𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗴! 𝗜'𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗴 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿! 𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝘇𝘇𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘆.𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀.𝗰𝗼𝗺

The Battle of the Best Pantun & Tarian Majika Competition 2013

Fwar! Sound so grand right?

Shibly was selected by his teachers to participate in a Malay poem and performance competition between all districts of Al-Iman Kindergarten.


It was held in Singapore Expo, Hall 6 which was showcasing the Fiesta Pengantin Perdana exhibition. I know! Mak Su and Uncle Jhon also can sneak peak at wedding stuff. Hahaha The completion started at 9am, way before the main exhibition officially opens so the place was filled with only teachers, parents, children and supporters.

As I saw the kids got ready with their costumes, I could tell which district was much more serious and ‘gung ho’ about the competition. Some of them really went all out while some went simple; Shibly’s district was one of them.

[Shibly is at the far left]

After a while, I found out Shibly’s district was only informed 1 week before competition day that they have to participate! That was too little time for 5-6 year olds to practice and prepare proper props and costumes!!


Too bad they had problems with the microphone after the first performance. We could barely hear the kid’s voices. It was such a shame. Everyone was so cute, prepared or not.

Nonetheless, I still find their performance was well done. It was not polished as others but it was entertaining. His group’s performance was about a butterfly that was boastful and didn't want to make friends with the flies. One day, the butterfly was caught in a spider web. The flies contemplated if they should help despite of the butterfly’s character but in turn they did. Moral of story, don’t be stuck up and make friends because you will never know when you will need their help.



As for the other group, wah!! Nice costumes, props and some of them dance the traditional Malay dance so well! AMAZED! Confirm got a lot of time to practice.




Of course, Shibly’s group won consolation price and got a badge. We were proud of him anyways because he was not shy despite not being confident with the dance steps. He was engaging with everyone and host.

Towards the end of the competition, the children were asked to recite doa and recitations from the Kitab. It was cute and wonderful to hear them recite word for word. Many adults don’t even know doa or memorize Ayat Kursi.

Anyways, the family had to separate soon after the completion because bro had to rush to work and mom wants to shop at the expo. She was sad because she thought we would go out together and thought we had to go home. I told her we don’t have to end the day just yet. Jhon, her and I can always go out on our own.

Silly mommy.

All I can say, Shibly was happy, family was proud and Mak was satisdfied. YEY!



   

Divine Twenty Nine

I can’t deny when reality struck that I am 29 years old, I felt a pinch of anxiety and fear. I usually do not feel this way every year but this year I did. It was a new kind of feeling. Although it was just a number, society does put pressure on it especially on what I have accomplished as a woman.

Personally and emotionally, I do not feel like I am 29. I still spend my days watching cartoons and pretty much like to behave childish when the time fits. But suddenly the number 29 appears in front of my face.



Most of my lady friends by now have been married for minimum 2 years and lately, a few of them are welcoming or has recently welcomed their 2nd child. Especially in the Malay community, if you are an unmarried 29 year old lady, there is something wrong with you.

Hahaha There is nothing wrong with me, hokay? I guess my previous failed 5 year relationship kinda set me back and here I am, going for another 5 year relationship with the best man I could ever asked for. I am very patient when it comes to relationships and letting fate flow at its own pace plus, my maternal instincts or ‘gatal nak kahwin’ (itchy to get married) mood comes in very late, as in only late last year. haha

I suppose it’s not that bad. At least I am in a stable and long term relationship and in the works of making everything official in the eyes of the law and God. *wink wink* I am definitely grateful for that.

Of course, I am grateful for my health, home, work and family although it has its holes.

Perhaps it’s not THAT bad. As long as I am not ignorant with the choices I make in life, I am pretty sure I will be alright. The only thing I pray and hope for is a smooth journey ahead.


   

Fun in the Sun at Pulau Ubin

Believe it or not, it’s a first time we visit Pulau Ubin and knowing it’s one of the nature picturesque places to be in Singapore. It was a perfect place for nature, trekking and photography lovers like us. Plus, it was our 69th month anniversary so everything fell into place.

We headed to Changi Jetty in bus no. 2 at 8am and we were so lucky everything went smoothly. You see, bumboats will only depart if there are 12 people ready to go. If not, you have to wait. So as soon as we entered the lobby, uncle called us in. Good hor?

