Malaysia Legend ~ Che Siti Wan Kembang ~

   

                Che Siti Wan Kembang is the legendary queen regnant over a region in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, which is now encompassed within Kelantan state. She is believed to have ruled in the 14th century.

             Che Siti was famous for her beauty and wisdom. She is descendant from the royal lineage of Champa-Kelantan-Pattani.
She was also known as a warrior princess and was said to be able to enter battle on horseback with a sword with an army of female horseriders. It was said that she and her adopted daughter, Puteri Saadong had mystical powers.

              Kelantanese are very proud of their history and the deer generally symbolises Che Siti Wan Kembang as it was her favourite pet. The current state emblem of Kelantan has two deers which represents Kelantan's rich history which can be traced back to the popular queen.             

Background

          According to certain historical records, Che Siti Wan Kembang was born in 1585. Her parents were Raja Ahmad and Cik Banun, both of royal lineage. Raja Ahmad was crowned Ruler of Kelantan in 1584.

          However, Raja Ahmad died in 1589, when the princess was only 4 years old. Therefore Raja Hussein of Johor was made Regent of Kelantan. Che Siti Wan Kembang ascended to the throne of Kelantan in 1610 AD upon the death of Raja Hussein. She was said to have resided in Gunung Chinta Wangsa, Ulu Kelantan, located approximately 40 km from Kuala Krai.

          Che Siti never married, and therefore never had children of her own. She adopted Puteri Saadong as her daughter. Puteri Saadong was the princess of the ruler of Jembal, whom Che Siti had close ties with.

Kijang Coins

 

 

        

          Differing views are given regarding the origin of the Kijang gold coins. Kijang means deer in the Malay language and derives its name from the deer engraving on the coin. The Kijang coins are generally associated with Che Siti.^[2]

          According to Kelantanese folklore, Kijang is her favorite pet and has always fond of it since young while some stories suggest that there are once an Arab trader come to her country and seeking permission to trade presented a Kijang to the Queen as a gift. She became very fond of the Kijang and taking it as her pet to the point she ordered its image to be inscribed on the gold coins of her country.

          Another version was linked to the influence of Saivite Hinduism. The connection was based on the fact that the earliest issue of Kijang coins resembled the Indian humped-back bull and the bull motif was depicted on ancient Hindu coins which were circulated in the Northern Malay States.^[3]

Jelasin Fort 

 

          Jelasin fort is situated approximately 4 to 8 km from Kota Bharu, the state capital of Kelantan. It was built in 1563 for Cik Siti Wan Kembang, her adopted daughter Puteri Saadong and Puteri Saadong's husband, Raja Abdullah.^[4]

          The fort was made from thick wood with beautiful carvings and was very famous during the reign of Che Siti. It was used to defend Kelantan from outside attacks. According to history, Jelasin Fort was attacked by the King of Siam and Puteri Saadong disappeared after that. The condition of the fort soon deteriorated after her disappearance and the ruins of the fort is hardly noticeable nowadays as not much effort has been taken to conserve it.^[5]

Succession

 

 

 

 

          Legend has it that Che Siti never died but instead "disappeared" into the mystical world, and reappears from time to time. After her "disappearance", she was succeeded by her adopted daughter, Puteri Saadong, who was the youngest daughter of Raja Jembal.

Spending Wisely

1. Save Money.

 

          Making wise spending decisions goes hand in hand with saving. Budget as much as you can each month toward a savings account or other reliable, interest-accumulating investment. The more money you save each month, the better your overall financial health will be. Which is pretty much the point of spending money wisely, isn't it? Here are some savings ideas for you to consider:

 

• Establish an emergency fund.
• Start a Roth IRA or a 401(k).
• Avoid unnecessary fees.
• Meal plan your meals for the week

 

 

2. Break free of expensive habits.

 

          Compulsive habits such as smoking, drinking, or gambling can easily consume any money you save. Eliminating them from your life is both a boon to your wallet and your health. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Don't buy what you don't need. 

 

          If you're unsure about a particular purchase, ask yourself these questions. If you don't answer "yes" to all of them, that's a strong sign you shouldn't spend the money. 

 

• Will I use this item regularly? Make sure you'll drink all that milk before it goes bad, or that you have enough summer months left to wear that skirt more than a couple times.
• Do I lack something that serves the same purpose? Beware specialized products whose role can be performed by basic items you already have.^[15] You probably don't need ultra-specialized kitchen equipment, or a special workout outfit when sweatpants and a T shirt will work just as well.^[16]
• Will this item change my life for the better? This is a tricky question, but purchases that encourage "bad habits" or cause you to neglect important parts of your life should be avoided.
• Will I miss this item if I don't buy it?
• Will this item make me happy?

4. Prune your hobbies.

 

            If you have a gym membership and don’t use it, don’t renew it. Avid collector turned to lukewarm possessor? Sell it. Devote your finances and your energy only into areas you are truly passionate about.

