All Dressed Up

"Ayah!" Wifey called out to me from the living room, "Take a picture of Sonny."

All dressed up in his white, long-sleeved school shirt, his brown tie and that distinguished Dunman Secondary School blazer, Sonny was all ready and handsome looking young man.

Sonny was going back to school this afternoon, right after Friday prayers, for his school's 48th anniversary and official opening ceremony after it went through several years of infrastructure upgrade under PRIME project by the Ministry of Education.

Sonny was to man his station - showing the guest of honour, his team's Life Science Apple iPod App they self-developed during the intended tour of the school's facilities.

A few poses for pictures were "forced" out from this handsome but reluctant young man for his parents' sacred memories... and there he went off at 2:00PM to school.

The ceremony was to start by 5:00PM with the guest of honour being the prominent figure in this country, the distinguished Dr. Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence.

Fortunately, being in the executive committee of the school's parent support group - as vice chairman of DSP, I was invited too, to be able to witness Sonny experience this historic event in his life.

It was my turn to get all dressed up. Formal attire requested, it has been ages since I wore a tie to an event. In white and light blue pin stripes, long-sleeved shirt, dark pants and a dark grey tie, the tight around the neck seemed to choke me the moment I buttoned up. I could never be comfortable wearing a tie...


"Wait!" Wifey stopped before I stepped out of the front door. "Let me get the camera..." Wifey hurried off to my gym room to get it.

"Set the camera for me and let me take your picture." She handed it to me as soon as she came back to the living room.

Like Sonny, a few poses for the camera and off I went to Sonny's school. It was a pity that Wifey was not invited to the event. She would have loved to watch Sonny in action. A great "family outing." Also, I would be much more comfortable if she were there with me... being surrounded by all those elite educators, high achievers and high society people, I was like a fish out of water... choking, hard to breathe... all nerves. The tie made it worse.

Anyway, to be there to witness Sonny interacting with the Minister while he toured the school grounds, it was one of Sonny's important life experiences that I would not miss for the world. It was all worth it. Well done, Sonny!

Congratulations to Dunman Secondary School for this proud milestone!

New Day Rising

While the Chinese folks celebrate their first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Rabbit, this Malay family made the most of the long weekend holiday to a "magical" camping and barbecue at East Coast Beach Park.

Joined Wifey's sisters to a barbecue... thought it was suppose to be just that but it turned out everybody present did not want to call it a day to go home. Instead we stayed on, already armed with tents and sleeping bags.


Fully stocked on fresh seafood for the barbecue, lots of snacks and both cold and hot drinks. We were set and very happy having our "family reunion" Malay-outdoor style.


The day was perfect. A good chance of rain was expected, after all, it rained non-stop for two days in the past week and on and off for the most part of the thereafter. It miraculously, did not rain that night. It was even cooler and windy instead... the weather was perfect.


After a long night of fun and sibling bonding, we get to witness the sunrise from the shores of East Coast Beach. The morning was quiet. A stark contrast to the loud laughter and singing by the picnickers all through the night and into the wee hours of the morning.


Every awakened eye watched patiently as the darkness broke into streaks of dim colourful lights and the eventual globe of fiery orange light that broke through the clouds in the horizon to reveal a new day.


It made me feel blessed to get to sit and watch a miracle unfolded right on the beach. It has been such a long time since I took a moment such as this not for granted... a beautiful moment that happens every day, only to be appreciated.


Backed by the soothing sounds of not a single soul but only the waves crashing, and Wifey beside me, it made me feel good to be alive. Happy New Day!

My 2011 Revelry

I sat alone on the sofa watching the countdown to the new year on TV last night. Watching it alone was as thrilling as watching the clock ticking on the wall.

When the clock stroke twelve and the brilliant, eight-minute fireworks blasted in the skies over Marina Bay wowed everyone, witnessing the New Year celebrations alone created not even a spark in this living room.


It is true. However wonderful it is, but if you cannot share it with the people you care or love, it does not really amount to anything.

Wifey was fast asleep in the bedroom. She is not a late "nighter." Lack of sleep is her kryptonite. She turned it just before eleven claiming "my eyes are not willing to cooperate!"

