St. Anne's Feast...

St.Anne's feast is a famous Christian festival of Bukit Mertajam. My family lived opposite the all famous St. Anne's Church(old) like all our lives. By the time I was 12, I knew every nook and corner of the church and its jungle surroundings. I even knew the caretaker Mr.Robert, an old quintessence 'Darcula' man who thrived on Vitamin C insulin shots twice weekly to keep his old ruffle skinned body moving. I also know about the little swimming pool  hidden away from the crowd and church goers where my friends and I use to have a whale of a splash-time. Even under the eagle stares of Mr.Robert, he could never keep us away from our mischief.


We lulled the noons away inscribing our god-forsaken names on the moss ridden stones behind the church. Some of us played 'rascals' by having 'speak-of-the devil' words inscribed into the stones and faced the wrath of the church 'gatekeeper'. The stones are now well hidden as many changes had taken place since then. Anyway, the whereabouts of these stones is a well kept secret amongst like-minded rascals friends then. Tho' sworn with secrecy we remain guilty as charged. Haha.


A month before the grand feast, we boys, after school, will get together in the noons and help out poor Mr. Robert cut and clean the vast church compound. It is always a daunting task to mow the church lawn which is like 2 football fields wide, scrap off hardened candle-wax within the church compounds and all along the bleacher steps to the top of the little mount. The mowed grass, wood and twigs are collected and burnt as the entire compound is prepped ready for the thronging pilgrims. The pilgrim shed is cleaned and painted as well. Every year, the church goes through a face-lift a month before the culmination of the feast. At present I believe all church work is done by paid laboures.


The little history I know of the St. Anne's Church played a lot in my growing up years. The church itself can be traced back to 1833 when Catholics from Batu Kawan ( a town not far from Bukit Mertajam ) first settled on the foothills of BM. The first church or chapel I should say was built in 1846 by French missionaries on top a small hill behind the old church only later, inadvertently was burnt down by pilgrims. St. Anne was a patron mother and a popular saint of the French. She is believed to be the mother of Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus Christ which any christian will tell you that. But what they won't tell you is that she is also the Patron Saint for housewives, grandmothers, carpenters, and women in labour and many more - that's what she stood for when she was chosen.


The first church of St Anne was built in 1888 overseen by Father F.P Sorin. His tomb / grave is embedded at the main entrance of the old church built in 1957. The “Shrine of St Anne” the focal point of the Feast and the Novena of St Anne, is celebrated annually. Drawing nearly thousands of people every year from all around the world, this nine day affair culminates with a beautiful candlelight procession which starts on the eve of St Anne's feast.


I still remember to this day the days of the St.Anne's feast then and now. Then it was all religious and holly in many sense of the word, but now, with time moving into space age and with all the gadgets and gizmos in evidence, the feast itself had transformed. More commercialism has set in. More state of the art tech has come into existence. There was a time the only statue outside the church was the one placed inside the grotto on the right just after the first mount. Now statues are everywhere. And a new church had sprouted up too.


I still remember how we boys were chased away from the compounds of the church for NOT being Christians. Tho' we felt cheated but we laughed it off like a Sunday school joke. The better half of the boys who came to help Mr Robert were also non Christians. Since then, non-Christians felt reluctant to encroach the church but after the change of the priest to a local, confidence came back to the nearer residents and paved for the non-Christians to frequent the church.


Stories are aplenty as I write this blog but I prefer all those wonderful years to stay in memory rather then be read here. It was indeed an experience to live nearby the all famous St.Anne's church and live to tell, share with reminisce those glory and wonderful days.


Thank you for listening.

StAnne's

1 Malaysia or 1 Race Malaysia

This should’ve appeared eons ago but I procrastinated and loathed on the topic. It’s an interesting topic to pen but to me it's rather a mundane "fart." What hype! Does it even breathe or rear skin?


1Malaysia - it's the new credo of the Malaysian Government or shall I hesitantly say, "the elementary mechanics of the National Front Government." On a shadier hindsight, it’s more of the PM of Malaysia's new catch-cliché. To me it’s like breaking an egg and discovering the york lost.

The gist of this cliché, quote unquote - Irrespective of what who where or how you're, irrespective of man nor woman, irrespective race colour creed nor with an amphibious hide, every Malaysian is to be united as ONE.

Sheer bamboozled. I mean - try preaching this to the minority race of the country.

