Elvis's Graceland and Was He Jewish And Where You See The Six Pointed Star

When I lived in the USA I was astonished and impressed by the number of museums which had relics of Elvis. you did not need to go to the place where he lived and died, Graceland, to see things related to him, cars, clothes, guitars. When I went to a stand at the World Travel Market in London, which used to be open to the public, at least on some days, then when it got busier, reduced to trade only,  I met a toruist board rep who alerted me to the idea that Elvis might have a Jewish ancestor. Elvis had a star of David, magen David in Hebrew, on the left of his mother's gravestone, and was the Sabbath goy, the non Jewish person who turns on the light, most importantly the cooer, on the Sabbath when Jews, and their employed live-in servants, are supposed to be resting. 

However, I finally found the details and debate in an article on the Who Do You Think You Are magazine, which you can subscribe to and read and buy back issues online. This article seems to be free online, perhaps as a come on - very effective. It gives details of how much time and effort can go into research and what to look for.

One of the most interesting additional facts for me was how widespread the six pointed star is.  Regonized and used by many religions in additional to Judaism, others before, after, and alongside, or far away. 

I first saw a star of David on a non-Jewish building in India. 

Where can you see the six pointed star?

1 Israel and worldwide: In blue on the flag of Israel.

2 USA Engraved on the left of the gravestone of Elvis Presley's mother. On Synagogues.

3 India On a big building in Mumbia (formerly Bombay)

4 Singapore On the front of the synagogues and on buildings built by Jews in previous centuries.

Where can you see Elvis sites?

1 Birthplace Tupelo and Elvis Museum, Tupelo, Mississippi, USA

Photo by Ron Cogswell, in Wikipedia, article on Elvis
Tupelo, Mississippi, USA. Birthplace museum.

2 Graceland, USA

3 Hollwood Walk of Fame, Los Angeles, California, USA

Elvis Presley Burial site, Graceland, USA.

https://www.facebook.com/EPNashvilleFans/posts/gladys-presleys-original-headstone-is-now-displayed-at-graceland-in-the-mediatio/1933872546675532/

Elvis's parents. On the left is his mother Grace Love, later Presley.

Hard Rock Cafe, Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, USA

Description	English: Hard Rock Cafe, Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
Date	2 December 2013, 20:56:40
Source	Own work
Author	Michael Rivera

Useful Websites

https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2015/12/elvis-enthusiasts-where-to-see-elvis.html?m=0

 Was Elvis Presley Jewish?: https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/52/2022/08/GettyImages-961946124-1788d1d.jpeg

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/top-places-elvis-presley-fans

Elvis Sites - Here are my favourites:
Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Sun studio (museum, hourly tours led by a musician, photo spots, food).
Graceland and Gravesite in Graceland.

Elvis Sites Websites
http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2013/aug/17/top-10-elvis-presley-memphis-attractions
graceland.com
http://travelblog.viator.com/11-sights-and-tours-perfect-for-the-elvis-fan/
http://www.elvis-history-blog.com/elvis-sites.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Hawaii
His pink Cadillac is in Graceland. Read about his cars and Australia connections here:
http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/elvis_presleys_1955_pink_cadillac.shtml

I just discovered a new wiki, wikitree

https://www.wikitree.com/genealogy/PRESLEY

Please share links to your favourite posts 

Hanukah - when is it and what is it and what's in it for me?

 

Hanukah dates like all Jewish holiday dates vary and in 2022 the eight day festival starts on December 18th and ends December 26th, spanning Christmas on the 25th.

What's in it for the traveller? Eight branch candlesticks lit in public places and homes. An eight branch candlestick is already lit on the corner of the synagogue complex in Waterloo Street in Singapore.

Expect to see more in Israel and cities around the world, for residents and welcoming visitors and entertaining shoppers.

UK

I vividly remember being invited to the home of a neighbour in London, England and learning that the seven branch candlestick represents the seven days of the week, and is lit on the evening of the Sabbath. 

Singapore

In Singapore a huge hanukiah was in Orchard Road, the main shopping street. I saw only three lights were lit. What a pity, I thought, that the electricity has failed to light it properly. Even though it looked faulty, I photographed it anyway.

