Histories... Olden Times... Penang... (PART 2)

#41
5th April

The first part of this title not enough to talk about the cultures of Penang. This time, I will help you to take a further investigation about the cultures, festivals, ethnics, events, arts and also shopping in Penang!!! I like that too!!!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is about the Malay Customs in Penang, but it also can be found in whole Malaysia:

Malay customs practiced in Penang and other states in Malaysia somewhat differ from place to place. There are some common aspects that cover rituals throughout their lives. The Malays as a race are somewhat divided into many other ethnic groups, depending on their geographical locations.

However, some of them do share a few common principles. The old Malays have a saying: "Biar mati anak jangan mati adat" It means: "We'd rather let our children die than abandoning our customs". Sounds harsh maybe, but that is the way it goes in this part of the world.
Malay customs include elaborate rituals, table manners, costumes for daily wear and also for special occasions, filial piety, way of working and a myriad of beliefs, taboos, do's and don'ts.

Kompang is a hand-held drum made of cow's hide.
A lot of traditional paraphernalia are used during all these ceremonies. They involve costumes as well as crafts especially made for the event. Some of them include tepak sirih (betel nut holder), sirih junjung (betel leaves floral arrangement), pulut kuning (yellow glutinous rice), sintok limau (kaffir lime). All these are synonym with Malay customs. Musical instruments include kompang (hand-held drums) and nafiri (flute).

Before Birth

The rituals and ceremonies will accompany Malay men or women since birth to their deaths. From the wombs of their mothers, unborn babies are blessed during their seventh month of pregnancy. This ceremony is called "melenggang perut". Literally meaning "blessing the belly". What happen during this ceremony is a coconut with its husk cleanly shaven off is rolled on the tummy of the mother-to-be.
A midwife who is well versed with the arcane art of divinity can predict whether the baby will be a boy or a girl just by looking the way the coconut roll off the belly. Later on, the coconut is halved and its juice poured into a glass for the pregnant woman to consume, blessed with magical incantation mixed with verses from the Al-Quran. The Malaya believe that coconut juice, if regularly drunk, will assist in easier delivery of the baby.

Here is an entertaining description about this ritual, as explained by Wan, a Malay language teacher. Istiadat Melenggang Perut.

Newborn

Baby's head shaving
done by a Malay midwife.

Newborn babies, as in everywhere in the world, are precious bundles of joy, especially if it is a male first-born child.
Naturally, boys are treated differently from girls. One of the common ceremonies that is carried out is the shaving ceremony whereby the hair of the baby is shaven clean.
The idea is that, the hair that grows inside the womb is unclean and the scalp needs to be scraped of any residue that comes out of the womb. Sintok and fresh lime are used to clean the scalp.
In the picture you can see a midwife performing the shaving ceremony with a normal safety razor.
In the old days, very sharp cut-throat razors were used instead. It is definitely a highly skilled job to be able to shave the baby's head without hurting him.
The kaffir lime is cut into slices and the pieces let fall into the water. It is believed that the way the lime falls in the water may give an indication of the behavior of the baby when he grows up. This is of course mere superstitious because if we were to believe all these beliefs, no one will be able to move forward at all in their lives.

Rinsing the baby in lime-scented water.

After shaving, the baby is bathed with warm water, scented with sliced kaffir lime to freshen him up. Some babies cry during this ordeal but most remain calm because the midwives are able to say the magic words seeking protection from God from any untoward incident.
Along the way, the babies may or not be circumcised, for the baby girls, the ceremony is done before they reach two years old. Nowadays it is common for baby girls to be circumcised as soon as they are born at the hospital.
One of Malay customs that is losing its popularity is the "first step on the ground" ceremony. The baby, by this time has grown into a toddler are guided to touch the ground with its bare feet. This is party time. Normally done to coincide with the baby's first birthday.

Pre-pubescent years

Around the age of ten to twelve, the circumcision ceremony for boys is normally carried out. For girls, it is ear-piercing ceremony. These two rituals normally coincide with "berkhatam Quran", whereby the children finished learning reciting the Holy Book from a Guru. Yellow glutinous rice is always served during these festivities. This special rice dish symbolizes prosperity.

