We can move mountains

And so my assignment continues...ahhh, postcolonialsim. I certainly have no idea how to write but I have heard wonderfull songs from vietnam and since during the vietnam war, the french has already left...I'd say why not??? There are enough amount of resources about postcolonial vietnam music, I just cant seem to paste the puzzle toghether yet at this point.

The day before I left for johor, I went to a bangsawan performance at panggung bandaraya. It was called Tun Mamat dan Mimpi Tuanku. The story was different than the musical however no one actually really know's the real Puteri Gunung Ledang so...anything is possible. My mum was having a girls day out with her friends so I bought a book and read at Subang Parade at Manhattan's fish Market because the coffee there at 3-6pm is only 95 cents. So I left around 4.30 pm to the kommuter station and took the train all the way to Bank Negara. Little did i know that it involves a conciderable amount of walking.

After crossing the bridge you could see the dewan bandaraya complexes. There are 2 buildings. Once I approached one of them, the guards told me that the Panggung Bandaraya is actually near the court which is across the street... So I walked and found the Panggung which is actually on the other end of the court. I went in to check inside. I need to make sure that there were enough parking space, a place to have dinner and a place to pray.

So Parking?? No actuall parking. Park at your own risk and that car theft in the rempit area is quite high. Park behind the dark alley of the court...mmm, not too safe. SOGO closes at 10 and the parking fee could kill us. Food?? SOGO?? pray?? the mosque behind the court. Why do you need a surau when there is a Mosque??? So facilities whise, its not very friendly... The mosque is also not the safest place to be at night because you need to walk at the sides and the motocyclist could ram in the pedestrian. They couldn't care less about the traffic lights... Snatch thieves too is part of the risk. So in the end??? Eat at Quality hotel, park car there pray comfortably there then march to the Panggung...Good thing I had good walking shoes...Or I'll walk barefoot like after Gala Dinner at Clark Quay...

The orchestra pit performers..notice the tabla and baya??? There is a rebana and the dude there is playing the serunai?? Seruling??? I'm not too sure bout that...

The timpani is played by the conductor...I didn't know that there is a conductor in bangsawan...hehe

The performance was interesting. Rahman B the legend was there. Seats were full. There was Dato' Jalaludin Hassan. Good thing my dad wasn't around, he probably be cursing the whole performance...haha. (He thinks he's too fake) I love the extra turns. There were music and dance and comedy. The story goes that one of the Sultan's advisors Tun Mamat had plans to marry when the Sultan had a dream that he saw his beautiful fiance. When ever a Sultan likes a girl, the girl is already a property of the Sultan or a concubine. Tun Mamat explains thah he too had a dream that he saw a beautiful princess on the Ledang Mountain. Tun Mamat was lying all along. The Sultan ordered a serch to find the Princess..

Some comedy sketches in the extra turn. Extra turns are performances in between scenes...Its used to enable backdrop changes, since in the old days, stage people needed time to change the scenes from like forrest scenes to the palace scenes... It also serves as a break from the story especially if the story is very serious like Tun Fatimah. Extra turns include dance, music, comedy, circus acts and magic shows...


Dang Ayu, the former wife of Biaji being called by the Sultan to become his concubine so she has to sacrifice her love to Biaji to serve the Sultan. Tun Mamat, was being put in the same situation, and that found his way out of it...(or not...XP)

On the way up, Tun Mamat met with witches dwelling in the forrest and one of them is actually the princess. (Well sort of his dream came true, the princess could be another witch in disguise just to ease Tun Mamat's other lies to the king) The witches told him to tell the Sultan that The princess has agreed under certain conditions that is impossible to get. So the admiral Hang Tuah dissapeared in the forrests leaving Tun Mamat with Hang Tuah's Keris.

A dance number extra-turn...influenced by the movie Puteri Gunung Ledang

I think the dance routines are same in the Music Video...

The witches with very long eyelashes...in neon colours....I can't stop staring at them....

Tun Mamat meets Princess of Ledang Mountain

The Sultan singing beautiful Maria...the last extra turn

Some interesting twisting and twrling

Tun Mamat showing off his Silat martial arts scenes...

Tun Mamat explains the conditions to marry to the admiral Hang Tuah

Interesting story...I wonder who came up with the Idea...haha. It finished late and we then walked back to the hotel and the car was still safe and sound. I was thinking about our trip next day...gotta wake up early in the morning... I'm sooo not a morning person, but to know that every trip is an adventure, I was still exited.

