For the past 4 years, never ever bff likes any Malay movie or song. Once I brought him watch Syurga Cinta, I said don't worry there is English subtitles, but then there wasn't. Then after that he never want again watch Malay movie in cinema. (hey, I watched dozens of iranian movies and there wasn't any english subtitle ok!) Then he said Malay movie all the time is about cinta (love), ghost, khurafat, so lame. When Ombak Rindu film first came to cinema I was so excited and I said to him that I will not watch it without u. He rejected. A week after that I said ok, u don't want to come with me, i go alone. Then he said, no no, I'll come with u tomorrow. Yippiyayyay!!
At the cinema, when the movie started, he said ok babe, now I want to sleep, wake me up when it finish. After several minutes, he was still awake and keep asking me parts he didn't understand. I was like, oh oh miracle is happening. End of film, I asked, Malay movie isn't so bad right? He just smile..and until today after more than a month, he keep on playing the ost of ombak rindu on his lappy. Sometimes, he rang me and just play the song...hehehe..boleh tahan jiwang jugak pakwe aku ni ^o,^
I love to try all Persian foods, how it taste, from North to South. Unfortunately normal Iranian restaurants do not serve it. The common restaurant menu are kababs, khoresh like gheymeh, ghormeh sabzi, khoresh bademjoon. Only if I go to Iranian house "maybe" I can taste other kind of foods (but no one invited me, -,-). So, last choice is to cook it by myself. Like this time, I saw kalam polow at mypersiankitchen and i give it a try by cooking it myself. I obediently follow the recipe and I can surely confirm it is the taste of kalam polow :-) haha. Maybe next time I have to ask any Shirazi to taste it because what I know this recipe originated from Shiraz. Anyways..here is the recipe I get from mypersiankitchen.
~ First grate onion and add to ground beef. Season with salt and pepper and make small meatballs.
~ Pan fry the meatballs.
~ Add a bit of oil to a pan and saute cabbage until cooked. Season with salt and pepper and add turmeric.
~ Chop herbs. Season with salt and mix together.
~ Par boil rice
~ Once your rice has been parboiled built layers in a non-stick pot by adding 2 tablespoons of canola oil and 2 tablespoons of water. Shake pot to mix them together and add a thin layer of rice. Then add a 1/3 of herbs and 1/3 of cabbage. Cover with another layer of rice.
~ Repeat layering with herbs but this time add all of the meatballs and then the cabbage on top. Do one more layer of rice, herbs, and cabbage. Finish off with a layer of white rice. With the back of a spatula make 5 holes in the rice making sure not to touch the bottom of the pot.
~ Cover and cook rice on high for 10 minutes. Mix 1 tablespoon of oil with 2 tablespoons of water and pour over rice.
I served kalam polow with sibzamini sorkh karde and tomato salad.
Was youtube-ing until I found this song. Love its energetic music. Then I found the lyrics with translations which really helped me to understand the meaning of the song. The blogger translated it word by word. The original link is from here Ey Iran. And i copied to my blog too.
ای ایران ای مرز پرگهر
Ey Iran, ey marz e por gohar
Oh Iran, oh land full of jewels
Marz= frontier, border, land
Por= full
Gohar= jewels, gems
ای خاکت سرچشمه هنر
Ey khakat sar cheshmeye honar
Oh, your soil is the source of art/virtue
Oh, Your soil is the fountainhead of all talents
khak= dust, land, Khakat= your dust, your land
Sar= head
Chesmeye= spring, fountain, source
sar chesme= fountain head
Honar= art
دور از تو اندیشه بدان
Dor az to andishe badan
May the thoughts of evil people be far away from you
Away from you, the evil wishers
dor = far
az = from
to = you
andishe = thought
badan= bad people
پاینده مانی و جاودان
Payandeh mani va javedan
May you remain enduring for ever
You'll stand strong till eternity
payandeh= lasting, permanent
mani = (verb) you remain
va = and
javedan = eternal
ای دشمن ار تو سنگ خاره ای من آهنم
Ey doshman ar to sange kharee man ahanam
Oh Enemy, if you are granite, I'm iron
O foe, if you are a rock, I'm made of steel
Doshman = enemy
Ar = Agar = if
To = you
Sange kharee= granite
Man = I
Ahan = iron
جان من فدای خاک پاک میهنم
Jane man fadaye khake pake mihanam
May my life/soul be sacrificed to the pure soil of the Homeland
My life, be sacrificed for the pure soil of my country
Jan = life, Jane man = my life
fada = sacrifice
khak = dust, land, soil
pak= pure
mihan = country , homeland, mihanam = my country or my homeland
مهر تو شد چون پیشه ام
Mehr to shod chon pishe am
Since loving you has become my profession
My love for you, since became my vocation
mehr = love
to = you
shod = (verb) become
chon = because
pishe am = profession, job
دور از تو نیست اندیشه ام
Dor az to nist andishe am
My thoughts are not far from you
Not far from you, are my thoughts
Dor = far
Az = from
To = you
Nist = not
Andishe am = my thoughts
