The 1st day of Shawal falls on a Sun 20 Sept. That’s the day of victory for all muslims after a month of fasting from morning till dawn. This is the festival of Eid aka Hari Raya Aidilfitri in this region. It’s a time for celebration with feasting and visiting relatives and friends. This is also the time when people would have "open house" for friends and relatives.

We would usually visit the elders on the first day after the Eid prayer. The visiting and feasting continues for the whole month of Shawal. Here are some pics of happy faces to share.

A cake bought by Maris




home on the 1st day of Shawal.

1st day of Shawal with my siblings and their families.



The cousins in front of my auntie's house in Johor. 26 Sept



The cousins at another cousin's house in Johor. 26 Sept



The loving sisters of my dad. Johor 26 Sept


26 Sept at my cousin's place in Johor



4th Oct. 15 days of Shawal. The boy who visited us twice because of this piano. hehe


More pics later

Khayalan

Degupan jantung yang pantas
Laksana gelegak nya air di kawah
Mencuri pandangan di sudut mata
Cantik, jelas

Terukir senyuman
Di balik jelingan
Expresi ketenangan
Menambah keayuan

Gerangan di sudut sana
Siapa yang di nantikan?
Entah apa yang di fikirkan?
Hingga terukir senyuman
Membuat jantung ku berdegup pantas
Membuat ku mencuri pandangan
Cantik, jelas
Hahahaha ……..aku dalam khayalan.

Everyone is busy preparing for the day of victory, Idulfitri which falls this weekend.
The sight of friends buying goodies and the aroma of cookies excite me.
One thing missing though is the sound of fire crackers.

When I was a kid, lighting fire crackers was the norm during this period. Kids in the village would challenge one another on who dare to have the biggest cracker explode on their palm. This could be dangerous as it may cause injury. But..that's the fun of it cos only this season that we were allowed to play with crackers.

Anyway, firecrackers were banned after the last factory producing it caught fire in 1970. In fact I was partly involved in the manufacturing of it. As my house was near to the factory, we used to collect a few stacks of bundled unfinished fire crackers. We would knock to close the bottom end of each cracker and be paid 10 cents for each stack of hundred crackers. In one day I can finish between 4 and 5 stacks in between school time just to earn some pocket money. These were than sent back to the factory and gun powder would be filled through the other end.

It was a blessing in disguised that the factory caught fire and fire crackers was banned since then. Otherwise, many of us would end up as bomb maker.

Today....no more sound of fire crackers blasting, no more 'rocket fireworks' ala the battlefield of Afghanistan....(hehehehe, just kidding lah) but the spirit still remain.

So...to one and all....."Selamat Hari Raya Maaf Zahir Batin.

RAMADHAN KU

Hampir sebulan aku berpuasa
Manahan lapar dan dahaga
Bicara yang perlu di jaga
Juga pandangan mata
Kerana ini ada lah perintah Nya
Supaya bersama kita merasa
Kemiskinan mereka yang tidak berada
Semuga insaf lah hendaknya

Tak akan aku bertahan
Melakukan ini semua
Tanpa didikan dan bimbingan
Ayah ibu yang tercinta
Walau getir hidup mereka
Perintah agama tetap di jaga

Ayah ibu yang tercinta
Kau adalah cahaya
Menerangi kegelapan
Kau adalah pendita
Membentuk keperibadian
Hidupku, kau sempurnakan

Ayah ibu yang tercinta
Satiap kali Ramadhan tiba
Ketiadaan mu amat terasa
Sahur ataupun berbuka
Ketiadaan mu amat ketara
Sebak rasanya di dada
Teringat ayah dan ibu yang tiada
Maka berbuka lah
Dengan adik dan keluarga
Tapi wajah mu tetap di ruang mata

Ayah dan ibu
Kesyahduan Ramadhan akan berlalu
Keriangan Shawal semua menunggu
Tapi yang pasti bagi ku
Ramadhan dan Shawal ku tak sa indah dulu
Kerana ayah dan ibu tiada di sisi ku
Maaf ku pohon,
Tanpa kau, siapa lah aku

We were at the course again last week 5 Aug with the same kakis. It was a crazy outing, leaving home in the darkness of dawn and returning home in the darkness of night fall. Only golfers would understand its logic.

