Stay tuned for my continual segment of my Quan Zhou Trip and my recent Ho Chi Minh City trip. My sincere apologies to all due to me busy schedule, I have not been updating the blog recently.

恭祝各位读者们在鼠年里，行大运，身体健康，国泰民安！新年快乐！

Touch down at Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport at around 11:30am. Weather was cooling at Xiamen with a high of 20°C and a low of 11°C. Xiamen is one of the areas in China where it does not experience snow. Xiamen (Amoy) is a coastal sub-provincial city in south-eastern Fujian province, People’s Republic of China. It looks out to the Taiwan Strait and borders the cities of Quanzhou and Zhangzhou to the north and south respectively. However, we did experience some slight foggy weather in Xiamen the moment we touch down. My mum was rather excited as this the first time she flied to China. It was quite an experience for her though. As for me, I’m keen on the home stay experience over at Quan Zhou, which will be our resting point for the next 8 days in Quan Zhou, China. This resting point would be the residence of my auntie’s childhood friend who has been on the travel between China and Singapore frequently.

A car journey from Gaoqi will usually take about 4 to 5 hours, according to my uncle. This is because, in the past, the road leading into Quan Zhou used to be gravel road, with occasional pit-holes that would cause some slight delay, and the ride in would be bumpy. That was 6 years ago. Now, what is been replaced is tar surfaced road, and have been converted into express way.

Beautiful scenery along the way, and at one point I thought I was in Taiwan! This is because, some of the buildings I saw are those resemble of what you will see in Taiwan. This is especially so to those residential sectors.

The urban planning of these areas, i.e. the country-side would be slightly messy as compared to those in the city. We made a brief stop near the junction of Xi Jie, while my uncle and auntie link up with my grand mum’s younger sister. I took this opening to get out of the vehicle, with my mum tagged closely behind me. And, my! What can I say! The cool air immediately brought me back to my university days in Huddersfield. Though it’s not as cold as Huddersfield, it’s cooling enough as compare to Singapore. My attire starts to draw stares from the locals, as much of the locals are wearing winter wear and here I am, a bald head young lad, wear nothing but a black polo tee standing along the pavement taking clips and images! I mean it’s cooling! I remembered the temperature on that day was around high of 19°C and a low of 11°C. Now temperature at Quan Zhou tends to be lower than that of Xiamen. I guess this is due to the geographical location of Quan Zhou where it has encaged itself among huge mountains, full of granite! Now forget about Bukit Timah in Singapore, only when you encounter Qing Yuan Shan in Quan Zhou, you will start to pay respect to what I meant by mountain!

Lunch was served at 1pm. One of the spread caught my eye was a local delicacy which ginger is the main ingredient along with the duck. This is one of their local delicacies which help you to keep warm in winter. It’s called Jiang Mu Ya. It’s a popular dish in Taiwan as well. It is not a very common dish in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

Right after lunch we had to transfer into a smaller vehicle where we will stay at Bei Men Jie for the rest of the 8 days. It’s a 3 storey apartment complete with a roof top garden. I would say it’s not exactly a roof top garden, I would say it’s a yard instead, as my auntie’s friend would be using this area to dry their laundry. This is the place where they would also be washing their laundry.

I witness a very interesting phenomenon, which you will not see in Singapore. That is, most of the residents would make use of these roof top yards to brush their teeth, wash their faces and even have their meals. I reckon that this roof top yard would be the place where I will be at every morning.

Due to the local urban planning directives, much of the building heights for residential are restricted to only 7 storeys the most. And of these 5 storey buildings for residential, most are designed without mechanical vertical access. It is only those with 6 storeys and above is designed with passenger’s lifts. This planning and design guidelines only restricted to certain master-plans of Quan Zhou. Some citizens in Quan Zhou would purchase a plot of land from the local authorities and have them built and designed to their own needs. In the past years, there was no tight control on the building guideline there, and as a result many buildings are erected illegally and thus it is often arduous to define the boundary line of these buildings. And these are often common to residential development. Some of these quandaries have been present ever since the Kuo Ming Tang era, which Sun Yat Sen had briefly declared democracy to China.

Oh, ok let’s come back to the home stay. I regret not taking a snap shot of the dining hall! It’s a 3 storey apartment; every floor is designed with a kitchen, utilities rooms, and bedrooms for living. Commonly, such apartment blocks are shared by 3 different families, as there are quite a few rooms on each floor. However in this case, it’s slightly different. The landlord herself owns the entire plot of land. I particularly like the roof top, as it offers you a view of Qing Yuan Mountain in the background.

Here are the few images that show the surroundings of the place where we stayed for these 8 days.

 

张靓颖主唱新版《新不了情》完整MV

This Christmas was a special one and a heart-warming one. I used to celebrate my Christmas with friends, classmates, my army mates and cousins. This year is something special, as I get to celebrate it with Jenny. However, I need to be cautious as Jenny has been sick for the past few weeks. She’s been having a high fever, ever since I flew back from China. She told me that she had eaten too much chocolate while she spent her time back home in Malaysia. I took her for a hair cut while I spent my time in the cinema catching The Chipmunks. Not a bad movie, it’s hilarious, nice for the whole family to watch it together. She text me when she’s done. I went 2 floors down to pick her up. Wow! She’s gorgeous! I was captivated! I took her to Lee Hwa Jewellery. I told her I had a surprise for her. She had no clue why I drag her into Lee Hwa Jewellery.

I told the sales representative to present to Jenny a few series of the designer series that I like. Jenny was still in a daze on why I had asked the sales rep to show her those diamond pendants. When I told her to choose one as her Christmas gift, she eyes was filled with tears. I told her this is my anniversary and Christmas gift for her. I told her that I didn’t keep my promise on getting her something special during our 6 month anniversary. So I told her I will keep my promise for her. I got her this pendant which cost SGD1135.00 before member discount, and I paid SGD813.00 with a white gold necklace to match.

Merry Christmas, Jenny, I will always love you.

