Beautiful Music in Any Language is Just As Wonderful

I came across this beautiful piece of music and would like to share with my musically-inclined blog readers. It's Japanese and I don't understand a word of what the singers are saying but the arrangement and melody coupled with the three groups of singers each with their unique sound are really entertaining for me. I heard it countless times and really enjoyed the medley sung with such gentleness and amazing intonation.... loved it!

Happy Eid - Selamat Hari Raya AidilFitri 2013

Wishing all my Muslim blog readers a Happy and Joyous Eid and Selamat hari Raya AidilFitri Maaf Zahir dan Batin. Watch out what and how much you eat during those gathering of loved ones, relatives and friends. Most of the fares doled out during the one-month celebration are both sweet and fatty and gassy. The tastiest are made of such delectable stuff.

Many of my Muslim patients have lost about 2 kg after one month of fasting but they are likely to put it on again in less than one month. It is important to think again before you take that next mouthful of "rendang" a sweetly spicy meat slowly cooked in coconut milk for hours.

I was at a relative's place on the first day of Hari Raya and noticed the "traditional fares", glutinous rice packed into bamboos (lemang), "palas" leaves (ketupat), chicken curry, rendang galore,cabbage and tofu in coconut milk, peanut sauce (kuah kacang) and bottles of coke,sarsi and orange drinks, cakes and cakes and cakes in all shapes,colors and sizes! And to think that the head of the household is a diabetic with a recent fasting blood sugar of 29mmol/L! (target range 4.1 to 6.1 mmol/L).

Festive Ketupat and Rendang- High fat and carbohydrates

It's so easy to overeat when you are with your relatives and friends, sharing stories,friendly banters and pleasant "Hari Raya" songs in the background. Some people were joking and promising to exercise more after the celebration as they gleefully helped themselves. A real festive binging on foods and drinks.

Just remember that Moderation is a virtue