Apple Bazaar would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas 2010 and Happy New Year 2011!

On the first day of Hari Raya, Muslims will go for a special prayer in the morning and later in the afternoon is the visiting of relatives or friends. This is the day where we will ask forgiveness from each other especially from our parents. This is an important custom for muslims. Some families will wear the same colour costumes which gives them an identity that they are a family while some will wear different colours. However, the most important thing is spending time with family on Hari Raya. Usually, the Hari Raya festive is celebrated for one month, no only with family but also with friends.

The best part of raya? Of course it’s the food! Our most popular or rather must-have is the ketupat, rendang, sambal prawns and satay and not forgetting the ‘kuehs’ or cakes that those have baked during ramadhan. The must-have kueh is of course the kueh tart which is the pineapple tart. Honestly, my tummy is growling while typing this but that’s ok because i’m fasting. Below are some picture of the festive food.

This is the ketupat which is the rice dumpling

On the first day of Hari Raya, most families will visit their parents house where all the other relatives gather. We will then spend time with food and relatives there. It can be the whole day or maybe for a while depending on some families as they might have other houses to visit. First day is usually the family day. After that, we will visit our friends or other relatives’ houses.

So this is a short overview post on how Muslims in Singapore celebrate Hari Raya. And it’s tomorrow! Time flies really fast though. Anyways,

Apple Bazaar would like to wish all muslims out there

Selamat Hari Raya and Enjoy Your Holidays!

“.. So now I see through your eyes, all that you did was love
Mama, I love you. Mama, I care
Mama, I love you. Mama, my friend. You’re my friend ..”

The lyric from Spice Girl’s Mama aptly describes who mother figure is to most of us, right? When you were younger, were you vexed when your mum nagged at you at the slightest thing? Or you could be a teen who are trying to break free from your mother’s ‘clutches’. There are times when we feel so much appreciation to have a mother but there must be times when our mother annoys us so much we just don’t want to talk to her.

It’s cliche but I believe most mothers do what they do because they love us. After all they have to endure 9 months of pregnancy woes just to give birth to us. Some mothers could be irresponsible and uncaring to their children. But it does not mean all mothers do not deserve a tribute.

So this Sunday, 9th May 2010, don’t forget to show your mother how much you appreciate and love her. It is a tiny recognition to what she has been doing for us. We got our designer to create a pretty banner with mothers written in many languages. It is our way to wish all mothers a Happy Mother’s Day!

The history of April Fool’s Day is unclear. There are various stories regarding the origin of the event and the most probable one has something to do with the hop from the Julian Calendar to the Gregorian Calendar. In the old Julian Calendar, New Year was celebrated starting March 25 and ended on April 1. When Pope Gregory XII ordered a new calendar in 1582, it was France’s King Charles IX who first adapted the new calendar thus New Year was moved from April 1 to January 1.

News back in the Middle Ages took “ages” to get from one place to another. More so from one country to another.  It took years (centuries actually) for the rest of Europe and England to receive the news. There were some obstinate ones who refused to acknowledge the new calendar and therefore continued to celebrate the New Year on April 1. Thus these obstinate fools were called April Fools.  These people were ridiculed and were the butt of jokes and were sent on “fool’s errands”.

By the 18^th century, the tradition spread to England and Scotland and then much later, to the Colonies, including the United States.  April Fool’s Day spread and developed into an international day for fun, jokes and hoaxes.

People try to outdo themselves each year. The joke could be simple pranks or elaborate hoaxes.  Even the media have had their field day in regarding April Fool’s Day. One of the best pranks ever was done by the highly respected BBC in 1957.  The news had something to do with the good harvest of spaghetti by Swiss farmers due to the elimination of the harmful spaghetti weevil. The news was accompanied by footage of Swiss farmers pulling spaghetti strands from the trees. A large number of viewers were reeled in by the hoax and many actually called the station and asked how they could grow their own spaghetti tree. BBC had an answer and it was “place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best.” It was not documented if any fool actually followed the instructions.

