Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Marlo Thomas


Watched by accident. Larry King Live on CNN was never on my list. (Tonight Show with Jay Leno is).
Yet that night I was spelled. He was interviewing Marlo Thomas, actress, producer, and also the National Outreach Director of the St Jude's Children Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. There, sick children are treated free by top doctors.


Marlo Thomas also wrote a book, The Right Words at The Right Time, a collection heartwarming collection of personal revelations from some of today's greatest luminaries whose lives were changed by hearing the right words at the right time. All royalties from The Right Words at the Right Time go to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, founded by Ms. Thomas's father, Danny Thomas, in 1962.

I have ordered the paperback from Kinokinuya KLCC yesterday. Will arrive in 2 -3 weeks time. Must tell you it is cheaper to order or buy from Kinokinuya than Amazon. Estimated price is RM65.00. if from Amazon, price could easy go up to RM80.


Go lah and buy. won't give mine until I finish reading.

Monday, December 12, 2005

seksi?

My niece , Yah, is entering the period of "teenagehood" despite her young age of 4. Carrying along her handbag with "sikat","bedak" and "sekaf" inside, she asked her mom during our weekend get-together,

" Yah seksi tak, Ummi?"

Her 6 year-old brother, Amin, known for his wit, immediately remarked,

"Bukan seksi lah Yah , Teksi!"

Friday, December 09, 2005

doa selamat

Saya akan bertolak balik ke Jerantut petang ini. Subuh esok ada majlis doa selamat & tahlil di rumah selepas solat subuh. Majlis 3 dalam 1. majlis bercukur anak saudara, doa selamat untuk perantauan saya ke Laos dan Pakistan dan juga doa selamat untuk adik saya yang akan masuk kampus ITM Manjung Januari ini (Dia akan "selamat" kali ini kalau tak leka atau culas ke kuliah sebelum ini!).
Lots of good news heard and received. A friend of mine just "officially" completed her chambering after delaying for quite sometime due to health issues, etc. Another will be joining AG chambers soon.

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

ingat senang ka?

Peh! talking to my colleague just now and we agreed that,

" Ingat senang ke nak kawin ni?"

He even more candid,

"Kalau dalam cerita katun yelah!"

aku setuju sangat. Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse happy aje bertahun tahun. Sama dengan Donald and Daffy Duck.

p.s. cerita ini tiada kaitan dengan Siti Nurhaliza dan hanya timbul akibat beberapa rentetan peristiwa yang berlaku sejak kebelakangan ni yang sedikit sebanyak menggugat kehidupan bahagia seorang badut.

Saturday, December 03, 2005

Reading week

Finished reading these books this week:



War of Running Dogs by Noel Barber



At the Court of Pelesu and Other Malayan Stories by Sir Hugh Clifford

Rejimen Askar Melayu Diraja 1933-1968 by Syed Othman Syed Omar ( good book I must say!described bit more detail on the Wessex crash that killed my uncle - at least now I know more of what happened that fateful day)

Now waiting for these books to be devoured soon.

Ki in Daily Life by Koichi Tohei

The paper propeller, The spinning quarter and the jumping frog by Arthur Okamura

Dear Siti,

4 Peringkat 3,
Taman LKNP,
27000 Jerantut,
Pahang.
Assalamualaikum ( tak jawab dosa!)

Kehadapan saudari Siti,

Saya seronok sangat sangatlah bila saudari kata dalam Utusan Malaysia muka depan semalam yang saudari sudah bersedia untuk berkahwin.

Untuk itu saya ingin menawarkan diri saya yang hina dina ini untuk menjadi candidate seperti mana Datuk Ibrahim Ali menawarkan diri sebagai calon bebas di Pilihanraya Kecil Pengkalen Pasir kelak.. Saya tak kisahla kalau Anuar Zain ke, Datuk K, Fazley ke yang nak masuk meminang Siti, tapi saya percaya best man win!

Belum cuba belum tahu, betul tak?Cuba Siti fikir kelebihannya pilih saya jadi suami Siti. Saya tahu Siti sibuk jadi saya dah buat checklist kelebihan-kelebihannya bagi senang Siti tengok. maklum ajelah kan pasti ramai yang sibuk menulis suratlah, proposalnya dan yang sanggup datang rumah siti di Sungai Kerpan tu bawak dulang hantaran kan...ish susah susah...

Ha baca ya siti,

  • Senang balik Raya - ala Jerantut ke Kuala Lipis dekat aje. Sejam tak sampai. Pagi raya di Jerantut, tengah hari di Kuala Lipis. Saya pun memang balik ke Kuala Lipis tiap kali raya - tengok kubur tok wan kat Padang Tengku sana. Tiap tiap tahun gilir-gilir la. Lepas tu saya janji jadi drebar bila balik. Kalau pilih Anuar Zain payah..nak ke Shah Alam lah. Fazley karang raya kat PWTC aje pasal banyak event. Ish

  • Boleh jadi penjamin pinjaman bank rakyat/along- ha kalau siti jadi penjamin saya senangla nak buat loan bank rakyat buat belanja kawin siti. Silap-silap loan officer tu sure cakap , " la tak payah mintak kat bank , mintak terus aje kat siti!" Kalau buat loan kat along pulak, itu along musti cakap, " Hayya, siti wo...no ploblem..gua bagi low intelest punya!" eh nanti kalau saya masuk meminang awak jangan letak tinggi tinggi sangat ya.

  • Majlis Kawin Low Profile - yela kalau dgn Datuk K ka Anuar Zain ka, sure suratkhabar habis-habisan nak dapatkan exclusivity rights, pacak kamera depan rumah nak siarkan gambar wedding Siti mcm wedding Erra -Yusri dulu kan...Kita buat la senyap-senyap macam akak Wanita Melayu Terakhir kahwin dgn Datuk tu la baru-baru ni. Kita buat kat masjid aje akad nikah , lepas tu buat kenduri ...senang. Mak andam? Pakai mak andam Gee (terkenal di bandar Jerantut ni haa) - kalau panggil Pak Abu ka zulfazli ka yang famous kat astro tu nanti sure depa bagitau press..Kalau dgn Mak Andam Gee - dia takkan bagitau orang lain lagipun boleh tolong dia jugak nanti..yela nanti boleh la dia promote yang dia pernah andam Siti! Kalau siti nak kompang masa majlis tu pun boleh diuruskan. panggil aje budak -budak kg mat kilau..murah bagi aje makan. kalau nak basuh pinggan kita boleh panggil budak budak pusat Serenti Jerantut -depa senang kerja tapi kena bagi rokok 1-2 kartun kat depa la bagi lepas gian.

  • Boleh ajar bahasa Inggeris kat siti (FREE!) - ha nanti siti tak payah belajar jauh-2..abang kan ada ( eh dah berabang abang pulak!) .setakat ajar siti macam abang ajar murid murid tua masa kat Laos dulu ( dulu abang sukarelawan kat sana) boleh aje..

  • Keluarga mertua yang cool - pak mertua siti nanti orang yang tak banyak cakap..tapi kena pandai la ambik hati mak mertua sikit. ada jugak saya cakap kat mak saya yang saya nak suruh dia pinang siti. Dia jawab, " cermin muka kau dulu!". Nak ambil hati mak saya senang aje, kenala belajar masak dgn dia..dia tera buat gulai tempoyak ikan patin.

  • Saya bekerja tetap - Plus point tu! tak payah susah susah Siti nak sara hidup saya...KWSP ada, kerja 5 hari seminggu pulak tu.weekend free boleh bawak jalan-jalan pusing kota.

  • Takkan kawin lain - tak terfikir (lagi) untuk kawin lagi satu,dua atau tiga kalau Siti pilih saya! Percayalah!
Macam mana Siti? Ok ke? Siti fikirla buat sembahyang istikharah..tanya mak mertua tak jadi saya di London sana tu. Dia kenal saya, siti pun kenal dia..tanyala ek...

