First Day of Hari Raya

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri to all my muslim friends!

On the first day of Hari Raya, the muslim bethrens' new year celebration, I was invited by an office colleague to be at her parents' house for lunch. Privileged to be invited and right after Sunday morning's church service, I drove over to Taman Dato' Senu, Sentul to feed my stomach. First time being in this area and the house was not too hard to find.

Upon chit chatting with her dad, pakcik told me that he was from Kelantan. He did mention that in Kelantan, the Hari Raya atmosphere is really good. Neighbours from all races will drop by anytime of the day to wish each other. It was not to be in the city area where you have to extend your invitations before people from other races will come to their house.

He said that there's no such thing that Hari Raya is only for the muslims. At the Kelantan towns, all races will come together and people will eat and celebrate together without any barriers. This is because of no interruptions from the politicians.

The family was glad to see a chinese dropping by on the first day of Hari Raya and of course, was served with ayam masak merah, beef rendang, ketupat, cookies etc.

The politicians have made and are still making a mess of the racial situation in Malaysia and hence, the need to have all those 1Malaysia promotions and the call for unity after fifty two years of independence from the British.

On Monday noon, another invitation to a Malay colleague's house. Food! Food! ..... of course, it's more than food. It's the relationship.

Go down to the normal Malaysians' life and you get to see people living in harmony. Preference is to see a peaceful nation too irregardless of race. The mainstream media is often doing the unjust part by playing the dirty racial game. And you may be wondereing at who's instruction. Totally irresponsible.

May Malaysia see a quicker economy recovery after the Hari Raya festival.
Tags: Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Muslim, Malay, Taman Dato' Senu, Sentul

Easter Day Celebration

This was after we had set the necessary music equipments up right early on Sunday morning at the International Youth Centre hall.

Quick rehearsals were required for certain performances to ensure familiarity with the new hall / stage area.

The Easter celebration began with the Chinese Church's presentation which was superb when they rendered their songs.

The morning service continued with Pastor Ben Ranis and Pastor Esther Lee leading the congregation into worship.
Part of the crowd that were worshipping during the worship time. An estimated crowd of 500 attended the Easter service.
The youth team presented their drama with a good moral behind it. The old lady in the drama had to pretend that she has died in order to get her three sons to come back to visit her. The three sons were so frightened with the "resurrected" mother who told them that it was the only way for her to see her three sons.

Have you been visiting your folks lately? What the old folks need is your time and not your Astro or materials stuff that you could provide.

The Easter service went on with another dance performance that has children as young as 5 years old.
Our Nigerian sisters came in with their dance movements. Always admired the way they shake their bodies, really natural. Even our Malaysian ladies were in awe of it.

These were the people that came up for prayers
seeking God to heal their sicknesses.

Our Nigerian brothers and sisters had their own presentation belting out three songs (or was it two? sorry guys).
The finale song entitled "Song of Ezekiel" was the last performance of the Easter service.
Was supposed to be one of the flag bearers but due to my thigh injury, unable to perform the dance this round.

Tags: Easter Day, Easter Service, International Youth Centre, Chinese Church, God

Happy Chinese New Year 2008

Dong Dong Dong Chiang! Happy Chinese New Year to everyone who drops in at my blog. May God's richest blessings be upon you and your family.

Received this cute CNY SMS message:-

May Stuart Little brings u comfort,

Mickey Mouse brings u joy,

Ratatouie brings u abundance of good food and most importantly,

Minnie Mouse brings u ultimate beauty & pleasure!

Tags: Chinese New Year, CNY, Rat Year, Year of the Rat,

Happy Deepavali

To all blog readers who celebrates the Festival of Light, Happy Deepavali to you and your family.

Went to two Indian friends' house, one during lunch time and another for dinner hmmmmmmmm nice meals and missed their food for the last two years when I was away overseas.
Tags: Deepavali, Divali, Festival

Selamat Hari Raya

I would like to wish all my muslim friends and blog readers "SELAMAT HARI RAYA" or "EID MUBARAK". Maaf Zahir dan Batin.
Tags: Selamat Hari Raya, Hari Raya, Eid, Eid Mubarak

Ramadan Month

To my fellow Malaysians and those who are observing the Ramadan month (where the muslims fast from dawn to the evening daily for the next 29 days), Selamat Berpuasa!
Tags: Ramadan, Puasa, Selamat Berpuasa

World's Tallest Roses

With Valentine's Day being a day away, hotels/restaurants/florists in the whole world are capitalising on the commercial aspect of it. Wonder how your loved ones will feel if she was to receive the world's tallest roses as her gift for the day.
The roses could be imported from the country of Ecuador due to their type of land, mixture of good soil and volcanic waste as well. Cost of buying it is US$250 per dozen (excluding despatch charges which will cost a bomb). Some of you may be willing to spend that money to impress your wife or to propose at the same time to your girlfriend. Some may take the time to win the heart of his dream girl.