Just for thoughts, there are week points in the production. The good thing is that its free so that our actuall cost is getting there. Friday traffic congestion was part of it. Safe parking and accesibility to ther performance too needs to be improved. Remember that bangsawan performances in the old days had people selling food at the venue. If its possible have a safer passageway from the mosque to the venue would be a plus. Publicity too is a question...If Dr. Cohen didn't tell us to go for the performance I never knew that there were bangsawan performances there regularly. Yes, Prof Tan did mention that the performances done there but there is no ads in print. If there were proper advertisements probably more people would turn up. Next time they need to think a way to reach out to the bigger audience.

Bangsawan is known for its mix culture that its supposed to be appealing to all Malaysians. Here the audiences in the hall are mostly Malay. Bangsawan too should be promoted too tourists like China is promoting Chinese Opera. Altough they might not understand the words, but the'll have the experience. I still liked Bakawali in USM 2 years ago. More Effects...haha. Probably will achieve the One Malaysia concept....I think I shall get back to my postcolonialism...*sigh*

We are the betel leaves eaters

I don't know about you but, every time I've been invited to a wedding there will always have betel leaves tucked in a box in one of those lovely offerings to the families or hantaran. Its very unique in Malay culture and what i found out is its also popular in the south east Asia regions. This is what I found out during my visit to the national museum few days ago. By the way i lurrrvvvee museum and science centers. I could spend the whole day and that every time I go its a new experience....

The old malay tepak sirih

The lil modern malay one... on the far right

Betel box from Cambodia

A betel box from Philipines also known as Celepa

So there you have it something to unify our neighbours. The museum constantly changes their exhibitions so be sure to look out whats new and interesting. There is also a library where you can browse the books and buy recordings of Malaysian music. It worth a look. The entry of the museum is only RM2 and if you are not shy and if you can fit into a school uniform you could get in for free...haha.

Patients is a virtue

And I wait.......*sigh*

Mr Razif's Opus, A Malaysian Symphony

Well somewhere before all the drama Begin, we went to a performance by UM orchestra. Well the main reason to go is to listen to Mr. Razif's performance. It was a very long show, mostly jazz and pop music. Artist appearance include Roy, the head guy from Orchestra RTM and others that I couldn't remember. Here are some shots from my side....

The UM Orchestra

Roy, and leading the orchestra is Dr. Nasir

Seats were full because they were mostly reserved by institutions like schools and stuff so we had the very not so good seats. I had to change my seating positions few times before I got comfortable. This view is not so bad actually but you're facing the performers asses la... heehee. The good thing is the seating is very close to the orchestra and you can have a glimpse of the score and observe the microphone settings. Many have individual mics and some stings have clip-ons (so I assume they are the very,very good ones). This is how to amplify the brass instruments and since they had so many it wasn't hard to do so. Unlike USM Jazz band, we had like only 2 cellists, 2 flute or one flute and one piccolo, one horn I think, one trombone (eeehh, not sure now) but a number of trumpets, one clarinet...and twice number of violinist...which is a good thing. Well that's at least in my time...It should improve by now ( I hope....hehehe)


Dr. Nasir's introduction of Mr. Razif or should I say ...Assoc. Professor Razif....XP

Its was a very long program that I couldn't stay till the end and meet Mr. Razif himself...but I was glad that i was able to be in the audience in the freezing cold air con. Yeah the tiny hall was very cold, in comparison of USM's DTSP. So I hope I'll be able to see more performances by Razif and his very influential people...haha, keep the music playing and I'll be there....

Tears in Heaven

Today I accidentally woke up late and rushed to get ready to go to practice at Yamaha SS19. Upon my arrival the lady incharged was saying "the mosque is crowded, Yasmin Ahmad had passed away" I was shocked and sad that we have lost another great artist. It felt like a few months ago we went to watch Talentime at DTSP and got her picture taken. Well, now its part of history. I guess its a constant reminder that death can strike anyone, anytime and anywhere. To Yasmin who I love her movies dearly, I hope you are now safe in God's hands. We shall miss your petronas adds and movies.



Al- Fatihah....

