:: Sign Language ::

I like this week topic; Getting Connected. I have to introduce the Braille system, the sign language and other ways to communicate to my pupils. The best part is when they all so eager to learn sign language. I'm so lucky with the help of Huda (my pupils who can communicate using sign language as her parents are deaf and can't speak). We learned on how to do sign for Monday to Sunday, then how to do sign for A - Z, 1-10 and also learned on how to say "I want to eat", "I want to drink", "I want to go out" and etc.

Really thank God as I spotted Huda before I teach the topic. Personally, I like Huda and I think she is special. Hahahaha.....I want to learn sign language!!!!

:: Sign Language for A - Z ::

:: Sign Language for numbering ::

P/S : I love my profession as I can learn many things from time to time. :p

I've found this in my friend's FB wall

Yerp....I seriously agreed with the statement above. Relax....be cool...God knows the best for us. ^^

:: How To Make Tuak ::

Okay....here are some informative tips...errr....actually a traditional recipe on how to make@brew tuak. Last night, Olivia (my room-mate) texting me and asking me to bring tuak to KL. Hmmm....there's no more tuak here, so I'm thinking of making my own tuak. Just now I asked dad where to get the yeast a.k.a 'ragi', or maybe he can deliver it to me in KL by month end. But mom told me to ask dad to buy the yeast from our neighbour. Wah....a very sporting parents. Even allowing me to make my own tuak. ^^

Let me tell you what is that mean by tuak. Tuak is a traditional drink an very popular among the Ibans (from Sarawak) and is drank during the Gawai festivals, weddings, hosting of guests and other special occasions. It is an alcoholic beverage made of fermented rice, yeast and sugar.

This morning i asked dad on the recipe. So he told me:-

First step : Cooked 2kg of glutinous rice (beras pulut) like cooking a normal rice. But let the water boiled first before putting the rice inside the rice cooker. Keep stirring the water, but if the water too much, we still can scoop the water and throw it away.

Second step : Smash the yeast into a powder (not too powdery tho') and then spread thin the yeast on flat surfaces of a big container (something like the black rubbish bin with the cover). After that spread the cooked glutinous rice on top of the yeast, and after that covered it with another layer of yeast on top. Covered the container and left it for 4 days.

Note : Make sure when you make tuak, stay away from sour foods and also don't talk much.

Third step : Boiled the water (the amount of a small pail of water). Add and stir sugar (3 kg) with the water. Left it cold before you pour the sugar water inside the big container.

Fourth step : Left the mixture for another 10 - 14 days before served.

Tadaaa.....it's done! Very easy right? I've made it before, and everybody said it tasted nice. Well, actually it depends on the yeast that you used. Good luck in making your own tuak. ^^

Kombucha

Kombucha is a living health drink made by fermenting tea and sugar with the kombucha culture. The result can taste like something between sparkling apple cider and champagne, depending on what kind of tea you use. It's not what you'd imagine fermented tea to taste like.

The origins of Kombucha have become lost in the mists of time. It is thought to have originated in the Far East, probably China, and has been consumed there for at least two thousand years. The first recorded use of kombucha comes from China in 221 BC during the Tsin Dynasty. It was known as "The Tea of Immortality".

It has been used in Eastern Europe, Russia and Japan for several centuries. It's from Japan in 415 AD that the name kombucha is said to have come. A Korean physician called Kombu or Kambu treated the Emperor Inyko with the tea and it took his name, "Kombu" and "cha" meaning tea. Russia has a long tradition of using a healing drink called "Tea Kvass" made from a "Japanese Mushroom".

From Russia it spread to Prussia, Poland, Germany and Denmark but it seems to have died out during World War Two. After the war Dr Rudolph Skelnar created renewed interest in kombucha in Germany when he used it in his practice to treat cancer patients, metabolic disorders, high blood pressure and diabetes.

The Kombucha Culture

The Kombucha culture looks like a beige or white rubbery pancake. It's often called a 'scoby' which stands for ' symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts.The culture is placed in sweetened black or green tea and turns a bowl full of sweet tea into a bowl full of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and health-giving organic acids.

As the Kombucha culture digests the sugar it produces a range of organic acids like glucuronic acid, gluconic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, butyric acid, malic acid and usnic acid; vitamins, particularly B vitamins and vitamin C; as well as amino acids, enzymes. And of course there are all the benefits of the probiotic microorganisms themselves. The Kombucha culture is a biochemical powerhouse in your kitchen.

You might wonder if fermenting tea with yeasts would produce an alcoholic beverage. It's a good question. The yeasts do produce alcohol but the bacteria in the culture turn the alcohol to organic acids. Only minute quantities of alcohol, typically 1% by volume remains in the kombucha brew.

