I live near a slum. This little city has the most slum areas despite calling itself a resort. So it's like Rio perhaps. Can I call our little city, Little Rio? Nope, nobody speaks Portuguese and no Brazilian here. But this post is partly about football too. Soccer.
Living near a slum can be a hell, but living in a slum is HELL! Let me tell you why.
Living near a slum is like hell because crime rates are higher, Fortunately most are petty crime, such as stealing and vandalism. Weekends can be a hell to when they decided to get drunk and make noises. No big deal? Well, try having a drunkard singing to karaoke at full blast, MIDNIGHT! No. I'm not kidding. As hell it is to us, it's even hellish for them.
Bear in mind, not all are troublesome. Some do an honest living in this expensive city. They resort to squatting as a transition to a better life. They might be slum dwellers but they are still my neighbours. My bestfriend Zuan told me in Islam, 40 houses to your left, right, front and back are your neighbours. So in Islamic view, squatters or not, they are still my neighbours.
Some, even go to church regularly. Wearing their Sunday best, waiting for a van to bring them nearer to God. So not all are troublesome drunkard. They just need a home while earning more money to a better life. Some of them now have a proper house with proper amenities.
By proper, I mean with proper sewage, municipal water piped into homes and proper waste collection and electricity. In the slum, there's no proper latrines, about 50% pooped into the river (Rio), Some have septic tanks but not properly maintained. Water is connected into houses with rubber hoses. Waste collection? nope! 50% goes to the river. There's a big refuse bin but some resort to throwing into the river. The refuse bin is far to some and there's little awareness. Electricity is generated from the genset.
I don't encourage squatting but I do pity some of them, especially the youngsters. In this region, our favourite pastime is football (soccer). There used to be an open space for them to play their favourite sports. But it turned into a construction site. So they resorted to play on the road. Although it's not busy, it is a blind spot. And next to our house. I admit that sometimes I feel angry when their ball hit our fence or when they are shouting. But again, it's not their choice to play on the road. They have to make do with whatever is available.
Yes, I am angry. But I reasoned myself. That's not the case with my mother though. She's not happy with them, sighing and complaining.
I have a lot of bananas and I don't think I can eat them all. My mother is away. So, I decided to show some kindness to them. I gave them 2 bunches of bananas. Nope. I'm not racist. I'm not mocking (Dani Alves, I'm not mocking you, I just happen to have a lot of bananas) At first, I thought they are just ungrateful, boisterous youngsters living in the slum. I was proved wrong when I have the biggest thank yous. Turn out, even though they look like urchins, deep inside they are grateful people.
I'm not showing off my kindness by writing this post. I'm not Ananias. Nobody reads my humble blog anyway. I just want to emphasize that, despite rough and brutish appearance, the youngsters are still young and innocent. It's just their living circumstances.
I wish I could help them more by voicing up their need to local government or the youth ministry. All this while, there are not much playground and fields in our neighbourhood. Yes, this city has the most parks but not in our neighbourhood. Or at least, ask them to put a speed limit sign near that stretch of road. But I am just an ordinary person. Maybe, just maybe if somebody up there reads my post.
Sometimes I wonder, why don't the government help by making a high density dwelling with proper amenities. If land value is high, build a taller building. Kinda like Singapore HDBs. Cheap but equip with basic amenities like water, proper waste management, play area/recreational centre and public transportation. Maybe, make it greener by installing PV cells and Wind turbine and rainwater collection system and town gas. Those could help reduce the cost of living. Maybe limit the tenancy to 10 years. 10 years as a grace period for them to buy a proper properties. These low cost housings are just transitional dwelling. It may cost more to construct but in the long run, it helps beautify the city and reduce the negative impact to the city. Less river pollution, thus cleaner river and cleaner beaches. We need to protect our reefs, beaches and natural treasures if we still want to market our city as a resort city. And less mozzie breeding ground too.
If this is a success, these steps could applied to help the vagabonds too. Our Canadian educated psychiatrist told us once that in Canada, the vagabonds (most are having psychiatric illness) are given a proper dwelling like hostel. And those hostels that he showed us are way better than our student's hostel I would say.
In my opinion, this is more beneficial than giving free handouts.
Sunday, 7 December 2014
Christmas songs...
I am indifferent towards Christmas song. Maybe, I've turned into a semi-grinch. In my younger years, my family celebrated Christmas away from our relatives. Listening to Christmas songs makes my mother miss her relatives. So, she kinda 'dislike' listening to any Christmas song. Celebrating Christmas away from family. Well, we are just accustomed to it.
