Meeting Uncle Adnan Othman

Our photo infront of Uncle Adnan's beautiful house. In the back row are Uncle Adnan Othman(L) and Kashah(R) and in the front row are Kafah(L), me(M) and Kaman(R).

Last Sunday I went to Uncle Adnan Othman‘s house for breakfast.

Uncle Adnan is from Terengganu and in ‘Trengganuspeak’, his name is Adnang Othmang.

Uncle Adnan Othman was a very popular singer in the 1960s.

He used to sing with a band named ‘The Rhythm Boys‘.

After that, he worked for Bata Shoes as a shoe designer.

Bata Shoes sent him to London for a shoe making course.

And one of his classmate was the famous shoe maker, Datuk Jimmy Choo.

Now Uncle Adnan do not design shoes anymore.

He is now an artist.

Uncle Adnan teaching us on how to how to paint such a beautiful picture.

I went to his art gallery and saw so many beautiful paintings.

Collections of beautiful paintings by Uncle Adnan Othman.

The fruit series by Uncle Adnan Othman.

He draws boats in Terengganu rivers, waterfalls and flowers.

More beautiful painting by Uncle Adnan - waterfall, and boats in Terengganu rivers.

Uncle Adnan also has lots of guitars and he let me play his guitars.

These are some of Uncle Adnan's guitars.

Then my big sister Kaman sang a Cuban song, ‘Guantanamera’ while Uncle Adnan Othman played the guitar.

We are listening to my big sister Kaman singing our favourite song, 'Guantanamera' while Uncle Adnan played the guitar.

We also listened to his old songs from his LPs and EPs on his record player.

LP means ‘long-playing’ and EP means ‘extended play’ record album.

My big sisters Kaman(L), me(M), Kafah(R) and at the back is Kashah listening to the songs on the record player.

That was the first time I listen to songs from a record player!

I really enjoyed meeting Uncle Adnan and he gave us lots of story books.

You can view Uncle Adnan’s paintings at his blog: adnanbinothman.wordpress.com

Jamming With Uncle Fauzan

On Dec 26, 2010 I went to Uncle Fauzan‘s house for dinner.

Uncle Fauzan is a pilot and a good friend of my father.

He has a set of drums, some keyboards, some guitars and other musical instruments.

Uncle Fauzan can play all kinds of musical instruments.

I like to play the drum and my big sister Kaman played the keyboard.

Uncle Fauzan taught me how to play the drum.

We have to use our hands and feet at the same time to play the drum.

It was really fun 🙂

Uncle Fauzan cooked us a ‘sour and spicy’ fish dish named Melaka asam pedas.

It was very tasty.

The barbecued fish and prawns were very tasty too.

Before we went home, Kaman sang the Cuban song, ‘Guantánamera’ while Uncle Fauzan played the guitar.

We also watched a football match, 2010 Suzuki Cup – Malaysia VS Indonesia on TV.

I really enjoyed myself and I would like to visit Uncle Fauzan and Abang Arif again.

Enjoying English At SMK Sultan Mansor (SMKSM)

Last Thursday I went to SMKSM for Enjoying English program.

SMKSM means Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultan Mansor.

I read the Swine Flu article from my blog.

Now swine flu is known as Influenza A (H1N1).

I met my father’s friend, Teacher Yasmin at the school.

Teacher Yasmin was my father’s schoolmate.

They used to study in Sultan Sulaiman Secondary School.

Now Teacher Yasmin is an English teacher at SMKSM.

I always enjoyed participating in the program because I like giving speeches.

Before we end the program my sisters and I sang the Khalifah song and Guantanamera.

After the program I ate a delicious mee hoon soup.

Guantánamera

Guantánamera is a Spanish song.

Yesterday I listen to Guantánamera on You Tube.

Sandpipers sang the song.

I love this song because it is  very, very, very, very nice.

In English Guantánamera means a girl from Guantanamo.

This is the lyrics of Guantánamera:

Yo soy un hombre sincero De donde crece la palma Y antes de morirme quiero Echar mis versos del alma Guantanamera, guajira, Guantanamera	I am a sincere man From where the palm tree grows And before dying I want To share the verses of my soul.
Mi verso es de un verde claro Y de un carmín encendido Mi verso es de un ciervo herido Que busca en el monte amparo Guantanamera, guajira, Guantanamera	My verse is light green And it is flaming crimson My verse is a wounded deer Who seeks refuge on the mountain (or in the woods).
This third verse was never part of the song, Guantanamera, but was written in “Versos Sencillos” Cultivo una rosa blanca En julio como en enero Para el amigo sincero Que me da su mano franca Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera	I cultivate a white rose In July as in January For the sincere friend Who gives me his honest hand.
This fourth verse is translated during the song as sung by Pete Seeger & Arlo Guthrie[3] Y para el cruel que me arranca El corazon con que vivo Cardo ni ortiga cultivo Cultivo la rosa blanca Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera	And for the cruel one who would tear out this heart with which I live I do not cultivate nettles nor thistles I cultivate a white rose
Final verse of song, as published: Con los pobres de la tierra Quiero yo mi suerte echar El arroyo de la sierra Me complace más que el mar Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera With the poor people of the earth I want to share my fate The brook of the mountains Gives me more pleasure than the sea