So too was Sonny. He can pull an "all-nighter" but was soundly in dreamland since half past ten. Now that he has reverted back to his school-day sleeping time regime, the latest he is allowed to stay up late... only because of school projects or homework, is eleven o'clock. He had enough fun during his month-long December school holiday.

I switched from channel to channel but nothing interesting was on... on New Year! Well, probably most people are reveling out or in parties somewhere, so no reason for good shows to be aired to waste, I guess.

Last night was one of the most boring New Year celebration I had in recent memory. Even the little children were having a blast downstairs when I looked out the window and saw families in the courtyard garden playing sparklers and flashes from their cameras.


Reluctantly, I went to bed before the first hour of the New Year was up. Then again, I got woken-up several times by the passing revelers downstairs in the wee hours of the morning. Not at all an exciting start to 2011... my rant post 2011 countdown.

Woke up early this morning and did my morning prayers. I went back to sleep to wake up to a sunny new day, full of potential, I felt. I over to Wifey, still sweet in slumber land.

Looking out of the window, the sky was blue as the morning sun shone on my face. The birds were chirping... promising a beautiful day. I was happy and content.

The day turned out to be cloudy but hey, there I was having a picnic on the beach with Wifey. Wished Sonny could join us but I think he was having a blast at the New Year's barbecue with his classmates and teachers over in Simei.

Wifey knows my simple pleasures... a day at the beach was all it took for me to be happy. Simple pleasures means, a packed meal consisting of Kampong fried rice and Tom Yam Soup, hot Teh Tarik and lots of snacks as we spent our time as a couple at Changi Beach Park. Our version of New Year celebrations of sorts.

Wifey and I talked about so many things... topics ranging from our childhood days to the latest happenings, like her trip with Sonny to Kuala Lumpur and Perak a few weeks ago, together with the entourage of her whole family of just over thirty people!

Listening to the CD she bought from her trip, Her latest favourite Lebanon artist who is very big in Malaysia currently.

We even installing Viber on our iPhones and testing the free online chats together. We stayed well into the evening and left just before half past nine!

Before we headed home, we took a stroll around the shops at Changi Village.

There I met an old army camp mate who just got off the boat from a day trip to Pulau Ubin. It had been more than ten years since we met! He was with his teenage son, both were holding a fishing rod each.

There too, I met my old neighbour, a childhood friend from the village. For the first time, I met him together with his wife and two children.

Wow! Has time passed us by or what?! Talk about "Auld Lang Syne!"

Hand In Pottery

I attended my first class on pottery making. A free class given out by a fellow parent from our parent support group, DSP.

It was held at Sonny's school yesterday morning. The class Wifey goes to most Saturdays, helping out the teacher with her pottery making class and at the same time learning the art by making her own pieces as well.


Yesterday, it was open to the teachers there and a few parents from the support group, since the classroom can only accommodate so many. I tagged along and doubled as the DSP photographer for the club, and also got to learn the art and got my hands "wet" with clay.

A few of the teachers brought their children along, so did a few parents. The children made the class less formal and more spontaneous and interesting with their honest and mostly unabashed observations on their work and their parent's.


Each of us was given a lump of clay, some white and some brown... the latter is the more difficult one to shape and given to the more seasoned participants. Wifey got the brown one since she is very familiar with the first technique we got to learn yesterday, called pinching.

Rolled the dough into tight rounded ball with our palms. Then press a shallow dent using our thumb into the dough to start off the opening of the mug... the goal was to make a mug. A sample was on the table and shown to the group to achieve that shape.

As it all turned out, everyone made their versions of great looking... bowls, including me.

After several hours, my first creation was a slanted and strange-looking bowl but am proud of my efforts anyways because the "imperfections are what make the creation handmade" and personal. The teacher said so, herself.


Well, that is the idea I'm sticking with because I could not make the rim even anymore without the danger of its wall collapsing. It was not as easy to "pinch" the dough gradually to make the hole deeper and the walls higher, but it was even tougher to come out with a decoration for the bowl once it was done.

I was stumped but fortunately there were samples of previous works done by fellow teachers and students to give some ideas to what my bowl should have.


I went for the big leaves motif. Simple and less work to clear off the many small lumps of clay when drew lines on the clay. Wifey went for the Oriental tea cup motif with bamboo trees decorated all around it.

We started at about ten in the morning and finished at about one in the afternoon. Not bad for a 3 hour work on the first attempt by everyone.