Saya sudahi warkah saya ini dgn serangkap pantun;

pecah kaca pecah gelas
sudah baca harap balas.

yang mengharap,

Dr Bubbles bin Bubblay

Thursday, December 01, 2005

Sea Fever

talented young clowns of donkoi


Fiwwwitt!!

I will be going to Laos on the 1st of January 2006 for a week to do a theater clowning workshop with the poor kids of Donkoi village, Vientiane. Finally, my wish come true. I am going there at my own expenses as my personal loan from my organisation approved recently.

Booked flight with Airasia saving me more than half if I opt for MAS or Thai Airways. Kuala Lumpur -Bangkok with Air Asia is about RM290 return whereas with MAS is going to cost me about RM800 or so. Same with Thai Airways. From Bangkok I will fly on to Udon Thani, an hour away from Vientiane. A friend from Malaysian Embassy in Vientiane is kind enough to fetch me there.

Read in NST the other day how Dr Jemilah forked up her own savings of RM35,000 to build mobile clinic in Kosovo. Passion goes above everything.....reminds me of Sea Fever by British Poet Laureate, John Masefield -

"Sea-Fever"

I must down to the seas again,
to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.
I must down to the seas again,
for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume,
and the sea-gulls crying.
I must down to the seas again,
to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way
where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.
By John Masefield (1878-1967).
(English Poet Laureate, 1930-1967.)

In a related development, Mercy Malaysia called me for Pakistan mission- to do hospital clowning as part of their psychosocial intervention programme for earthquake victims. Most probably will go in January after my Laos trip.

Got to raise funds for the trip. Usually to go for Mercy's mission, volunteer got to pay for the airfare. Heard from a friend, that to go there will cost around RM2000 or so for the airfare etc.
Anyway, I am writing to Siti Nurhaliza today to sponsor not only for the airfare but also for the "duit hantaran". (read Utusan today please for actual context). Hahaha.

Monday, November 21, 2005

A parody


Would it be nice if Nordin Mohd Top could don this very nice kain pelikat instead of that made in China face mask (oi Nordin, lu support JI ka support China?)every time he pre-recorded threats from JI.
For kain pelikat lovers you can visit here for more.
This message is brought to you by Konsortium Penjual-Penjual Kain Pelikat Malaysia.

Thursday, November 17, 2005

clown doctor's coat


Wow!Theodora Foundation of Spain sought top Spanish designers to design their clown doctor's coats. I wonder if Rizalman or Zang Toi could do the same here?

Nanta Cookin'


Do visit here for details. For every ticket sold (except for child seat) 30% of the proceed will go to MAKNA.

It is a Korean comedic stage show I am very interested to see(from clowning work perspective) especially when it involves improvisation using utensils commonly found in kitchens.

If you want to go bawak anak-anak/anak orang/kawan-kawan ke Genting for the show, you can book the ticket through my colleague, Mr. Vemanna at 03-42569178/79 or email vem@makna.org.my.

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

potato dreams


Shafiq and his potato dream
Please note that the potato survived the juggling acts performed in front of young cousins . However, the potato will never be used for cooking anymore by the kitchen people. They said, " kentang dah pening!

Images from The National Geographic November 2005



An Alien from Planet Zargos

Please note that there is no alien was hurt during this photoshoot.

Images from National Geographic December 2005



Please note that the unfortunate kuih loyang (kuih ros) was never survived the photo shoot.

gambar-gambar di New York dan Maine



Feel free to visit here for my photos during my recent trip to US.

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Shaktivel



I visited young Shaktivel last month during our microcredit visits to Perak.

Personally I must admit that I am quite “numb” when seeing the suffering of many cancer patients I have visited so far since I worked with MAKNA a few years ago. I don’t think it is a burnout feeling but more of knowing it so well that it is an honorable duty that must be fulfilled at all cost.


Pondering on Shaktivel’s case , one thing that always amazed me is the the tenacity of the mother to ensure that her child to get well even it means they have to walk 3 kilometers under the scorching sun to go to Hospital Ipoh just because they don’t have money to pay the bus fare!

And this is not one story and one life I have crosses path with. There are many more.



The experience made me realized how important my job in giving cancer patients chance to rebuild their life again through microcredit program that I am involved in. Shaktivel’s case is many examples of how a family crumbled down when cancer struck. Father or husband would run away and leaving the family in despair. I used to ask why and why this is happening? But now, I stop asking and just carry out my duty to reassure them that there are people who cares and most importantly to ensure that they able to stand on their own feet and rebuild their life.

Friday, October 21, 2005

Donkoi Clowns

My 2006's new year wish:

to visit them again!

The Children's Circus of Donkoi is born!

by Xuyen Dangers

The biggest ‘repertoire’ to be added to Donkoi Little Theatre since the beginning of the Ramayana (Ramakien) in 2000 is the Donkoi Children circus. This is another dream that came true at DONKOI DCDC on Saturday, April 9, 2005. It will be interesting to talk about the process and how we got to the realization of the Donkoi children circus and writing the history of this children’s show for Donkoi children and their parents.

The children were inspired by the elephant show of the Belgium Clowns without borders who came here at the beginning of March. After the Belgium Troupe left, we picked up the most familiar, the dearest to Laos, and the funniest to Lao children, the Lao national animal – the Elephant. We bought the water pipe, got some old rags, threw them on the two children who made one elephant with four legs. Only after a week, the Donkoi Little Theatre got an invitation to the celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8th at the French language center. Perfect timing we said “let’s try the elephant show!” The audience found it amusing and gave a big applause and they were given certificates. Thanks Ms. Vilama for thinking of Donkoi!

This was followed with the Lao Youth Union Anniversary celebration day at the National Cultural Hall a week later. Again, Donkoi children brought the elephant with some other acts to the celebration. We also heard some good feedback afterward!

We performed another time at the Sunshine school fair on April 2nd. The same morning, the traveling elephant went to Tammakhung Center at Phiavat Village and did a street show to promote garbage collection. The Donkoi’s three little children, 4th and 5th grade students, did the whole show 5 times. Two were the elephant show and one was as manhood. We do ‘copy’ the simplicity of costumes, props of the Belgium clowns – the clothes, the ears, the trunk, etc.

The children loved the elephant, especially when the elephant went around friendly shaking her trunk and touching the children when they chanted in chorus “chang oi!” calling the elephant to make her stand up so the children from the audience could ride on the elephant. The whole elephant show lasted about 2 minutes, but the children and adults all liked it.

With the elephant we think we can create a circus because we also have the ‘naughty monkeys’ from our well known Ramakien show that can dance and jump around teasing the audience. We just need some small bicycles and we are ready for the monkey show.

The third, came the lion whose costume was well made by Me Pouvin from a piece of cloth that Xuyen had saved for many years just for the right occasion. Just the costume now and we will worry about the taming Lion act later.

The rest of the shows are the jumping cats and the hula-hoop stars and the jugglers that were inspired from Mr. Jason, a volunteer from USA introduced by Didi, Sunshine school’s director. Jason came to Donkoi to do the juggling show and taught Sili some techniques of juggling.

Amanda from Trent University in Canada came as a intern at DCDC and she was used to be involved in the circus before. So that gave a push to our show planning. Amanda accepted to be with Sili to help the children practice two days per week when she was not working at other centers. We also planned for the tight rope walking or climbing, but that did not work out as we did not feel safe having children walk above the cement ground. The children’s safety comes first.

The last one was the dragon dance. That was the ‘left over’ from the Chinese Vietnamese New Year show in February. The costume is copied from VIS dragon costume by Me Pouvin as well.
Of course, in between are the clown acts, as we are already all clowns we are not too concerned about this. It turned out that the little clowns were too busy studying extra courses on Saturday and the ‘farang’ clown Daniel and MCC English teacher volunteer practiced with us a few times. They could not come on the show day, so we had no clowns, but again the whole circus is like clowns anyway.

