"AsPa" & Boria

[AsPa ; Asli Palsu]. In simple term: FAKE merchandises. Showing off their new "AsPa" Hard Rock Cafe - Beijing T-shirts. The term "AsPa" is widely used in Beijing to indicate items which look like an original but sold in much reduced price. 

Boria (Jawi: بوريا) is a form of Malay theatre of Indian origin which has through adaptive processes, become the one and only theatre of Malay community in Penang, Malaysia.

Records on the origin of Boria are fairly limited but it was first mentioned by H.T. Haughton in 1897 which according to him, it was first brought to Penang in 1845 by the Muslim soldiers of 21st Madras Regiment. It was originally played to celebrate the annual Shiite festival, the Mourning of Muharram. In 1910, R.J Wilkinson, a Straits Civil Service officer and a noted scholar of Malay studies, made a comparison between the boria of Madras and Penang, and established that the resemblance was only in name, for the show as then known in Penang had evolved to a totally different form.

A typical Boria troupe consists of a leader, a chorus, comedians and musicians. The performance normally begins with a short comic sketches and followed by a song-dance routine featuring a juxtaposition of choral and solo parts. The song-dance routine commonly performed in a western music style and with dance forms such as rumbas, Cha-cha-cha or soul.

Boria’s theme varies from Arab warriors, European traders to Chinese shopkeepers around which the costumes and comic improvisations revolved. The main melodic instruments has consistently violin but various Western, Malay, or Indian drums and Chinese cymbals are also used in the performance.

Note: In everyday situations, if a group of people who wear the same colour or type of attire; friends will ask; where are they going to perform the Boria?

6 - 11 Jun 2012: Beijing Trip

Top speed of the bullet train from Beijing to Tianjin recorded on our trip was 295km/hour. It took just half an hour compared to 2hours and 30minutes by bus.

Amirul perform the Dzohor Adzan at the mussolla provided by the muslim restaurant after our trip to the great wall.

 At Forbidden City, Beijing

 It was autumn. The flowers are blooming everywhere.

We started the trip very early. By 5am we were at Kampus Pendidikan Islam. No wonder, 1 hour after the Air Asia plane took off, Arif, Fathiyah and Amirul continued their interrupted sleep.

 The Chinese tour guide profited a lot from us for the bullet train ride.The ride was not in the initiatory. The actual cost was only Y55 but he charged each person Y100. When asked for the change, he said it was for the administration fees.

A Uniqlo building have a very unique colours when the sun shines on its glass walls.

Wearing the original Arsenal T-shirt newly bought at Chinatown Shopping Complex, I snapped a photo at one of the mosque in Beijing for Dzohor and Asar prayers.

Chinatown can be found in many big cities. Even in Beijing, China; There is a Chinatown.

The "portable" toilet. Located by the roadside; opposite the muslim restaurant that we had most of our meals.

So many visitors at the Summer Palace that Sunday morning. Even the Chinese themselves took the opportunity of the good weather to visit the famous tourist attraction. Sometimes one need to wait to have photo taken.

What is the first impression when you see this photo? Most of us would guessed that the old man is fishing. The correct answer is; He is flying his beautiful kite on the bridge overlooking the Summer Palace Lake. Since the one family - one child policy being implemented in China, most of the old generation have plenty of leisure times. Among of the favourite activities are walking the dog, tai-chi, dancing, fishing and singing.

Anum before starting the tedious Great Wall climb. She and I only managed to reach the 3rd. guard post. Visitors can climb up until the 7th. guard post.

Only RM12.10 ???

I did a half day hard laboured work last Friday. The value of the hard work was only RM12.10. Even that amount can't cover the fuel cost to drive the recycled paper to the recycle station at Precinct 9, Putrajaya. 

Mr Saayun Mingat

After attending Ijah's wedding and a wonderful Singapore holiday, my family and I journeyed back to Putrajaya last Tuesday morning. As my routine, I would stop over at any of my friends' house for a visit. As I chose Pontian - Batu Pahat - Muar - Melaka - Putrajaya route, I stopped at Pt Hj. Karim, Air Baloi to see my old friend Mr. Saayun and his family. 

I first met him on my 2nd. year of teaching when I was transferred from SRJK[C] Loy Yu [2] to SK Sri Setia, Benut. He was like a big brother to me. During those days an ordinary teacher's pay was not much. All I own was a red 125cc Honda GL motorbike bought by my father. Mr. Saayun, and several other teachers [Mr. Saburi, Mr. Hashim, Mr. Zaini, Pn. Tugini & Mr. Bakiron]  would convoy until Benut town after school. Sometimes we have to be extra slow because it is not nice to overtake Mr. Hanafiah, our headmaster who rode his classic Vespa to his home at Sanglang.

I can still remember when my eldest son had a high fever. It was quite late at night. I need to take him to Pontian hospital. The public phone by the roadside was broken. I have to go to the Benut Police Station to make a call to Mr. Saayun. He owns a Toyota KE70 car with a JA? 3434 registration number.  He drove all the way from Air Baloi and helped me to get my sick son to Pontian hospital.

Mr. Saayun is nor retired. But sadly he is not well. He told me his diabetic is getting worse. He has to go for a dialysis treatment three times every week. On my visit it was his 8th. treatment using the dialysis machine. Luckily his wife is always with him. May Allah bless my friend, Mr. Saayun.

Putra Mosque

Putra Mosque, Putrajaya using HTC Desire HD2 smart phone. The image was captured last fine clear Sunday morning before the weekly aerobics classes.It was taken from the Lake Club Putrajaya. That morning, there are several other photographers preparing their "big" cameras and their extra large tripods by the lakeside. I guessed they are waiting for the correct timing to snap the best view of Putra Mosque.

For me, even by using my 1 year old phone, the image was good enough [by my own standard].