TOH HONG SHENG & JOHNATHAN WONG

The write-up carried by The New Paper

Hong Sheng and Jonathan thanked the teachers for their success

YSS - YISHUN SWEET SUCCESS

Anxiety and nervousness fill me whenever it's the release of the national examination result day. I would be a bundle of nerve and my stomach tight in a slip knot. I am just as highly strung as the students who are waiting for the next chapter of their four years in a secondary school.

The students would all assemble in the hall waiting for the final countdown.There would be tears of joy, sudden shrieks breaking the silence or an air of gloom enveloping the hall - depending on what the students have seen on the slip of paper in their hand.

18 Dec 2009 was of no exception. I was there in the hall with the classes I taught. I stopped by at the students, patting and calming their nerves, as well as mine. The anticipation and anxiety peaked when one by one my students collected their result slip. The sweetest moment was when two of my students were interviewed by the New Paper for achieving good grades despite going through a rough time during their earlier secondary school life. It was a moment for Hong Sheng and Johnathan to cherish and relish.

To all of my Sec 4NA3 and Sec 4NA4 students, I wish you all the best in your studies. I am proud of you guys. Thanks for the lovely memories when I was your teacher!

A WEDDING AFFAIR

A wedding is a reunion of two people who are in love and a congregation of relatives joining the joyous ocassion. Siti's wedding across the causeway was another happy reunion for all of us to be together again.

Marriage is not a ritual or an end. It is a long, intricate, intimate dance together and nothing matters more than your own sense of balance and your choice of partner. A happy marriage has in it all the pleasures of friendships, all the enjoyment of sense and reason - and indeed all the sweets of life. I think you don't need to be on the save wavelength to succeed in a marriage. You just need to be able to ride each other's waves.

We wish Siti and her hubby an everlasting marriage filled with wonderful and romantic moments. A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, and always with the same person. May Siti and her husband fall in love with each other endless time.

Enjoy the wedding slideshow.

PONTIAN = PONTIANAK?

Me and my chendol man

Chendol time to quench the thirst


Chendol selling like hotcakes on this hot day


Sg Pontian Kechil harbours many fishing boats



Local folks moor their boats here

Bought some slated fish from this shop keeper

Ikan bilis or dried anchovy in the background



Mackerel salted fish.

Customers stopped by to 'chendolise' under this tree

Hotel for the seafarers?

At a stall selling tidbits and fruits

Bought some scarfs from this shop

Aliff Restaurant faces the sea

The bunga tanjung tree lines the road

Casuarina tree along the beach

Hard engineering - stone revetments to prevent erosion

Too much tan for me that day

Crashing waves can dislodge the granite and sandstone

Shops and offices at this commercial area

Lunch was nasi campur

No durian stall outside this kampung house. Cry..cry...

PONTIAN DRIVE

I went crazy the other time we drove to Pontian Kecil because that was the first time I set eyes on a 'Kucing Tidur' (sleeping cat). It's not all about cats but a durian hybrid in which the durians inside the shell lay like a ball of cat curling asleep. The locals were selling their durians in front of their houses and that was when we laden our boot with kilos and kilos of durians. Imagine fantastic creamy and sweet yellow flesh durians going for RM5 a kilo.

I went berserk immediately and wasted no time squatting by the roadside and putting those heavenly creation into my cavernous mouth, relishing every creamy flesh that slid down my throat. I couldn't careless about those stares I received from the kampung folks. After all I did not know them and they did not know me. So what's there to be ashamed of? I would only end up as a passing visitor. My mind was preoccupied with the durians. I only knew that I must have those durians instantly!

Hoping for a repeat scenario, we drove to Pontian one Saturday morning. Luck was not on our side as the durian season was over and not a stall was at sight selling durians along the stretch of road leading to Kukup. Not wanting to come back empty handed, we stopped by at a shop beside Sungai Pontian Kecil and bought some salted fish, ikan bilis, dried prawns and keropok.

For lunch, we headed for Aliff Restaurant at the end of the road. The restaurant had a commanding view of the sea. Bunga Tanjung trees lined the five-foot path along the beach. You can hardly find these trees in Singapore now. I used to pick the tree flowers up on my way back from school at Bidadari Muslim Cemetery before. Old housewives' tales say that pontianaks love to make their home on this tree. I was not in the mood of confirming this and ushered my husband to leave before sunset.

Pontian Kecil serves mainly as a fishing village which has developed into a small town. Pontian is populated by Malays of the Bugis descent. You can stop by Kukup or Tanjung Piai for seafood. Tanjung Piai is the southernmost tip of South East Asia. A notable national park is also located here. Beware of the monkeys here though.