Adulthood

Well, what else is there when you reach adulthood? Parents expect their grown up children to start a family of their own. Malays observe truly elaborate and complicated rituals before even a betrothal can take place. Even though many of these steps are no longer in practice, it is interesting to know them. Here are the steps:

• Merisik ("spying" if the young lady is still available)
• Bertandang (visit of the future in-laws to "view" the young lady in question)
• Cincin tanda (exchanging of rings and gifts signifying that she is taken)
• Bertunang (betrothal, formal engagement)
• Bernikah (the official union done by the Imam)
• Kenduri/Bersanding (wedding feast)

Bersanding is part of the ceremony
in a Malay wedding

There are many taboos to observe so as not to give offense to anyone. After all, this is a very serious matter. Future in-laws will have many meetings to determine the suitability of the union. Then, there is also the matter of the dowry which is usually the main thing that the whole village want to know. There is a lot of heartache associated with a broken engagement. For the Malays, being highly sensitive and proud in nature, even a broken engagement will bring a lot of shame to the whole family, let alone a divorce.
In the old days, most marriages were arranged by the parents or relatives. The young couple sometimes never met until on their wedding day. During this modern days, Malay couples flirt and go on dates just like everyone else.
After the wedding, the cycle repeats, when the couple have their firstborn. Along the way, some people die. Death is a solemn affair, the dead is handled following the Islamic rites. Before, during and after the burial, there are prayers. Mourning is observed for forty days. On the fortieth day usually, members of the family of the deceased usually will feed the poor so that the act of the alms will ease the passing of the dead.
Between all the rituals mentioned above, there are a whole lot more to learn about Malay customs. If you truly want to understand the culture, it is best to live among the community and take part in the rituals and ceremonies that are held.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is about the Baba and Nyonya cultures, mostly can be found in Penang and Melaka:
Baba and nyonya culture in Penang is pretty different from the ones in Malacca (Melaka), Medan, Singapore or Kota Bharu. If there is a group of Nyonyas and Babas in Melaka who speak exclusively Malay, their counterpart in Penang speak a mixture of Hokkien, Malay and English. The food also has a slight variation too. Not surprising in this sense, since the two places are geographically different.

Penang Peranakan Mansion at Church Street.

The Babas and Nyonyas are of ethnic Chinese but they were born in Penang.
They adopt a lot of local clothing, food, language and culture too in their daily lives. Mainly from the Malay and European culture.
For example, the Nyonya food uses a lot of chilies to make sambal in their food.
There is a dish called Sambal Hei Bee (Sambal Udang kering) and there is a snack called Roti Ayam which uses chopped fresh chilies as the sauce. They are also famous for tiny cakes called nyonya kuih. The amount of time and effort that went into making these cakes are amazing.
This is from the influence of Malay dining habit which does not consider a meal is complete without chilies or anything spicy.
In terms of their clothing, the men adopt the western style of clothing mainly for daily wear. They wear Chinese style tunic for special occasions. The ladies, on the other hand, have a lot of choice in fashion.
One set of attire that is associated with the Nyonyas is the kebaya. This item of clothing originally came from the royal Indonesian court. The intricate embroidery that is embedded in the design makes each of the kebaya unique. The patterns are normally inspired by nature, intertwined vines or tropical birds and butterflies. They are truly beautiful and it is a dying art too since there are not many skilled artisans left to sew the kebaya the old way.

Tiffin carriers used by the Nyonyas

In terms of language, you can see a sprinkling of Malay words in the Hokkien dialect as spoken in Penang, like the word: "suka", meaning "like".
The old Malay ways of entertainment like joget, dondang sayang and ronggeng also were enjoyed by the Paranakan Cina in Penang. The type of dancing by the nyonyas uses props like sapu tangan (using handkerchiefs), tarian kipas (using fans), mangkuk tingkat (tiffin carrier) and even oranges.
The majority of the Babas became learned academics instead of turning into enterprising businessmen. They were sent by their parents mainly to study in England. As such, the younger generations were very much influenced by the western ways.
I was very delighted when I came across a book of Baba and Nyonya poetry written by Johny Chee a few weeks ago. It is a treasure that captures much of the essence of the culture from the perspective of daily rhymes and slang. If you want to know more about Baba and Nyonya culture in Penang, this book is highly recommended. The second edition comes with a CD so that you can listen and pronounce the words correctly.
On the other hand, if you wish to see the grandeur of the lifestyle of a bygone era, a visit to the Peranakan Mansion is a must. It showcases many fine examples of Baba and Nyonya culture in Penang.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Traditional ethnic clothes must not keep away from Penang, that's important:
Even though Penang can be called a metropolitan city, traditional ethnic clothes, which have been worn for the last two hundred years or so, still survive.