What about Google? This powerful company has been “hoaxing” many internet denizens since 2000.  Its first hoax was the GoogleMentalPlex. The “technology” claimed that there would be no need for a Google user to type what he wanted to search as it can read the user’s mind. A user had to look into a moving two-color pinwheel with these instructions:

• Remove hat and glasses.
• Peer into MentalPlex circle. DO NOT MOVE YOUR HEAD.
• Project mental image of what you want to find.
• Click or visualize clicking within the MentalPlex circle.

You bet! There were some very gullible ones who were pranked!

Anyway, please be informed that you are reader # 458 and you have just won an iPod Nano5. Don’t contact us. We’ll contact you!

As we all know, women did not always enjoy the liberties that they do nowadays.  In fact, many women are still being oppressed and treated like second-class citizens in some parts of the world.

It is a popular notion that when women’s liberation is mentioned, images of hippy women participating in bra burning ceremonies come to mind.  This is a myth.  What really happened was that feminists were outraged at the objectifying of women at the 1968 Miss America beauty pageant.  As a sign of protest they dumped girdles, high-heeled shoes, cosmetics and bras in a pile while news reporters took pictures.  One photo where bras were being thrown into the trash can became the popular image at the time, even though a fire was never lit.

The benefits that modern women can nowadays take advantage of are the result of women fighting for their rights since the early 1900’s.  Since 1910, the International Women’s Day is celebrated and has even become a national holiday in many countries around the world.  There was no fixed date for International Women’s Day in the first several years, but all that changed in 1917.

On 23 February 1917 in Russia, a strike for “bread and peace” was initiated by women in response to the deaths of over 2 million Russian soldiers in war.  Political leaders ignored these protests until four days later, when the Czar was forced to give in.  Women were then granted the right to vote by the provisional government.

The date when the strike began was based on the Julian calendar, which is what Russia was using at the time.  To the rest of the world that use the Gregorian calendar, that date was 8 March 1917.  Since then, International Women’s Day is celebrated every year on 8 March.

International Women’s Day is primarily a Socialist society movement.  This is particularly still the case in countries that are in the Soviet Bloc and Russia, where the day is considered a non-working holiday.  In many countries around the world, this day is used to reinforce the programs that advocate women’s rights.

In some places it has completely lost its political flavor and is celebrated as a commemoration of women in general, a bit like Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day mixed together.  It is customary on this day for men to give small tokens of appreciation such as flowers and gifts to the women in their lives.  Women in Italy, on the other hand, receive yellow mimosas from men.  In Romania and Portugal, women hold exclusive parties and dinners on this date and men are not allowed to participate.

Visit International Women’s Day website for more information and happenings. We are not affiliated with the organization, but just happy to spread the words in celebration of the Women’s Day.

Curling and skeleton are two of the most unusual Winter Olympic games to watch.  Read on to learn more about how these sports are played and the scoring details.

Curling is a team sport in which the players let a heavy stone slide towards a circular target across a carefully prepared sheet of ice.  Curling is thought to have originated in medieval Scotland and is related to bowling.  The curling team consists of four players, who each take turns sliding the stones made of polished blue hone granite across the ice.  The sheet of ice where this is done is called a curling sheet.  The stones are aimed towards a circular target marked on the ice, called the house.  The curling teams are given eight stones to play and when all the stones have been used, that is called an end.  A whole game may consist of eight to ten ends.

Curling teams win by accumulating the highest score at the end of the game.  Points are gained depending on how close the stones rest on the center of the target.  The closer to the target the stone rests, the higher the points given.  Players may influence the path of the stones by making it curve and turn slowly as it slides. This is done by two team members who could sweep the ice in front of the stone using brooms. The two members are called sweepers, and they act under instructions from skip, the team member who releases the stone and call the shots.

At the conclusion of each end, the team with the closest stone to the target wins and is awarded points for each stone that is closer to the target compared to their opponents’ stones.  Only stones that are in the house are considered for scoring.  The position of the stones in the house is determined by a scoring mechanism, which can only be brought out at the conclusion of each end.  This means that teams can only strategize based on assumptions of where their stones have rested.  The team with the most accumulated points after ten ends wins the game.

