Doof!

Doof has been recently brought to Singapore.. ta da!

Firstly, when I see Doof, it reminds me of a colourful sack with cotton inside. But looking closer, memories stir, and it reminds me of a very colourful version of my favourite pillow Creamies. Now Creamies, for the those who don’t know, (which is everyone, except me, hahaha) is a pillow residing in the North Eastern part of Singapore. I had her (yes it’s a her!) since I was 3.. She has the Doof shape, but a very fragile pillow case that is about to tear anytime. I hope a certain mother of mind has not put it to sleep yet. For a moment, I worry I have to visit Creamies’ grave at Lorong Halus or some offshore island.

Sorry I side track, but Doof really reminds me of my darling Creamies.. Sorry to my india king size pillow, but Creamies, despite her potential to give me an asthma, with her cotton furs escaping every now and then, has some sort of comfort.. When I am sad, Creamies absorb my tears, just like Doof can do for u. When u need something to hug (and don’t have the luck of having a partner near you,) tada! Doof is your next best substitute. No body odour, no protests of “ticklish”, you can use as much strength to embrace this Doof. Even his name is cute.. Yes Doof is a He.

You know my friend Wendy has this strawberries.. in the living room. They are cushion kind of strawberries.. the kind that are suppose to be soft kind and cuddley, but note.. “suppose”. These fake soft fruits are uncomfy to hug because.. they have stalks. It is a design fault really, how are u suppose to lean your head on a fake strawberry stalk. For Doof, its all hugs, and its confirm 100%, no pokes by random fruit stalks.

After thinking for some time, I have to admit that Doof is
1. Bigger, and brighter than Cremaies, (definitely better than my India King Size Pillows) – imagine lounging on a big bean bag! :D
2. About human-size (maybe actually Taller than me considering I’m vertically challenged)
3. Built for lazing about, reading books, chatting with friends, watching tv. I strongly suggest people like Tan XMiao put those in their halls. Hahah how very nice to conveniently find an excuse to go to her room and sit down. We can jump on it or if we feel pissed with dealing with accounting, we can punch it.
4. Can endure much stress should anyone of a ahem* slender build jumps on it. I don’t know if it applies if you are slightly more muscular, but then if it breaks, u just know u are muscular.. which is good? hahah
5. Have an inner lining for safety and cleaning. Is’nt cleaning so simple? Just remove the cover throw it in the machine..
6. Doofs have 2 shapes.. one is Chuck and the other is called Roxane.. Think of it as their first names. Like Phebe Bay, so, Chuck Doof. Cute hor?
7. For Roxanne, there are at least 12 ways of using it the pics that I have above and at the sides are 3 different ways of using it…
8. They are available in 7 vivid colours.. just in case you cant decide what is your favourite colour and don’t wanna regret.. Can u believe it, I used to like baby pink last time!
9. Unlike Creamies who is made in an ulu factory in China or Malaysia with no website or email, the Website is www.doofsingapore.blogspot.com and email is doofsingapore@gmail.com
10. U can also get Doof sent personally to your home
11. Is also available for rental, to add life to your parties, events, concerts, etc
So, if you share my enthusiasm ( I m looking for a partner for my Creamies), check these links out.
www.doofindustries.com
http://www.doofsingapore.blogspot.com/

or Email,
doofsingapore@gmail.com

Nizamuddin Photos

A Mutton Kebab - Grainy Photos :(

Along Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway station

Motorcycles

India Ambassodor. Flag on his neck.

A Sketch

Notice his swollen bladder.
Wanted to buy some chapati.. but there were none
Felt very guilty eating my bread later.

A bridge

Dog pee- My territory

Scratching in Sleep

Who is this Cheena Kia?
Yes is me.. Mary wouldnt like this photo.
I dont know why i suddenly have bangs!

Hard Work


Happy to Take Photo

Yeah thats his name!
Abdul Raham Khan!

Nice place to rest.
Dead/Alive:D
Guarding a House, Nizamuddin East

Browny Barked hostily at me.
When he caught me taking photos of him.