"What did you say? Be united! Are you from the jungle or what? Since when do we do such a thing? Why should we? I rather be isolated then be united with the minority. I will myself not to be derided against the inferior race. In case you did not notice, I'm the Godsend race-religion."

The above may sound harsh but if you were to break it and analyse the inter-fabric strand of the Malaysian society, you'll come to discover the 1Malaysia concept which our Government so revers got lost in translation some 30 to 40 years ago. Many Malaysians, the minority mainly, are so over this and have grown out of their "empty-foolish hide."

Such mechanisms don't work anymore. Malaysians aren't fools and neither born in Timbuktu. The last election acted as a salient testimony and it reminded us of things - when they fall they do fall with a thud. The masses came out of hibernation and started wearing a brain. Thank god for that. The shift in thinking got the usual thinkers rattled. The last election results DID turn the tides of the country and set a smouldering path for a new 'history' to be charted. How long do we need the same faces to give us make believe promises.

From past History - Hitler wanted his Reich to rule Deutschland for a 1000 years but the Third Reich fell way short of that and in 1945 fell and burnt to the ground.

Someone blamed the Government of being a copy-cat; some blamed for stealing the ideology from a Semite Government. Some even blamed the Government for being Semite-lover.

To my knowing, 1Msia was indeed 'plagiarised’ from Israel - 1 Israel. Though the Israelites are somewhat deemed parasite to the other races of the nations, you have to admit they did wonders in their path in rebuilding Israel.

Now, in Malaysia, it has become the theme and anthem of the government. All news over radio and TV, I believe in all languages, start and end with 1Malaysia credo. Even sports is not left out.

Now, let’s be honest and talk candidly. We aren't donkeys not to see the difference.

Are we 1Malaysia? I mean are we honestly and in reality 1Malaysia. Do we all cohesive together in everything we do? Do we want to be cohesive at all? Simply put, the lay man asks, "How? How to integrate when we’re divided staunchly by race, greed, and culture?" Some say we’re itemised like commodities.

There're some who choose to be divided no matter what happens. Even with an impending nuclear holocaust, many staunchly will choose to stay within the same creed. Some refuse to speak the common interactive language to bridge the gap saying there is only one language for 1Malaysia and it should be the language of the majority.

Have you been to the inland villages of Malaysia? Have you seen and been with the Malaysian poor? Do you know what 1Malaysia means to the forgotten Malaysian dwindling amongst the hardcore famine? These are the people who need financial help. Children as young as ten are neglected of basics and elementary education. Societies have no roof over their head. I do know of one family who lived in a cow shed for they could not afford to have a house of their own as their land was taken over by the 'hands that rule.' How do you educate and instill trust to such a society of 1Malaysia. The preachers themselves frown away from what they preach?

The other day, a photograph was splashed in the papers of officers of the forces with the PM cocooned in the middle. Sorry to say, that was the most disgusting picture of 1Malaysia ever. Many would not have noticed it but the queer eye always does. Why was it disguising?

Here's the reason. All the high ranking officers were of the same race. There was not one from the minority. For someone preaching 1Malaysia and when seen with such a sorority of men, what shall the lay man think or understand of the 1 Malaysia gibberish? Ask yourself that.

We’re harbouring our foolishness without aim. We're definitely impairing our stupidity with unprofound ideologies. 1Malaysia is only a word. Where is the action?

The country is ruled by one race. The Mecca of the government is a one race recipe. The minority is not given deciding power to question. If they do, then they would have violated just about every strand of the 'sacred' Constitution there is ever gazette in Parliament and be ridiculed. Our print media will ensure the message is spelt across in bold to the public much speedier than the monsoon rain and take solace in seeing the challengers incarcerated.

This is not about being violent, vindictive or committing crimes let alone remotely heinous but for speaking out our quench-thirst mind for a better liberal constitution and law.

1Malaysia - should it be instilled into the minds of the people by singing it daily or should it be inculcated by the warm love for the country which can only come from our hearts. Where is the love gone? Gone indeed. Our forefathers fought the battle in vain to bring this simple message across but all was lost in vain as now we see the ugly truth of it.

Or should it be asked - do we need to be told to be united? Do we need to look at the other race and then think to be united? Why are Malaysians today still divided and branded as bumi and non.

What right must we do to correct the wrong?

Why should there be favouritism? Did the dominant race fall from the sky to rule? History may tell 1001 Arabian Night tales but who is there to say it was correct and true? Did we do something so wrong to qualify as minority? Are our birthrights somewhat inferior to mankind?

