Houseplants being a real friend in these troubled times
Basil and Misai Kuching tea
Singaporeans and Malaysians fighting to breathe well....the yearly haze is back again. It's really bad this year and school classes were cancelled for a day when the PSI reading went way, way above the accepted level. Open burnings in Indonesia were the culprit-burning is the cheapest way to clear a land and rupiahs saved were given more consideration than a stranger's blocked nose!. Dining in the open came to an end for me. All windows and doors were shut tight - for once, I was thankful for my indoor houseplants.
The throat feels dry and sore. Discomfort to the eyes. Going out means having a mask on. How much can one escape from the foul air? It's everywhere! Even being in a car does not save you ...you would still need to wind down your window now and then.
Would there be sufficient masks for sale? Who would have thought that Malaysia would call for a state of emergency for one of her towns? Tourists would be upset - who wouldn't when all your holiday pictures would be of grey skies and not blue and staying indoors preferred than painting the town red...
It was at this 'troubled' times that I discovered the joy of basil tea. I had it mixed with 'misai kuching' and taken as in way of drinking Chinese tea with no milk and no sugar. The tea leaves were of fresh leaves left to dry for good storage. Packed in silica gel for better dryness. Cheers to better days!
Hey neighbour, stop smoking!
