SELLING HERBAL DRINKS ON A COLD, WET DAY

One of the activities for my school resource centre that was put on hold during the fasting month was the sale of herbal drinks each Wednesday. My team members and I would take turns to prepare different types of herbal drinks to sell to the teachers, staff and students. We get to add to the library kitty as well as promote the use of herbs.

This morning was the first day we restarted our sales but unfortunately it was a cold, rainy day. So sales was slow. Thank goodness, Baz and I were the only two making the drinks. Usually four of us would make a herbal drink each. Baz prepared a Honeyed Longan drink while I boiled the Chrysanthemum with Winter Melon. We usually prepare the drinks late at night as it takes some time. That was why the herbal drinks were already prepared before it started raining cats and dogs in the middle of the night.

Luckily we managed to get back our capital. We also gave free drinks to the students who had helped us today.So now we are a lot wiser after the experience. Next time, we will listen to the weather report first!

DOWNPOUR

We had very heavy rain in the Manjung district in the early hours of the morning until about 8.00 a.m. I was a wee bit late getting to school as it was difficult to get out from the house into my car with the rain pouring down. I had to wait for the torrent to subside a bit.

When I got to school, there were puddles of water everywhere. The cleaners had to sweep the water so that people might not slip and fall.

The good thing about the rain is that it has made the air fresher and cooler. Also the plants have gotten a mega dose of water and so no need to water them today.

BUDDHA PINE TREES

I saw these Buddha pine trees growing outside a departmental store in Sitiawan. There are some people who believe that this particular tree will bring lots of wealth luck to a home or a business premise.

KITCHEN ADJACENT TO TOILET

I saw this arrangement when I was looking at some almost completed houses near where I am staying. The kitchen is located next to the toilet. This is a Feng Shui taboo as a toilet next to a kitchen produces Shar Qi or Killing Energy.

To counter this, one can keep the lid of the toilet bowl down (if it is the seating type) and also keep the door of the toilet closed all the time.

PLEASE REFILL

From a young age, I learnt from my dad to place the lid of the teapot in the manner above to indicate to the waiter/waitress in a dim sum restaurant that the pot needs to be refilled with water. I thought I would share this bit of information with visitors here. I am sure there will be quite a number of Chinese visitors who are familiar with this practice but then there will also be those who do not know. Am I right?

INCREMENT

Instead of my wealth or fame increasing steadily, I find that the only thing that keeps doing so is the degree of my short-sightedness and long sightedness. Sigh!

I was at the opticians during the weekend to get my half-yearly eye test. Now I have to change the lenses of my spectacles. Thank goodness, there was a sale and so I was able to save a bit.

GOOD CIRCULATION

It is a Feng Shui No No to see the back door when entering a house. This means that the front door and the back door are in a straight line.

Why is this so? This is because Qi or energy has a tendency to rush right through the house and out the back door taking luck, prosperity and health with it.

If your house has such doors, then one way to counter this problem is to place a partition or a large plant to block the view and encourage Qi to circulate like a stream rather than rush like a strong wave.

TEDDY BEAR MUSEUM

I love teddy bears and have a few to keep me company at home. When I watched the Korean drama, "Princess Hours", I found out that there is a Teddy Bear Museum in Jeju Island, South Korea. From then on, it has been my dream to one day visit this museum. I had actually wanted to go to South Korea with my Aunt May last year but then she was beginning to feel unwell and now is undergoing treatment for cancer in Singapore. I am not giving up though, one day I will make sure I set foot in the museum. In the meantime I can only look at the pictures on the Internet.

Sources:

http://www.lifeinkorea.com/

http://jejulife.net/

LONGAN

This longan tree was grown by my friend, Khairah a few years ago in her garden. The tree has borne quite a lot of fruits. When I went over to her house last week, she plucked some of the fruits for me to try. How did they taste like? Actually like the longans we buy in the market except the flesh is not as thick as those from China or Thailand.

