tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25354463070114318092024-02-09T01:24:15.333+08:00ZewSays.comA daily thinking journal from an undergraduate who is deeply engrossed in thinking about virtually everything he comes across in life. Thus, this blog is born out of his need to compile his observation and thoughts. What's more, it is created for him to meet with fellow thinkers out there like you who share same interest with himVichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17220018844764301317noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535446307011431809.post-60412582234473515292019-10-15T15:39:00.001+08:002019-10-15T15:42:55.048+08:00<!DOCTYPE html>
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<!-- nuffnang--></div>Vichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17220018844764301317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535446307011431809.post-16421666816131663202011-08-11T02:33:00.001+08:002011-11-19T05:28:12.933+08:00Of Exposure- College<div align="justify">
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“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”-St. Augustine. </div>
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If my life were to be a novel, its dominant theme, at least up to this chapter, would be exposure-being subjected to influencing experiences. This theme is where most of my important decisions revolve around, including transferring to another college. To me, exposure comes in many forms. It could be a song a middle-aged taxi driver always sings. It could be a question from a kid sitting next to me in the train. It could also be the graffiti works I see in Kuala Lumpur streets. Whatever form it takes, it alters my life and self, bit by bit, every time it comes. I am thrilled at the thought of how much my life could change with my further studies in the States, another Land of Diversity. </div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GuOUNSUTkfY/TkLO00DFe0I/AAAAAAAABVY/QXd2WQNhAqs/s1600-h/DSC03428%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC03428" border="0" height="344" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4NVPLMPCaUs/TkLO2MrMB9I/AAAAAAAABVc/4Zfbi8HKBqM/DSC03428_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC03428" width="450" /></a> </div>
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Of the five senses I have, I value hearing the most. I am always involved in conversations, especially as a listener. I am always surprised with how much a coffee table talk can teach me. It is through such conversations that I learn about the local artists I have missed and the children’s rhymes like Inky Pinky Ponky that I would not have known otherwise. I also love conversations with complete strangers such as taxi drivers. Each person has his own set of experiences, opinions and most importantly, perceptions. If we listen hard enough, we would always be amazed with how little we know about the world around us. I still remember how I found out about how local taxi drivers’ organization work and how the profession is defined through a chat with the cab driver whom I might never see again. An afterthought, though. If the driver were to compile what he has seen and heard, he could have written a Malaysian version of the <i><a href="http://diaryofataxidriver.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Diary of a Taxi Driver</a></i> given his wry eye of observation. Indeed, conversation lets me see the world through others’ eyes. </div>
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It is also through conversations that I often get to sense the unusual rise and fall in one’s tone, pace and pitch whenever a topic coincides with one’s passion. Indirectly, it elevates my spirit as well. Witnessing how Farish A. Noor treasures his collection of pre-war Peranakan lingerie and how he elaborates on the evolution of modesty in the Southeast Asia during his talk in Annexe Gallery has, in a way, stimulated me to find out more about local history that was nowhere to be found in history textbooks and to continue my long kept hobby, newspaper cutting. Knowledge and passion are what drive me to always look out for companions with whom I can share a word or two. </div>
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Observation is yet another important form of exposure. For some unknown reasons, I have grown up in a body much weaker than my soul and will. I did not get to climb up rambutan trees or to play Tag and Chase like how my cousins did. Instead, I always sat watching them from faraway, another form of participating I guess. It is fun. I am often involved in random observations. On one morning, I might be looking at how people make their steps, whether they land with heels, toes or the whole soles. On another, I would try to analyze how others hold their pens. I know this sounds silly but that is who I am, an incorrigible observer desperate for patterns. Only with observant eyes can I see more of the world. </div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-niGLyzQsMvA/TkLO6niHDdI/AAAAAAAABVg/wEWpgJB0MVU/s1600-h/DSC037866.jpg"><img alt="DSC03786" border="0" height="334" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-okenXWNo_JM/TkLO9gheE6I/AAAAAAAABVk/WQG08jkawZs/DSC03786_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC03786" width="438" /></a> </div>
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I once thought that I lived in the dearth of exposures, having been confined to a quiet town and an academically underperforming high school. However, I started to realize that the lack of exposure is itself an exposure. It is through my high school that I was acquainted with the so-called <a href="http://www.zewsays.com/2010/06/budding-dream-in-gangster-school.html" target="_blank">gangsters</a>. The experience of mediating the relationship between my gangster friends and the disciplinary teachers as a student leader has taught me much. No one seemed to cherish or even notice that some if not all of these alleged “rotten apples” have their own talents. I did not only notice that they are the hidden gems but also ended up learning from each other. With this belief in the abundance of exposures, I make the best of what I have wherever I am. Still, I shall look forward to an even richer environment in the college I am about to transfer to. </div>
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To me, reading is the magic wand that removes the boundary of where our sight could reach. I have always been seen as a bookworm since young. While others were busy playing with firecrackers during Chinese New Year, I read through notes on physiognomy and palmistry in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tung_shing" target="_blank">Tung Shing</a> (Chinese almanac) my Aunt kept. Back then, buying books was not an option. Instead, I found delight in picking up general knowledge through newspaper, the most affordable source of information I had then. On recycled exercise books and calendars, I pasted my newspaper cuttings and scribbled short notes about the articles. Newspaper cutting has since then become my main hobby even until I have the luxury of owning a secondhand computer when I was 17. </div>
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Along my route of reading, I have met several great companions; one of whom I remember the most is a bookstore owner. Instead of chasing me away when I hid myself at one corner trying to pore through as many books as I can, he was kind enough to loan me the books with a condition that I must discuss about the books with him later. The greatest wish of mine would be to be surrounded with great books and voracious readers. In such environment, I shall indulge myself in the world painted by the likes of Ernest Hemmingway and Malcolm Gladwell. </div>
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Yet another form of exposure I would like to highlight is experience, the verb. Reading, observation and listening can only do so much to a person. At the end of the day, it is the experience that really counts. I always thought that I knew how martial art works. It was not until I joined Taekwondo classes at 17 that I started to know that there is more than meets the eye. Self-defense art is not just about levers. It is also about deception and mental state. Staying calm and seeing through opponent’s intention through body movements is crucial. To actually feel how two shinbones hit each other and to suffer the bruise after every session was then the real thing. I also always thought that I knew about fear before I went for flying fox and abseiling during national service. It was only when I overcame the shiver and hesitation at the brink that I knew what fear is. True experience is very much I need from now on as that is the way to really know about something. </div>
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What I hope to achieve in college also revolves around this very theme. I hope to be accompanied by great companions worthy of intellectual conversations; to be surrounded by a different level of cultural diversity for more fruitful observations; to lose myself among the racks of books and tomes; and to be part of the exhilarating college experiences. </div>
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I believe Mark Twain says it best when he said “Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” </div>
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<!-- nuffnang--></div>Vichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17220018844764301317noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535446307011431809.post-7160012777474661172011-08-06T01:06:00.011+08:002011-11-19T05:26:56.800+08:00Of Worthy Entrepreneurship Journey with Worthy Book-Exclusive Interview with Han Jia Kho<div align="justify">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In his typical casual smart outfit, Kho Han Jia or more affectionately known as Jia, greeted me at The Coffee Bean in KL Sentral. It is always inspiring to speak to entrepreneurs. To speak to the owner of a start-up is even more so. Their eyes are fuelled with passion and drive. They care for their business just as how we care for our loved ones. Though they might be driven by different motives, backed by different experiences, equipped with different skill sets, the flame in their eyes is always the same. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Kho Han Jia in Worthy Book T-shirt posing with a Worthy Book in Worthy Book-sponsored Youth Nation Summit (co-organized by AIESEC &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; myHarapan</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kho Han Jia, the co-founder of the <a href="http://www.worthybook.my/" target="_blank">Worthy Book</a>, is just like any other entrepreneur. Otherwise soft-spoken, Jia can never hide his love for <a href="http://www.worthybook.my/" target="_blank">Worthy Book</a> when he speaks. Just like a father of a newborn, Jia can never get Worthy Book off his mind and tongue. I first got acquainted with him and Worthy Book through the <a href="http://www.aiesec.my/main/youth-nation-summit-2011/" target="_blank">Youth Nation Summit</a> of which he is one of the corporate sponsor. With his permission and blessings, I shall now share with you what we discussed the other day at a coffee table. </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IgYSUeJn0kQ/TjwmrX1_GSI/AAAAAAAABUo/Gs7OAqtkjzw/s1600-h/46819_157755434236405_154264667918815_497196_5429698_n%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="46819_157755434236405_154264667918815_497196_5429698_n" border="0" height="174" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sDUov06IQok/Tjwmr48hnEI/AAAAAAAABUs/jeGaVUIkico/46819_157755434236405_154264667918815_497196_5429698_n_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="46819_157755434236405_154264667918815_497196_5429698_n" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before that, though, I shall briefly introduce to you the Worthy Book</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. In short, Worthy Book is a coupon book or voucher booklet for dining, entertainment, retail and services, currently serving subscribers in Klang Valley area. Making its first debut in September 2010, Worthy Book is well positioned as the market leader in Malaysian coupon booklet industry. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jia, an enterprising Oxford graduate had the foresight to identify the market gap in Malaysia. With tenacity, Jia has collected as many as over 100 established brands with the covers of Worthy Book. Such brands include the like of Krispy Kreme Doughnut, Papa John’s Pizza, The Manhattan Fish Market, Tony Roma’s, Video Ezy, Border’s, The Body Shop, Watson's, Baleno, Purple Cane, Aster Spring, Slimming Sanctuary, Mary Chia, Jojoba Spa, Wendy's, Kenny Rogers, Boost Juice Bar, the Library, Gloria Jean's Cafe, Shins and so on. You can know more about the business through this <a href="http://www.bfm.my/worthy-book-kho-han-jia-ken-kho.html" target="_blank">podcast of BFM radio interview with Worthy Book</a>. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7C6ay72OStE/TkD5xrT3RDI/AAAAAAAABU8/HdB41W92Xs4/s1600/Kho+Han+Jia+3+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7C6ay72OStE/TkD5xrT3RDI/AAAAAAAABU8/HdB41W92Xs4/s640/Kho+Han+Jia+3+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Kho Han Jia (Worthy Book), Ken Kho (Worthy Book) and <a href="http://www.bfm.my/BFM89.9-Prsenters-Caroline-Oh-Shazmin-Shamsuddin-Freda-Liu-Patrick-Michael.html" target="_blank">Freda Liu</a> (BFM89.9) </span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Worthy Book is also actively involved in various Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities alongside companies such as Starbucks Coffee, Accenture, P&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;G and Grad Malaysia. This is a laudable trait to be found in young startups with insanely high growth rate. Indeed, Worthy Book is not only worthy in the sense that it brings you RM 18,000 worthy of discounts, offers and freebies with your RM 35 investment but also for the effort in charity projects. In their debut edition, RM 2 for every book sold has been donated to the National Kidney Foundation (NKF).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_9jIqUCcqSM/TkD7acy3EoI/AAAAAAAABVE/WdI1QCPFzOo/s1600/180787_196882943656987_154264667918815_744017_6061981_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="289" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_9jIqUCcqSM/TkD7acy3EoI/AAAAAAAABVE/WdI1QCPFzOo/s640/180787_196882943656987_154264667918815_744017_6061981_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Kho Han Jia passing over the donation to NKF on behalf of Worthy Book readers who support the Worthy Cause</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ymsvoIa6dqo/Tjwi74a4-NI/AAAAAAAABUY/aWqlGeDFF9c/s1600-h/180787_196882943656987_154264667918815_744017_6061981_n%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now that we have known Jia and Worthy Book better, I shall move the spotlight on our pleasant chat the other day. The interview can be divided into two focus areas: entrepreneurship and learning. For the record, the questions and answers transcribed were not verbatim. </span><br />
