A Disaster

The Earthquake and Tsunami that hit Japan recently made me think a lot about our own fate in future. I know how it feel like when the earth beneath you shake profusely non-stop (which I experience before). It is uncontrollable, unpredictable and nothing you can do. We are lucky here in Malaysia that we do not have disaster like earthquake only bad floods and hot sunshine throughout the year.
I am thankful to god that I am here rather than in elsewhere where disaster often strikes. What made me think of lately is that, I am thankful that I am near my family, so whatever happens we are near and close to each other. What matters most these days are that my loves ones are beside me so if anything really happened, we are not far from reach.
Sad to say that many people that I know are far from their family because of career and living ideology. They choose to be far away........ most elder people I know of are left behind by their kids. Partly because of a better living in another part of the world or a better choice of career opportunity in other places.
No matter how far they are, home is always home and this is a fact they could not be change. If there is a choice, I believe all parents would love to have their children beside them.

Sensory Skills

Since I am now doing lotsa research, and am glad that I have found out a lot about developing my lil' bean's sensory skills. I think for now developing her sensory skills is the most basic development that I feel fit for her and me.
I am now collecting various stuff to create an environment suitable for her to play and develop. Lots of ideas and tips can be found in the net, so it is quite easy for me to help her develop her skills. I strongly believe that right now developing her senses are much more important than training her brain. I feel that a baby's basic development must be stimulate correctly then later part she will use her senses to learn more things. Before the brain start to learn words and stuff, it must be well stimulate and grow then it will learn things faster.

Well that is my logic anyhow, each parents teach their kids differently, and I just believe that an infant must have a strong basic skills before they learn anything new.

For more information on Sensory Development please check out the website.

• Child Sensory Development
• Sensory Development - Touch, Taste And Smell, Movement Sensations, Auditory System, Visual System, Sensory Systems In Concert - Body Position Sense

Common Sense

Ermm.. did I ever blog about this topic "Common Sense"? Well I guess not, if I did, I want to repeat this again. The importance of training the brain to be aware of things around you.

What is Common Sense?

Well, according to Wikipedia: It is a strict construction of the term, consists of what people in common would agree on: that which they "sense" as their common natural understanding. Thus "common sense" (in this view) equates to the knowledge and experience which most people allegedly have, or which the person using the term believes that they do or should have.

Hmmm.. make any sense? To me basically I feel it's the common daily routines or actions or even knowledge that one would apprehend and believe to know; is called common sense. For example like say holding a pencil? Flushing the toilet after usage... etc.

Now what I want to highlight here is.... how does one teach common sense to their children? Does all parents know the importance of common sense? And how do we determine which and what common sense to teach a child?

Then again, it all depends on the parents whether to teach their child common sense or not as well. These days I find parents seldom teaches common sense to their kids as we ourselves are expected to figure it out when we were young. How brilliant is that?

So back again, Basic common sense like how to walk properly or sit properly when studying... how to hold a pencil... how to stand properly... all these are as important as to how to study well in school. So, I guess I have made my point clear here that these minor stuff is actually the most important things that one must teach their kids. Have I make myself clear?

What is Beauty?

While browsing through the net I came across an interesting fact about "Women and Beauty". What is the definition of Beauty in women today? I am a fashion designer and of course I will keep on pursuing the dream of perfectness in all women... especially their beauty and body.

What I am proposing here is the facts about beauty.

First of all, all women are beautiful if, they are not lazy about presenting their own image.

Well then again what people perceive as beautiful depends on the eye of the beholder. Like who the woman wants to presents herself to; her hubby? her child? her family? her friends? or the public?

The myth is we must all wear makeup, get a hairdo, get a dress that suits and pair up with shoes and accessories. Oh trust me, we do not do that often, especially when you are on your way to do grocery shopping or pick up your kids at school.

Now what is beauty again?