Questions can come in bucket loads but the answers come in arrogance and dominance. This can be called uncivilised. We should be given a chance to live our lives to the fullest the way we choose without hindrance. We should let out fate be decided by ourselves and not any other.

Why must Malaysia be any different from any other multi-race nation? We are only a speck of dust on this planet going thru' a transition. Come what may, the deciding factor is NOT 1Malaysia or 1Race Malaysia but rather our share of equal race space.

MU....u're a JOKE

An email - extract.


Malaysian Man Utd fans cry foul over ban on 'devil' shirts.


Manchester United's fans in Malaysia erupted in astonishment and anger on social media Thursday after clerics warned Muslims against wearing the team's famous jersey with its "devil" emblem.

Malaysian Man Utd fans cry foul over ban on 'devil' shirts.

Manchester United and the rest of the English Premier League are hugely popular in Muslim-majority Malaysia, where conservative religious leaders said the jersey was un-Islamic and should be banned.

Social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook were flooded with comments from fans in the Southeast Asian nation.

"Maybe the religious leaders are just fans of Liverpool?" quipped one supporter on Twitter.

"Why this become an issue after Manchester United has won the title for 11 times? They haven't been watching the matches all this while?" said Sharifah Shahidah, a die-hard Manchester United fan of two-decades standing.

"What am I gonna do with all my Man Utd jerseys? And my sons' jerseys?" Sharifah, a Muslim mother of two and an IT programmer, asked on her Twitter account. "Should I cover the emblem with a picture of flower?"

Malaysian clerics said Wednesday that Muslims must not wear the iconic red jersey because devils should be shunned, not celebrated, and urged those who had worn the garment to "repent immediately".

Also off-limits are the shirts of teams including Brazil, Portugal, Barcelona and Serbia, all of which carry an image of the Christian crucifix in their team emblems.

"This is very dangerous. As a Muslim, we should not worship the symbols of other religions or the devils," said Nooh Gadot, a top Islamic leader from southern Johor state.

Manchester United Fan Club Malaysia, which has about 7,000 members, declined to comment, but the fan club's chief, Lawrence How, noted there was no official ban on the jerseys.

The clerics agreed there was no "fatwa", or religious edict, but that one was not needed when it was clearly wrong for Muslims to wear such a garment.

Malaysia is a generally moderate Islamic country, but conservative clerics have issued controversial edicts in the past, including a ban on the ancient practice of yoga, which is criticised for including Hindu elements.

"hahahaah....do i even care.... hohohoho"

Hatyai Hapjai Anyai....whatever....

Welcome to Hatyai - a town / city / mini-metropolis of Southern Thailand. To many, Hatyai is nothing new. It has always been there. Apart for being synonymous with sex trade, tho' not all that prevalent, Hatyai is everything a tourist paradiso. Ask any Malaysian who has been there. This town is approximately 50 Kms from the Msia-Thai border town of Bukit Kayu Hitam. It's easily accessible by rail, road and flight.

I made a quick two day tour of Hatyai over the weekend to see if there is anything at all that has changed over the years since my last visit. This once old sleepy town has indeed transformed into a bustling mini-city. Crowds in droves throng Hatyai daily. Hatyai is no more viewed for its notoriety anymore. It is now famous for commercial purposes.

Hatyai is the commercial district of Songkla and it has grown from what use to be the pinnacle sex city of Southern Thailand into one of the most busiest town anywhere near the Thai-Msian border. The saying - shop till you drop befits Hatyai.

After a "2-day of Hatyai tour," I came to the conclusion the Hatyai I use to know then and the Hatyai now had indeed changed vastly. The once bustling red-light district of the city is no more visible to the naked eye but it still thrives quintessentially. The sex entertainment part of this city, slowly and definitely, had moved to Dannnok - the border town of Thailand. It is fitting and timely as it well suits Malaysians crossing over the border at Bukit Kayu Hitam for their "quick-rendezvous-fix."

Hatyai today is all about eating good food and shopping. Rows of stalls selling souvenirs, knick-knacks, packed foods, massage parlours and eateries are ever so endless. Good four star hotels had sprouted out and prices of commodity had risen compared to the likes of ten years ago. Tourism has definitely come a long way and if I were to compare with Malaysia, the Thais have a better niche in tourism then Malaysians.

The hospitality of the Thais towards tourist is ever so prominent. The warm "sawadika" greetings will make you feel right at home. The tuk-tuks are also there and I did notice the Thais in Hatyai are now well-equipped with better command of English then before.