Later, I learned that the hanukiah was correctly lit. You have one candle lit on day one, and another added on each of the days.

In Waterloo Street you can see a hanukiah near the MRT station.

Soft toy in the shape of a dreidl (Hanukah spinning top). Photo from Sharot family. 

Gifts of Hanukiahs, Bought and Home Made

A hannukiah is a great gift for your hosts or guests before or during hanukah. There are lots of modern designs. Decorating a DIY hanukiah is an activity for children at synagogues around the world. The children go home with a hanukiah suitable for their ages and abilities, drawn on paper and coloured, made from a wooden kit (from Jewish museum shops and Jewish gift shops and the internet. The wooden and clay ones can be painted. 

Bargains

Just as Christmas theme gifts are reduced in price after Christmas, you might be lucky enough to snap up a bargain after Hanukah and stock up for next year. In Rockville Maryland in the USA when I was living there I went looking for a night dress in a small local dress shop. The only one they had was a reduced price hanukah theme blue night dress. I passed it by. 

Then I went back for it. The price was right. I would never get another one like it. Nobody but me knew I was wearing it out of season.

Useful Websites

UK website

https://www.judaicawebstore.co.uk/hanukkah-menorahs-C106.aspx

US website

https://www.judaicawebstore.com/hanukkah-menorahs-C106.aspx?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah_menorah

• Yearly lighting of the Menorah at the White House
• Hanukkah Lamps from the collection of The Jewish Museum (New York)
• Hanukkah lamp collection at the Israel Museum.

Learning and remembering names of people you meet when you travel

 "What is your good name?" was the charming question from an Asian friend-to-be.

My good name is Angela, which is Greek for messenger.

Biblical And Religious Names

Many names are from the original bible (which Christians called the Old Testament, after they added the New Testament. Abraham, David, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, Paul, Saul, Solomon. For females, Rachel, Rebbekah, Sarah (which means princess - Hebrew version nowadays is Shoshana). Diminutives include Bekky, Rae, Ray, Sally 

Jewish, Hebrew and Yiddish

The Yiddish and Hebrew versions include Abram, Avram, Baruch, Moishe, Yitzak. Diminutives (short abbreviations) include Abe, Jo, Izzie, Mo, Solly.  The twelve tribes of Israel supply surnames such as Hart (a hart or deer). 

Cohen means priest. Anglicization results in variations such as Cahn, Kahn, Cohan and Cohn.

El and Ya (or Yahweh) are the two terms for God. Joel combines both. Eliza, Elizabeth. Daniel (God is my judge). Ezekiel. Michael (Micha-el). Jo-seph. Jo-anne.

From the New Testament, Mathew, Mark, Luke, John. 

Jesus (pronounced Hay Zeus in Venezuela) and Christus are Spanish. 

French

Marie (Mary in English) is given to many girls in France. Therefore a different name is added, such as Marie-Antoinette. Blanc means white, so LeBlanc is the white one, or white-haired, or pale skinned.

Greek

Peter is rock (English) and Petur.

Moslem

Mohammed is frequent amongst Moslems. David becomes Dawood, as a surname or family name. You can sometimes see that the names in Arabic are derived from Aramaic, similar to Hebrew. Amin is Arabic and means trustworthy, often used as part of a compound word.

Latin

Latin names include Caesar, Julius (from which we get the month of July), Marcus,

Danes & Scandinavian

Danes and Scandinavians might call themselves Christian as a first or middle name, such as Hans Christian Andersen.

Italian names

Male names end with o such as Mario, whilst the girls' names often end with a, such as Maria.

Iago is equivalent to John.

English Family Names

English names often end with son which means son of. For example, Johnson, Peterson, Robinson, Stevens, Williams.

Scandinavian Family Names

Scandinavian names often end with sen which means son of.

Scottish Family Names

The Scottish Fitz means son of. Fitzwilliam is son of William. The Irish O' means of. O'Connor means of Connor. Anderson means son of Anders.

Dutch Names

Dutch names might include von which means from.

German Names

German first names include Fritz, Hans, Herman, Wolf.

The family names include: Cassell, castle; Mann, meaning Mann, Kaufman meaning shopkeeper or seller, Klein meaning small, Muller meaning Miller.