A group of Peranakan China (Babas and Nyonyas), with the ladies wearing kebaya and batik sarong. (Photo from the private collection of Dr. Farish A. Noor and the www.Othermalaysia.org research project)

Modern day Nyonyas with some of the ladies
wearing kebayas in several styles.

The best times to see them are during weddings, special occasions, religious festivities and also whenever there are cultural showcases being performed for tourists and visitors.

Young ladies of Penang wearing minority ethnic Chinese costumes

Some government or formal functions also call for traditional ethnic clothes as dress codes, so they do get a bit of attention once in a while.
Usually for semi-formal functions, clothes made using batik (either silk, polyester or cotton) are widely used.
Traditional ethnic clothes are hardly practical to be used in all their glory for daily wear, due to their elaborate way of wearing and also the high cost. So, it is quite understandable that most of them had to be tailor-made, which drives the cost even higher.
Cheaper version can be had. They are mass produced and sold at normal stores but of course the quality and the fit are not as good as the more expensive ones. The fashion also evolves over the year especially for ladies wear.

This is a "pendekar" (Malay warrior) costume. The samping uses "kain pelikat". The kris is worn as a weapon.

In order to be fully decked in such traditional costumes, a lot of accessories are required to complete the look. For example, it would not do for a man to wear baju Melayu while wearing a pair of western style shoes.
They have to be worn with a pair of sandals instead. These sandals are known as "chapal". They are also no buttons for the top, instead, five sets of cuff-links are used to secure the collar, "baju cekak musang".
The fabric? Since Penang is in the tropics, it makes sense to use materials which are light and airy. The sarong is universally worn by many races.
For the immigrants of Penang back in the 19th century, wearing batik and eating the local food were some of the ways to blend themselves with the native people.
It is very common to see a Nyonya wearing batik sarong, neat with a chignon and a cotton blouse or kebaya. We can also see Indian ladies wearing batik sarong with her top too.
For the Malays, batik sarong is worn as daily attire, in every which way for both men and women.
Peranakan Jawi, China or Arab resulted from intermarriages between all these ethnic groups and add to the colors of attire worn by people of Penang.
Batik using cotton or synthetic materials are widely used. For more regal occasions, songket, saree and brocade are chosen. These materials are truly expensive because they use gold and silver thread.

Modern variations of kebaya (left) compared to the older versions.
Photo on the right is from the private collection of Dr. Farish A. Noor and the www.Othermalaysia.org research project.

What about the style? You can bet, with all the ethnic groups in Penang, the styles are mixed and matched following the current trend. We can see Chinese nyonyas wearing kebaya with batik sarong. We can see a Malay lady wearing baju kurungusing the material meant for saree. It is also possible to see a young lady with tight jeans using sheer kebaya as a jacket instead of a western style top.

Indian men and women in their traditional clothes during Thaipusam

If we check the men's clothing, elderly Indian men wear dhotis, Malay men wearsamping which could be made out of songket or kain pelikat and Chinese men wear loose trousers and sam foo. The cut sometimes steers away from the tradition, for a more comfortable fit.

A variety of style of Indian
traditional clothes for ladies.

Traditional ethnic clothes are divided by racial groups but there are some common traits. For example, it is normal for the ladies to use a shawl. It is a sign of modesty.
Ladies also invariably wear long dresses or skirts, except for the salwar kameez, an Indian costume, which consists of a loose top paired with a pair of pants. The salwar kameez suit for official functions is very elegant when it is worn together with apashmina shawl.
A lot of press has been received by nyonya kebaya lately. What are they? Let's check out this article which examines these unique traditional ethnic clothes worn by the Straits Settlement Chinese ladies.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All of I want to say today is about cultures and ethnic of the Penang only, there's still a lot of theoies I need to figure out. Next time, I will talk about the events, festivals and arts in Penang at Part 3.
Bye!!!