The many people participated resulted in the many versions of a coffee mug that was not meant to be. Instead, artsy bowl and a sense of achievement produced by everyone filled the room as each one placed their work on the shelve to air dry before they left the class.

Making pottery felt so therapeutic. The hours seemed to fly by so fast as my hands became more comfortable forming the dough and less awkward as the my fingers delved into the clay. I realized my confidence gained as I saw lump of clay slowly took its shape transformed into what I imagined it would be in my hands.


Thanks to Liz for giving me the opportunity to attend her class.

I understand now, why Wifey likes this art so much, producing her many beautiful pieces she produced week after week, apart from the fact that the pieces she helped made will be sold during one of the school's fund raising events for its children from lower income families.

The pieces that we made yesterday are to be sold off too at the same event. It makes me feel happy to get to know this art form and contribute at the same time.

It is a beautiful art form, for a beautiful purpose.

Back In Time

Saturday held a pleasant surprise for Wifey and I.

It was suppose to be a quick errand. Wifey got back from her pottery class in the early afternoon and could not wait to buy the paints for her pottery she had already made, several of them waiting to be hand-painted in the next phase of her masterpiece creation.


She managed to drag me along to ArtFriend to get her pottery supplies after waiting for me to finish submitting my monthly report for work from home... I would have submitted by the week's end but took Friday off work to accompany Mom to her Geriatric consultant at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.


We were there just about an hour before the closing at 6:30PM to make purchases. I made a early purchase too for our upcoming involvement with Sonny's school in their Enviro-Life Science Symposium.


Our Parent Support Group we call DSP will have a big booth, just like last year to help drive home eco-friendly messages to the visitors at the event. A showcase to the visiting teaching professionals and potential primary school students and their parents, to introduce the school for their pick for their secondary school education.


On our way back, we spotted large banners and flags about Rihlah Exhibition at the National Library. The free-entry exhibition on the tenth floor, showcased the origins of Arab immigrants in Singapore and parts of Southeast Asia... a free education for the public and definitely an interesting topic and the right time and place for Wifey and I.


A simple but very informative museum setup displayed artifacts from yesteryear, on loan from both locals and the Mediterranean... the origin of the most of the Arab ancestors who settled here centuries ago.


I should have brought my dSLR with me whenever we stepped out of our home. We never know what happenings and activities are help outside that are worth capturing its moments. Alas, my iPhone was the next best thing to capture this rare event.


Kudos to National Library Board for organising this public education to both locals, foreigners and especially to the many new immigrants here.

One Last Shopping!

Yesterday was a spur-of-the-moment kind of decision.

As if it was ESP, Wifey and I both read each others' minds to decide making one last shopping trip to Geylang Serai Raya Bazaar for our last minute Hari Raya preparations.

Once we had broken our fast for the second last day before Aidilfitri, we just had to go down to the Raya bazaar to get the final touches stuff for our home deco.

Wifey wanted the throw cushions to "pop" and blend with the curtains, as the ones she already changed faded into the sofa.

"The flowers need changing..." was her comment and I agreed. There will not be anything different than last year if we stuck to the same flower arrangements from last year.


Contrary to the many home deco shows on cable TV, Malays here, including us, still prefer fake flowers than fresh ones as these are definitely durable and economical. The flowers can be washed clean from dust and be used again for a long time.

So we had an extra list of only throw cushion covers for the sofa and large ones on the floor, table runners for the coffee and dining table, and flowers to complete the Raya look for our home.

Most probably the real motivation for this extra list is the fact that both of us, especially me, love to soak in the chaotic ambiance while shopping at the Raya bazaar. It is a once a year kind of atmosphere where everyone is happy shopping for Hari Raya.

By this last days before the big celebration, the prices of many goods have fallen drastically like clearance sale. So cushion covers were 3 pieces for $10.00 and so were flowers. 3 stalks for $10.00 too.

It was a simple affair. We finished our shopping as quickly as we got there. Surprisingly, the place was not as jam-packed as we had expected. Most probably, the shoppers are waiting for the last day to get all the things they had already eyed on to buy as the prices can go as low as 70 to 80 percent.


Anything from carpets to Raya cookies, all will be sold off like a closing down sale. As pretty well known and tempting as it is, I had never done the very-last-minute shopping bit before. The very last crazy-knockdown-sale would probably be around midnight to 4:00AM in the morning, when the Raya bazaar is finally closed for the year.