We started our 1st 18 at Palm Villa under light drizzling around 0800 hrs. What a beautiful weather to start with and ended around 1215 hrs. After a quick shower, we drove to Palm Resort for lunch and continued with the 2nd 18 which ended at 1800 hrs. Playing 36 holes is the norm for us now. A little crazy to some but anyway, it was a good game.


AM at Palm Villa



PM at Palm Resort

ITS SPINNING NOW

I was a bit frustrated when I couldn’t get the motor works at the correct speed. This was after being told about the adjustment screws on the top plate of the motor pod.

After some adjustment, the speed gets even faster as if the platter gonna fly off. This is supposed to be a turntable and not a flying saucer.

I gave up and called a friend at the Adelphi. He said I could have blown up the potentiometer for over adjusting. $$$$$$$$$$$$

Anyway, brought it to him last night and voila……………it does work. I adjusted correctly but wrongly. Got it? OK lah, it does not matter now, as long as it works. Thanks for your magic, Adrian.

Have been spinning it since last night and am still spinning as I wrote this. Very happy with my first project. The next one would be a horn speaker. Don't know when lah. Some pics to share.








On the left is a collector's item direct drive Luxman PD 121 with a Stax arm and on the right is my favourite Sota Saphire suspended turntable with a Luxman arm.

I hope these set up will keep me happy for the next three years.

After more then 2 months of designing, sourcing and testing some of the parts, finally the last component (bearing) arrived last week.
Without delaying further, I get all the parts cleaned and assembled them last Friday. After more then 2 hours, I managed to fit all parts together despite having the plinth built locally much earlier.

Last Saturday I was on it again at midnight. This time trying to get it running. However, it was a disappointment. I couldn’t get the speed right. Adjustments were made on the distance between motor and platter but to no avail. By then it was almost 3 am. Packed and go to sleep.

Problems were posted on the local hifi website for assistance, unfortunately it went down yesterday. Sigh….

This morning, I wrote to the supplier and was told that the speed can be adjusted via 2 screws on the top plate of the motor.
Hahahahahahaha felt so stuuuuuuuupeeeeeed. Anyway, I will look into it tomorrow.

Some pics to share.

Monday Blues........Just for the fun



LULU LAN SEKALANG

Lulu kita semua selupa
Main goli main bola
Masok longkang pun ala
Sama sama bolih ketawa

lulu punya celita tak bolih lupa
Pegi sekola jalan sama sama
Bolih makan satu meja
Culi buah olang punya.

Sulah busat ala lain sikit
Manyak olang pelut ala buncit
Lu olang cakap kita olang takla luit
Itu macam cakap hati lasa sakit.

Abis sekola semua olang sibuk
Mahu kelija cali luit
Tapi kelija susah mau masuk
Pasat kita olang takla masuk nasenal servit.

Gua punya hati manyak sakit
Nasenal servit pilih kulit
Gua punya kulit lu cakap cannot make it
Lapat sulat Lemsy Load, please wait.

Lulok lumah satu sen takla guna
Kelua lumah satu sen pun takla
Apa mau buat takla kelija
Kelija kuli pun tak apa la

Kelija pagi sampei petang
Naik loli pegi kilang
Cukup bulan bawak wang pulang
Takla cukup, utang olang.

Gua punya hati makin malah
Makin benci sama lu olang
Tapi Tuan Allah sayang sama gua
Kasi kawin sama lu punya olang.

Sulah kawin hati agak sinang
Lapat anak tiga olang
Anak2 baik punya olang
Takla sama lengan lia punya bapak

Sekalang gua sulah tua
Gua lasa ala ok lah
Tapi gua tak bolih lupa
Pasat lu olang lulu ala kasi gua malah.

Last 2 weeks, we had another family trip with my sister’s family. Traveling together with them is not something new. There were so many occasions when we drove as a family to West Malaysia. Sometimes it was just for a makan or some shopping during the weekend. The last time we traveled far was 2 years ago to Perth Australia. Anyway, due to global recession this time round, we only travel as far as Bali.

Our flight was in the evening arriving in Den Pasar Bali @ 2200 hrs after some delay. It was a smooth 2 hours flight and all 9 of us enjoyed it.

After b/fast the next day, we walked to the beach for some pics taking and to the town for shopping. Kuta, the main shopping belt has seen a lot of changes since the last time I was there, 10 years ago. Today it boasts modern shopping malls with shops selling international branded goods.

Sight seeing trips to the mountain ranges and the country side was a break much needed. It was a beautiful sight to behold especially at Kintamani where we had our lunch.