Woke up real early on the 3^rd December, with one bona fide raison d’être and that is to catch a plane out of Singapore for a good winter get away with my family. Woke up at 3 in the morning, took a quick glance out of my bedroom window, realised that the entire neighbourhood was asleep apart from one or two units with their lights on. Had a quick shower, get changed; forget about breakfast, while I can have it at the air-port. Since as a Kris-flyer member, you have privilege to check in fast at the airport. Dad drove us to the airport picked up my uncle on the way. We reached there at around half-4 in the morning. The airport was already busting with activities. The next task is to locate my granny and my aunt amidst the sea of red. Sea of red? Well, Team Singapore is sending its team to compete in the South East Asia Games held in Bangkok. Saw some of my friends from the Sect Com. didn’t really talk to them as they seem busy, but we exchanged smiles and waves through some short distance.

Check-in was done at around half 5, after getting some information from my cousin, which caused some inconvenience, never mind, I wasn’t bother by it as I was in a damn good mood! Winter! Of all seasons, I loved winter and autumn the most! Spring for its beauty on its floral and summer, I dislike it though due to the heat. Boarding time is at 7am. I was first in the queue, had the pretty air stewardess to stow away my winter jacket and settle down in my window seat, which is always my favourite when I fly.

We took off promptly, and were scheduled to touch down at Xiamen in approximately 4 hours time. Weather was good, clear blue skies; however, landing at Xiamen is expected to be slightly bumpy due to the slight air turbulence over the air of Xiamen International Airport. Bid a quick farewell to Jenny before we are advised to switch off all electronic devices.

I’ll see you in Xiamen, lads!

Up-Coming . . . .

Hi guys, apologies for the wait. I will be posting up some articles soon, right after my trip from China. You can expect a few articles like ,my trip to China, my first driving accident, my driving lesson and some summary of had happened for the past few months.

Stay tune, ya! See you soon!

JJ’s baby! She finally gave birth after a full 22hours of contractions ordeal! The contractions are 2 minutes apart! Go figure out! Hehehehe! She went to KK on the 5^th October and was induced at 6am that day. She gave birth to a cute boy weighing 3.994kg at 4:53am! Wow! Imagine the time! It’s a Saturday! Congratulation JJ!

Fazia sharing tips to Juli on how to feed baby and take care of baby!

Mummy and Kahim! Note: Kahim is at 4.5kg! This is taken on the 11^th October! Just merely 5 days after birth!

Wow! What a hand!

 April 14^th, 15^th or 16^th, I can’t remember which the date is! All I know is, it has been the 7^th month! Please don’t get me wrong! I am not referring to the Lunar Calendar 7^th month. What I meant by the 7^th month is . . . Its has been my 7^th month in RWAA. Yes, it has been 7 months and I enjoyed my days at RWAA tremendously!

I got a few calls from friends and they had been calling on to check if our office is hiring. I told them yes, however, we are looking for As. I apologise to them that I had disappointed them with such an answer. Nevertheless, I told them that if we have an opening for designers we would rope them in, however, subjected to the approval of our boss.

RW taught us a lot of things. And I must say I really had my respect to RW. I regard him as my mentor and he is a fatherly figure whom always gives me real good advice! And as for JJ, she is just like a big sister to me, always look after everyone in the office, she is the jester in our office! WG, AG, TWT, FA and AY they are always there to provide me the right guidance and they always constantly remind me to be professional in my dealings in terms of work and must not follow what others are doing. I appreciate their advice! And these advices are just what I need! After-all I am still young in this office and needs to be baby sit, just like what RW told me! However, boss said he would really like to see me grow up day by day! I can’t describe to you how I felt at that moment! At least down in me, I know boss cares for everyone in this office!

And yes! It has been almost 7^th months, since Jenny and I got to know each other! Now I remember this date very noticeably without failure! It’s April 28! Please don’t tease me! This is a significant date for me, as Jenny is someone really special! She has this ‘special power’ to tame me! She can really subdue me and she knows it if I am into any mischief! We had hardly met up for the past 2 months! She’s busy with her work, while I am engross with my work as well.

She had tried her very best to try to spend her weekend with me, however, she was always call back to work on weekends. Jenny got so pissed at one point that, she would throw temper to me almost every time. I can understand it; I wouldn’t blame her for it! Dear called me yesterday and said she had time today! I can’t express myself when I hear that! You can imagine how happy I am! At least Jenny gets to rest on weekends! She deserves her weekends! She had told me or rather should I say, she pour out her sorrow and grudges in her work! She told me she had to force herself to bury herself in her work, in-order to stop those miseries and try not to think of me! I confess to her as well and told her that I did the same thing as well! I got to capture those expressions on train! You got to see it for yourself! I must say these are the minor spices of love that keep our relationship going! Over and above, I am surprise, and she is surprise as well! I used to have a very foul temper! I would really raise my voice and most of the time I would end up quarrel with my ex-girlfriends. On the contrary, this does not happen to this relationship! Jenny was utterly shocked at my temper. She was shocked that I could hold my temper and would just simply laugh it off or smile at anything that pisses me off or sometimes, she would scold me for some wrong doings, I would just keep my cool!

I believe that this is very crucial to any relationships. Not just relationship that concerns love, it related to our work and many others. Imagine, if you have 2 people who are both heated head! Imagine the blast that could be created when such sparks ignite. So, my suggestion to all is to make sure 1 party remains cool and composed under such circumstances.

I guess that’s enough right? Please allow me to retreat to a quiet spot of my own to remember my very first time in 2 months, my romantic time with Jenny…the moment we had on our train journey!

Hari Raya Aidilfitri (also Hari Raya Puasa, literally “Fasting Day of Celebration”) is the Malay term for the Muslim festival of Eid ul-Fitr. Hari Raya is also known as Lebaran. Muslims in Malaysia and Singapore celebrate Eid like other Muslims throughout the world. The term “Hari Raya” literally means “Day of Celebration” — it is also occasionally used to refer to Eid ul-Adha in the form of “Hari Raya Aidiladha”. The main greeting used by Muslims in Malaysia and Singapore is “Selamat Hari Raya” which means “Happy Eid” in Malay. Another greeting is “maaf zahir dan batin” which translates loosely to “I seek forgiveness (from you) physically and spiritually”, for Hari Raya is a time to reconcile and renew relationships with others.

Fasting

During the Muslim month of Ramadan leading up to Hari Raya, it is mandatory for Muslims to fast from dawn to dusk. All Muslims except the young, old or infirm must fast. This is often respected by non-Muslim Malaysians, who tend to avoid eating in front of their friends or colleagues. Many Muslims also abstain from pleasures such as cigarettes and sexual activities during the daylight of the fasting month.