در راه تو کی ارزشی دارد این جان ما
Dar rahe to key arzeshi darad in jan e ma
For your sake, my life has no value
For your welfare (dedication), what worth is it, this life of ours
dar = in
rahe = way
key =when
arzesh = value , worth
darad = it is a verb and it means
jane ma = my life
پاینده باد خاک ایران ما
Payandeh bad khake Iran e ma
May the soil of our Iran endure
Long last this Iran of ours (soil of Iran)
Payandeh = lasting, permanent
Bad = (verb) be
سنگ کوهت در و گوهر است
Sang e kohat dor va gohar ast
The rock of your mountains is pearl and jewel
The rocks of your mountain are gemstones
Sange = stone
Kohat = your mountain
Dor = pearl
Va = and
Gohar = jewel
Ast = (verb) ist
خاک دشتت بهتر از زر است
Khake dashtat behtar az zar ast
The soil of your plain is better than gold
The dirt of your terrain is better than gold
Khake = soil
Dashtat = plain, field
Behtar = better
Az = than
Zar = Gold, in old persian, people used the word “Zar” for gold, but in these days the word “Tala” is more used.
مهرت از دل برون کی کنم
Mehrat az del boron key konam
Never would I banish your love from my heart
When should I push your love out of my heart?
Mehrat = your love, mehr = love
Az = from
Del = heart
Boron = out
Key = when
Konam = it is a part of a verb, the whole verb is ‘ boron konam` and it means “I send out” or “I push out”.
برگو بی مهر تو چون کنم
Bargo bi mehr e to chon konam
Tell me, without your love, how would I go on?
Tell me what to do without your love
Bargo = (verb) and it is a another kind of this word ‘bego’ and it means ‘say’ or ‘tell’
Bi = without
Mehr = love
Chon = it is a word use in poem for this word ‘chegoneh’ and it means ‘how’
Konam = it is a verb and it means “I do”
تا ...گردش جهان ودور آسمان بپاست
Ta gardeshe jahan va dor e aseman be past
As long as the revolving of the world and the cycle of the sky endure
As long as universe is revolving in space (sky)
Ta = till
Gardeshe = revolving
Jahan = world
Va = and
Dor = cycle
Aseman = sky
Be past = (verb) it somehow means remain
نور ایزدی همیشه رهنمای ماست
Noor e izadi hamishe rahnamaye mast
The light of God always remains our guide
The divine light will always be our guide
Noor = light
Izadi = God
Hamishe = always
Rahnama = guide
Mast = (verb) and it means “it is”
Refrain 1
مهر تو شد چون پیشه ام
Mehr e to chon shod pishe am
Since loving you has become my profession
My love for you, since became my vocation
دور از تو نیست اندیشه ام
Dor az to nist andishe am
My thoughts are not far from you
Not far from you, are my thoughts
در راه تو کی ارزشی دارد این جان ما
Dar rahe to key arzeshi darad in jan e ma
For your sake, my life has no valueIn your path (for your welfare) what worth is it, this life of ours
Dar = in
Rahe = way
Key = when
Arzeshi = value, worth
Darad = have or has
In = this
Jan = life; jan e ma = my life
پاینده باد خاک ایران ما
Payandeh bad khake iran e ma
May the soil of our Iran endure
Long last this Iran of ours (soil of Iran)
ایران ای خرم بهشت من
Iran ey khoram behesht e man
Iran, Oh our cool paradiseO Iran, my blossoming paradise
Khoram = happy, cool , nice
Behesht = paradise
روشن از تو سرنوشت من
Roshan ar to sarneveshte man
Bright because of you is our fate
Your glow will brighten my destiny
Roshan = bright
Ar = another form for “az” = from
Sarneveshte = destiny
گرآتش بارد بر پیکرم
Gar atash barad bar peykaram
If fire should rain on my body (paykar)If fireballs should rain on my body
Gar = if
Atash = fire
Barad = rains
Bar = on
Peykaram = my body
جز مهرت به دل نپرورم
Joz mehrat be del naparvaram
I'll not foster in my heart but love for you
But your love, I'll nurture nothing in my heart
Joz = except
Mehrat = love to you
Be = in
Del = heart
Naparvaram = (verb) nurture, foster
از آب و خاک و مهر تو سرشته شد دلم
Az ab o khak o mehr e to sereshte shod delam
From your water, soil and love my clay was createdYour water, soil and love, have created my clay (body)
Az = from
Ab = water
O = and
Khak = soil
Mehr = love
Sereshte shod = (verb) it was created
Delam = del in some place means heart or love and in some place it means clay or body
مهرت ار برون رود چه می شود دلم
Mehrat ar boron ravad che mishavad delam
If love should go away, my heart would become empty
Without your love, my heart would be empty
Mehrat = your love
Ar = if
Boron = out
Ravad = a
Che = (verb) gone
Mishavad = (verb) will be
Delam = my heart
This is the original song
And this with nice twists
My comment:
After understanding the meaning, this song brings nationality spirits (Iran) and love country. Even though this is not Iran's national anthem, but Iranian think this is the national song. People of Iran will always stands together in protecting their country. They have things that outsider don't. How far they go, Iranians spirits never fade. With this song, I believe Iranians can fight for their country which is currently facing too much pressure from world (especially U.S). It is not because of nuclear but its pride and dignity. Yek rooze khub miyad...