Bali is also a place popular for its water sport activities and that was in our itinerary as well although I was only the observer…hehehehhe.

At the end of our 4 nights, all of us agreed that it was indeed a well planned holiday. And you know what………..I heard there’s a plan for a long haul holiday next year. Insha Allah.

Some pics to share here.





At Kintamani.










The Heroes.



Yanti and Fahmy.



The cousins on the banana boat.

Meet the SAF’s first Malay general.
Thats the headline on the Straits Times today. It carries a picture of Col Ishak with the following caption,

Quote “The promotion of Col Ishak, who moves up to the rank of Brigadier General from July 1, marks a milestone in Malays’ efforts to be fully accepted in the military. It was revealed in 1987 that the SAF was cautious about putting Malay officers in key posts”. Unquote.

Why is there such a mentality?
Are we not citizens of Singapore, pledging ourselves as one united people, regardless of race, language or religion?

On the one hand we pride ourselves as promoting equality and meritocracy but on the other hand we doubt our own citizens, who are sons of the soil and cautious about putting them in key posts.
So much about equality and meritocracy!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, congratulations to Col Ishak for his dedication and perseverance in carrying out his duty and finally acknowledged.
It marks a milestone in the community indeed.

I have been engaged with a personal project lately……building a turntable thus did'nt get to update my blog.

This is by far my ‘biggest and ambitious’ project based on my primitive technical background and a limited budget of 2k. Though I own 3 tables.....Sota Sapphire, Micro Seiki and a direct drive Luxman PD 121, its nothing like playing an LP on a self built turntable.

Week 1
Firstly, the design.....how the end product should look like. A search in the net resulted in varied designs....from weird to robotic looking machine. Anyway, my design will be based on aesthetic rather then engineering. After much thought, I decided on a double plinth table.

Week 2
I did some sketches translating my thoughts onto the drawing board. Finally, decided on an octagonal shaped double plinth that could accommodate more then one tone arm with an outboard motor unit.


Front view


Top view


Week 3 & 4
Next would be searching for supplier of the components needed. Teres and Schue had stopped selling its components for diy. Diyhifi supply is another supplier of diy components. Decided to get the motor assembly and platter from them. Unfortunately bearing is out of stock. (first problem).
Approached local machinist to re-drill the hole on the platter so that I could use bearing from other supplier. Unfortunately, no one does that locally (second problem).

The plinth……1st choice granite.
2nd choice corian
3rd choice acrylic
4th choice MDF

1st and 2nd choices are out. No one is willing to fabricate for me. Thus acrylic is the choice for my plinth. Anyway, it matches the BIX acrylic platter from diyhifi.

Week 5 & 6
Ordered the components from diyhifi and sent my plinth design to a local acrylic fabricator. Delivery was super fast…..receiving the items from diyhifi within one week of ordering. The platter is a polished acrylic 40mm thick and the motor assembly is a massive 4.5 kg thingy. The finishing of both platter and motor assembly were of high quality. Hopefully it performs as high.



Polished acrylic platter



The massive DC motor assembly. The motor is from Holland by Premotec

Week 7 (this week)
Plinth should be ready anytime this week. The plinth is 30 mm thick and the armboard is 20 mm thick.

Today is Mother's Day, celebrated to honor all mothers and express gratitude for the hardships they bear in bringing up a child. Mothers Day came into being due to the efforts made by Ms Julia Ward Howe and Ms Anna Jarvis. The Resolution for having a dedicated Mother's Day was signed by US President Woodrow Wilson on May 8, 1914. Since then people across the world have been celebrating Mothers Day with joy and devotion.

Last night, I joined my sis's family and her in-laws in this celebration. It reminded me of my own mum and how much I missed her. In loving memory, I penned a poem dedicated to her, my beloved mum.

