The Chendol Maker of Bintulu

More than 70 years ago when this ice shaver was invented in South East Asia, many children did not have enough pocket money even to buy a simple ICE Ball or "Kantong Peng". I have never found out how to write the Kantong in Chinese though. I often wonder how that term originated from.

Shaved ice ball was a luxury to me too. And Red Bean Ice was even more luxurious because none of use had refrigerators at home in the 50's in Sibu. I still remember visit a wealthy relative near Lee Hua Sawmill and we were shown the outside, the back and inside of the kerosene run fridge.

The Sibu Wet Market had a portion selling chendol, ang tou peng, and rojak. It was a good place to rest and relax in the 60's and 70's. Today it is still there but it is probably the biggest wet market in the whole of Malaysia.

This ice shaver I found in Bintulu should already be a museum exhibit but she is still using it. Stall no 57 Bintulu Tamu. A kind lady Mrs. Chua (from Malacca) brought me to visit her because of my interest in vintage things.

The stall owner's grandfather in law made it when they started their business of making chendol, ais kacang etc. in the Bintulu open air market.

She said that her fingers are often numbed from handling the ice, but she won't get an electric ice shaver. She will continue to use this!!

Amazing food producer.