With every brew you make the kombucha forms a new layer or scoby on the surface of the liquid. These can be left to thicken the scoby or can be divided, giving you spare cultures that you can store in some sweet tea in the fridge in case something should happen to your active culture. Or you might want to pass on spare Kombucha cultures to friends or use a new scoby to start another batch of kombucha.

Kombucha and Health

Many health claims are made for kombucha but there is less research on the benefits of kombucha than there is on fermented milk products. It has certainly been shown to have similar antibiotic, antiviral and anti fungal properties in lab tests. In rats it’s been shown to protect against stress and improve liver function. There is a lot of experiential evidence from people who have been using kombucha over many years. Many of the benefits reported include improvements in energy levels, metabolic disorders, allergies, cancer, digestive problems, candidiasis, hypertension, HIV, chronic fatigue and arthritis. It ‘s also used externally for skin problems and as a hair wash among other things.

The Organic Acids

Glucuronic acid

The body's most important detoxifier. When toxins enter the liver this acid binds them to it and flushes them out through the kidneys. Once bound by glucuronic acid toxins cannot escape. A product of the oxidation process of glucose, glucuronic acid is one of the more significant constituents of Kombucha. As a detoxifying agent it's one of the few agents that can cope with pollution from the products of the petroleum industry, including all the plastics, herbicides, pesticides and resins. It kidnaps the phenols in the liver, which are then eliminated easily by the kidneys. Kombucha can be very helpful for allergy sufferers. Another by-product of glucuronic acid are the glucosamines, the structures associated with cartilage, collagen and the fluids which lubricate the joints. It is this function that makes Kombucha so effective against arthritis.

Lactic Acid

Essential for the digestive system. Assist blood circulation, helps prevent bowel decay and constipation. Aids in balancing acids and alkaline in the body and believed to help in the prevention of cancer by helping to regulate blood pH levels.

Acetic Acid

A powerful preservative and it inhibits harmful bacteria.

Usnic Acid

A natural antibiotic that can be effective against many viruses.

Oxalic Acid

An effective preservative and encourages the intercellular production of energy.

Malic acid

Helps detoxify the liver.

Gluconic Acid

Produced by the bacteria, it can break down to caprylic acid is of great benefit to sufferers of candidiasis and other yeast infections such as thrush.

Butyric acid

Produced by the yeast, protects human cellular membranes and combined with Gluconic acid strengthens the walls of the gut to combat yeast infections like candida.

Types of Tea for Kombucha

Kombucha requires tea for its fermentation (Camellia Sinensis). That's real tea not herbal tea. It can be also be sensitive to strong aromatic oils. A tea like Earl Grey that contains Bergamot oil, can sometimes kill or badly affect the culture. There are several different kinds of tea that give different results from lighter tastes to stronger more cider like tastes.Black Tea

Black tea is made from leaves that have been fully fermented. The leaf is spread out and left to wilt naturally, before being fired, producing a deep, rich flavour and an amber brew.

Oolong Tea

Oolong tea is half way between green tea and black tea. It's gently rolled after picking and allowed to partially ferment until the edges of the leaves start to turn brown. Oolong combines the taste and colour of black and green tea.

Green Tea

Green tea is withered then steamed or heated to prevent oxidation and then rolled and dried. It is characterized by a delicate taste, light green colour. The Japanese tea Sencha makes an especially fine kombucha.

White Tea

White Tea is the rarest and most delicate of tea. Plucked forty-eight hours or less between the time the first buds become fully mature and the time they open. Unlike black and green teas, white tea isn't rolled or steamed, but simply aired dried in the sun, this preserves more of its antioxidant properties. White tea has about three times as many antioxidant polyphenols as green. White tea represents the least processed form of tea.

Thinking of Making Baju Kurung

:: Baju Kurung Songket ::

:: Baju Kebaya Nyonya ::

:: Baju Kurung Songket ::

Hmm.... I like the middle one, baju kebaya nyonya...I will definitely make one for myself, and then for kurung kedah, I will make it kurung kedah songket, and the colour.....hmm....maroon, light yellow and......maybe blue...or grey...i think I'll go for grey....

Or should I go to the butik at Parkson there and buy the ready made one? Hmm....

Learning to Sense and See Your Aura

Learning to sense and see your Aura

First sit comfortably facing a pale, plain or white wall. Make sure there is no direct sunlight or artificial light shinning on you. Stretch out your right arm in front of you - so it is in front of the wall (do not touch the wall). Make sure the back of your right hand is facing you.

Open out your fingers and look at the space in between your fingers and the wall. Only look at the space in between your fingers - not at your fingers. Now allow your eyes to completely relax. You will begin to see a fuzzy white or gray outline around your fingers. If you begin to see this it means you are doing the exercise right. What you are actually seeing is your aura.