IBU KU, DALAM KENANGAN

Mak,
Kekata pertama dari bibir ku
Saketika dulu

Dia melahir dan membesarkan ku
Dia mendidik dan memimpin ku
Sesekali marah tapi selalu menyayangi ku
Tanpa mengharapkan sesuatu dari ku
Dia ada lah Mak, ibu ku

Masih segar dalam ingatan
Waktu kecil dahulu
Mak menanti di balik pintu
Tangan memegang rotan
Herdikan yang mengecutkan
Kerana ku bermain berlarutan

Masih segar dalam ingatan
Waktu sekolah dahulu
Mak tetap di balik pintu
Menanti kepulangan ku
Atas meja tersaji hidangan
Sambal telur lah yang jadi idaman
Mak siapkan tanpa di pesan

Masih segar dalam ingatan
Waktu sekolah dahulu
Mak membuat kuih melayu
Aku di ajar untuk menjaja
Sekadar menambah pendapatan keluarga
Demi membesarkan kami semua

Masih segar dalam ingatan
Waktu mula bekerja dahulu
Mak lah yang sibuk selalu
Bekalkan nasi dan lauk kegemaran ku

Masih segar dalam ingatan
Waktu mula berpacaran
Mak yang ingin tahu
Siapakah gadis itu

Mak, Mak, Mak
Kekata pertama dari bibir ku
Kekata yang sering di sebut selalu
Mungkin hingga akhir hidup ku
Tiada siapa yang tahu

Kini Mak tiada lagi
Pergi menyambut seruan Ilahi
Didikan dan jasa nya sentiasa di sanjungi
Oleh anak cucu yang di kasehi

Mak
Andai nya ada kata nista
Dari anak2 mu yang selalu leka
Ampun dan maaf kami pinta
Sa kalong doa buat Mak, ibu tercinta.

It seems that golfing has been part of my sporting activities during weekend. There’s always invitation or request by ‘kakis’ for a game. Although it’s quite tiring by the time you finishes the 18 holes (approximately 6 km of course distance and 50% on foot), I’ve always enjoyed the game and the company. Unfortunately, the scores do not see any progress. More golf in the weekdays as well?..........hehehehe

Thanks to our families who are very understanding, spending their Saturdays w/o hubby or daddy.

Some pix to share during the last 2 weeks at Austin and Pulai Springs Resort.


Austin Hill 6 April


Pulai Springs Resort 2 May

The alarm clock rings ……..and it was 5 in the morning. Looking out my bedroom window, it was still dark but from a far one can still see, occasionally cars plying the expressway. Its 17 April and for the first time when all (almost all) from wifey’s family planned to go to Genting for the weekend.

Fifteen minutes past, the girls were up and getting ready for shower and what not. We left home after our morning prayer to gather at Ah Kong’s place at 0615 hrs. By 0630hrs all were ready and after short briefing on whose gonna lead and which rest area to stop, we begin the long drive………370 km, a convoy of 6 cars, 27 people (the youngest 6 months old and the oldest 79 years old) and our destination……..Genting Highland, 6000 ft above sea level.

Traveling along the NSE was a brisk. Unfortunately, my car driven by wifey was stopped within Melaka for exceeding the speed limit and compounded with a fine of $MR300. Sigh……Anyway we reached Genting safely around 1400hrs.

Some pix to share.



At the first stop (Gelang Patah rest area) for breakfast.




My family at the Theme Park Hotel lobby.

Fikiran agak berkecamuk sedikit kebelakangan ini. Banyak yang nak di fikirkan dan banyak jugak yang nak di tentukan. Lebih2 lagi dengan pekerjaan. Mudah2an semua nya dapat di lalui dengan penuh ketenangan dan kemenangan.

Minggu ini agak nya minggu pisang lah. Kat keje asek makan pisang. Yang di goring la, yang di buat bubur la dan macang2 lagi. Kawang2 pong cerita pasal pisang. Pisang takde kulit lah, pisang ada kulit lah. Yang ada mulut gatal nak makang pisang, yang ada tangang gatal nak pegang pisang. Yang ada nak tido pong teringat pisang.
Hehehe pisang punya pisang, idea pong datang.

Kisah si pisang

Pokok pisang berbuah hanya sekali

Tapi buah nya keluar banyak sekali

Yang aneh, buah nya tidak di panggil buah

Tapi cukup dengan panggilan pisang saja.