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<strong><em><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Area 1: Kho Han Jia from Worthy Book on Entrepreneurship</span></u></em></strong><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zew: What is your advice for entrepreneurs-to-be on sourcing for starting capital?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jia: My advice would be “thinking creatively”. Certain assumptions people make could be invalid.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zew: How would you plot the growth curve of Worthy Book up to this point?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jia: The growth of Worthy Book has been fantastic. We basically started with zero experience and background knowledge in this rather new industry. However, within months of Worthy Book’s debut, it has been featured on BFM 89.9, the Sun, the Malay Mail, Bernama TV, <a href="http://redtomato.com.my/" target="_blank">Red Tomato Weekly</a> and so on. This is not to mention the uplifting support from the blogosphere and our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/worthybook" target="_blank">Facebook fans</a>. We are honored to sponsor some events, talks, competitions and career fairs alongside other established brands. A number of corporations and angel investors who also believe in our passion have approached us to explore collaboration and investment opportunities. Discussions are still ongoing as we are speaking. Being a young startup, we are always open and appreciate any opportunity of expansion. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zew: As what I understand from the BFM’s radio interview with you and Ken Kho earlier last year, the business model is similar to traditional print media where revenue source is twofold, one from ad sales and another from book sales. What do you think about the current business model? Do you have any plan to innovate the business model on this basis?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jia: Yes, we do. Stay tuned. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zew: Co-founding has become very common among young businesses now. How have your co-founding experience been? How has the co-founding benefit you? What were some of the challenges in co-founding? Was there any disagreement and how did that turn out? How would you advise other entrepreneurs out there in selecting and managing co-founders?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jia: It has been great. Ken and I have different strengths. There’s no doubt that sometimes there are issues which we disagree on but I think that is healthy because it helps keep us both in check and allows us to see the bigger picture. I would advise entrepreneurs to select your co-founders with complementary skill sets and personality. This is because, rarely is there someone who can be a striker, a midfielder and at the same time, a defender. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zew: Looking back at the past 1 year or so, what are the things that you wish you have done differently?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jia: I think there was no way we could have known how to do it differently and I think mistakes are inevitable and important in the journey. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zew: What have you done that your competitors haven’t or couldn’t? What differentiates you from the competitors? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jia: I think having the skill sets and personalities of co-founders would be the most important element differentiating us from our competitors. Also I think the quote in one of the <a href="http://www.airasia.com/my/en/home.html" target="_blank">AirAsia</a> advertisements says it all – “we innovate, others imitate”. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zew: What were some of the past experiences that have helped you in the process? What is your take on the advice “immerse yourself in career world before starting your own business? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jia: I think it is a good idea. There are some valuable skillsets, exposure and experience you can learn from employment. However, the right balance must be struck because I have seen some who are unable to leave their comfort zone. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zew: How would you advice entrepreneurs-to-be in one or two lines? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jia: “Think creatively” and “Just do it” (Most people never do it) </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zew: Worthy Book has been very active in sponsorship and CSR projects. What is your take on the current CSR scene in Malaysia? What have you done differently? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jia: Most corporations perform CSR for the end recipients. As for us, we do that too, but we have also given to the staff and volunteers, rewarding them for their hard work and dedication because we feel they too play a very important role which is often less highlighted. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ww1iSZWyFGk/TkD8oHbjVyI/AAAAAAAABVM/efc0hG8Fd_Y/s1600/Kho+Han+Jia+4+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ww1iSZWyFGk/TkD8oHbjVyI/AAAAAAAABVM/efc0hG8Fd_Y/s640/Kho+Han+Jia+4+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One of CSR events of Worthy Book</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><u><br /></u></em></strong></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><u>Area 2: Kho Han Jia from Worthy Book on Learning</u></em></strong> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zew: How did you find your college experience at Oxford? How has the experience helped you?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jia: I think the Oxford experience has been great. I loved the historical city, architecture, traditions, people and so on. It also allowed me to learn from some of the brightest minds around though I am not a fan of the 1 to 1 tutorial system. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zew: I noticed that you switched your course from engineering path to business/investment path at Oxford, why did you do that? What were the challenges you faced back then? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jia: To be exact, my course was Masters of Engineering, Economics &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Management. It is notorious for being the toughest at Oxford. Imagine the weekly workload of having to write two to three essays (with a reading list of 25 books/journals) and 20 engineering problems to solve. Sometimes the classes for economics even clashed with those of engineering! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think each discipline is important – engineering helps with logical thinking, problem solving and numerical skills; whereas economics and management allows you to present your arguments efficiently, coherently and persuasively. To me, it was quite a natural transition as I had interests in all 3 subjects. Interest makes difficult things easy. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zew: What is your advice on how to maximize college experience? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jia: First, I would say you have to join as many extra-curricular activities as you can. The same goes to internships and competitions. Students should also make as many friends as they can. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zew: You have also done several internships before. How would you evaluate the experience? What is your advice on how to maximize internship experience? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jia: The internships (i.e. at Deloitte, <a href="http://www.burohappold.com/" target="_blank">Buro Happold</a> and Oxfordshire County Council) were great in the sense that they allow you to put what you have learnt at school or college into (or out of) perspective. I would advice youths to treat internship as if it is your own business which means to hold full responsibility over the success and failure of your efforts. Also, be a sponge and absorb as much as you can. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zew: What are your favorite sources of knowledge or information? What do you usually do after knowing something? </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jia: Knowledge and information are everywhere. For me, one of the most entertaining way to learn is through movies and TV shows. It depends. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zew: As seen from your profile, you have won numerous awards in calligraphy, Chinese painting, drawing, essay writing, math, physics and so on at school. You were also active in scout, art society, Asia Pacific Society, Malaysia Club and Hong Kong Society in your college years, How do you discover your passion/talent?</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jia: It was by chance in most cases. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zew: What would you say about the youths nowadays? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jia: Youths today are more vocal and confident and that is good. However, they must always ensure that they deliver what they promised. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zew; In terms of thinking and learning, who (whom you know personally or not) do you look up to? Why? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jia: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contrarian" target="_blank">Contrarians</a> are always interesting. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zew: I believe you have seen many intelligent people. How/What have you learnt/observed about their thinking process? Are they very different? Or is there a striking similarity? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jia: They are very different due to their different experiences and disciplines. It is always interesting to learn from people from all sorts of background, there is always something to learn from someone.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zew: How do you maintain your work-life balance as a startup founder? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jia: Some people enjoy working all the time and treat that as “life”. Some people will never play games or sing karaoke as they feel that is “work”. I think it depends on one’s priorities and personality. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zew: You have been an active goer for seminars, summits and talks. What were some of the most memorable/inspiring speeches/ideas that you have heard/learnt? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jia: I enjoyed the talks by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Fernandes" target="_blank">Tony Fernandes</a> of Tune Group, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmad_Izham_Omar" target="_blank">Ahmad Izham Omar</a> of Media Prima, <a href="http://youngcorporatemalaysians.com/2011/02/write-up-ceo-series-29-rejina-rahim-managing-director-of-nomura-asset-management/" target="_blank">Rejina Rahim</a> from Nomura Asset Management Group and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumaatun_Azmi" target="_blank">Jumaatun Azmi from KasehDia</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Lo" target="_blank">Jason Lo</a> from Tune Talk and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azran_Osman_Rani" target="_blank">Azran Osman Rani</a> of AirAsiaX also gave some very insightful ideas during one of the summits. Coincidentally, quite a few mentioned here are from Tune Group! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1Ukqve4er34/Tjwmtc6GxrI/AAAAAAAABUw/93DznWLeE0A/s1600-h/Kho%252520Han%252520Jia%2525202%25255B13%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Kho Han Jia 2" border="0" height="356" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LYCxm3qJNVA/TjwmuE5kgRI/AAAAAAAABU0/1IMbddn40tY/Kho%252520Han%252520Jia%2525202_thumb%25255B10%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Kho Han Jia 2" width="264" /></a> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Jia and Worthy Book with Azran Osman Rani of AirAsiaX </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found this interview video on YouTube. In the interview by Bernama TV, co-founder Ken Kho introduced further about Worthy Book. Enjoy the video.</span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nrk7QY165Uo" width="670"></iframe>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you support Jia as a young entrepreneur? Do you think that Worthy Book will make it to the table of every family? Do share your thoughts with me and other readers out there in the comment section.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To find out more about Worthy Book, you may like them on Facebook below.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> An example of the voucher book can also be found at <a href="http://www.worthybook.my/">http://www.worthybook.my</a> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe allowtransparency="" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/likebox.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fworthybook&width=500&colorscheme=dark&show_faces=true&border_color&stream=true&header=true&height=427" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; height: 427px; overflow: hidden; width: 500px;"></iframe></span> <br />