A bowl of chendol with rich gula melaka closed our Pontian Kecil drive that morning. My next visit here would definitely be during the durian season!

KONGKONG SEAFOOD

A NEW SEA FOOD HAUNT

A friend of ours introduced a new eating place for seafood lovers - at Kongkong, Masai. The near an hour journey from Stulang brought us through roads lined with oil palm plantations and roadside stalls selling durians. Tried hinting to my husband to stop the car for a taste of the kampung durians but it fell on deaf ears. Not being a durian lover, he hates the smell of the king of the fruits emitting from the boot.

Syed Mustapha Al-Atas introuduced us to a Kong Kong sea food restaurant.
The drive that evening was pretty quiet and the roads deserted and dark. It had rained and that worsened the conditions of the roads. Fortunately we were in two cars so I did not feel that fearful. At one stage, we were the only cars on the road heading for Kongkong.

A lobster for our table. Cholestrol? Ooopssss....
There is only one Chinese restaurant selling all sorts of sea creatures. It faces the Straits of Johor where many speed boats were moored. Floating fish farms or aquaculture could be seen form where we sat. The restaurant also provides a chalet service for those who love fishing.

Me holding an Indonesian kupang/mussel. The flesh sticks out long from the shell
A pair of about six feet arowana swimming in a tiled pond greeted us at the entrance. They were gigantic - much bigger than my bolster. We had fish, crab, fried rice, vegetables and squid. The price was reasonable and I found it cheaper than what is being usually charged at Senibong. The taste? Not too bad, only less spicy and more suitable for the Caucasian palate for there were several of them that night. I bet you could request for more 'oomph' if you prefer the dishes to be hotter and spicy for your taste buds.

I asked one of the waiters why the place was called 'Kongkong'. He said, according to the village chief, there used to be a lot of dogs around the village and their barking of 'Kong! Kong!' disturbed the villagers. Since then, the village was named after the barking noise made by the stray dogs.

Yusuf and family came with us. At Banafe Cafe.
We did not hear any barking during our dinner. Even if there was any that night, we were too busy cracking the pincers of the crab to dig out the meat and scraping the flesh of the sea bass fish clean of its bones.

For our late supper, we tried Banafe Cafe opposite New York Hotel. The ambience was inviting and relaxing. There are some tables on top of trees too. Should try the place if you need to feel the tummy if other places have closed for the night. Light entertainment is also availabe from a two-man piece band.

Had Banana Split while at Banafe Cafe

Nadine Ramelb painting of her koi paradise

FRIENDSHIP TO CHERISH

THOSE WERE THE DAYS....




Through the door there came familiar laughter
I saw your face and heard you call my name
Oh my friend were older but no wiser
For in our hearts the dreams are still the same....

Met my old secondary school friends recently. Let me see...probably we have not met for over twenty years and had not had our cuppa over a tee-a-tee since we last got married. Shrieks of laughter and hugs and kisses were exchanged the moment we went into Fau's parents' house. It was a terrific feeling to set eyes on them again. Familiar laughter and faces welcomed me. News on our latest family and working life were exchanged the moment we settled down for pasta and rich English tea.

Since there weren't any McDonalds, KFCs or Pizza Hut back then in the late 60s, we only hanged out at each other kampungs on Saturdays. That was pure simple fun of togetherness and bonding. Joy, freedom and innocence filled our days of school life. I looked forward to such escapades to Kampung Mua'alaf, Geylang Serai, Genting Lane, Paya Lebar, Central, Jalan Eunos, Mac Pherson, Tai Seng, Joo Seng, Punggol, Jalan Kayu, Lorong Engku Aman, Kampung Wak Tanjung, Kampung Amboo Sooloh, Kaki Bukit and many more places which had disappeared and erased by Singapore's development.

I would also visit my non-Malay friends' houses too. Mei Kuen, Saras, Mabel, Chia Hwee and Lorna were my close circe of friends. (Notice no males names were mentioned.) Cycling, talking and eating took up the hours of the afternoons we were together. There wasn't any talks on school projects, assignments or homework nor outings for window shopping along Orchard Road.

The only downtown place we would go to was the National Library at Stamford Road(demolished already), the second hand shops along Bras Basah Road or at Waterloo Street where rarely we would treat ourselves to the best mee goreng ($ 1 for a plate) and Indian Rojak in town. Those moments of togetherness were just letting ourselves soak and immerse in building strong friendship that have lasted up till now. We were constantly reminded to uphold our school motto - Honesty, Perseverance and Courtesy and we wore our grey and blue unform with pride and dignity.