This Christmas I'm likely to be alone. No biggie. I could just have Home Alone movie marathon. Hey, it's fun to celebrate alone. Christmas is just another holiday to me. My first Christmas away was 9 years ago in a small island. Instead of celebrating with my family, I explored the whole island.
It's not a big deal really. Many from the Norther Hemisphere spend their holiday in the tropics, to escape the cold weather. Some with family, some travelled alone. So, I'm normal, not a grinch.
Today, I accompanied my brother shopping for rations. In the first supermarket, Christmas songs played through the speaker. Not in English but in Indonesian. Probably, recorded in the 80s or 70s. Back then, Indonesian Christmas songs were a hit. I heard them before, so it doesn't amuse as much as the song played in the next supermarket.
The supermarket is quite crowded so we moved on to another supermarket. This supermarket is smaller as it is located in our neighbourhood. But still busy as it is near the main road to the new township. As I entered to supermarket, there's Christmas song playing too, but it's different. After hearing some familiar Tagalog words like aming, araw, buhay, dahil and nang/ang/ng in the song lyrics, then it hit me. Tagalog Christmas Songs! This is my first time listening to Tagalog Christmas Song in my life, what more to say in a supermarket in this little city.
There must be many OFWs here. Not a big surprised though. My aunt is a Filipina, my neighbour living just across the street is also a Filipina. Even in our church, there's a Filipino family, very friendly people. I can say, there's quite a number of Filipina here. My aunt runs a catering business, specializing in Filipino foods. And there's always somebody needing her service. I can estimate at least 100 Filipinos live here. At least. I'm not sure of the exact number. Can be up to 500? Counting the OFWs in the neighbouring Sultanate, there could be more. There's even direct flights to Ninoy Aquino from our small domestic airport.
That, with the fact that a supermarket playing Tagalog Christmas songs. No, I'm not paranoid. Our OFWs are mostly legit, not illegal immigrants. With legit I mean, having legal document. But only God knows what they do here. Fortunately, most Filipinos I know here are good honest people.
Back to the Tagalog songs, it's way livelier than any other versions of Christmas songs. Maybe there are thousands Lea Salongas in the Philippines, I mean they are vocally talented (am I stereotyping?). My neighbour across the street use to sing. The Filipinos in our church sang very well. But not my aunt though her foods are divine. Kutsinta, Puto, Fried Bangus, Kare-kare... name it, she can cook almost everything Filipino.
Well, she taught us well. My sister and I learn a lot from her in the Kitchen. The funniest one is 'throwing' spaghetti on the wall. No, it's not food fight. That's how our aunt demonstrate how to see if a spaghetti is well done. We don't do that now though. We were young that time and it's the easiest way to check for 'doneness'. She even taught us how easy it is to cook Turon. Turon is fried fruits, usually bananas, wrapped in Popiah skins. Our popiahs are usually filled with vegetables. So, at first, I was skeptical. Turns out, we like Turon more than banana fritters.
Too bad, Aunty wouldn't be here during Christmas. She'll celebrate Christmas with uncle in our hometown, probably with my parents. But she'll be around for New Year.
Some of the foods mentioned
Turon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tur%C3%B3n_(food)
Puto
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puto
Kutsinta
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kutsinta
Bangus
http://www.pinaycookingcorner.com/2012/02/daing-na-bangus-milkfish-marinated-in.html
Kare-kare
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kare-kare
And kare-kare was mentioned in this funny advert featuring Obama and Macapagal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IqP8zk4hp0
Another easy to cook Filipino food is Tortang Talong (Tortang = tortilla? Spanish tortilla not Mexican)
http://panlasangpinoy.com/2009/08/09/filipino-vegetable-food-eggplant-omelet-tortang-talong-recipe/
PinayCookingCorner and PanlasangPinoy is my reference website when I miss Filipino foods. Or you just can watch Gerrard Panahon's channel for cooking and entertainment.
http://www.youtube.com/user/gerrardpanahon
This Christmas I'm likely to be alone. No biggie. I could just have Home Alone movie marathon. Hey, it's fun to celebrate alone. Christmas is just another holiday to me. My first Christmas away was 9 years ago in a small island. Instead of celebrating with my family, I explored the whole island.