Widely, markets, or ‘Ramadan bazaars’ are held in many areas around the country, where all sorts of food and kuih — traditional Malay delicacies — are sold for breaking fast or buka puasa. Hotels and restaurants have also exploited this situation to offer exorbitant Ramadan buffets. This practice of overindulging has been criticised by Muslim clerics, notably the mufti of the state of Kelantan.

Preparation

On the eve of Hari Raya, Muslims will recite the takbir, which is held in mosques and surau (smaller place of worship). In some communities, there will be congregations reciting the takbir from house to house.

Hari Raya is very much commercialised in Malaysia. In big cities and towns, shopping malls and commercial centres will hold big promotions and price discounts for festive shoppers as people purchase clothes and supplies. Decorations are hung in public areas and Hari Raya songs will be played in shopping complexes. The media, such as the television will host various programs in conjunction with the celebrations.

Many people also traditionally return to their hometown generally from big metropolitan cities to rural areas. This is known as balik kampung — literally going back to one’s home town to celebrate Hari Raya with family and friends. At many times, the flux of vehicles on the roads nationwide increased the number of car accidents, including deadly ones, occurring during the festive season. Road safety campaigns are often launched by the authorities ahead of the festivities in the effort of lowering the discomforting number of accidents.

Celebrating

Usually on the eve of the celebrations, family members, especially mothers and housewives, will be busy preparing food, cakes, sweets, biscuits and various delicacies to be served on the day of Hari Raya. Delicacies such as ketupat or rice cake and a meat cuisine called rendang are among the most famous cuisines that are served during this day. Other family members will help in other chores such as decorating and cleaning up the house.

Days before Hari Raya, house compounds, particularly those in the countryside will be lit up with oil lamps known as pelita or panjut. This display of oil lamps will reach its height on the 27th night of Ramadan, called the Tujuh Likur night. ‘Likur’ literally meaning a figure between 20 and 30, hence ‘tujuh likur’ means twenty seven. Originally during the early days of the arrival of Islam among the Malays, the purpose of lighting the oil lamps was to attract spirits and angels to descend to people’s homes during the night of Lailatulqadar. However after ages has passed, such misconception is regarded counterfactual as much understanding of Islam were obtained. Nowadays the oil lamps are lit solely for decorational purposes.

It is customary for Malays to wear traditional Malay costumes. The dress for men is called baju Melayu while the women’s are known as baju kurung and baju kebaya. Traditional textiles such as songket and batik are worn favourably during this day.

Muslims will attend Eid prayer in the morning and consecrate together harmoniously while taking the chance to meet and greet each other. Once the prayer is done, it is also common for Muslims in Malaysia to visit the grave of their loved ones. During this visit, they will clean the grave, perform the recital of the Yasin — a chapter (surah) from the Qur’an and also the tahlil or prayers for the deceased. All these are done in hope that their loved ones are blessed by God and they are spared from the punishment in the grave.

The rest of the day is spent visiting relatives or serving visitors. Hari Raya is a very joyous day for children for this is the day where adults are extra generous. Children will be given token sums of money, also known as duit raya from their parents and elders.

During the night, there are often celebrations with sparklers and firecrackers, albeit restrictions on playing firecrackers enforced by the authorities. Most firecracker stocks are purchased and smuggled illegally from black markets. Safety issues, especially among children are raised and alarming cases relating to injuries caused by playing firecrackers are often reported, which initially led to the banning of playing firecrackers. Despite of the enforcement of banning firecrackers, more Malay children turn to home-made firecrackers such as meriam buluh (bamboo cannon) as alternatives to commercial fireworks. Usually the lighting of firecrackers begins a few days before the end of Ramadan, and continues for about a week afterwards.

Other festivals

As Malaysia has a substantial Chinese and Indian population, it also celebrates the Hindu holiday of Deepavali and the Chinese New Year. As these holidays occasionally fall near Hari Raya Aidilfitri on the Gregorian calendar, it is not uncommon for joint celebrations with open houses to be held. To describe this phenomenon, the portmanteaus DeepaRaya and Kongsi Raya have been coined.

However, some Muslims, notably the mufti of the state of Perak, have condemned the practice of using such portmanteaus as ‘mixing Muslim festivals with those of non-believers’ than can lead to syirik.

Hari Raya Aidilfitri Official name Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Hari Raya Puasa, Arabic: Eid ul-Fitr عيد الفطر Also called Translation: Feast of the Breaking of the Fast, Eid, Idul Fitri, Lebaran (Indonesia), Shemai Eid (Bangladesh), Ramazan Bayramı (Turkey) Observed by Muslims Type Islamic Significance Marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting Date 1 Syawal 2006 date October 23 2007 date October 12 2008 date October 1 Celebrations Decorating, Feasting, Visiting Family and Friends, Lighting Oil Lamps, Balik Kampung Observances Prayer Related to Hari Raya Aidiladha, the other Islamic festival, which occurs approximately seventy days later

Eid ul-Fitr or Id-Ul-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر ‘Īdu l-Fiṭr), often abbreviated as simply Eid, is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. Fiṭr means “to break the fast” and therefore symbolizes the breaking of the fasting period. On the day of the celebration, a typical Muslim family is awake very early and then after praying the first normal everyday prayer, is required to eat in a small quantity, symbolizing the end of Ramadan. They then attend special congregational prayers held only for this occasion in mosques, in large open areas, stadiums or arenas. The prayer is generally short, and is followed by a sermon (khuṭba). Worshippers greet and embrace each other in a spirit of peace and love after the congregational prayer. After the special prayers, festivities and merriment are commonly observed with visits to the homes of relatives and friends to thank God for all blessings.

For Muslims, Eid ul-Fitr is a joyous occasion with important religious significance, celebrating of the achievement of enhanced piety. It is a day of forgiveness, moral victory, peace of congregation, fellowship, brotherhood and unity. Muslims celebrate not only the end of fasting, but also thank God for the help and strength that they believe he gave them throughout the previous month to help them practice self-control. It is a time of giving and sharing, and many Muslims dress in holiday attire.

