Academy Googoosh; Ermia vs hejab

Ask any Iranian, if any of them does not know who Googoosh is? Googoosh is one big name in Iran's music industry. Me too love her music but not as a person. Sorry for her hard core fans but I just dont really like her appearance particularly in her video clip. But I admit her voice is marvellous! After she went out from Iran, her career boom! I'm not sure where she is now (maybe in America), but now she owns television channel, Manoto. I did follow some of the Tv programmes, for instance Befarmaeed Sham. Recently Googoosh created a phenomenon among Iranian around the globe by introducing so called American Idol, Persian version.I did not follow much but I watched several Delsa (one of the contestant)'s clips from Youtube, until I found out the competition has finished and Ermia win the title. Just last night I watched one of her clips as below:

My comment is: no way, how come she win it? Her voice is good..but in this song, oh! she ruined it. She couldn't sing high pitch song. Then, I just did not continue to watch her other clips. But..maybe fortune on her side that she got the title of The First Winner of Academy Googoosh. Also maybe the hejab has brought miracle to her. She is the only woman that wears hejab in a circle of non-hejabis. So it gives her the point of attention there. Just like when Shila Amzah won the 2012 Asian Wave Singing Competition in China. Apart from their good voice of course, who knows?!

Whatever it is, whenever a competition  reached the conclusion, there must be criticisms. Normally it is about the quality of the winner sort of..but this time, I found it a bit different in one of the people's criticisms. They are questioning about the appropriateness of a girl with hejab to join in singing competition? I was like wt%&?...What's wrong with that? Hello..this is 2013 and our world has became more civilized. Just because a woman is a Muslim, and she wears hejab, doesn't mean she has impossibility to do things she is allowed to. I am against of so called rule by radical Muslim saying that woman's voice is aurah that she cannot sing. For me, there's no different between man and woman. What is more important, whatever we are doing, we just need to know the limits. As long as you are inside the control area, we are OK. 

Back to the story of Ermia, I think she did not do any wrong in joining the competition. Plus, through the above video, she behaved well in delivering the song, not over dancing or wearing sexy outfits, just nice with her hejabi appearance. So why need to critic her just because she win the competition and she wears hejab? Or maybe this is a new phenomenon in Iranian outside Iran music industry because there was none of the female singer wears hejab?? Maybe...

If I look in Malaysia's music industry, previously we have very limited number of hejab-wearing female singer. Just after the emergence of Yuna Zarai, the fashion of female musician has changed.  Of course there were lots of criticism during that time, but then our society has started to accept that there's no problem with hejab and music. Hejab is not a barrier indeed. Some other female singers came into the industry after that. For example Najwa Latiff, Ana Tasneem. In fact some of them who previously without hejab has changed their appearance by wearing hejab. For example Shila Amzah and recently Siti Nurhaliza! And their career did not end after the changed! What a shock when now Yuna Azrai is spreading her fame in America and the industry accepted her the way she is. Refer to this link:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-33816_162-57491459/malaysian-muslim-singer-yuna-making-mark-in-u.s/

She even got the chance to sing a song for a new movie soundtrack for 'The Croods' film with Owl City. 

For more information about Yuna:

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Oh yeah, if I want to compare our local artist that has made name in "outside" with Iranian artist, of course Iranian has achieved way bigger fames. In this writing I just want to highlight that hejab is not a barrier for Muslim woman in any fields, name it and we can prove it..coz I am a hejabi :)

Shirini - e Keshmeshi (Raisins Biscuits)

This year I get the chance to bake this for bff. This is one of the shirini (refer to dessert) that Persians have during Nowruz. The recipe is so simple and easy.

Ingredients:

~ 2 cups of flour

~ 1 cup of raisins

~ 1 half cup of sugar

~ 2 tspn vanilla essence

~ 3 eggs

~ 1 cup of butter

Methods:

1. In a mixer, beat butter and sugar until it blend well or until the color change to slightly white.

2. Add in egg, vanilla essence, raisins and lastly flour. Mix well.

3. Scoop little and place in baking tray.

4. Bake for about 15 minutes or until the bottom of the biscuit slightly brown in 180 degrees.

Nowruz Celebration at UTM

The Iranian Student Society of UTM organized Nowruz celebration this year. Started at 430 pm but we arrived just before the countdown. Friends from Singapore joined us. We had quite a great time despite the boring event arrangement. Not worth the ticket price. I spent most of my times talking to bache (kids) that playing around. They were just excited to speak Farsi with me. One girl shout at me. "Chera to Malayi??!!! Chera Irani nistti??!!!" (Whay you are malay, not Iranian?) One girl said why you are kind to Iranian, why you like Iran? She said most of her dad's friend said Iran is bad for having nuclear and such drug trafficking. Another girl very eager to say that she knows malay language, came to me and count satu, dua, tiga...terima kasih..even before I went back, she came again with her dad to say that she really can speak Malay and attend very good school here and her teachers love her. So cute!! One boy keep on telling me to watch Iranian cartoon (barnameh koodaki) at Youtube and told me all the cartoons he knows. Then it was so touching when he said "man kheili dustaram eid to Iran hastam" (I like to celebrate Nowruz in Iran) "in kafsh jaize nowruz ke ghablan az Iran kharidam, negaredashtam baraye Nowruz" (I bought this shoes from Iran for Nowruz present and I keep it until today). It reflects my mind to bff which until now 7 years did not celebrate it at Iran. I hope he will next year. Inshallah..When I wanted to go I said khoda hafez to him and he said "khaleh waissa!! maman in khanoom malayi hast vali farsi harf mizane" (aunty wait, mom she is malay but can speak farsi). A girl gave me a cup of cappuchino from the available coffee machine and said "khaleh in baraye shoma chon ma doostim" (aunty, this is for you because we are friends). In such I was overwhelmed to get to know these kids because they were so cute and entertaining and kind in their ages. Also in this jashne (ceremony) I met some Iranian that I know and be able to wish "Eyde shoma mobarak" or "Sale No Mobarak (Happy New Year). All in all, I am very grateful for this wonderful memory which I wont get it elsewhere if I never met bff 6 years ago..

This parche (flag) given by the kids. They said for Nowruz jaizeh (gift). But I forget to take it home:(

Sofreh 7 Seen at UTM..

Nowrooz Mobarak 1392

Happy Persian New Year to my Persian family and friends. May this year brings all the joys and happiness to us. This is my 6th Nowruz. and I am very grateful to be given this chance to explore and love another culture. There was a special statement given by bff that I will remember forever and this was happened yesterday just right after the countdown. Thanks love.

Sofreh 7 Seen

This is my latest video talking about Nowruz. Enjoy..

100 saal be in saalha

Nowruzetun Pirooz!!

Vegetables Rice with Fish - Sabzi Polow Ba Mahi

During Nowruz, Persians normally have Sabzi Polow ba Mahi either for nahar (lunch) or sham (dinner). Since this year Nowruz is celebrate at 7.01 p.m. and I am going for the countdown at university which they provide dinner, I made this dish for lunch.

This time I tried to use fresh sabzi but I couldnt find the complete set. I used fresh cilantro, parsley and spring onion and dried dill. For fish, I used red snapper. Check out my simple recipe..

Ingredients:

For rice:
~ 2 cups rice, soak in 2 tbsp salt and water for at least 20 minutes, this time i soaked overnight
~ 2 cups of mix fresh vege (cilantro, parsley and spring onion), chopped finely
~ 2 tbsp dried dill
~ 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
~ 2 tbsp saffron liquid
~ 2 tbsp salt
~ 2 tbsp cooking oil
~ Water
~ Potato slices for tahdig

For fish:
~ 1 tbsp turmeric powder
~ 1 tsp salt
~ Cooking oil for frying

Methods:
1. Boil water with salt and some oil. Drain the soaked rice and put in the boiling water. After 5 minutes, add in the vege and chopped garlic. When the rice expanded, aldente drained it. Mix the dill with the drained rice.
2. In the same pot, pour oil and place potato slices at the bottom. Put in the mixture of rice and vege on top of the potato, place the pot on gas with medium heat until steam come up, cover the pot with paper towel, slow down the heat and let it steaming for about an hour.
3. While waiting for the rice to be cooked, deep fry the fish.
4. Served with your choice of pickles, this time I had with my home made torshi sir (pickle garlic) dated 1 and half year back, lime and piaz-che (spring onion).

For another version of this recipe using dried sabzi, please go to this link http://chiliandsaffron.blogspot.com/search/label/Rice

Chahar Shanbeh Soori 2nd Part

As I mentioned on the previous post, there was second 4shanbehsoori on last Tuesday. I didnt attend the ceremony just passed by and snap a photo. They just started the jashneh that time.