On April 9th, the show day, Phoun mit (FRIENDS organization) street children center, then Nahay center, and Udomphone center, VIS expat friends, teachers, parent of Donkoi children were there. It must have been about 200 people. They all joined the parade with musical instruments in their hands, anything that could make a sound. The children in their festive costumes, hair dresses, painted faces, with the banner paraded around the neighborhood and then ended up outdoors at the cement circle stage in The DONKOI School compound. It was still cool and just right for the atmosphere.

The monkeys are the clowns that run around to the shops and to people’s homes to ‘steal’ bananas and anything they could reach. That made some shop owners have worried faces if they were not familiar with our naughty, but honest monkeys. They always returned what they stole, only sometimes to the wrong owners.

We then decided to do the show right there in the circus stage outdoors. We forgot the program board “MEET the stars board beautifully made by Sili and the children actors and the program board as back prop, also the banner DONKOI LITTLE THEATRE” they could not find at the last minute. Xuyen was in charge of the circus music, but she failed to do so (she still requested whoever reads this NEWS, if you find circus cassette tape or CD please send her one, Thank You!) The audiences still cheered enthusiastically and then the Children Circus began. Sili’s, was the children director as the ring master elegantly in his new designed costume mixed western with a Lao flavor.

The show lasted only 45 minutes. The best was the little star hula-hoop boy, Thao Tu, only 6 years old, first grade, whom we just discovered could do the hula-hoop without taking lessons, a natural performer. All the beautiful girls danced around him. They all got a chance to be a star one by one.

Then the elephant and the dragon came. The jugglers led by Sili who was cleverly throwing the ball to the audience to engage them in the show worked wonders. Later Xuyen got the Phuon mit street children team to be in the dragon show. The most support expatriate man from VIS, Mr. Paul Cohen, was so fast he was right in the middle with the dragon before Xuyen invited him. What a volunteer! Thanks Paul, Annie, Jess, and Davis. You are always around us!

Among them we saw Catherine from Vientiane College, a dedicated mother with her children, Dr. Hanah with her boys were also there. They all generously donated a lot of kips for the circus troupe. Thank you all.

We also received the donation of 100,000 kip from Mr. Khamla, the owner of Green View Guest House and Pakeo Food Garden restaurant. Thank you so much Mr. Khamla. All together we made 290,000 ki (29.00 US Dollars).

The children had a great day! We invited the guests to come inside afterward for a look at the decoration – the new curtain for the big stage and then all the colorful strips of bright colored material dropped down from the ceiling to make it like a pretend traveling tent.

Then a spontaneous New Year celebration ‘Lot nam for Pimai Lao.’ Sili did a demonstration on how the traditional ‘lot nam’ was done and then the group of children began to do the Lao ‘suong’ chanting poem of Lao New Year followed by the rhythm of Sili, the drummer. Then Mme Sompone brought in the silver bowl with perfume water and frangipani branch of flowers dripping water to everyone’s shoulders. Then they sang and the Lamvong bean spontaneously. All that lasted another 20 minutes and visitors had a feeling of a nice and meaningful Pimai celebration at Donkoi Center.

Thank you all for your support of the children’s work and play.

The result of the circus was still at the first stage, but it was their biggest debut at Donkoi. Still so much to be improved, but the process, the participation from all of them, their enthusiasm, their discipline, their responsibility, their chances to talk, and to work together during this whole process. All that counted!

“Happy Lao New Year! Sabaidee Pimai thuc thuc khon!”

The circus of Donkoi Little Theatre was nicely born. Let’s nurture it to be a healthy ‘baby’ and grow nicely like we did with the Classic repertoire – the Ramakien Forever! Our first big theatre. We hope to bring this circus around as a traveling circus or traveling elephant one day.


Donkoi Children Development Center (DCDC), Laos

Initiated by Church World Services in 1998 With after school activities, CWS hopes to help making the school more fun and help keeping children in school longer. DCDC also helps promote practical education with new teaching methods and creative activities.

Membership

Regular about 70 children ages: 6 to 20. Most children came to participate in creative arts activities and small livelihood development projects. They mostly are from Donkoi primary school. Some are from high schools nearby. Some are drop outs and former migrant children to Thailand.

Program/Activities

Children form smaller groups for livelihood activities - weaving , mat making, carpentry, barbers, rice planting and gardening
Theater, puppetry, dance, and writing

Management

Run by a volunteer teacher with support of CWS and other NGOs
Children plan out and implement activities with the volunteer

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Monday, October 17, 2005

clowning time

Me and Sam have been invited to clown for cancer kids at Institut Pediatrik GH. 25th October at 2 pm.It is still in the blessed month of Ramadhan. Somehow this brings me back to the good old days in Laos when I had to celebrate 1st Aidilfitri with my english students in the class at IFA Laos. And it also reminds me of the time when I had to spent my Aidiladha in the rubbles city of Bam,Iran or perhaps quite some time ago when I had to break fast while sitting for my univ. exams.

When duty calls - you just have to do it and prays that whatever you do will be blessed by HIM.

whata small world indeed!

Case 1

discovered that fellow blogger in sentraalstation somehow "related" the past.
Funny. her mom and mine were classmate,asramamate masa sekolah.keciknya dunia!

Case 2

discovered that my colleague -duduk depan cubicle gua - was my long lost childhood friend. we used to be next door neighbour masa kecik-kecik. kici juga donya!

Case 3

discovered that another makcik blogger is my classmate punya aunty....ish ish keciknya dunia ni kan mak?hehehehe....

nice weekend

went back to Jerantut recent weekend. twas kinda relief to go back home when lots of tasks on the table completed last friday. Had heavenly pais tempoyak ikan patin and rendang for breaking fast.

ish susah susah aje mak aku ni...

Friday, October 14, 2005

smile stick



smile stick : funny sight gag used by the clown doctors from The Humour Foundation Australia

Interested to have it for your kids? Click here to download.

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

pakistan?

received sms from my friend, sam tee today.

samtee: mau pi pakistan?
aku: bila?
samtee: bila bila.

called him. he told me to standby but we reckoned it will within 1-2 months time. November i guess will be the best time. Can't wait to go.

ah better go and polish my clown shoes now.

Monday, October 10, 2005

fly again?

entah kenapa sejak kebelakangan ini, hati membuak membuak untuk merantau lagi.

Cerita gempa di Pakistan, melayari web firefly bosnia minggu lepas, menatap foto-foto di Laos seolah-olah memberi isyarat :

untuk terbang lagi.

Borang UNV sedang menunggu di rumah untuk diisi.

Friday, October 07, 2005

jom collect coins!


Nice and petite donation boxes to be given away FREE* to help to raise coins for cancer!

Interested to have it on your table or for your kids?
email me at iskandar@makna.org.my

This donation box with size (10 cm x 6 cm x 4 cm) is part of our latest fundraising efforts, Sens Saves Lives, to collect coins (10 posen, 20 posen,50 posen) to funds our fight against cancer.

Once you sendatkan the box with coins you can send it to us (call us also can to collect) or bank in the coins through maybank ( nombor tertera ditepi box tu)


FREE* - the cost to produce the box is RM0.40 per piece (not to mention postage cost) and it comes from public donations and thus it will be much helpful if the coins you collect tu could be send to us rather than to be used to pay tolls or bayar duit parking.

Thursday, October 06, 2005

Central Park, NYC

Central Park, New York City
walked through the heart of Central park to Museum of Natural History. Memang best!

cherita dari maine II: catatan jurnal (24 Ogos 2005)

baru sahaja tamat video session di barn. malam ini kami menonton filem lama tentang clown dari switzerland bernama Grock. sekarang sudah pukul 11 malam di sini.

sebelum video session, telah berlangsungnya daily night performance di mana pasti ada students yang tampil membuat persembahan dan menerima komen dan kritikan daripada Avner dan Julie. Malam ini hanya si Avner sahaja yang hadir untuk memberi komen dan suggestionsnya.