Note to bff:
When i'm still here by your side, i will always understand what happens around you. About your country. Your vatan. Still remember what you told me, har ja ba to yani vatan.
Today is Chinese New Year, the second largest cultural celebration in Malaysia I think after Hari Raya. Celebration means holiday and this time is longer as it falls on Monday, so Monday and Tuesday plus Saturday and Sunday before are holidays. School also close for a week and parents take this opportunity to extend their holidays for a week normally. And for me, even I don't attend any class for this semester, I also infer myself as having holidays because I go back kampung (hometown).
There's nothing more bliss than living at home you grew up. As my home is at village, the sounds of crickets at night, chirps of birds at morning, crows of chickens and mosquitoes bites are all bliss of life. No need air-con for night sleep. I can pluck vegetables nearby and straight to the pot. Want exercise? Just go outside and cut grass or sweep the dried leaves. And that was what I did every afternoon at kampung. Smile is always on my mum's face as she no need to cook, wash dishes, do laundry and home is always neat inside and outside. See? I am a good daughter right?
How I wish I can stay at kampung everyday. But my duty need me to be away. Luckily my kampung is not too far and I can go back every week. My kampung is always in my heart..
I had dinner at PG restaurant - most expensive Iranian restaurant in my area. Ate juje kabob ba ustukhun, direct translation; chick kebab with bone, not boneless kebab which I don't really like. The taste? really khoshmaze (delicious) with no sour taste like resturan dakhel daneshgah, worth the price tell ya. It served with 2 kind of salads, grilled chili and tomato, fresh basil and mints, and fragrant Iran's rice top with saffron. I really recommend this and I heard this is their specialty!
When I was there, I was thinking about something that I thought has gone from my life but actually it is still hunting. If you know me well, I am a down to earth person. I will not say, "I am at this level and I don't want to be friend with person who is lower". When I smile, I really mean it deep from my heart and when I hate, its the same too. When I started a friendship with someone, I hope he/she will respect me like i did, not betraying or stabbing me from back. I deleted some friends from my life who behaved like b*tch to me. I believe when I lost 1 friend, I get hundreds more, and among these hundreds I don't expect there will be another b*tch.
Straight to the point, I don't mean to be proud or whatsoever nor thinking I am the best, but some girls near me are jealous with me having bff. Not only jealous but they try to steal what I have. Tell ya what, I have experiences and they end up eating their own ustukhun, shame! You have dignity to protect girl.
You are my friends who know me and bf is dating, who smile and say nice to me. Friends whom i thought could share problem with, not killing me from back! Me and bff are passing 4 years timeline and we are eager to explore hundreds more. Maybe when they saw me and bff fighting, they think our relationship is on the rock. No, you are wrong babe. We fight and forgive and forget. Love comes naturally without force, if we are meant to be, we will. All are God's wills. We are met together as a friend also is God's will, and if we lose each other, it's our fate that written. Friend is a friend, when we passed the border, friend is enemy. Never betray relationship, respect it and you'll see the beautiful. I love all my friends, what world without friends. But I want true friends who give me warmth and smiles forever.
End of rambling - a photo of us in one of the world's romantic places, Bali. Hope, delet besuze!
