Selangor Pewter Ancient Currency Pendant Coin

Greeting fellow readers. I purchased this at Selangor Pewter Visitors Centre, Setapak Jaya a few years back, during my avid numismatic collection days. 

In ancient Tanah Melayu times, tin currency was used in numerous shape and forms. They had crocodile, turtle, Elephant, cockerel, beetle and various other currency.

Although it does not corrode, Tin is a material that is fragile and easy to bend or break. 

This is a nice idea by Selangor pewter to promote and pay homage to our old ancient currency. The idea of tying coins around the neck or other parts of the body (in the form of a bracelet or waste band) was not new to them (Selangor Pewter) and was used by our ancestors to carry around currency. That is why old ancient coins mostly had holes in the middle. 

The pewter coin sold by Selangor Pewter is a replica of a Kelantan pitis from 1321 AH / 1903 AD, during the reign of Sultan Muhammad IV (1899 -1920). On the observe of the coin is inscribed in Arabic, Suni’a fi Jumada’l Ula sanat 1321. Meaning issued on Jumada’l Ula (5th month of the Muslim calendar) 1903 / 1904. On the reverse is inscribed, Adim Mulkahu Belanjaan Karajan Kelantan. Meaning, permanent be the prosperity of the currency of Kelantan. 

This single pendant pewter coin, model number 8713 retails below RM50. I forgot the price as it has been a purchase so long ago. 

They do sell the whole coin tree or money tree measuring 6cm x 12cm, model no. 7481 at about RM1000. Consisting 15 coins on a tree. Back in the old days these pitis or currency would be broken off from a branch and used for payment or purchase of items. 

To me, men need to be fashionable. Nothing is wrong wearing pendants. Why not something meaningful, different and even has a aura of mystic? A conversation piece, if you may. 

The packaging is simple enough

Comes with some basic explanation on the coin 

I purchased 4 in total for me, my wife and 2 kids, to signify solidarity among us and signifying we are one family. 

Later it dawned on me, that although Selangor Pewter produced a gorgeous flawless piece, it remains a replica. No matter how you look at it. Is is a replica. Albeit, a sturdy one. My personal thoughts on It is, since the original Kelantan pitis is still affordable. Purchase one that is in prime and mint condition, from a reputable dealer. Keep that in your collection and purchase one that is a tad not pristine as your pendant. Just be careful with the tin pendant as it is flimsy and not sturdy as the former by Selangor Pewter. You will then have something with historical value around your neck and a REAL conversation piece.

Roll on underarm deodorant and its after effect

Greetings dear readers. 

I am blogging today, 4 October 2020, 9.26am from Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam.

It is a nice bright cool day this wonderful morning. 

On one of learning sessions on YouTube on men’s grooming, I came across a video regarding underarm deodorant and its negative effects. I could relate to the video in particular to the yellowish stains caused by the salt in our sweat mixing with the ingredients in the antiperspirant or deodorant, primarily aluminum.      

The other point the video touched about is the unusually musky stinking aroma of the underarm over prolonged use of the deodorant without taking a bath at the end of the day.

I do not know about other readers, but I can only relate to myself and I Totally agreed.

So now I have been underarm deodorant free for more than 6 months and what I realized are the following:

1. My shirts in the underarm section is no longer has yellow stains. 

Previously my shirts with such stains, I coated them with dynamo, baking soda or even lemon, prior to washing. Nothing worked, not only was that particular area still yellow but the stains over time grew bigger and the cloth in that area became harder compared to the other areas of the shirt where the material remained soft in nature.

What I ended up doing was throwing the shirt as it could not be salvaged. 

My working shirts are expensive and imagine having to throw it away. All the other parts to the shirt was neat, clean and top notch. Even the collar and wrist sleeve was crisp. The shirt was perfectly spot on. Except the ugly yellow patch in the underarm section.

What I realized was when I was in my cheap house clothes doing chores at home under the sun (at times), I sweat profusely and off course smelled but none of my shirts had yellow stains in the underarm section. Reason, when I was at home doing house chores, I did not use underarm deodorants. 

Hence, see the irony. Expensive work clothes where most of the time I’m in an air conditioned room and behind a PC, end result is throw due to yellow stains from deodorant. 

Cheap house clothes where I work like a dog and sweat. No deodorant. Keep and use until the shirt spoils due to wear and tear.