Saya membuat persembahan yang simple. To come to stage and sit on a high stool and to eat peanut butter sandwich. Sebenarnya rakan sebilik saya di Barn, Tavis Beem dari Clown Conservatory San Francisco (seorang graduate anthropology) sudah beberapa hari memujuk saya untuk mengulangi performance saya semasa di kelas sebelum ini yang padanya cukup kelakar. Entahlah. Saya tidak tahu bagaimana saya melakukannya sehingga dilihat dan dinilai mereka sebagai funny and hilarious. Pada hemat saya hanyalah berada di atas pentas untuk menyelesaikan masalah mengikut clown logics yang diajar oleh Avner dan Julie sebelum ini.

Prinsip yang diajar amat mudah: if you got a problem you got to deal with it. And to deal it is by asking internally this sentences;

"Oh! That's interesting!"

"Oh I know..." dan terus membuat keputusan dan mencari penyelesaian kepada masalah tersebut

Itu sahaja prinsipal yang saya gunakan semasa workshop.

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

posting khas utk mobilemom: walmart



huge.you can get everything inside. Walmart Supercenter, South Paris, Maine.

Monday, September 12, 2005

home at last...

Arrived home last monday.
Jetlag still.
It was a truly wonderfilled trip.
Found what I have been searching for.

The best compliment came from Avner Eisenberg himself who praised my simple yet profoundly hilarious performance during the workshop by saying;


a clown and his peanut butter sandwich

"There is no man in this world who work so hard but achieve so little"


p.s: Will be busy this week; writing post-trip reports & articles,planning for upcoming workshop (ada sesiapa nak join?),going to Ipoh for career talk during oldboys weekend at my alma mater -STAR Ipoh.

Monday, August 22, 2005

cherita dari maine

salam semua,

I have read your comments in my earlier posting. I am so sorry for unable to reply all. only thru this i could express my thanks and appreciation for your kind words.

Hari ini agak free. Avner and Julie ( my instructors) pergi melawat anaknya Zev di New England Music Camp di Sidney, Maine - so no class in the afternoon until tomorrow. Still, homework is given - playing with goopy objects and I got to polish up my works on music numero and flash theatre ( struggling with the latter since last week - nak balik semula jadi budak 6 tahun playing and creating images on world war II bukan semudah yang dijangkakan....aduh susaaaaaaaaaaahhhnya)

It has been a week for me at the Celebration Barn Theatre, South Paris, Maine. Banyak betul ilmu dapat dikutip sepanjang minggu lalu. Yang paling mendalam - breathing. Bayangkan just with a right breathing - you can make the audience laugh!

Nantilah, once dah habis workshop ni boleh lah bercerita panjang lagi. ada orang nak guna pc di barn's office ni tgh kita sedap sedap nak mencecer...

jumpa lagi,

iskandar
south paris, maine

Friday, August 12, 2005

The Journey

Sent to KLIA this morning by colleagues and si din, jiran depan rumah.
Arrived at newark around 7.30 pm local time after 22 hours gruelling journey by Malaysian Airlines.Sempat stopover 1 hour di arlanda, stockholm. Lucky me no problemo with the INS. passport stamped smoothly and no further checking at the customs.

sampai di newark memang tak book hotel apa apa pun. takut sangkut di INS lama sgt. called up few nearby hotels. most are fully booked. lupa this time around is summer. temperature cecah 35 celcius. panas macam KL but with no jerebu around. sky is clear.

anyway, booked into best western. just across the airport tapi dibawa shuttle bus memusing musing jauh.

esok pagi pagi nak kena check out and heading to NYC ( sejam jauhnya by shuttle) and try to get greyhound to portland the same day. tak larat lagi nak tgk documents etc. esok pagi pagilah check the schedules etc.

Tgh contemplating whether to spend most of the time after the workshop in NYC or explore other places around NYC. Sebenarnya kalau ikutkan hati berhajat nak bertemu Daniel Abdal-Hayy Moore, poet and playwright yang tinggal di Philadelphia itu. Teruja reading about him in Islamica (July 2005) Especially his poem, " The Coal" and how he uses puppetry to tell stories about prophets.

Tengoklah keadaan.

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

New York, New York

I am in the midst of last minutes preparation before departing for Newark tomorrow morning. Lots of things to be done today. Checklist? Passport? Flight tickets? etc...Urghhh! Pening.

Friday, July 29, 2005

Keluarga Ayah Pin

Patutla......



Foto terbaru Keluarga Ayah Pin....




Thursday, July 21, 2005

Ringgit peg removed -effect to a clown

Ringgit peg is removed. no more exchange rate at RM3.80 per 1 USD.

this clown is really really worried.

He must go to the bank first thing TOMORROW morning and change the ringgit to dollar notes.

TOLONGGGGGGGGGG JANGANLA NAIK RATE TINGGI SANGAT!!!!!SAYA NAK PI US BULAN DEPAN!!!! GRANT TAK DAPAT LAGI!!!!

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

grant story I

Booked my flight ticket to NYC yesterday. EDT : 9.20 a.m. , 11 August 2005. Taking my leave starting tomorrow until this weekend in order to settle the grant thingy. Nak buat medical check-up, sahkan surat perjanjian, mati setem, etc. Ah reminded me of the time when I did my scholarship agreement many years ago.
The grant will cover my airfare, tuition fees and small stipends. They won't cover my travel cost while travelling from NYC to Maine. I am letting go the fund assistance from my organisation. Malas nak guna duit derma orang ramai for cancer. Raising funds for cancer, I know how important it is funds to be channeled to the deserving patients. And personally, I am not comfortable to be "bonded" for several years for the assistance.

So now I got to get another USD500 (RM2000) to cover the travel cost before my departure day. Already asked around for help. Told my dad recently that I won't be able to pay for the his car loan installment for this month. He nodded and said, " we will find our way". Sad jugak dengar. Nak buat camno. Mak told me not to worry.

On the other hand, rezeki murah juga. Avner & Julie invited me to stay over for 1-2 days to get over the jet lag at their place in Peaks Island, Maine, before the course starts. Therefore boleh lah save a little bit of money there and the plus point is I would be able to get up-close and personal with the one of the world's leading teachers of physical comedy at his own retreat. Banyak boleh belajar nanti. (And I can jog around the 2 miles-long trek on the island in the morning, too.)

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

tandas masjid

Chatted with kakteh not so long time ago about this. somehow forgotten about it until reading anedra's blog today. One thing that really pissed me off - filthy toilets in the mosques around the country. Travelling around the country recently gave me the perfect glimpse of the condition of the toilets in the mosques, surau or madrasah from Perlis to Johor.

I simply can't understand while we preached to 'mengimarah' the masjid, asking people to berduyun-duyun datang bersolat berjemaah, yet at the same time we forget the very simple task of looking after the cleanliness of the toilets in the holy places like this. Susah sangat ke nak cuci tandas tiap tiap hari? Berapa minit nak ambil? busy sangat ka?

I dropped by at a mosque near Kubang Rotan, Kedah during my recent trip to Kedah( no discount - i will reveal the mosque that comes last in the list) wanting to use the toilet and as I walked toward the men's toilet, the overpowering smells just had made me to walk away. Same goes to that small masjid in Kuala Linggi, Melaka. Tak berjaga! Kenapa?

Looking into my own backyard, I prayed jumaat once in a small mosque in Kg Kerambit, and noticed how the carpet in the prayer hall was peppered with that tiny black white top missiles ( tahi cicak). Hallo? No need to go further to the toilet's condition if the floor is dirty, right?

I am so disgusted really. Nak blame sapa ya? Jawatankuasa masjid? makmum? imam? bilal? Ntahlah.
I pondered. How can we want the young people or just people to embrace the mosque if the mosque itself does not shine the lights of purity? We should be ashamed with ourselves.

Perhaps now. I feel that to go to the mosque is becoming ritualistic rather than to nurture the concept of wholeness of life.
Oh by the way, dont' despair...there still clean toilets you can find in many mosque. Try pi masjid Putrajaya....nice..

Thursday, July 07, 2005

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

Good news 1 - I got the grant!

