Happy Onam

"Vanakkam"

Enjoyed a vegetarian lunch with 11 types of dishes at the home of Dave A. Madhavan, a JohorFM deejay at Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM).

If you tune into 101.9mhz on Wednesday to Friday from 6am to 10am, you will know who Dave is.

The dishes were cooked by Dave's lovely wife, Usha Devi in celebration of the Onam, a major harvest festival that is celebrated annually by the Malayalees.

This is Dave (left) with Usha Devi and the couple's five children and other relatives.

I love this shot of Mary with a baby. The tyke is Usha Devi's sister's four-month-old daughter.

And that's me with Mary, Dave and Usha Devi just as we were about to tuck into the home-cooked vegetarian cuisine. Such a blessed day.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri

The Ketupat is a symbol of Hari Raya like the Kolam  and the Kumquat are associated with Deepavali and the Lunar New Year respectively.

This is the burasak, a favourite among the Bugis community.

July 28 marks the first day of the month of Syawal 1435H (Hari Raya) or Eid al-Fitr also known as Feast of Breaking the Fast. 

Feast, Celebrate and Rejoice.

Happy Wesak Day

12 May 2014

Sia Tze Jee Buddhist Temple abuzz with activities

By Chuah Bee Kim 

Charmaine Tan. NST pix by  Mohd  Azren Jamaludin

JOHOR BARU: The Sia Tze Jee Buddhist Temple here have been abuzz with activities since 7am today.

Charmaine Tan was among the devotees who is helping out with the preparation for Wesak Day, an annual celebration that commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. It is celebrated by Buddhists on May 13.

However, not all Buddhists celebrate the occasion.

The 26-year-old piano teacher said she was excited about the charity sale which was organised by the temple committee in conjunction with the celebration.

The fund from the charity sale will be used to provide free medical consultation for the public.
"Since we introduced the free medical consultation programme, many have come to the temple to seek treatment," she said.

The charity sale, from 8am to 2pm, will feature a variety of home-cooked meals prepared by volunteers.

Besides the charity sale, there will also be chanting sessions.

"I understand many devotees will be chanting for good health as having vibrant health is the most important thing in life," she said.

Her father, Tan Chew Peng, who is the committee chairman of the temple, was away getting more cushions for devotees who will be using that during the chanting session.

"The devotees will stand during chanting but they are also required to kneel at times in order to bow to the deities," she said.

"Last year, there were about 600 devotees. This year we are expecting more. That's why my father had to go out to look for more cushions in anticipation of tomorrow's turnout," she added.

In conjunction with the event, the temple also hosted a charity dinner for the underprivileged on Sunday.

The temple built nearly 60 years ago was originally at Jalan Trus here before moving to Jalan Tun Abdul Razak where the Danga City Mall now stands.

It is re-located to its current location at Jalan Chengai, Taman Melodies in 1998.  The Sia Tze Jee Buddhist Temple is one of the oldest in Johor Baru.

Read more: Sia Tze Jee Buddhist Temple abuzz with activities - Latest - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/sia-tze-jee-buddhist-temple-abuzz-with-activities-1.594370#ixzz31U1wjGUi

Off Record

Meanwhile, Charmaine's mom Agnes also taught me to chant the mantra of Sakyamuni Buddha 南无本师释迦牟尼佛 (Namo Ben Shi Shi Jia Mo Ni Fo) which can be used during walking meditation to calm the mind.

Yes, I think I will try it.

Happy chanting!

Savour the Moment

I was here!  Had dinner with a family. Knowing that my vision is not so sharp at night and my sense of direction go haywire at times --- more like most of the time --- the family also came to get me from the house.

Well, to be honest I would probably be too lazy to drive there all by myself.

These are just some of the dishes that were on our table. I didn't take a picture of every dish. This Japanese restaurant in Bandar Baru Permas Jaya, Johor Baru is still drawing in the crowd since the day it opened.

We couldn't finish the food so we "bungkus balik" (pack back). It is the trend now. Don't waste food. Even at wedding dinner or any gathering, don't be shy about asking the waiter to pack the leftovers.

And my wonderful host also gave me a gift to take home. I'm a lover of sensuous scents and alluring crystals/gemstones.  Any gift that comes from the heart is a sweet gesture to be savoured.

A get together, a fleeting moment, a rendezvous --- planned or unplanned --- all is to be cherished. 

Thank you for this night.

You Go Girl

The minister counsellor of the Consulate-General of Indonesia in Johor Baru, Djudjur S.H. Hutagalung (left) giving Shella Rini the thumbs up after she won the 2nd place in the public speaking competition on Sunday.