We rode with a group of bike enthusiasts and their bikes looked gooood. I love the water although my swimming skills are low and it was so nice to be in that boat, salty cool air blowing, sun shining, rocking to the gentle waves with the sound of water crashing and soft engine rumbling. I could sleep at that moment from being calm.




In 10 minutes or so, we arrived at Pulau Ubin. It was the most rural part of Singapore and it was beautiful. Isn't nice to live so simply? It’s nice to get away from the city or even neighborhoods to just this. Brand is irrelevant; what is important is its necessity.



At first we wanted to be ‘gung ho’ about our trekking and wanted to go by foot. It’s nothing new about us trekking at long distances but the sun was merciless and piercing that day. At 150m mark, we decided to rent a bike like normal people do. haha



It was the best decision ever because it lighten our load on our backs (Jhon’s bag was filled with camera equipment and mine was fill with food haha) and the WIND! Oh the WIND! I love you.


We headed to Chek Jawa which is one of the spots to visit in Pulau Ubin because it is a part of the island that is at its natural state.


Everyone had to park their bicycle near a resting point and just at the entrance, we saw wild hogs! That was the first time I saw wild hogs and it was a complete family with its babies. Oink oink!



We checked out a Tudor style house with a firepalce which leads off to a jetty that over looked a tiny island called Pulau Sekudu.






After that, we headed to the Mangroves walk. It was SUPER WINDY and beautiful but HOT! It was because by this time, the sun is reaching its peak.




Fortunately, we found a perfect resting spot for shade and a quick lunch. It’s our standard tuna sandwich and salad. Yummy!

Every passerby couldn’t help but peeked at our food. =P




After resting and cooling down for 2 hours, we continued our walk. The tide was still low so we managed to appreciate the mangroves more.

And we got to see mud skippers and the tiniest cutest crabs we ever seen; perhaps as small as our nails.




As we exited the mangroves, we entered the forest and encountered a look out tower. Of course, we climbed up and of course, we didn't stay long as the wind gently swayed the tower. We always try to brave ourselves and pretend we are not afraid of heights but I think we lasted only 2 minutes? Haha


That was the final trail and we ended up to the rest stop where we left of our bicycle. We didn't realized how tired our legs were until we had to climb up a slope. Just a gentle slope! It was literally and metaphorically an up and down ride. There were steep and gentles slopes but both times, we would struggle up and always eventually dismount and push.I was clearly unfit and Jhon’s knee problems were acting up again. But the ride down was oh so fun!

When we finally reached the main entrance of Pulau Ubin, it was bitter sweet. We truly had a lot of fun but at the same time, so thankful for what seemed endless hills and knee burning cycling.

Yet again, we were lucky because bum boat driver needed 2 more people to depart and there we were! The other 10 people should thank us or they have to wait longer. Haha


Jhon and I were sticky, exhausted and red but was it worth it? YES!


   

What Makes a Man a Man?

On 28th March 2013, Jhon and I headed to Esplanade to watch the infamous Kumar for his stand up comedy entitled What Makes a Man A Man?




The title says it all. His topic this year surrounds a life and experiences of man and what makes it more interesting, it’s mostly about his life experiences.

His jokes were crude and sexual (it was rated R18) but not talking about sex when discussing a man’s life is not like talking about shopping in a women’s life!

This time around, Jhon and I got the cheapest seats and it was really not that bad! Think it as a bird’s eye view. I suppose the only downfall was we can’t see Kumar’s facial expressions as he delivered the joke. Perhaps it’s a good thing because maybe complete with his comical expressions, we might pee in our pants. =p



The show had 3 songs which consisted of Kumar lip syncing and a group of guys dancing. The finale with the song which I wasn't sure if an original or an oldie was “Oh My God” He gave me goose bumps as he slowly changed his outfit from drag to a blazer, wiped his makeup off and lip synced dramatically “So tell me what really makes a man, a man” FWAR!


[http://www.facebook.com/DreamAcademyProductions]

Powerful stuff! I understand and felt what he was trying to portray and I love it! It was a wonderful and unexpected turn from a comedy show.

I can’t wait for next year’s show!