Whenever I make some Chinese Dessert, I like to use the dried longan as one of the ingredients. The Chinese believe that the longan has a relaxing effect and it is considered a 'warm' fruit.

FENG SHUI FOR CARS

I am posing with a brand new Nissan Impuls car. Nope! It does not belong to me. I already have a Toyota Vios. The owner is one of the teachers in my school. He said that he decided to have a big car to accomodate his family members.
For believers of Feng Shui, they will hang certain activators and cures from the rear view mirrors in the belief that it would either bring them good luck or protection. There are some who would place peacock feathers in their cars to protect from accidents.

SAFEGUARDING CROWNING GLORY

My Aunt who is undergoing chemotherapy has lost most of her. Nowadays she has to wear wigs. In her case, the hair loss is because of the treatment. However, the doctor said that the hair will grow back after the chemo has stopped. Anyway, women and even men will start pushing the panic button if they suddenly find that their hair loss is more than normal. Actually, it could be due to stress, the food we eat, hormonal change, pregnancy, menopause and even allergy to some chemicals in products that we use.

I read an article about Taiwanese actor, Ming Dao (pictured above) having to consult the doctor because his hairline was receding. He said that it might be hereditary as his own father was bald. Even for us ordinary people, hair loss is a very frightening thing. What more a person like Ming Dao who relies on his good looks in his field of work.

On the telly, we always see a particular hair care centre advertising that it can help customers to regain their crowning glory. Then there are products for hair growth being sold. Hopefully, they work.

One natural herb that is said to help stimulate hair growth is none other than curry leaves. One needs to boil the leaves in coconut until it is reduced to a blackened residue, the oil of which forms an excellent hair tonic which stimulates hair growth and also helps to retain the natural pigmentation of the hair. It is also said that taking a lot of curry leaves will help to stop premature greying. So why not give this a try? It is a really cheap and natural treatment without any harmful side effects.

Reference: Asian fanatics entertainment news

BAD HOUSE LOCATION

Two houses at the end of a T-junction

The photographs are of newly completed houses in a housing area near to where I reside. While the location of most of the houses are okay, I found 4 houses that are located at T-Junctions. Hey! Feng Shui is my hobby and when I am free I brush up on it by checking out houses that are being built.

I am sure that many would know that when buying a house, one should make sure that it is not located at either a T or Y Junction. For your information, to qualify as a T-junction house, vehicles should move towards and away from the house. This is because houses located here would be constantly bombarded by Qi. As a result the inhabitants might suffer from poor health and there is also danger of spirit interference.

TAKING STOCK OF ONESELF

One of the tenets of Taoism is that the individual is responsible wholly and fully for his or her life. Therefore, it is up to us to work towards how we want our lives to be. If we feel that we are stuck in a rut where there is not much improvement or success then it would be wise to consider making changes to our living environment.
However, before starting on making the changes we should first take stock of ourselves. Then we will have an idea of what type of space we want to create or improve in our lives. You may start by asking such questions as, "Am I satisfied with my present position?", "Is my family life harmonious?", "Have I achieved what I want to in life?" After that you can mull about what
changes you want to make.
Remember that based on Feng Shui principles, we should not leave any walls blank. By doing so, it is like having an area of your life without anything. The idea is to create a space that will invite good luck, success,wealth and good health into our lives.
So what are you waiting for? Start taking stock now and make the necessary changes.

HAPPY FLOWER

The sunflower plant in my house is in full bloom. I like to plant this flower as it looks so cheerful and appears to be giving out so much positive vibes. I actually bought the plant from the Farmer's Market at Kampung Koh last Thursday from RM6.00. Hopefully it will last for a few more days.

SHAPES OF DESKS

Want to make more money? Get a rectangular desk for your office.

Want to come up with more creative work. Use a round desk to do your work.

WU LOU IN THE BATHROOM

I am sure many of you reading this would know that as far as Feng Shui is concerned the Wu Lou or Calabash is a symbol for Health. Do you know that placing a crystal Wu Lou or two in the bathroom will be a great and welcome addition! So go ahead and hang one or two wu lou tassels in your bathroom, away from water sources.