Anyway, for those wanting to visit Hatyai for the very first time, here are some tips and quick fixes on what to do and not when travelling to Hatyai.

By Train :
Night train from KL Central - will take you all the way to Hatyai Railway Station via Butterworth arriving somewhat like 1000hrs (Thai time) the next day. Your border transit / embarkation / immigration check point is at Padang Besar Railway station.(Malaysia)

No hassles with the train ride as the journey is rather smooth. The only problem is the long train travel and / or the immigration checks which can delay you by two hours the least. I'll not suggest train travel but if you're a train enthusiast, no harm in taking the trains. And looking at statistics, its a lot safer to travel by rail than road anyway. 

Train travellers need to fill your embarkation forms at the Padang Besar Railway Station. The forms are readily available at the counters.


By Bus :
Buses are aplenty from KL. It's better to board the night bus as it will arrive at Bukit Kayu Hitam at about 0530hrs (Msian time). The border at Bukit Kayu Hitam between Malaysia and Thailand open their gates at 0600hrs (Msian time). Malaysia is 1 hour ahead of Thailand.

By Air :
Hadyai International Airport is about 40 minutes from Hadyai Central. Taxis are the best mode of transport to and from the airport to anywhere. The private taxis outside the airport are cheaper then the ones operating from the airport. The self owned and operated taxis are bargainable. The ones from the airport are fixed-rate charges. 

The cheapest flights are the low cost ones plying Hadyai and other smaller cities around South East Asia. Air Asia is the hot favourite but its a bloody rip-off.  

* Embarkation FORM : 
You need not fill up any embarkation form if you travel by bus. Instead, your passports will be collected by the driver 5 minutes before the border at an eatery and will forward all passports to the counter clerks employed by the eatery.

This is a a good ploy; as your embarkation forms are being filled-up, you may choose to stretch or limber or even have a very early morning breakfast at this eatery. The passports together with the E-form will be returned to the owners before leaving for the border. 

Weekend travelling may be a hazard with delays due to the queues and crowd. So preempt yourselves for extended time wasting on such days. If you need to change your money to THB, you can do here as well but on a personal note I would not recommend as the rates are expensive. You can get better rates in KL or elsewhere.

* Arriving at the Malaysian Immigration :
Leave your bags / luggages /  belongings in the bus. Take only your passport and your valuables with you. Here, you will get your passports checked and endorsed by the Malaysian Immigration. By the time this is done, your bus would have gone through security check and will be waiting beyond the Malaysia Check Point booths.

DO NOT walk to the Thai immigration check points or to the crossing of the border to wait for your bus. Board your bus and travel with the other passengers to the border from the Malaysia Immigration Checkpost.   

* Into Thailand Immigration :

Your bus will stop in front of the Thai Immigration check post. Take your bags and belongings with you together with your passports and get in line in one of the Thai immigration booths. Here your passports will be endorsed with an arrival Visa and later (if you are unlucky), your bags will be checked as well by the Thai Immigration.

NOTE :

For Non-Malaysians, do check with your local embassy for needs and requirements. Non-Malaysians travelling into Thailand may have different Visa requirements - especially if you are from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka or even China.

When done, take your belongings and walk to your bus waiting for you at the car park on the left side of the Thai Immigration Booths. You may need to walk a distance with your luggages to board the bus. If you decide not to go to Hatyai, you may breakoff from your journey and walk to Dannok which is like two minutes away from the Thai Immigration.


* A tinker :  If you plan to be in Dannok, use MYR instead of THB. It's a lot cheaper.

Happy Hatyai Travel.    More pictures here  <-------

Oranje Boys...u were a letdown...

Third time unlucky.

In 1974 with the Maestro Cruyff against Germany, In 1978 with Robbie Rensenbrink losing to Mario Kempes's Argentina and in 2010 disgracefully bowing out to Spain.

The 2010 final was simply the worst game ever played in a World Cup with 14 yellow and a red card and not forgetting 47 fouls.

As the tabloid said, brains over brawn won the game. Holland could have won if Robben had not miss-fired his two clear sitters. As Paul the Octopus predicted, Spain sure deserved the win for they played the game to anger and frustrate the Dutch boys.

In a land full of canals, rivers, boats and "sampans" and not forgetting the Dike built to harness the sea from drowning the Netherlands, I never really saw a playing field in Holland. How is it this tiny European Nation had made it to the three finals of the World Cups and yet not win it?