Now, we all have our family and responsibilities. My own children have a different world and issues to face and confront. Thank you Sal, Kam and Fau for the night of sharing and taking a trip back to our days when we would sing and dance forever to have our own ways.

Those were the days my friends we hold on dear to ....which I would cherish forever.

Those were the days my friend we fight and never lose for we were young and sure to have our way. Those were the days, oh yes those were the days......

Never Say Goodbye

I feel the time is getting close,

When we will have to part.

Ill show that I'll miss you,

With last words from my heart.

We must be dreaming,

For it has gone to fast.

The time we have spent together,

Will soon be in our past.

I'll forget this day is coming,

Today I stand here.

Trying to tell you,

How much I really care.

We'll go our separate ways,

And I'll make it if I try.

Just hold on to our memories,

Say Never, Say Goodbye!!!

We won't right, Sal, Kam and Fau?

by Anonymous

' Those Were The Days' by Mary Hopkin 1968

FEAST & FEST

Enjoy the slideshow of a collection of photos we took on 09 Raya celebration.

FAMILY

Sometimes our hearts get tangled

And our souls a little off-kilter

Friends and family can set us right

And help guide us back to the light.

~Sera Christann~

HARI RAYA IS HERE AGAIN

The matriach of the Sabiah-Rahim Clan - Hajjah Sabiah Bte Sheik Madar

A new suit and a new chapter of your life

With mum in all her glory and warmth

New deco for the house too besides the new clothes

Thaqif asking for forgiveness from me

My Kitchen Officer Tini who ensures all cooking is done on time

Naqib Nizar with a broad smile and cash in the packet

I love you mum and I will take care of you in your old age

A serious faced Nizar asking for forgiveness

Time to be happy to for father and son

Togetherness as one for them

Please forgive me Granny, pleads Thaqif

Mum and her sister, Hajjah Aishah

A complete family is a happy family

Thirah and Nizar having fun

Thanks for bringing me up mum

Hubby asking for forgiveness from his mother-in-law

You would always be my support mum

RAMADHAN THEN SYAWAL

Hari Raya Aidil Fitri marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadhan. The words ‘Hari Raya’ means ' a day of celebration.' Many mistake Hari Raya Puasa for the Muslim New Year but it is not.

My family's preparation for Hari Raya can start at least one month before the festival. The planning involves deciding on what cookies to bake, buying of new curtains and cushion covers as well as taking trips across the causeway for tailoring new suits. Numerous trips to Geylang Serai, the place that is known for the Muslims to gather, is a must. Nowadays, you can even find Japanese, Americans and Indians tourists thronging Geylang to make their purchases of bags, shoes, costume jewellery, Turkish tablecloth and laced kebayas. Products being sold are becoming more international just like the visitors who drop by at Geylang Serai bazaar.

Tenders would be invited before the bazaars are set up. The seasonal merchandisers would be selling numerous festive items for Muslims. I hear they could earn $40 000 on that Ramadhan month alone. Carpets, clothes, bags, food, music CDs, household items,cars and costume jewellery would also find their way at the stalls. At night the place is lit up with glittering lights. There's very little space to manoeuvre your steps and you better be careful of your purses and wallets among the crowd.

There would also be a wide variety of food which would be sold at the bazaar and they include kuehs, otah-otah, cakes, buns, breads, curry, naan, pita bread, noodles and even Japanese snacks. Shopping for my two sons during this season is a breeze because they don't ask much.

After fulfilling their one-month of fasting, the Muslims would be joyful to celebrate Hari Raya Puasa.

On the morning of the festival, the Muslims would wear their new clothes and go to the mosque to pray. They offer their thanks to God and after that they would ask for forgiveness from their elders. This is an important custom followed by the Muslims. This tradition of asking forgiveness is a solemn occasion and always end up with tears and hugs. I feel that the young ones asking forgiveness from their elders is very essential and should carry on.

My siblings and their children would visit my house on the first day of raya since my mum is staying with me. There's always a lot of cooking to be done to feed the thirty odd people. It may be very laborious but I do enjoy buying the ingredients and preparing and cooking the dishes like rendang, ayam merah, nasi tomato, sambal goreng, achar, pachri, serunding, sambal tumis and lodeh. My kitchen can really feed an army. The cooking will continue till the next three weeks as more relatives, friends and students pay a visit to my abode.

Visits to relatives' houses would begin on the second day and for the next whole month for me and my family. When you have a big family like mine, you tend to put on weight immediately after the fasting month because you get invited to feast at every house you visit.

You lose some weight during Ramadhan but you gain more and faster comes Syawal!