Good news 2 - remember my blog "about a mother". She sms-ed me the other day; she and her daughter was offered a 3 year contract with a local production house to produce an album.

Monday, July 04, 2005

KL Charity Duck Race 2005

race day : 4th September 2005

where: Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur

aim: to raise RM1,000,000

beneficiaries: Majlis Kanser Nasional (MAKNA) & Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation

how you can help: adopt a rubber duck for RM18 or USD5 (equivalentlah) or be a volunteer to sell the duck

who can participate: anybody who lives in this planet . sebab this event memang WORLD!

where to get the adoption certificates: from me ( i got 3 books to sell) and from watsons stores in Peninsular Malaysia or ticketcharge.com.my

what's in it for you: if your adopted duck cross the finish line the first -you will win RM1,000,000 (if you are lucky enough to get the red duck for adoption - all the duck are randomly tagged so no way you could choose the red one).

If your adopted duck is yellow - you will get RM10,000.

Frequent FAQ:

1. can I have the duck for myself because it is sooo cute? Not for free. bayarla. RM9.90 aje.

2. what happened during the race day on the 4th Sept? carnival, performance by artiste, line dancing, bazaar etc.

3. Do I get the chance to meet DR Bubbles that day? tak. tgh tidor kat umah kot sebab jetlag balik dari USA on the 3rd of Sept morning. hehehe....

FURTHER DETAILS : Check out www.klduckrace.com

Friday, July 01, 2005

conversation


Saya suka berbual dengan orang. Mungkin sifat ini diwarisi daripada abah yang memang terkenal dengan keperamahannya. Selalu kalau abah lambat balik dari pasar, kata mak “ biasalah abah, habis semua orang di pasar dia tegur”.Macam wakil rakyat. Kami selalu pening kepala kalau waktu kenduri kendara. Bila ditanya tentang jemputan, siapa yang dia jemput? berapa ramai? memang tiada jawapan konkrit dari abah. Sedar-sedar, bila hari kenduri, berpusu-pusu orang datang. Kalau kenduri kahwin ( sudah 3 kali), jemputan yang datang mesti tidak kurang dari 1000 orang. Stail abah – jumpa orang dimana-nama terus jemput. Yang peliknya kalau dijemput mesti datang dan lauk dan nasi minyak mesti cukup dan sedap!

Hari ini saya sepatutnya bertemu dengan Prof Shukor Kasim dari Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia untuk berbincang tentang projek Mikrokredit MAKNA di pejabatnya. Semalam sudah menelefon pembantunya, Puan N. Dia M.C. Susah betul nak bercakap dgn Pn. N untuk tetapkan temujanji dgn Prof Shukor sebelum ini. Cuti, MC dan sebagainya. Kali terakhir bercakap dengannya Isnin lepas. Nak marah juga rasanya bila berhadapan dengan karenah orang macam ni.

Pagi-pagi tadi , Pn. N menelefon saya dan memaklumkan kepada saya tentang temujanji tersebut dan sebelum meletakkan telefon, saya sempat “ringan mulut” dengan ramahnya bertanya kepada Pn. N,

“ Pn. N, you tak sihat ke 2-3 menjak ni?”

Dia menjawab, “ Oh, suami saya meninggal baru-baru ini”. Oh! Tergamam saya sejenak. Timbul rasa simpati. Rupa-rupanya ada sebab kenapa Pn. N sukar dihubungi selama ini. 2 minggu lalu suaminya meninggal dunia akibat penyakit jantung yang hanya diketahui Pn. N sebulan selepas mereka berkahwin. Sudah 6 tahun mereka berkahwin dan sepanjang 6 tahun itulah dia menjaga suaminya dengan tekun.

Maka, bermulalah perbualan panjang saya dengan Pn. N. Dia bercerita tentang arwah suaminya yang menghidap penyakit jantung sejak mereka mula berkahwin dahulu. Dia terus bercerita tentang rawatan berbulan-bulan dijalani oleh arwah suaminya itu. Banyak kisah kami bualkan.Saya banyak mendengar dari bercakap ketika itu.

Selepas selesai dan meletakkan telefon, saya terfikir betapa mudahnya juga kita membuat tanggapan tentang sesuatu perkara tanpa usul periksa. Saya ‘terkena’ hari ini (reminds me of the concept of paradigm shift).

Dan saya juga merasa pelik kerana betapa mudahnya seseorang itu meluahkan rasa dan berkongsi sesuatu yang mungkin terlalu peribadi kepada orang yang baru dikenali.

I learned something today.


Wednesday, June 29, 2005

Sunday, June 26, 2005

Clown Principles

Susah nak jadi clown ni. Tak percaya? Read these principles sent by Avner to me recently. The last principle is the toughest!

Clown Principles By Avner Eisenberg

1. Clown’s job is to make the audience feel things, and to get the audience to breathe.

2. Everyone inhales, but many of us need to be reminded to exhale.

3. The imagination and the brain are connected to and affect the body. Any change in the mind has a corresponding change in the body. Any change in the body (i.e. in the breath first) has a corresponding change in the mind.

4. Don’t tell or show the audience what to think, do, or feel.

5. Don’t tell or show your partners what to think, do, or feel. Don’t point.

6. Weight belongs on the underside. Keep a single point in you lower abdomen. Keep your energy flowing.

7. Tension is your enemy. It produces emotional, mental and physical numbness.

8. How you feel about your numero is what counts, not whether it is in reality good or bad.

9. The clown discovers an audience who are sitting in rows and looking at an empty space and waiting for a show. This must be dealt with first, by establishing complicity with the audience.

10. The clown creates a world in the empty space, rather than entering into a world that already exists (sketch).

11. Use mime to create fantasy, not to re-create reality.

12. The clown searches to create a game and to define the rules, which must be obeyed.

13. Don’t ask or tell the audience how they feel or think. Show them what you feel.

14. It is better to be interested than interesting.

15 You have to breathe all your life, even on stage.

16. The clown enters the stage to do a job, not to get laughs. If there are laughs, it is an interruption that must be dealt with.

Clowning with Cancer Children at GE Mall

Had a very fun day at Great Eastern Mall yesterday. Me and Sam was clowning with cancer children from PPUM. We were supposed to mingle around with the kids but somehow due to unforeseen circumstance ( erghh!!) we were ask to do an impromptu show. The local celebrity singer who supposed to come didn't turned up. Can't help it but to proceed with improvised show. no back up music whatsoever. we did improvised games and sang songs. We just grab the kids and the parent to join us.




Anyway, we had a great fun with the kids. Sam busy with ballooning and I was busy making jokes and improvising with the kids and their parents. Sam and I comes from different school of clowning thoughts. He is from traditional american clowning school of thoughts whereas I am more towards european theatrical clowning way. I seldom do balloons and stuff as I believe my role is to create interactions. We complement each other.


Hey! anedra was there! Laaaa.... kenapa tak datang and tegur saya?


Friday, June 17, 2005

Alhamdulillah...finally

Alhamdulillah...finally I just want to share a very good news with everybody.

Insya Allah, I will be going to USA this August. Yeay!

My employer has agreed to send me for the course under their training programme. I can't wait or depend on the government grant anymore. I am not sure how much they will give or not. If it gets through, fine. I just consider that as a bonus.

Thank you all for your prayers and kind thoughts. I really appreciate it!

Wednesday, June 15, 2005

Thank you

15 June 2005

Maknenek Banner Productions Inc,
PO Box 5461,
Black Forest,
Jerman Barat.

Dear Madam,

SATISFACTION THRU YOUR BANNER DESIGN SERVICE

I refer to my satisfaction for your the very beautiful banner design. Thank you for your excellent service; just give the details and the gambars to you and wallah!banner ready within 30 minutes. What a terror (tera) designer you is!
I also check aa that you also did bleutiful banner for other customer; so I am satisfied and happy.

And more thank you for your international support service too. This makcik from london very promptly contact me and will try to repair the blog. yelah the right column seems to drop down. And I know I am in the safe hands when she was blabbering about mozilla and godzilla .that makcik I tell you, very the techie one you know. where you got her to work for you meh?