Lovely.

Eye bags. He looks like a wolf.

Sweeping

What's inside?

Tombs

A Lovely Tree

I dont know the name again!

Humayun's Tomb

Family Gathering, outside Humayun's Tomb

Airing/ Drying?

Pretty flowers outside a nursery

Playing with a bicycle wheel.

Guarder of the mosque.
No women!

The mistakened dargah.
I think this is a mosque.

Selling kebabs, Nizamuddin Basti

Shopseller! the kind one..
:D

Buay song!

I think that is a tomb.


The Whole Family




What's happening inside?

Two cups

The Band

Praying outside the stary Walls.

The entrance

Speckled with rose petals.

Reaching in?

Praying

The Qu'ran

The Stary Walls

Beautiful


The main hall


Happy!

What time is it?

Thinking.

Tieing strings.

Lovely
better than monuments.
they have no colour

Smiling

Talking

Washing


Rose petals, in the middle of the courtyard.

Playing with daddy.

Alone.

Is he ang-moh?

Fanning believers
i dont think he is angmoh..

Solemn.


Lessons

The view outside

what are all these?

Looking

They stay here?

Light

Where is Mummy?

Troubled look.

The line of beggars

Having a Meal

Their Wares

He looks happy!
The Gurdian of the gates

The stairs to.. Basti.. (dont know what that means)

Lock outside?
no.hahah
The Exit/Entrance

Nice hair. Take photo of me!

Friendly shop keeper.

Nice beggar

Hanging Clothes
Cooking!
at a tender age

Hanging Clothes

Washing with Arabic words

Nizamuddin Basti.. compare with Nizamuddin East!

Having a cup of chai

Lamb shop

Happy!

A doorway for Hobbits

My Henna dyed Beard

The tombs

He looks so happy!

Take photo of me!:D

The outskirts, of Nizamuddin Basti

Ugly, Beautiful?
You decide.

The Children

She was so sweet and friendly
Smiled at me!:D

Playing by the Tombs

Someone's house.

Friends.
Not Lovers.

Nicer house.
N.Basti

In side, a prayer room.

Chapati in the Wall

Praying.

Lovely Basket

Shh.. she's asleep

Buying things.

Reminds me of Shine and Venus.

Queuing to enter the shrine.

The tired Photographer.

Loading Pots onto head.

Notice, she holds her g.daughters hand with the plastic bag.
Dont really see the purpose for that.

They are not so happy.

Buying Islam books, for a friend.

This bread is big!

All covered.

Sleeping comfortably
Like he was on the Westin Feather Bed.
A Shop

Keok's Climbing shoes?
Robin Hood shoes?

A lovely wall

A shivering mouse.

Handkerchiefs

The bookshop.

A tyre.
On Top.

The tomb! Abdul Rahim Khan!:D

Me, my bread, and water bottle.
yes, i look aunty.

Holding hands.
Sweet.

suay..

today is suay bad luck day.. i just spilled some gravy on my new white skirt! help!

it left 3 big yellow stains:(

One thing I dont like about India

Is the bloody torn notes they gave me.

I once received a RS1000 (SGD33) kind of worn note.. had to use it at the supermarket.. and I think its karma..

bacause i have a RS100 with a tear in it and a RS500 with a small cut..

Irritated!

A Long way to Nizamuddin

This is the "most interesting" place in Delhi, according to the Delhi-walla. So being the kay-poh me, had to have a look

I did not know which bus to take. The "bus planner" on the DTC (Delhi transportation Company) is totally unreliable.) I try to ask people. Nice educated english speaking ladies. But they muttered something, and turn away. I asked some bus conductors. They are very nice middle age indian men. 711 they say. I wait. and wait. Does 711 even exist?

yes it does. It comes. Packed with people. Somebody vacates the seat. Come come, a middle aged uncle says to a girl infront of me. She squeezes pass me, into the seat. I feel i have been discriminated against. It happened about twice. I signed. This is not my country. what was I expecting?