• First about makeup....... why airbrush off the true face of a woman and erase her true identity, power and history?
• Hairdo..... why bother to colour your hair and done up nicely while you tie it all up whenever you are busy?
• Dress..... why buy an expensive dress and want to remain in a certain shape while one does not keep their health in good condition?
• Shoes..... if you bother to spend money on all the above... why not get a pair of good shoes that lasts and not one that is easily broke and uncomfortable?
• Accessories... if you feel this is not important at all please don't bother to dress up!

If you really want to look good, do it everyday... not only on your wedding day or birthday only. Your identity and image is important, give yourself a chance and not excuse of being busy, no matter who you are dressing for, I always say you dress for yourself and no other person. The last thing we need is people telling us what to do with our body and image.

P/S: Oh do keep in mind that PLEASE dress according to who you are and not what you want! There's a big difference! A ten year old is not suppose to dress like her mother, likewise her mother should not dress like her child!

A surreal experience!

To begin, it's like a surreal dream come true. Deep down I seriously thank god for granting my wishes to have a natural birth for my baby; but in a way I am happy to be able to fully absorb in the notion of experiencing what a natural birth would be like. No one will ever tell or describe the actual facts of natural birth, only one can experience it and in that way you will have a kind of rebirth in your inner self and also experience the labour pain in a way of your own.

My Doctor has advised me from start to go through natural birth although all my close relatives and friends advised me otherwise. I have learn in life, things happens for a reason. No unfortunate events or pleasant occurances comes in your life for no apparent reason, so I have to take everything in as it is and let be....... meaning leave it to god, as in god's will. Well, it works for me; I won't call myself a naturalist but I believe in Darwin's and Karma, life's is full of ups and downs but I strongly believe in living it and experience everything on my own... so as to live life to the fullest. I can now add in my own portfolio that I have been through natural birth and endure in the labour pain ( although not long - approx.4-5 hours ); and most of all be able to feel alive again and have my new little princess beside me.

After all the pain and fuss, I am able to give life and live life! What a wonderful world we are living in, and I do really think the greatest gift god has given us is this body and soul! To be able to think and to be able to work; I always believe we are here for a reason, so just go along with it and make full use of it.... in this life!

Extreme Measures

Yesterday I came across an article about cleanliness; about hygiene and stuff and I have observed some very extreme measures one take to the path of cleanliness. Some would call one fussy and another maybe extreme. Most of all I would like to express my views about the hygiene among us, humans!

Of all the species on earth I feel that human are the most dirty species of all. Why? We are the ones who invented lots of stuff to pollute the environment and we keep on saying to ourselves we are the most intelligent and hygiene species of all........ what a joke!

We do not work around the environment like other species do; we only know how to pollute it and we name ourselves above the others! Sounds crazy huh! We have been polluting the environment for thousands of years without knowing it... until now we try to educate our young to protect it.... since when we realise it is a bit too late?

I know this for a fact that......... richer countries can afford to be environmental friendly and be clean and have good hygiene. Now if you are in a country or whereby you live in a place when food is scarce and your environment is not even suitable for a living.... and you tell me are you considering about hygiene and the polluted world? Come on... be realistic!

Well, I can say awareness is important... but there are so many issues in our world that is all being highlighted at the same time... and one can only consider one thing at a time!

No matter how personal hygiene is important but no extreme measures are needed, we humans have survive even in those extreme environments and we are still here yet... so as I consider that I am going to have a baby soon.... no matter how the baby needs protection but not too extreme until they cannot grow properly in this world! Now the H1N1 flu is going on and yes the virus is kind of deadly but I believe in Darwin's theory that the fittest will survive and we human does evolve through time just like the virus itself! So as long as basic hygiene is proposed and well carried out no other extreme measures needed. We are not living in a third world country so why worry too much!

God gave us lives and so he has the right to take it away if he feels right. We just have to do our part and let be! May god bless everyone indeed.

Lots of negative vibes........

What's wrong with everyone?

