Friday, 17 April 2015

Games I like to play

The games I like most is badminton. All it takes is a willing partner, two rackets and ashuttlecock. We do not even need a net. After all we simply enjoy hitting the shuttlecock to each other. My sister and I spend hours doing this just about everyday. We are not going to be world champions. It is simply great fun.

We used to do this with two old toy rackets. Since then our father had bought us two real, although cheap, rackets. I must say we enjoy the game even more. Sometimes even my mother comes to join in the fun when she has the time for it.

The other game I like to play is table tennis. We have an old table, two bats and some balls. So on some days we play table tennis instead. This is a game that requires more skill. We cannot even hit the ball onto the table half of the time. This can befrustrating. So we go back to badminton which is far easier and more fun.

Since we play outdoors we are at the mercy of the weather. We often have to pause when the wind is too strong. It is difficult to hit the shuttlecock properly when the wind blows it away. Sometimes it rains, making it impossible to play.

I do play other games in school like basketball and football. Somehow they do not seem to be much fun. So I stick to badminton and table tennis.

by Mohd Suzaimi


The day I won a prize

I was never a great athlete but I managed to win a prize once.

It happened on a School Sports Day when I was asked to represent my house in the Long Jump. There were no other suitable ones, and I, being the tallest of my friends, was promptly sent to the Long Jump pit. My house-master reckoned I might have a chance to win.

He was right. I did win, but not first prize. I only managed second place, coming behind someone who was at least five centimeters shorter than me.

We were each given three jumps. There were about ten of us competing for the prizes. When my turn came I ran down the lane as fast as I could and took off at the board. I thought I jumped very well but it was a foul jump. So I waited for my next jump.

I saw the other competitors leap like gazelles into the sand-pit. One particular boy, the eventual winner, was built like a tank. He was not tall, but his legs were muscular and strong. So when I saw him make his jump, I knew that no one else would be able to beat him.

No one did. I managed my best jump of 3.65 meters and that was nowhere close to his best. The other competitors did much worse.

I was delighted to collect my little plastic prize from the Headmaster. It was the first time I had ever won anything. My house-master patted me on my back. I smiled happily as I went home to show the prize to my parents.

By Mohd Suzaimi


Smart Studying Tips

"Studying smart" is a phrase often used by students, parents and teachers to mean "studying in an intelligent and effective way"

Not all methods of studying are intelligent or effective. For example, a person who does not pay attention in class or who does not do his homework on time is certainly not intelligent. He will not learn effectively and his grades will suffer. The result of this is that he will not be able to keep up with his peers. Even if he goes for private tuition he will be always trying to catch up, if he ever does at all.

So the first thing about studying smart is to pay fullest attention when a lesson is first being taught in class. Your learning will be quick and effective. Ask questions if there is anything that you do not understand. The teacher will be pleased to help. Do your homework and assignment on time and you will never have a backlog of work. You are ever ready for the next lesson.

Furthermore, being up to date with your school work means you do not have to take private tuition on any subject. this saves money and you will have time for leisure or recreation.

Revision books and guides are aplenty these days. Use them with care. Having more than one revision book per subject is waste of money. Also learning from too many books only serves to confuse you and take up precious time.

Finally, know the format of the examinations and practice the previous years' questions to familiarize yourself with them. When the actual examinations come, you will know how to handle the questions.

By Ezrul Mustakim


A Journey by Car

My father bought a new car one day. We were all very excited. He promised to take us to Melaka to visit my grandparents the coming Sunday.

Sunday morning was bright and breezy. We hopped into the brand new car and soon we were heading out of Petaling Jaya towards the expressway. My mother sat in the front passenger seat while my father drove. I sat behind with my younger sister.

As it was Sunday the roads were not very busy. Soon we were on the expressway travelling at a leisurely pace. My father is a careful driver and he does not drive too fast or dangerously. This proved to be good for there was a speed-trap manned by the police along the expressway. I saw some cars stopped by the police. They had obviously been speeding.

Driving along the expressway tend to be monotonous. I actually fell asleep once we passed Seremban.