It's not a big deal really. Many from the Norther Hemisphere spend their holiday in the tropics, to escape the cold weather. Some with family, some travelled alone. So, I'm normal, not a grinch.
Today, I accompanied my brother shopping for rations. In the first supermarket, Christmas songs played through the speaker. Not in English but in Indonesian. Probably, recorded in the 80s or 70s. Back then, Indonesian Christmas songs were a hit. I heard them before, so it doesn't amuse as much as the song played in the next supermarket.
The supermarket is quite crowded so we moved on to another supermarket. This supermarket is smaller as it is located in our neighbourhood. But still busy as it is near the main road to the new township. As I entered to supermarket, there's Christmas song playing too, but it's different. After hearing some familiar Tagalog words like aming, araw, buhay, dahil and nang/ang/ng in the song lyrics, then it hit me. Tagalog Christmas Songs! This is my first time listening to Tagalog Christmas Song in my life, what more to say in a supermarket in this little city.
There must be many OFWs here. Not a big surprised though. My aunt is a Filipina, my neighbour living just across the street is also a Filipina. Even in our church, there's a Filipino family, very friendly people. I can say, there's quite a number of Filipina here. My aunt runs a catering business, specializing in Filipino foods. And there's always somebody needing her service. I can estimate at least 100 Filipinos live here. At least. I'm not sure of the exact number. Can be up to 500? Counting the OFWs in the neighbouring Sultanate, there could be more. There's even direct flights to Ninoy Aquino from our small domestic airport.
That, with the fact that a supermarket playing Tagalog Christmas songs. No, I'm not paranoid. Our OFWs are mostly legit, not illegal immigrants. With legit I mean, having legal document. But only God knows what they do here. Fortunately, most Filipinos I know here are good honest people.
Back to the Tagalog songs, it's way livelier than any other versions of Christmas songs. Maybe there are thousands Lea Salongas in the Philippines, I mean they are vocally talented (am I stereotyping?). My neighbour across the street use to sing. The Filipinos in our church sang very well. But not my aunt though her foods are divine. Kutsinta, Puto, Fried Bangus, Kare-kare... name it, she can cook almost everything Filipino.
Well, she taught us well. My sister and I learn a lot from her in the Kitchen. The funniest one is 'throwing' spaghetti on the wall. No, it's not food fight. That's how our aunt demonstrate how to see if a spaghetti is well done. We don't do that now though. We were young that time and it's the easiest way to check for 'doneness'. She even taught us how easy it is to cook Turon. Turon is fried fruits, usually bananas, wrapped in Popiah skins. Our popiahs are usually filled with vegetables. So, at first, I was skeptical. Turns out, we like Turon more than banana fritters.
Too bad, Aunty wouldn't be here during Christmas. She'll celebrate Christmas with uncle in our hometown, probably with my parents. But she'll be around for New Year.
_______________________________________
Some of the foods mentioned
Turon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tur%C3%B3n_(food)
Puto
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puto
Kutsinta
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kutsinta
Bangus
http://www.pinaycookingcorner.com/2012/02/daing-na-bangus-milkfish-marinated-in.html
Kare-kare
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kare-kare
And kare-kare was mentioned in this funny advert featuring Obama and Macapagal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IqP8zk4hp0
Another easy to cook Filipino food is Tortang Talong (Tortang = tortilla? Spanish tortilla not Mexican)
http://panlasangpinoy.com/2009/08/09/filipino-vegetable-food-eggplant-omelet-tortang-talong-recipe/
PinayCookingCorner and PanlasangPinoy is my reference website when I miss Filipino foods. Or you just can watch Gerrard Panahon's channel for cooking and entertainment.
http://www.youtube.com/user/gerrardpanahon
Friday, 5 December 2014
Afternoon and evening, our version.
In this region, there's a confusion on when to use good afternoon and good evening. I blame it on our tendency to translate directly from our mother's tongue. Literal translation. Our afternoon starts before 12 noon. So, don't be surprised when somebody greets you Good Afternoon at 1130. Our afternoon ends at about 1400. And after 1400, it's considered evening. After sunset, it's Good Night even when you sleep at 2200.
In English, Morning ends at 1159, followed by Noon at 1200. After noon it is called afternoon... (duh!). You can greet good evening only if it's cool enough to play outside which is around 1630. Use Good Evening all through the night until it's apparent that you're going to end your day. Before parting or before going to bed, then you greet somebody Good Night.