Histories... Olden Times... Penang... (PART 1)

#40
3rd April

The title will talking about my hometown ----- Penang.

Everyone knows this wonderful place, a glorious place, which can let you to tantalize to taste and smell the aromas of the enriched histories in the olden times.

Well, Penang is one of the historical place that already recommended by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Heritage buildings, cultures, events, festivals, arts, great shopping complexes... All of these can be found in Penang. This is why Penang is so beautiful and very attractive.

Talk about heritage buildings:

This is Penang's Supreme Court building,
a major renovation was done in 2007.

Naturally, the English heritage buildings are the most imposing. Penang was part of the British Empire for almost two hundred years.

The clock tower of the former FMS building in George Town. The building is now used as Penang's Custom Department.

The style of architecture is neo-classical which stays true to the order of architecture. A lot of fine examples can be found at the banking district at Beach Street.

Government buildings that house lawyers and decision-makers are perfect examples of British-style heritage buildings.

These buildings have massive Doric columns modeled after the Parthenon of the ancient Greek. They become fine examples of heritage buildings in Penang.

Besides the buildings, there are monuments to commemorate soldiers who fell during the war, places of worship,private mansions and also some other landmarks.

Next, come the Chinese clans. There are five major clans (kongsi) which have their own areas where the leaders hold court. This is a self-sustained community, complete with temples, mansions , residences and lecture halls.

The biggest clan house is the Khoo Kongsi. It is located in the heritage enclave. Once, it was burned down because its similarity to the Royal Palace of the Emperor of China was too close. Later, the building was rebuilt, nonetheless, the beauty of its carvings are stunning. The next one worth mentioning is the Cheah Kongsi. It is also located within the heritage zone of the inner George Town. Once inside the walls of this Kongsi, the hustle and bustle of the city outside is miraculously toned down.

Intricate and rich details of Khoo Kongsi's Ancestral Worship Hall.

Beautiful, intricately built temples serve as dramatic background to spacious courtyards. Life revolves around spiritual beliefs, elaborate customs, desire to prosper by trading and amassing wealth.

The beauty of the carvings came by importing Chinese artisans to come and work in Penang itself.

The last two points show how the Chinese Straits shop houses are so important to the business community in George Town. For almost two hundred years, the shophouses have played the major part in fuelling the trade on the island.

The styles of the shophouses have changed tremendously, in step with the growth of the city. Without them, the city would have lost its trademark identity. That is why a sample of a shop house graces the logo of Penang Heritage City web site.

Besides those shophouses, private mansions deserve accolades for massive restoration works like the ] Cheong Fatt Tze mansion.

Rich and powerful Muslim traders that came from India, the Middle East and Indonesia also played a significant role in building the city in the 19th century. Before air transport became available, Penang was the meeting place for pilgrims who were waiting for the trade wind to sail to Mecca. So, the city became a significant learning center for Islam. Beautiful mosques and shrines were built in the area designated by the British ruler for this group. They are also recognized as heritage buildings in Penang.

Masjid Kapitan Keling at the Street of Harmony

Other minority groups also have their special places. The Armenian Sarkies brothers, notably, built the fame Eastern and Oriental Hotel (E&O). Without doubt, it is one of the finest example of heritage hotels. The Burmese and Thais built their temples near Gurney Drive. The Hindus who are mainly from South India have their own temples all around the city. The South Indians also maintain the rows of shop houses along Chulia Street, King Street and Queen Street. So, it is hardly surprising that these streets are given the nickname "Little India".

How could UNESCO Heritage World Cities program refuse such a rich mix of history, culture and human achievement? Even then, it took us over ten years to restore a large number of heritage buildings in Penang. The streets are re-organized and the state spent a lot of resources and did plenty of research before the status of historic city was accorded to George Town on July 7th, 2008.

This process is by no means complete. With the title, comes a huge responsibility! Now we have to help maintain these treasures. By education, creating awareness and doing the right things so that the heritage buildings in Penang are cherished forever.

Kuan Yin Goddess of Mercy Temple at the Street of Harmony is the oldest Chinese temple in Penang.