History

The first Eid was celebrated in 624 CE by The Prophet Muhammad with his companions and relatives after winning the Battle of Badr. This very occasion is celebrated annually in the lunar calendar as Eid Ul Fitr.

Timing

Because the day depends on the sighting of the moon, the sighting can only be possible just after sunset. Most Muslims check with local mosques or other members of the community to see if the moon has been sighted by authoritative parties. In Malaysia, they use both sighting of the moon and astronomical calculation to verify the date. But the calculation is only used to verify the sighting of the moon (i.e. the exact time of the visibility of the moon). For this reason there may be regional differences in the exact date of Eid, with some Muslims fasting for 29 days and some for 30 days.

Eid ul-Fitr commemorates the end of the month of Ramadan. Fasting is forbidden on this day as it marks the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan. A Muslim is encouraged to rise early and partake of a light snack such as dates before then attending morning prayers with family members in the local community mosque

Eid ul-Fitr in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei

In Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, Eid is also commonly known as Hari Raya Aidilfitri or Hari Raya Puasa. Hari Raya literally means Grand Day i.e. The Day. Muslims in Malaysia and Singapore celebrate Eid like other Muslims throughout the world. It is the biggest holiday in Malaysia, and is the most awaited one. Shopping malls and bazaars are filled with people days ahead of Hari Raya, causing a distinctive festive atmosphere throughout the country. Many banks, government and private offices are closed for this holiday, which usually lasts a week.

The night before Eid is with the takbir which is held in the mosques or musallas. In many parts of Malaysia, especially in rural areas, oil lamps or pelita/panjut are lit up in house compounds. Eid also witnesses a huge migratory pattern of Muslims, from big metropolitan cities to rural areas. This is known as balik kampung — literally going back to home town to celebrate Eid with ones parents. Special dishes like ketupat, dodol, lemang (a type of glutinous rice cake cooked in bamboo), and other Malay delicacies are served during this day.

It is common to greet people with “Selamat Hari Raya” or “Salam Aidilfitri” which means “Happy Eid”. Muslims also greet one another with “maaf zahir dan batin” which means “Forgive my physical and emotional (wrongdoings)”, due to the fact that Eid ul-Fitr is not only for celebrations, but also the time for Muslims to cleanse their sins and strengthen their ties with relatives and friends.

It is customary for Malays to wear traditional Malay costumes on the Eid. The dress for men is called baju melayu which is worn together with songket while the women’s are known as baju kurung and baju kebaya. It is also common to see non-Malay Muslims wear costumes of their culture.

Once the prayer is completed, it is also common for Muslims in Malaysia to visit the graves of loved ones. During this visit, they clean the grave, recite Ya-Seen, a chapter (surah) from the Qur’an and also perform the tahlil ceremony. All these are done to ask for God to forgive the dead and also those who are living.

The rest of the day is spent visiting relatives or serving visitors. Eid ul-Fitr is a very joyous day for children for on this day adults are especially generous. Children will be given token sums of money, also known as “duit raya” from their parents or elders

Ramadan (Arabic: رمضان, Ramaḍān) is an Islamic religious observance that takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, when the Qur’an was revealed. The name “Ramadan” is taken from the name of this month; the word itself derived from an Arabic word for intense heat, scorched ground, and shortness of rations. It is considered the most venerated and blessed month of the Islamic year. Prayers, sawm (fasting), charity, and self-accountability are especially stressed at this time; religious observances associated with Ramadan are kept throughout the month.

Laylat al-Qadr, which falls during the last third, commemorates the revelation of the first verses of the Qur’an and is considered the most holy night of the year. Ramadan ends with the holiday Eid ul-Fitr, on which feasts are held. During the month following Ramadan, called Shawaal, Muslims are encouraged to fast for a further six days.

Timing

The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and months begin when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. Since the Islamic lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year, Ramadan migrates through the seasons. In 2007 (1428 AH), Ramadan lasts from September 13 to October 12.

The ill and travellers may substitute other days to perform their Ramadan obligations.[Qur'an 2:185] Children, the elderly and pregnant women are viewed as excused. Menstruating women also make up the days missed, usually in Shawwal.

Practices during Ramadan

The most prominent event of this month is the daytime fasting (sawm) practiced by most observant Muslims. Every day during the month of Ramadan, Muslims around the world get up before dawn to eat (sahur) and perform their fajr prayer. They break their fast when the fourth prayer of the day, Maghrib (sunset), is due.

During Ramadan, Muslims are also expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam as well as refraining from lying, stealing, anger, envy, greed, lust, sarcastic retorts, backbiting, and gossip. Obscene and irreligious sights and sounds are to be avoided; sexual activities during fasting hours are also forbidden.[Qur'an 2:187] Purity of both thought and action is important. The fast is intended to be an exacting act of deep personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised level of closeness to God. The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm. Properly observing the fast is supposed to induce a comfortable feeling of peace and calm. It also allows Muslims to practise self-discipline, sacrifice, and sympathy for those who are less fortunate, intended to make Muslims more generous and charitable.

In addition to fasting, Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Qur’an.

Sunni Muslims tend to perform the recitation of the entire Qur’an by means of special prayers, called Tarawih, which are held in the mosques every night of the month, during which a whole section of the Qur’an (‘Juz’, which is 1/30 of the Qur’an) is recited, so that by the end of the month the entire Qur’an has been completed. Tarawih is an Arabic phrase referring to those extra prayers. This prayer is performed after salah of Isha’a, but before the Wit’r Rakat. These are done in remembrance of the fact that the revelation of the Qur’an to Prophet Muhammad was begun during Ramadan.

Muslims also pay Zakaat (Islamic alms giving similar to a tax) during the month. For those who qualify to pay Zakaat, as per the Islamic ‘Nisab’ (that is those whose wealth exceeds their necessities), have to pay 2.5% of the leftover of their wealth earned in that Islamic calendar year. Although Zakaat can be paid any time of the year, it has to be calculated on a year to year basis, and many Muslims use Ramadan as the month for calculation and disbursement.

Ramadan is also a time when Muslims are supposed to slow down from their worldly affairs and focus on self reformation, spiritual cleansing and enlightenment and establish the link between the God almighty and themselves by prayer, supplication, charity and showing good deeds, kindness and helping others.

