Pi's T W I S T: Rose's family

Pi's T W I S T: Rose's family

The Miracle Of Networking

Friday, 24th October 2008. A Hari Raya gathering for Uptrenders of UMMIE (Universal Marketing & Mentoring of International Entrepreneur) group was held at Blk 652, Bedok Reservoir.

A family of Uptrenders at the gathering

After almost a 2 month break for Ramadhan and Syawal, the gathering is a kick-off to another usual session of s.g.m. (small group meeting) held weekly.

Networking has done wonders to the group. Bonding among partners were forged. Acknowledging, learning and sharing new ideas always on implementation, and widening the invinsible horizon has enlarge the network growth.

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Another gathering took place on Sunday, 26th October 2008 at Perumahan Anggerek Sari, Batam.
Indeed, attending an Indonesian Uptrender's marriage at Muka Kuning, Batam, has enriched me with diverse culture of the world bridging the different country.

A business that was initially done 'out of fun' and 'to past time' has cross border that sees no boundary.

Happy Deepavali

It was 5.15pm.
A group of bikers parking at the side of an Indian stall were waiting for friends to go to work together. A snaking row of Bas Kilang were crawling in the queue. Groups of girls were pacing up and down -  Impatience shown on their faces waiting for their transports yet to come. Though 'Festival of the Light' is round the corner, these Indian bikers, drivers and factory workers put their festive mood aside to routinely face the jam to cross the Johore Bahru Causeway greasing the economy.

Foreign Indians always fascinate me. They add colours and vibrants to all the happenings in the Lion City - Singapore.

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Sitting at the bus-stop across Sheng Shiong nearest to the Woodlands Checkpoint, we can see the expatriate homemakers doing marketing at one of the cheapest store in Singapore. Their charming feature makes one momentarily believe that bevies of Bollywood beauties are waiting for buses.
Their intelligence has made the world pursue them.

The former Indian president, Mr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam who had been an invited speaker at S Rajaratnam School of International Study recently is confident of 100% literacy rate in India by 2020.
A rocket scientist himself, his vision of knowledge societies being innovative through creativity, has him encouraging young business graduates to take to politics in hastening the economic transformation of the country.

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Excellent qualities in Indians contribute to the glitters in Singapore - Being expatriates do not discourage them to contribute to Singaporeans. They are known to sit as a board member of one of the Singapore Indian Association, become trustee of Indian self-help group and setting up trust-fund for needy children in Singapore and back home, India. Singapore need these people or...

Fact shown that Hindu marriages in any of the 28 listed temples in the island has all been performed by expatriate priests.
Singapore's 140 000 Hindus has never shown interest in becoming the head of one of the Indian religion.

For all the causes of their coming, residing and contributing towards the society, in the week of this joyous festivity, I wish all Hindus A VERY VERY HAPPY DEEPAVALI.

The Haj Story - Everybody Is An Imam ( leader )

Flashing back to an article in Berita Harian, 30th August 2008, Singapore's only Malay newspaper, where a marriage in Lucknow, India, was solemnised by a woman, Dr Saida Habib, last 13th August 2008, memories of misunderstood interpretation came fresh to mind.

It was December 2005, Haj season.

"Sembahyang kat mesjid?" A lady asked me.

"Ha ah. Kenapa tak pegi?" I asked them knowing everybody is spending at least RM10,000 to go to Makkah and be near to Kaabah in Masjidil Haram.

"Jauh sangat. Lagi pun kalang kabut nak ikut imam. Jadi kita sembayang sorang-sorang dalam bilik." The lady replied.

"Kenapa tak jema'ah dalam bilik?" I asked innocently.

A big opportunity had been missed.
Solat in Masjidil Haram will be rewarded 100,000 times more than back home if it's individually performed.
But when following an imam, it will be times 27.

A 2,700,000 reward for just a solat is what drives Muslims from all over the world to congregate in the Grand Mosque once a year in the month of Dzulhijjah.
The 2,700,000 reward likened to us praying for more than 7,000 years individually or more than 50 years when doing it together with at least 2 people.

"Mana boleh perempuan jadi imam. Nak jadi Aminah Wadud nombor 2 ke?" Relating to an incident happened in Manhattan, New York.
The answer pricked my ears. I was in, for a shock.

After all the life being a born Muslim, she is yet to know that Islam is not about restriction - Islam is about moderation.