Pisang, berbagai jenis ada nya

Yang pendek kemek di panggil kepok

Yang besar panjang selalu nya bengkok

Yang paling besar pulak di panggil tanduk

Pisang yang ranum bolih di makan begitu saja

Bolih jugak di buat berbagai rupa

Buat bubur enak rasa nya

Bila di goring, tanduk lah yang orang suka

Tapi yang mahal pulak si pisang raja

Rasa nya manis tak terkira

Pisang mentah pun bolih di makan

Di hiris dan di goring bila ada kelapangan

Sedap di makan sambil bersembang

Itu lah dia kerepek pisang

Apahal pulak si kemek yang di panggil kepok

Walaupun kurang cantik dan bentuk nya kurang elok

Dia lah pisang yang nilai nya agak tinggi

Selain bubur di goring jugak rasa nya steady

Di salut tepung, jadi lah dia naga sari

Bolih di rebus untuk serapan pagi

Baik buat makanan orang yang tak ada gigi

Ini baru cerita pisang

Sebenar nya cerita masih panjang

Belum daun, jantung dan batang

Tapi tak apa lah, yang lain akan datang

“Quiet not quiet” (pun intended and my apology to those not familiar with Singlish) my marriage clocked 28 years last Sunday. We choose to have a healthy lifestyle celebration and went for a treetop walk in the woods at Telok Belangah Hill with my sis’s family. It was a great one hour walk after rainfall late afternoon.

Some pix to share.



Tree top bridge at Telok Blangah Hill.





Wifey and I



With my sis's family.




We then proceed to the Carrebean (former Keppel Shipyard) to witness the sunset at Batu Berlayar (Labrador Park) before heading for dinner at Simpang Bedok.






Mentari
Kini kau datang lagi
Setelah semalaman menghilang diri
Tanpa mu menyinari
Keriangan alam terhenti

Kehadhiran mu di nantikan
Sinaran mu membawa keceriaan
Sayup terdengar laungan azan
Menyambut kedatangan penuh harapan

Di hujung samudera pancaran cahaya
Menyinari alam semesta
Berkicauan unggas di hutan
Sepintas ikan di lautan
Melangkah maju, kita yang bernama insan
Kerna kau membawa kehidupan

Mentari
Hadhir mu setiap pagi
Dini hari pasti kau pergi
Segala kehidupan sejenak terhenti
Pulang ka pangkuan yang di kasehi
Refleksi dan shukur pada ilahi

Azan berkumandang lagi
Mengiringi pemergian mentari
Hingga bertemu lagi
Esok pagi akan ku nanti

Its a long week free from work. Monday's DO was good with 4 anticipated disturbances.
Went to Kukup Golf Resort on Wednesday morning after 15 years. However this was my first time driving there. With unfamiliar rural road condition and few missed turns, we arrived at Kukup Town 3 hours later. Hehehe just a short 90 km from the second link.


Kukup Town


Not much changes except a new international ferry terminal serving the Indonesian Karimun Island. We stopped for a drink and later drove to Tanjung Piai, the southern most tip of the peninsula. Not to our expectation but nice coastal country side though.


Tanjung Piai


After all the roadside tidbits, we checked into Kukup Golf Resort. Its the best resort in Kukup but I think it has seen better days. The surrounding was not well maintained. Ok, no complain la. Its typical of Malaysian property. Anyway we stayed for the night and left at noon the next day for ...............what else, shopping at Jusco Pulai, typical Singaporean past time. Reached home around 1800 hrs.






Waiting for dinner to be served at the club house.


Friday morning at 0545 hrs, left home to fetch Azman and Erik for a round of golf at Terring Bay Batam. This time there were 15 golfers playing. The game was organised by the newly formed TRACOM Golf Club. It was a good game with few tips from the better players.

b
Bob, Sazali, Sukhdev and Prakash


Thats how I spent the week away from work.

Met my former school teacher from USTS last nite for the first time after 34 years. This meeting was made possible by Facebook with links from one contact to the other. Never expect this could happen.

The meeting was in effect a surprise birthday celebration for Chik Gu Sukhaimi organised by some ex students of USTS. This group meet quite regularly catching up with old friends. I was never in their group and never knew anyone of them except with one FB friend (never met b4 though). She was the one that link me to another FB friend etc etc etc. Finally......I was in the birthday party lastnite. Hehehe ......what a thick skin I am.

Anyway I am glad I attended the party driving through heavy rain along heavily congested express way from the West to the East (tak mandi lagi). Half way thru, body felt sticky...so terpaksa mintak diri dulu.

Hope to meet up with them again this June.

Left home early yesterday, around 0600 hrs for a round of golf at Pulai Spring with my usual golf kakis. We were alloted a 0730 hrs slot but get to tee off only at 0800 hrs due to the huge week end flights of Singaporean golfers. It is a norm for Singaporeans to travel to Johor on the weekend for golf due to the attractive rates the clubs there charge. Anyway we played for free as associate members. LOL


The 1st hole was a "horrendous" one (the term used by Rony) and one of us donated few balls to the club due to "lack of mileage" another term used by Erik. Anyway, it was an enjoyable round, and a precursor to a tournament next Tuesday. Here are ome pics to share

Created an account in facebook last week end. Still familiarising with the format. Hehe me, a bit slow I guess. Anyway, tried searching for long lost friends etc, etc and still searching. Some had familiar names but no response to "add friend". Perhaps its "wrong number".