Since it is a festival of giving and sharing, Muslims prepare special foods and buy gifts for their family and friends and for giving to the poor and needy who cannot afford it.

It is a festival time where Muslims buy new clothes, shoes, jewelery, other items of need, prepare special foods, invite people for Iftar (meal and snacks commemorating the breaking of Fast).

In many Muslim and non Muslim countries with large Muslim populations, markets close down in the evening to enable people to perform prayer, Iftar (break fast) and then re-open in the night, and stay open for a good part of night. Muslims can be seen shopping, eating, spending time with their friends and family during the evening hours.

Events during and after Ramadan

Laylat al-Qadr (Arabic: لیلة القدر) (also known as Shab-e-Qadr in Farsi), literally the Night of Decree or Night of Measures, is the anniversary of two very important dates in Islam that occurred in the month of Ramadan. Muslims believe that it was the night of the Laylat al-Qadr that the Quran’s first verse was revealed. The exact night of the Laylat al-Qadr is unknown. The Prophet Muhammad indicated that it was one of the last ten odd nights of Ramadan.

The Islamic holiday of Eid ul-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر) marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan and the first day of the following month, after another new moon has been sighted. Eid ul-Fitr means the Festival of Breaking the Fast, a special celebration is made. Food is donated to the poor (‘Zakat al-Fitr’), everyone put on their best, preferably new, clothes, and communal prayers are held in the early morning, followed by feasting and visiting relatives and friends. The prayer is two rakaahs only, and it is an optional prayer as opposed to the compulsory 5 daily prayers.

Muslims are encouraged to fast six days in Shawwal, the month following Ramadan that begins after Eid ul-Fitr; these days need not be consecutive. According to hadith, one who fasts the month of Ramadan and six days during Shawaal will be rewarded as though he fasted the entire year.

Sawm (Arabic: صوم) is an Arabic word for fasting regulated by Islamic jurisprudence. In the terminology of Islamic law, Sawm means ‘to abstain from eating, drinking and sexual intercourse. The observance of sawm during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, but is not confined to that month.

Etymology

The word sawm is derived from Syriac sawmo. Literally, Sawm means ‘to abstain’.

Other languages

For many Muslims, Arabic is not a first language, therefore, such Muslims may use other words to represent Sawm depending on their location and language. For example, the Muslims of Afghanistan, India, Iran, Bangladesh, and Pakistan use the word rozah which comes from Persian. In Turkey, Sawm is called oruç, while the Malay community in Malaysia calls it puasa, which is derived from Sanskrit, upvaasa. Puasa is also used in Indonesia.

Definition

Muslims are prohibited from eating, drinking, smoking, and engaging in sexual intercourse from dawn (fajr) to sunset (maghrib).Fasting is essentially a means of seeking nearness to Allah and increasing one’s piety. One of the remote aims of fasting is to sympathise with those less fortunate ones who do not always have food and drink readily available. Also one must try to avoid cursing and thinking evil thoughts. Fasting is also viewed as a means of controlling one’s desires (of hunger, thirst, sexuality, anger) and focusing more on devoting oneself to God.

Conditions of Fasting

Intention (Niyyah)

For a fast to be valid in the first instance, an intention (niyyah) must be made beforehand; this is considered to form an oath.

General conditions

Throughout the duration of the fast itself, Muslims will abstain from certain provisions that God has otherwise allowed; namely eating, drinking, and sexual intercourse. This is in addition to the standard obligation already observed by Muslims of avoiding that which is not permissible under Qur’anic or Shari’ah law (e.g. ignorant and indecent speech, arguing and fighting, and lustful thoughts). Without observing this standard obligation, Sawm is rendered useless, and is seen simply as an act of starvation.

If one is sick, nursing or travelling, one is considered exempt from fasting. According to the Qur’an, for all other cases, not fasting is only permitted when the act is potentially dangerous to one’s health - for example; those elderly who are too weak to fast for extended periods of time, diabetics, nursing, and pregnant women.

Observing the fast is not permitted for menstruating women. However, when a woman’s period has ceased, she must bathe and continue fasting. Any fasts broken/missed due to menstruation must be made up whenever she can before the next month of Ramadan. Women must fast at times when not menstruating, as God indicates that all religious duties are ordained for both men and women.

Breaking oaths and the consequences

During Ramadan, one who fasts and breaks the oath out of forgetfulness must nevertheless continue, since the fast will remain valid. If, however, one intentionally breaks the fast, by eating, drinking, or smoking,then they must continue for the rest of the day, add one day onto their fast and pay a “penalty’” (fidyah). A fidyah differ from schools of thought. In Malaysia however, a fidyah consists of the amount or rice equivalent of a meal.

However if one intentionally breaks the fast by having sex (without breaking it first by other means such eating etc) a set of “penalty” (kaffarra)shall apply. These exist in three forms, of which the person chooses one:

Fasting for an extra 60 consecutive days, if he/she couldn’t then;

Feeding and clothing 60 people in need, if he/she couldn’t then;

Freeing a muslim slave.

Penalties for voluntary fasts at other times of the year, are, however, more lenient; if an oath is given, and circumstances dictate that it be broken (or the one giving the oath deliberately breaks it), one needs to fast for three days consecutively if they cannot initially find 10 poor people to feed and provide clothing for (both of which are commanded before the act of fasting as a form of repentance). The penalties are harsher during Ramadan because all mentally able Muslims are expected to have an increased awareness of the fast at that time.

Beginning and ending the Fast

In accordance with traditions handed down from Muhammad, Muslims eat a pre-dawn meal called the suhoor. All eating and drinking must be finished before sunrise. Unlike the Salat-ul-Zuhr and Salat-ul-Maghrib prayers, which have clear astronomical definitions (noon and sunset), there are several definitions used in practice for the timing of “true dawn” (al-fajr as-sadq), as mentioned in the hadith. These range from when the center of the sun is 12 to 21 degrees below the horizon which equates to about 40 to 60 minutes before civil dawn. There are no restrictions on the morning meal other than the restrictions on Muslims diet. After completing the suhoor, Muslims recite the fajr prayer.

The meal eaten to end the fast is known as al-Iftar. Many Muslims, following the Sunnah of the Prophet, break the fast with dates and water before praying Salat-ul-Maghrib, after which they might eat a more wholesome meal.