Everyday when I read the newspaper in the morning, I can see that not much interesting and exciting news that we normal people can feel happy about within the society, the community and the world. Whether it is local news or international news; all have one thing in common that is negative and unpleasant.

You either have lots of people complaining, debating, trying to curse each other or try to initiate a fight or even accusing each other........ then the cover up stories or the truth??!? (which seldom come out in the newspaper)

Now come to international news........ there will be disaster everywhere, either war between to two enemies or even a third party trying to keep peace and go into war...?!? Then there's this weather malfunction or save the earth movement...... going on because the world weather has slowly getting worse by the year!

I began to wonder..... and even start to worry; my baby will be born into the world full of negative vibes... is it worth it afterall?

All the people are slowly killing each other one way or the other. Worse still is that they do not realised this! Things that goes around comes around....... that's what I believe. Now I can only hope and do my best in preparing my child for the future. I'll have to instill all the good vibes and positive thinking to my baby and hope her generation will help the world to become a better place.

Am into Early Literacy Development....

Recently am attending workshops on early literacy......... hmm found an ad in the newspaper and so I thought I might try this out as I am now going to have my own child soon so some research to be done!

Am sharing here a bit about what I've learn so far. That is Phonological awareness based on the Montessori Methods. Basically this is apply to the English language, but it seems like Malay language and the Chinese language can also be taught in the similar way.

I've found out that Phonics helps a child to learn the alphabets and make them recognizes familiar words by pronouncing the correct sounds. In this way a child do not need to learn the spelling but can listen and spell correctly once they know the phonics well. But of course this does not mean that they understand every single meaning of the word; basically they are able to read, spell and pronounce correctly that's all. The meaning and knowledge of the word will come in later. Of course basic grammar are taught to form sentences as well.

Not to brag on about phonics... but overall what I've learn so far is that children must be expose to all different skills using their senses. Not only on study but also learn to play using their senses. Like using their eyes to visually see and being inspired.... ie colours, use their sense of smell, touch and feel different things and texture. Expose their tastes buds, eating and tasting different types of food. Let them listen to various sounds and music. All these are equally important to a child rather than just develop on the brain by pouring in all sorts of knowledge.

Research has shown that these days kids as young as a 3 year old are actually having nightmares about homework! Child psychologists are having patients with straight As! Come on, the adults are killing their kids with their own high hopes, what's wrong with them?!?

My only wish for my child is to learn the necessary basic skills and I'll let her just grow into whatever she wants to be. I strongly feels what I need to teach her is more of a moral value rather than being an A+ student.

The Thing about Fortune telling......

Ah well, this is my first ever fortune telling episode that I encounter with my own free will. Not to say that I was ever being force into this kinda thing. First of all, I believe in myself and my own destiny. I realized that certain things are meant to happen for a good reason. As long in life we do good and not harm anyone good things will come by one day. I do really believe in fate though.

I have never regret in anything in my life so to speak....... I consider myself that I am now content with my life and those things happen around me. I am neither please or sad with my life just normal and comfortable. I love the way I see things and my perception has never been wrong this far. So you can ask why I am drawn to this fortune telling thingy?

Well, out of curiosity and since I am going to start my new career and life soon I wonder what lies ahead. A peek to the future is not bad at all. So curiosity is the culprit!

I know for a certain there's no harm in it so I was curious, that's all, but I still strongly believe that god gave me this life for a purpose. I am to make use of my life here in this world to do good and be content then I am really a well off person....... not to think about wealth and so forth but to concentrate on fulfilling god wishes for me to enhance this world and make a better place for people to live in and also create a wonderful life for myself and the people around me. After all I am part of the universe!

SO I will live life to pursuit happiness for me and those around me too!

About Minimalism

I am now trying to move my things from one place to the other and I can't help think about the concept of minimalism in my life, design and space. It has occur to me once when I think my closet is too small for all my clothes; but then again I realised that one has too much clothes for my daily life.