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<!-- nuffnang--></div>Vichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17220018844764301317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535446307011431809.post-20990348498871887492011-07-20T15:24:00.001+08:002011-11-19T05:26:46.061+08:00Of Indian Wedding, Phones & St. Johns Institution-A Heritage Trip Downtown<div align="justify">
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I have always liked this part of Kuala Lumpur for reasons I cannot describe. Perhaps one of them is the cultural vibrancy here. Minus the cafeteria, I enjoy every minute spent at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasar_Seni" target="_blank">Central Market</a> and not to mention the various cultural events held there. My affinity to this part of Kuala Lumpur starts with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farish_A._Noor" target="_blank">Farish A. Noor</a>’s "<a href="http://www.annexegallery.com/index.php?view=details&id=237%3Afarish-noor-presents-from-modesty-plates-to-peranakan-lingerie-a-short-history-of-modesty-in-sea&option=com_eventlist&Itemid=53" target="_blank">From Modesty Plates to Peranakan Lingerie</a>” held in the <a href="http://www.annexegallery.com/" target="_blank">Annexe Gallery</a>. Many historical and cultural hotspots in KL are also within walking distance. To name but a few, National Textile Museum, Kuala Lumpur Memorial Library, Masjid Jamek, National Mosque and National Museum.</div>
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On June 12, my friends and I set off to witness the wedding of Sam’s sister nearby the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Mahamariamman_Temple,_Kuala_Lumpur" target="_blank">Sri Maha Mariamman Temple</a>, the most historic Hindu temple in KL established by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Mahamariamman_Temple,_Kuala_Lumpur" target="_blank">K. Thamboosamy Pillai</a> in 1873. On an interesting side note, K. Thamboosamy Pillai is also one of the founders of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Institution" target="_blank">Victoria Institution</a> established in 1893. Our tour guide of the day, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KLites" target="_blank">KL-ite</a>, decided to have a detour before the wedding. So, we had a stroll around the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petaling_Street" target="_blank">Petaling Street</a>. </div>
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Plaza Warisan</div>
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Y7oVzLJ0fd4/TiaAgahO_eI/AAAAAAAABNY/ecxDrHsKsAQ/s1600-h/DSC010678.jpg"><img alt="DSC01067" border="0" height="401" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qhnq_5e0yFE/TiaAht7FaMI/AAAAAAAABNc/8DBNIZgK3js/DSC01067_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01067" width="515" /></a><br />
UO Superstore<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-b1g5w7jmHtw/TiaAjnjarjI/AAAAAAAABNg/bYVjVXZw6OE/s1600-h/DSC010687.jpg"><img alt="DSC01068" border="0" height="400" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sW4C2Gfv82A/TiaAk7VQs7I/AAAAAAAABNk/FPuBq5NJ60U/DSC01068_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01068" width="524" /></a><br />
Kim Lian Kee Hokkien Mee 金莲记福建面<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PAfaHgPlOzg/TiaAnYUf2iI/AAAAAAAABNo/tptxzFkCvtM/s1600-h/DSC010698.jpg"><img alt="DSC01069" border="0" height="402" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pwhasfHxe4E/TiaAooL13TI/AAAAAAAABNs/E34uGVKROp0/DSC01069_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01069" width="516" /></a><br />
A stroll down the Petaling Street<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GW30bqzYh1U/TiaAq-cKHiI/AAAAAAAABNw/UvG8ariCXxo/s1600-h/DSC010708.jpg"><img alt="DSC01070" border="0" height="399" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-07rl3di6wHI/TiaAsXdR4EI/AAAAAAAABN0/lTPtKbwvdFo/DSC01070_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01070" width="513" /></a><br />
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Lee Rubber Building (南益大厦), currently Popular Book Store. It housed Public Bank before. Its Art Deco architecture was a work of AO Coltman who also designed Wisma Ekran at Jalan Tangsi, OCBC Building, Bank Bumiputra Building (formerly the Oriental Building) at Jalan Tun Perak and Odeon Cinema built by Cathay Organization nearby Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman. </div>
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Since I carry a Lee in my name, I shall introduce Lee Rubber (南益) in more details. It was founded by Lee Kong Chian (李光前), the richest in Southeast Asia back in the 1950s and 1960s. His brainchild, Lee Foundation, has been pouring its vast fund into various causes, regardless of race and religion, both in Malaysia and Singapore. What is worth mentioning is that the organization was also actively involved in the development of SJK (C) Kuo Kuang 国光华小 where I studied. </div>
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3VjMcvTd5nA/TiaAvu-ocdI/AAAAAAAABN4/I9qGg9ZiA08/s1600-h/DSC010717.jpg"><img alt="DSC01071" border="0" height="397" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UUjaNdvlR3Q/TiaAxsVCEII/AAAAAAAABN8/nFrrB6X0siQ/DSC01071_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01071" width="520" /></a><br />
Next up is Sri Maha Mariamman Temple<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GQAjQa-FlCs/TiaAzn1ifHI/AAAAAAAABOA/g5KuGiHOg50/s1600-h/DSC010727.jpg"><img alt="DSC01072" border="0" height="388" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZQaraD3MBvI/TiaA043TyzI/AAAAAAAABOE/JkwCc6REjDg/DSC01072_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01072" width="498" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Nq6Y4M2Bs5s/TiaA26KdRUI/AAAAAAAABOI/5iOjF9h9q9w/s1600-h/DSC010736.jpg"><img alt="DSC01073" border="0" height="384" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vj8SV2sn9p8/TiaA32vFSCI/AAAAAAAABOM/mfE5otOep0U/DSC01073_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01073" width="503" /></a><br />
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The wedding hall greeted us with the deliberate decoration made of colored grains, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolam" target="_blank">Kolam</a>. The two peacocks fuse into one. A closer look would have shown you how delicate the color shading was. It must been days of hard to work to arrange colored grains into this piece of art. </div>
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CJexI24TwNY/TiaA5wZVuAI/AAAAAAAABOQ/FD4wj8EKKEc/s1600-h/DSC010745.jpg"><img alt="DSC01074" border="0" height="445" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-l6-HJDmpe54/TiaA7JWm8NI/AAAAAAAABOU/_5hHc7BZ78Y/DSC01074_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01074" width="315" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-48-bB8FrXJ4/TiaA_ze9SrI/AAAAAAAABOY/jzKrgyYoJns/s1600-h/DSC010758.jpg"><img alt="DSC01075" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VBEGQqfIAtw/TiaBAi4YSdI/AAAAAAAABOc/S53F_mbDbwc/DSC01075_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01075" width="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fbInehUVcZs/TiaBB78HUeI/AAAAAAAABOg/aPDc-u8cV68/s1600-h/DSC010762.jpg"><img alt="DSC01076" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9Vl6TcDL4W8/TiaBCkwaBkI/AAAAAAAABOk/jMMlIwAV4Ew/DSC01076_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01076" width="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-MODZn8oEaUw/TiaBELoDpyI/AAAAAAAABOo/xowSQA-U29Q/s1600-h/DSC010772.jpg"><img alt="DSC01077" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pviUjvqWCn0/TiaBE88aMRI/AAAAAAAABOs/JMEhqiGo0UQ/DSC01077_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01077" width="184" /></a><br />
As usual, we had a cam-whore session before the start of the ceremony.<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Szz4hK3y68Q/TiaBGlohJdI/AAAAAAAABOw/c-4rJ4ja6iw/s1600-h/DSC010795.jpg"><img alt="DSC01079" border="0" height="411" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-H0_tM_GmbRs/TiaBHrLDp-I/AAAAAAAABO0/PKYvpfqhAmk/DSC01079_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01079" width="538" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Bu6Co3RVkK4/TiaBJRwJIcI/AAAAAAAABO4/7zwK7_TnfPY/s1600-h/DSC010805.jpg"><img alt="DSC01080" border="0" height="411" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0Simev1nTmY/TiaBKIwpPmI/AAAAAAAABO8/NcOWInkcRMc/DSC01080_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01080" width="538" /></a><br />
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The grandeur of the wedding hall was breathtaking. Alongside the red carpet leading all the way up to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedding_mandap" target="_blank">wedding mandap</a> were golden lamp curtained with silk. The glory of the wedding can only be matched with that of the bride and bridegroom and the bless-giving crowd. Everyone looked brilliant in his or her own traditional outfits: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sari" target="_blank">sari</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shalwar_kameez" target="_blank">shalwar kameez</a> a.k.a. punjabi suit, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhoti" target="_blank">dhoti</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baju_Melayu" target="_blank">baju melayu</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baju_Kurung" target="_blank">baju kurung</a>. </div>
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The ceremony retained South Asian traditional elements. The mandap was decorated with banana leaves, coconuts, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalasha" target="_blank">kalasha</a> (symbol of abundance, essentially a pot filled with water and covered with garland of mango leaves and coconut). The lengthy ritual was highly religious. Priests were there to give blessings in Sanskrit. The most memorable process for me was showering the two with rice grains as our blessings towards them. After that part, the couple walked around a fire to seal their marriage while reciting vows of love. </div>
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7Musbat_dCE/TiaBMLQzIFI/AAAAAAAABPA/TJcJEO0PFIc/s1600-h/DSC010824.jpg"><img alt="DSC01082" border="0" height="417" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2RasfyUUq7s/TiaBNGI-2yI/AAAAAAAABPE/xJltlLApd8w/DSC01082_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01082" width="545" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-T7m1gjZc-X4/TiaBP9mXVPI/AAAAAAAABPI/maPnWveJVnU/s1600-h/DSC010836.jpg"><img alt="DSC01083" border="0" height="226" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8l32tmGo-J0/TiaBQ8IEZfI/AAAAAAAABPM/i5ZoiEDjljA/DSC01083_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01083" width="259" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nPKI4DUwvXo/TiaBSg8zxrI/AAAAAAAABPQ/GUd9K-RQHhY/s1600-h/DSC010875.jpg"><img alt="DSC01087" border="0" height="226" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KF6AAy-LYA8/TiaBTR12DiI/AAAAAAAABPU/5LV4lc5EYYg/DSC01087_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01087" width="277" /></a><br />
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As with most weddings in Malaysia, food were served. Other than the usual Indian cuisines, we were served the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kulfi" target="_blank">Kulfi</a>, my now favorite dessert. It is the traditional Indian milk-based ice creams, much creamier and denser than those in Macdonald. It takes a while longer to melt on your tongue. Ah, a bliss under summer-like weather in Malaysia. Kulfi was once a privilege for the royalty and the upperclassmen before the advent of modern refrigeration technology. </div>
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iYmbg9s9Fko/TiaBUl17mlI/AAAAAAAABPY/cNVRGEHXiIE/s1600-h/DSC010906.jpg"><img alt="DSC01090" border="0" height="231" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5dJyMNEqosQ/TiaBVWMTDxI/AAAAAAAABPc/HUEXnf_0b8A/DSC01090_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01090" width="274" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MrRTdE6G9ds/TiaBXOLuTXI/AAAAAAAABPg/LZt7qhUHjYw/s1600-h/DSC010944.jpg"><img alt="DSC01094" border="0" height="232" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uJpqHendHjQ/TiaBX5hrGxI/AAAAAAAABPk/w0ONyVIQLv4/DSC01094_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01094" width="295" /></a><br />
On our way back from the banquet, we passed by the <a href="http://www.confucian.edu.my/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=60" target="_blank">Confucian Private Secondary School</a> (尊孔独中) founded back in 1906. It is one of the few <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Independent_High_School" target="_blank">Chinese independent high schools in Malaysia</a>. <br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2WUuFKfGx7M/TiaBZuavhLI/AAAAAAAABPo/V-EwLPw5DyM/s1600-h/DSC010954.jpg"><img alt="DSC01095" border="0" height="399" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-z7iGVx0KQGM/TiaBatVofeI/AAAAAAAABPs/Y1FDUlp-eUY/DSC01095_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01095" width="522" /></a><br />
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Maybank Tower which also houses Maybank Numismatic Museum. It was once the tallest skyscraper in Malaysia with its 244m height before the Twin Tower. </div>
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QFmSzlNdLiU/TiaBcRWn9fI/AAAAAAAABPw/_9Z2m3Fd_6M/s1600-h/DSC010964.jpg"><img alt="DSC01096" border="0" height="402" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FIWa6KRM2O8/TiaBdcUetSI/AAAAAAAABP0/fv0yd-FDmAk/DSC01096_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01096" width="526" /></a><br />