Indian/Hindu/Sanskrit

Anand from Sanskrit means joy. Balakrishnan means child of Krishna. Kaur is a woman's name among Sikhs and others, used as a last name or the last part of a first name or personal name. Mohan means

Patel is Gujurati and means the head man of the village. Reddy is a caste from Southern India, and members of this cast are known for both farming and administration.

Shah, which I thought was King, is described as Emperor in Persian but a mere merchant in other groups. Of course, a merchant could be very rich and powerful (a bit like company director).

Sharma means joy or shelter.

Names from Gods include

Names of tribes include

Russian

Russian names include of or ov for a man, son of (place or person), whilst ova is daughter/female of a place or person. So Ivanov is son of Ivan.

Spanish Names

Spanish names, like French, are often taken from the Saint's Day, which is the birthday of the child being names.  Popular names include Teresa. José is the name Joseph in English (or vice-versa) and if your surname is Fidel that means faithful.

Rude Names

Some foreign names sound rude in English. It would be rude to draw attention to it. However, I must, in case you wonder why others are laughing, from embarrassment, when you are not. Cock means a part of the male anatomy in English. It is a popular surname in The Netherlands, because it means Cook in Dutch. 

The Chinese surname Kok is frequently seen or heard.

Some other customs you might come across which could confuse you. You may need to ask questions to clarify. In the UK in previous generations it was standard for a woman to take the man's family name upon marriage. Amongst the upper classes, when both families were prominent and well-known, a name could be hyphenated. Later with the advent of TV and media celebrities, women who took their husband's name might retain their own name by which they were already well known. For example, tennis player Billy Jean-King. 

In Spain the woman's family name is often retained as a middle name. No hyphen.

Chinese Names

Shan meaning mountain is a common girl's name. Shan Shan is a plural. Mountains.

Mei means beautiful.

Japanese

Ko means a female, a girl, a daughter. Hence names such Akiko, Yoko, Yumiko. 

Travel Tip

To learn somebody else's name, or impress yours on their mind so they don't forget you, repeat the name three times.

Useful Websites

https://www.momjunction.com/articles/popular-indian-last-names-for-your-baby_00334734/

Food and Fun At Autumn Harvest Festivals - Chinese Chewy Mooncakes, Jewish Fruit-Filled Canopy for Sukkoth

 Autumn is the time to gather in the summer fruits. The apples are falling from the trees in gardens in England. When I was a child I could not see the point of the harvest festival with the tins of food piled in the school assembly and given to charity. Now I can understand it, relating it to history worldwide.

In England, France and Europe the grapes are being picked and the new wine, Beaujolais Nouveau will be sent from France across the Channel to England with great fanfare.

Chinese Mooncakes

In Chinatowns in England and the USA, as well as in China, Singapore, Taiwan and countries all over Asia get ready for the Autumn harvest festival or Chinese Autumn Festival to make or budget to buy sweet or savoury salted egg mooncakes in supermarkets,shops, delis, foyers and online. i love the sweet mooncakes. They are highly calorific. You can cut up one muffin size mooncake to give a teeny slice to a dozen people. That's not being mean. It's being sensible. It's the correct thing to do.

Jewish Sukkoth

Also following the lunar calendar, the Jewish festival of Sukkoth, celebrated at homes and synagogues in Israel, Jewish northwest London (where Anne Frank's father retired post WW2) and the USA. Some neighbours and synagogues will invite nearby communities to see and join in, welcoming all comers of all religions. 

I went to a Sukkah ceremony held at the back of Northwood & Pinner synagogue in Northwood. They had invited members of the next door church. 

I also visited a sukkah at the back of the home of neighbours in Hatch End, Pinner. Later i was invited to a dinner in the Sukkah of a house in Finchley.

The sukkah is just like the booths you see built in India where a guardian sleep to watch over the gathered in crops. In Israel you can see the balconies of apartment blocks have a sukkoth, the only regulation being that the temporary structure must be open to the sky. The sukkah is a lattice with suspended fruits and ferns and greenery and nowadays plastic baubles like a Christmas tree. Expect a drink of fruit juice or wine, some fruits and or food and a quick prayer or blessing as you stand around or an entire service over a dinner table. 