Maybe I'm a bit too late in posting about this roses as the shop, Organic Bouquet, that is selling this has this statement in their website today:-

NOTE: due to high demand and limited supply, your preferred delivery date may not be available. Please call 877-899-2468 to be placed on a waiting list. Additional roses are becoming available each day and will be released on a first come first serve basis.
More about the world's tallest roses.


How will you react if you were to receive a Valentine's Day's card displayed on the left?

If you are lost on ideas, you can view various ideas that people have in their mind for an ideal Valentine's Day.
Tags: Valentine's Day, Roses, World's Tallest Roses, Organic Bouquet, Ecuador

Film Festivals

Just when you thought that Academy Awards would be next after the Critics' Choice Awards and Golden Globe Awards, the following film festivals came in between:-

Sundance Film Festival - The films receiving jury awards were selected by distinguished jurors from films screening in the Independent Film Competition and the World Cinema Competition. Awards were given to both dramatic and documentary films screening in the four competitive categories: Documentary Competition, Dramatic Competition, World Cinema Documentary Competition and World Cinema Dramatic Competition.

Screen Actors Guild Awards - These awards are for outstanding motion pictures and primetime television programmes. Movies like The Last King of Scotland / Dreamgirls / The Queen / Little Miss Sunshine have won awards here. Primetime TV winners were Elizabeth I, House, Grey's Anatomy, 30 Rock and Ugly Betty. Complete list of nominees.

Tags: Festival, Film, Movie, Cinema, Theater, TV Series, Sundance Film Festival, Screen Actors Guild Awards, SAG Awards, Nomination, Independent Film, World Cinema, Documentary, Dramatic, The Last King of Scotland, Dreamgirls, The Queen, Little Miss Sunshine, Elizabeth I, House, Grey's Anatomy, 30 Rock, Ugly Betty

The Meaning of Hari Raya Aidiladha

Aidiladha is also commonly known as Hari Raya Korban or Hari Raya Haji in Malaysia.

Celebrated about two months after Hari Raya Aidilfitri, it marks the end of the haj pilgrimage period (about two weeks).

Aidiladha also commemorates the sacrifices made by the Prophet Ibrahim (hence the word 'korban,' which means sacrifice in Arabic), who demonstrated immense faith when he was put to the test by God. Prophet Ibrahim was commanded to offer his son Ismail up for sacrifice, and though it grieved him greatly, he made ready to perform the task. However, as he was about to strike his son, God stopped him and revealed that it was a trial. Ismail's life was spared, and a ram was sacrificed in his place. In similarity with the Bible, that was in reference to Abraham and his son Isaac found in the book of Genesis, Chapter 22.

As such, during Aidiladha, the sacrifice of four-legged animals such as lambs, goats, cows, bulls and camels is performed. The slaughter of the animal is done after the congregational prayer in the morning of Aidiladha and thereafter, it will be distributed.

One third of the meat is given to the individual who made the sacrifice, while the rest is given to the poor and deserving people in the community. Making the sacrifice (korban) is not a compulsory religious duty, but an obligations for those who are able to afford it. The rest of the day is celebrated by visiting relatives and friends. This is one of the cows' meat kept for our own consumption. They will be cooking rendang daging for Saturday's breakfast, a type of curry flavoured beef meat (dry style).My muslim colleagues from Malaysia and the Petronas staff based at the project site made a contribution to buy 13 cows and will be distributed to a few villages. Each village will await for our arrival before slaugthering the cow. The festival began on Saturday in this region plus the Middle East area. As for Malaysia, it falls on Sunday. On Friday night, Malaysians from my company celebrated together with the Petronas staff by having a BBQ night. They BBQ some of the beef and lamb meat for the night.

To be continued .......

Tags: Festival, Hari Raya Aidiladha, Eid Mubarak, Haj Pilgrimage, Journal, Life, Diary, Sacrifice

Kuala Lumpur International Buskers' Festival 2006

Kuala Lumpur International Buskers' Festival 2006, being the 1st year in Kuala Lumpur, would be featuring some 20 international acts from 7 different countries (namely Canada, Japan, USA, Mexico, Australia, Netherlands & New Zealand) with everything you know and love. In store is 9 days of creative mayhem... crammed with non-stop fun and excitement. Expect organized crazy and creative performances from a stellar cast of international street entertainments who made it their life mission to thrill and delight. When I was in Singapore during November 2004, the same Buskers group was performing at Orchard Road, main shopping street. Really enjoyed their public performance at the streets throughout the night.
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Tags: Kuala Lumpur, Buskers, Festival