How am I to tell her the reason why Aminah Wadud created a controversy is because she led a Friday prayer* and giving sermon to men and women in the jema'ah!
How am I to tell her that she too can get the more than 2,000,000 reward if 'tak payah kalang kabut nak ikut imam' but can take her own time walking to the mosque and perform her prayer together with her roommates. They too will get the same reward!

How am I to tell her that just sitting in any mosque will be rewarded? -What's more the Grand Mosque - Masjidil Haram.
The bigger reward is looking at Baitullaahil Haram. Ka'abah. The epicentre of Muslims all over the world.

But the biggest reward is when our deed, however grainy it seems, is being recognised by HIM.
Haji Mabruurah.
Amiin.

*Friday prayer: Wajib, a must to men but optional for women.
Women perform the usual Zohor.

The Children's Story - To School In Style

A forum, "Uniform Requirement In Singapore" was midway on radio 938 Live last weekend with 60 students and a group of panelists.

"... if you dislike your school because of the uniform, for the boys, you can always style your hair. Girls can always opt for earrings..." Sally, an image consultant was heard saying.

Apparently that's an answer she gave to students who dislike schooling because of the outdated attire.

Can we blame them for being into fashion?
I, for one, sometimes wonder is it another new factory came up if not for the school badge worn on them. I'll scrutinise the sophisticated collar, fanciful sleeve, fashionable cutting and the pride shown on the students wearing them.

Gone are the white blouse with sombre looking skirts. School uniforms nowadays are with the touch of fashion designer.

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Mother-to-be walk into maternity boutique for them to look glowing and at her best during pregnancy.
Babies' clothing are stocked aplenty well before they are being born.
Small kids are all dolled-up from head to toe.
Teenagers have their say in dressing-up.

So, when it comes to choice of school, naturally they'll choose the most fashionable school uniform - For students who are fashion conscious and those who were dolled up since babies.

But a very heavy English-accented panelist has this to say:

"Whatever it it, Eton, the 19th century boarding school and the most expensive, has never do away with its tall hat and long tail-coat. In fact, its never short of admission."

The Food Story - The Taste of Yesteryears

Starting the first meal, brunch, with instant noodle, really turned me off. My Husband knows I do not like preparing such dish - but, that's what he wanted last Saturday.

I know of the wax content in the noodle, surprisingly, from him. Upon reading of Zewt's posting of its chemical and preservative, my mind boggles - It still does until now.
Why not? It will take 90 days of detoxification. That is, the body will only be free from the above harmful agent in 3 months' time - January 2009. Phew!!!

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Upon sitting down to have a taste of the chicken and mushroom noodle, memories of schooling years came afresh in my mind -That's the kind of taste that I was willing to walk across Mount Vernon Cemeteries.

I've always like soup - but Malay food at the school canteen has none. It's only 'Mee Rebus, Mee Goreng' and those I couldn't remember but I knew not to my liking. So I ended up having halal Chinese meal, which was not common during the 70s, in Sang Nila Utama, a Malay school.

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Last Saturday, My Husband and I planned to go across the Johor Bahru Causeway.
Definitely I did not cook that day. We ate at the Hawker Centre nearest to Woodlands Checkpoint.


I ordered 'Kue Teow Kuah' which retains the original taste of 'Sup Tulang Beach Road' and 'Bihun Goreng' with the flavour of the kampung era.

"Cheng Tng Panas and Ice Kacang biasa ka? " The seller asked.
I've known him since January '94.

"Yes. How much?" I asked.

"O.k. $2.00." He replied.

I gave him 4 of $1.00 coin but he returned 2 of it.

"Enough. $2.00 only. Thank you." He said and walked away.

I couldn't believe it. That's the price I paid in 1994, 14 years ago.
The taste of both drinks are still the taste of 1994.
No difference at all - The price and the taste.

I've been to places trying out many, many others' Ice Kacang but nothing beat this $1.00. No wonder the queue during lunch hour keeps on snaking.

Never mind the boggling mind.
Never mind the traffic jam with rows and rows of lorries and Bas Kilang, hundreds of cars and thousands of motorcycles we've to endure to go across the JB Causeway again.

Never mind the rain out there - The taste of yesteryears shines in me.

Opening Ceremony

Ahaaa...
After meddling with the computer this whole morning, this computer-handicapped fella managed to create her own blog page. 

Am I right? Page? 
Correct me. 

So many things for me to learn but I can only manage small step.


I read a lot of postings like 'As Zewt As It Gets', 'Mahaguru 58' and almost all that the spouse did - There's writings and happenings I wish to share especially living in two sides of the country.

Just a small step taken. Need to go off now - There's a number of 'Hari Raya' open house today.