I began my 1km walk.. Those who i asked directions from asked me to take a Rick-shaw. But i refused. I like walking:D. And because of walking, I see things I never would have seen. The saddest thing abt the whole trip was, that my camera was set to a manual mode.. So the ISO function had a problem.. and there wasnt enough light or something, hence most of my photos are grainy! and it makes me seem like i was in the 80s or something..

And is Nizamuddin interesting? It is interesting, its a lot of contrast really. And, I must say.. I finally saw a living, breathing religious place in Delhi without have to pay an entrance fee.

At Nizaumuddin East, great big trees line the sidewalk, casting dried leaves down on me. Nearby lies a grand tomb of a Khan. That is the only part of the name I remember. Once again, I want to enter. But i have to pay RS100. So i give up. and take pictures from the outside. There is a couple romancing among the grass. How lovely.. I dont mind people romancing around my tomb next time? haha, I would look down from the heavans and smile.

I also went to the famous Humayun's tomb. Had to pay RS250 to get in.. I didnt even know it was that.. had to check with the guard. He must think I m SUAKU!. hahaha still..
At the sidelines, young boys and adults play cricket. They whistle at a pretty foreigner walking past (yeah, thats me), and make smacking sounds with their lips.. Honestly, that is totally Uncool. Some lie on the beautiful carpet grass to catch a nap. Some have family gatherings. Some, are just waiting to get in. I requested for a photo from a family. The old lady asked:"So, are you from China?"

These are things, only girls can get away with.

And after giving me weird weird directions.. and asking alot of people, I found Nizamuddin Basti. The Dargah, I had to stress. That is a Muslim Ghetto i think. To me, it was quite different from the "Ghettos" I have been.

People here wore skull caps, and the worshippers who have come from afar were glad in white cotton long shirts and pants. There were some Arabic words written on the walls. And there were a lot more Lamb Butchers around. More Lambs parade the corridors. The ground was also filled with more Lamb droppings, which in my opinion, happen to be less wet, and smelly than dog droppings. They also come in M & M size.. I didnt know at first, so i guess i must have stepped on a lot in the beginning.

There was a songkok-wearin guy who kind of followed me (how disturbing) and asked:"So do you speak Urdu?"
Quite different from the :"Would you like to be friends" I often get.

And the children, everywhere. had nice friendly smiles. They played among the tombs. In india i realise, tombs, and places with tombs are peaceful lovely places.

Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah

20 metres i enter, these horrible shopkeepers kept telling me I cant bring my shoes in. I believed at first. And i was like heck, I am not going.. (I suakuly thought that some grey mosque outside was the Dargah cos they didnt allow women to enter). That particular dargah dont allow women to enter the insides of the shrine.

So I was like heck, but this nice shopkeeper who I took a picture of, told me to go in again. So i march in with my shoes.. once again being bluffed by those who told me i cant bring my shoes with them. I refuse to leave my shoes with them. I dont know lah. Just didnt wanna pay. and what if my precious went missing? It has been with me for all the dusty, shit laden paths, the sand, the gravel... what if something happened to it?

I had to keep noticing if the people walking out were wearing shoes anot.. so as not to thread on the wrong areas. Lucky I stopped just in time.

I carried them with me. The place was lovely.. The shrine near Jamma Masjid was a smaller version i guess. There were tombstones, some covered with green or pinkish red cloths, with gold trimmings. Rose petals laid on some, as I witness some the devotees murmuring a prayer, using their hands to touch the sacred stone.

Outside, there was a band playing, some lovely sort of sufi music i think.. and it created a really nice atmosphere. There was an inner shrine place, where I peeped in, and only saw men inside, so once again, dont think girls could enter. The women sat outside, with their heads covered, murmuring prayers facing the stary walls. Like they were in their own world, unaware of the chaos outside..