It's just inconvenient when these cause confusion, especially with my colleague. When I say, I'll arrive in the evening, they would wait from 1400 onward. I'll feel bad then because I made them waited for me. Sometimes, they would surprise me when they come very early when they told me to meet in the evening. Once, my colleague agreed to meet in the 'evening' for presentation preparation. Since I've completed my presentation slides, I decided to have a nap and wake up at around 1600. At 1430, I received a call, a frantic call.
"Where are you? We've waited from 1400!"
"Is it evening yet?" I replied.
"Ok, I'm leaving now, give me 5 minutes"
After that incident, I would confirm what time it the appointment would be. Well, nobody like exact time in this region. We like 'rubber time' very much. It's convenient to say to meet in the evening and start when everybody is present.
So basically, our time is like so;
Morning - waking up, sunrise to 1100
Afternoon (actually which is actually Noon) - 1100 to 1400
Evening - 1400 to 1800
Night - 1800 till bed
In our language, Afternoon and Evening is the same word.
When to use Good Night is also a grey area. One night, my uncle called his friend. He greeted his the callee "Good Night, Mr X". I laughed. If I were in the other side of the receiver, I would reply "Yes, Good Night, thank you" and put down the phone receiver, go to sleep.
Another funny loanword usage is car bonnet.
One wears a bonnet or hood on your head and wears boots and trunk on their legs/foot.
The front compartment of a car, the engine compartment is akin to your head; there's where you put your eyes on, the front of the car. So it is called bonnet in BrE and hood in AmE.
However, in this region, our bonnet is where you store your luggage, the rear compartment. Once, I asked my friend to but his bags in the boot. He scratched his head, looking for a pair of boots. Sometimes, he would ask me can he put his bags in the bonnet. I replied, NO! there's no where in there to put your luggage.
Even in our national newspaper. One day, the headline reads "Corpse found in car bonnet". When I read further, the deceased is around 155 cm. Can you fit a 155 cm man in your bonnet. Well, Asians are too flexible. That's why China have world class gymnast.
In English, Morning ends at 1159, followed by Noon at 1200. After noon it is called afternoon... (duh!). You can greet good evening only if it's cool enough to play outside which is around 1630. Use Good Evening all through the night until it's apparent that you're going to end your day. Before parting or before going to bed, then you greet somebody Good Night.
It's just inconvenient when these cause confusion, especially with my colleague. When I say, I'll arrive in the evening, they would wait from 1400 onward. I'll feel bad then because I made them waited for me. Sometimes, they would surprise me when they come very early when they told me to meet in the evening. Once, my colleague agreed to meet in the 'evening' for presentation preparation. Since I've completed my presentation slides, I decided to have a nap and wake up at around 1600. At 1430, I received a call, a frantic call.
"Where are you? We've waited from 1400!"
"Is it evening yet?" I replied.
"Ok, I'm leaving now, give me 5 minutes"
After that incident, I would confirm what time it the appointment would be. Well, nobody like exact time in this region. We like 'rubber time' very much. It's convenient to say to meet in the evening and start when everybody is present.
So basically, our time is like so;
Morning - waking up, sunrise to 1100
Afternoon (actually which is actually Noon) - 1100 to 1400
Evening - 1400 to 1800
Night - 1800 till bed
In our language, Afternoon and Evening is the same word.
When to use Good Night is also a grey area. One night, my uncle called his friend. He greeted his the callee "Good Night, Mr X". I laughed. If I were in the other side of the receiver, I would reply "Yes, Good Night, thank you" and put down the phone receiver, go to sleep.
Another funny loanword usage is car bonnet.
One wears a bonnet or hood on your head and wears boots and trunk on their legs/foot.
The front compartment of a car, the engine compartment is akin to your head; there's where you put your eyes on, the front of the car. So it is called bonnet in BrE and hood in AmE.
However, in this region, our bonnet is where you store your luggage, the rear compartment. Once, I asked my friend to but his bags in the boot. He scratched his head, looking for a pair of boots. Sometimes, he would ask me can he put his bags in the bonnet. I replied, NO! there's no where in there to put your luggage.
Even in our national newspaper. One day, the headline reads "Corpse found in car bonnet". When I read further, the deceased is around 155 cm. Can you fit a 155 cm man in your bonnet. Well, Asians are too flexible. That's why China have world class gymnast.
Tong Nam, the State's official food/condiment (Asian counterpart of Maple Syrup?)