The festival and the structure are called sukkah, sukkot (Hebrew), or sukkas (Yiddish which is North and East European, German with a few words of Hebrew or Russian or Polish or the ancestor's language.

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Autumn_Festival

About the Author

Back to B & K best salt beef and perfect potato latke

B & K salt beef and potato latke. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

When I am in Singapore I reminisce about B & K salt beef and say that the first thing I shall do in London is have some salt beef. 

Here is a piece of take away (Americans say take out) salt beef and a latke or potato cake. Yes, I have a picture of a half eaten or broken open latke. (Pronounced lut - ker. You pronounce the a like a u and the e like an a.) but if I didn't show the inside you would not know what you are getting. What are you getting? Probably something greasy and filling and way over my calorie count. 

Singapore has had a couple of Covid clusters and is being cautious. Last Friday we were eating take away food perched on the only seat we could see, after standing around waiting for the two people at either end to vacate it. In London we have the luxury of eat in restaurants. And now Hatch End has lots of pavement dining. Luckily, the Harrow and Pinner area has wide streets (the name Hatch End Broadway is an accurate description.)

Salt beef and potato latkes are what we used to eat at their other branch when I lived in Edgware. A favourite Jewish style deli popular with liberal Jews who are not bothered about keeping strictly kosher, as well as by non-Jewish passers by. The owners aren't Jewish, but they do a great imitation of Jewish filling food and friendliness. (Not the lean and hungry look, as Shakespeare famously said.) 

We have known the owners for more than forty years. In addition to the Fellini owned Italian restaurants, and the former Hatch End Tandoori, and Sea Pebbles (Jewish style but owned by Christian Greeks) B & K is one of the noted places where the owner remembers us and greets us like old friends.

What do I miss about the UK when in Singapore. B & K. A dishwasher. What do I miss about Singapore? Palm trees and shower attachments by the toilet.

Useful Website

https://deliveroo.co.uk/menu/london/hatch-end/b-and-k-salt-beef-bar

Also in Hatch End, see my earlier post on Bandaa, East African Indian.

Little Known Countries I'll Never Visit But Want to Read about - Jewish Autonomous Oblast in Russia

 

Where is it? The far eastern side of Russia, bordering China.

What is obviously Jewish, or a landmark? This menorah in the fountain. Seven branch candelabra representing the seven days of the week.

Useful Websites

https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Jewish_Autonomous_Oblast

About the Author

About Angela The Author

The Author - Quick Quotations

Angela Lansbury B A Hons  is the author of ten books by regular publishers plus another ten self-published books. 

About Angela The Speaker & Trainer

Angela Lansbury is a teacher of English and other languages to Toastmasters clubs and businesses.

Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Speakers Vice President  Public Relations, Immediate Past President.

Former Area Director S3. Club Coach for Nee Soon South Toastmasters Club.

Also Member of: TCA Toastmasters Club; Singapore Online Dynamic; Harrovians UK

The recent meeting of BHA included Garen Tee on using story telling in business, on bha.learncool.sg . Also an educational on using Powerpoint for posters.

Next BHA meetings, (subject to revision)

1 (Saturday, May 15th, was 2 pm Singapore time, postponed because of national speaking contest.) 

After Vesak day and Hari Raya: 

Postponed to Saturday May 29th, 2021, at 2pm. Login to bha.learncool.sg earlier.

2 Next June meetings 1st Wednesday evening June 2nd at 7 pm Singapore time. 

3 Third Saturday afternoon, June 19th, Singapore time.  Thanks to the old team and Inauguration of New Team. 

Special speech with slides about teamwork in sport and Toastmasters International and life, by the President of West Coast Toastmasters Club who often help BHA with workshops and invite us to give speeches at their club.

Inauguration of new committee by incoming Area Director of S

About Angela The Blogger 

Angela has several blogs on speeches, comedy and song writing and organizing, writing intermittently, but writes almost daily on these three:

travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com

dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com

translateforfun.blogspot.com

See next post on sculptor Tom Harvey.

Please share links to your favourite posts. 

The information on Toastmasters is updated regularly.