Hari Raya Aidilfitri or Hari Raya Puasa

Hari Raya Puasa is also commonly known as Hari Raya Aidilfitri. In Malay, the word Hari Raya means ‘A Day Of Celebration’ and Puasa derives from Sanskrit meaning ‘fasting or abstention’. Hari Raya Puasa means ‘great day of fasting’ or in actual sense ‘the festival marking the end of a period of fasting’. Hari Raya Puasa is popularly known as Eid Ul Fitr. Hari Raya Puasa marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting.
Today, it's being celebrated in Malaysia and a public holiday for today & tomorrow. In Sudan where I'm situated now, it has begun since yesterday with a number of Middle East countries too. It's a time where all muslims will gather back at their parents' hometown to celebrate the joyous occasion. This is where I'm stucked here with 2 other non-muslim colleagues.
A malay colleague of mine told me that on these days, he will have about 50 relatives at his parents' house and frankly said that he wouldn't have known all his cousins. Too many of them but they knew him as they knew he's the son of their grand uncle or grandpa or uncle.

There is a video (meaningful family value) produced by Petronas just for the Hari Raya celebration. Would like to wish all muslims "Selamat Hari Raya" or "Eid Mubarak".

Tags: Eid Mubarak, Hari Raya, Muslim, Festival, Family

Deepavali or Diwali celebration

Today, worldwide, Deepavali or Diwali is a celebration by people embracing the Hindu religion where my country, Malaysia, is having it too. Also known as the Festival of Lights.

There is a video (humorous one!) produced by Petronas just for the Deepavali celebration.

Would like to wish all who celebrate this festival, Happy Diwali.
Tags: Festival, Deepavali, Diwali, Festival of Lights, Hindu, Religion, Celebration

Bon Odori Festival @ Kuala Lumpur

Bon Odori Festival was held at Sentul Park, Sentul on yesterday evening in conjunction with the week-long Japan Culture Week celebration. The festival is traditionally celebrated in Japan during summer to pay homage to the dead.

During the Japan Culture Week, visitors will get a chance to participate in activities such as martial arts demonstrations, tea show, kite-making workshops and cookery sessions.

From 18 to 22 Sept, there will be classes for those interested in Japanese cooking and breeding koi, a “moon viewing” tea ceremony workshop and an ikebana floral arrangement workshop. The highlight of the celebrations will be the Malaysia Open Wakagoi (Young Koi) Show 2006 to be held at the Sentul Park Koi Centre on 23 & 24 Sept.
Tags: Bon Odori Festival, Sentul Park, Japan Culture Week, Koi, Ikebana, Malaysia Open Wakagoi Show, Young Koi, Sentul Park Koi Centre, Japan

Annual Tomatina Festival

People throw tomatoes at each other during the "Tomatina" festival that takes place on the last Wednesday of August in Bunol, near Valencia. Some 40,000 Spaniards (including thousands of mainly British, French and German tourists) gathered at this year annual event hurling some 100 000 kilograms (220,000 pounds) of tomatoes, one of the world's messiest festivals.

This event was believed to have begun as an argument between two carnival participants in 1945. So popular is the event, the Spanish authorities have recognised it as a "festival of international tourist interest".

Tags: Tomatina, Festival, Valencia, Spain, Tour, Travel, Carnival, Tomatoes

Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2006

Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2006, being held from 6-28 August 2006, is the world's biggest arts festival.
* Fringe 2006 features 28,014 performances of 1,867 shows in 261 venues (Fringe 2005 featured 26,995 performances of 1,799 shows in 240 venues).
* An estimated 16,990 performers will be on Edinburgh’s Fringe stages.
* Theatre makes up 32% of the programme, followed by Comedy (27%) then Music (21%). Musicals, Children’s Shows, Dance & Physical Theatre, Exhibitions and Events each provide around 4% of the programme.
* Over a third (36%) of all shows are World premieres. 4% are UK premieres, 10% European premieres.
* 177 shows at Fringe 2006 are absolutely free.
* It would take you 5 years, 11 months and 16 days to see every performance back-to-back.
* Last year, the Fringe sold 1,338,550 tickets - the third time and third consecutive year that the Fringe sailed past the million-ticket barrier.
* The Fringe has a 75% market share of all attendance at Edinburgh’s year-round festivals and annually generates around £75 million for the Edinburgh and Scottish economy.
* The Fringe sells 97% more tickets than it did only 10 years ago (679,147 in 1995, 1338,550 in 2005).
* In 2006, there will be 28,014 performances - 94% more performances than 10 years ago.

Edinburgh International Festival
http://www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk
http://www.eif.co.uk

Edinburgh Festival Fringe http://www.edfringe.com
Tags: Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh, Scotland, Festival