Terung Asam (Sour Eggplant)

The terung asam or sour eggplant (or terung iban) as most dayak people called it in Sarawak. It is a rare type of eggplant where you never find in other places. It is grown very well in Sarawak of East Malaysia (part of Borneo Island) and are sold commercially at the vegetables market. Sour eggplant is one of the favourite vegetable, in Sarawak among the native ethnic groups, malays or even the chinese people. It has thorny tree and leaves, so you need to be careful when picking the fruits. The fruit is green when it is still young as seen in the picture and when it is riped it turn a bright yellow or slightly orange. The ripe fruits are sour. It has alot of seeds.

This is the terung asam (sour eggplant) I grew last year and has flowers too but it didn't bear fruit except one. It barely survived. I guess, the climate is not suitable for it over here or not enough pollination by the bees.

This is the sour eggplant which I grew.

There were about 10 trees of the terung asam I grew in my garden and bears alot of flowers.. but only this one made it through. I called it a "miracle eggplant".

"Close look at the fruit.


I was hoping to keep this till ripe but it fell of by itself. Sad!!

Anyway, I still can cook it.

Some people like to cook it when it is still green and some people like to cook it when it is ripe. I like it both ways.

This is what I cooked out of the only eggplant I had. It doesn't taste sour as the ripe one. Just saute minced onions, then add chicken and add the sliced eggplant, cooked till it's soft. Season it to your taste.

These are the ripe terung asam.
When it is ripe it taste sour.

Ikan Patin masak lemak with terung asam and put some chillie peppers with it. Taste so delicious.

Hiking in the Cumberland Gap

The trail map at the Parking Area.

A scene from wooden bridge crossing the stream.

Taking a picture before going up the hill.

On the Saturday, December 27 2008, at 10 o'clock morning, drove to the Cumberland Gap National Park once again. This time we hiked at another trail called the Sugar run trail. It was quiet morning. As we walked up the long hilly trail, there were no sign of other people there. However, it was quite eerie though, when we found some new animal track (footprint) - we couldn't figure if the footprint was belong to a wolf or dog or a bear. When we reached the top area, we saw four peoples with their dog.. but they were coming up on the other trail called the Lewis Hollow Trail on other side of the mountain. I think they went for camping as they carried a lot of things in their backpack. We also went down the lewis hollow trail till we found a cave but we couldn't enter it as we didn't bring any torch light with us. We saw some people at the cave too but they didn't go further inside, guess they didn't bring torch light either.

Going down the Lewis Hollow Trail.

Taking a pose at the mouth of the cave.

John taking a pose at the edge of the boulder outside the cave.

John II playing at the lost stream (actually the streams suddenly disappeared in that.

Taking a break, munching a bar

We took a break for few minutes and then, we climbed back the lewis hollow trail to the top and down the Sugar run trail again. By that time, it was already 2 o'clock in the afternoon.

Another pose with John II, with those green moss rocks.

John II showing his climbing talent..

John taking another shot on the top of the big boulder. It's quite steep and scary if you look down.

John II and I picking rocks nearby stream.

Some food from my family from Miri, Sarawak.

Last November, my friend's (Magdalene) parent came to visit them in Houston, TX. All the way from Miri, Sarawak. I asked my sister and mom sent me some dry food. Thank you mom and sis, for taking the trouble to send those, even though it's not much but at least I get to eat them. Thank you Mag and your parents, for their kindness being able to bring it.

Look at what they sent me :


This is a kind of leave, which we called "bekai" in Kenyah dialect. We dry the leaves and pound it and store it in a bottle. This is a substitute for MSG which we put in our dishes to make it taste good. It is good to cook with daun ubi (cassava leaves), bamboo shoot, and etc. This reminds me of my late grandma and mom's cooking.

Native MSG

Closer look of it.

This is called "payang" in my dialect. A kind of nut.

Roti Osbone, one of my favourite

Fermented cassava leaves. (Kassam daun ubi).
I purposely asked my mom to do it like that or else the custom won't allow it to enter the USA.

Salai ikan lomek.

Dry Anchovies (Ikan pusu)

These are the food they sent me.

They packed it nicely in a plastic,

A small amount of each...

Notice that all the food are dried or fermented.. and then only can be allowed to bring it here.