When I awoke, we were already at the Ayer Keroh toll gate. My father paid the toll and steered the car towards Melaka Town. On the way we passed many interesting sights. My father promised to stop by on our way home. We had to visit our grandparents first.

We left Ayer Keroh and all its factories behind as we journeyed into the town itself. Like all towns, there were many cars and other vehicles. Also there were many tourists. Melaka has many places of historical interest and thus this was not surprising.

Finally we arrived at my grandparents' house in Klebang Besar. The journey had taken about two hours. We stepped out of the car. My grandparents greeted us happily.


by Mohd Azly


My Past Story "A painful lesson''

Our bodies are made of flesh and bones. Anytime any part is injured we feel pain. So we try to avoid injury as much as we can. Usually it takes a painful lesson to teach us to avoid injury. The following was a particularly painful one.

I, like any young child, love to run around as quickly as I can. It is fun. However, there is danger of falling down which can result in painful injuries.

One day while playing "catching" with some friends I happened to run down a hill. I found that running down a hill was easy and I could go very fast. At the spur of the moment I decided to see how fast I could go. So I ran with all my might.

Alas, I ran too fast for my legs to keep up. One moment I was running, the next I fell sprawling onto the tarmac road. The shock was horrible as I scraped along the hard surface of the road
.
The pain was intense as I lay on the road writhing. My hands, legs and face were bleeding from the many parts where my skin had been scraped off. When my friends came to help me they were horrified to see me in such a bloody mess.

Anyhow they summoned help and I was taken to the hospital. There they cleaned and dressed my wounds. All the time I felt as though I was on fire.

I suffered for two weeks thereafter every time they changed the bandages. It was terrible.

I learned my lesson. It is foolish to run down a hill.

by Mohd Azly


Why we should exercise ?

A healthy person is a wealthy person. Wealth is here measured in terms of the person's physical well-being so that he or she is able to go about and carry out day-to-day tasks easily. He or she will look good and feel good. To attain this, physical exercise is a must.

                Firstly, exercise ensures our good health. Modern-day chronic diseases like heart problems, diabetes and certain cancers are all caused by the lack of exercise. Conversely, any one having these ailments will recover better if they include exercise as part of their daily routine.
Another instance why we need to exercise is doctors link the lack of exercise to many people having one form or another of insomnia. Moreover, when we sleep better, we have better resistance, to infections. This has been proven by astronauts. During missions, their bodies physically deteriorate.
Their bones, internal organs, and cardiovascular system are all negatively affected. However, it has been found that exercise reduces the changes significantly.
Another example of how exercise helps us to feel better is it gets rid of obesity. It burns off the calories. In our push-button lifestyle, we have become quite sedentary. 'Why walk when we can take the car' seems to be the way of life for all of us. Nowadays, even shopping is done online. Moreover, we seem to be only exercising our fingers as we play computer games, surf the Net and press the control button to change the channel to our favorite television program. Add that to the Malaysian favorite pastime of eating, it is no wonder that our young have bellies and double chins.
Lastly, students should exercise at least three times a week for at least twenty minutes per session, as exercise is a good stress buster. Exercise stimulates different brain chemicals. One of those chemicals is endorphin which makes a person become less stressed and more cheerful. Students preparing for their examinations are therefore able to concentrate better. As a result, they will do better in their examinations.
In conclusion, regular exercise is an effective way by which we can not only feel younger, but look younger.

 by Mohd Suzaimi

Malaysian Fruits

Malaysia has a tropical climate with bright sunny days and lots of rainfall throughout the year. This makes it possible for various types of tropical fruits to grow well.

      The most popular fruit found here is the thorny durian, a spiky green or yellow fruit, about the size of a rugby ball. It has a very strong aroma which most foreigners dislike. The inside of the fruit is yellow or creamy white with soft, sweet pulp covering the seeds found in segments. Malaysians are very fond of this fruit. It is an expensive seasonal fruits.