It is a bittersweet thing for me. On one hand it is so exciting to get to the month of Syawal to celebrate Aidilfitri, on the other the excitement of preparing for the big day was coming to an end.

I keep saying it every year and every year I still feel the same... time flies so fast. I just cannot believe that the month of Ramadhan is leaving us very soon.

Here's to all Muslims around the world...

May your Ramadhan be blessed as a reward for your prayers
May you celebrate Aidilfitri, happy and triumphant.

That Yearly Pilgrim

Last weekend saw me standing in the crowd as Wifey browsed through the Baju Kurung or Malay traditional dress at the Geylang Bazaar.

Getting well dressed-up for visiting during Hari Raya is a must to celebrate the occasion. Of course, well dressed does not necessarily mean expensive clothes, but just new affordable ones that one treats oneself for the successful triumph of fasting during the Ramadhan month.

Like every year, during Ramadhan, Geylang Serai Bazaar is the focal point for the Malays and nowadays, Muslims of all races too shop for all the essentials of Raya celebrations from clothes to home decorations like curtains, sofa covers, bedsheets... the list is endless.


Talking about the Raya list, we have ours too that we have so far done almost all to prepare for the celebrations in the month of Syawal to be 10th September 2010.

But before that, besides soaking in the chaotic and happy atmosphere at the bazaar, for the guys, it is definitely the endless choices of food, Malay kuih or savories and snacks that are not often sold at food stalls on a normal day. The food that always tastes so good during break fast at sunset after a day of abstaining from any food or drink from dawn.


This year, Wifey decided that only Sonny needed new Baju Kurung since she already has her dresses that we bought about the same time last year but never worn. She has been saving it for this year. Sonny and I have ours too which are colour-coordinated with hers but Sonny's had outgrown his when we tried our clothes on...

Sonny is still growing taller as we speak, so his Baju Kurung can only be worn once or twice within that year before he outgrows it. Still pristine and new, his clothes will normally be given away as hand-me-downs to his younger cousins.


Last week was shopping for Sonny's clothes, so this week, it is for our home.

We bought seven types of Malay cookies and two types of crackers for our Raya guests to snack on during their visits to our home. Together with the homemade cookies and Swiss roll cakes she ordered from my sister's friend complete the finger food section of our Raya preparations.

Wifey was able to convince me to purchase a set of curtains for the living room to match with the new sofa covers we bought a year ago for this Raya. Together with the spare curtains we bought last year for all study and all the bedrooms, the home decoration section for Raya is done. Checked!

What is left in the list is only the soda drinks that I will buy a carton or two of 1.5 litres bottles a few days before Hari Raya to check the list.


The mandatory list required by all able Muslims are the Zakat Fitrah and Harta. A form of tax for the Muslims community that is practiced all over the world, monies collected to be distributed out to the poor and unfortunate.

Dad had been given his and Mom's since they were married but since his demise, I have taken the responsibility to pay for Mom's Fitrah, along with the ones for Wifey, Sonny and myself of about S$6.50 per person. A small but important amount collectively amongst the poor and needy in the Muslim society.

Wifey and I will make a trip to the bank to withdraw from both of our savings accounts, 2.5% each from the total amount that was unused or untouched for the period of a year to be donated to the poor and unfortunate through any MUIS' or Islamic Council of Singapore collection centres, normally at all the mosques across the island.

These two Zakats are to be donated before the morning prayer of Aidilfitri or Hari Raya.

This year, I was thinking of giving a portion to the Jamiyah Old Folks Home, while the rest will be donated to the mosque and some poor and friends who are single mothers that Wifey and I know.

Our Hari Raya list is almost done as we advance nearer to Aidilfitri.

Breakfast At Syed's

Dates with grapes and slices of apples and pairs

Today is the first weekend since the holy month of Ramadhan started four days ago.

Weekends are Wifey's rest days, so we decided that our first break-fast outside this year was at Syed Restaurant in Simpang Bedok. It is our usual weekend haunt for a good, sit-down meal.

The food served has always been delicious. The set meal for four has always been worth it for this family of three... with some leftovers to pack home too as the portions served are big.