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Further down the lane, we stumbled upon the Muzium Telekom which presents us the development of telecommunication in Malaysia since the prehistoric time. Located at the intersection of Jalan Gereja and Jalan Raja Chulan, the neo-classical Greek building has stood there since year 1928. <a href="http://chedet.cc/blog/" target="_blank">Tun Mahathir</a>’s few words saved it from demolishment in 1985. Originally a manual telephone exchange, it now stores the stories from the past told through past phone recordings. </div>
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-86YUmBexm0c/TiaBfavH7_I/AAAAAAAABP4/N1zwrrhgeww/s1600-h/DSC010984.jpg"><img alt="DSC01098" border="0" height="433" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SI7Ax9UBgH0/TiaBgTpAKOI/AAAAAAAABP8/XeiVNeXtmu0/DSC01098_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01098" width="567" /></a><br />
The signboard at the entrance seemed out of place on the neo-classical Greek façade.<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gT3ONdBeNZg/TiaBib4YpCI/AAAAAAAABQA/tZHzngZeB0w/s1600-h/DSC011004.jpg"><img alt="DSC01100" border="0" height="430" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pkQtVIn9oL8/TiaBjZLYoVI/AAAAAAAABQE/Fc29cknxFkw/DSC01100_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01100" width="563" /></a><br />
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Fellow holders of smartphones, if you ever wonder how your parents or even grandparents whisper to each other across the distance in those days, Telekom Museum is the place to be. Each exhibit is accompanied with short and sweet explanation. What sets it apart from other museums is that certain phones are not only still functional but also replays call recordings from the past. These recordings might be a desperate call for help, a sweet couple talk or a daughter’s calling father at work. It is an interactive way to bring the old history to eyes, or should I say, ears. </div>
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DqilydHeF3Y/TiaBkkyHdOI/AAAAAAAABQI/zElbxGiwylo/s1600-h/DSC011013.jpg"><img alt="DSC01101" border="0" height="361" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-p6LQu31GHzQ/TiaBlkkwj9I/AAAAAAAABQM/EBDPAgneqmk/DSC01101_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01101" width="263" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QhDk9A9jiWo/TiaBmlzckdI/AAAAAAAABQQ/tdDmzA2OSZU/s1600-h/DSC011023.jpg"><img alt="DSC01102" border="0" height="357" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fQqnXXQcET0/TiaBnVtAMvI/AAAAAAAABQU/FTCoq3Q6ABg/DSC01102_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01102" width="260" /></a><br />
Exhibits of antiques phones<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9WgzrDW0bTQ/TiaBpA1ojgI/AAAAAAAABQY/9hHKlrau-2Q/s1600-h/DSC011034.jpg"><img alt="DSC01103" border="0" height="223" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WzwomvJCQ0Y/TiaBqmWX_sI/AAAAAAAABQc/1GIZLuQPwfM/DSC01103_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01103" width="273" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uFgN-c32i8E/TiaBrw2WaOI/AAAAAAAABQg/YFJdd3P67z4/s1600-h/DSC011053.jpg"><img alt="DSC01105" border="0" height="223" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RnmRoPlXBDA/TiaBsvawZ_I/AAAAAAAABQk/QzRPAl0Wn4Y/DSC01105_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01105" width="283" /></a><br />
Left: Antique Quran manuscript; Right: A telegrapher<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nOjslf8JLYs/TiaBuigvNHI/AAAAAAAABQo/olLy2juyX_Q/s1600-h/DSC011083.jpg"><img alt="DSC01108" border="0" height="214" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-D2fKfuixXw4/TiaBvVltOeI/AAAAAAAABQs/DKYJSzby6yc/DSC01108_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01108" width="272" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-t7nrnUDeNF8/TiaBxP8EEpI/AAAAAAAABQw/tA81NkAvO2Y/s1600-h/DSC011143.jpg"><img alt="DSC01114" border="0" height="218" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qLuzJMF0EzM/TiaBxweIeWI/AAAAAAAABQ0/N-4CqVRz-NM/DSC01114_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01114" width="277" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uIgPdsL6jLY/TiaBzMP-q7I/AAAAAAAABQ4/M44sECWkBGg/s1600-h/DSC011092.jpg"><img alt="DSC01109" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9LImNQZAb5I/TiaB0FjNgvI/AAAAAAAABQ8/CsN2zXos6m8/DSC01109_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01109" width="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3hjCqn17_mI/TiaB03iL5dI/AAAAAAAABRA/4bMh1R0wKf0/s1600-h/DSC011152.jpg"><img alt="DSC01115" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-060h0YglvcE/TiaB1xqmhjI/AAAAAAAABRE/mDR3ZPg8LcA/DSC01115_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01115" width="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qYwSMQE_iWI/TiaB3FMqoKI/AAAAAAAABRI/bMWn79SpSp4/s1600-h/DSC011162.jpg"><img alt="DSC01116" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GS8ggQjnZ9I/TiaB308FUtI/AAAAAAAABRM/PvMSoMqBdgM/DSC01116_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01116" width="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MIJCRjCc4IA/TiaB5gWGHuI/AAAAAAAABRQ/xtrZ6bbOd6I/s1600-h/DSC011114.jpg"><img alt="DSC01111" border="0" height="228" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hbsLsM1PVcg/TiaB6ZXCgZI/AAAAAAAABRU/DR_DqhyFpR8/DSC01111_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01111" width="280" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-IE5X4C4DlgQ/TiaB741alPI/AAAAAAAABRY/wzb8h3RGHac/s1600-h/DSC011124.jpg"><img alt="DSC01112" border="0" height="224" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nsoYysCuxOM/TiaB8qgSgsI/AAAAAAAABRc/e6h98IO1kGo/DSC01112_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01112" width="275" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SKJ8u5CYwd0/TiaB-otQuEI/AAAAAAAABRg/3NtuMnxB3FA/s1600-h/DSC011184.jpg"><img alt="DSC01118" border="0" height="232" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-N6GeReoMmO4/TiaB_ic4lSI/AAAAAAAABRk/KN5OI_pOCHM/DSC01118_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01118" width="284" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-G6ldfomAyUU/TiaCBPTfX_I/AAAAAAAABRo/ugr31O5fC0E/s1600-h/DSC011195.jpg"><img alt="DSC01119" border="0" height="231" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MJn_e04_p-8/TiaCB4QWLgI/AAAAAAAABRs/a6RV9zPmBD0/DSC01119_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01119" width="272" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-T-XlWs4Nj4k/TiaCD3MV2TI/AAAAAAAABRw/vdBEQH8wQjc/s1600-h/DSC011203.jpg"><img alt="DSC01120" border="0" height="223" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RpCfW6zUrow/TiaCExU-WYI/AAAAAAAABR0/1OFnK_nW7oE/DSC01120_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01120" width="283" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2QTu-xynDLo/TiaCGlj1HAI/AAAAAAAABR4/m5ixG8q_kPQ/s1600-h/DSC011213.jpg"><img alt="DSC01121" border="0" height="219" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-IORaKKE3mq4/TiaCHblgGUI/AAAAAAAABR8/ZA4tJQKjqC4/DSC01121_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01121" width="278" /></a><br />
Antique typewriters<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7PpjsEaKT1I/TiaCJmdfjII/AAAAAAAABSA/ko3SRKyUqFM/s1600-h/DSC011223.jpg"><img alt="DSC01122" border="0" height="217" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UK5o3v1T6_U/TiaCKaa4exI/AAAAAAAABSE/AnHXBp8AvJw/DSC01122_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01122" width="276" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-y5B414wSrVo/TiaCMKL_0YI/AAAAAAAABSI/FanccRZN7nk/s1600-h/DSC011263.jpg"><img alt="DSC01126" border="0" height="221" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5T_AIgOjx9g/TiaCMtyfj0I/AAAAAAAABSM/G4v25U4aztw/DSC01126_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01126" width="281" /></a><br />
Left: Inner parts of typewriter; Right: Phone books from the 60s<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nFa-nNU8-lA/TiaCO5cPxwI/AAAAAAAABSQ/GyGOGhZRY5I/s1600-h/DSC011273.jpg"><img alt="DSC01127" border="0" height="216" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nmvtuGFD694/TiaCPtKI4nI/AAAAAAAABSU/bjYXuLtbPj8/DSC01127_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01127" width="274" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-i6NTCAv56Rc/TiaCRrWawPI/AAAAAAAABSY/JbeGd-PT8AM/s1600-h/DSC011353.jpg"><img alt="DSC01135" border="0" height="219" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KeYf6q1HWOs/TiaCSf1MFSI/AAAAAAAABSc/1wgjXNqAdsc/DSC01135_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01135" width="278" /></a><br />
Left: An operator with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_switchboard" target="_blank">telephone switchboard</a>; Right: Equipment<br />
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Did you know what a telephone switchboard is? It is basically a platform that connects a group of telephones among one another. When one calls, the operator answers and then manually connects the wire to the destination telephone. There is a supervision lamp to alert the operator when the call is over. Such scene is common in TV shows or films based on the 60s and 70s. </div>
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-d-ictfkialA/TiaCUOi8v-I/AAAAAAAABSg/S1NqIshWY1E/s1600-h/DSC011074.jpg"><img alt="DSC01107" border="0" height="213" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BKIWjyG6bkE/TiaCU1AZ3WI/AAAAAAAABSk/lJKrRFqYYOg/DSC01107_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01107" width="271" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qNtGjq5-Zts/TiaCWYVfSvI/AAAAAAAABSo/ujguTjvnVgk/s1600-h/DSC011174.jpg"><img alt="DSC01117" border="0" height="212" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-S1BD6B3OAfc/TiaCXfUe3AI/AAAAAAAABSs/6jFk487Vckg/DSC01117_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01117" width="269" /></a><br />
Left: Having fun with Morse Code; Right: Phone replaying old recordings<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4Qk5ZblAbNA/TiaCZCXxpVI/AAAAAAAABSw/INY3v6OeOAc/s1600-h/DSC011235.jpg"><img alt="DSC01123" border="0" height="418" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PsE774pk_-o/TiaCaNmw5qI/AAAAAAAABS0/zYjBkE4V3cU/DSC01123_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01123" width="547" /></a> <br />
On our way to the nearby <a href="http://www.capsquare.com.my/Home/About-Capsquare.aspx" target="_blank">CapSquare</a> to catch a movie, we stumbled upon this insightful graffiti drawing on the wall. Is the little boy hesitating or ready for sharing? If the skeleton figure is that poor, how to explain the bangle on his wrist? Does this symbolize the ill effect of drug abuse or the income gap in KL? <br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KUT-F6RHT_c/TiaCdtlQOjI/AAAAAAAABS4/Ldx8Ad_NiUo/s1600-h/DSC011414.jpg"><img alt="DSC01141" border="0" height="424" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ouuWa0JsC0o/TiaCfIj7DOI/AAAAAAAABS8/T2ksgSn8Jrs/DSC01141_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01141" width="555" /></a><br />
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Further down the lane, we passed by the St. Johns Cathedral and St. Johns Institution. St. Johns Cathedral was founded way back in 1883. It acts as the Mother Church of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur. The fate of St. Johns Institution intertwines with that of St. Johns Cathedral. The school was opened by the La Sallian Brothers back in 1904. La Sallian heritage lays the foundation of the brotherhood with other La Salle schools in Malaysia. From within this red and white bricks of this Grecian-Spanish building born many notable alumni like Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, Tan Sri Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz and Farish A. Noor. </div>
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-htUtWTbJgHI/TiaChBe_GeI/AAAAAAAABTA/ueX5YzSJzJo/s1600-h/DSC011433.jpg"><img alt="DSC01143" border="0" height="233" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-q5aH7-RKcPQ/TiaCh-o1n4I/AAAAAAAABTE/7GeZ0WnFdm8/DSC01143_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01143" width="296" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yAKaVxIYhZ8/TiaCj_zQmpI/AAAAAAAABTI/A-owXdt8q2w/s1600-h/DSC011445.jpg"><img alt="DSC01144" border="0" height="233" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3GN2JPLeBtI/TiaCkrzckQI/AAAAAAAABTM/c4kQQLduRbA/DSC01144_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01144" width="276" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-f9No9prHZiM/TiaCmgwFbqI/AAAAAAAABTQ/6iRPqeDezV4/s1600-h/DSC011464.jpg"><img alt="DSC01146" border="0" height="419" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-yAlJOr6sXBY/TiaCnnNThEI/AAAAAAAABTU/fA7jYpVYXkw/DSC01146_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01146" width="548" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yXZG0anv_lk/TiaCqOdnb5I/AAAAAAAABTY/VK8Pzgcb9SU/s1600-h/DSC011484.jpg"><img alt="DSC01148" border="0" height="431" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rxs5a649IT8/TiaCrfvEu0I/AAAAAAAABTc/_B5UHHxFHdE/DSC01148_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC01148" width="564" /></a> <br />
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<!-- nuffnang--></div>Vichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17220018844764301317noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535446307011431809.post-9872810447138895682011-07-07T18:56:00.001+08:002011-11-19T05:26:32.783+08:00Of “Play It As It Lays by Joan Didion”-A Review<div align="justify">
