Ubiquitous

He asked, and she said yes…

03 Jul 2010 1 Comment

by Ubiquityin Festivals & Celebrations Tags: celebrations, photos, Sion, Switzerland, wedding

…or was it the other way around? However it happened, Anna & Frederic are MARRIED!

The ceremony

"We're married!"

Getting ready for the reception...

The reception

The apéro

Time to loosen up those ties!

The party started... and the rest of the night was a blur... ;-)

PS: Merci beaucoup Romine ! ;-)

Joyeux Noël !

05 Jan 2010 No Comments

by Ubiquityin Festivals & Celebrations, Globetrotting Tags: celebrations, Christmas, dessert, dinner, food, Switzerland, travel, Valais

The evening of December 24th is very much a family celebration in Switzerland. This is the evening on which the Christmas tree is brightly lit and decorated in all its splendor complete with wrapped gifts underneath.

Presents under the Christmas tree!

Starters : Shrimp cocktail with cognac & grapefruit sauce

Main course : Filet mignon with chestnuts & brusselsprouts & spätzle

No feast would be complete without cheese platter

And finally, dessert : Paradiso cake

Presents comes after midnight where everyone gathered together to give and receive while enjoying a glass or two of Amaretto and Williamine.

Year 2010’s Resolutions

01 Jan 2010 No Comments

by Ubiquityin Festivals & Celebrations, Globetrotting, Reality bites Tags: celebrations, Singapore, Sion, Switzerland, travel, Valais

Since I’m writing this in Switzerland and we’re behind by 7 hours from Singapore, technically, it’s not the new year for me. At least not yet. So here we go…

For 2010, my resolutions are :-

• Quit smoking
  No timeline exactly but I’m giving myself some time till after our wedding (before the end of the year). YES! I’m getting MARRIED!!! Back to that in another post.
• Get a driving license
  I could’ve gotten it way before 2010 but unfortunately, I failed the test. Looking at the bright side, I don’t have to do the theories and practical lessons all over again. Next test: 17th February 2010. Wish me luck!
• Speak better French
  I can’t express how crappy my français is right now.
• Eat right & keep fit
  With all the junk food and no exercise I’m getting, I wouldn’t be surprise if I get a heart attack or gain 10kg in 3 months. Salads, vegetables, cereals, grains… here I come!

I can’t think of more resolutions for the time being. So that’s all for now. Too much going on in my life at this very moment and I’m just dying to settle down and be quiet. Yes! That’s it! That’s one of my resolution for 2010…

• More moments of reservations

To all my readers in Singapore, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Eid ul-Adha

26 Nov 2009 No Comments

by Ubiquityin Festivals & Celebrations Tags: celebrations

Eid ul-Adha “Festival of Sacrifice” is a holiday celebrated by the Muslims. It marks the end of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca). It takes place on the 10th of Dzul-Hijjah which is the last month of the Islamic calendar. Although only the pilgrims to Makkah can celebrate it fully, Muslims elsewhere can also mark the occasion of Eid ul-Adha by thanking Allah (God) for all the blessings they have received.

Hajj

The Hajj is the ‘Fifth Pillar of Islam’ and therefore a very important part of the Islamic faith. All physically fit Muslims who can afford it should make the visit to Makkah, Saudi Arabia, at least once in their lives. Each year millions of Muslims converge on Makkah. They visit a shrine in the city known as Ka’bah, built by Ibrahim (Abraham) and Isma’il (Ishmael) at the command of Allah (God). It is a place for all Muslims who want to reaffirm their faith.

The sacrifice

Ibrahim had a dream in which he was sacrificing his only son, Isma’il. He mentioned it to Isma’il and at once he said that he (Isma’il) should be sacrificed. Ibrahim and Isma’il went on a spot which they chose for sacrificial purpose. On the way, Satan appeared and ask Isma’il to move away from fulfilling his father’s dream but Isma’il moved away those thoughts. When they both reached the place, Isma’il then laid down and Ibrahim tied a cloth around his eyes. Just when he was about to sacrifice his son, Allah sent a ram and replaced Isma’il with that ram (lamb / goat). Abraham then unknowingly sacrifices the ram and when he open his eyes, his joys knew no boundaries on what he saw.

Eid ul-Adha is celebrated in remembrance of the sacrifice.

Bon fête de l’Eid ! & Last week in photos

22 Sep 2009 No Comments

by Ubiquityin Festivals & Celebrations Tags: celebrations, food, photos

Last Sunday marked the end of the Muslim fasting month, Ramadhan, and Muslims all around the world celebrated Eid ul-Fitr. Main feature of the celebration is Eid congregations, where the rich and poor irrespective of their social status embraced each other demonstrating the fraternity among the Muslims. Eid is also a time of forgiveness, and making amends.

I spent my Eid with my loved ones…

While the men lounge in the living room at my mom's...

...the women get busy in the kitchen.

Mom made my favorite Roti Kirai, Bamia and Lemak Lodeh, and my sister came over with more food.

For those of you who don’t know, Roti Kirai is basically a pancake. The only difference in between the normal breakfast pancake and this particular one is in the method of cooking and use of coloring. Using a special ladle with 5 holes at the bottom, the mixture is then poured over a lightly greased hot pan to give it a special lacy effect. Once ready, it will be folded and served with curry.

Making the Roti Kirai

Making Roti Kirai

Greasing the Roti Kirai

No eve of Eid would be complete without making a trip to Geylang Serai for the hustles and bustles…

Each year, during the month of Ramadhan, Geylang Serai is transformed into a bazaar. Vendors selling from food, clothes, curtains, carpets to even furniture display their colorful wares amongst others. Towards the end of Ramadhan, also marking the closure of the bazaar for Eid, vendors can be heard auctioning off their products at an exteme bargain.

Yummy calorie loaded cookies on sale at a very low price

Baju Kebaya; A traditional costume worn by women from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore...

Geylang; festively decorated with bright lights and bustling atmosphere

I woke up to the scent of Lemak Lodeh lingering around the house... Miam !

Our breakfast spread

Fred & Taufiq

Taufiq & Me

Fred & Mama

Me & Fred

Taufiq & Mama

Me & Mama

Ramadan & Syawal (Eid ul-Fitr)

11 Sep 2009 No Comments

by Ubiquityin Festivals & Celebrations Tags: celebrations

Ramadan Kareem

For all the Muslims throughout the world, Ramadan is a whole month for inner reflection, devotion to God and self-control. It takes place in the ninth month of the Islamic year, the holy month is a time of fasting. During the fasting period (from dawn until sunset), Muslims are refrained from eating, drinking, smoking and indulging in anything that is in excess or ill-natured.

Ramadan was the month in which the first verses of Quran were revealed to Prophet Muhammad. The sighting of the new moon at the end of Ramadan heralds the celebration of Eid ul-Fitr (the beginning of Syawal, the tenth month of the Islamic year).

Family gathering, Eid ul-Fitr

Eid ul-Fitr is a joyous occasion, similar to Christmas in its celebration but with strong religious significance. The giving of a special charity for this occasion is obligatory. Muslims dress in holiday attire, attend a special community prayer in the morning and visit friends and relatives. Sometimes, some people will visit the grave of their lost loved ones. Greetings of “‘Eid mubarak,” or “a blessed ‘Eid” are exchanged. In some places, children are given gifts or money by their parents and relatives.