      Another seasonal fruit is the rambutan. It is a small, round fruit, red or yellow in color when ripe. It is yet another tasty fruit enjoyed by the local people and by foreigners. It is as large as a ping-pong ball and it has a hairy skin. It grows in bunches and is a sweet and juicy fruit with pulp and a seed inside.

      The mangosteen is another popular local fruit, round in shape and the size of a tennis ball. It is deep purple or crimson when ripe and tastes very sweet and delicious. The thick, hard skin encloses the white pulp inside, in the form of a cluster. When it is in season, fruit-sellers pile the fruits on tables or string them up in long bunches which they hang around their stalls.

       These three fruits are the main seasonal fruits in Malaysia. Then, there are also papayas, bananas, mangoes and pineapples found available throughout the year. There are many ways of eating them. Most of us prefer to eat them fresh but they can be fried, pickled, processed into jams, or even used in the making of cakes and ice-cream.

by Ezrul Mustakim

Hari Raya Celebrations

Every year, after one month of fasting, Muslims celebrate Hari Raya Puasa which falls in the month of Syawal. All Muslims celebrate the day with great joy. In the morning, they go to the mosque to pray. Then, on returning home, they receive guests and relatives who come to pay them a call.
Days before, the womenfolk make many varieties of cakes, cookies and sweetmeats. They also cook 'rendang' curries and prepare 'satay' to go with the 'ketupat'. Homes are decorated with many coloured lights all over the garden. Small lamps are lit and placed along the driveway.
On Hari Raya Day, many Malaysians visit their Muslim friends to share their joy. They receive warm hospitality and are entertained to a feast of specially prepared food. Boys and girls wear new clothes and shoes. Girls wear jewellery and boys new 'songkoks'.
The town is usually crowded with Muslims dressed gaily and going about. They visit their friends and relatives while some go to the cinemas or to the Lake Gardens. Many, however, go back to their 'kampungs' to celebrate the festival with their parents. It is also a time for family reunions. Everyone rejoices during this festive season.


by Mohd Azly

MY FAVORITE FOOD

My favorite food is 'Sushi' because I can diversely eat it. Sushi is a Japanese representative food. There are made of Flying-fish roe, shrimp, fatty tuna, egg, squid, and so on. They softly melt in our mouth and each has unique taste.

Flying-fish roe sushi, called Tobiko, has the best taste bursting with snaps in our mouth. Flying Fish eggs, orange or red-orange in color and crunchy. Used on the outside of inside-out rolls or orange rolls. When I was young, I can't eat flying-fish roe sushi because it is a creepy sensation. But one day on TV, I saw the people who eat with gusto roe sushi. It looks very delicious! So, in sushi bar I sampled the roe sushi and found it very wonderful! After that time, flying-fish roe sushi became my favorite thing.

Fried bean curd sushi is general sushi. I enjoy eating fried bean curd sushi in ordinary time because it is delicious and simple. Mother often make fried bean curd sushi in lunch box. Egg sushi, called Tamago, is egg omelet. It taste sweet and light. In Japan, it is the trademark of each chef. Often potential customers in Japan will ask for a taste of the Tamago in order to judge the chef's proficiency.

Squid sushi has a translucent white appearance. Sliced thinly and usually served with a strong Wasabi between the fish and the rice, that I can see peeking through the translucent squid. Like this, sushi is a special food making the respective taste with diverse stuffs.

            Seaweed food is my favorite food, too. I absolutely love it. My family also love the seaweed. So, we go to seafood restaurant once a month. Seaweed is healthy for the body, easy to digest and delicious, of course. Soft roast fish and refreshing sea tangle is delicious, too. The most important thing is seaweed food is good for a diet. Along with that, its price is reasonable.

