Maid & Butler

Current Mood: Happy

When I was small, at this time of the year, every year, I would anticipate this season to come. The attack of the red tortoises! They come with peaches too! This season is call ‘The Festival of the 9th Celestial Duke’ (9 Wong Yeh Tan).

In Ipoh, we have this temple called Tow Bow Keong, which is situated at Jalan Tokong, just opposite of Methodist Girl School. This is by far the busiest temple during this festival. This is the season where my grand-aunts and grand-uncles busy themselves with cooking and sales as they have their own stall placed at the temple. They only serve vegetarian and desserts like red bean soup (omg their red bean soup is DA BEST! cuz it serves with dried tangerine peels *drool). And at the outside of the temple are the stalls that sells these buns in the shape of red tortoises and peaches. People would buy these as offerings to the 9th Celestial Duke but I’m not sure why. In fact, I don’t know what this festival is for and why do we pray to this dude, I mean Duke.

One thing I remember when I enter this temple last time was, we are urged to go under the altar in a circle to so-call, wash away our sins and past deeds. Last time, at the parking area of the temple, there is a stage where Chinese opera is performed. That day when I went back, I did not notice the stage. It could mean that this event is canceled for good or…the performers kicked the bucket. I mean, how often do you see younger generation these days TALKING about Chinese opera, not to mention taking up Chinese opera classes. It’s not surprising that this traditional performance is already extinct, at least in this festival, which is quite sad cuz I still remember distinctively how it looked like. I also remember there’s a aunty selling sweets of ALL KINDS! Tora, Choki-choki, Ding Dong, some weird M&M look-alike in silver foil case that’s shaped like a mask, sweet that looks like quail’s egg, etc. And another stall selling traditional Chinese sweet, not sure what’s the name of it but it’s terribly sweet, served in a stick and hard to chew.

Beside the temple there’s a hall. In this particular season, the hall is rented out to people who wishes to stay there. Some, like my grand-aunts, is working there and mind you, the place is open 24 hrs. So they will take turns to work. Some of them stays there to pray.

Although it wasn’t enough but I’ve had my serving of red bean soup and tortoise & peach buns which are so so so yummy! They don’t only taste good, but brings back so much childhood memories to me ^_^. I’ve heard that Ampang also has a temple that celebrates this festival. But since PJ also has a huge load of Chinese, why can’t I see any of the temples celebrating this festival? Where are the tortoises?! I really hope to get them here…

P.S: The tortoise buns are best served French toast style.