INDIAN TEMPLE PROCESSION

24 June 2012, Sunday
There was an Indian temple procession around the neighbourhood.  We went over to have a glimpse.

WESAK 2012

6 May 2012, Sunday

Zhen & Min bathing the little Buddha.

BAJU KURUNG

13 August 2012, Monday

I took the girls out to buy their 1st 'baju kurung' as we will be attending a 'buka puasa' dinner this coming Friday.

KONGMING LANTERN

28 January 2012, Saturday

Zhen & Min together with their friends and new foster brother writing down their wishes and releasing kongming lantern during Chinese New Year.

Our wishes

STEAMED "NIAN GAO" & THE KITCHEN GOD

22 March 2012, Thursday

Zhen had steamed "nian gao" (粘糕) this afternoon.  She also 'tested' why the Kitchen God can't 'talk' (make his report) after having "nian gao".
NOTE:  "nian gao" (粘糕) also known as rice cake.  It is a sticky sweet snack being offered to the Kitchen God, sometime before Chinese New Year.

LOY KRATHONG SONG

19 November 2011, Saturday 

A 'Loy Krathong' song being played by one of the storytellers in PInKS Festival 2011.

WAYANG KULIT SHOW

19 November 2011, Saturday

The backstage of a 'Wayang Kulit' show in PInKS Festival 2011.

MALAY WEDDING

25 September 2011, Sunday

We were at a Malay wedding lunch today.  Min saw some boys eating rice with their hands and told me, "Naughty boys, they eat with hands!".  I explained to her that it is the Malay tradition that they eat with their hands.  Halfway through lunch, the girls saw the ceremony where the groom's procession with friends, relatives, musicians and people meeting the bride at the bride's home.  Min was scared by the sound of the "kompang" (a traditional musical instrument among the Malays).  Min said the people are holding shinning shining umbrellas (yellow umbrellas).  On the other hand, Zhen walked up to the procession and enjoyed the "show". 

MID AUTUMN FESTIVAL (中秋节) 2011

12 September 2011, Monday

It's Mid Autumn Festival... the kids had fun playing with lanterns and candles lighting.  They had an enjoyable time at a friend's house yesterday night too.

We saw a handmade lantern when we were at our friend's place.  It was made of tins.  A short video on the handmade lantern...

PENANG BATIK FACTORY, TELUK BAHANG, PENANG

16th March 2011, Wednesday

Zhen & Min went for a tour at Penang Batik Factory situated at Teluk Bahang, Penang.  Zhen gets to batik paint again!

You actually need to call in to pre-book 1 day ahead for the batik painting.  But Zhen was lucky that day as there were not many visitors around, the staff drew a piece of 14" x 14" (RM25) picture for her to paint.

Penang Batik Factory & Showroom

669, Mk. 2, Teluk Bahang,

11050 Penang.

Tel: +604-885 1284

Opens Daily from 8:30am to 5:30pm

BATIK PAINTING

September 2010

Zhen had her 1st batik painting during the September school holiday last year in 1-Utama.

Zhen's 1st batik paint!

Zhen requested for batik painting again after a few days.  I took her to Pasar Seni this time.

Zhen at work.

Some old newspapers and paint to keep Min busy.

Some batik painting did by a group of foreign students at the workshop.

Some batik painting did by a group of foreign students at the workshop.

Zhen's piece of work!

ZHEN'S CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

December 2010

KETUPAT

9th September 2010, Thursday Afternoon

 
Tomorrow is Hari Raya Aidilfitri and while we were at the "pasar pagi" this morning, we saw some stalls selling the "daun kelapa".
We bought some, as our maid is going to teach us how to make the ketupat.

RAYA GREETING CARDS 2010

3rd September 2010, Friday Morning

It will be Hari Raya Aidilfitri next week.  Zhen did 5 Raya cards for each of her Muslim classmates.

RAYA CARD 2010 & ZHEN'S ART

23rd August 2010, Monday Afternoon

It's another 2 weeks to Hari Raya Aidilfitri.  Zhen drew a Raya card for her kakak.

This is a drawing by Zhen, when she started nursery, in 2008.

Her colouring at her nursery's colouring competition.

The wall of Zhen's room at the end of 2008.

"PUASA" (FASTING)

16th August 2010, Monday Afternoon

It is the Ramadan month of the Islamic calendar.  It is the month of fasting, in which Muslims refrain from eating & drinking from dawn until sunset.

Zhen's 6-year old friends in the kindy are also fasting for half a day.  Zhen wants to try fasting too.  She went to kindy today after taking her bottle of milk.  She don't want to bring any food or money for tea break.

While driving her home from kindy, she told me, "Mummy, some of my friends, they are  tipu-ing... because they shared food with other friends... they are not puasa-ing."

LION DANCE

14th February 2010, (虎年, 年初一), Sunday Morning
A few days before CNY, I showed Zhen some images and videos of lion dances and dragon dances via youtube.

On the 1st day of CNY, there was lion dance in the neighbourhood, and Zhen's little cousin, Qi Qi, was so eager to go out and watch...

That's when I heard Zhen told Qi Qi, "Don't worry, we can watch afterwards, we can also watch it from the internet!"  ;D

ZHEN'S COLOURING

14th October 2009, Wednesday Evening

I was looking at the artwork of the kids in Zhen's kindergarten.  It was a picture of an Indian girl preparing the 'kolam'.  I noticed that Zhen's work is slightly different from the rest.  She coloured the bucket of sand using a few different colours.  Whereas the others coloured the bucket of sand in one colour only.

I asked her why did she colour the bucket this way?  Any reason that she coloured it using a few different colours?  She doesn't know how to explain the reason... and by pointing at her head, she said... "because I used my brain" ;D

KOLAM

16th October 2009, Friday Night

My neighbour were preparing the 'kolam' for the Deepavali festival tomorrow.  Zhen joined in and had some fun!!