Every ethnic in this region have their own specialties. So, in a multi-ethnic state, official food must reflects and represents all ethnic.
I don't know what's so special about this soy sauce. I grew up using mushroom soy sauce. But my relatives in big city like it to death. Tong Nam is a must have ingredient. My aunt who cooks the best manila duck in dark grave. My other aunt cooks beef and chicken with the same brand.
Funniest occurrence was when my bestie who works in the other side of the sea, bought 5 bottles of Tong Nam soy sauce for her own consumption there. Imagine what would the x-ray scanner looks like with 5 bottles of soy sauce in her luggage, along with a few cans of luncheon meat.
Our obsession with this particular brand of soy sauce is akin to Canadians with their maple syrup.We love our respective condiments very much. Other brands of soy sauce is just like maple flavoured syrup. There's even Maple Syrup cartel in Canada. Maple syrup is their unofficial commodity. In 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, a Canadian skier Sara Renner broke her ski pole. A kind Norwegian ski coach, Bjornar Hakensmoen, lent her his ski pole. Sara Renner placed second while Norway in the fourth place. Sportsmanship.
Canadians are so grateful that they sent 7400 cans of maple syrup. hundreds of thank you notes and Ms Renner herself gave Mr Hakensmoen a bottle of wine as a token of appreciation.
Our beloved Tong Nam are Canadians too. They are made of Canadian non-GMO soy bean.
___________________________________________
In 2014 Winter Olympics, a Canadian coach helped a Russian skier when his ski broke. A chain of kindness perhaps.
A VISA commercial on Sara Renner/Canadian appreciation and Bjornar Hakensmoen act of kindness
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGJmJ5lDv8k
I don't know what's so special about this soy sauce. I grew up using mushroom soy sauce. But my relatives in big city like it to death. Tong Nam is a must have ingredient. My aunt who cooks the best manila duck in dark grave. My other aunt cooks beef and chicken with the same brand.
Funniest occurrence was when my bestie who works in the other side of the sea, bought 5 bottles of Tong Nam soy sauce for her own consumption there. Imagine what would the x-ray scanner looks like with 5 bottles of soy sauce in her luggage, along with a few cans of luncheon meat.
Our obsession with this particular brand of soy sauce is akin to Canadians with their maple syrup.We love our respective condiments very much. Other brands of soy sauce is just like maple flavoured syrup. There's even Maple Syrup cartel in Canada. Maple syrup is their unofficial commodity. In 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, a Canadian skier Sara Renner broke her ski pole. A kind Norwegian ski coach, Bjornar Hakensmoen, lent her his ski pole. Sara Renner placed second while Norway in the fourth place. Sportsmanship.
Canadians are so grateful that they sent 7400 cans of maple syrup. hundreds of thank you notes and Ms Renner herself gave Mr Hakensmoen a bottle of wine as a token of appreciation.
Our beloved Tong Nam are Canadians too. They are made of Canadian non-GMO soy bean.
___________________________________________
In 2014 Winter Olympics, a Canadian coach helped a Russian skier when his ski broke. A chain of kindness perhaps.
A VISA commercial on Sara Renner/Canadian appreciation and Bjornar Hakensmoen act of kindness
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGJmJ5lDv8k
Thursday, 4 December 2014
Archipelago on the Indian Ocean?
I'm referring to Indonesia. The suffix -sia is applied to archipelago. Micronesia is tiny islands, Polynesia is lots of island, Melanesia is black islands? Or is it islands of the Blacks. Melanin is a black pigment. So Indonesia is Indian islands.
When I was in my early teen, my father bought a lot of Indonesian Agricultural Publications. On how to raise rabbits, fish, sheep or how to grow chillies, lemongrass to how to extract essential oils. There's even a book on how to train dogs. That's after he met and befriended an Indonesian cook at his workplace, Bapak Deddy. Before that, most of the agricultural articles were from Universities from United States like OSU (Oklahoma State University) and TAMU (Texas Agricultural and Mechanical University) or other state universities in the prairie region. Sometimes from 4-H too.
Agricultural practices in this region are different from the States. Climate-wise it's hotter. And food regulations are different. So most articles are on basic agricultural stuffs which are applicable here, such as composting, building water well, garden sheds, solar drying or energy efficiency.
Bapak Deddy showed him some of the books and in a month, our book 'population' doubled. My old man ordered not less than a thousand of those books. Indonesian is not our first language, so my old man also ordered a big Indonesian-English dictionary.
