Ulu Sepri..... keindahan tak terhingga

Kehadiran saya sebagai jurulatih di Kem Bina Negara, Ulu Sepri menjadi satu penghormatan untuk diri saya. Tidak diduga saya dipilih menjadi jurulatih dalam Kem Personaliti Menjulang TNB atas jemputan Biro Tatanegara Jabatan Perdana Menteri. Inilah julung-julung kali saya menyertai kursus yang disediakan untuk para eksekutif dan tenaga sokongan TNB.

Penglibatan saya dengan BTN bermula awal sejak dijemput sebagai ahli panel Bicara Siswa. Bicara Siswa merupakan satu rancangan TV mahasiswa, yang diudarakan melalui TV1 secara langsung dari Angkasapuri. Dipengerusikan oleh bekas Ketua Pengarah BTN, Datuk Nordin Kardi, Bicara Siswa menjadi pentas perdebatan topik-topik yang menarik dan memperlihatkan pandangan mahasiswa dalam isu-isu negara yang dibincangkan. Saya cukup bangga diundang untuk memberikan pendapat saya sebanyak dua kali untuk mengupas topik "Demokrasi: ala Malaysia atau ala Amerika" dan "Pembahagian Sama Rasa atau Mengikut Kesesuaian".

Setiap kali menyertai program-program BTN, darah Bangsa Malaysia dalam diri saya mengalir deras. Bersama BTN sahajalah, isu-isu kenegaraan dibincangkan, sejarah negara diperkaya dan isu semasa diperkemaskinikan dalam diri saya. Barangkali perbincangan tentang negara sukar dibawa ke kedai kopi, apatah lagi bersama rakan-rakan dalam umur 20-an yang jarang menyentuh isu-isu sebegini. Kali ini kem dilaksanakan di Kem Bina Negara, Ulu Sepri, Rembau, Negeri Sembilan. Pagar biru yang menyambut kedatangan saya akhirnya membuka tirai yang mengunci alam semulajadi yang begitu luas dan saat itulah saya tinggalkan segala apa dalam minda saya. Satu jejak kaki sahaja di bumi seluas 64 ekar ini, hati saya sudah terpikat nan keindahan dan kehijauan kem ini.

Saya terus disajikan masakan kampung Negeri Sembilan. Rasa bersalah kalau makan banyak dan soal menjaga badan, segera saya ketepikan. Penyakit gastrik dan ulcer yang menjauhkan sambal pedas dan kari dari meja makan saya sekian lama, kini dilupakan sementara.

Keselesaan kem ini membuat saya terlupa sejenak saya sebenarnya jurulatih dalam kem ini. Menulis pantun, tiba-tiba ilham tercetus. Biar pantun ini menjadi penutup coretan saya hari ini.

Sunyi sepi menyelubungi malam,
Semut, serangga merayap pulang,
Ulu Sepri indah tergamam,
Menjulang personaliti TNB gemilang.

Pagi menyinsing jadi pengganti,
Kicau burung, merdu sentiasa,
Cabaran mesti terus dihadapi,
Bersama penggerak tenaga Malaysia.

More than RM150 spent on Anson Chee Cheung Fun alone!

This year Chinese New Year celebration was a bit different without Tempoyak Curry and Stuffed Crabs. In fact, a reporter wanted to cover the special dishes on my family reunion table but too bad, the 'cooks' didn't want the special hassle this year. My aunt is getting old and always having backache.

If you are wondering what is Tempoyak - it's fermented durians! I don't think we can find Tempoyak Curry common on Chinese dining table. Yuks, you say.... Tempoyak? Even yuks rhymes with tempoyak.... Some people don't even like durians and how can people even put fermented durians in their mouths!!!????

However, what couldn't run away from our mouths every year for Chinese New Year is the famous Anson Chee Cheung Fun! This will never be missed.

Liew Kee Chee Cheung Fun from Teluk Intan normally opens as early as 8pm to produce Chee Cheung Fun all the way till the next morning. Operations often only stops at 8 or 10am during peak periods like Chinese New Year. See how the queue lined up nicely till the road side of the 'factory'!

This time I found a sign saying 'Please Queue Up'. Normally there is no queues, only people crowding around the entrance to shout their orders. The manufacturer finally get things organised by encouraging patrons to queue up.

One roll of Chee Cheung Fun normally costs RM1.10 at normal days but raised to RM1.50 per roll during Chinese New Year. One packet will have 2 rolls, making it RM3 per packet, which many people think is still cheap.

Well, if you total up my family spending on this specialty alone, we spent more than RM150 for this within 3 days in Teluk Intan. If you are wondering, people normally buy from 20-100 packets each. My cousin even ordered 20 rolls in a pack to bring home to Batu Pahat. I took my grab of 10 rolls to Ipoh when visiting my aunt.

If you have special eyes, you can see the picture on the left, the guy in white is holding RM100 waiting patiently to buy Chee Chueng Fun. I also bought 20 packets home this time (at time of taking this photo), RM60 worth. Chee Cheung Fun is so fun!

Anson Chee Chueng Fun differs from other Chee Cheung Fun as the fillings are made of dried prawns and other ingredients pre-fried to cook. Is black in colour and wrapped in thin, soft sheets of cooked rice water. So the finished roll normally comes out white with black spots.

Too bad, this photographer (that is me!) forgot to take a picture of how it looks like when finished. This picture on the right is the 'factory'! The 'boss' in orange shirt will pour rice water on the tray and spread the cooked ingredients on it. Then push the tray on the conveyer belt steamer. As the tray moves to the other end, the Chee Cheung Fun is done!

Another worker on the other end will roll the Chee Cheung Fun, and another will collect the trays, wipe the trays and push it back to the boss. The ready Chee Chueng will be packed by another person on the table at the left side. If you see properly you can see there is a red plastic bag to put the packed Chee Cheung Fun.

See.... Chee Cheung Fun right at the door step of the factory, fresh from the steamer!