Benefits of fasting

Fasting inculcates a sense of fraternity and solidarity, as Muslims can feel and experience that which their needy and hungry brothers and sisters feel. However, even the poor, needy, and hungry participate in the fast. Moreover, Ramadan is a month of giving charity and sharing meals to break the fast together, the latter offering more reward than if eating alone. Most importantly, the fast is also seen as a great sign of obedience by the believer to Allah. Faithful observance of the Sawm is believed to atone for personal faults and misdeeds and to help earn a place in paradise.

As briefly mentioned earlier, fasting can also be observed voluntarily (as part of the Greater Jihad ): Sawm is intended to teach believers patience and self-control in their personal conduct, to help control passions and temper, to provide time for meditation and to strengthen one’s faith. Fasting also serves the purpose of cleansing the inner soul and freeing it of harm.

While fasting in the month of Ramadan is considered Fard (obligatory), Islam also prescribed certain days for non-obligatory, voluntary fasting, such as:

• each Monday and Thursday of a week
• the 13th, 14th, and 15th day of each lunar month
• six days in the month of Shawwal (the month following Ramadan)
• the Day of Arafat (9th of Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic (Hijri) calendar)

Times when fasting is forbidden

Although fasting is considered a pious act in Islam, there are times when fasting is prohibited. There are certain days on which fasts are prohibited:

• Eid ul-Adha
• Eid ul-Fitr

Ayyam at-Tashriq (the 11th, 12th and 13th of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah).

Fasting is not allowed on a Friday which is not within the month of Ramadan, unless one has been fasting prior to Friday or intends to fast a day after it.

Fasting in the Qur’an

‘O those who believe, the fasts have been enjoined upon you as were enjoined upon those before so that you be God-fearing.’ [Surah Baqarah, 183]

Fasting in other religions

In the Qur’an, in verse 183 of the second chapter (2:183), God says, “fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you.”

Lent in Christianity, Yom Kippur, Tisha B’av, Fast of Esther, Tzom Gedalia and the Fast of the Firstborn, all in Judaism, are also times of fasting. Nevertheless, the fasting practices are different from one another. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) generally fast for 24 hours on the first Sunday of each month. Like Muslims, they refrain from all drinking and eating unless they are children or are physically unable to fast. Fasting is also a feature of ascetic traditions in religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism. Members of the Baha’i Faith observe a Nineteen Day Fast from sunrise to sunset during March each year.

Congrats! JJ had safely given birth to a new born baby boy! The new born weighed about 3.994kg! Wow! That’s a bit of weight for a new born! He came out at about 4.53am local time! JJ must have been through a lot of pain! Imagine you have to be induced at 6am on Friday morning and it’s almost coming to 24hours before giving birth on Saturday morning! That’s about wow! And JJ told me last night that the contraction is about 2 minutes apart. Wow!

Well, JJ well done babe! You are now a proud mother of a cute healthy baby boy!

歌手：胡杨林

专辑：香水有毒

词曲:陈超

编:江建民

——
我曾经爱过这样一个男人
他说我是世上最美的女人
我为他保留着那一份天真
关上爱别人的门
也是这个被我深爱的男人
把我变成世上最笨的女人
他说的每句话我都会当真
他说最爱我的唇

我的要求并不高
待我像从前一样好
可是有一天你说了同样的话
把别人拥入怀抱

你身上有她的香水味
是我鼻子犯的罪
不该嗅到她的美
檫掉一切陪你睡
你身上有她的香水味;
是你赐给的自卑
你要的爱太完美
我永远都学不会

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XODQ5NDcxNg==.html 

http://bbs.usango.com/music/xsyd.mp3

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_cf00XMTM3MzAwMA==.html 

This week had been a different week in the office. Why did I say that? Well, reason being that JJ’s away on maternity leave, and some of the projects taken care by her, will be transferred down to some of us to handle. With no holds barred, some of us felt a heavy weight on our shoulder. We were all reassured by RW and JJ that these 2 months will be breeze. Breeze huh? Yes I agree with the word ‘breeze’, why would I want to agree to? Well you see, if you get to learn and you get to learn from RW, life is a breeze! And furthermore I enjoy this office a lot! I had great colleagues, great partners and most of all great teacher, and that’s RW himself.

And one plus point, Jenny’s support and words of encouragement. Sigh, I felt sorry for her, she must be still working hard at her workplace. I felt a pinch on myself! Got a scolding from dear yesterday, she had always disliked that I’m having a ‘light ear’. That is because; I’m easily affected by what happen in the surrounding, which is my weakness. I felt appreciative for dear’s effort to correct my mistake, despite her busy schedule.

I left office yesterday at around half 4 to attend a meeting on next year NDP. We went to Boulevard for a drink and have a chat there. It didn’t end up as a normal chat; it ended up as a formal chat over work instead. And it’s all about NDP! Still work! Oh my goodness, I thought it’s going to be a very casual chat with laughter and teasers going all around. Nope it was not, well who cares about it, my aim is to relax and enjoyed. I just want to unwind, I shut my eyes for a while, I dreamt of me and dear together having a quiet moment on our own. Dear, all I can say is I truly miss you! And this Boulevard Bar and Restaurant is situated right inside Red Dot Traffic. This building used to be an old colonial building; it had quite a few changes of ownerships before it finally got its name as Red Dot Museum or commonly known as the “Little Red Dot” by those who work around the area. I love the atmosphere and ambience there, I love the new age music it played throughout the night, don’t ask me how much the drinks cost ya, as it wasn’t paid by me. SS paid for the drinks, I choose not to touch any alcoholic drinks last evening, as I need a clear mind to complete some task later in the evening at my home office. I haven’t been drinking for quite a while now, so I guess I might not be able to hold my liquor well. Haha…guess what I will be serving my reservist at HQ Guards! A closely knitted family in the Singapore Armed Forces! And I have started to enjoyed the warmth of the Guards!

Its weekend! Yes and that sounds more like rest day cum work day for me now. Never mind about that, it’s my own private day! Ha! And I’ll patiently wait for Jenny to finish her work.

