Hi! How're you doing? This is Sai Sai O.K or just call me "Sean" for your convenience, if you are not a Myanmar.
Thanks for reading my blog and hope I could give you something..Be it a laughter..or just a smile. Or whatever that you are looking for. All my posts solely represent my thoughts like how I see and interpret everything coming my way. I do not represent any race or community. Neither associate with any organization. My writing may not fit everyone's taste or may not be pleased all the people out there and I am not trying to make everyone to agree my point of views.
But hey.. if you find something amused, take it, have fun and smile. If you find annoying, leave it and ignore. Does anyone say he or she is writing for nothing? No, none! We are all writing with a purpose. We want to share something we know or we feel etc. etc.. So find out what mine is and shoot me comments! Appreciate much!
In the very evening of 14th November 2009, with the rhythmic beats of Shan Tradtional Drums, gongs & cymbals, Singapore Shan Family's Shan New Year Ceremony received a standing ovation at the end of the concert no less. And you know I am not exaggarating. The sight of beautiful multi-coloured traditional costumes, magnificent stage background , modern musical instruments as well as complete set of Shan traditional long-tailed drum, short-tailed drum, gongs, cymbals proved the hard works and dedication of the oganizing Shan Family & its youth. Imagining thier their efforts and commitments to make this event happened, I could feel tears of joy welled up in my eyes If the audience know how hard their friends worked, how they argued and brainstormed to minimize any shortcoming of any aspects to perfect everything from entertaining, reception and food.. you might think nothing of world-class -act like Madonna's international tours. She has the whole entourage of Backup Singers, Makeup artists with world class logistic service provider like DHL to carry the best equipment. Giving limited resources such as man power and supports that the organizing team has, I could say superb guys! We did equally well like a world super star. You might want to think it is sort of self-glorification as I am one who involved in this grand event! Nah! not at all. Nor I am trying to defend sort of critics! To my knowledge, all I heard were so encourging (could be out of courtesy though quite impossible). What some kind souls crafted in words "How hectic the life in this City State to get by and never did we expect you guys could organize such a near-perfect show"...Of course there are some who wouldn't agree. hmmm.... Anyway! Thank you everyone.. To my fellow brothers and sisters who put down their hearts and souls in making this event happened, I am registering my appreciation from my humble blog here from the bottom of my heart. My involvement is negligeable compared to yours. I heard you from my ears! I saw you from my very eyes! I Know how dedicated and committed you guys are! Even in our mother land with many hands and supports, it's hard to make a well-organized like what we just did....like in the lyrics in those songs.....You know...and I .................know... Keep harping on and on? Yup and still not enough I think. Exhausted from full-time jobs and still meeting up after work to iron out things. Instead of having a good rest on weekends, you gys practising dance steps, sewing, cutting and bla bla..to make a beautiful background just to name a few? " I felt great and relaxed that the show's over successfully and seeing all participants enjoyed themselves"..... " But you know, I felt sad knowing our show is ending"....When I heard them from a sister who's playing intrumental roles..Imagine how I felt...... speechless..sigh! And in order not to make the audience uneasy, I will leave out how hard to deal with those so-called superstar! Gosh!! Guys! our great grands, grands and our Paw (father), Mae ( Mother) , beloved pals who left behind in our homeland, highland the great, would be very proud of us knowing we are keeping our tradition and heritage alive and celebrating far and away from home.
And we are sure they are longing for us celebrating this same new year on its actual day on 17th Nov, 2009. Ain't we?
And thanks to those my lovely friends who bought tickets from me just to show your supports to me, to us, to Singapore Shan family knowing that you are on duty and won't be able to make it to the event! Love you guys! The stated starting time was 5 PM. But we started receiving our guests as early as 3:30 PM. We rolled up our sleeves and ran up and down the stage. Receving our guest, ushered them to their places. Asking for pardons and runring back to check if things are in order and finally we changed into our traditional Shan costumes. Feel good. Look good and ready for the reception. The weather was cooling with grey clouds as if it was being sent over from our mountainous homeland. It was such a sight so delightful seeing our guests and friends alike mingling, smiling and talking relaxingly while eating.So unpretentious! But then, we had to run up to stage and tell our friends that we still have many more for the night. Drumming up our traditional instruments, telling them the history of our celebration so far, we started off with a group song to commenmorate the night celebration. It is said that Shan are travel-bug and we are all around the places. Long before globalization become a buzzword, we can be seen around the globe. Ahe! I am not so sure how and about it so I wont be elaborating further. Let me just say what we presented during our concert. We had the traditional dance of Tai PHAKE, who make their home in and around India and the border. And well-known and well-documented Sip Saung Pan Nar Shan who can be seen in Lao, Thailand, China and at the edge of Myanmar.I will tell you more about them if there is a chance in near future. The soothing and engaging performance of our very own Even Green Sai Saing Mao & beloved wife Ju Jue and L Sine Z is also something to talk about and marked the night memorable. The overall programme ended one hour later than EFT (Expected Finishng Time) but no one's comlaining! In fact, it was hard to bid goodbye interpretting the expression of our distinguished guests and friends. Thier eyes were telling! " The Night is still young". We will be missing you and remembering your participation. With Unpretentious Shan greeting. " See you again and again many more years to come" Till then........ take care!