It consists of our first and the reason why we choose the place; Tom Yam Seafood Soup, thick and moist omelet, stir fried kailan in oyster sauce and chicken in sambal or chili sauce. Eaten with white rice and with a popodum cracker on the side.

Two glasses of Tea Tarik & Ice Milo

Wifey and I had Tea Tarik for drinks while Sonny had his favourite tall glass of Ice Milo. Sonny's choice of drinks is as predictable as our order for Tom Yam Soup whenever the place has it in its menu.

During the Ramadhan month, most if not all eating places will serve an additional side dish which is dates from Arabia or California to break our fast first, followed by our food. Syed Restaurant goes a little extra mile by serving dates with assorted of other fruits as well, like slices of apples, pares and grapes.

Knowingly, the food tasted extra wonderful today than our other weekend days simply because of the fasting. Like always, there would be much food left after we had our fill. This time, only the omelet was left which we had it packed to eat later during sahur or our meal before dawn.

We bought Seafood Fried Rice for sahur to be eaten with the leftover omelet.

White Rice with lightly salty Popodum Craker

Always a nice experience to see so many other Muslim families all seated and waiting for the breakfast time that was at 7:15 PM today. All happy faces chatting away waiting for the prayer call to be heard over the radio blasting from the rows of shophouse restaurants they turned on for their diners.

You will notice the children's eyes looking at all that food spread on their tables, warm and ready to be eaten but they will just have to practice patience, refraining from eating until the it was breakfast time... even though they have not reached the age of fasting yet. Instead, they want to emulate their parents and older siblings to break-fast together.

Not to worry, the food spread looks a lot and definitely delicious but my goal to lose weight, to be more around my ideal again, will be achieved because fasting more than 13 hours during the day when more activity is done will definitely help.

Clockwise: Tom Yam Soup, Omelet, Sambal Chiken & Kailan in Oyster Sauce

After a while, maybe into the second and towards the third and fourth week, we would be conditioned to eating less than our normal portion, thus somewhat accelerating the weight loss usually.

During this month, I do lighter than usual daily exercises on my home gym, the same time before I shower and head to the office. The usual hour duration is reduced to half, just to be sure I get to tone up and also get a tiny dose of the adrenaline rush brought about from the exercise.

So instead of going for lunch at work, I get to take a nap to recharge for the next half of the day throughout Ramadhan.

End To Begin

Today is family day out! My kind of fun.

With the month-long June school holiday kicks into gear, we have so many potential places and activities to do together as a family... I get endorphins just by thinking about it!

After an official family discussion last night, all three of us unanimously decided that we watch a movie today. The movie everybody had in mind spontaneously is Shrek, Forever After.


Wasting no time, I quickly booked it online at GV Tampines for the 4:25PM show. We are watching Shrek and his friends for the final time in 3D.

An avid fan of the friendly green ogre, this family has been watching his adventures from the very beginning, all on the big screen. The imprinted scene that everyone particularly love is the journey to the Far Far Away kingdom. Donkey's over-zealousness and "are we there yet" antics gave us the best laughter ever!


Each show has been very funny and entertaining. After watching each movie, we cannot wait to watch the next one. Well, the next one is here but it is "The Final Chapter" unfortunately.

Then again, like true-blue fans, we will have fun watching this last movie of our green ogre. Like Shrek, this family will be together forever after.

Night Of Songs

Never thought that a week night can be so enjoyable.

The safe and lazy side of me prefers to go straight home after work and be with my family, watch some TV and get some surfing and blogging done, all in the comfort of my home.

With the exception of a Friday night, where I would normally drag Wifey and Sonny for dinner out, simply because the next day is not a working or school Saturday. It always tricks my brain to think that my weekend seems longer when Sunday evening comes.

Last Wednesday opened the possibility that sometimes it is worth the hassle to be out on a weeknight spending time, still with my family but in a different setting.

Wifey and I received an invitation from Sonny's school principle to attend their choir performance at The Esplanade. We got complimentary tickets for two to watch the award winning neighbourhood school's choir at the sprawling concert hall.


Not like me to be out on a weekday. For be it like me to watch live choir performances. But I accepted out of obligation since the principle herself text Wifey to get us tickets.

I was glad I obliged because the night was fabulous!