Great find indeed! I was serving a brand new website created by SPH. I love the website name, it says omy.sg! Isn’t it cool! And in it I found a few cool blogs, which I find it rather interesting and cool, and would love to share it with you guys! Sigh . . .I guess I will be spending my weekend alone, Jenny’s away, can’t spend the lovely weekend with her and I’m back in Singapore, trying to figure out some solutions a voluntary projects that I’m got tasked to handle. Jenny, dear, I love you! Hahaha . . . .anyway we will be on the phone in just a few hours time!

Check out the following blog!

David Gan

Yimin

Jessie (Not afflicted with omy.sg)

The 15th day of the 8th Lunar month is what the Chinese called The Mid Autumn Festival or Moon Cake Festival, when the moon is said to be the biggest and brightest of the year. This is one of the most heavily celebrated Chinese festivals, and most people would travel home to see their families.

And no Mid Autumn Festival can be complete without enjoying some moon cake under the moonlight! Here is one of the most common type: an adzuki bean filled, Cantonese-style moon cake. You can make them with added salted egg yolk, lotus seed paste as well as dried fruit and nuts. Or, try a different Bing Pi Moon Cake.

Ingredients (filling):

• 500g adzuki bean, soaked 2 hours and strained
• 200g brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 4 tablespoons vegetable oil

Ingredients (pastry):

• 200g plain flour
• 1/2 teaspoon dried yeast
• 100ml syrup (take from cooking 40g brown sugar in 100ml water)
• 50ml vegetable cooking oil
• 2 egg yolks, beaten

Preparation:

1. Put adzuki bean in a deep saucepan with 1 litre of water. Bring to a boil on high heat then simmer it on low for about 1.5 hours, or till husk is detached from the bean.
2. Mash the bean with a wooden spoon or blend it with a food processor then run it through a sieve to get rid of remaining husk.
3. Sieve the bean paste through muslin cloth to drain away excessive water.
4. Place the mashed bean back in the saucepan, and add in the sea salt, vegetable oil and brown sugar. Cook on low heat, and stir constantly till the mashed bean is thick and pasty.
5. Remove from heat and place bean paste in a large bowl to cool.
6. Roll paste into 13 to 14 balls.
7. Set the oven on 400ºF/200ºC (180ºC for fan oven).

1. Sift flour and dried yeast into a large mixing bowl.
2. Make a dry well in the middle of the flour, and pour mixture of syrup and vegetable oil into the well.
3. Stir it slowly to mix well then roll lightly with your hands till the dough is smooth and not sticky.
4. Separate the dough into 13 or 14 parts, each weighing roughly 25 grams. Roll each into a round-shaped thin pastry dough, fill it with the adzuki bean paste ball, and wrap it up carefully.
5. Sprinkle a thin layer of flour into the moon cake mould, press the filled dough firmly into the mould to get the shape of the moon cake then remove from the mould.
6. Repeat with the rest of the dough and adzuki bean paste.
7. Place the ready-to-bake moon cakes in a baking tray, brush a layer of egg yolk to coat the surface of each cake and place the tray on the middle deck of the oven.
8. Bake for about 30 minutes, till the surface turns golden brown.
9. Versatility Note:
10. If you wish to make one that’s filled with salted egg yolk (moon cakes with egg yolk are extremely expensive), first bake the salted egg in the oven pre-set to 350ºF for 10 minutes, remove the firmed egg yolk, wrap it in the middle of adzuki bean paste, before wrapping the paste with the pastry dough.
11. The sugar in this recipe has been reduced, and you can further reduce it according to your desired taste, or switch it to white sugar. But we do prefer brown, as it is healthier and gives a nicer aroma.
12. You can get hold of moon cake moulds (pictured below) from most pastry equipment shops in Asia. But if you can’t get one, you can use a muffin pan. Make a patterned stencil out of clean cardboard according to the size of the mould, place it at the bottom of the mould (remember to sprinkle some flour over it too) whilst pressing the filled cake dough against it. When the cake dough is taken out of the mould, the pattern would be pressed on to the top of the cake dough.
13. Best enjoyed with some hot Chinese tea, to balance up the sweetness and the oily ingredients.

The Mid-Autumn Festival also known as the Moon Festival, is a popular East Asian celebration of abundance and togetherness, dating back over 3,000 years to China’s Zhou Dynasty. In Malaysia and Singapore, it is also sometimes referred to as the Lantern Festival or “Mooncake Festival”, which is just the same as “Mid-Autumn Festival” but with different names.

The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month of the Chinese calendar (usually around mid- or late-September in the Gregorian calendar), a date that parallels the Autumn Equinox of the solar calendar. This is the ideal time, when the moon is at its fullest and brightest, to celebrate the abundance of the summer’s harvest. The traditional food of this festival is the mooncake, of which there are many different varieties.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the two most important holidays in the Chinese calendar (the other being the Chinese Lunar New Year), and is a legal holiday in several countries. Farmers celebrate the end of the summer harvesting season on this date. Traditionally, on this day, Chinese family members and friends will gather to admire the bright mid-autumn harvest moon, and eat moon cakes and pomeloes together. Accompanying the celebration, there are additional cultural or regional customs, such as:

• Eating moon cakes outside under the moon
• Putting pomelo rinds on one’s head
• Carrying brightly lit lanterns
• Burning incense in reverence to deities including Chang’e
• Planting Mid-Autumn trees
• Lighting lanterns on towers
• Fire Dragon Dances
• Shops selling mooncakes, before the festival, often display pictures of Chang’e floating to the moon.

Origin

The custom of celebrating the moon for both the Han Chinese and minority nationalities, can be traced as far back as the ancient Xia Dynasty and Shang Dynasty of China (20th century BC-1060s BC). In the Zhou Dynasty (1066 BCE-221 BCE), the people celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival to worship the moon.

The practice became very prevalent in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) that people enjoyed and worshipped the full moon. In the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), however, people started making round mooncakes, as gifts to their relatives in expression of their best wishes of family reunion. At night, they came out to watch the full moon to celebrate the festival. Since the Ming (1368-1644), and Qing Dynasties (1644-1911), the custom of Mid-Autumn Festival celebration has become unprecedented popular.

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Stories of the Mid-Autumn Festival

Houyi and Chang’e

While Westerners may talk about the “man in the moon”, the Chinese talk about the “woman in the moon”. The story of Chang’e and her flight to the moon, familiar to every Chinese citizen, is a favourite subject of poets. Unlike many lunar deities in other cultures who personify the moon, Chang’e lives in the moon. Tradition places Houyi and Chang’e around 2170 BC, in the reign of the legendary Emperor Yao, shortly after that of Huang Di.