I am very happy like in the cloud 7 to see my banner already beautiful up there!

thanks you again for your assistance.


Your everloving customer,

Dr Bubbles


P.S : Eh! Eh! stop! stop! why aa suddently aa my banner went lost meh? cannot see pictures some more? my check bounce meh? please sent that makcik modzilla godzilla to assist me again, please. My numbet aa is 00-603-4156 9871. I am right here waiting for her.
Sorry aa for my engrlish is not so OK.

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Last place

I just got an email from the Celebration Barn today . They are keeping the last place in the workshop just for me until I sort out the grant application thingy.

Phewwww!

Monday, June 13, 2005

Jogging

Little I realised that I have been jogging religiously for the past 2 months or so. Went for jogging this morning. woke up at 6 am. dozed off again until 6.30 am. Prayed and quickly drove to Taman TAR. It was still dark when I reached there but there were fellow joggers around already. Parked my van in front of Kelab Darul Ehsan. It is safer to park there than other place in that area. And for precautions, I usually won't bring my wallet along. Just my driving licence and IC , that's all.

Warmed up a little bit and start to jog at 6.50 am, climbing up the slope leading towards Tamarind Springs. Reached the peak huffing and puffing despite trying my best to calm myself by belly-breathing. I felt like to stop at the peak of the slope but managed to drag myself slowly and continue until I reach the entrance of Kelab Darul Ehsan. Phewww! this is the second time, I managed to jog non-stop completing the circuit. It took me about 30 minutes and thus I reckoned that the circuit is around 3 km circling the Kelab Darul Ehsan's compound.

Since I have been jogging, I do noticed that, my morning achoo's disappears completely and somehow I can 'last' longer in the office than before. Otherwise, after 3 pm it will be a 'mandom' period until 5 pm. Now, not anymore. And, I also notice that no more in between snacks etc. Makan on time. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. No dinner after 7 pm. (Seluar pun dah longgar. Hahaha!)

The reason why I first to take up jogging for the past few months, is not so much of losing weight, or other reasons like the fact that Sofia Jane or Hans Isaac used the same circuit for jogging, etc . It wasn't my intention at all. I just want to have my old me who loved to run during his teens. I used to run for cross-country during my schooldays and stopped completely the regime when I finished my SPM. (If you see my photos during my STAR's years, you won't believe it that it was me). It was fun, really.
Haa....fellow exercisers like atenah....any komen?

duly submitted

I have submitted the syllabus and the tuition fees info to the ministry's officials today. I don't know how long it will take for them to decide. I cannot rely so much on the grant application and already consider other options. Alhamdulillah, I managed to get in touch with Avner's partner, Julie Goell who reassured me that they will try to hold a place for me as long as possible until I got any updates on the grants.

Saturday, June 11, 2005

When I am smilin'......

I love this song so much. First heard in Adam Sandler's " Anger Management".

When you're smilin' When you're smilin'
The whole world smiles with you.
And when you're laughin' When you're laughin'
The sun comes shinin' through.
When you're cryin',
You bring on the rain, So, stop you're sighin',
Won't you be happy again!
When you're smiling, Keep on smilin'
And the whole world smiles with you.


I was jogging (yeah!) as usual yesterday when I got a phone message from Kementerian Kesenian people asking me to call them back on Monday. In fact they were trying to reach me at the office yesterday evening (around 6.30 pm) and I was already halfway climbing up the "Tamarind Springs" slope in Taman TAR. Luckily my colleague picked up the phone and relayed the message to me.
Hahaha.. Alhamdulillah. Apparently my appeal letter to Dato' Rais Yatim I'd sent few weeks ago seemed to take effects on the officials who must be frantically trying to find answers for the blunder. The officer in charge musti dah kena "bambu" for not going thru my application thoroughly. And now finally, they asked me to provide the 'budget breakdown' and also the detailed syllabus for the course. I hope it is a 'good sign' when they started to ask these infos from me.

But then, budget breakdown tu OKlah but detailed syllabus? Ayoyo.. come on, asking a world's leading teachers of physical comedy like Avner for a detailed syllabus? You must be joking! But then fair enough, I wrote to him last night ( came back to office just for that) and this morning ( Yes, I went back to sleep and come back this morning. :) ) I got the expected reply from him.

Sure enough he wrote,

Dear Iskandar,
Thank you for writing. There is no official syllabus for the Eccentric Performing workshop.
It is a professional level course, but has no academic standing per se.
We we meet for two 3-hour classes every day for over sixty hour of class work.
In addition we meet in the evenings for presentation of assignments and critique of student's work.
Below are two handouts that summarize the principles of what is taught.I hope this helps. Unfortunately I am on tour and will not be able to fax these documents.
You can find additional material and bigraphies on both Julie and myself at the Barn site, www.celebrationbarn.com, as well as at my site, http://www.avnerTHEeccentric.com.
I must advise you that the workshop is nearly full, so please submit your application as soon as possible so we can hold a spot for you.
Please do not hesitate to write if you have any further questions.
With best regards,

Avner Eisenberg

I am bit worried on the last lines. The workshop is nearly full and I am still 'ding-dong'ing with ministry officials.

Kalau nak bagi, bagi ajelah kan?

Tuesday, May 31, 2005

It's 5 o'clock!!!

It's 5 o'clock! Sorry I can't blog anything now. I am off for my jogging session.
Info for atenah, I lost 5 kg after 1 month ++ stint.

Monday, May 23, 2005

ada di sini

I am still alive.hehehe...

been busy with ups and down of my life for the past few weeks.

downs :

my grant application to go to USA to study under Avner the Eccentric this august 05 under that skim latihan penggiat seni, kementerian kesenian kebudayaan dan warisan malaysia was rejected. I can always accept the decision made by the board but the reason they gave was really crap - that they only can consider short courses under 6 months period. But then , my course is going to be only for 2 weeks!

anyway, i am going to write an appeal to the honourable minister himself. To me it is quite simple; if you don't ask, the answer will always be NO! mana tau rezeki ada kan. if not padan muka depa (board members) for not reading my application! hahaha!


Ups:

clowning

I will be clowning in few hospitals in June - July 05. Phewww! my budget paper for the visits was approved last week. I will be in Kota Kinabalu in late June - clowning at the Hospital Queen Elizabeth. I will then proceed to HUSM Kubang Kerian in early July and PPUM in mid July. Been reading book by Caroline Simonds and Bernie Warren, The Clown Doctor Chronicles, and will incorporate some of the interesting approach she described in the book during the visits.

my juggling improving. now I can do two styles. Yippee!

microcredit

my 2 pages proposal paper on microcredit program was "well received" by the old man last week. "well received' means it won't be returned with the remarks "Redo!". Instead he commented, " Good efforts!" and gave his additional inputs.

It will be developed further with the helps of Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia, Insha Allah. It means a lot to me. if you remember my posting on "about a mother", this program will help her to stand on her own feet by giving her small loan to start off her self-employment project. Hopefully, when it is going to be launched next year (2006) , around 100 cancer patients/survivors/families can be helped through this wonderful program.

reading

I was in Langkawi recently staying at the "ibu mertuaku" house (hahaha....). We just finished our cancer road tour in Kangar and she invited us to spend our weekends at her place in Langkawi. Nice place really. It was so peaceful and quiet. And what I enjoyed most was the nice collection of books in the house. There, I got a chance to devour the stacks of Journals of Malaysian Branch of Royal Asiatic Society (JMBRAS) belongs to her judge-husband. And reading The Undeclared War by James, H & Sheil-Small, D. , Leo Cooper Ltd, 1971 , I came across some information on the Squadron 845 stationed in Naga Gaat during the confrontation. It confirmed the facts that 3 crashes happened in the early months 1965 in which one in March that killed my late uncle, Pvte. Abdul Hamid Mohamed. At least now I know how life is like at that forward base of Squadron 845 during the confrontation.

what's next?