In a way, it expanded my Indonesian vocabulary. Sometimes it helped me. In my former school, there were 3 lecturers from Indonesia. My favourite is an Occupational Health Doctor, I do envy his job. Not wearing white coat, not using any stethoscope, doesn't look like a doctor and always on a field trip. I'm also one of his favourite student too. He likes to tease me. If only all doctors are like that.
Another doctor is a pulmonalogist. He's an expert on respiratory health, so he can't ditch his stethoscope. He's educated in the Netherlands so some of his words are 'different'. We never heard the word PROBANDUS and ANAMNESIS before. He said it's commonly used in a continental medical universities. We use patients all the time. One day, he had a problem with explaining a rubber stopper. So he reverted to Indonesian. KARET. Stopper made from KARET.
"I forget the word, but in Indonesian, we called it karet" "What do you call it?"
Then I replied. "Oh, rubber stopper. Karet tu rubber kan Prof?"
"Yes, rubber stopper"
My Indonesian saved the day.
The third is a paediatrician. All I can say about him is he is strict.
I watched a lot of Indonesian TV too. Thanks to my pop's 6 feet parabola. Besides watching TV is do watch Indonesian YouTuber. Mostly their cooking vlogs. And not to forget Sacha Stevenson.
Yesterday, I was shopping for some vegetables. In this city, Some of the TKI works in retail. Even our hypermarket hire TKI. Some said, when comparing this little city with the big city, "The little city is like Los Angeles or any cities in SoCal, while the big city is like New York or any city by the Eastern seaboard". I'm quoting my best friend. With this equation, our TKI are like Mexican working in San Diego or Los Angeles.
While picking my vegetables, I said sing-songy "wortel, jahe, jeruk dan tomat" (carrots, ginger, lemon and tomato, those were in my shopping list as I need them to cook vegetable curry) The shop assistant heard me and smiled. "I heard you.., singing in Indonesian"
I wish one day I'll visit Indonesia.
*TKI = Tenaga Kerja Indonesia, overseas Indonesian worker. Analogous to OFW which is Overseas Filipina/Filipino Workers
Probandus, definition in the link below
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/probandus
Indonesian YouTuber I follow
Sacha Stevenson
http://www.youtube.com/user/sasaseno
Masak.tv
http://www.youtube.com/user/masaktv
Kokiku Tv
http://www.youtube.com/user/KokikuTv
When I was in my early teen, my father bought a lot of Indonesian Agricultural Publications. On how to raise rabbits, fish, sheep or how to grow chillies, lemongrass to how to extract essential oils. There's even a book on how to train dogs. That's after he met and befriended an Indonesian cook at his workplace, Bapak Deddy. Before that, most of the agricultural articles were from Universities from United States like OSU (Oklahoma State University) and TAMU (Texas Agricultural and Mechanical University) or other state universities in the prairie region. Sometimes from 4-H too.
Agricultural practices in this region are different from the States. Climate-wise it's hotter. And food regulations are different. So most articles are on basic agricultural stuffs which are applicable here, such as composting, building water well, garden sheds, solar drying or energy efficiency.
Bapak Deddy showed him some of the books and in a month, our book 'population' doubled. My old man ordered not less than a thousand of those books. Indonesian is not our first language, so my old man also ordered a big Indonesian-English dictionary.
In a way, it expanded my Indonesian vocabulary. Sometimes it helped me. In my former school, there were 3 lecturers from Indonesia. My favourite is an Occupational Health Doctor, I do envy his job. Not wearing white coat, not using any stethoscope, doesn't look like a doctor and always on a field trip. I'm also one of his favourite student too. He likes to tease me. If only all doctors are like that.
Another doctor is a pulmonalogist. He's an expert on respiratory health, so he can't ditch his stethoscope. He's educated in the Netherlands so some of his words are 'different'. We never heard the word PROBANDUS and ANAMNESIS before. He said it's commonly used in a continental medical universities. We use patients all the time. One day, he had a problem with explaining a rubber stopper. So he reverted to Indonesian. KARET. Stopper made from KARET.
"I forget the word, but in Indonesian, we called it karet" "What do you call it?"
Then I replied. "Oh, rubber stopper. Karet tu rubber kan Prof?"
"Yes, rubber stopper"
My Indonesian saved the day.
The third is a paediatrician. All I can say about him is he is strict.