Now what is minimalism. When we think about it, we would imagine it is about art, music and design. Then again, what about life? These days when I feel that I wanted to simplify things and make it easier or hassle free......... in a way modern, I use the minimalism concept.

Example during the chinese new year, we usually have this family gathering at home, the elders will cook and the young ones will help, then we had the dinner reunion and then proceed to clean up the rest and gather in the house and chat and retire till the next day. Nowadays, we all in the family plan to go out and eat, hassle free...... no need to cook and clean up. We just head for the restaurant and then eat, gather and finish the dinner then back home.

Well it is actually simpler and easier for everyone. Yet I can't help to think about all the tiny possible moments of family members gathering around to cook, wash and clean and talk about our memories, fun and gossips. These are the moments we can't share anymore. Well to think about it whether modern ideas are good or bad......... I really cannot say.

In my opinion, some things like my closet, I can use the minimalism idea, but it does not really apply to our culture or identity. If everything is hassle free, why are we making lots of fuss about ushering the New Year and other festive seasons? If life were that simple, we should not feel proud but worried!

Happy Wesak Day!

The Malaysian Buddhist Association (MBA) at Burma road, Penang.
Lighting up candles for blessings...
The Wesak day flag!
Went for my prayers as usual... during the evening so it's not too hot. Bath the little buddha with holy water and brought 2 packets of holy water back as well to have a bath. This only happens during wesak day!

Individual culture beliefs...

First of all, this event happened to my family long ago in December 2005. Well, this is directly related to me but according to customs belief, I am so-called not allowed to joined this event. So I was away and my cousin happened to help me record down the event. Thanks to him I get to understand what happened!
Selection of auspicious dates 看日子 - Auspicious dates are required for the Chinese wedding, so after the selection of date is being discuss, the betrothal date will follwed.

Not to get you all confuse, this event is named, "Sang Jit" as in Betrothal 过大礼/纳彩 (Akad Nikah in Malay) and I understand that it is a kinda Chinese Pre-wedding customs. In other words, quantities of betrothal gifts, return gifts, bride's price 娉金, and number of tables at the wedding banquet provided by the groom's parents for the bride's parents' guest are decided on.

Well, look at all the chinese wedding cakes....... amazing huh! Well, the Bride's family will request for wedding cakes, biscuits and red packets and some other tibits and a piece of roast pork leg.Two pairs of dragon and phoenix candles 龙凤烛are also included. So the above picture shows the individual family customs. My grandma took charge and requested the groom's family to provide 5 different wedding cakes, some are Cantonese traditonal cakes and some are Hokkien biscuits... guess what the Groom is having a BIG headache to find all those cakes/biscuits.

1. Hap Tou Sou (Canto) - 60pieces
2. Kai Tan Kao (Canto) - 60pieces
3. Pei Tan Sou (Canto) - 60pieces
4. Lin Yong Peng (Canto) - 60pieces
5. Zi Ma Tong (Hokkien) - 60pieces

So all together, 300 pieces of cakes/biscuits....WOW! On top of that, 2 bottles of brandy!! Double WOW!

Well, the bride's family will then return some biscuits to the groom's side and including a pair of Passion fruit, some apples, red dates, longan and red packets for good luck and fortune. Complicated!

The elders are recording down the items that are being sent.... well how much respect is shown here from the groom's family to the bride's family.......... very complicated! Well, it's a happy occasion so everyone is excited!

At the end of the session, everyone is invited to a feast, so as you can see here, all the food on the table has a meaning behind it. The Longevity noodles with a drumstick in it. The red eggs symbolizes fertility, the red dates and longan signifies prosperity. Roast pork means full and prosperity in a family. As you see the word "Family" in the chinese character [家] has a top hat and a pig under it, meaning every family that has a pig under their roof is wealthy and prosperity. Get the idea! Well, here you see all the wonderful dishes and food, and you know I am not allow to touch any of it.......... how sad, deliberately I had the intention of eating the biscuits..... one single bite can do no harm I guess. To many it's a taboo......