2. My underarm over time after total stopping the use of deodorant, reduced the unbearable musky smell.

No doubt when you use underarm deodorant initially you feel nice and smell nice  but in my case as the day goes by the underarm smell is amplified. Even after taking a bath and using loofah with soap to scrub, there is still residue of smell.

Now, with the complete stop in usage of deodorant, my natural odor is much more pleasant. I just frequent my bath (if possible). 

3. What I use now is powdered talcum. I smell nice and after prolonged period. I do not stink as before. 

4. I no longer incur cost in deodorant and the savings goes to purchase of talcum.

5. The talcum is also used for chest, stomach and also personal manhood area and butt. Hence, I now not only feel much more comfortable but I also smell nice for much longer periods due to talcum. 

It’s a win all around. 

This photo is used for illustration purposed only.

This is the YouTube video that had me started on this journey:

https://youtu.be/31ed421173k

Kindly note that this is my opinion and my personal results. Your results may vary 

    

GGK Fairbairn & Sykes Commando Dagger

The Malaysian Army has generally been overlooked. Dare I say unappreciated. They lay down their lives for our beloved country yet, how many of us would salute the arm forces when we see them pass by?

You would salute your immediate superior in the office by extending a smile and greeting, however you detest them. You may even waive a flag for your local politician or representative of your area to show your support. You even will utter the word “Tuan” To show respect, when face with a police officer or government bureaucrat, although they lack the position to be called “Tuan”. 

Yet, for our poor troops laying down their lives we ignore them when we see their barricades of vehicles passing us in the highway. 

We salute cool cars by giving a gentle honk and thumbs up when we pass them on the road.

Why can’t we do the same for our armed forces? Is there anything wrong when we see them sitting at the back of the army lorry with their tired faces, facing the heat and exhaust fumes, we gently honk and show thumbs up and cheer them when we pass by?

Imagine how they would feel with such support from the community they are serving?

There is a special branch of the army called Gerup Gerak Khas (GGK), a special forces regiment which are on a whole new level. They are the selected ones who made it through a grueling 12-week selection process to earn their green beret, living up to the expectations to be a commando. 

These elite troops are trained at Pusat Latihan Peperangan Khusus (Special Warfare Training Centre) at Sungai Udang Camp, Melaka. Training course is divided into five phases, the camp phase (five weeks), the jungle phase (two weeks), the swamp phase and long-range march (one week), sea phase (two weeks), and escape and evasion phase (two weeks). 

Oh did I mention that there us also a 160km march within the given duration of three days and two nights?

It is common to start off with over 200 participants at the initial stages of training but only 16 will be the last men standing.

Graduates are awarded their green beret, blue lanyard, and a Fairbairn & Sykes Commando Dagger. 

Every 1st March, the Malaysian army celebrates its Malaysian Army Day. This 2020 was 87 years. 

The public would probably not put too much importance on the date. To speak the truth, the general population would not even know such a celebration exists. Neither did I, until I did my research on the GGK Dagger.

The army is aware of our ignorance, but Major Nor Hasnizar Bin Nor Rashid, an elite commando himself states. “You don’t need to know what we do. We don’t expect respect from you. We don’t need your respect or command, but know that we’ll be there when you need us.”

And that my readers sums up our armed forces. Respect them. Not all of us can do what they do. They are always not seen but they will be there when needed.

The Fairbairn & Sykes fighting knife is a double-edged fighting knife resembling a dagger, developed by William Ewart Fairbaim and Eric Anthony Sykes in Shanghai based on concepts which the two men initiated before World War II while serving on the Shanghai Municipal Police Force in China. 

Made famous during World War II when issued to British Commandos, the Airborne Forces, in the Normandy landings in June 1944. 

It is now utilized by - United Kingdom, France, Poland and Belgium (Royal Marines & Commando), Canada (Armed Forces), Cambodia (Special Forces), Indonesia (Kopassus), Malaysia (Grup Gerak Khas & Paskau) and Singapore (Commandos).

Blade measures roughly 7 inches with an additional 4.5 inches for the holder. Designed exclusively for surprise attack from the back to penetrate the ribcage. As explained by Fairbairn in his book Get Tough! (1942):

In close-quarters fighting there is no more deadly weapon than the knife. In choosing a knife there are two important factors to bear in mind: balance and keenness. The hilt should fit easily in your hand, and the blade should not be so heavy that it tends to drag the hilt from your fingers in a loose grip. It is essential that the blade have a sharp stabbing point and good cutting edges, because an artery torn through (as against a clean cut) tends to contract and stop the bleeding. If a main artery is cleanly severed, the wounded man will quickly lose consciousness and die.