(photo credit goes to taisingapore, tza & Ko Win Sein)
This is about time...the din and the rhythm.. the beat...of Shan drums and the dance are heard and seen all over the Shan State in Myanmar....း..
Thinking of it... I really miss my childhood days... my native Shan Plateau....my home country.. everything...
Huuuuu!! it's been a good 2 decades I have been far and away from the tune of Shan Long-tailed-drums, its' beats...
Ha..ha.... you are with me? feeling blue missing those days? Stop right there! Tell you something that would surely cheer you up guys! Tai (Shan) Singapore Family is putting up a great Festival for all of us... Be it you are a Shan who is here and far from our beloved Shan Land or be it you are someone not Shan but who has some fond memories associating with Shan...you are welcome....
Just a glance to the poster! You'll see the two well-known singers will be here with us ..Sai Saing Mao and Kachin beauty, L Sai Z... I overheard that the band members are having hard time practising the song lists sent by them... So just imagine...
And don't blame me that you are not being told ... Now I am telling you..you know how fun and enjoyable to dance with us fantabulously cool highlanders huh! I can even say that the dance is just Shan Version of Line Dance... It's the beat.. the harmony.. and the laughter...Some of you might not have experience before but ever heard about it and wanting to try to dance? This is the time! This is the chance... Shall we dance?
Do come on down and join us! Let's your hair down. I am inviting all of you on behalf of Tai(Shan) Singapore Family!
With 2 great performers, there are lots more of breath-taking Shan Traditional Dances lining up just for you. And you know what ! you won't be left starving.. we have specially prepared Shan food to go along with the exciting evening! And with all these goodies, the ticket is just $30! Such a steal. Right!
It's not just all fun and but I personally think that It is a good opportunities for parents whose children are born and bred here. They could introduce and show their children about our heritage.. our culture..Not in a broad base but at least .. You could say! we have many tribes and groups in Myanmar .... Bla bla bla .. such as....and Shan is one!
So guys and friends, who stumble upon this post..... You are cordially invited! And tickets are available at the Myanmar Shops listed in the posters. Or if you need home delivery, do email me with the quantity of the tickets required and your contact.. My mail is,
It's almost the end of joyful April. Joyful April? You might link it to April Fool instantly I am sure..But No!
For a Myanmar Natioanal! Regardless of his or her religion or races..Everyone is fondly anticipating this Water Festival or Myanmar New Year or Thingyan FEstival in the month of April.
So I think I shoud say "in Myanmar Context" if I want to say Joyful April..
It's the most celebrated and the most anticipated festival in Myanmar. I will not elaborate more about Thingyan here as there are thousand of blogs or web sites that talk about this festival. Straingt to the point..I have great time every year till this age and as you can see even this waterless Thingyan was no less fun. My dear friend Hkay Mar organized this waterless Thingyan Party @ NTU Alumni House, Singapore. As usual..No Beer ..No Hkay Mar.. Plenty of food...boozes...songs and dance.. The crowd, the venue or eveything was just falling in place nicely and we couldn't just stop the smile on our face till we called it a day. This festivity's just one of the many Thingyan Parties in Singapore for the year 2009. Thanks to the Singapore economic boom and the gloom back home, ten of thhousands of Myanmar descended on this shore for the past few years. There was a grand scale celebration at downtown Singapore with popular singers coming all the way from Myanmar.
There was a celebration at Sembawang Park. One at bla bla..you know many people organized and celebrated among their groups and close associates throughout Singapore. Imagine how fun it would be in Yangon.. Till then...... hope we can organize the same celebration at the same venue with more party-comers.
Hello! Good day everyone!
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