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PAGES FROM THE PAST : PROVINCE WELLESLEY Khoo Salma Nasution highlights the forgotten heritage of the province now known as Seberang Perai in her latest pictorial book Driving into Seberang Perai is almost like entering a different state altogether. The casuarina trees that pepper the coast of Penang as you head towards the iconic bridge fades into the silhouette of the hills that cradle the island. Warehouses, large but low concrete buildings, and blocks of shophouses greet you in Seberang Perai, the strip of land often referred to as "the mainland" by Penangites. It is a world apart from the giant trees that shade some of Penang's historical streets, or George Town narrow lanes, opulent clan houses, century-old places of worship and grandis colonial buildings which dot the island. In her latest book, Province Wellesley - A Pictorial History , historian, heritage activist and author Salma Khoo Nasution offers an insight into just how rich this lesser...

TIMELESS CLASSIC Ancient Chinese idioms continue to be relevant today Idioms. Peribahasa. Chengyu. Figures of speech that roll off the tongue effortlessly into our daily lives yet belong to a time gone by. They survive because they're timeless, carrying implied or hidden meanings that are crystal clear when uttered in written text or in speech. A conversation with a friend recently reacquainted me with the delightful Chinese idioms, chengyu and the legends and fables they originated from. Generally, in the form of four-character idioms, they often convey a deeper meaning, a lesson of life. It was some years ago whilst researching Asian legends that I came across this literary form, specially from the story of Old Man Yu Moves The Mountain, Old Man Sai Weng Loses His Horse but it doesn't mean It's Unlucky and perhaps, most apt this year, To Kill A Chicken To Warn The Monkey. Sha ji jing hou is the saying or "kill the chicken to scare the monk...

EGGPLANT Once a upon a time, there was an old ruler who had many lands as his personal territories. One day, he left his palace to hunt on his lands. His private cooks and the guards accompanied him. In addition, he took his jester with whom he could have fun. All day long they looked for game. Nevertheless they could catch nothing. Very hungry, they went back to the cook. "Bring me something to eat!" The ruler said, "I'm so hungry that I could swallow a big sheep in no time." The poor cook was frightened and said, "Your Excellency! Unfortunately, we have nothing but eggplant here."  The ruler paused for a moment and murmured, "That's all right. Just be quick." The meal was made ready quickly and the ruler began to hungrily eat the eggplant. He then said, "What an unbelievably nice food eggplant can be!" His jester began to talk about the advantages of eggplant as he kept on looking at the ruler. Feeling bloated, th...