Managed to connect with a former student from USTS but not from the same cohort though. Nevertheless, its nice to know someone associated to the same school you were once studying in. Thanks Dalina.

Today I attended a wedding reception near my place. Good food, good decor and accompanied by good music as well. The buffet table was nicely decorated and the waiters were in uniform. Everything was well done.

This reminds me of the old days where a wedding event was a "gotong-royong" thingy. This is the time when relatives and close friends would come by to help the host...from cooking to serving the guests. Everyone in the family and kampong plays a part.

This concept is hard to apply in todays context. The spirit of gotong-royong has watered down simply because more and more couples are working and any free time available will be spent with the kids. Thus people have no time for others.

But not to worry, we will leave this to the wedding planner. The result and presentation is more professional except....we need a bigger budget. On a positive side.......we are helping the economy and more jobs will be created.
Talking about global recession.

Has been selling off some of my hi fi gear lately. Well, to clear some space.
Item sold so far
1 Rotel Phono amp
2 Rotel Tuner
3 Speaker stand

Other items to go soon.
1 Arcam CD player
2 Lecson Integrated Amp
3 Sota Saphire Turntable (my precious)


Items on my shopping list
1 Horn Loaded speaker
2 Micro Selki 5000 Turntable
3 Sound defractor and absorber.

Sigh....there's no ending to this hobby.

In loving memory.

Tanpa banyak bicara
Di sisiku kau rebah
Membuat semua gelisah

Seminggu ku menanti
Sedia dan pasrah di lubuk hati
Akhir nya kau kalah
Kami di tinggalkan tanpa ayah

Pak Eh
Pemergian mu sudah di duga
Setelah tiada ibu tercinta
Keceriaan punah sudah
Walau expresi mu tiada
Kami semua merasa

Pak Eh
Kini kau tiada
Yang tinggal hanya kenangan
Hidup mu memberi kesan
Yang tak akan di lupakan
Akan ku abadikan segala pengorbanan
Doa ku iringkan.

Another poetry in Malay. This one is a bit lovey dovey.

Bila bertemu, hati berkata
Kau milikku, apa itu bisa

Aah! Bisa tak bisa
Langkah di majukan
Tapi sayang
Hasrat yang tersimpan
Masih tak kesampaian

Sudah di duga
Perpisahan pasti ada
Langkah di hentikan
Hati terluka

Ok lah. Even at home we speak English, I mean Singlish more often than the Malay language. So today to promote the Malay language, I am penning a poetry in Malay. Its a bit patriotic. It goes like this

Anak muda
Bangun lah dari tidur mu
Buka mata
Lihat yang ada
Buka hati
Tanya lah diri

Siapa kita
Siapa mereka
Di mana kita
Di mana mereka
Kenapa berbedza
Sedangkan kita tetangga

Anak muda
Tidur mu pasti ada impian
Jangan segan
Jadikan lah ia kenyataan
Jangan bosan
Kerna kau akan kerugian

Kenapa berbedza
Sedangkan kita tetangga
Bukan salah mereka
Tapi kita yang leka

.

More mosques in Singapore will use English for Friday sermon so as to accommodate the young who are more comfortable in the language so said MUIS the local Islamic authority. And yesterday at the Ashakirin Mosque where I did my Friday prayer, sermon was in English for a congregation of locals and some Bangladeshi workers.

Are we saying that the young in the Malay community are more comfortable in English and prefer not to speak in their mother tongue? If that is true, then I feel sad for them and the community as a whole.

During my school days, Malay language was a given subject. We don’t have to really spend time learning it but yet we could easily score above 90%. Today, kids are considered good if they can score 75% for the Malay language. Many just managed to scrimp thru. What’s happening? Perhaps, the “communal leaving”…….perhaps, the emphasis of English as business language…….perhaps this….perhaps that…….perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.

Parents prefer to speak English to the kids and the Malay language is only use when they communicate with the grandparents. The number of Malay speaking family is getting lesser and when these grandparents are gone……. there goes the language as well.

