View Point - All We Hear Is...Radio Ga Ga

All we hear is Radio ga ga
Radio goo goo
Radio ga ga
All we hear is Radio ga ga
Radio blah blah
Radio what's new?
Radio, someone still loves you!

Queen said right...or sang it for that matter. Have you guys ever heard of Radio 91.3?

If not, well, this is the next generation of the radio station. Though they are still quite new, they attract loads of listeners. They have an awesome shows line-up everyday and the music keeps me company. The DJs are fun and crazy, and they engage the listeners. The listeners also have a chance to win instant prizes.

I like them all from the DJs to the music played. The most favourite ones is definitely the breakfast show with The Married Men. As such, they perk up my morning. They have a segment on Kena Pluck where they put a prank on the listeners. I can’t stop laughing while tuning in. They are bunch of crazy fellows whom never fails to entertain the listeners. They have the Hot 30 Countdown on weeknights counting the hottest hits voted by the listeners.

They also organise an event called Must Drink Friday. Its is a monthly event where the only selected listeners are picked by the DJs to come and joined in the party at a well- known club. It is absolutely free flow of drinks, finger-foods and an exciting theme.

So what are you guys waiting for? Tune in for more the best music in town as it is a 100% pure fun!

By the way, in case you are wondering who is THE queen we are refering to earlier in the blog, they are an iconic rock band from the 70s with a string of hits until the death of the lead singer, Freddie Mercury. Try googling them.

View Point - In The Words of David Bowie, Let's Dance

No folks, we will not be blogging about David or his dance but more of the likes of an ethnic, cultural dance.

Malay dance (tarian melayu), in particular, portrays the customs or and culture of the Malays but also to express one's feeling and get active. It depicts the true nature of the Malay people and their way of life.

Generally, Malay dance is divided into two main categories, that is the original Malay dance and the adopted Malay dance. There are four basic genres of Malay dance, namely Asli, Inang, Joget and Zapin. Asli and Inang are categorised as the "original" Malay dances whereas Joget and Zapin are categorized as "adopted" Malay dances.

Asli - Its beat and rhythm is slow-paced yet intricate and well defined. Its dance style is graceful and elegant as it depicts the charming nature of Malay ladies. There are numerous hand movements and poses, each with a different significance. Every movement of the Asli dance starts and ends with the gong beat in the count of eights.

Inang - Its beats and dance movements are faster paced compared to the Asli dance. It portrays the grace and swaying movement of royal maids and has all the qualities of a palace performance. In olden times, the Inang dance was performed only by ladies, with very modest movements adhering to the strict palace customs and protocols. Eventually, the Inang dance evolved from strictly a court dance into a folk dance enjoyed and performed by all individuals. Nevertheless, its graceful and modest movements have always remained. Nowadays, it is performed at all social functions and usually by couples of men and women. Examples of songs with the Inang beat are Seri Langkat, Lenggang Mak Limah and Mak Inang Pulau Kampai.

Joget - It is also called ronggeng. Its catchy beat and cheerful combination of fast hand and leg movement. Usually at the end of a Joget performance, the drumming speeds up to a rapid dance section, in which two dancers face each other and, standing on their right legs, extend their left legs forward until their feet touch; then they switch legs.

Zapin - It is the most popular of all the other dances. the dancers perform various steps and legwork movements. When the music and beating of the drums is played in a rapid beat manner known as tingkah or kopak, the dancers move in a jumping manner called the Minta Tahto. At the end of the performance, which is known as the Tahtim, whereby the dancers will perform the Wainab movements to close the performance.

During the performance the dancers felt nervous and their hearts were pumping very fast, but despite being nervous, the dancers have an enjoyable and fun experience performing for the audience. They says that dancing is a way to express one's feeling and to get active. The dancers felt like superstars and felt honoured for having the privilege of performing in a very occasional and memorial day.

View Point - A Take On Climate Change

Climate change is already happening and represents one of the greatest environmental, social, and economical threats facing the planet. Climate change and global warming refers to an increase in average global temperature. Natural events and human activities are believed to be contributing to an increase in average global temperature.

 

As we know the climate is changing and many effects can be seen on the environment. Have we ever thought what can the cause be? 

Well, one of the causes of climate change is the green house effect. Energy from the sun drives the earth’s weather and heats the earth’s surface. Burning coal, oil, and natural gas releases carbon-dioxide gas in to the atmosphere. This warms the earth’s and changes the climate in many ways. 

For example, it changes the severity of duration of storms and droughts. Other human activities such as cutting down forests, growing rice and raising cattle, these also have the same effects on the environment.

 

The environment, human beings, animals, natural resources and our heritage are facing an unwanted outcome of the climate change. As climate changes heating, cooling, water use and sea level is affected. Especially when the sea level rises, it threats an outcome of flood and river land slide. Flood and river rand rlide, brings great threats for human beings. As of now, many countries like Singapore is already facing the flood. Every day lifestyle of human beings and financial status of the each country is affected by the flood. In wealthy countries, if flood or river land slide occur the average cost would probably be small, but for some poor countries, it is a huge burden.

We human being are experiencing the various effects of the climate change. So, why not we human being be more concern about our environment? We could reduce the rate at which we add the carbon dioxide the atmosphere by burning less coal, oil and natural gas. We should adopt recycling. If climate changes, we should adapt the changing agriculture and other human activities as the plants and animal in the natural environment is unable to adapt those. If warming is large and costly, some people might want to make changes to the atmosphere or oceans in order to cool the earth. This is very controversial.