Where To Find Flower & Fruit Cakes For Birthdays & Easter plus pot plants, Prosecco with chocolates, novelty cakes, halal cakes, kosher wine and vegan cakes

Cake For My Birthday sent from Little Flower Hut. (Back view.)

Cake for my birthday sent from Little Flower Hut. Front view of cake.

The flower arrangement which I was sent for my birthday was cake shape and had candles spelling happy bday (sic). 

The cake was ordered in London and sent to Singapore (not sent from London - the money paying for the gift was sent from London but the flower arrangement was made and delivered from Singapore). 

For birthdays in London finding flowers is easy. Pop into your nearest Tesco or Marks & Spencers and you will find a wonderful selection of flowers, plus chocolates and wines. 

 You can get novelty cakes off the shelves of supermarkets and order cakes online from local supermarkets.

Now that London is in lockdown, we are sending gifts from London to Singapore by websites and from Singapore to London from websites. I have been looking at what is available in London, the USA and Singapore and here are some of my discoveries. You will find something similar for other countries from Amazon and international suppliers.

Flower 'Cake' showing plate. The lasting keepsake plate is good.

I now know from other websites that flowers should not be under a fan, and that they like a little refreshing mist.

Fruit cake and Forever Flowers

Ferns and Petals sells a fruit cake which comes with a separate square box containing three preserved purple roses which they say will last up to 2 years.

They helpfully provide an online guide to flower care.

Price $128 (on their website in March 2021). Delivery charge?

I always send a picture of the gift to the donor (with my thanks) on the day the item arrives. Mostly they are notified of delivery by the delivery company or the retailer. The donor will be anxiously waiting to hear if the gift arrived safely, was what they ordered and if you like it.

If there's something wrong, let them know, so that they can immediately get a replacement or refund from the seller.

Easter Cake

You can have a box or roses with berry tart cake. Only 59 Singapore dollars. But watch out for cakes which are one person size like a piece of cake you would get in a coffee bar, about twice the size of a muffin. If you are expecting a full size cake to feed four of more or to last all week and get a one portion cake you could be disappointed. However, for somebody on a diet this might be just right, a one person one meal treat, not too many calories, with the longer lasting roses.

Dried lemon slices, though the website warns they (are brittle and) might arrive broken.

https://shopee.sg/.-Cake-Decorating-Dried-Lemon-Pc-Dessert-Table-Cake-Ornaments-Small-Fresh-Fruit-Cake-Ol60-i.269507527.8705115569 Under r dollars, to decorate cakes..

https://www.fnp.sg/gift/box-of-roses-with-berry-tart-cake?pos=12

Bob the baker makes a cake with a strawberries and cream filling suitable for diabetics. Also low sugar ranges. Delivery charges are under ten Singapore dollars and free if the order is over $150 dollars.

Orchid in pots from Little Flower Hut from 68 Singapore dollars.

Useful Websites

Singapore

Flowers, cakes with flowers and gifts, and sugarfree cakes and halal cakes. 

www.littleflowerhut.com

https://www.fnp.sg/gift/fruit-cake-purple-forever-roses

https://www.fnp.sg/article/flower-care-guide

https://www.facebook.com/fnpsingapore?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

https://bobthebakerboy.com/faq#dessert_table

Halal from Primadeli and many others

https://www.facebook.com/primadeli/videos/126691189368336

UK

Chocolates and Roses or other flowers from about 21 pounds sterling including delivery, with lots at about thirty pounds. Also hampers

https://www.bunches.co.uk/category/birthday-flowers-and-gifts

Prosecco and roses from 45 pounds sterling.

Also letterbox flowers (delivered flat packed), 

An orchids and pot plants.

Cakes today has loads of luridly coloured cakes for all sorts of occasions, including Diwali, Eid and Mubarak. And same day delivery, and party in a box. Vegan cakes.

https://www.facebook.com/cakestodayco

From cakes today

UK Kosher Cakes In London

Novelty cakes, dozens of designs, chollah (bread) in various designs, photo cakes. Novelty cakes include football,  other sports, car license (number) plate 55 pounds, chess board, doctor, graduation, engagement, wedding, baby, laptop 90 pounds, bar mitzvah and Jewish religious themes.

https://www.grodz.co.uk/photo-cakes/novelty-cakes?page=1

https://www.kosherwine.co.uk/gift-ideas-c127/hampers-gift-boxes-c181

USA

https://www.facebook.com/BloomNation/

https://www.bloomnation.com/florist/leavenworth-floral-and-gifts/happy-happy-birthday-cake/

$49.99 US dollars.