For the good times in @

So undercover operation to see AIESEC in UM was very interesting for me. Trust me that its nice to be on the other end of the learning process. I always thought that I loved being in the audience instead of being the performer, *mainly because of those who know me of my unending stage fright* but the best thing that can happen to a musician is to be able to perform, so its unavoidable isn't it??? On the other hand, in this case it was a great experience for the second time to be regarded as new. Mainly because I didn't go to Malam Mesra...I did but it was a long story. I was in 2 recruitment drives before, so yeah. It was almost that I could feel other students anxiety and curiosity on what AIESEC (@) has got to offer. I met many students, old and new to @. Here are some of the things that happened during the Malam mesra...

newbies finding their way at the Econ's school. BTW, when I arrived I was very sweaty because I had no idea the distance between the sports center and the Econ's School. I wanted to check out the Gym so I went at 3pm. Apparently they only open at 5.30 so I went out to check out the pool. I wanted to eat but since i was going to workout so I skipped the idea. Becks went to get her car sticker and the queue at the place was hell long not as bad as the time I went. Phew! So she dropped me off at the gym and then chit-chat with the pool front desk man. Then went off to the gym. Around 6.45 left the gym and went walking to find the place. I think I burnt more fat walking from the sports center to the Econ's School then at the gym. The gym had 3 rowing machines and one broken bike. The rest were body sculpting stuff. I think I'll opt for swimming next time then go do the other stuff at the gym since its next door...haha, back to AIESEC.

Registration counter...

Behind the scenes commotions....

Dutch ambassadors with the attitude...hahaha

NegaraKu.....

The UM song...oh yeah, I forgot, I'm now a UM student...hehe

Then the usual "buka panggung" in @, the roll calls so this is from UPM, no they didn't do old Mc Donald btw....hehe

UKM with "hot to go"....

The Malaysia's Member Committee, terencat version of "we love you....." haha

Another Hot to go...from the Men in Black OC's

After the opening note from the President of AIESEC UM, an AIESEC UM alumni had a sharing sharing session. Eric is currently working with Deloitte and went for an exchange in Belgium if not mistaken...



Next was the Ice breakers...the blanket game...Everybody had to introduce themselves then were grouped into two groups. One of each group member will be standing in front of the blanket then when it was drop you need to shout the other members groups name as fast as possible. The person says the other persons name the fastest will win and the one on the other side will join the winning group. The group with the least members remaining looses...

The game was fun, and we were laughing most of the time, next we had some sharing sessions, mainly discussing on the @ experience and exchange.... So former LCP Alif was sharing...

Lya's turn to share her exchange in India...

Just wanna smile for the camera huh buddy??? XP

Active listening...

After that the Dutch ambassadors did their presentation and then that was all for the day...I couldn't stay till late because my mum can't drive alone at night so I went back during the presentation...well, I had a blast though, not many familiar faces but we'll catch up rite?? all the point to join @...to enlarge networking, and that's what important, overall I had an amazing time and if they invite me again will surely try to make time...back to Beethoven analysis...*Sigh* anyone care to join me??? hahaha

Mamma Mia

ayayaya....first day of school turned out to become a question mark for everybody. Cant register anything because system cant be updated. IPS was swarmed with foreign and local students registering, so poor lil Becky had a lot of waiting to do. SO, after a long wait, we couldn't wait any longer because the fact that Becks had a class at 12pm, mine at 3pm. So walk from IPS to Cultural Center.

When we got there, the apparently many students were there, asking class and stuff. Apparently All Music tech related courses starts next week, since the lecturer is occupied with the big band matters. My ethnomusicology subjects too, are to put on hold till the next week because the Lecturer is out station in Jogjakarta, one theater lecturer cant start his class because he was been held quarantined. SO, there goes the week. And still today no sign of courses updated....I hope there will be some news tomorrow.

To my horror, Yaya also had the same problem. According to her, UiTM was much more tedious to do registration. Nothing gained today as well, in fact they were soo confused and tired that by 10 am they just left...more details, ask the gal yourself.

And so Wanie too had almost the same problem, so, I cant say all arts school are bad right??? anyhow the'll be a concert this weekend at Dewan Tunku Chanselor this weekend. Its free but you need to RSVP i suppose. Guest includes Mr. Razif. I hope I can make it, since its the second good thing happened this week other then acceptance for the Government scholarship. haha, I so hope tomorrow will bring greater things and that masters here would give another perspective in what i learnt in USM