Family Day Activities

1. Volunteer Together

              Consider it quality time squared: You get to spend the day with your kids, they learn about the joy of helping others, and everybody makes the world a better place. When choosing an activity, take a cue from the things that your kid loves. If he’s obsessed with dogs, he’ll enjoy rounding up supplies for the animal shelter; a nature nut will dig a trail cleanup. What’s age-appropriate? Kathy Saulitis of generationOn, a New York City–based nonprofit foundation that partners with youth service groups, has a few suggestions: Young children might visit a nursing home or make cards for people in hospitals, while older kids can collect food for a food bank or organize a car wash to raise money for a cause.

 2. Kick The Can 

          Pass on touch football for something that puts everybody on a level playing field, like boccie or croquet. Or learn the rules of classic play-ground pastimes, like Capture the Flag and Kick the Can, which are infinitely customizable to the size, age, and ability of your crowd and require little equipment.

3. Make a Time Capsule 

          Preserving your artifacts is a fun way to celebrate your family now and later—just don’t bury the collection. “When it’s unearthed, if ever, it’s usually a soggy mess,” says Paul Stephen Hudson, a cofounder of the Atlanta-based International Time Capsule Society. Pile everything into an archival box, then stow it away in a cool, dark place. Include the big stuff (artwork, school reports, notes to your future selves) and the little (movie stubs, a printout of a Facebook page, a toy with its batteries removed so they don’t corrode). Items that won’t stand the test of time: delicate clothing, food, or tapes and discs that will be outdated by technology. Add a silica-gel pack (which comes with new shoes) to absorb moisture, and set a date for the big reveal in 25 years.

4. Plant Something

            Stick to surefire zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and bush beans, says Charlie Nardozzi, a Vermont-based gardening expert and writer (howtogrowing.com). Use a one-by-two-foot self-watering planter and let your cofarmer handle the watering and harvesting. You may pull more than your share of the weight (and weeds), but if it convinces your kids to eat a vegetable, it’s sow worth it.

 

5. Get Cooking 

          Teach your kids an old family recipe, or start a brand-new tradition by baking bread. Sound too Laura Ingalls for you? Actually, if your kiddos can mold Play-Doh and make mud pies, they’ll be experts at kneading dough. (The hands-on fun quotient is the same, but the result is much more appetizing.) Find a foolproof whole wheat bread recipe.

6. Create Self-Portraits

           You’ve got a hard drive full of family photos, but drawing self-portraits captures the present in a more revealing way. Preserve the results for posterity by displaying the masterpieces gallery-style on a wall. Or scan and upload the artwork, then have the images transferred onto everything from postage stamps (pictureitpostage.com) to totes and water bottles (shutterfly.com), so you won’t have to wonder whose is whose.

7. Go Camping

 

            And pitching a tent in the backyard counts. With the free app Project Noah (for iPhone and Android; projectnoah.org), kids can finally get an answer to “What’s that weird bug over there?”: Snap a photo of wildlife and the app soon sends an ID. Once the sun sets, keep them entertained with good old shadow puppets. Learn the “flying bird” with the help of the iPhone app LED Shadow Puppets ($1, iTunes). And don’t forget to brush up on ghost stories for around the campfire (er, flashlight). You’ll find plenty of ideas and more at ultimatecampresource.com.

 

8. Start a Family Book Club

        Choose stories that appeal to all members, no matter their age. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Jumanji both have humor adults can enjoy, too. (Click here for suggestions for family books.) Let one person read aloud, or take turns so that you can experience the story unfolding together. Afterward, kick back and watch the movie version to see how it stacks up.

 9. Go on a Scaverger Hunt

             Limit the territory to the backyard or the inside the house and kids will suddenly notice objects that they usually overlook. Set a time limit (a half hour for 20 clues should do it), and supply each child with a bag to hold his booty and a list of clues. Spark their imagination with things that are open for interpretation, like “something that smells really bad” or “an object that starts with the letter K.” (This also keeps the kids from clobbering one another while racing to the one blue spatula.) When time is up, tally who found the most items. Aside from bragging rights, the winner gets a fun prize, such as a gift certificate to the movies or the ice cream shop.

 

10. Make up a Song 

         Who says your family can't start their own band? (The Brady's did it, right?) End the monotony of long car rides or Saturday morning chores to sing together and create lyrics that no one will ever forget.

 

 11. Take a Staycation

          Treat it like a real vacation—yes, even from chores—and plan ahead, says Matt Wixon, the author of The Great American Staycation ($10, amazon.com). Get day-trip ideas from your local visitors’ bureau or a regional parenting website. Libraries and parks departments often offer fun activities; some craft stores hold art classes. Try to arrange a behind-the-scenes tour with the pinsetters at a bowling alley or the projectionists at a movie theater. (Hey, it never hurts to ask. And you may get free popcorn.)