Happy happy birthday flower design in 'cake' shape to order though Bloomnation, USA.

DIY FRESH FLOWERS ON CAKES

3 Ways to Add Fresh Flowers to a Cake - wikiHow

About the Author

Angela Lansbury is a British author who has lived in the USA.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.

Angela Lansbury teacher of English (advanced and English as a Second Language or English as a Foreign Language, French and other languages, aspiring polyglot.

Angela Lansbury, author and speaker. Member of many toastmasters  speaker training clubs and speaking contest judge.

Angela Lansbury, the author of 20 books including Wedding Speeches & Toasts, and Quick Quotations, has lived in the USA, Spain and Singapore. 

She  has several blogs and writes daily on at least two of the following:

travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com

dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com

translateforfun.blogspot.com

Please share links to your favourite posts.

Ten Easy Portuguese Words for travellers - another ten words

Flag of Portugal

Ten Easy Portuguese Words For Travellers

casa - house
catedral -cathedral
centro - centre
convento - convent
imagem /imagens - image/images

Judaica - Jewish
militar - military
monumenos - monuments
romanos - Roman
ruinas - ruins

Where can you use Portuguese? Over on the American continent in South America in Brazil. In Europe in Portugal. Offshore from Portugal in the Atlantic in the island of Madeira. Or as I did when reading news articles about places in Portuguese speaking countries.

About the Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
I and my family have lived in the UK, Spain, the USA and Singapore. I am a trave writer and phtographer and teacher of English A level and English as a foreign language.

Please come to a Toastmasters International Club where the English clubs have a langauge evaluator or grammarian.  We also have French, German, Mandarin Chinese, Tamil and other language clubs based in Singapore and many more online around the world which because of Covid-19 are now meeting online.

I am President of Braddell Heights Advanced, meeting every Wednesday, on zoom the first Wednesday of the month but the other Wednesdays are workshops on app learncool.sg
Or quicker to type and easier to remember:  tinyurl.com/BHACOOL

useful Websites
https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogs
https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2019/04/how-to-say-thank-you-in-several.html
https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2019/05/introducing-yourself-in-english-spanish.html
https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2020/01/second-set-of-portuguese-words.html Please share links to your favourite posts
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8384769/Major-breakthrough-hunt-Madeleine-McCann-police-identify-German-suspect.html
https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lista_de_patrim%C3%B3nio_edificado_no_distrito_de_Faro
translate.google.com
duolingo.com

How To Remember The Days Of The Week In Malay

Flag of Malaysia.

My family picked up a free for customers 2020 calendar produced by Suzuki in a garage in Singapore.


Flag of China

The calendar has English, Malay and Mandarin.

Days of the week
English - Malay
Sunday - Ahad
Monday - Isnin
Tuesday - Selasa
Wednesday - Rabu
Thursday - Khamis
Friday - Jumaat
Saturday - Sabtu

How do you remember them? Firstly, let's sort out Saturday and Sunday.
Sabtu begins with an S and you might think it is Sabbath and Sunday. No, it is Saturday. Easier than you think. The Moslems celebrate on Friday, the Jews on Saturday and the Christians on Sunday.
So how do you remember Sabtu is like the Jewish Sabbath. Don't bother worrying about that. The simple way is to simply look at the letters. Saturday and Sabtu begin with the same two letters.

Malay- English
Ahad - Sunday - AH- A Day of rest, for most, Sunday. I/Ah had a good day of rest.
Isnin - Monday - iIS it Not n the office day, moNday. It's not monday, is it?
Selasa - Tuesday - Selasa SE in TuESday. SEcond day of the week. SElasa.
Rabu - Wednesday - RABU short four letters, remember it's half way, about midweek, you (U) only have two days to the weekend, Wednesday
Khamis - Thursday - Khamis with an h kHamis is tHursday. Coming to the end of the week. Hurray!
Jumaat - Friday - Jumaat - Jews celebrate Friday night, eve of Sabbath, and Moslems Are AT prayer All day.
Sabtu - Saturday - SA-btu is SA-turday

The memory aids are helpful even if they simply make you keep re-reading the list of the days of the week it until you remember them all.

