STARTING THE ANGKLUNG ACTIVITY FOR 2011

Today was the third day we were having angklung practice in school. As it was now school break for Chinese New Year, a few could not come for their own reasons. We still had to go on - we just could not wait for everybody to be present to start the activity.




We were indeed very lucky because today a new trainer came to school. Pak Eddy came from Batu Pahat. He is definitely a person with a lot experience and a qualified one to coach the angklung team. He seemed to be willing to come again next time to train the boys.

With a few new song notes in hand and with a few more coming soon, courtesy of Pak Eddy, I hope we can develop the team further this year. Nevertheless, the most important thing is everybody must come for practice without fail if they want to see a better team performing.

MOVIE REVIEW 24 - SHAOLIN

Sometimes it is difficult to find a movie to watch, perhaps I am not updated about the present happening at the cinema. In the end, in conjunction of Chinese New Year, I picked a Chinese movie entitled "Shaolin", hoping for a good entertainment. If I am not mistaken, the last Chinese movie I watched at the cinema was Stephen Chow's CJ7.

"Shaolin" is rated 18 but the violence came from the intense fighting that produced a lot of blood. What do you expect? This is a story involving martial arts. Nevertheless, there are a lot of lessons that can be learned from it. The main theme: it is never too late to repent your past sin as what was done by the protagonist who had turned himself into a monk in the Shaolin temple. It was not a happy ending though - the hero died and the temple was destroyed. I wonder whether this story was based on a true story but I really hope not because it was just a waste to destroy a historical building just like that. Anyway, everyone in the cinema sounded happy to see Jackie Chan on the screen. Even though he was only playing a minor role, as a comic relief as usual, he was entertaining none the less.

It would be better if in the end, the hero would be victorious but who am I to decide. However, this is still a recommended movie for you to watch during this festive season. Come on, give yourself a break from those horror Malay movies.

BOYS' NIGHT OUT, AGAIN

This was a plan that had been put off for a few times due to our schedules which differ from one another. Despite the continuous rain throughout the day, we still went for an outing or it would not happen at all.



First it was a movie and a dinner right after that. However, it was raining heavily outside and while waiting for it to stop or to recede, the boys decided to have a game of bowling. Sorry people, it was something that I don't do - it is just a no, no; just like taking a photograph with a python curling around my neck. I would rather sit and enjoy myself watching but thank God it was just a short game. And by the time everything was over, we managed to get into our cars and make our way to the restaurant.




The eating place chosen was "My Friend". I was here last year for the school's annual lunch. The food was tasty even though the fish arrived quite late but as the saying goes, better late than never. Someone was giving a treat this time.

So thanks to Hamzah, Suhaizie, Zahari and Syahir for a great time.

THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL BEFORE THE CNY BREAK

One good thing of living in a multiracial country is that you get to celebrate other races' festivals and you will get longer school break once in a while. And today was the last day of school before the Chinese New Year Holidays.

some of the exhibits on display

The Tamil Language Society was holding an exhibition with the theme of Ponggal and Thaipusam at Balai Bestari. This was a good effort to make students (and teachers) understand the culture of the Indians better. The Chinese Language Society had a lion dance performance to celebrate Chinese New Year last Wednesday morning and I missed that. It would be a great posting for my blog.

teachers and a student at the exhibition

with the committee members

I received a bouquet of fresh flowers from Suvaathy, a form one student who would be going away to MRSM Mersing after the school break. I don't think I have got flower bouquets that often so this was a real surprise to me. Seriously, I thought those were not real flowers earlier until I had the chance to sit down and look at the bouquet real close. Thanks again to Suvaathy and wish her the best of luck at her new school and may she will enjoy her life there.

sharing the joy of Chinese New Year

After the four weeks of hectic school life, thank God, the one week holiday is here. There is still some work to be done but I will be going somewhere for a short while. Of course I am not telling where. You have to come back and read my blog soon. And to all my Chinese friends and students, wishing you all "Gong Xi Fa Cai" - don't forget to bring back more oranges to school later. And for the rest, enjoy yourself while you can.

THE LAST DAY IN SYDNEY: LAKEMBA AND THEN GOING THAI

With a few more hours remaining, Mr. Ridwan took me to another small town called Lakemba. Here, many Asians are residing so it is one place where you can shop for local groceries although the price would be much more expensive than you can get at home.

And we ate out again and this time we went to a Thai restaurant. One good thing about Australia is there are many immigrants from Asian countries so you can get halal food and restaurants around the place.

I think that is all about my journey to Australia for 9 days - 3 days in Gold Coast and 6 days in Sydney. It was definitely the days I enjoyed and would not know whether I could have the chance to experience Australia in the future. Thanks again to Mr. Ridwan, Puan Suhaila and their daughter, Reihana for welcoming me and making me feel at home. Goodbye Australia, goodbye Sydney.

LAST DAY IN SYDNEY: KOALA PARK

The very last destination of my visit to Sydney was the Koala Park. The animal sanctuary was not that big and it had a small collection of local Australian animals. The main attractions here would be the koalas and penguins. There was a petting session with the koalas and feeding session with the penguins. And during my last day in Australia, I finally touched and petted a real koala. These animals are really cute, I don't mind taking back home one. Actually, they are not tame as the ones we saw in the sanctuary. In the wild, koalas are wild and aggressive. So never ever judge a book by its cover.

19th DECEMBER - PICNIC LUNCH SYDNEY STYLE

We stopped at a park by the Hawkesbury River for a picnic lunch. Not many people were around the picnic area but they were somewhere else not that far away. This is because there was a jet ski competition going on, so we managed to get a free jet ski show while enjoying our pasta. Compliments abound to the people preparing the food and the chance to picnic under the Sydney summer sky.