Skeleton, unlike curling, is an individual sport.  It is a fast winter sliding sport and involves a person riding a small sled face-down on a frozen track.  Skeleton is a spin-off from the British sport called “cresta sledding,” and is said to have originated in St. Moritz, Switzerland.  Skeleton uses the same track used in luge and bobsledding.  The sleds used by the skeleton sliders do not have any braking or steering mechanisms.  Therefore, the sliders use rakes in their boots and shifting their body weight to control the speed and direction of the sled.

Are there any sports in winter olympics that you like and would like to mention here?



Men’s gadgets are the extension of his manhood.  What they lack in certain areas, they make up for it with things and worldly possessions.  They collect as many toys and as many gadgets and electronics as they possibly can.  They think that the latest ultra light graphite golf clubs or even the top of the line Grill Pro grill utilities are way too cool.  They are just so amazed with technology.

Gadgets are their status symbol.  If women love shoes and bags, men love laptops, mp3 players and their X-mini speakers.  They definitely cost money and men work hard to acquire what they want no matter how extraneous they may seem to be.  And like women, it’s not about the number.  No matter how many Primo watches he has, he would still buy another as long as something new and better comes out.

Men are kids disguised in grown up clothes.  It was just the basketball or the plastic sword that captured their hearts when they were young.  Now it’s all about the Solio solar charger that they take with them on hiking trips.  It’s the Belkin Skype phone that has them glued for hours in front of the computer.  Yes, these are their shiny new toys.

Men like to collect.  Once you start on something, it’s hard to stop with just one.  You gotta have it all.  This is mostly true for men who follow the latest technology and trends.  They subscribe to gadget magazines.  They surf the internet for product reviews on the latest Razer gaming mouse that would definitely enhance their performance and allow them to win over their opponents quite easily.  They want to have everything.  It’s really that simple.

But believe it or not, it’s not all about wanting things.  These gadgets and accessories truly make anyone’s life more comfortable and easier.  A cell phone would let you call anyone, anytime and anywhere in the world.  An iPod lets you take your music no matter where you are.  Gadgets are the practical means that let you do things you thought were impossible.

So there’s no question that the best valentine gift ideas for him would be gadgets and electronics.  You can never go wrong with something that is both fun and useful.  Once your special someone receives a Brunton Solaris 26W or a MOMO pedal set, he’d be so wide-eyed you would think he’s having a stroke.

And you as the giver won’t have a hard time choosing from a wide array of gadgets and technology tools available in the market.  With advances in technology getting faster, it won’t be so tough for a woman to think of ideas for Valentine gifts.

This year, please give up on trying to find that perfect long-stemmed rose and melt in your mouth chocolates instead, opt to do a fantastical gifting of practical, year-round, and never to run out gadgets and gizmos. They’re the ultimate valentine gifts for her. The idea is to find something that your loved can use all year long -something that won’t wilt in two days or something that won’t disappear in your mouth in 2 minutes.

iPod Nano 5th Generation

But the barrage of gadgets and electronics are overwhelming and has given you a daunting task of making heads or tails out of choosing just one. From the iPod Nano 5th generation that is small enough to fit in her jeans pocket or even a purse and has full access to the internet to a Dispenser Wave in Black that is so sleek and modern it matches everything in her apartment, the choices are tremendous but it has to be done if you want to bring back the sparkle in your love life. Once you see your woman wide eyed for your high tech gift, you’ll never go back to just roses on Valentine’s Day.

Why gadgets? Women are beginning to be hardware conscious. Blame it on their men who have somehow brushed off their techie tendencies on to their women. If you want to splurge on a gift but can’t afford that Bulgari junior-sized 18 carat gold watch just yet, then a gadget can still do the trick of making your special someone happy. Cell phones and iPods are quite affordable compared to a high-end watch but still give a lavish feel which is what any man should be aiming for when gifting his partner.