Will the Malays in Singapore be like the Malays in Cape Town or Sri Lanka where the Malay language is foreign to them? Frankly speaking, I don’t know.

The language which was once the National Language and the lingua franca of the archipelago may be history soonest. Who’s to be blamed?

“Tepuk dada tanya selera”. Welcome to Singapore.

Before our independent in 1965, many of the community lived in an ethnic enclave. People were more comfortable living with their own kind. In fact the British policy of divide and rule contributed to this kind of lifestyle. Areas were demarcated based on ethnicity. For instance, the Cantonese would live around the China Town area, the Boyanese, Jalan Besar area, Javanese, Java Road area, Malay Geylang and coastal areas etc etc etc.

Although it does not promote interaction among different groups, it has its merit as well. Ethnic culture and language/ dialect thrive. Apart from the Malay Language as the main lingua franca, there were people from the Chinese community who spoke only the Cantonese dialect, and others who spoke only the Hokien dialect and so forth. Even within the Malay community, there were people who spoke the Boyanese or the Javanese dialect. In other words, these dialects/ languages were spoken by many because of communal needs.

Today after more then 40 years of independent, these dialects had lost their relevancy. Apart from English which has taken over the Malay language as the main lingua franca, The Chinese community speaks only Mandarin. We are not able to tell whether that Chinese friend of us is an Hokien, Hainanese or Cantonese for that matter. We are not able to tell whether our Malay neighbour is a Javanese or Boyanese because they don’t speak that dialect anymore.

Perhaps the policy of promoting Mandarin among the Chinese community contributed to the erosion of the Chinese dialects or perhaps by breaking the enclave left the Javanese and the Boyanese for that matter lesser opportunity to speak in their own dialect. Or perhaps it has lost its practicality……..perhaps its commercial value……perhaps this…...perhaps that.

Well, actually I don’t know. What I know is that I am not able to speak the Javanese language, my mother tongue. If only I can speak the language, the search for my roots in Java would be more meaningful. I should have spoken it when my parents were still around. Anyway it is not too late. There are more then 100 million people still using that language in the archipelago and I will learn it.

Today when I speak Hokien to my parents in law, my children would laugh because its sounds foreign to them. When my wife speaks Hainanese to her Mum, it makes me smile because it sounds so ‘colourful’. When these generations are gone, these dialects will follow them too. So now I am learning Mandarin because no Chinese in Singapore would understand my Hokien in the near future.
Perhaps this is the evolution of language. Welcome to Singapore.

Left home early yesterday morning for Pulai Spring Golf Resort. Not that I wanna play a round of golf, but actually to collect my PW left on the course carelessly at the 18th hole last Saturday.
Sign of old age!.............heheheheh I hope not. Was lucky this time round that someone returned
it to the lost & found counter.




Me and Eric on the 16th hole.

What a beautiful day. The weather was just nice, around...........alamak no thermometer la. Anyway it would be good for a round of golf. Unfortunately for some other reason, was unable to ):

After wondering around the house doing nothing, decided to set up my latest acquired clock.....the anniversary clock...co called cos you only need to wind it once a year. Marvelous 'old' technology indeed. Bought it from ebay and it arrived with the torsion spring accidently unhooked during transit, so need a sturdy hand and tools to fix it.

Tried my hand ...... after half an hour still unable to fix it....... hehehehehe. Perhaps will try it again the next time. Look at the pic ......nice clock right?



Still feeling restless.......oh what a christmas holiday. Then along came my daughter, "Ayah, a christmas present for you....its from Maris". She handed me a gift wrap. Its a Polo Ralph Lauren shirt......one of my favourite brand. Hehehehe...thanks Maris.



So much time at home cos wifey is not feeling well. Get to listen to 4 LPs this morning. Unfortunately the sound was not as expected. Perhaps the sound system has not being played on for quite a while. Will keep them on for the next few hours and hope it will sound better tonight. These were the LPs played.

Before heading for Central Java, I was met by a friend at the Jakarta Airport. He accompanied us to a bus station in Jakarta where we board a bus to Central Java. A 9 hour journey that took 15 hours. hehehe.


Getting tickets to Central Jakarta.





Having soto madura while waiting for the coach to Kendal. Thats Ismail Agus, a friend from Jakarta.

Before flying back to Singapore, we stop over in Jakarta to meet Ismail and his family.




Thats Ismail with his wife and daughter. Who's that guy, behind? Is he 'Selamat' in cognito? Oh no........