by Mohd Azly

My First Day at School

My mother accompanied me to school on the first day. Other parents accompanied their children as well. We all waited in front of the school office.
Soon a teacher came and led us to some classrooms. There we were put into four separate classes. This was when some children began to cry as the parents were not allowed into the classrooms. I did not cry because I had been to kindergarten before. Actually my mother went home soon after for she knew I would be all right.
It was an enjoyable time for me as I got to know my new classmates. The teacher was very busy writing down our particulars so we had plenty of time to ourselves.
Meantime some children continued to sob while their parents looked in anxiously through the windows.
Soon recess came. Some of us headed for the tuck-shop while the rest headed for their parents. I bought a drink with the money my mother gave me. Getting to know my new friends had made me thirsty.
After recess we went back to out classroom and my new friends and I managed tocoax two boys to stop crying. In fact, soon we were laughing and playing together. Once in a while the teacher had to tell us to keep quiet as we were making too much noise.
Still some parents looked in anxiously through the windows.
Finally the bell rang for us to go home. Some of us were very relieved to be reunited with our parents. I too was glad to see my mother waiting for me at the school gate. I had made many friends. It had been a wonderful first day at school.
by Ezrul Mustakim

MY VACATION

     
There is one magical place where my family vacations to most summers. It is quiet, relaxing, beautiful, magnificent, and inspiring. Located in Ipoh, in Perak, this is where my family has some of the best times. We stay in a calm and serene cabin where my Aunt and Uncle live. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Before I can explain what I do during this vacation, I must explain the background and history of this special family gathering.

     My family is not the type the goes on expensive or classy vacations to the Caribbean. We prefer memorable vacations, whether it is in Bali, or Bangkok. The places we go do not matter, but more the events that take place during them. Once my mom’s side of the family had grown, and all my grandparents, aunts, and uncles, had their children, everyone decided it would be fun to have a family reunion of some sort. My Aunt’s cabin sounded like a fun place to meet every summer- and that’s where we have met ever since.


     Now lots of the kids have grown up, and even though they are older they still enjoy some of the things we did when we first came. Some activities include hiking, swimming, fishing, canoeing, and boating on the lake. Also, playing board games and watching movies when it’s rainy, having cookies down on the dock, or playing a good game of hide and seek in the woods. Vacations to the lake are like an escape from the outside world, and a chance to see nature and still have fun. Every summer is guaranteed to be a blast, in rain or shine.


      To conclude, my vacations to the lake will always remain memorable and special. I hope that one day I will be able to continue the tradition for my family. Through the years, I have always been sort of jealous of my friends who told about their extravagant vacations to paradise, but I have soon realized that I would never trade my experiences for any of theirs. Why? Because I have something that they will never have. I have a family that loves and cares for each other, and would do anything to make everyone happy. I have a lifetimes worth of memories from only a few days. Finally, I have joy.


MOHD SUZAIMI

Sunday, 12 April 2015

Me And My Best Friend



Close friendships are hard to come by these days. In an ever-changing world with people striving to achieve their interpretation of preordained success, it is hard to know who your true friends are. Fortunately, I found my best pal early at the tender age of seven.

Amir and I got acquainted as both of us were in the same class and sat next to each othe. Amir was a happy-go-lucky guy who always managed to breathe fresh air into the sometimes a rid classroom. He always knew what to say and would voice them at the best possible moments. Both pupils and teaches alike enjoyed he company and liveliness. There was hardly ever a dull moment when he was around with his funny quips and expressions.

Amir was born with a silver spoon. He father was a businessman and he mother owned and ran a boutique. Both his parents were very caring towards him as he, just like I, was the only child of the family. Amir came to school each day with a perpetual smile. He was a very nice person to be around with. He and I used to go everywhere together and both of us were rarely seen apart. We used to talk about so many things as we walked, thoroughly enjoying our time together.

One day, I went to school and forgot to ask my parents for lunch money. At first, I was not hungry and thought I could bear going without a meal but soon, my stomach began to growl. Without asking, Amir generously paid for my meal and drinks during recess. The incident revealed to me how lucky I was to have such a caring and compassionate friend.
Currently, Amir and I are studying at different schools. It was hard to be apart at first, but technology in the form of instant messaging and e-mails have helped to bridge the gap in our friendship. I sincerely wish our friendship will never end as it would be equivalent to waking up from a beautiful dream.

by MOHD AZLY BIN MOHAMAD SAHIMI
     PTM 150104796