You should know that the main thing that won UNESCO officials over was the "Street of Harmony".

What is the "Street of Harmony"?

It is the presence of four major religions places of worship in one street. Notably the Jalan Kapitan Keling (formerly known as Pitt Street).

In this street, if you walk from the Heritage Enclave towards the Esplanade, you will encounter a Chinese temple (Yap Temple), a Muslim mosque (Masjid Kapitan Keling), an Indian Temple (Sri Mahamariamman Temple), another Chinese temple (Kuan Yin Temple) and St George Church. All within 2 kilometers distance in a straight line.

Actually if you walk around the city, you will see many more fine examples of Streets of Harmony, besides the "official one". You will see people can live together in peaceful conduct and respecting each others' beliefs.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And, also talk about the heritage hotels, some great which enriched with historical cultures hotels:

Huge pillars, large sweeping staircase that leads to the ballroom, spacious rooms with wooden louvers and verandahs.

Think about the time when the gentlemen had to wear white tropical suits and the ladies strolled around in flowing gowns and holding parasols with gloved hands; and they would not be out of place when placed in such surroundings.

An old picture of the E&O Hotel, before countless renovations were carried out.

Many people would only think of the E&O Hotel when they talk about old distinguished hotels in Penang. I beg to differ, it's sister hotel, the Lone Pine Hotelat Batu Ferringhi, is also something you would like to experience. Lone Pine Hotel is right next to the beach, with generous six acres of space, complete with a stable to make you feel as if you are back in the good old days. They also serve old-fashioned Hainanese cuisine at their restaurant.

True that the E&O used to boast to be "the hotel with the longest sea-front in the world". It had played hostess to many dignitaries and celebrities from around the world but it is not only European-styled buildings that are worthy to be considered as heritage hotels.

Right now Eastern&Oriental Hotel in Penang has to be one of the most famous venues for chic functions or a luxurious stay in Penang. Having said that, you have to experience the place itself to validate this opinion.

Book a memorable stay at the E&O Hotel

The Blue Mansion was the former residence of Cheong Fatt Sze, a Chinese Mandarin.

The successfully restored Cheong Fatt Sze Mansion, with its interesting Feng Shui elements is now turned into a boutique hotel, right in the heart of George Town.

The restoration effort of this mansion won several awards from the architectural community.

The Blue Mansion almost fell victim to the development of the city center but thanks to a group of caring citizens, they managed to collect enough funds to buy back the building and turned it back to its former glory. Top notch service and a complete feel of luxury is abundant when you stay here.

Segara Ninda - a small heritage hotel at Upper Penang Road.

Book Cheong Fatt Sze Mansion for your one-of-a-kind holiday

Please do not forget too, smaller place like Segara Ninda, which had been lovingly maintained and cared for by the descendants of a Malay royalty. Having only twelve rooms, it is almost impossible to get a room here unless one makes the booking well in advance.

A stay at a heritage hotel does not need to be expensive. A good example is1926 Heritage Hotel at Burmah Road. This hotel offers rooms from as low as RM100 per night (about USD30.00). Now, that is what I call a good deal. Yes, it may not be strategically located right in the city center but if you are on holiday, does it hurt to lose a few extra minutes of traveling time to get there?

At Love Lane, the small street where a few guest houses receive backpackers and budget travelers, quaint shop houses also can be termed as heritage lodgings. Granted that you do not get a lot of space or ample service here but they are still old buildings and they are a dying breed.

A lot more old buildings are being turned into such hotels. China Tiger is one of these places. It is only a matter or time before staying at these hotels become more fashionable than at big modern fancy hotels. After all, if you come to visit a UNESCO designated heritage city, you would prefer to stay at such hotel, right?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Visit Penang must not forget to go to some natural heritages in Penang:

The entrance to Penang National Park

However, what we have left is quite sufficient for the community, provided that these places will not fall victim to more development in the future. Now the government has set the rule that any land 200 feet above sea level or hill slopes with more than 26% gradient is not allowed to be developed. So, we hope that this rule is observed by all parties involved in developing and decision making.

Some places occur naturally, like Penang National Park and Penang Hill, while some are man-made like Teluk Bahang Dam and Bukit Dumbar reservoir.