Now let's look at them and see if you can remember the English from the Malay.

Sabtu - which day?
Ahad - which day?

Isnin - which day?
Selasa - which day?

Rabu - which day?
Khamis - which day?

Jumaat - which day?
Sabtu - which day?

Now, let's mix them up.
Isnin - ?
Jumaat - ?
Ahad - ?
Rabu - ?
Selasa - ?
Khamis - ?
Rabu - ?
Sabtu - ?

Now let's try them in a sentence. Will I see you Monday?
Isnin.

Useful Websites
Malaysia tourism
https://www.tourism.gov.my/

Malay/Indonesian languages
Duolingo.com


About the Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Teacher of English and other languages. Please share links to your favourite posts.

How To Photograph And Video Your Inaccessible Destination and On Holiday

First, start with the end in mind. Are you planning to video yourself for your family or the public?

Plan your destinations and inform your guide of your intentions. I have been on many trips where the guide has decided to cut out the one place which was the purpose of my trip.

I wanted a photo of the statue of Robin Hood for my article on Nottingham. The statue was in the centre of the city and it was sunny.

However, the guide said we had no time and could take it another day. On day two we took a different route. One day three it was pouring with rain.

Arab
When I was writing for an Arab publication, my family decided that it was too far to drive to the home of Lawrence of Arabia in Southern England.'Anyway, it's closed at the time we would arrive," they argued.

I insisted on going. At least I could get a picture of the outside of the house and my impression of it and whether my readers would similarly have to set off early in the day to be sure of getting to a remote place during daylight in winter during the short days.

I got my photo of the outside of the house . Also the road where he was supposed to have fallen off his motorcycle. Plus some plaques about him along the way. I read up about his life. I followed up with a phone call to the owners of the property to check what remained from his time, what tourists could and got not see. I checked opening hours.

Jewish
On another occasion I was writing for a Jewish publication. I wanted a photo of a synagogue in Shanghai. The guide told me it was closed and not accessible.

I insisted that I would photograph the street name and photograph it from a distance and describe the area. When we arrive, a guard tried to stop me entering.

However, he did not speak English and I did not speak Mandarin, so I walked a few steps past, took a very quick photo and returned, bowing and thanking politely.

Romania's Ionescu
It was shut. However, from the gate you could get a good view of the house. Photo number 1 Outside was a heritage plaque. Photo number 2. A photo of my music box playing the anthem he wrote. Picture 3. The man's face in a photo in Wikipedia.. Photo 4. His statue outside a convert hall or museum in the capital of the country. Photo 5.

Author
Angela Lansbury
Travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Who can be a wedding witness? Who can officiate? How Does A Wedding Certificate Affect Travel?

Whether you are marrying locally or travelling to another country, you will want a wedding document to be signed by witnesses?

The answer is not as straightforward as you think. I advise you to check.

Jewish
I was at a UK wedding, a Jewish wedding, where the witness was a member of the family, the best man and cousin of the groom. This caused a delay at the signing, which meant everybody was hanging around waiting to drive off to the reception and meal.

Muslim and Arab
In some places you may be considered betrothed or married without a written document. (Arab countries? Equally you could be divorced without a written document.)

At one time you could not book a hotel room together in some countries unless you were legally married. So a common law husband and wife would not be granted the right to a hotel room on holiday. The employer would not give an allowance for married accommodation.

Translation
It would seem sensible to require a translation of the document. How do you know what you are signing, an agreement to marry, change your religion, a mortgage, a will leaving all your goods to your spouse and their children by other persons after you die?

Civil Requirements
In some countries you can have a religious ceremony and certificate without a civil certificate. In others you are required to have the civil certificate before, or after, the religious ceremony. You may wish to have both, either to please parents, or to ensure that your marriage is recognised by both religious and civil authorities in the case of divorce or any other legal question such as inheritance.