I watched a lot of Indonesian TV too. Thanks to my pop's 6 feet parabola. Besides watching TV is do watch Indonesian YouTuber. Mostly their cooking vlogs. And not to forget Sacha Stevenson.
Yesterday, I was shopping for some vegetables. In this city, Some of the TKI works in retail. Even our hypermarket hire TKI. Some said, when comparing this little city with the big city, "The little city is like Los Angeles or any cities in SoCal, while the big city is like New York or any city by the Eastern seaboard". I'm quoting my best friend. With this equation, our TKI are like Mexican working in San Diego or Los Angeles.
While picking my vegetables, I said sing-songy "wortel, jahe, jeruk dan tomat" (carrots, ginger, lemon and tomato, those were in my shopping list as I need them to cook vegetable curry) The shop assistant heard me and smiled. "I heard you.., singing in Indonesian"
I wish one day I'll visit Indonesia.
_____________________________________________________
*TKI = Tenaga Kerja Indonesia, overseas Indonesian worker. Analogous to OFW which is Overseas Filipina/Filipino Workers
Probandus, definition in the link below
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/probandus
Indonesian YouTuber I follow
Sacha Stevenson
http://www.youtube.com/user/sasaseno
Masak.tv
http://www.youtube.com/user/masaktv
Kokiku Tv
http://www.youtube.com/user/KokikuTv
Wednesday, 3 December 2014
Cheap Clarisonic or Pro-X or Clinique Sonic
No, I'm not selling those products at reduced price. Just wondering why would one spend money on buying a pulsating, electric brush and face wash. Can't normal face washing do all the job?
Well, I've tried Clinique Sonic once at a booth, it's in one of my earlier post. It's divine! I can feel my skin breathing. But the price inhibited me to buy one.
So, I came up with an idea. Why not use an electric toothbrush and use natural face cleanser? To me, using electric toothbrush is not worth it. The replacement is still expensive. I use a regular toothbrush then.
I brush my face with lemon. Thinking of using yoghurt but again, it's not worth putting yoghurt on my face (I'm still a cheapskate Asian... just kidding). Actually, I'm out of yoghurt and driving to the shop just to buy one, maybe later... I just want to have my me time. Yoghurt is a good cleanser too. I've tried it before.
The verdict
My face feel fresher. I can see that the brushing action lifted up dirts from my face. Girls wearing make up, don't be surprised if you have tons of dirts on your face especially if you're a girl who doesn't remove make-ups regularly.
Try using a soft brush, I used medium because I'm a 'tough' guy. On a serious note, use a soft brush to minimize damage. Exfoliating should do more good than hard. Abrasion is ugly. Nothing happens overnight, so be patient and do this regularly. Don't expect instant result. Cheapos can't be a chooser.
When using lemon, beware of the sun. Well, maybe that's why vampires are so fair but sensitive to sun. They do facial like me. Lemon and sun doesn't mix well. First hand experience when I tried to highlight my black Asian hair with lemons. I burn faster.
Brushing also could improve blood circulation to your face. If you want a glowing complexion, go ahead. Brushing stimulate vasodilation. Heat do improve circulation too. That is why, steaming your face is also good for your complexion.
I think lemons have BHA (beta hydroxy acid) which is commonly used in skin exfoliation. I first heard of BHAs when I was 16. It was 'a-must' ingredient in face wash back then.
Well, if you have enough money to spend, Body Shop do sell face brush and it is soft. I had them before but it's not available in our local branch.
Don't forget to apply regenerating oil after each session. I use Rosken. It's a bit expensive than BioOil but I like the consistency.
Well ,when life gives you lemon, do facial...
Well, I've tried Clinique Sonic once at a booth, it's in one of my earlier post. It's divine! I can feel my skin breathing. But the price inhibited me to buy one.
So, I came up with an idea. Why not use an electric toothbrush and use natural face cleanser? To me, using electric toothbrush is not worth it. The replacement is still expensive. I use a regular toothbrush then.
I brush my face with lemon. Thinking of using yoghurt but again, it's not worth putting yoghurt on my face (I'm still a cheapskate Asian... just kidding). Actually, I'm out of yoghurt and driving to the shop just to buy one, maybe later... I just want to have my me time. Yoghurt is a good cleanser too. I've tried it before.
The verdict
My face feel fresher. I can see that the brushing action lifted up dirts from my face. Girls wearing make up, don't be surprised if you have tons of dirts on your face especially if you're a girl who doesn't remove make-ups regularly.
