Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival  ( zhōng qiū jié in Mandarin ) is also known as the Moon Festival. It is a popular East Asian celebration of abundance and togetherness, dating back over 3,000 years to China's Zhou Dynasty. In Malaysia and Singapore, we also refer to it as the Lantern Festival or "Mooncake Festival."


The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month of the Chinese calendar (usually late-September or early October), a date that parallels the Autumn Equinox of the solar calendar. This year it falls on 3rd October 2009. This is apparently the ideal time, when the moon is at its fullest and brightest, to celebrate the abundance of the summer's harvest. The traditional food of this festival is the mooncake, of which there are several varieties.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the two most important holidays in the Chinese calendar (the other being the Lunar New Year). Farmers celebrate the end of the summer harvesting season on this date. Traditionally, on this day, Chinese family members and friends will gather to admire the bright mid-Autumn harvest moon, and eat moon cakes and pomeloes together. Other interesting customs include: carrying brightly lit lanterns, putting pomelo rinds on one's head, burning incense in reverence to deities, planting Mid-Autumn trees,and collecting dandelion leaves for distribution among family.

Children often hear the tale of the moon fairy living in a crystal palace, who comes out to dance on the moon's shadowed surface. This legend of the "lady living in the moon" goes back to ancient times, to a day when ten suns appeared at once in the sky. The Emperor ordered a famous archer to shoot down the nine extra suns. Once the task was accomplished, the Goddess of Western Heaven rewarded the archer with a pill that would make him immortal. However, his wife found the pill, took it, and was duly banished to the moon. Legend says that her beauty is greatest on the day of the Moon festival.

The other famous legend surrounding the Moon festival is linked into Chinese history. During the Yuan dynasty (AD 1280-1368), China was ruled by the Mongols.  The leaders from the preceding Sung dynasty (AD 960-1280) were unhappy at being subject to foreign rule, and began to furtively organise a rebellion. The rebel leaders, knowing that the Moon festival was drawing near, ordered the making of special cakes. Baked into each moon cake was a message outlining attack plans. The mooncakes - which the Mongols did not eat - were the perfect vehicle for hiding and passing along these plans. Families were instructed not to eat the mooncakes until the day of the festival, which was when the rebellion took place, and the government was overthrown. This led to the establishment of the Ming dynasty (AD 1368-1644).

Great stories, huh? Would make great swordfighting movies ala Shaw Brothers or John "Red Cliff" Woo. Anyway, always good to know the legends, customs and traditions behind any festival. Now who says this blog is not educational? LOL.

For those who celebrate it, do share how you spent your Mid-Autumn Festival, how many mooncakes you stuffed your face with, and how elaborate were your lanterns ...

Formula 1 Fever grips Singapore

xx


Vrooom. Vroooom. This weekend is when the Formula 1 Night Races happen, right here on the Singapore street circuit. It's the second time the F1 races are being held in Singapore. And things are beginning to heat up in this normally prim-and-proper (some say clinical and comatose) Lion City. There are posters everywhere. The TV and news media are chock full of articles and pictures of cars and the sexy lasses called the SingTel Grid Girls (kinda ambassadors for the event). I even notice ordinary drivers revving their engines a bit more, and occasionally letting their hair down with spurts of speed and execution of risky overtaking maneuveres on the Singapore roads.
xxx
Anyway for the F1 event, there are practice runs today, qualifying rounds on Saturday, leading up to the Grand Finals on Sunday. Should be pretty exciting for racing enthusiasts.
xx
Different people I know have varying opinions on the appropriateness of street circuits for motor racing, and some even question the realism of Grand Prix in general. And recent revelations of Renault's transgressions on this very same circuit a year ago simply reflect the utmost importance that some automotive companies place on being victorious ... win at all costs it would seem !
xx
Here's a map of the street circuit, around the Marina Bay area.

xx


I must admit I haven't been a huge fan of F1. I don't follow the sport that closely and in fact until last year's race in Singapore, I hardly knew my Hamilton from hamburger, or my Schumacher from my shoe ... but still I have to say that it was quite a thrill watching the race last year, albeit on TV from the comfort of my living room. I'm not particularly partial to sweltering conditions, deafening noise and choking exhaust fumes ... but all my friends who have seen it "live" wax lyrical on the experience, and chide me for staying home.
xx
Of course, whether one watches it at the circuit or on TV, what many people look for are the crashes and mistakes and pitstop booboos (like last year where one car drove off from the pit with the fuel pump still not dislodged). Talk about schadenfreude !!!
xx
Even if one is not into F1 racing, a good thing about the Singapore F1 is that during the period, lots of entertainers and celebrities are in town. This year, the following artistes are performing at various venues: Backstreet Boys, Chaka Khan, Mavis Staples, Travis, and others. I'm told that even busty Beyonce is in town to do a concert !!! And there are also local and regional performers including Indigo, Electrico, Rivermaya, Strikeforce, Wicked Aura Batucada, Alemay Fernandez and the Dim Sum Dollies.