I found myself seated beside a beautiful Wifey... all dressed in her black flowery dress looking elegant, and in the same row as the principle herself! I dressed up extra smart to work to complement Wifey as a couple and went straight to the concert right after.

I saw Sonny just before the concert started. He was dressed so smartly with his long-sleeved black shirt and a dark gray vest, and black slacks... becoming of a smart young gentleman. He was holding a flower to give his choir friend after the performance.


I truly enjoyed the choir especially two of their interpretations of a Swahili song and one of the renaissance composition... I have totally forgotten the song titles but I just love the way it done.

The concert hall was packed. I only realized that it was full house when the choir conductor mentioned it. A sold-out concert at a bigger venue! Amazing.

The mostly young crowd loved the choir's rendition of The Circle of Life song from the Lion King movie, with the comical acts thrown in, complete with sounds of jungle animals in the background. Truly entertaining.


Truly talented young people. Truly deserving of their gold awards at the international festival in Prague, Czech Republic, tops among the 55 choirs from 15 countries!

It really beat the stay-home weekday routine where our lives practically revolve around flat screens in our home... our LCD TVs, computer monitors and yes, the games on the iPhones too.

I have to be thankful to Sonny's school principle Ms Chong for the invite. The school exposes Sonny to so many experiences and options, and it gives the parents the same opportunities too!

Thank you Dunman Secondary School!

The Good Times

All packed and ready to go.

Then Sonny reminded us that he had a school concert to go to... fine.

"But I have to wear something retro..." he quipped asking for help at the final hour, continued when he got our attention "something in the 70's."

Out came my old clothes in Wifey's hands. Am I stuck in the rut of the 70's? Yikes!

Sonny can now fit my clothes... clothes that Wifey stashed somewhere deep in my closet, a place I have not "been in" for the longest time. The clothes when my waist size was a shapely 29... 30 inches, complemented by my long-lost six-pack abs. Now, my abs are just... packed. Sigh!

Sonny tried the ensemble on and ended-up looking like a teenage version of me, with my "70s" clothes... all thin and lanky; all innocent looking. Innocent of the erroneous fashion statement of my yesteryear.

He had my expensive black baggy pants on, my black short-sleeved shirt and my beige-brown pin-stripe vest. Wifey accented his look with her large crystal brooch with a dangling chain, clipped-down to his chest. He was to leave home by 7:00PM for the concert that was to start on 7:30PM.

Finally, Wifey and I headed to our weekend sanctuary... Changi Beach Park.

Sunset view from Changi Beach

The sun was setting as we had our picnic dinner by the beach, on a large canvas, sprawled open on the white sandy beach under a flowering tree.

As we eat, we watched the sun setting, while the tree continually showered its bright yellow flowers onto us. Wifey ended-up play five-stone using the flowers. Cute.

The mat, the radio, the white sandy beach. Perfect day out

With the radio on, we chatted much about many things but predominantly about Sonny, how he was enjoying the concert... what his friend are saying about each others' 70's outfits.

While Wifey was busy playing her Popstar! Lite game on her iPhone, I was busy practicing my take on night photography... under very low light.


I could not resist being drawn to her iPhone games, not with her quirky antics while playing it. I ended up downloading the same game on my iPhone and getting expert tips from her. She even introduced me to a new game called Titanic... a very noisy game. An equally fun game.

Wifey playing Popstar! on her iPhone

So, for a while there, this couple was busy playing video games on the iPhone while soaking the sea breeze and at times watching large ships, with their colourful lights piercing the darkness and casting dancing shows on the water while it cruised pass us.

We headed home by cab and got a glimpse of Sonny's school, Dunman Secondary, when we passed along Tampines Avenue 9. The school hall was still brightly lit. I imagined Sonny having lots of fun with his friends...

Our Radio bombarded with cheery yellow flowers

"We don't have such thing during our time, right Ayah?" Wifey asked for confirmation. Nope! We did not have such thing then. Times were very different then than now. Everything is so convenient and safe now... from public transport to living infrastructure.

For the first time, Sonny was still out with his friends after 11:00PM, surpassing his folks!

Keeping really still for long exposure without flash photography

Sunset at Changi Beach

Fishing & frolicking with the wharf lit as the background

Changi Beach Park by night with campers

Changi Beach resident cat with granite-rock camouflaged

Changi Beach mystic of Ram & Chimp faces on a tree trunk