Tasik Meromiktik ... an amazing lake right at the seaside

Day trippers can easily visit any of the places, because Penang is still a small island. You can drive leisurely around the whole island in two hours, or even cycle around on bicycles too.

Jerejak Island on the east side of Penang island used to be a sanitarium for the lepers and also a prison. Now, there is a resort and spa there to replace the sanitarium. Jerejak island has a kind of wilderness which is still intact. It also has some historical relics that could be interesting. However, we have a concern about the current development there that looks to mar the island.

I love going up the Penang Hill, the funicular train is in itself a big treat. The journey is part of the fun as you can view jungle habitat from the train while it is climbing up or down. If you are fit enough, you can hike up the hill using an entrance called the Moongate near the Botanical Garden.

When I was a child, we loved it when we were brought to the Youth Park, either to play the roller blades or to rough it out on the playground. Not to forget having great fun dipping in the natural large cascading pools which now have a landscaped garden around them.

Teluk Bahang dam is an artificial lake used as a water reservoir for Penang.

On the north west side, there is a forest museum. If you come from Batu Ferringhi, the entrance is before Teluk Bahang Dam. This forestry museum and arboretum is different from Pantai Acheh Reserve Forest which is part of Penang National Park.

There is an impressive man-made park called the Tropical Spice Garden which is worth visiting.

It is located on the way to Teluk Bahang. In the surrounding area of a bungalow called Lone Craig Villa, the garden is full of tropical herbs and spices. This establishment also comes with a Spice Museum, a Souvenier Shop and a tea house.

The entrance ticket of RM15.00 per person is well worth it. You should not miss the chance to visit this tropical haven. I am sure you would walk out with a lot of new knowledge about the wonder of herbs and spices in the Orient.

Who do not love flowers? The famous Botanical Garden, which is part of a compulsory itinerary for any tourist in Penang is located near Tanjung Bungah. This nature heritage is popularly known also as "Waterfall".

Wild monkeys at Botanical Garden

The locals come here to work out a sweat and also to bring their family for a great outing in the outdoor. Botanists come from all around the world to study the extensive tropical plant species available here. It is always nice and cool at this place. In order to escape the blistering heat of the beaches and city center, people come here to relax and exercise. Here also you can find many monkeys, which roam wild.

There are a few other places which are not mentioned here yet. Some trails are hiked by the locals only, like the Bukit Jambul trail and also the public park at Relau. Some beaches are also frequented by the locals only like the one at Sungai Batu and Pantai Mas. There is also a mountain bike trail at Pondok Upeh.

As the population of the island grows, we need more and more space to break out of the concrete walls. I am very sure these places will be discovered by more people in the near future.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We will talk this title for another time. This is just part 1 only.
Bye!!!

Collections, LIFE ------ Still Life...

#39
3rd April

Still life is some kind of a theme related to our life. Collections of photos and pictures are the best way to describe our wonderful life.

Music also related to our life. This is the modern theme of Still Life...

Finishing two cups of hot drinks and will keep us warm. This picture described that we can feel the warmness around us. Still Life, Still Warm...

Relax... And drink a glass of wine, eat some fruits. Teatime is also Still Life, described our life is not as busy as bees, but still have time to relax.

This picture quite special. We are the red chili. Around of us are packed with green chilies, big chilies. They are fighting with us with the amount, but everyone will not consider the green chilies, but they will look at us, a red chili. Still Life, we are the specific one, we must prove that we are the strongest one.

Last one... Time still going, but Still Life. Described that time is non-stop. So, we must not waste our precious time... Try to fulfill our life...

These are the collection of Still Life. But, we can learn some advises from the photographs, is a way to improve ourselves in life, even though you are in a morose mood, advises jump out, and you are Still in your own Life.

The last advice: Still Life, we are in the Life...

English Songs Can Be Heard Anywhere In My Class

#38
2nd April

I should say that the title is considering to the songs and languages. This happened in my class and let me alone face the utmost problem.

NO!!! I met a lot of friends who heard the English songs for many times!!! Why?? Why must English songs crush into my class or in my mind?? Why they didn't heard any Chinese songs?? I like the Chinese songs the most but why they are opposite?? This is the utmost problem that I must to concentrate and must solve it.