A demo on the deadly usage of the dagger:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqgc_KLVtOQ&feature=share

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDGHKyB3T_U&feature=share

 

 

Time person of the year 2016

Guys in reading this, please don’t take this the wrong way.

Life as it is, it’s already stressed enough so take this picture as it is and please don’t take it the wrong way. Death is something certainly not be be laughed at and poked fun at but this is on the lighter side of things.

You don’t know the power of the dark side

 I came across this many moons ago...

Beat that Luke

Pak Teh Kopitiam, Jenjarom

13 Lorong 1, Kampung Sungai Jarom, 42600 Jenjarom, Selangor. It’s about 35 minutes from my house in section 25, Shah Alam. 

We headed there on 19 September 2020 at about 8.00am. We took a slow scenic drive. Traffic was scares. It was a popular route amongst cyclist. All along the ride we had to keep an eye out for cyclist. 

Anyone intending to upgrade their knowledge prior to purchasing a bicycle should make a trip here, I’m sure the friendly cyclist are just waiting to impart their knowledge and wisdom.  

It is a good destination for cycling enthusiasts but be careful of lorries as there are plantations of sugar cane and palm oil along the way

Be extra vigilant 200m before your reach your destination, although guided by waze. The turning to the kopitiam is easy to miss or overshoot. A general guide is, when you pass Tesco on the right (on the opposite side of the road), the kopitiam is 100m on the left

The kopitiam use to be a old traditional Chinese single story bungalow lot house and converted into a cafe, bistro or kopitiam. Call it what you like. Halal and upon entry you get a vibe of a traditional eatery but with a modern take

Although we were there by 8.35am, the place was already packed with patrons and cyclist. Getting a place to sit was not an issue as there were always people entering and leaving upon finishing their meals. But with such ambiance, it is a good place to unwind, have good food and chill with the laid back surroundings

MCO so we wore face mask 

Rustic wood worn with age

Cool wash basin. One could easily mistaken it as a fire hydrant due to the similar red color

Now comes to the part you have been eagerly waiting for. Soft boiled eggs served the traditional way. Lift the bowl to find the eggs in hot water. The teh tarik was extra creamy as informed by my wife 

Pandan kaya and butter toast, for my son. Flattened like a pancake. My son gobbled it down mercilessly    

Meal for my wife. Toast bread with butter and sugar. This was what our forefathers ate back in the day

Sprinkles of sugar. Meal or desert? I’m not quite sure

For my wife also. Another version of toast with butter and kaya but in a bun

English breakfast for my daughter. Her complaint was that the scramble eggs was dry and not creamy like how I make it for her at home

I was a little under the weather so I ordered something souped based, unfortunately I did I not remember the name. I do however remember the taste and that’s what matters. The broth was so simple yet delicious. Clear and packed with flavor from the soup leaves, onions, carrot, bitter ground and other spices. The mee was so hoon. But the best was the fish balls. I’ll should you in the picture below

Can you believe that this is their fish ball? Look at the size. Practically filled up the whole soup spoon. 3 fish ball in each bowl. One of the best fish balls I had ever had. Hardly any starch or flour. I only felt large chunks of deliciously soft flaky fish. Never had such fish balls anywhere else

My son ordered the traditional coffee. You can tell from the color

Open 7 days a week from 7am to 4pm 

There’s a small map at the entrance of places to go when you are in Jenjarom 

The neighbors house just besides the kopitiam. This is how it might have looked like before converted into a kopitiam

Our friend on this wonderful outing. Sorry unable to post the cost as it was paid by my wife’s friend, Sally. Picture front right. She came all the way from KL and went through 5 tolls to get here. A real trooper. Thank you Sally for the eye opener by introducing us to this place

Wall Art Klang Town

If you are in Klang town in little India area you could drop by this roughly 100m stretch for a nice photo op. 

Located along the back alley of Jalan Dato Hamzah. 

Locks with messages by visitors. Looks mostly by young couples in love

The safest way to pose with a shark. Wink wink 😉 

Wife posing

My daughter calls this Master Chicken, as it resembles a kung fu master

QR code is provided for some of the mural. Did not scan to query due to the hot weather 

Do not know who the artist are. Some murals in other places have names of the artist but most here don’t. Their creativity is outstanding 

What would have been an otherwise plain boring alley is now turned into work of art