Continue to look in between your fingers at the fuzzy outline. As you continue to look at the fuzzy outline you should notice it start to change colour - usually to blue. Keep looking at your aura until you can see it all around your hand and fingers.

If you do not notice anything at first, then please do not give up, keep trying and trying as with practice the exercise will become easier and easier. You can do this exercise any time and place.

View the aura around your head

Stand in front of a mirror. Make sure that there is a plain wall or background behind and around you. Again make sure there is no direct sunlight or artificial light shinning on you.

Look at the space above your head and let your eyes completely relax. You should begin to see a fuzzy white or grey outline appear around your head. If you do begin to see this then you are doing the exercise right as this is your aura.

Continue to look at the fuzzy white / grey light and you will begin to notice it change colour - it usually changes to blue. You are now looking at your etheric body - your aura. Watch as this blue outline stretches over your head and shoulders.

Learn to sense and feel your Aura

I love doing this exercise and you can do it any place and any where. I find it quite therapeutic and relaxing. It is amazing feeling once you learn to sense, feel and see your aura.

Sit or stand comfortably and make sure you will not be disturbed (once you get the hang of it, you will find that you can do this exercise any time and in any environment). Hold the palms of your hands close together - notice how this feels.

Move your palms of your hands apart and then bring them together again, keeping doing this over and over. Notice how it feels and what you can see. As you move the palms together and apart you should begin to feel a pulling like feeling.

Each time you move your palms of your hands forwards and backwards just take them slightly further apart each time. As you continue moving them forward and apart you will begin to notice a sensation building up in the palms of your hands.

You will begin to feel your palms become hot and it will feel like elastic in between each hand. If you feel this then you are sensing and feeling your aura. If you relax your eyes and look at your hands as you do this exercise then you will begin to even see this aura. It will first look like heat waves and eventually change colour to white and then blue. You will be able to see this energy pulling back and forth as you move your hands.

Seeing the Aura's of those around you

Ask a friend or family member if they would not mind you practicing on them and trying to see their auras. Ask your family member or friend to please sit comfortably in a chair. Make sure that the walls behind and around them are white or plain in colour. Also make sure that there is no artificial light or direct sunlight in the room.

Sit opposite your friend or family member and look just above the top of their head. Let your eyes relax completely and keep looking. You should begin to see a grey / white fuzzy outline - which should begin to change colour to blue. If you continue to look at your friend or family members aura, you should then begin to see the aura changing colour again.

Notice what colour their aura changes too and what its Patten is. Is it all around them or is it in a broken pattern? What is the shape and colour of their Aura?

Aura

Notes : Aura......during Gawai Open House, I talked to Siput about Aura. And I remember what Pn. Zahanin said about Aura as well.......so here it is.....

WHAT IS THE AURA?

The aura is the electromagnetic field that surrounds the human body (Human Energy Field-HEF) and every organism and object in the Universe.

The Human Energy Field as a collection of electro - magnetic energies of varying densities that permeate through and emit or exit from the physical body of a living person. These particles of energy are suspended around the healthy human body in an oval shaped field. This "auric egg" emits out from the body approximately 2-3 feet (1 metre on average) on all sides. It extends above the head and below the feet into the ground.

:: Photo of Aura ::

WHAT DOES AN AURA CONSIST OF?

The aura consist of seven levels/layers/auric bodies . Each one of the subtle bodies that exist around the physical body, has its own unique frequency. They are interrelated, and affect one another and the person's feelings, emotions, thinking, behaviour, and health as well. Therefore a state of imbalance in one of the bodies leads to a state of imbalance in the others.

THE AURIC BODIES AND YOUR NEEDS ON EACH LEVEL OF AURIC FIELD

1) Physical auric body - Physical sensations. Simple physical comfort, pleasure, health.

2) The etheric auric body - Emotions with respect to self. Self-acceptance and self love.

3) Vital auric body - Rational mind. To understand the situation in a clear, linear, rational way.

4) Astral (emotional) body - Relations with others. Loving interaction with friends and family.

5) Lower mental auric body - Divine will within. To align with the divine will within, to make commitment to speak and follow the truth.

6) Higher mental auric body - Divine love, and spiritual ecstasy.

7) Spiritual (intuitive) body - Divine mind, serenity. To be connected to divine mind and to understand the greater universal pattern.

AURA COLOR MEANINGS

RED AURA COLOR: Relates to the physical body, hart or circulation. The densest color, it creates the most friction. Friction attracts or repels; money worries or obsessions; anger or unforgiveness; anxiety or nervousness

Deep Red: Grounded, realistic, active, strong will-power, survival-oriented.