But, why they like English songs?? There are many factors. I done a research before.

Factor 1 -- The radio FM. There are a lot of English language FM such as "hitz FM", "red FM" and a lot of it. I like the "MY FM" because it always give me a lot of Chinese songs to hear and there's no limits to stop hearing the songs except there's some kind of interviewing the stars, contests and others.

I can slightly sing out the whole lyrics of the Chinese song as song does not perform repeatedly. But, I hate English songs because quite a lot of songs including rap and repeating sound effects. I'm not sure how they can sing the whole lyrics without any mistakes, that's too bad for me!!!

Factor 2 -- Different people have different ideas. Well, I think this is the main factor causing someone likes the Chinese songs, English songs , Malay songs or even Tamil songs. If a person likes the Chinese songs, they will wait the new songs and try to sing it. If a person likes the English songs, they will download all the favourite songs and share to their friends.

I need to face a problem is I need to train up my English language and sing more English songs than the Chinese songs, for this year only. PLEASE!!! No more second time next year!!! I'm too bad to sing English songs!!!

Factor 3 -- Genes or habits. Maybe some parents likes English songs at first and affects to their child. This must be includes in the main point because nothing will affects them to sing English songs so well while they as young.

It can't changes as it was already fixed. Genes are always fixed, even though you want to break it or separate it. If you crush it, smash it, slam it, crash it, beat it, it still remain the original genes...

Let me find there's anyway to learn English songs. But that's just wasting my precious time. I must fight you off!!! English!!! Just watch and learn!!!

Bye!!!

My Birthday ------ Their Last Day Of Training Camp

#37
1st April

Well, I know today is April Fool but I won't talk about that thing. OK?? Just concentrate, focus to the title. Yes, today is not my birthday. That would be happened at the holidays of March. How about the words "Their Last Day Of Training Camp"?? That's what I want to tell you all now. The title, quite consider to our life, the utmost advice for me, and everyone.

You know, band is a group that beat the drums, blowing the trumpet, saxophone, flute, and many more organ instruments that used in parade, ceremony and others graduating and happy hours. All songs are in English, some of them can be sing but some cannot. This is the real incident when I saw a lot of photos posted by my friends in the "Facebook".

By that time, I was training myself to ride the bicycle around the residential area. But they, were training in a music room, tight but it is comfortable as the air conditioning kept giving out the fresh and cold breezes to them. They so practiced in a good mood.

Well, there's one thing I never know that, is, the members of band must do bumping before the training. This is real incident, not fake, 100% true fact!!! I don't know they did it for what, but I think is a very good start for them to maintain themselves so that they will never dizzy or tired while they were practicing.

Actually, I never learned riding bicycle. By that time, is my birthday. Torment!!! I didn't know how to lift up my two unbalance-and-keep-shaking legs on the bicycle steps. I fell off sometimes. But, I tried hard. With my powerful want-to-train-perfectly-and-riding-without-falling mind, I lifted up my two legs bravely on the bicycle steps quickly. I pushed my force and speed, rode the bicycle full with body balance. The time I rode the bicycle around the residential area, I learned how to ride the bicycle!!!

I know they were still practicing that time. I keep looking the photos, and, they also took a rest for a while.

But, they played games by that time. Is blurry for me to know that what were they playing during the rest. I can saw in the photos, is, a bucket of balloons filled with water, cups and red beans arranged in some groups. But, I don't know what is that game. But, I think is fun. But I can't taste it.

That day was my birthday: Incident happened around that day.

I rode the bicycle, firstly I tormented, at last I felt happy as I learned how to ride bicycle. That day was the last day of the training camp for the band's members. They played games, they practiced in a tight room, they rested for a while only. But, totally enlightened that day. Without cakes, without candles, without party, without feast... That day was my birthday, without all common elements, but quite special that day, with the advise, about the hard works of the band's members, at the last day of the training camp...

So, the conclusion for this incident, I received an advise: Birthday, not about you are the biggest one, but telling you all that there's someone don't know it. They are not as clever as your family who always remember your birthday. You must give yourself a hard work while they are busying. This is the most balance situation.

The title of next chapter quite special, maybe I will post it tomorrow.

Bye!!!