I don't dwell so much on the downs. Fair enough, if I can't go to study clowning this year, next year will give me more time to raise the necessary funds for the trip. I believe in niat. Kalau niat yang baik, Insya Allah it will be easier to achieve.

Monday, May 02, 2005

bayar bills

I was at the Citibank Jalan Ampang just now.

Long queues.

It was due to some people who took a little bit longer time to pay not just for 1 card but more.(more cards=more debts=miskin)

As a trained engineer, I was trained to look for solutions for the problems and being a clown I can't help to craft zany ideas. Here are some of the ideas playing in my minds while I was waiting for my turn. Please add in. (By the way I have only 1 card!)


Problem: Long queues at credit card cash payment machines.

Possible solutions:

1. Just like TESCO or other hypermarkets, create Express Lane for customer with 1 card or less!

2. bring that picnic foldable seat along to be used while waiting for your turn.

3. play your mobile phone games.

4. bring along your knitting kit.

5. ....

Friday, April 29, 2005

My Kuala Lipis II






"Ibu Mertua" dihadapan Bangunan JHEOA Kuala Lipis. Beliau pernah bekerja disana selama 2 bulan sekitar 1974-75.






Papan Tanda ke Rumah Siti Nurhaliza, Sg Kerpan, Kuala Lipis.

Penjom






Saya dibesarkan di sini. Kampung Penjom, Batu 6, Jalan Lipis – Benta, Kuala Lipis, Pahang. Daripada tahun 1980 – 1986 saya menghabiskan (menikmati!) zaman masa kanak-kanak saya di kampung ini. Bapa saya bertugas sebagai Guru Besar di SK Penjom ketika itu. Kami tinggal di rumah guru yang dibina sejak 1930an lagi . Rumah berdinding kayu itu beratapkan zink. Bising bunyinya apabila ditimpa hujan. Rumah itu kini sudah tiada digantikan dengan rumah guru berdinding batu beberapa tahun dahulu.






Saya singgah di kampung itu semalam untuk menunaikan solat Zohor. Saya dalam perjalanan pulang ke Kuala Lumpur dari Kota Bharu. Sudah banyak berubah. Masjid lama tempat saya bermain dan belajar-belajar melaungkan azan sudah tinggal separuh menjadi setor menyimpan pinggan mangkuk. Beduk tua yang selalu mengejutkan saya diwaktu subuh sudah tidak digunakan lagi. Kebun getah berhampiran masjid yang menjadi laluan harian saya adik-beradik untuk belajar mengaji Al-Quran di rumah Haji Daud juga telah tiada lagi. Yang tinggal hanyalah semak samun dan ulan menjalar.






Berlegar-legar di sekitar masjid yang baru dibina bersebelahan masjid lama saya sempat menjenguk kawasan perkuburan berhampiran. Dahulu saya selalu mengikuti gotong-royong penduduk kampung membersihkan kawasan masjid dan tanah perkuburan itu. Sayu di hati melihat pada batu-batu nesan tertera nama-nama mereka yang saya masih ingat dan kenal biarpun hampir 20 tahun saya meninggalkan kampung ini. Tok Penghulu Zaharuddin Hj Talib yang selalu menjadi pengadil bolasepak perlawanan persahabatan diantara belia kampung itu dan kampung berdekatan baru sahaja meninggal dunia tahun lepas. Haji Daud, guru mengaji saya pun telah pulang ke rahmatullah beberapa tahun lalu.






Saya melawat kembali SK Penjom yang terletak bersebelahan dengan masjid. Disitulah tempat yang menjadi ruang kehidupan kanak-kanak saya selama 6 tahun. Kolam ikan disebelah pejabat sekolah masih ada. Dahulu saya suka mencari-cari berudu di situ. Perpustakaan sekolah masih tegak berdiri. I owe a lot to that building. Di sanalah setiap hari, saya khayal ‘mengembara’ ke serata dunia dengan membaca buku-buku Enid Blyton, Thomas The Tank Engine, Ensiklopedia dan himpunan buku-buku Penguin Books. Dahulu sayalah yang memegang kunci perpustakaan itu. Selepas tamat waktu persekolahan saya akan meminta kunci perpustakaan dari Pakcik Zaaba, kerani sekolah yang mahir menari Tarian Tradisional dan memulangkannya kembali dengan menyusupkan kunci melalui bawah pintu pejabatnya apabila selesai






Pintu perpustakaan sekolah itu semalam berkunci. Kalau tidak sudah tentu saya kembali ‘khayal’ menatapi buku-buku yang pernah menjadi sahabat karib saya dahulu.

Saya masih ingat akan Perayaan Jubli Emas SK Penjom pada tahun 1980. ”King Ghaz” Tan Sri Ghazali Shafie datang merasmikan majlis sambutan. Pesta. Meriah. Malam itu Kumpulan Carefree tampil membuat persembahan konsert dan lawak jenaka oleh A. Tawil . Malah ada pertunjukan wayang gambar di padang besar berhampiran.






Hari ini, SK Penjom akan menyambut Perayaan Jubli Intannya. Sudah 75 tahun usia SK Penjom. Sambutannya kini kecil-kecilan. Sambutan hanyalah berkisar akan ceramah motivasi, forum perdana dan pameran buku. Majlis akan dirasmikan oleh Ahli Parlimen Lipis. Zaman berubah.

Selamat Ulang Tahun ke-75 SK Penjom!

Tuesday, April 26, 2005

away

I am in KB with Jee and "Ibu Mertua" (ahaks!). Been driving all day from Kuala Lumpur, stopping by in KT and finally arrived in KB at 7 pm, just before Maghrib.

Monday, April 25, 2005

KL International Book Fair



I went to KL International Book Fair at PWTC yesterday. Met jiwarasa for the first time there. (Nice meeting you bro!) . Nothing much at the book fair frankly. Biasa-biasa saja. Yet still, I managed to get Kamus Dewan at a discounted rate.

Friday, April 22, 2005

My Kuala Lipis

Rumah Residen, Bukit Residen



I was brought up in Kuala Lipis for 7 years (1980 - 1987) and it was with a nice feeling that I returned to that sleepy town few days ago.

Truly I am proud to be brought up in Kuala Lipis not for its famous Siti Nurhaliza but rather for its rich history.

Do you know that Kuala Lipis used to be the state capital of Pahang before it moves to Kuantan sometime in 1950s?

And the name of Lipis is derived from a local folklore about a white crocodile named Pis was 'ditegur' by Sang Gedembai or Kelembai. From "Cis Pis!" slowly after years it turned into Lipis.

I still miss the thick local dialect of Lipis which somewhat different and always misconstrue as kelantan dialect; which is not.

Digest this famous lines:

kaih nak kaih sebet!

and you might think that they are talking about Carlsberg and yet the actual meaning of what they are saying is " kalau saya nak saya sebut(beritahu)" or " gua bagitau lu la nanti kalau gua nak"

If you happen to be in Kuala Lipis, do wander around. Check out the old government mansions in Jalan Bukit Bius or the old Pahang Club (built in 1867) just right behind the Kuala Lipis Hospital. The mini museum at the Rumah Residen (built by Hugh Clifford) I believe is still there and you might have a chance to see the display of a mysterious brick found in the bottom of Tasik Chini and said to be the remnant from the sunken Kerajaan Champa many centuries ago.

Kenong Rimba Park is quite nearby too. The infamous rumah rakit along Sg Jelai and its special treats of kelantanese and siam girls are no longer there. The river seems dry now.

Rumah Rakit along the riverbank of Sg Jelai













somma gele gele!

I still remember this scout's song my father taught me when I was a little kid.

somma gele gele
somma gele gele
harum bauwe

somma gele gele
somma gele gele
harum bauwe

dimana dia?
dimana dia?
cinta hati saya

cinta hati saya
cinta hati saya

yang pakai baju merah.