Muddied red: Anger (repelling)

Clear red: Powerful, energetic, competitive, sexual, passionate

Pink-bright and light: Loving, tender, sensitive, sensual, artistic, affection, purity, compassion; new or revieved romantic relationship. Can indicate clairaudience.

Dark and murky pink: Immature and/or dishonest nature

Orange Red: Confidence, creative power

In a good, bright and pure state, red energy can serve as a healthy ego.

ORANGE AURA COLOR: Relates to reproductive organs and emotions. The color of vitality, vigor, good health and excitement. Lots of energy and stamina, creative, productive, adventurous, courageous, outgoing social nature; currently experiencing stress related to apetites and addictions;

Orange-Yellow: Creative, intelligent, detail oriented, perfectionist, scientific.

YELLOW AURA COLOR: Relates to the spleen and life energy. It is the color of awakening, inspiration, intelligence and action shared, creative, playful, optimistic, easy-going.

Light or pale yellow: Emerging psychic and spiritual awareness; optimism and hopefulness; positive excitement about new ideas.

Bright lemon-yellow: Struggling to maintain power and control in a personal or business relationship; fear of losing control, prestige, respect, and/or power.

Clear gold metallic, shiny and bright: Spiritual energy and power activated and awakened; an inspired person.

Dark brownish yellow or gold: A student, or one who is straining at studying; overly analitical to the point of feeling fatigued or stressed; trying to make up for "lost time" by learning everything all at once.

GREEN AURA COLOR: Relates to heart and lungs. It is a very comfortable, healthy color of nature. When seen in the aura this usually represents growth and balance, and most of all, something that leads to change. Love of people, animals, nature; teacher; social

Bright emerald green: A healer, also a love-centered person

Yellow-Green: Creative with heart, communicative

Dark or muddy forest green: Jealousy, resentment, feeling like a victim of the world; blaming self or others; insecurity and low self-esteem; lack of understanding personal responsibility; sensitive to perceived criticism

Turquoise: Relates to the immune system. Sensitive, compassionate, healer, therapist.

BLU AURA COLOR: Relates to the throat, thyroid. Cool, calm, and collected. Caring, loving, love to help others, sensitive, intuitive.

Soft blue: Peacefulness, clarity and communication; truthful; intuitive

Bright royal blue: Clairvoyant; highly spiritual nature; generous; on the right path; new opportunities are coming

Dark or muddy blue: Fear of the future; fear of self-expression; fear of facing or speaking the truth

INDIGO AURA COLOR: Relates to the third eye, visual and pituitary gland. Intuitive, sensitive, deep feeling.

VIOLET AURA COLOR: Relates to crown, pineal gland and nervous system. The most sensitive and wisest of colors. This is the intuitive color in the aura, and reveals psychic power of attunement with self. Intuitive, visionary, futuristic, idealistic, artistic, magical.

LAVENDER AURA COLOR: Imagination, visionary, daydreamer, etheric.

SILVER AURA COLOR: This is the color of abundance, both spiritual and physical. Lots of bright silver can reflect to plenty of money, and/or awakening of the cosmic mind.

Bright metallic silver: Receptive to new ideas; intuitive; nurturing

Dark and muddy gray: Residue of fear is accumulating in the body, with a potential for health problems, especially if gray clusters seen in specific areas of the body

GOLD AURA COLOR: The color of enlightenment and divine protection. When seen within the aura, it says that the person is being guided by their highest good. It is divine guidance. Protection, wisdom, inner knowledge, spiritual mind, intuitive thinker.

BLACK AURA COLOR: Draws or pulls energy to it and in so doing, transforms it. It captures light and consumes it. Usually indicates long-term unforgiveness (toward others or another) collected in a specific area of the body, which can lead to health problems; also, entitities within a person's aura, chakras, or body; past life hurts; unreleased grief from abortions if it appears in the ovaries

WHITE AURA COLOR: Reflects other energy. A pure state of light. Often represents a new, not yet designated energy in the aura. Spiritual, etheric and non-physical qualities, transcendent, higher dimensions. Purity and truth; angelic qualities.

White sparkles or flashes of white light: angels are nearby; can indicate that the person is pregnant or will be soon

EARTH AURA COLORS: Soil, wood, mineral, plant. These colors display a love of the Earth, of being grounded and is seen in those who live and work on the outdoors....construction, farming, etc. These colors are important and are a good sign.

RAINBOWS: Rainbow-colored stripes, sticking out like sunbeams from the hand, head or body: A Reiki healer, or a starperson (someone who is in the first incarnation on Earth)

PASTELS: A sensitive blend of light and color, more so than basic colors. Shows sensitivity and a need for serenity.

DIRTY BROWN OVERLAY: Holding on to energies. Insecurity.

DIRTY GRAY OVERLY: Blocking energies. Guardedness.