Try using a soft brush, I used medium because I'm a 'tough' guy. On a serious note, use a soft brush to minimize damage. Exfoliating should do more good than hard. Abrasion is ugly. Nothing happens overnight, so be patient and do this regularly. Don't expect instant result. Cheapos can't be a chooser.
When using lemon, beware of the sun. Well, maybe that's why vampires are so fair but sensitive to sun. They do facial like me. Lemon and sun doesn't mix well. First hand experience when I tried to highlight my black Asian hair with lemons. I burn faster.
Brushing also could improve blood circulation to your face. If you want a glowing complexion, go ahead. Brushing stimulate vasodilation. Heat do improve circulation too. That is why, steaming your face is also good for your complexion.
I think lemons have BHA (beta hydroxy acid) which is commonly used in skin exfoliation. I first heard of BHAs when I was 16. It was 'a-must' ingredient in face wash back then.
Well, if you have enough money to spend, Body Shop do sell face brush and it is soft. I had them before but it's not available in our local branch.
Don't forget to apply regenerating oil after each session. I use Rosken. It's a bit expensive than BioOil but I like the consistency.
Well ,when life gives you lemon, do facial...
It's a bird, it's a plane... it's Nancy Bird Walton
Nancy Bird Walton was an aviatrix. A pioneer, the founder and patron of Australian Women Pilots' Association.
So it's not a big surprise when QANTAS the Australian flag carrier decided to name their first Super Jumbo after her. Registered as VH-OQA entered service on September 2008. The namesake attended it's naming ceremony. Nancy Bird Walton was in her 90's at that time. On that day, she made a witty remark "I've made my business to stay alive for today's ceremony" 2:28
It's a custom to break a bottle of champagne when a Christening a ship. It's no different to this particular aircraft. Responding to the smashing of a champagne bottle at the fuselage by a fellow female pilot, she said "I hope she didn't scratch it (the A380)" 4:05
A few months later in January 2009, Nancy Bird Walton passed away. Her namesake made a flypast, as a final respect.
The following year, in 4th November 2010, flying as QF 32 from Kingsford Smith (SYD) to Changi (SIN), Nancy Bird Walton encountered an engine failure. Fortunately, it landed safely.
Some see aeroplane just as a mode of transportation, a flying machine. Others see them like a person. Well aeroplanes have great stories too, if only they can tell you.
So it's not a big surprise when QANTAS the Australian flag carrier decided to name their first Super Jumbo after her. Registered as VH-OQA entered service on September 2008. The namesake attended it's naming ceremony. Nancy Bird Walton was in her 90's at that time. On that day, she made a witty remark "I've made my business to stay alive for today's ceremony" 2:28
It's a custom to break a bottle of champagne when a Christening a ship. It's no different to this particular aircraft. Responding to the smashing of a champagne bottle at the fuselage by a fellow female pilot, she said "I hope she didn't scratch it (the A380)" 4:05
A few months later in January 2009, Nancy Bird Walton passed away. Her namesake made a flypast, as a final respect.
The following year, in 4th November 2010, flying as QF 32 from Kingsford Smith (SYD) to Changi (SIN), Nancy Bird Walton encountered an engine failure. Fortunately, it landed safely.
Some see aeroplane just as a mode of transportation, a flying machine. Others see them like a person. Well aeroplanes have great stories too, if only they can tell you.
________________________________
Nancy Bird Walton naming ceremony
You can skip to 2:28 and 4:05
The Super Jumbo paying last respect
The incident (it's an episode of Air Crash Investigation under the name Titanic in the Sky)
Wikipedia page on Nancy Bird Walton
And the crash
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qantas_Flight_32
Welcome home
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htRujDrI6YM
Worth watching, an advert featuring A380
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDWqGS71n04
The biplane, usually flown by pioneer aviator like Nancy-Bird and an A380 the largest commercial airliner.
Welcome home
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htRujDrI6YM
Worth watching, an advert featuring A380
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDWqGS71n04
The biplane, usually flown by pioneer aviator like Nancy-Bird and an A380 the largest commercial airliner.
p/s
Sydney airport is named after Nancy-Bird's flight instructor Sir Charles Kingsford Smith.
QANTAS is the longest/oldest airlines. KLM was established earlier but suspended their operation during the World War II
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airlines_by_foundation_date
QANTAS is the longest/oldest airlines. KLM was established earlier but suspended their operation during the World War II
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airlines_by_foundation_date
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