Sorkhe-e to az man

Zardi-e man az to

Counting Days for Nowruz

Even though I am not a Persian, being close to a Persian has made me a copycat Persian. Believe me, once you are attached to a Persian, you are getting lost of your identity as what you used to be and he/she will try to insert "Persian thingy" in your everyday life. Hehe :) No...not exactly actually, just kidding..I am still a Malay but in a mix relationship I have to adapt to the situation of the other's half. I shall not be selfish. The same thing on his side. He too need to adapt in my "Malay world". But seems I am the one who over adapted. Bff always told me I am half Malay half Persian now. For me it is a compliment because I want him to be comfortable and happy  together without having thought that we are 2 different persons. So, I am relieve that I am doing the right thing in my journey of learning Iran and Persian.

We are counting days for Nowruz. Another 3 days. As I told in my previous posts, we did some preparations. I tried to make sabzeh but unfortunately it was unsuccessful. I just throw it away this morning. I think I got the methods wrongly. No problem, I will put any sabzeh that i found on my sofreh 7 seen later. hehe.

Another story to be shared. Today we went for a talk about the Gems of Quran. It was conducted by Inter Religion Association of Singapore. Bff sv was giving the talk. It was a very informative talk, to be able to know the magnificent  creation of Quran. Bff's sv is a Christian but he did a wonderful presentation of the facts inside Quran. Also the talk was attended not ony Muslims but people from different religion. As a Muslim, I am very proud to be able to see the audience impressed of Quran. I said to bff later, even non-muslim have the belief on the content of Quran, but why some of Muslims have bad idea on Quran. :(

Ok lah..till then..keep calm and count for Nowruz..eid dare miyad!!!!

Chahar Shanbeh Soori 1st Round

Hoooraaaahhh!!! New year is coming..Eyd dare miyad..How time flies..one year had passed, meaning I am a year older :( This year will be the 6th year I'm celebrating Nowruz. I still remember last year I was in Korea during Nowruz. I thought this year I wouldn't celebrate Nowruz with bff coz he wanted to be in Iran..but nope! this year he's here!!! So another celebration together..

But..this year there's a bit confusion about the date. As far as I remember, for the past 5 years Nowruz was celebrated on 21st March. But this year, there are 2 different of thoughts. Some said on 21st March some said on 20th March. Not only here in Malaysia, but maman said in Iran also they've confusing about this.There is a method to determine the hours and date of Nowruz, something like if Nowruz fall on before Zohr (afternoon) it will be celebrated on the day before but if it is after Zohr, it will be celebrated on the next day, which I am not sure and do not understand. The confusion also affect the celebration of Chahar Shanbeh Soori. Because Nowruz will fall on 20th March this year which is on Wednesday, they celebrated 4shanbehsoori last night as the last Wednesday night of the year. For past year 4shanbehsoori. There was a celebration last night but I did not go. Whatever it is, Eid still coming...and of course there are lots of preparations to be done..even I am not Persian but because bff is here, I need to create eid ambiance to make sure he is not missing the happiness of Nowruz even the thesis already kill "our" mood. 

As usual, the preparations including khune tekooni which literally massive cleaning of house. Then, this year I tried to grow sabzeh which I think I started too late. I hope the sabzeh will grow green on the day of Nowruz. I'll share the Chronicle Story of Sabzeh on other post. Plans for Nowruz foods which is Sabzi Polow. Of course sofreh 7 seen. I'll share it later.. Not too much but I hope this year Nowruz will give us happiness. 

Sahara Tent Bukit Bintang

My visit to KL is not complete without having Sahara Tent foods. It is located at Bukit Bintang. Previously the restaurant was attached to a hotel at Ain Arabia but now they've moved to the outer side of Sultan Ismail Rd. It is an Iraqi resaurant which serves Arab foods. All with 5 stars tastes. Even though the price keep on increasing, but it worth your penny! Delicious! I can say that I am a loyal customer of Sahara Tent. I think they have other branches but not sure where and lazy to google it now. hehe

What I had last night

Not sure the name in Arab but in Persian it is dolmeh. A mixture of rice and spices in vine leaves. Served with bread. It's a bit sour for me.

Mutabbal. Not sure what but I think its a chickpea and olive oil.  

My favourite. Kabsah shrimp. 

A happy tummy at last need foot massage. RM40 for 45 minutes. Unfortunately my leg get worst after that. pffftt