There are so many variations and adaptations of the Chang’e legend that one can become overwhelmed and utterly confused. However, most legends about Chang’e in Chinese mythology involve some variation of the following elements: Houyi, the Archer; Chang’e, the mythical Moon Goddess of Immortality; an emperor, either benevolent or malevolent; an elixir of life; and the Moon:

_____________________________________________

Houyi, the archer

There are at least four variations to this story where Houyi was an archer.

Version 1: Houyi himself was an immortal, while Chang’e was a beautiful young girl, working in the Jade Emperor’s (Emperor of Heaven) Palace as the attendant to the Queen Mother of the West (wife of the Jade Emperor), just before her marriage. One day, Houyi aroused the jealousy of the other immortals, who then slandered him before the Jade Emperor. Houyi and his wife, Chang’e, were subsequently banished from heaven, and forced to live by hunting on earth. He became a famous archer.

Now at this time, there were 10 suns that took turns to circle the earth — one every 10 days. One day, all 10 of the suns circled together, causing the earth to burn. Emperor Yao, the Emperor of China, commanded Houyi to shoot down all but one of the suns. Upon the completion of his task, the Emperor rewarded Houyi with a pill that granted eternal life, and advised him: “Make no haste to swallow this pill; first prepare yourself with prayer and fasting for a year”. Houyi took the pill home and hid it under a rafter, while he began healing his spirit. While Houyi was healing his sprit, Houyi was summoned again by the emperor. Chang’e, noticing a white beam of light beckoning from the rafters, discovered the pill, which she swallowed. Immediately, she found that she could fly. At that moment, Houyi returned home, and, realizing what had happened, began to reprimand her. Chang’e flew out the window into the sky.

With bow in hand, Houyi sped after her, and the pursuit continued halfway across the heavens. Finally, Houyi had to return to the Earth because of the force of the wind. Chang’e reached the moon, and breathless, she coughed. Part of the pill fell out from her mouth. Now, the hare was already on the moon, and Chang’e commanded the animal to make another pill from it, so that she could return to earth to her husband.

As of today, the hare is still pounding herbs, trying to make the pill. As for Houyi, he built himself a palace in the sun as “Yang” (the male principle), with Chang’e as “Yin” (the female principle). Once a year, on the 15th day of the full moon, Houyi visits his wife. That is why, that night, the moon is full and beautiful.

This description appears in written form in two Western Han dynasty (206 BCE-24 CE) collections; Shanhaijing (Classic of the Mountains and Seas, a book of travels and tales), and Huainanzi (scientific, historical and philosophical articles, named for the Prince of Huai).

Version 2: Another version, very similar to the above story, had it that the Emperor of Heaven, moved by the people’s suffering caused by the 10 scorching suns, sent the archer, Prince Houyi, from heaven to help Emperor Yao bring order. Houyi, with his wife, Chang’e, descended to earth, carrying a red bow and white arrows given him by the Emperor of Heaven.

Version 3: The earth once had ten suns circling over it, each taking turn to illuminate the earth. One day, however, all ten suns appeared together, scorching the earth with their heat. Houyi, a strong and tyrannical archer, saved the earth by shooting down nine of the suns. He eventually became King, but grew to become a despot.

One day, Houyi stole the elixir of life from a goddess. However, his beautiful wife, Chang’e, drank it in order to save the people from her husband’s tyrannical rule. After drinking it, she found herself floating, and flew to the moon. Houyi loved his divinely beautiful wife so much; he did not shoot down the moon.

Version 4: Another version, however, had it that Chang’e and Houyi were immortals living in heaven. One day, the ten sons of the Jade Emperor transformed into ten suns, causing the earth to scorch. Having failed to order his sons to stop ruining the earth, the Jade Emperor summoned Houyi for help. Houyi, using his legendary archery skills, shot down nine of the sons, but spared one son to be the sun. The Jade Emperor was obviously displeased with Houyi’s solution to save the earth. As punishment, he banished Houyi and Chang’e to live as mere mortals on earth.

Seeing that Chang’e felt extremely miserable over her loss of immortality, Houyi decided to journey on a long, perilous quest to find the pill of immortality so that the couple could be immortals again. At the end of his quest, he met the Queen Mother of the West, who agreed to give him the pill, but warned him that each person would only need half a pill to regain immortality.

Houyi brought the pill home and stored it in a case. He warned Chang’e not to open the case, and then left home for a while. Like Pandora in Greek mythology, Chang’e became curious. She opened up the case and found the pill, just as Houyi was returning home. Nervous that Houyi would catch her, discovering the contents of the case, she accidentally swallowed the entire pill, and started to float into the sky because of the overdose. Although Houyi wanted to shoot her in order to prevent her from floating further, he could not bear to aim the arrow at her. Chang’e kept on floating until she landed on the moon.

While she became lonely on the moon without her husband, she did have company. A jade rabbit, who manufactured elixirs, also lived on the moon.

Version 5: In a popular school version, Houyi was a lazy boy who did nothing but to practice his archery. He practiced day and night until he became the greatest archer in the world. One day, the 10 suns all assembled around the earth. Their presence destroyed all vegetation, and hundreds of thousands were perishing. The emperor, who was desperate, offered his crown to anyone who could shoot down the suns. Houyi answered his call. He shot down 9 of the suns, and as he pulled his bow to shoot the last one, the emperor stopped him. Saying the earth must leave 1 sun. Houyi then became the emperor. He was pampered to the extent that he wanted to be emperor forever. He called his advisors to look for a way to make him immortal. His advisors found a way. They found a recipe for the Pill of Immortality. It required 100 adolescent boys to be ground into a biscuit like pill. Every night he was supposed to ground 1 boy. On the hundredth night, his wife Chang’e could not bear to watch her husband become the tyrannical dictator for eternity. She prayed to Xi Wang Mu for help. She stole the pill, with Houyi shooting arrows at her, and flew to the moon grabbing a rabbit to keep her company.

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Houyi, the builder

Houyi, a famous builder, built a beautiful jade palace for the Goddess of the Western Heaven (also called the Royal Mother). In a