<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Plot</span></u></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Introduction</u> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joan Didion’s fourth novel, “<i>Play It As It Lays</i>” has a cinematic plot made up of snippets of the main character’s life. Its plot is submerged, to say the least, as most parts of the novel are told from a close third perspective, not privy to the internal feelings of the characters. The novel, to me, has a minimalist style. Some snippets are fragmented while some others are stylistically left hanging as if the stories are hidden in the blank space of the pages. Its plot is subject to interpretation since there is no obvious indication of time in each of the 84 segments of the novel except a few. Therefore, there exists different version of plot as the readers choose to rearrange the chapters in different sequence although some chapters in the middle following the original arrangement do flow smoothly from one to another. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite Maria’s repeated claim in the novel that “none of it adds up”, all the different arrangements of the chapters point towards one core message: the disintegration of Maria’s life. The novel has an interesting start with <b>an overview of the three main characters and their relationship in the form of first person monologues </b>with the first being that of Maria Wyeth from a neuropsychiatric center in the present, followed by that of Helene’s and Carter Lang’s. The first section titled ‘MARIA’ begins with Maria’s statement “What makes <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iago" target="_blank">Iago</a> evil? Some people ask. I never ask.” which foreshadows her indifference towards whatever happens in life, even the extreme of evilness shown by Iago in Shakespeare’s <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Othello" target="_blank">Othello</a></i>. While doing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rorschach_test" target="_blank">Rorschach inkblot test</a> to detect her thought disorder, she details her past: her parents’ unfulfilled plans, her mother’s tragic demise, her failed marriage and her hospital-ridden daughter, Kate. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second section titled ‘HELENE’ is a soliloquy of Helene, Maria’s close friend. Helene alleges Maria of her selfishness and carelessness that result in the death of BZ. Her statement is followed by Carter’s in the third section, ‘CARTER’. Carter, Maria’s estranged husband, regrets the improbability of reconciliation with Maria after countless reflections on their relationships. To him, Maria has never understood friendship, not even normal social exchanges. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After her separation with Carter, Maria was filled with compulsion to be on the freeway and to maneuver her audacious change of lanes and shift of gears. With such self-destructive actions, she is freed temporarily from the dread that haunts her every night, the thoughts about Les Goodwin, Carter, BZ and Helene. After a hiatus of one year since Kate’s incident, Maria is looking on making a comeback again. The estranged relationship between Carter and her has become more apparent as they have less and less in common in conversation. In contrast, her affair with BZ seems to build up at the same time. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Complication</u> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The conflict among the characters become intensified as Maria breaks the news of her pregnancy to Carter after the gathering at the beach. Carter claims that it was Les Goodwin’s and Maria is unsure whose it is either. With uninflected voice, he coerces her to undergo illegal abortion by threatening to take Kate away from her. Hesitantly, she makes an appointment. In this time of desperation, she cries for her mother, regrets for not affording her a world tour when she had the money and speculates on whether her mother’s death in Tonopah was a self-orchestrated accident. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She then lives in self-denial, in her two versions of truths. On one hand, she wishes that she still bleeds and thus, be negative in Rabbit pregnancy test; on the other hand, she pretends that she can keep the baby and have miscarriage later. She is torn between the two. In fact, her life is collapsing. It seems to her that all men, those with whom she has slept, almost slept, or not slept, are no longer distinguishable. Her life, to her, has been a single sexual encounter and nothing beyond that. Facing the imminent collapse of her life, she can only seek composure and calmness in her dreams of the improbable best case scenario: continuing her life with Ivan Costello while having Carter’s daughter and Carter’s blessing. She struggles futilely for order and tranquility in her life. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my opinion, constant dread and anxiety especially before the abortion has caused Maria to suffer from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsessive-compulsive_disorder" target="_blank">obsessive-compulsive disorder</a> (OCD). Straightening drawers, studying photographs to look for keys, arranging bills are just among a few symptoms of OCD Maria has shown. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Climax</u> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The novel reaches its turning point in the shady bedroom in Encino where Maria has her illegal abortion. It is here where Maria is readily exposed to the thoughts of ‘nothing matters’ which is the overriding theme of the novel. The doctor’s insensitive language toward her pain such as likening the scrapping of uterus to the sound of music has completely shattered her. The moment she steps out of the room, she smiles radiantly at the driver who sends her there, as if <i>nothing</i> happens. All the painkillers fail to alleviate her agony. All Maria wants is to see her mother whose funeral she fails to attend. It is also in the climax where Maria starts to lose herself and her sense of purpose. She indulges herself in works despite her profuse bleeding as the aftermath of abortion. It is also on her way back from the studio that she discharges the last piece of the placenta. Then, for the first time in two weeks, she sleeps through the night. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Resolution</u> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The novel has a rather lengthy falling action. The novel slowly resolves into a series of fragmented and sometimes scrambled events since the first dream Maria has about <i>plumbing</i> and abortion. From her dream, Maria’s agony, helplessness and regret over her abortion are clearly seen. She then moves from her house in Beverly Hills to an apartment on Fountain Avenue to run away from the past. Her relationship with Carter worsens and ends abruptly with a divorce at Santa Monica. Interestingly, the charge is mental cruelty and it goes uncontested. Helene who is the witness still gossips after the signing as though nothing happens. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After signing the papers at Santa Monica, her loss of purpose in life has become graver. She wanders aimless in town and deliberately confronts the gangsters gathering around her car. She also pretends that there is no divorce at all. She shops always for a household and never buys magazines. After realizing that there is no future between Les Goodwin and her, she tries hard to appear more concerned about Carter’s life but the feeling is no longer there. She has long past the point in Encino. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The agony still burns. Maria cries on the day the baby would have been born although she strives hard not to count the months. For the past nine months, she has been suffering very deep down her soul until where she can hide them. Maria quits her hypnosis session, the hypnotist has also said that Maria resists to know the truth and to understand what truly hurts her. She continues to indulge herself in one night stands and finally ends up in jail in Tonopah after she drives away Johnny Waters’s car. After Freddy Chaikin saves her out of the trouble, she still continues her self-destructive behaviors until the day BZ dies in her arms after swallowing twenty or thirty <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seconal" target="_blank">Seconal</a> capsules. In the end, Maria chooses to live on. In the neuropsychiatric center, she details her future plans and explains on her interpretation of ‘<i>nothing</i>’. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>On Main Characters</u></b> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I. <u>Maria Wyeth </u> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maria, pronounced as “Mar-<i>eye</i>-ah”, is the heroine of the story. In fact, the novel is mainly about how she still “plays it as it lays”. Aged 31, she is a model turned actress. She stars in two of Carter’s films namely <i>Angle Beach </i>and <i>Maria.</i> She was born in Reno, Nevada to opportunistic gambler and businessman, Harry Wyeth and Francine Wyeth from whom she inherited her look. Silver Wells is where she grows up. From her father, she picks up two important lessons: that life is a crap game and that overturning a rock reveals a rattlesnake. From her mother, she learns about first aids. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After graduating from Consolidated Union High School at 18, she went to New York for acting lessons, only never to see her parents again. Her mother dies in a tragic accident. She is the wife of a successful movie director, Carter Lang with whom she has four-year-old daughter, Kate. Her passionless marriage ends abruptly, not long after Carter coerces her to abort her out-of-wedlock pregnancy possibly caused by Les Goodwin. She leads an amoral life founded on her nihilistic thoughts that “nothing applies”. She spends her days and nights with faggots and rich spoilt kids. She also has affairs with many others including BZ, Les Goodwin, and Johnny Waters. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Her life is disorganized plausibly due to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). To break off from unhappiness, she relies on the thrill of audacious lane changes on the freeway. To her, nothing matters, except her daughter, Kate and her parents who already passed away. In the novel, she lives in self-denial hiding her interior pain behind her indifference and coldness. Her agent, Freddy Chaikin even describes her having a self-destructive personality structure. It is noteworthy that Paula Raymond, a real 1950s actress with unsuccessful acting career can be considered as Maria’s alter ego given their striking similarities. Paula is mentioned when the driver who sends Maria to the abortion house watches her movie. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">II. <u>Carter Lang</u> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Carter Lang is Maria’s husband. He has been successful as a movie director. His film<i>, Maria, </i>wins an award in the Eastern Europe. One of his films even enters Cannes Film Festival. His agent even remarks that Carter is in an enviable position in which he can produce any movie he wants to. He has experienced the brink of bankruptcy before although his house in Beverly Hill always remains intact. As with other characters in the novel, there is not much direct description of him. His true characteristic is up to interpretation based on his interaction with other characters. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His marital relationship with Maria has been problematic. His marriage is void of passion. Conversation between them always ends up with guilt, fury and disappointment. It is him who coerces Maria to have an illegal abortion. After the divorce, he then dates Susannah Wood and even has sex with Helene. Although there is no clear indicator of his emotion and tone in his lines, I think he still cares about Maria even after their divorce. He quarrels with Maria just to bring Maria out of her morbidity. Worried about Maria’s seemingly suicidal behaviors, he repeatedly invites Maria to be with him on shootings. His influence is important in getting Maria out of detention and getting her a job. Carter is an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auteur" target="_blank">auteur</a> who believes in portraying director’s personal creative vision in movies. Following this line of thought, his movie, <i>Maria</i> portrays his perception of Maria. His version, sadly, is one that Maria does not agree upon. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">III. <u>BZ</u> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BZ’s name has an accidental poetic truth. BZ is the abbreviation for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzodiazepines" target="_blank">benzodiazepines</a>, a type of sedative drug. Coincidentally, he is the ‘sedative drug’ for Maria’s life. There is no mention of his full name in the novel. He is married to Helene and is the son of Carlotta. He is also a producer and a friend of Carter’s. He is believably a bisexual based on several indirect references in the novel. His marriage with Helene is sustained by the money from Carlotta. His house is often packed with sulky young men and middle-aged women. He is allegedly involved in an extramarital affair with Maria. Although it is not explicitly stated, he has sex with Maria in front of Helene. In the end, he ends his own life with twenty Seconal capsules. In contrast with Maria, he lacks the resolve and will to keep on ‘playing’. His interpretation of ‘nothing’ is exactly opposite of Maria’s. It is this difference which causes their starkly different fates. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">IV. <u>Helene</u> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Helene, married to BZ, is a close friend of Maria’s and Carter’s. In her mid-thirties, she befriends middle-aged women with whom she exchanges tag line of jokes. As how Maria describes, Helene is not immune to age. Her skin has lost its resilience. She has divorced twice with BZ but still stays on for Carlotta’s money. Despite all these, she has been helpful to Maria even after BZ’s death. She has been on Maria’s side when Maria is down after the abortion and divorce. Even after BZ’s death and that they can no longer be friends; she still visits Maria in the neuropsychiatric center. She also seems to like gossips. On the day of Maria’s divorce, she is more concerned about the homosexual relationship between Allen Walsh and Sharon Carroll instead of what Maria feels. Helene also has a relationship with Leonard, her hairdresser outside marriage. She is also believed to suffer from depression as what BZ tells Maria by the pool. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">V. <u>Ivan Costello</u> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ivan Costello is Maria’s ex-boyfriend before she gets married. Maria once lends him the money that she has saved for her mother’s world trip. This shows his importance in Maria’s heart, at least up to the point of her marriage. In Maria’s dream of the perfect scenario, Ivan Costello is the one she chooses to stay together with. This implies, again, his status in Maria’s life. However, he does not return her love as he should be. He has been blackmailing Maria for money. He even threatens to break up with her and spend her money. He does not even plan to have a child with Maria. Deep inside her heart, even Maria cannot bring herself to believe that Ivan would love her as how she does. It is already clear from Ivan’s spit into the phone when he describes how he thinks of Maria’s life. He only becomes friendly when he needs money from Maria. In his desperation for money, he would pester her non-stop. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>On Themes</u></b> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Multiple Facets of ‘Nothingness’ in Life</u> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The word ‘nothing’ is one of the most frequent word found in the novel. In fact, different interpretation of ‘<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothingness" target="_blank">nothingness</a>’, be it passive or active, is where this novel revolves around. This is most pronounced in the different fates of Maria’s and BZ’s. The ‘nothing’ which is always on Maria’s mind after her abortion and divorce is the exact ‘nothing’ in the phrase ‘It is nothing’ which one says while enduring pain. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Driven by many collapses in her life, Maria resorts to <b><i>amoral impassivity founded on her thought that ‘nothing applies’. </i></b>In my opinion, Maria first gets acquainted with the idea of ‘nothing applies’ in the shady abortion house in Encino where the ‘surgeon’ speaks with insensitivity. I would reckon that the surgeon’s quote “Nothing to have any emotional difficulties about, better not to think about it at all, quite often the pain is worse when we think about it.” (Didion, 1970, p.82) </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This line of thinking seems to be the foundation of Maria’s seemingly nihilistic thoughts. In fact, Maria’s statement “In that way I resemble the only man in Los Angeles County who does clean work” (Didion, 1970, p.203) at the neuropsychiatric center is coherent with this claim. Maria once asked “What’s nothing?” when her mother was down with depression. Now, she does not ask anymore because she has reached to her seemingly illogical conclusion that “nothing applies.” Another line from Freddy Chaikin seems to be another component of Maria’s state of mind after the abortion. Freddy Chaikin advises her that “work is the best medicine for things wrong in the private-life department.” (Didion, 1970, p.91) Ever since then, she indulges herself in work despite her profuse bleeding, an aftereffect of abortion. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think Maria dreamt about “plumbing” (Didion, 1970, p. 96) and “fetuses in the East River” (Didion, 1970, p.116) because she represses all her sufferings and agony which then manifest in dreams. <b><i>The thought that ‘nothing applies’ is merely a self-deception which only deepens the sufferings.</i></b> For instance, the “notion of general devastation” (Didion, 1970, p.104) she gets from the news somehow soothes because deep in her mind, she yearns for an instant of destruction when all the troubles would evaporate. She can no longer withstand it. In the face of divorce, despite her trying to sound unemotional over the phone, her appearance betrays her. She continues to live in self-denial. She carefully pretends that she has never divorced. When she finds out that she might suffer from depression which “may date from when you were a baby in your mother’s womb” (Didion, 1970, p.119), she resists the hypnosis in denial of the imminent truth. However, just as what her hypnotist says, “It does not prove anything.” </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maria’s ‘nothing’ also exists to conceal Maria’s internal sufferings. BZ’s ‘exact nothing’ is on the opposite end. To BZ, ‘nothing’ means that everything in his life including his fame, riches, marriage and so on adds up to zero, the absence of anything. In short, <b><i>BZ thinks that his life is pointless</i></b> and thus reaches at his choice to commit suicide. His marriage has been an arid desert for him. He seeks pleasure from his unconventional sexuality. However, he has seen through all of these and reaches to an insight deceivingly similar to that of Maria. He claims to Maria that he has woken from the dream and “does not feel like playing [any more].” (Didion, 1970, p.119) To him, death is exact nothingness. He thinks that his answer to ‘nothingness’ is right until his last breath. Sadly, Maria’s ‘nothingness’ is the opposite of his and she keeps on playing.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If these views on nothingness is expanded to a slightly more global perspective, nothingness or rather emptiness is also the permissive theme of the 1960s American society. I will leave that discussion to later. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Disintegration and Distortion of Relationship between Sexes in the 1960s America </u> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Speaking about relationship between sexes is inseparable from discussion about love, marriage and sexuality. The sense of disintegration and distortion permeates much of the novel as seen from the author’s sentence structure, prose structure, word choice and description of what Maria sees and feels. The understanding of the background of American society in the 1960s is crucial in understanding this theme. Set in an era of profound societal change such as sexual revolution, the rise of feminism and so on, <i>‘Play It As It Lays’</i> cannot have<i> </i>portrayed this theme more aptly. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From the novel, <b><i>disintegration and distortion of marriage</i></b> seems to be a social norm. Most of the characters in the novel are involved in certain extent of extramarital affairs, separation and even divorce. To name but a few, Carlotta, BZ’s mother, is constantly engaged in litigation with her estranged second husband. It is also on top of her mind that her husband always yearns to “expressively thwart” (Didion, 1970, p.49) her. Even the mad lady whom Maria meets at the Ralph’s Market might just be left by her husband. The four main characters, BZ, Helene, Carter and Maria are also involved in a love quadruple which is first sparked by BZ’s betrayal. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The marriage between Carter and Maria is no longer fueled by passion but it is supported by “rote” (Didion, 1970, p.178) and rituals. As what Carter says, “It used to be there but it’s gone.” (Didion, 1970, p.178) Their conversations would always end before the other can speak. Their attempts to rekindle their passion, if there was any in the first place, fail just as how these lines go: “It isn’t any better”, “I mean we didn’t even try”, “You don’t want it”, “I do too” and then “No, you don’t” (Didion, 1970, p.184) As the time of signing the divorce papers, dialogue has “worn itself down to legal details.” (Didion, 1970, p.106) </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Family is the basic unit for a society and a country. If family institutions become increasingly disintegrated and end up in emptiness, it is only natural for the stability of a country or a whole generation to be shaken. Maria’s remark in Chapter 53 that “On film they might have seemed a family” alarms us that what may seem to be a perfect family might just be an illusion. An example would be Les Goodwin’s family which might become the next Carter’s family. Distorted marriages can also be found in the novel. Marriages like that between BZ and Helene no longer founds on traditional values. Carlotta uses her money to sustain their marriage-in-name not knowing that this is just another bubble waiting to burst. Distorted marriages can also be based purely on sex. BZ and Helene’s is one of those. Thus, I would say that Joan Didion is trying to alarm the contemporary society about the importance of preserving the coherence of family and marriage. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Marriage is inseparable from sex. In the 1960s America shown in the novel, the readers can get a <b><i>sense of distortion of sexuality among the people</i></b>. The most notable portrayal is the wider <b><i>acceptance of homosexuality</i></b> and even bisexuality as shown by BZ, at least among those in the Hollywood. Maria has spent days and nights with faggots. In Larry Kulik’s party, there are also “two English Lesbians.” (Didion, 1970, p.37) During their lunch before the divorce papers, Maria and Helene witness how two dykes, Allen Walsh and Sharon Carroll “feeding each other soufflé in the Bistro.” (Didion, 1970, p.108) </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fact that these characters expose their sexual orientation in public implies that they have already been accepted by the mainstream. This level of acceptance can also be seen from the occurrence of homosexuality on films. One example in the novel would be Carter’s <i>‘Angel Beach’ </i>in which “the twelve cocks…doing it not to her but to each other.” (Didion, 1970, p.111) The <b><i>rise of casual sex</i></b> and one night stands in the society is also exposed under Maria’s eyes. Maria herself has been involved in several one night stands with people she knows such as Les Goodwin. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most casual one is the one with Johnny Waters who barely knows her and who says “Wake me up in three hours with your tongue.” (Didion, 1970, p.153) Upon knowing this, Helene even asks “What kind of fuck is Johnny Waters?” (Didion, 1970, p.159) This is a testimony of open sexual discussions in the Hollywood. However, the countless one night stands have also caused Maria to think as if her life has been “one dreamed fuck” (Didion, 1970, p.69) and that all men are the same in front of sex. In the novel, the emergence of unconventional sexual acts is also seen among the young people. Helene and BZ have been doing S-M while Maria writes that she would never “do S-M unless she wanted to.” (Didion, 1970, p.136) Group sex can also be seen in BZ’s life. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The <b><i>love relationship is also distorted</i></b> in the novel. The one between Maria and Ivan Costello has been reduced to an extortion tool and an unforgettable past. Ivan Costello, despite how much Maria has done for him, never loves her and even likens Maria’s life to a spit. He even breaks into Maria’s house and blackmails her repeatedly. Pure love has become superficial among the main characters. Since Carter is an auteur film maker, what he portrays in films is a projection of his mind. The fact that Maria does not feel like the <i>‘Maria’ </i>in Carter’s film implies that Carter only knows Maria on the surface. Carter does not see beyond fashion sitting, marijuana and crying. In fact, he does not really understand Maria. When he says “I know it upset you…don’t cry” (Didion, 1970, p.42) and Maria says that “I’m not crying”, she really does not. In BZ’s appreciation of Maria is also based on his first impression of Maria in the film <i>‘Angel Beach’ </i>and nothing beyond that. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Question 4: Protagonist and Antagonist</u></b> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Maria Wyeth</b>, the heroine, is the protagonist of the novel. Although all the characters suffer the ennui in their life to certain extents, she draws the most sympathy from me. In her early thirties, she suffers too much in the arid Hollywood and the passionless marriage. She sees through the pointlessness of life yet she holds on. At the same time, she still retains her motherly love despite all the unpardonable sins of hers. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Maria is the most troubled soul in the novel</i></b>. As an actress, her progress is unparticular, to say the least. Her career reaches a serious halt after what happened to her mother and daughter. The only two films she can boast of are <i>Maria </i>and <i>Angel Beach.</i> She is appreciated not as Maria Wyeth but as the “Carter Lang’s wife” (Didion, 1970, p. 23) There are also instances when she is mistaken as “New talent” (Didion, 1970, p. 151) and even as an unknown “Myra” (Didion, 1970, p.152). </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She is also trapped in a passionless marriage with Carter. Their conversations often end up with silence which then spikes guilt, misery and fury. Their relationship becomes even more strained when Maria is “having a baby” (Didion, 1970, p. 48) whom Carter claims “It’s not mine” (Didion, 1970, p.49). Carter forces her to go for abortion by using Kate as a threat. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The aftermath of the abortion has ever been in Maria no matter how hard she tries to conceal. Her dream of “plumbing” (Didion, 1970, p.96) and “hacked pieces of human flesh” (Didion, 1970, p.97) in the pipes is just one of the signs of her damage. As she witnesses that the life around her is collapsing, she struggles for orderliness in things around her. All the while, she has been seeing the signs of “disorganization” such as “disconnected telephone or some clandestine business to conduct, some extramarital error.” (Didion, 1970, p.101) It is plausible that she has developed obsessive-compulsive disorder as she compulsively “got out her checkbook and a stack of bills and spread them on the kitchen table.” (Didion, 1970, p.75) </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, none of the actions bring real orderliness to her life. It only reminds her of “her life’s disorder, its waste and diffusion.” (Didion, 1970, p.75) The condition of her daughter, Kate, who “has soft down on her spine and an aberrant chemical in her brain” (Didion, 1970, p.49) also constantly wearies her. Her worry can be seen from her obsessive query on “What new medication”. Despite all her so-called unpardonable sins, she deserves our sympathy. Moreover, her sins as she claims are not really sins at all in the age of Sexual Revolution where casual sex has been increasing accepted by the society. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>In spite of all these troubles she has, she pulls through</i></b>. <b><i>More importantly, her attempt to be cool about it deserves encouragement, regardless of its outcome. </i></b>Unlike some of the troubled souls in other literary pieces, Maria’s reaction is much calmer on the surface. At the shady room where she loses her baby, she realizes the importance of being indifferent in keeping herself sane. She hopes herself to “resemble the only man in Los Angeles County who does clean work.” (Didion, 1970, p.203) By appearing normal and orderly on the surface, she hopes that her inner soul would be deceived and transformed into a calmer one. In self-denial, she pretends that her abortion never happens by announcing “I’m having a baby” (Didion, 1970, p.63) to people such as parking-lot attendant. However, when she could not lie to herself anymore, she cries. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Her attempt has shifted more and more to impassivity towards the end. She starts to wander aimlessly in Vegas craving for “the physical flash of walking in and out of places, the temperature shock…” (Didion, 1970, p.170) Although her attempts fail miserably in the end, she has tried her best. Her concealment of sufferings has hurt her even more. Her interaction with her hypnotist could not have illustrated this most clearly. Maria’s failure to “open enough doors to get back” (Didion, 1970, p.143) does not prove the non-existence of past miseries. Her version of “nothing applies”, however, is more positive than that of BZ’s. At the very least, she chooses to live on with an excuse “Why not” (Didion, 1970, p.214) with a plan in mind. She wants to get Kate and lives with her alone. She even plans to carry canning business for “India relish and pickled peaches”, “apple chutney” and “Summer squash succotash.” (Didion, 1970, p. 219) From here, readers can see that she finally regains and preserves the optimism she once inherited from Harry and Francine Wyeth. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although she describes her sins as unpardonable, I <b><i>respect her for the fact that she still retains her motherly nature. </i></b>When she loses touch of purpose in everything she has, she still clings on to her daughter, Kate. Her concern towards Kate still goes on even when she is confined in Neuropsychiatric. Her first-person note in Chapter 78 reads “The only problem is Kate. I want Kate.” (Didion, 1970, p.206) Out of her extreme concern, she even visit Kate many times that her “unscheduled parental appearances…disturb the child’s adjustment.” (Didion, 1970, p.42) </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In fact, her nihilistic thoughts were only aggravated with her abortion, a cruel surgery to terminate her motherhood. In my opinion, it is of motherly nature that she is psychologically disturbed by the coerced abortion. Maria truly draws my sympathy seeing Maria grieving over her “children alive when last scolded, dead when next seen.” (Didion, 1970, p.100) For the whole nine months, Maria has subconsciously count down to the day when her baby would have been born although she tries hard not to. On that day, she cries for her mother. In dream, she still dreads over the loss of her baby who has yet to see sunlight. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In her recurring “plumbing” dreams, she has no say over “part of that operation” (Didion, 1970, p.96). She can only provide information about “the condition of plumbing, the precise width of the pipes, the location and size of all the clean-outs.” (Didion, 1970, p.96) The worst thing is that “There would be plumbing anywhere she went.” (Didion, 1970, p.104) In her other dreams, she would be “checking off names as the children filed past her…to whisper a few comforting words to those children who cried or held back.” (Didion, 1970, p.126) A closer look would tell the readers that Maria’s sin is not unforgiveable, if there is any at all; her reactions are acceptable for a mother who cannot mother her unborn baby and her disorder-ridden daughter. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The character with whom I sympathize the least is <b>BZ</b>, Helene’s husband. To me, he is the least likable among all characters for his distorted sexuality and disloyalty in marriage. Besides, he lacks the courage and will to live on and chooses suicide. The extent of his sufferings is unmentionable as compared to that of Maria’s pain. These are the reasons which prompt me to classify BZ as the antagonist of the novel. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While one might argue that being a bisexual has nothing against the nature, <b><i>BZ’s distorted sexuality has caused harms to some especially Helene and Maria</i></b>. His obsession with Helene is based not on Maria as a person but based on Maria’s illusions in Carter’s film ‘<i>Angel Beach’. </i>He becomes interested in Maria after seeing the film. Despite his obvious knowledge that it is a commercial production, he muses over questions such as “how did Maria feel about the gangbang, the twelve cocks…does that interest her…” (Didion, 1970, p.111) Ever since then, he has been eyeing Maria outside of Helene’s knowledge. For instance, he runs “the tips of his fingers very lightly across Maria’s bare back.” (Didion, 1970, p.27) The most serious of it all comes when BZ sends Maria home together with Helene. It is him who has “undressed and bathed and creamed her body” (Didion, 1970, p.162) right in front of Helene’s eyes. When Helene feels upset the next morning, BZ replies coldly “You’ve been around a long time, you know what it is, it’s play-or-pay.” (Didion, 1970, p.164) I suspect that this is root cause that leads to Helene’s one night stand with Carter and the eventual estrangement between Helene and BZ. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In sharp contrast with Maria, <b><i>BZ chooses to end his own life</i></b> with Seconal capsules instead of holding on like Maria. All his musculature seems gone. He has already given up. To him, ‘nothing’ means the absence of anything and that everything in his life adds up to zero. Slightly before he swallowed the pills, he even invites Maria to join him. To him, he has already woken up from the empty dream and does “not feel like playing [anymore].” (Didion, 1970, p.212) Despite Maria’s advice and even plea, he is still adamant in leaving the world. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One more reason why I select BZ as the antagonist of the novel is that <b><i>his sufferings do not justify his giving up of hope in life</i></b>. He might be struggling to sustain a passionless marriage. His pathetic marriage owes it continuation to Carlotta who “gives them money to stay married” (Didion, 1970, p.48). However, other than that, he has no lack of anything in his life. He has been a quite successful movie producer. His family is rich enough to afford a sea-side house which can accommodate the “sulky young men he met in places like Acapulco and Kitzbühel and Tangier.” (Didion, 1970, p.43) Although his mother is “engaged in constant litigation with her estranged second husband” (Didion, 1970, p.26), Carlotta has an asset of $35 million. His private life outside of marriage has also been satisfactory just as what he says after one of the parties, “Everybody got what he came for.” (Didion, 1970, p.39) It is understandable to be suicidal in Maria’s situation but not in BZ’s case. Logically, BZ is supposed to have more reasons to live on than does Maria. The fact that he gives up his life so lightly has prompted me to label his choice as cowardly and thus, grant little or no respect for him. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>On Final Thoughts</u></b> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>‘Play It As It Lays’ </i>has been a revealing read. It is unpleasant but that is exactly the point of the book. As much as the author tries to hide the tragedies in the black space in between the 84 chapters, the truth is still brutal. I must admit that there are still many things about Maria that I still could not decipher, for I am still too young to be as seasoned as Maria. The pain Maria tolerates is also beyond my grasp. However, even that little bit of bitterness that I can relate to is still too harsh. As one ages, <i>‘Play It As It Lays’ </i>is definitely worth a revisit. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The book has allowed readers a glimpse into the American society in the 1960s, an era of profound societal change. The author skillfully portrays the ennui and emptiness in the Sixties through the eyes of Maria. Joan Didion’s portrayal of the impact of the Sexual Revolution in the Sixties through the abundance of <i>faggots</i> and <i>dykes </i>and the rise of casual sex is commendable. Her depiction is objective because she inserts only details but not opinions. The novel is also a window into the Hollywood scene back in the 1960s. I am truly surprised with the aridity and amorality of Hollywood life. The fact that most characters in the novel are involved in extramarital affairs and recreational drugs has shown the emptiness of the Hollywood peoples’ souls. The scene which leaves the greatest impact to me is when Maria enters the shady house in Encino to undergo abortion. Lines such as “Hear that scraping, Maria?” and “That should be some kind of music to you” strike to me as scary. These lines were scary not because of the pain itself but because of how much the psychological and physical pain in abortion is understated. The description of the abortion house’s interiors also allows me to get a sense of how the abortion scene was like at least three to four years before its legalization in 1973. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The novel is not only forthrightly revealing but also skillfully structured. I am absorbed by the author’s flair in prose structure and symbolism. Joan Didion has made <b>prose structure itself a metaphor</b>. The fragmented plot is highly analogous of the disintegration of Maria’s life. Some of the chapters are left hanging so as to conceal the damage just as how Maria masks her bruises as indifference. The rhythm of the novel also closely follows Maria’s state of mind. After the part where Maria had abortion, the chapters become increasingly disjointed and even jumbled up. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The author’s seemingly accidental shift from first person at the beginning three sections to close third in the middle and then back to first person in the end is, in my opinion, deliberate. The use of close third in the middle is to dilute the sense of sufferings. Writing in first person requires emotional engagement and rejects objective interpretation. Therefore, writing in close third accentuates Maria’s I-do-not-feel-a-thing attitude as it conceals the inner voice of Maria. Understanding her through what she says and does on the outside seems to me a more realistic choice. The last few italicized chapters have to be in first person because what these chapters convey is of Maria’s intricate soul. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Minimalism, in Joan Didion’s hands, has been given another dimension.</b> The plot of <i>‘Play It As It Lays’ </i>is much more flexible than that of other minimalist pieces I have encountered such as <i><a href="http://www.zewsays.com/2011/04/plot-summary-review-of-foreign-legation.html" target="_blank">‘The Foreign Legation’</a> </i>by E.L. Doctorow. This is because there is no obvious time indicator in most of the chapters in the novel. Different versions of plot and even different perception of the characters can be made possible with different arrangement of the chapters. For instance, if what happens in Chapter 38 is interpreted to happen before the divorce, instead of after the divorce as how the original arrangement suggests, Maria would be perceived as awfully disobedient and disloyal. Other than prose structure, the author’s <b>manipulation of symbolism to complement the plot is close to flawless.</b> To me, the numerous mentions of hummingbird in the novel serve to symbolize Maria’s ability to get into the heart of ‘nothing’ and her role as a peaceful warrior who watches over Kate. In traditional Native Americans’ belief, hummingbird is a symbol of getting to the heart of a matter, of clarifying, as the tiny hummingbirds get quickly to the nectar. Hummingbird also forms a part of the word ‘warriors’ among Taino Indian. In other ways, hummingbird also signifies Maria’s rebirth in the neuropsychiatric institute since Aztecs view hummingbird as a symbol of life. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All in all, I find the novel particularly intriguing. The way the author puts the details together allure readers to contemplate on what damages Maria has gone through. The empty space cannot seem to conceal Maria’s pain. More often than not, as a reader reads on, <b>he or she would have related Maria to his or her own sufferings.</b> Although the novel is short and comes in snippets, the true story lies in black space around the text. The process of guessing what happens has made the reading particularly enjoyable. The flexible plot, open for interpretation, is definitely another add. <i>‘Play It As It Lays’ </i>is a novel that is not only worth reading but also re-reading because every round of reading reveals a new truth. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>On a Side Note</u> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the book I used when I wrote this. I would recommend you to have a copy. Clicking on the following image will lead you to the Amazon page of the book and you can support my financials, too.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thinktogather-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0374529949&fc1=F9F9F9&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=FF8500&bc1=060606&bg1=060606&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This novel has also been made into a <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069098/" target="_blank">film of the same name</a> in 1972. It can be viewed on YouTube. I have linked the videos below, for your enjoyment.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBvT6Gzvl_A" target="_blank">Part 1</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjxAZoP_IOw" target="_blank">Part 2</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXNqQLnFlIw" target="_blank">Part 3</a> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like what I wrote? You can support me by looking at my recommendation on the top right of this website.</span><br />