Since yesterday my head continuously playing this song - Arash by Arash ft Helena. Nice music, beautiful lyrics, great voice. no reason to not love this song
The video clip
The English Version
The Live Version
The Version with Malay Translations
Oh Arash! toro doostaram!
I hope he will come to Malaysia again and definitely I'll go his concert.
I will go for 4D3N to Bali. Place that always in my dreams..Actually it was in my 2011 wish lists places to visit but only now I have chance to go. Hopefully it will be a memorable and great trip.
Ingredients:
~ Oyster Mushrooms
~ 1 cup of plain flour
~ 1/2 cup of rice flour
~ 1 tsp chicken powder
~ Salt & pepper
~ Egg, beat
Methods:
~ Mix flour, rice flour, chicken powder, salt & pepper
~ One by one, dip mushroom into egg mixture and then to the flour
~ Deep fry until golden
~ Done! Crispy fried mushrooms!
I think its not too late to wish Happy New Year. Another number increase, another year to treasure. Hope 2012 will bring lots of happiness to all of us. Peace to world. Talking about world, our modern world can I say lead by the U.S.A? Why so? Looking back of past years, what they have done to this world? Its like they rules this life. From Afghanistan to Iraq also their interfere in Egypt, Syria. What else? With their non-stop provocation to Iran and North Korea nuclear. Do they really want to start another war? Bff always share with me his sadness about what America has directly give impact to Iran's economy. Now USD price drastically increase in Iran because of the sanctions. Do they want to start a cold war? Is it because of Iran's oil? Can't they live normally without propagandas which nobody understand for what? I just pray for the best to this world!
Enough rambling, so what you did on NY eve? Me with bff celebrated it after a long tiring week. Let see what we did..
2 hrs walking at Orchard Rd with zillions of people
Searching for nothing
Heading to Clarke Qy after 2hrs of sweating
Clarke Qy that night was packed like canned sardines! With noisy musics from each restaurants plus the stage. Like hell!
We decided to watch fireworks at Marina Bay so around 11.15 we walked to there but the road was blocked by police. They didn't let anymore people to enter Marina Bay area maybe it was already too crowded there. Bff said, maybe the marina Bay podium going to collapse! Haha. So, we end up watching fireworks seating on roadside. You can see on the photo people started rushing to watch fireworks. Thats why the photo blurr. Hehe..credits to the photographer! The fireworks lasted for 8 minutes. The climax of the day was drunk drinkers everywhere..Sigh...
We started 2012 with happiness, may we have it the whole year..
Was packed with end year lots of works. That's why I didn't update this blog. But then, I still keep memories of every events I had during these days and now I will share another Persian celebration. Its kinda interesting for me because we Malays do not have any special 1 night cultural celebration.
21st December is the last day of autumn. It is the longest night of year. Persian called it "Shabe Yalda".
They have tradition to celebrate this special night. Reading poems, singing, or playing games until midnight.
Foods that normally served are watermelon, pomegranate, nuts and dried fruits to accompany the occasions.
At the morning I bought watermelon and refrigerated it because bff doesn't eat not chilled fruits. What a fussy man bleahh!! Was thinking to make a shirni (sweets) specially for Shabe Yalda, but wasn't had enough time. Maybe next year.
And this was what we had for our Shabe-Yalda.
Didn't do the rituals of read poetry until late night because was busy with work loads. But at least, I tried to create a Shabe-Yalda moment for bff as he is far away from Iran. Hope, he likes it. Till then, bye!
I make samosa this afternoon for tea time. Bought a 50 pcs spring rolls pastry and managed to make 30 samosas which half I freeze for later consume.
For filling
Ingredients:
~ 2 medium potatoes, diced
~ 1 chicken breast, chopped
~ 1 medium onion*
~ 2 garlic cloves*
~ 1/2 tsp black pepper*
~ 1 tbsp curry powder
~ salt to taste
~ 1 cup water
~ oil
Methods:
1. Heat some oil in pan, grind all * and fry until fragrant.
2. Add potatoes, chicken, curry powder.
3. Add water, close lid, until all water absorbed and potatoes soften.
4. Taste with salt, leave to cool.
5. Then, scoop some fillings to spring rolls pastry and make it triangle shape. I used my imagination to do this as I was too lazy to refer to internet :). It looks strange right? Glue the ends with mixture of flour and water.
6. Deep fry in really hot oil. If not, your samosa will be too oily.
Me and my life..This is my story, my reference of my experience in learning Farsi and cooking Persian foods. For me Farsi is a very beautiful language. Persian Cuisine is not only foods to stuff hungry stomach, but it is an art that need to learn and practice to master. I have learned little and have lots ahead. This is my passion, my love.
