Mohammad Zain thru his Nenek's lens

Noor Alya as seen through her Nenek's lens

Ikan Kekek

These are songs from my childhood - a Zain rendition. We're calling this the Mak Bom Medley cos she bought us a wonderful CD that has given the Raihan CD some much needed rest. Honestly, I cannot stress importance of teaching our kids these songs... If not for the continuance of our very own culture, then for the surprised look on the oldies' faces when Zain belts them out at the top of his voice. Never fails to bring on the smiles as they recall singing these tunes in their childhood, where entertainment was far from computer games, YouTube videos and Wii. But these even took me back to when I used to play five stones on the canteen floor and clapping games to "Air pasang pagi, surut pukul lima".

Malay folk songs are so wonderfully whimsical, yet full of sage advise on the ways of the world. Some are even prophetic! Take "Ikan Kekek" for example. In reference to the whale asking the crab where has the clear blue waters gone and why are our oceans now murky, they ask the question, "Adakah ini angkara manusia yang sombong?" Did they foretell the environmental crisis we live in today as a result of human carelessness?

"Bangau oh Bangau" that often plays in my head even as I work teaches Zain about the food chain. "SIngapura dilanggar todak" makes me feel quite proud that we've actually got a song of our own. "Enjet Enjet semut has this wonderful dikir barat part that even gets Alya clapping. And "Rasa Sayang", I just love having Zain sing it cos he lisps at every "S" and there are so many!

Thanks Mak Bom, this is for you.

My Two Peas in a Pod

Raspberries

Alya really doesn't like water

Zikir

May you always say Allah's name with such gusto

Zain-isms Part II

Computer
me: com
he: com
me: pu
he: pu
me: ter
he: ter
me: computer
he: pongketer

A K Obsession
"Mama, are you comink?"
Ditto for :
Goink, doink
Are we going swimmink?
Are you doing somethink?

A T Obsession
"Up Up and Away, aeroplane-t"

Ketiak (armpit)
me: ke
he: ke
me: tiak
he: tiak
me: ketiak
he: tekiak

This, an extension of his kapai jabu phase, which he has since corrected.

More to come, when I remember.

Our First Family Portrait

Humanly impossible to get them both smiling. But Zain smiling for the camera is a rarity. Had this one printed on canvas!

Prelude to Hari Raya

We did a pre-Hari Raya shoot so we'd have some nice shots by the big day. It was, to say the least, challenging but the out-takes are HILARIOUS! Alya was squirmy. Zain was fascinated by the lights. These were taken as we waited for the ShotByReds to be shot. Watch this space, more to come.

Little Man & His Machine

Zain wipes his car down every night with a Wet One

Jiggety Jig

See Alya's footwork! Will get better footage soon.