Holiday in Kentucky - December 2008

He want to dip himself in that Spa... but didn't know how to turn it on.. hehe

He is swimming.. in the indoor pool that where we stayed at Holiday Inn Express in Meridian, Tenessee. Where we spent the night after a long drive from Houston.

His dad threw him on the pool.

Father and son soaking themselves in the Spa. I really want to join them but didn't bring my swim suit..

Christmas 2008, my family went to visit my husband's uncle and his wife (uncle Bob and aunt Tiny) in Heidrick, Kentucky. We stayed with them for a week. They were so nice and very hospitable people. God bless their heart. They were so thrilled to have us stayed with them.. as their own sons didn't go back during the Christmas. During our time there, we have the opportunity to go for Hiking in the Cumberland Gap National Park. Cumberland Gap National Historical Park is a wonderful tapestry of historical, cultural, and natural resources woven intricately together. The park is located in southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, and northeast Tennessee.

On December 23, 2008 we went hiking on the Tri-State Trails. It's the trail of the 3 states (Kentucky, Virginia and Tenessee join together on the top of the hill. It's also where one of the trail that the famous Daniel Boone explore the area. It was a cold day when we hiked to the hilltop. We took some pictures and hiked down again. Then, we hiked another trail called the Harlan Trail which leads to the Pinnacle overlook. I didn't go with my husband and son, as my hand hurts.. so my husband asked me to I trailed down to the parking lot to get the car. I droved that winding hilly road up.. and stopped half way. I parked the car at the parking area at a point called Mccomack. As I was scared to go further as I am have pobia of height. Then, I tried to walk up the road but then it's still far to walk and I came down and took the car and drove slowly to the top.. where my husband and son were waiting. They were worried and shivering in the coldness. We took some pictures at the pinnacle overlook and head back.

Taking a break on the way up to the Tri-State trail.

Standing at the spot (Tri State Border) where Tenessee, Kentucky and Virginia.

Posing behind Kentucky Sign

Posing at the Spot where Daniel Boone encrafted where he trailed in the 16th Century.

Posing with John at the Pinnacle overlook.

Christmas day was quiet. There was no church service in their church. In the morning at 8 o'clock after everyone woke up. We gathered in the living room and amused ourselves to open the christmas gifts under the christmas tree. Everyone was happy.. with their gifts. My son couldn't wait to open the gifts, so aunt Tiny let him open his little gift one by one each day before Christmas. At Christmas day, he got more to open.. and he was so thrilled.

Aunt Tiny's White Christmas Tree. With presents underneath it. Awaiting to be opened on Christmas Day. John II couldn't wait to open his gift. He was the first one to open his gifts.

He got few Christmas gifts from aunty Tiny & uncle Bob. He opened it everday till the Christmas day. Mostly toys! He got a football blanket from his aunt Sheryl and uncle John of Indiana. He got a soccer ball and Manning shirt from his dad. I left his gift in Houston!.

Here am I, opening my present from Aunt Tiny & Uncle Bob. I got a winter vest, nativity set and shampoo from them. I got an Omega watch from my hubby. I got Pyjama and T-shirt from sister inlaw & brother inlaw (Sheryl & John Maier) of Indiana. Btw, my left shoulder was hurting that's why I put on the sling to avoid it from moving too much.

My husband John got a Black Robe from Aunt Tiny and uncle Bob. Shirt from me and a Walmart card from his brother and sister inlaw. Got a measuring sensor from one of his customer.

Aunt Tiny got a Lazy Susan from John and a cross-stitch and frame from me.

Uncle Bob got a Manifying Glass from John for his reading.

While we were there, we had the opportunity to attend church that weekend with them. It was a small church with few congregations but they served and worshiped God with all their heart. They sang from their hymns of some Christmas songs.. which made me feel homesick. It feels like I am in my village there. As they are living in the country side. Uncle Bob sang his favourite song too. I was amazed! So wonderful.. to hear that he still can sing. God bless you uncle Bob.

We have spent a week with them and now it's time to "Say Goodbye" to them. We feel sad to leave them behind,but we have another week of vacation to go spend at the Great Smoky Mountain in Tennessee and North Carolina. Before we left, we took picture with them.

Uncle Bob, Aunt Tiny with John II.

Uncle Bob, Aunt Tiny and myself.

Aunt Tiny and myself

John with uncle Bob and Aunt Tiny