Gadgets would last longer than roses and chocolates or a luxurious spa getaway for two. Imagine your wife smiling every time she uses and listens to the clear and crisp sound coming out of her X-Mini speakers. Or imagine her using her GoPro camera on your safari tour in South Africa. These gadgets would be used every now and then making your wife appreciate you more and more with each use.

Valentine’s Day is really the best time and moment to show your love and appreciation for your partner. Make it significant for both you and your loved one. So this Valentine’s Day, if you plan to give your wife or girlfriend the customary roses and chocolates or even take her out to a dinner show and cocktails afterwards, don’t stop there. Give her something more. Buy her something that can last years even after the heart’s day is over.

various chinese new year cookies

February 14, 2010 is not just Valentine’s Day but also Chinese New Year or Spring Festival. For the Chinese all the world over, the New Year is the time to sweep out the “old” and usher in the “new”. As typical of any Chinese event, the celebration of New Year is marked by a lot of food and desserts. Part one of this series focused on traditional Chinese New Year main dishes. For part two, focus will be on desserts – cakes, cookies and fruits.

Oranges and tangerines are “must” fruits on Chinese New Year. The round fruits are said to bring luck and wealth. The tradition is rooted on the fact that the Chinese words for gold and orange sound alike. The Chinese word for tangerine sounds like “luck” too. Most traditional Chinese bring presents of oranges and tangerine when visiting friends and family on New Year. It’s important that the number of fruits be even but make sure it is not divisible by four as four is the number of death. Pomelo is a popular Chinese New Year fruit too as it signifies “continuous prosperity and status.” As with almost all traditional New Year food the Chinese word for the fruit sounds like “prosperity” and “status”.

Nian Gao is a traditional Chinese sticky cake that is offered to the Chinese Kitchen God for favors when he returns to heaven before the start of the New Year season.  Cakes are symbols of a rich life and family togetherness in Chinese culture. Nian Gao is a type of food made of glutinous rice pounded into a paste and moulded into shape. There is a picture of Nian Gao at part one of this series.

Jin Dui (Sesame Balls)

Another popular dessert is the sesame seed balls or jin dui. This dessert is staples in most dimsum houses but on New Year’s Day, this delicious dessert takes on a special meaning. The dessert is round and golden and therefore considered very lucky by the Chinese.  The dessert is made of dough that virtually swells when fried. This is a metaphoric for Chinese in the line of a small business venture growing to bring returns many times over.  The sweet dough is typically filled with sweet red bean paste and are quite savory.

kue lapis - tedious to bake, delicious to eat

Various cookies and snacks such as pineapple tarts, love letter (egg roll), kue lapis and kue bangkit are typically presented to guests who come visiting. Kue bangkit is a coconut milk-based cookie, sometime flavored with pandan. This delicacy is said to “melt” in the mouth.

Kue lapis is layers of thin sponge cake made of butter, eggs and sugar carefully baked per layer to perfection. There are many layers and each has to be baked separately so it is very tedious to bake. Many families would just purchase ready made one from bakery.

A round tray filled with fruit preserves and melon seeds is a must on the dining table for it will bring luck and prosperity in the new year. There is also a tradition in Chinese homes to serve a round platter filled with candies during the New Year.  The candies represent “sweet” while the round tray or platter represents “togetherness”.

If you don’t feel like sweating it out in the kitchen mixing and baking those yummy treats, just drop by the nearest modern bakery and have your fill of modern chinese new year snacks such as seaweed cookies.

There are so many types of desserts, cakes and cookies for Chinese new year, be it traditional or modern kind that it is impossible to describe all in this post. Which is your favorite? Has it been mentioned in this post?

Chinese culture is steeped with traditions and superstitions. On the New Year here are some traditions that may well pave the way (or not!)  on your road to prosperity. Don’t sweep the floor. Don’t wash your hair. Don’t drop your chopsticks. Don’t say the number four. Don’t borrow or lend money. Most of all greet everyone (except those in mourning) Gong Xi Fa Cai!