Called "Pentas Menuju Pemilu", the event was organised by Universitas Terbuka Pokjar Johor, and held at the Consulate General of Indonesia in Johor Bahru, a satelite office of the Indonesian Embassy in the southern region. The office is located at Jalan Taat, Johor Bahru.

A total of 9 Indonesia Open University students took part in the public speaking competition, organised in conjunction with the 2014 Indonesian legislative election that is happening in Malaysia on April 6.  A total of 327,000 eligible voters in Johor, Malacca, Pahang and Negri Sembilan are urged to cast their votes on this day.

The Indonesian Consul-General Taufiqur Rijal (right) congratulates the champion Gupran, while Shella and 3rd place winner Surina, watches on.

Shella's first public speaking experience.  The title of her talk "Semangat Nasionalisme".

That's me on the far left, feeling extremely happy and so proud of Shella.  On the far right is Aarina Melinda Marzuki (wife of  Djudjur S.H. Hutagalung) and next to her is Noranisa Wahid (wife of Taufiqur Rijal).

The judge for the public speaking competition was Andi Anto Patak, an undergraduate of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

To MK With Love

Everything happens for a reason.   Last week, I called for a cab to come pick me up at home.  The telephone operator was rude and so was the driver.

This Saturday, I decided to try Easy Taxi, a smartphone app that I downloaded.  Booking a taxi was hassle-free and the charge was reasonable.  Wow!  I am now a fan of this service. 

The cab took me to New Lucky Restaurant in Taman Sri Tebrau, Johor Bahru where I enjoyed a night of

great songs. 

This is MK Ong and Shella singing "Top of the World".

gastronomic delights

This meal was an alluring appetizer.  It's a rojak  of duck meat, longan, mango and a variety of veggies.

priceless friendship

With MK, Fung Lee Jean and Tony Tan.

To MK with love.  May you remain forever young, forever beautiful and always enjoy good health.

New Hair Colour, New Hope, New Blanket

Self Reflection

2014 looks like a good year for those in the advertising industry.  When the economy is good, less people will think of advertising.

This was what my friend in the advertising industry told me this evening at a pre-Chinese New Year gathering at the Grand Bayview Seafood Restaurant in Danga Bay, Johor Bahru.

"During the good times, our property developer clients would want to take out a newspaper ad for their property launch, but before the scheduled publication date, all their new shop or residential units would have been snapped up even before the property launch.  So, the client has no choice but to cancel the ad placement.

"But when there is a slowdown in the economy, orders to place an ad will start pouring in and the clients are probably not going to cancel," my friend said.

Prosperity Toss

The sumptuous eight-course meal which started at around 8pm came to an end at about 10.30pm.  We are certainly looking forward to a great year ahead.

A Windy Evening at Danga Bay

The Spring Festival in Malaysia this year is going to be colder than usual, I heard.  I need a new blanket to keep me warm.

Celebrating Tang Yuan

A Family Gathering

The Chinese community celebrates the Tang Yuan festival today (Dec 22) where balls of various colours made from glutinous rice flour is boiled and eaten together to symbolise family unity.

Though this is a family gathering of the Yeow family, I'm glad they invited me to join them. 

with Ang Kee Kai, who is nearly two years old

These balls are round like Tang Yuan.  But Aunty has absolutely no idea whether we are playing pool, billiards or snooker.

 Let's ask Aunty Shella.  Ok, she says its billiards.

And now it is my turn to take a shot.  As I was holding the cue stick, I suddenly remembered an office outing that took place a long time ago.  I wonder if any of my former colleagues still remember that outing.  I also forgot all about that episode until tonight.  Memories...

After a game of billiards  --- billiards or billiard??? ---  I joined the Yeow sisters for a little karaoke session,

followed by a photo shoot with all 6 of the Yeow sisters.

The Yeow sisters with their mother.  Thank you.  I had so much fun tonight.

Party of 11

Yes, I included the cat in the headcount.

I had a bad day at the office.  Though that is quite normal, I allowed myself to be affected by it..However, the day was not entirely bad, thanks to my dearest friends here who threw a surprise belated birthday bash for me at the Stulang Walk, Johor Baru.

 

Surprise!

 My cake

And here's the guest of honour again.  Sorry, I took so many photos I hope the flash didn't hurt the cat's eyes.

with Lynn Mazlina A Majid and Redzuan Muharam 

A big thank you to everyone from the bottom of my heart. Muah!

Meanwhile, please read  "A Plea For The Wetlands" which appeared in the New Straits Times today.