You might also find a document useful, for example, to get immigration to another country, to prove the lineage of your children who are claiming citizenship. If you wanted to go to Israel, or to Spain under the right of return, you might find a marriage document of parents useful later for the children.

Travel and Marriage Certificates
You might also find documents of marriage helpful for obtaining a second passport, or waiver for visa when taking a holiday.

In the UK in 2019 different rules apply to different religions. In the USA different rules apply in different States.

If you are travelling, you may need documents providing evidence of your identity such as passport, birth certificate, divorce certificate, evidence of home address.

In some places a relative cannot be a witness as they are considered an interested party. In some places the officiant can be a witness. In others he or she signs and requires two others to be witnesses. In some places you can just invite two passers-by to witness.

The moral of the story is to find out in advance. This is handy with the modern habit of having two ceremonies, one religious and one civil. I have see two weddings in the home countries of bride and groom, even three ceremonies, in her home country, his, and the country where they met and have friends and colleagues.

In Singapore I performed a mock wedding ceremony, which I called a rehearsal, when the officiant was late at a wedding reception. The bride wanted photos taken in daylight in the garden. The groom said there was no point having a dinner to celebrate a marriage when no marriage had taken place.
Fortunately the bride got her photos in the sun with the groom, best man, maid of honour and the surrounding guests. The officiant turned up just as it turned dark and the meal was being served and he made the marriage official.

Next day I checked whether I could be an officiant in Singapore. It would have taken a year's study, investment of time and money, knowledge of assorted religions and laws, and I had other commitments.

A marriage document can also affect your right to a pension, to stay in a house after a spouse dies, to inherit from the spouse, to be buried beside them, to have them buried beside you rather than a previous spouse they have not divorced.

Laws may change and become more liberal, or more strict. Forewarned is forewarned. Your marriage certificate showing your wedding or anniversary might get you upgrades on an airline, a free drink or Champagne on the airline, or at your hotel. Happy travelling.

https://www.rabbilevh.com/single-post/2015/01/11/Who-Can-Sign-Your-Ketubah

The Longest Day, and Latest Sunset affecting the English, Jews, Muslims

Problem
When do I get long days and late sunsets?

Answer
July 21st, today, Thursday in 2018, is the longest day. However, that does not necessarily mean the latest sunset.

Why does the sunset time matter?

1 VIEWS OF SCENERY VERSUS PEOPLE
If you want to eat outdoors at a restaurant you might want to book an outside or inside table. You might want more light, especially for photographing a view over London.

When dating you might want bright light to get a good look at your date. You might want less light if you have a fabulous voice but not much in facial department. You might want to hide your bald head or wrinkles in the more romantic candle-light indoors.

2 Jewish groups or couples might want to book a Friday or Saturday meal when kosher restaurants are open, which is different in summer and winter. In winter in the UK, in an area with kosher restaurants such as Golders Green, you will notice that the restaurants have closed earlier when it gets dark on Friday evening. But the restaurants are opening earlier on Saturday evening when it gets dark. By contrast, in summer the restaurants will close later on Friday, but won't open early on Saturday evening because it is still light and the Sabbath.

Opening and closing times are also going to be changing gradually throughout the seasons all year.  So check diaries or Jewish newspapers or signs on restaurant doors or websites.

If you are visiting a Jewish host who is observant, they may be using the traditional method of judging sunset by when you can see three stars. In a city where it is so cloudy and polluted that you cannot see any stars, you will have to go by the calendar. Ask your hosts what time you should arrive and what food or drink would be appropriate.

3 Moslem groups observing Ramadan, which last a month and has just ended, cannot eat or drink in the daytime all month. However, they can eat and drink after sunset. If you are providing food and drink for a group which has Muslim members of visitors, they have not eaten all day and will be very pleased if you have halal or vegetarian food they can eat.
The evenings and weekends at the end of Ramadan you will have big celebrations in the Muslim restaurants and areas eg in parts of Singapore and in Muslim countries with a Muslim majority or a large Muslim minority or restaurants and shops and residences area.

UK light nights
Travelling from Singapore to the UK, the long days are lovely.

Useful Websites
visitsingapore.com
vistibritain.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunset

Author, Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.