Kenyataan Akhbar

Kuala Lumpur - Jumaat
Adapun posting " Kluang Railway Station" telah mengundang pelbagai kenyataan tentang isu dan status "ibu mertua". Berikut di lampirkan kembali kenyataan-kenyataan daripada Persatuan Ibu-ibu mertua London dan juga Ibu Mertua Anonymous (satu pertubuhan NGO yang membela nasib ibu mertua di Meru, Klang) dan Agensi Berita Basi Yang berpusat di Jerman.
Berikut adalah kenyataan balas badut untuk memberi gambaran sejelasnya terhadap isu "ibu mertua" yang telah mendapat liputan meluas di seluruh dunia.


1. Isu hubungan badut dengan penyanyi popular dan ibu mertua di london
Si badut menafikan sekeras-kerasnya gosip liar mengaitkan beliau dengan si penyanyi pofular dan ibu mertua di london. Tiada sebarang MOU atau MOA ditandatangani diantara mana-mana pihak untuk tujuan risik-2 ke apa ke. Namun si badut melihat isu ini mulai ribut-ribut setelah beliau menyiarkan siri lawatan ke Kluang bersama "ibu mertua" yang jelas telah menimbulkan rasa kurang senang sesetengah pihak.

2. Isu mahkamah syariah
perkara ini telah dirujuk kepada Mssr. Karpal melalui kawan si badut yang bekerja sebagai coffee lady di pejabat Mssr. Karpal untuk tindakan undang-2. Adalah disyaki bahwa kenyataan itu punyai niat nakal.


3. Isu ikat perut
Isu ini ada kebenarannya. si badut kini sedang mengikat perut di waktu malam. "no dinner" after 7 dan sentiasa berjogging setiap hari untuk menjayakan program Malaysia Cergas.


4. Isu majalah pojok Jerman dengan cerita-cerita sensasinya
ish..ish..mana la dapat cerita ni. untuk makluman majalah pojok jerman itu mempunyai 2 pemegang saham terbesar; iaitu seorang auntie yang digembar-gemburkan sebagai ibu mertuasi badut di london, seorang editor majalah web di malaysia. Masing-masing punyai kepentingan sebanyak RM5.00 di dalam majalah pojok tersebut.


5. Siapakah "ibu mertua" tu?
"Ibu mertua" tersebut adalah rakan setugas si badut yang sedang dalam siri lawatan ke seluruh negara. Untuk makluman semua terutama agensi berita basi Jerman, kebetulan beliau dan rombongan lawatan berada di negeri kelahiran si badut dan 2-3 hari lepas telah pun bertemu dengan ibu si badut di Jerantut Pahang dan bermalam di rumah "besan"nya. nampaknya mereka dah serasi bak kata orang-orang tua atau dalam bahasa Jawa kuno "bonded well" berkongsi minat dalam bidang masakan dan bercucuk tanam.
Malah ibu si badut sempat membekalkan "ibu mertua" dengan benih-benih pokok kepada ibu mertua untuk dibawa pulang ke Kuala Lumpur.
Ktika berangkat pulang ke Kuala Lumpur, "ibu mertua" telah tertinggal kasutnya dan rombongan terpaksa berpatah balik ke rumah ibu si badut untuk mengambilnya. Ini merupakan 'strong sign' menunjukkan bahawa something is going to happened. hehehe....
Namun untuk menjawab segala persoalan tentang siapa "ibu mertua" itu berikut disertakan petunjuk yang mungkin boleh membantu agensi berita basi Jerman yang suka menyiarkan cerita-2 sensasi itu:


"Ibu mertua" is the proud mother to a young lady who just won the best oralist in the recent moot in Washington USA.


Penutup
si badut tidak dapat dihubungi buat masa ini kerana sibuk dengan siri lawatan ke seluruh negara bersama "ibu mertua" dan rombongan. Minggu depan mereka akan ke Terengganu dan Kelantan. Sempatlah "ibu mertua" shopping kain batik dan kain tudung untuk dibawa pulang ke KL kelak.


Rujukan kenyataan berkaitan

At 1:42 AM, Kak Teh said…
JERANTUT (ISNIN): Seorang Badut telah dihadapkan ke mahkamah syariah sini semalam kerana dituduh memiliki beberapa orang ibu mertua. Badut tersebut kali terakhir dilihat cuba mengambil hati mangsanya yang terakhir di sebuah stesen keretapi usang, jauh daripada rumah kediaman ibu mertuanya yang lain-lain. Pada waktu yang sama, badut tersebut juga telah mengirim pesan agar orang yang juga diakui ibu mertuanya yang kini berada di London, supaya merisik seorang penyanyi terkenal yang berasal dr negerinya sendiri. Tabiatnya ini sememangnya sudah lama diperhatikan oleh orang ramai.Ketika disoal oleh hakim di mahkamah tersebut mengapa satutidak mencukupi, dia dengan selambanya menjawab:Tuan Hakim, saya memang pandai juggle!


At 2:39 AM, Anonymous said…
berita terkini...berita terkini...Dari sumber yang boleh di percayai, kedengaran bisik-bisik dari salah seorang dari ibu mertuanya yang Badut sekarang cuma mampu membodek bakal ibu mertua di kedai kopi dengan sepinggan nasi lemak berharga 50sen. Sumber ini juga memberitau yang Badut terpaksa mengikat perutnya sendiri kerana dengar kata penyanyi terkenal itu telah meminta berdulang-dulang hadiah ala puteri gunung ledang..

At 11:32 AM, MakNenek said…
DARI BILIK BERITA BASI-Tabloid-Sensasi-Yang Boleh Anda Percayai-Jumaat, 22 April 2005Desas desus cerita tentang Entertainer glamer, Dr. Bubbles, sudah sampai ke meja Bilik Berita Basi malam semalam. Wartawan mendapat beberapa SMS yang merayu agar Bilik Berita Basi menerbitkan cerita ini secepat mungkin.Dr. Bubbles, seorang badut, pernah dihalau oleh Ibu mertuanya satu masa dahulu oleh kerana dia bukan Loyar atau Majistret. Isterinya, Sabariah juga turut hampa kerana sangkakan dia adalah ahli muzik. (Maklumlah, career pilihan Dr. Bubbles ni memang unik). Artis terkenal CT, yang sekampung dengannya, juga telah mengadukan kepada pihak polis yang mengisukan waran, agar jarak antara Dr. Bubbles dengannya, mesti tidak kurang dari 1km bila bila masa. Ini disebabkan, percubaan Dr. Bubbles memikatnya dalam baju kerjanya (pakaian badut), kurang menyenangkan penyanyi tadi yang dipercayai mengigau waktu tidur selama 7 hari berturut-turut. Paling terkini, Dr. Bubbles dipercayai cuba tactic baru untuk mengambat hati ibu mertuanya yang entah keberapa (menurut laporan dari bilik berita lain). Apabila sumber kami menyelidikinya, makcik tadi tidak punya anak perempuan pun. Makcik itu mempunyai 3 anak lelaki, tapi satu dipercayai telah menjalani operation di Thailand suatu masa dahulu. (Maaf, operation apa, kami tak dapat nak jelaskan)Sekian dari KamiKami mengintip demi anda.

Friday, April 15, 2005

Coffee Shop at Kluang Railway Station

First featured in Going Places and aired in TV3's Majalah 3 last weekend.



The world famous Coffee Shop at Kluang Railway Station


sipping coffee with mother-in-law to be?
Surreal but nice experience. *wink*


quotable quote!


Ibu mertuaku” having Nasi Lemak Panas for RM0.50 only!


coffee and toasts at 2 pm?


Bills:

Roti Bakar – 3 (toasted with homemade kaya and a slab of cold butter)
Kopi - 3 cawan
Karipap - 2 keping
Nasi Lemak – 2 bungkus

Cost RM6.70 alahai……

You can buy coffee mix for RM8 (1/2 kg) and homemade kaya for RM3.50 per tub


Directions

Exit Toll PLUS Air Hitam. follow the sign and drive towards Kluang town.
After 2nd roundabout as you the Kluang town you will find the railway crossing.

Drive past and turn left . The railway station is just 500 m away.