the absence of food, when it is such a big part of Peranakan culture. Although there is a Peranakan Restaurant down the road, it’s closed during the day. Having a tasting section would really drive home how wonderfully thorough the hybrid-ness of our culture is. Even a little kueh counter would be better than another really expensive gift shop.

It’s hard for me to describe it as though seeing it for the first time, as it’s all a part of my childhood memories. As an adult to be able to revisit my heritage is a really great gift. To see the detail in the work, to appreciate the ornateness of the embroidery, the vividness of the colours. I particularly loved seeing the old literature from the 30’s—a bible, collected works of Shakespeare, comics. And the display of things that belonged to someone in the past…really touching.

There’s a special exhibition called ‘Baba Bling’ on till the end of the year, showcasing Peranakan jewellery. Some are private pieces and have never been shown.

We left resolved to come back with the entire family, and to get kebayas of our own.

One of ye olde phones on display. You pick them up to eavesdrop on a baba conversation. It sounded just like Aunty Dot!

I like this.  See the explanation below

My leap of faith - not looking so groovy now!

Well kids, don’t say I don’t put it all on the line for you. Lately I’ve been thinking about ruts and comfort zones, and how to challenge myself to ensure I keep learning and evolving. Stretching beyond yourself and trying new things is good for your soul. So I decided to do a series called Jolt! These pieces will look at how to jolt myself out of the warm squidgy comfort of my happy place. Because life is risk people! Put nothing out, get nothing back… And although I would count making the groovini and learning Bollywood dancing risks and jolts, I seemed to have upped the ante lately. And I am most definitely no adrenaline junkie.

On our third attempt, my hapless friends (M+M) and I finally made it to the trapeze on Sentosa (Siloso Beach). The first attempt, with brother James, was National Day (foolish and not a hope, what were we thinking) so we left and had a cinammon bun from Provence instead. The next Saturday, it looked rainy so we called it off (by this time, little bro had already backed out, wuss). So Sunday was die, die must do day.

It’s right on Siloso Beach.  Where lots of people walk past.  Lots.  We saw the net and swings and all went silent as we contemplated (a) how high it was (b) how public it was.  And I started getting pretty nervous.  Actually, it doesn’t seem very high if you aren’t getting up there.

Practice area

It’s pretty informal, you pay $10 for 1 swing and $30 for 3 to one of the dudes.  Then Morris takes you to the practice swing, where they tell you what’s expected.  Ultimately the objective is to flip upside down on the swing.  As an added bonus, Morris helps you flip over with a shove on your butt.  (much mirth during photo review).

Then you get harnessed up, and because I opted to go first, I was up!

The climb up the ladder felt like an eternity.  And with each step, my legs were turning to lead as my fright/flight mechanism was kicking in.  With every step I was taking up the ladder, my brain wanted me to take 2 DOWN.  I had to fight against myself to keep going UP.

The next challenge was to get from the ladder to the little ledge you stand on.  From a point of fear and a massive injection of adrenalin, the gap between the ladder and the ledge could’ve been the Grand Canyon (and all the way up the ladder and the ledge, you are not harnessed).  When the guy says ‘jump over’, my initial reaction was ‘say what?’

By the time I got on to the ledge and was getting attached to the safety ropes, my knees were knocking, my heart thumping, and beads of sweat were rolling.  My entire nervous system was yelling at me ‘GET OFF GET OFF GET OFF’.

Grabbing the trapeze is another great leap of faith.  You lean OFF the ledge (not realising that the harness will hold you) suspended in air, defying gravity, feet on the ledge, reaching for the tiny bar too far away, with the ground 60 feet below.

And then you swing.  Alas, where I had intended to swing (and I had never intended to flip upside down) and laugh out loud, I was so stressed out by the climb and the ledge that I just wanted it over.  So I swung a few times (and did not fully experience the sensation of flying), noticed that my arms were feeling the weight of my body, and then landed safely on the net.

Knees still a-knocking, and heart still a-thumping.

Click on the video above to see how it should be done.  And the woman is a total stranger by the way (although we are convinced that with her confidence, she’s actually from Cirque du Soleil).  I had a little more intent than this little girl (and I didn’t scream).

I’m bummed that I didn’t get to enjoy the swinging more.  I hadn’t expected the climb and the ledge to be such a big part of the experience – so big that it totally eclipsed the swing.

So there it is, I have to go back again to do it the way I had planned to do it.  With a laugh.

It was definitely a jolt, and it was good to reach beyond myself, and to take steps forward, however fearful.  Ah,  a metaphor for life!

Check it out here.

Next up – Megazip!  Anyone want to join us?

These days, alternative healing is much more mainstream. The allopathic medical world is embracing the complementary use of alternative remedies. I’ve tried all sorts of different healing techniques to deal with difficult episodes, as well as to deal with chronic physical problems (my sinuses). Part 2- next week – will look at crystal healing, hypnosis and homeopathy.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture

Recently, I had a bad bout of the flu and it left my sinuses in a complete state. After weeks of living on decongestants and anti-histamines, I wanted to try something else. So imagine my desperation if I actually volunteered to go when mum mentioned her old acupuncturist. I had never been, despite others’ success stories. Needles in my skin? No way Jose!

The first time I went, Mr Chiang used very few needles, and it was painless, soothing and lovely.  Now, after going regularly, we are on a lot more needles and some points (the left side of my nose) really hurt.  When he puts in the needle into that particular point, it feels like someone is driving a metal chopstick in.  Nice.  He then uses an electric pulse on the needles, so the current runs through the needles to the meridian, moving the chi.

Last week, he added cupping.  But not the leave-big-circular-bruises on your skin type.  He oils the meridian (in this case, along my spine and shoulders), and then heats the cup and places it on, creating the seal, and then moves it gently along the meridian.  Like a really nice gentle massage.  That must’ve been my reward for that really painful needle.  After that session I felt great.  The cupping is supposed to boost your metabolism and I was pretty bouncy and STARVING.  My sinuses have really improved but it’s going to be a long term problem.  I’m glad I’ve found a new way to manage it.

Mr Chiang has been doing this for about 30 years, and charges $80 a session.  Chiang Acupuncture, #17-10 Shaw Centre. 67377390

Reiki

Is a healing system developed in 1926 by Mikao Usui by moving energy around, using the laying of hands.  I first tried it in the Banyan Tree Phuket years ago (they don’t do it anymore) and it was a surreal experience.  After the 90minute session, I cried my eyes out. Till I was empty.  And then – hey! colours were really bright, and sounds really clear, and I was massively relaxed.

I liked it so much, I did a weekend course to learn how to do it.  I never kept up the practice, but apparently you never forget.  It is weird how much heat a good reiki practitioner can generate through their hands, and how they can detect your areas of dis-ease and remove blockage.  When I used to do it, the person I treating would feel heat, yet my hands would not.

Does it cure?  I don’t know.  But it sure feels good after.  Maybe the better description is ‘relief and release’.  There are several places that offer reiki here, but my one-stop holistic shop is Basic Essence at Cluny Court. Jac offers reiki there.  Elaine Grundy is a reiki master.