 

We human beings should take the initiative to protect our environment by executing some steps that have bee mentioned earlier. The effect on the environment has many causes and outcomes. That is why government of both wealthy and poor countries should be prepared financially and with man power so that the country can face the unwanted outcomes. Our environment is very precious, valuable and important to us. We should take special care of our environment and our atmosphere.

Literary Creativity - A Moment of Melancholy

Staring at the fluffy clouds travelling gently across the blue sky like strolling in their own yard makes me remember the old days where young children gather somewhere in the school playing catching, hide and seek and etc. Their laughter was so contagious, each with a big smile on their faces, enjoying every moment, and being really happy.

I still remember my friends and I playing catching near the spiral staircase in Primary school. We were playing happily and suddenly we saw our discipline master coming towards us. We all ran separate ways, hoping we would not get caught.

I ran with all my might and suddenly realized something was not right. The surroundings were too quiet. I was worried and decided to sneak back to the place where we had left.

To my dismay, I saw all my friends standing together, being scolded by our discipline master. I felt guilty that I was the only one who managed to escape from him. I didn’t know what to do. My mind was blank but I started walking towards them, hoping they could tell me off so I could receive the same punishment as them.

In the end, nothing happened as my friends just quietly received the lecture from him. I felt odd after the discipline master left.  I asked one of my friends why none of them mentioned my involvement to him.

Till today, I still have the image of my friend’s gentle voice. “Nevermind, we are friends”.

Literary Creativity - A Love Letter

To my dearest one,

It has been years I did not meet you. I cannot forget the beautiful moments we shared together. I really regret what I have done. I understand we were young. It was wrong to express what was going through in my heart. At that point in time you took it wrongly.

Even though you hated me I still cared for you. I did not expect to do such stuff in school. But it was a joke to me. All this time, I have been thinking about you whenever I’m happy, sad or depressed. I miss you. Well, take care and study hard!

Yours truly, with love

And My Heart Will Go On and On...

OK, enough with the reference to Celine Dion's song, My Heart Will Go On.

It was my first field trip with the Journaling Club to the Art and Science Museum in Singapore. The museum was a great place to actually know more about the history of pivotal moments in history. The last was Genghis Khan, now it's the Titanic.

It was priceless knowledge I gained. The place was beautiful to visit not only for a tourist, but also for Singaporeans to know more of the Titanic experience.

Remember what happened to the Titantic many years back?

Yes it sank. It was really sad. Actually, it was designed to be sturdy enough so it could easily navigate the North Atlantic’s rough seas.

On May 31, 1911, a crowd of more than 100,000 gathered to watch Titantic's launch. At 12:13 pm, a red rocket streaked into the sky and the hydraulic triggers holding Titantic in its dry dock were released. The sliding way beneath the ship, greased with 22 tons (19.958 kg) of tallow and soap, offered no resistance as it glided gracefully into the River Lagan, amidst the congratulatory sounds of ship sirens and a general gasp of wonder from onlookers on both sides of the river. Although she was now in the water, Titantic was far from complete. The interior was not finished and the engines, boilers, propellers and four funnels awaited installation. Finishing Titantic would take another 10 months.

As the finest ship ever built, Titantic surpassed even the wealthiest passengers' expectations of opulence. The design for the first class cabin was magnificient. Everything was actually all craftsman’s work. There was an abundant closet, private bathtubs, hot and cold running taps, and room service offered. It boasted a total of 750 seats with  each ticket costing between a price range of $2500 to $57,200.

The bollards, used to tie the Titantic, were made of massive steel posts. The pier utilised 4-inch thick manila ropes. Originally, these bollards were located at the stern on the third class poop deck but upon sinking, they broke off and were later recovered sepearately from the seabed.

The most interesting part of the trip was when I touched the icebergs, and the freezing waters of the North Atlantic in the Iceberg Gallery. I learnt that the iceberg that Titanic had hit had formed on the night of April 14, 1912 due to the salt seawater freezing at a lower temperature.

Amidst the interesting discovery, I was saddened by the disaster that caused 1117 lives. Most of them died not from drowning but from hypothermia, a rapid mental-physical collapse that lowered the body temperature at a rapid speed. I felt sorry for their families.

We left the Art and Science Museum with heavy hearts.

Of Films, Spices and...Bollywood Veggies?

 

This most wonderful farm is named Bollywood Veggies. It is named the Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability Region by an American research company. The name Bollywood Veggies sounds really interesting. Well is it somehow related to Bollywood? No actually.

We paid a visit to Bollywood Veggies which is located at the beautiful Kranji countryside. No, not really a countryside but that's the closest we can get to a countryside in concrete-jungle Singapore. It is full of trees with acres of grass and organic plants, and briming with wonderful and colorful vegetables.

It was a perfect sunny day to visit the mesmerizing veggie garden. I was amused by the plants there. Among the most unique ones was the Pisang Rajah (King of Banana). We also saw the beauty of a banana flower. Later, there were more fruits and vegetables like aloe vera, bitter gourd, pumpkin and eggplant. Some of the wide range of spices that we had seen were basil, Indian borage and lemongrass. All of us were amazed by the natural beauty of this organic farm.

Throughout the journey, I had constantly trying to capture all those wonderful moments on my digital camera. When our sight seeing was done, we headed to the Bollywood Veggies restaurant. I had the most refreshing aloe vera drink there.

I had a great day at the Bollywood Veggies. In all, I saw the beauty of nature. It had made me realise how nature has given us so many precious gifts. It is an unforgettable experience.