Holland is indeed a lovely country especially the city of Keukenhof, where there are more flowers then people. This is a nation where the "Oranje" people are friendlier then their neighbours Germany.

Strangely enough, Holland has produced some of the best ball players on this planet and yet not win the world cup. I guess being best does not augur well in World Cups.
Next world cup winner - don't need Paul to predict - it will be Brazil (another boring winner) else Brazilian fans will burn Rio to the ground.

1,430 days to go for another round of football madness.

Gerrrrrmanyyyy

One wonders what really came off the 2010 Deutsche squad?

They played the game in clinical form and in sheer delight as well packing in all those non-school boy goals in the highest level of tournament. The Germans had actually come a long way to South Africa and to win at all cost.

Before all that, let me take you to another trip away from World Cup. Lets go Deutscheland- the only country I know that calls itself Fatherland.

This is a country full of mighty old castles  castles and more castles. On top of that, they have the Autobahn - high speed highway - one of the best speedways in the world. This is the only place I know where you get to see the likes of Lamborghini and Porches zoom past you at more then 250 kmh. This is no kid's play. And the autobahns are cemented not tarred.

If you need to know, it was Hitler's idea to have the autobahn built in Germany. Why?  Hitler wanted his massive army mobilised to any part of Germany in a swift. So he got some road engineers and came up with the Autobahn. It was in early 1939-40 when the Autobahns were built/constructed and it had stayed till now.  Sadly, the genius who actually came up with the idea died in a plane crash - and right so crashing into the Autobahn while it was still under construction.

The Germans are a proud stock. Again it was Hitler who made every German stand out and stay "Ich bin Deutscher."( I'm German) proudly. He made every German stand tall and be accounted for. The way of life is almost clockwork at times. One wonders what ticks them at all. And the Germans HATE the English. Another tickling story I believe.

Having spent some time in Germany myself, and having travelled Europe and Scandinavia and all, all I can say is this - Germany is one country no other nation in all Europe can come close. They are almost next to perfection.

Deutscheland  ...  Deutscheland ...  Deutscheland....  

Boooo ..hoooooo

Brazil 1970 World Cup squad

Go suck it up, 2010 Brazil....

And you thought you were the best!!   hahaha....

Pele was so darn right when he even said, if the buck-tooth Ronaldinho can play for five more years with his fancy swirls and twisting of the ball...then Brazil deserve to win the world cup. The buck tooth 'wizard" did not even make the cut.

Brazil can win another 100 world cups but they can NEVER emulate the likes of the 1970 Brazilian squad of Pele, Rivelino, Tostao, Gerson, Jairzinho and of course skipper Carlos Alberto.

The game against The Orange boys was the best sulking game ever for the Brazilians. I have never fancied you guys. After watching your 1970 World cup squad, there can never be another Brazilian squad anywhere close to the magic they did in 1970. No team thus far has ever played the game in that manner . It was SHEER MAGIC AND DELIGHT TO WATCH. Brazil then DID show the world what football is all about. 

BOOOOO .. go home BRAZIL. You are no where near to your 1970 squad. 

Now boys, pack your backs take that flight and go to your wives, girlfriends and go join the English boys in their Caribbean Holidays homes. 

Italy France Brazil Portugal England .... Good Riddance. 

Player Perfect to Clown Perfect...

Diego Aramando Maradona...

"Pele should go back to the museum."

No one does that to Pele except Maradona.  hahahaha


The German Schweinsteger berated in his press conference accusing the Argentines of being cocky, chesty, a crowd-nuisance and many more before the much awaited match against the Argentines.

So, no issue when "the-hand of God" played down the German's sore by clowning and presenting his non-prolix statement and that with a tinge of Deutsche accent.

"What's your problem, Schweinsteiger, are you nervoushhhh"


I hope the game will be the same or more fun to watch then goals scored.

To many, Maradona may be the druggist, clown, tax-evasionist, rude-crude, boozer and a middle class Argentinean, but he knows whats it like when a game like Argentina-Germany is on the hit and bookmakers card.

Many would have forgotten - it was not the hand of God that brought the World Cup back to Argentina in 1986 Mexico, but it was Maradona and he himself. 


So...what's a boy or a twit like Schweingsteiger doing in a small-man Maradona's court? 

Both teams have class and players to crank it up...So i'm taking no sides.

May the better team win and HOPE the men-in-middle don't screw the game up.

And to the pea-brained Sepp Blater..are you still thinking of expending the goalmouth a mile longer?