ACCIDENTS AND FLYING STARS

I saw an accident involving three cars when I came out of the Vegetarian Restaurant yesterday evening. None of the people in the three vehicles were injured. Actually from where I stood, only the cars were slightly dented or scratched.
If we study Flying Stars Feng Shui or Xuan Kong, we will learn that at certain times and certain years, there will be more accidents happening. It also has to do with locations. At certain times, the misfortune star which brings about accidents and calamities might be in a certain area and that is why we find more accidents happening there.
On the other hand, the Taoists believe that certain areas are more accident prone as the spirits of those who died in accidents are looking for a substitute to take their place in the netherworld so that they can be reborn.
Hmm ... methinks it could be more a case of carelessness and also tiredness. What say you?

RED DURIANS

Sukang or durian hutan tree

I have done a post about durians that are red in colour but have never had the chance to try one. If I ever get to visit Sabah, I will make it one of my priorities to sink my teeth on such a beauty.

I read that this red fleshed durian tree can found growing wild in the jungles of Sabah. According to the article, the fruit taste very much like other durians.

Source: http://thestar.com.my

CAN'T TRUST THIS LADY WITH A CAR

At the battery shop to buy a new car battery
Haji Hasnin installing the new battery for me

Eary this morning when I turned on the ignition with my car keys, the engine just refused to start. Oh! Oh! Experience had told me that something might be wrong with the battery. Thankfully, Haji Hasnin answered my distress call and came and helped me out. To be honest, my knowledge of cars is to drive, fill up with petrol and wash them. Anything more, this damsel will be really distressed and that is when all her male colleagues will come to the rescue. I am lucky as many of them know what to do and they are also really chivalrous.

Haji Hasnin and a few of my male friends tease me by saying that one can't trust me with a car. He even made me buy a battery that I don't need to add water since I seem to neglect doing that most of the time.

THOUGHTFUL ROLE MODEL

I did a previous post about people with single lidded eyes being thoughtful, rational and calm in the face of adversity. Well, I think Lee Jun Ki does have such characteristics.

I read in an article in the Asian Fanatics Entertainment news that Jun Ki and his management were played out by the Taiwanese organisers who ran away with the money. When he arrived on 22nd of September for the concert on 26th September, he found out that not only had the organisers disappeared with the money, they did not even book the venue for the concert.

Anyway, Jun Ki stayed put in Taiwan and he made good his promise of staging a concert there for his fans. It seemed that he and his management forked out their own money to stage the concert. They booked the venue, rented the equipment and because of that the show went on. Now that is professionalism and also responsibility. Though Jun Ki did not earn any money from his Taiwan stint, he earned the respect of his fans everywhere.

Reference: http://www.asianfanatic.net/

WITH FAME COMES RESPONSIBILITY

There is this line in the Spiderman comic's which goes, "With great power comes great responsibility". Similarly, celebrities who are the object of adoration of millions (especially the young ones) are seen as role models.

A short while back, we all learnt that Andy Lau had been lying about his marital status for a year or so. This made quite a number of his fans lose faith in their idol. There was also the case of a Korean actor who is now charged with assault on his manager. Then recently, there was this case of Hong Kong based Malaysian singer, Gary Cao, being involved in a brawl with Justin Lo after leaving a pub. Don't these people realise that because of their fame, they have a responsibility to the public not to go overboard with their behaviour?

Source of pictures of Gary-Justin story: http://www.udn.com/

UTTERLY ADORABLE

I sometimes wonder why some people with single eyelids and small eyes opt to go and surgically add double eyelids and make their eyes bigger. It's like tampering with nature. Anyway, it's their own face and so they can do what they want with it.

However, I find guys like Lee Jun Ki (pictured above), Mark Zhao and Rain who all have single eyelids to be extremely cute and adorable. I am sure there are millions of ladies out there who would agree with me.

According to Chinese Face Reading, a person with small eyes is someone who is thoughtful and meticulous. They have a tendency to be calm and analytical.