What I also find very interesting to observe, is how some of the familiar streets in central Singapore are being transformed into a nocturnal racing circuit. Huge panels of lights have been installed all around the track, the roads on the circuit have all been heavily reinforced so that a crash from a high-speed vehicle would not damage the surrounding infrastructure too much.

Ah yes, here's a badly taken videoclip of me driving on one section of the F1 circuit, a few days before they blocked it off for the event. Enjoy ...

I'll update this post over the next few days, with significant events and facts relating to the F1 extravaganza. So do stay tuned.

Vrooom. Vrooom. Vrooom. Let the race begin !!!
x

Night of 25th Sep 2009 (Practice Run)

Here are some shots from the first evening, which was mainly a series of practice runs to allow the drivers to test out the circuit and their cars. Still exciting for the audience watching the lean, mean machines roaring by.

xxx xxx

Not sure which teams the first two cars are representing, but the third one is Ferrari's.

Finally I thought you might want to be reminded what these race drivers are competing for. I'm referring of course to the shiny big trophy in the photo. Huh? What were you thinking of? LOL.


Night of 26th September 2009 (Qualifying Round)

Well, I'm learning a lot more about F1. Some of the results of the qualifying laps on the evening of 26/09/09 are as follows ...

In pole position (meaning No. 1, lah!) is Lewis Hamilton (driving for McLaren-Mercedes), with times of 1:46.977 (qualifier #1), 1:46.657 (#2) and 1:47.891 (#3). I'm not going to list the times of the others (too much effort!).

Anyway in No .2 position is Sebastian Vettel (RBR-Renault); No. 3 is Nico Rosberg (Williams-Toyota); No. 4 is Mark Webber (RBR-Renault); No. 5 is Rubens Barrichello (Brawn-Mercedes); Fernando Alonso (Renault) is No. 6; No. 7 is Timo Glock (Toyota); No. 8 is Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber); No. 9 is Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber); No. 10 is Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren-Mercedes).

Phew, should I continue with the rest? Aiya, OK lah.

No. 11 is Kazuki Nakajima (Williams-Toyota); Jenson Button (Brawn-Mercedes) is No. 12;
No. 13 is Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari); No. 14 is Sebastien Buemi (STR-Ferrari); No. 15 is Jarno Trulli (Toyota); No. 16 is Adrian Sutil (Force India-Mercedes); Jaime Alguersuari (STR-Ferrari) is No. 17; No. 18 is Giancarlo Fisichella (Ferrari); No. 19 is Romain Grosjean (Renault); and Vitantonio Liuzzi (Force India-Mercedes) is No. 20.


Night of 27 Sept 2009 (Finals)

Just finished. The official results:

1. Lewis Hamilton (McClaren-Mercedes)
2. Timo Glock (Toyota)
3 Fernando Alonso (Renault)
4. Sebastian Vettel (RBR-Renault)
5. Jensen Button (Brawn-Mercedes)

xxx

Here's the champion Lewis Hamilton, with his companion (one of the Pussycat Dolls) Nicole Scherzinger. You can almost hear the strains of the song "Don't cha wish your girlfriend were hot like me" in the background :-)

"Hawaii 50" Birthday Gallery

Most of us will either have turned or will be turning 50 this year. What a milestone! Happy birthday to all!
..
There was a great suggestion from some of you that we share a photo or short videoclip of this momentous "Hawaii 50" birthday celebration. Whether big or small, elaborate or simple, at home or outside, with family or friends (or both), it doesn't really matter. Just send me one or two shots or clips of how you celebrated the occasion and I'll include it in this posting.
..
Have a great day. Be happy and live your life to the fullest. As the old saying goes: What's important is not the years in your life, but the life in your years.


The "Hawaii 50" Celebrations

Younger viewers may not understand the significance of the "Hawaii 50" reference. Suffice it to say that it was a very popular TV show in the 70s with an unforgettable theme music. Boys, for old times sake, I'll let you the music transport you back to your teenage years again.

RC : Kuching, 15 April 2009

RC's 50th Birthday at Mr Ho’s Fine Food, Crown Tower.
Seated (L to R): RC, Jynelle ( little grand niece), Mrs RC
Standing ( L to R): daughters Jacinta & Caroline.

PC : Kuching, 23 Aug 2009

You've all seen the other posting of this grand occasion at the Ipoh Kopi Tiam in Kuching, which was a three-in-one: a reunion, welcome home for JK and a celebration of Pip's half century.

JY : Singapore, 26 Sept 2009

Top pic: Mr & Mrs WJ

Bottom pic: Cake 50 (no wisecracks about the doggie, please ;-)

JK : Plymouth, 11 October 2009

Wow, look at all the presents !!!

KCK : Kuala Lumpur, 18 October 2009

KCK's birthday cake, designed by his wife and son, reflects what he likes doing most

(can you see the similarities?)

C'mon, still awaiting more contributions from all you guys ...
xx

Then & Now - Part 10

In this edition of "Then and Now", we feature another Fifth Former of 1976 ....