Beggars line the corridors, demanding "Photo Money" hence, i never took pictures of them. Most of them like to say "Ya la", I am very interested to know what is it.. Shall check it out to find out. It's quite sad. There are some who are blind. There are some who have deformed hands, with little blood on them. Some who dont have legs who sit on carts to get around. So sad. Do I give to them? No. I walk away from poverty.

Past them, into the main hall, where devotees sit. mostly women because they are also not allowed to enter another shrine. A line of men line up to enter, and tie threads on the star shaped walls of the door of the shrine. Women stay outside praying. A little girl is sleeping on the marble floor of the courtyard. A girl runs up to me and says:"Hello" I offer to take her photo... She calls her friend.

On the sides, men wearing skullcaps line the washing area to wash their feet and hands. On another side, ladies queue for food. Where a simple meal of plain white rice and cholay (something like peas) is given (for free i think) to the devotees. Elsewhere, there is a commotion. At the start of a long line of devotees, an old lady holds her granddaughers hand with a plastic bag. They are giving out bryani rice, and I think she wants more. The others are not too happy with it because it is the last pot left. I think the Head-of-the-Dargah takes-charge.. Says something in an authorative voice. The commotion dies down slightly. I make my way up..

To some thing that says :"Life time of Hazrat Nizamuddin" I walk the dimly litted corridors. Only streams of sunlight flow through the rusted iron gates. There is a beautiful lake outside.. bared from entry with gates. I see a room. A teacher is teaching a group of devotees. It is decorated with green gold and red... i walk on.. beggars once lie the hallways. I see stalls selling muslim carpets and rose petals. I smile at a boy. Say hi. Take his photo.

More people become aware of this "gori's(foreigners) " presence. I think it was the way I tied my hair. Everyone knew I was "China". haha I took photo of the lady who guard the gates. Very nice smile. the shopkeeper. They ask me to take a picture of a man by the side. He is blind they say. They say give him some Photo Money. I open my wallet, and give 20 RS. The smallest change I have. I am happy to give. At least, he hasnt bugged me.. tugged my clothes, and try to stir my pity. Demanding money from me like they had a right to. He was just sitting there. Sensing the world go past. I told myself. I should give something, at the end of this.

It is beautiful, to see how different people worship, in a different place, a different culture. I was very happy to be able to enter despite not being a Muslim. Religion should never be exclusive, but to be shared with the world, of the joy it brings. After all religion to me, has always been based on love and kindness. Why not share some of it if you can, with a everyone?

DTC Fare Hike

i cant believe this.. they raised the fare.. i mena.. its not too much.. jsut 8 RS more.. which is less than 20 SGD cents.. and i cant believe i m.. kind of irritated.. hahah!

ok by all means raise the bus fee? but at least.. umm.. clean up the buses.. once in awhile. There is this layer of sand and dust on the floor on dtc buses. together with ticket stubs contributed by the dear conductor.. i witness to my horror.. somebody spitting In the bus itself.. He still dared to look at me in the eye like he wasnt doing anything wong!

send more buses, so i dont have to have indian aunties pushing me, and indian uncles elbowing me and kicking me.. is the fee justified? you may have brought in new buses.. but has the conditions of the present one improved?

i m sorry i m feeling angsty.. its hard to survive when you are alone out there talking to yourself.

nothing to do..

it is the afternoon. I actually do have work, but i dont feel like doign anything. hahah! dont know why so sian.

Think i shall stay in tommorrow. Which is really rare for me. After all, need to wait for the little buzz around me to die down before i venture forward? hahah

I must say, i just goggled myself. (hahah only shows how bored m i).
I found myself on some yahoo news under lifestyle too. hahah what can i say?
very cool?

hahha. lucky nobody can find my blog.. its hidden out there.. i must ask shi yuan how he found my blog that time. thank goodness is hidden lah. I cant imagine Indians reading about my mum, my life, and all those nonsense that i used to throw at pple when i m angry..
hahah rmb that guy who's orkut profile i snipped... hahah
if he saw it going to be best lah! hahah

thank goodness.. blogger has hidden me.

anw, i decide.. be overseas can a lonely experience.