As for eyelids, here is what man xiang or face reading has to say about single, double and triple eyelids.

• Single eyelids - a person who is rational and not prone to making a scene.
• Double eyelids - an emotional person
• Triple eyelids - a person with strong peach blossom luck. Beware of such a person, as he or she might not be faithful in the game of love.

Source of pictures: Asian fanatics photogallery

MALAY WEDDING CEREMONY

The bride and groom on the wedding dais
Me giving my blessings to the newlyweds
Actually guests can sprinkle petals and water on the couple but I did not do it

Me with my former student, Fatimahwati

With the bride and bridegroom

The spread for the couple and their parents

My two 'bodyguards' (who have no kung fu skills) accompanying me to the wedding.

I attended the wedding of one of my former students, Fatimahwati, last Saturday. The wedding feast for the bride's side was held at her family home in Gopeng. The bride looked absolutely gorgeous in her wedding finery and her groom was equally stunning in his traditional attire made from songket.

Weddings are auspicious occasions and there is a lot of yang Qi generated by the happiness and love on the couple's special day. Therefore, to attend such a red occasion would add to our energy level.

DON'T HOARD

Angel, the rat catcher

Like many old ladies, my neighbour in Ipoh likes to keep all sorts of things at the back of her house. So much so that my mum and I find a rat or two coming over to our house. In our case, we have Angel, the dog, to catch the rats.

From the Feng Shui point of view, we should remove or recycle anything that is old, damaged or has not been used for at least 5 years. Like the old aunties and makciks, many of us too like to hold on to our old stuff. In our minds, it is a waste to throw or give them away as we might find a use for them one fine day.

In Feng Shui, clutter of any kind is bad. Clutter creates stagnation, mind you, ghosts are also said to be attracted to it. Worse of all clutter traps negative Qi. For your information, negative Qi or energy is defined as any energy not wanted in a specific area. Actually,Qi, by itself is considered to be neutral and adapts itself to any situation.

So what are you waiting for? Go get rid of your unwanted stuff. Sell the old newspapers and magazines to the Recycling Man or just donate them to the recycling centre. As for old clothes and other stuff, you might try selling them at the Flea Market or donate them to some charitable organisation. As for things that are too old and damaged, just throw them away.

BUNGA TELUR (EGG FLOWER)

My mum and aunt love to get the bunga telur whenever they go with me to attend Malay weddings. So far they have two in their collections. It is usually during the bersanding ceremony that these flowers are given out to guests. If we are to arrive after it then - too bad.

I am pictured with the bunga telur or egg flower (literally translated) that I got when I attended my former student's wedding on Saturday.


For foreign visitors, the bunga telur is given during a Malay wedding. There are two basic designs for this wedding favour.

Here is information about them.

Basic Designs

1. Bunga telur berjoran -- Joran means fishing rod. A coloured boiled egg is attached to a thin "fishing rod" made of whittled bamboo. The tip of the "fishing rod" is decorated with flowers and pretty paper. Then the bunga telur is inserted into a huge pile of yellow glutinous rice to form a bouquet. This way, the host gives out one bunga telur with a handful of yellow glutinous rice.
2. Bunga telur beraga. Raga means basket. A coloured boiled egg is put inside a basket. The handle of the basket is decorated with flowers.
   

Symbolism of the bunga telur during Malay weddings.

1. Egg-- symbol of fertility that the couple be blessed with children.
2. Fishing rod-- symbol of a mast which is a place to raise a flag, and this is the flag of a Malay's life principles.
3. Decorative paper for the fishing rod-- symbol of the host's hope of maintaining a lifelong friendship with the guest.
4. Yellow glutinous rice--it is a way for the host to atone for mistakes that might occur during the feast.

Bunga telur is not only a gift of a Malay wedding. It is also distributed to celebrate the birth of a new baby, circumcision and engagement.

Source: http://www.bahasa-malaysia-simple-fun.com/flower-malaysia.html