AM (Form 5 Arts 1,'76 and Upper 6 Arts '78), is now Dato' A @ FB, and someone who has made waves in corporate Malaysia.

He is currently CEO of  The New Straits Times Press (NSTP), so if any of their publications spell your name wrong in any interview that you guys happen to give, you know who to call, lah. Ha ha ha ...

Prior to joining NSTP, he was in the television business, as operations director of TV3, where he is credited for revitalising the channel with enhanced programming and content. Later he became CEO of NTV7. And before that he spent over 20 years in Bank Utama and Shell.

Banking, oil & gas, TV and now news publications ... what a varied and impressive career! Congratulations Anthony! Obviously another great product of St Joe. But enough of the boring corporate stuff. What's definitely more interesting is how some of his old kawan remember him. Here's a sampling ...

BC says: "... a word to describe AM in those days would probably be Mr. Cool ... mind you in our day that word didn't even exist but looking back, Mr.Cool was that kind of Fonzi (from Happy Days) - suave, detached, sardonic and yet likeable. The last time we saw each other was our time in UM ... but by then he was a serious no-nonsense bookworm who spent too much time in the library, though I think that cool factor never left him ... syabas, well done, Anthony".

.

ELAS remembers: "the one with the innocent look ....quiet, unassuming at first glance... but still water runs deep...  he didn't seem to study much, yet always among the top in class. As he put it..."I do study...nature study....of the 'other species'.... that motivates me". A great pal to have around, once you get to know him better"

.

SB speaks of: "a few weary occasions where we dozed off in the library and were rudely awakened by Bro Columba on his spot checks!! Also worked with him during the Bank Utama days, and rushing to complete cash balancing at the end of business days, so that A could go pick up his then gf (now wife) ... Oh ya, there was also this incident involving an Austin Mini exchanged/swapped for Toyota Corolla Hatchback for the weekend ..."

On the personal side, I learnt from Anthony that his hobbies include golf, a bit of tennis, some futsal and some cycling (forced into it by the kids). He also enjoys travelling, reading and of course makan-makan ...  He is married to a Teresian (the love bridge works its wonders again!), and they have four kids - two girls, two boys.
.

Selamat Hari Raya, Anthony. Hope these recollections bring a smile and add to the festivities of the day ...

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri !

.
Here's wishing all our Muslim friends a great Hari Raya celebration and to everyone, have a relaxing holiday.

Feel free to send me any pictures of your celebrations, or any reunions of our friends on this festive occasion, and I will put them up to share with our friends wherever they may be.

                                                                                                                                      --- WJ

Nick in town - Get together, Badger Bar, S'wak Club @ 9pm, 18th Sept 2009

Our Vietcong friend, Nick Lau, is back in Kuching.

We're having drinks and snacks at the Badger Bar, Sarawak Club tonight at 9pm.

Spread the word, and let's make a crowd. What else you wanna do on a Friday night anyway?

Organiser: Bob Chew

Photos from the Evening

LtoR (front): Nick, Norbert, Ben, (back): Bob, Robert, Edward

Jensen & Norbert face off in a game of snooker at Hornbill Karaoke

Look out, Malaysia Idol! Bob Chew takes to the stage singing his heart out the numbers

“Whiter Shade of Pale” and “Soldier of Fortune”

Also at Hornbill Karaoke. (L to R): John Lee & Edmund Lee (Form 5 1975) , Ben Wong and Jensen Ng K T

Group singing at Hornbill Karaoke

Late supper at the Old Open Air Market

Historical Musical Diversion : Fair Land Sarawak

.

Do you remember when we were small and the flag for Sarawak was still the above, the state anthem was named "Fair Land Sarawak" and we were all taught to sing it? Do you still remember its tune? The words?

Well, here it is to jog your memory ...

Fair land Sarawak we will never cease to honour thee

And with our Loyal Sons defend your Liberty

From your high forest hills down to the open sea

May freedom ever reign, men live in unity

Proudly our flag flies high above our Country strong and free

Long may our people live in peace and Harmony.


The lyrics was written by F.C. Ogden and the music revised and arranged by G.R.K. Freeth.

And on the Web, I also found an Iban translation by Umpang Ujai. The anthem was also sung in Chinese and Malay, but I can't seem to find those lyrics. Anyway this is for our Iban readers


Pemanah Sarawak kami selalu mri puji

Nyaga penglantang menoa, anak kami

Ari bukit,kampong ngagai tasik nyadi

Pemaik meruan, kami begempang ati

Tinggi menira bediri datas menoa kami

Gayu mensia diau ikun enggau rami


I wanted to find an MP3 version of the song and post it here, but couldn't find one. If any of you do, please share it with me. For what it's worth, I felt that "Fair Land Sarawak" had a nice tune and the words were pretty good too. I can still remember it after all these years - that in itself says something.
.
"Fair Land Sarawak" was also the title of a book by a former British colonial officer named Alistair Morrison, that you may be able to find in a Malaysian library.

The Sarawak anthem that was used from 1973-1988 can be played in this following video. I also vaguely remember singing it in schooldays ...