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<!-- nuffnang--></div>Vichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17220018844764301317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535446307011431809.post-147248141910722052011-07-07T00:12:00.004+08:002011-11-19T05:26:11.545+08:00Of “What don’t I know?”<div align="justify">
Throughout my intellectual pursuits, I have come to learn the different meanings of this question. When I was still a little boy, it served as a guide for me to choose what to learn. Ignorance is relative. I outline what I know and compare them in terms of depth and accuracy with that of my peers. A greedy learner, I would grab whatever was around me and absorb it as if I was a sponge. <br />
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The few hours when I hid myself in bookshops had been the most wonderful moments in my childhood. Not able to afford the books I liked, I memorized them in the few hours when my mother was shopping and then regurgitated them in my notebook. I also remember how I competed with my friends in elementary school in getting the most questions right in “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_Wants_to_Be_a_Millionaire%3F" target="_blank">Who wants to be a millionaire?</a>” It gave me great pleasure when I shouted “Eh, I didn’t know this” and went on to find out more in the library. <br />
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Contrary to the common scene in primary schools in Malaysia (especially the Chinese elementary schools), I was fortunate enough to have teachers who encourage questions. To quench my curiosity, I even resorted to disturbing them during their tea breaks. Even after I entered high school, I still wrote to one of the teachers (who then furthered his study in Taiwan) to ask about calculus long before I was supposed to learn it. <br />
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However fun knowing more was, I was soon dragged into a black hole of confusion. Knowing more led me to more unknowns. While one source states that the velocity of light is constant regardless of reference frames, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Moffat_(physicist)" target="_blank">John Moffat</a>’s research tells me that the velocity of light has actually slowed down with time. The discovery of noble gas compounds such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenon_fluoride" target="_blank">xenon fluoride</a> also contradicts the teaching in my Chemistry textbook that noble gases do not form compound with other elements. I had always taken <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kris">Keris</a> (or Kris), the asymmetrical dagger as a symbol of solely Malay culture. However, little did I know that it was, in essence and contrary to common misconception, a symbol of confluence of the myriad of cultures that existed in ancient Southeast Asia. (If you are interested in this, I recommend you the book "<a href="http://www.timesbookstores.com.my/ProductDetail.aspx?item_code=9789834484538">What Your Teacher Didn't Tell You-The Annexe Lecture Vol 1 </a>" by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farish_A._Noor">Farish A. Noor</a>) <br />
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This realization then taught me that to completely believe one source is not a wise act. Due to differences in experiences, geographical regions, cultures and times, different people and sources have dissimilar and sometimes contradictory standpoints and opinions. In order to sort through this confusion, I have to learn from diverse sources to gain a complete picture. Then, based on this complete picture, we can make our own judgment after evaluating the reasoning and proofs behind those differing opinions. From then onwards, I strive to comprehend an idea using as many sources as I can. <br />
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I was once proud of what I have learnt in investments and financial management through books and the internet. At a tender age of fifteen, I was able to discuss value investment, taxation and candlestick charts with my uncles. One day however, my curious little cousin asked me, "So, how much have you earned in your investment?” I could not answer him as I had not started my investment portfolio back then. I felt shameful. I could never claim that I know something well unless I can apply it in life. From then on, I started learning not for the sake of knowing but also for to apply knowledge in life. <br />
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This question is also important in exploring a new or immature field. The buildup of knowledge is actually a series of questions and answers. As I realized that most of our great ideas are inspired by uncontrollable dreams and not by systematic conscious thinking techniques, I started to become increasingly thrilled by the possibilities of detecting, simulating and modifying the general patterns of inspirations in dreams. If it could ever be done, it will soon be a new field of study which further broadens the scope of neuroscience. It will also generate a great leap in artificial intelligence technology once we can incorporate the thinking pattern of dreams into computers as such organic creativity is an important part of human minds. <br />
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“What don’t I know?” As simple as it may seem to be, this question has helped me to build up my whole knowledge base. I am sure as I progress on in pursuing, applying and creating knowledge, I will find out more meanings behind this question.</div>
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This essay was written two years ago as a response to one of the <a href="http://www.brown.edu/">admission essays</a> questions. I like it very much. Hence, this post.<br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thinktogather-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0826499848&fc1=F9F9F9&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=FF8500&bc1=060606&bg1=060606&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Comments are welcomed and encouraged on ZewSays.com, but there are some instances where comments will be edited or deleted as follows:</span><br />
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<!-- nuffnang--></div>Vichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17220018844764301317noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535446307011431809.post-2891021535896043012011-06-14T17:54:00.002+08:002011-11-19T05:25:53.135+08:00Of Sunset & Feast<div align="justify">
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May 14 marks the second time I attend <a href="http://www.tourismselangor.org/" target="_blank">Tourism Selangor</a> events. After <a href="http://www.zewsays.com/2010/09/story-from-curious-mind-chapter-1.html" target="_blank">My Selangor Story 2010</a>, we have the <a href="http://www.tourismselangor.org/event.aspx?e=29" target="_blank">Selangorlicious! Foodster Competition</a> and in conjunction of it, the Blog & Roll at the Golden Palm Tree Resort Food Festival. The invitation card itself is already a temptation. Imagine setting foot on one of those Palm tree branches. The lovely antic touch of the invitation card is another add. </div>
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Mhq1h56ZXEI/TfctLj5vB4I/AAAAAAAABGg/gUdy2RItZXE/s1600-h/TS-Beach-Food-Carnival-27.jpg"><img alt="beach" border="0" height="213" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BgUSVoa_yLk/TfctMiY4bmI/AAAAAAAABGk/4A0DaA7dq3I/TS-Beach-Food-Carnival-2_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="beach" width="609" /></a><br />
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So, with the VIP-like invitation, I stepped on the journey with my two college friend who blog, either publicly or privately. In our pseudo-Hawaiian outfit, we made our way to the headquarter of the Tourism Selangor. Despite its strategic location right in front of Wisma MBSA and nearby the Plaza Alam Sentral, PKNS and SACC, the building is rather hidden. It actually took us a while to notice the office. <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-0tLSZqxmFeY/TfctOKUegAI/AAAAAAAABGo/J8cmxDdH6J8/s1600-h/DSC037487.jpg"><img alt="DSC03748" border="0" height="340" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JGmhmxjE82o/TfctQ1-ypZI/AAAAAAAABGs/KmV2IQlvTFM/DSC03748_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC03748" width="424" /></a></div>
A bit of Wisma MBSA.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PhP_9hbnSes/TfctRwrwHJI/AAAAAAAABGw/8tM_Hqp-G7Q/s1600-h/DSC037667.jpg"><img alt="DSC03766" border="0" height="477" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NsoyGfr_Oi4/TfctUNSBioI/AAAAAAAABG0/fgKl4Wtj55o/DSC03766_thumb6.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC03766" width="604" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1MgLJ_240LE/TfctWGZz5PI/AAAAAAAABG4/rqXJEdsazcQ/s1600-h/DSC037438.jpg"><img alt="DSC03743" border="0" height="590" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7_I8jOnGRF4/TfctXPaVW9I/AAAAAAAABG8/1bSSn0D2jk0/DSC03743_thumb7.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC03743" width="438" /></a><br />
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Our expedition from Shah Alam to Sepang spanned over a period as long as one round of "Resident Evil V”. It was filled with occasional chatter with Eddie Azman who pens CakapNiaga.com and occasional nap. When the building became scarcer and the oil palm estates become ubiquitous, we then knew that we were near the Sepang Gold Cost. The place was actually not far away from where my BTN (Biro Tata Negara) Camp. </div>
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As how <a href="http://www.tourismselangor.org/" target="_blank">Tourism Selangor</a> event usually goes, we received VIP welcome minus the red carpet when we boarded off the bus. The Blog & Roll was started off with the Sunset Photo Competition. With their cameras (ranging from DSLR to borrowed cameras like yours truly), the bloggers went on to scout for the best angles to capture the twilight. Without further ado, I shall present you the Sepang Golden Palm Tree Resort in dusk.</div>
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Here is the exteriors of the resort where we were disallowed to enter for the privacy of the tourists. I love the tropical-feel roofs very much. </div>
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-AjbKOtLGBqQ/TfctY7Dhk-I/AAAAAAAABHA/8rD41kfxldA/s1600-h/DSC037713.jpg"><img alt="DSC03771" border="0" height="461" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-f8qbByNa4gk/TfctaBUNnHI/AAAAAAAABHE/4K7BWezlmxk/DSC03771_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC03771" width="599" /></a><br />
As the time approached 7 p.m., the sun started to submerge hiding itself behind the wooden roofs. <br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vIifK44lp6c/TfctptwAcRI/AAAAAAAABHI/hwiHqrhXda4/s1600-h/DSC037853.jpg"><img alt="DSC03785" border="0" height="483" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-s3_A1zlhEjs/TfctrG9LIcI/AAAAAAAABHM/ToG97G9B0eU/DSC03785_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC03785" width="597" /></a><br />
Dusk is when deep thoughts strike. Moment of contemplation on life.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tX53mQZGEs4/Tfcts1U0B2I/AAAAAAAABHQ/ijYzECpmG1c/s1600-h/DSC037883.jpg"><img alt="DSC03788" border="0" height="488" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-r25mNVAFSbU/TfctuHWnW-I/AAAAAAAABHU/PleWyLr6Y8o/DSC03788_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC03788" width="592" /></a><br />
The sinking sun bear witness to the fun and friendship of these volleyball players.<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-N9x4ehj0v6E/TfctveeVFXI/AAAAAAAABHY/-CFeFC6T1BE/s1600-h/DSC037963.jpg"><img alt="DSC03796" border="0" height="478" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XIGPSv5g3CM/TfctxAUtd7I/AAAAAAAABHc/0gtsM1sUwTs/DSC03796_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC03796" width="600" /></a><br />
Here too, couples pledge their love to the sea and the sunset, leave their footprints on the sand.<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LRCpXp5dHhY/Tfct1h4lfcI/AAAAAAAABHg/Yd4Sohk1bG4/s1600-h/DSC038043.jpg"><img alt="DSC03804" border="0" height="461" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TEw-fgIe67k/Tfct2nrRsWI/AAAAAAAABHk/kBJ-TuT6xoU/DSC03804_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC03804" width="598" /></a><br />
In the sand, too, children fill their curiosity and build their dream sandcastle. <br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aHFnWeZY_9o/Tfct3wkm1JI/AAAAAAAABHo/C6q_1cmvZ2g/s1600-h/DSC038063.jpg"><img alt="DSC03806" border="0" height="461" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UAVzyPFfS1U/Tfct5AAeqHI/AAAAAAAABHs/epiMBGSIDQ4/DSC03806_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC03806" width="598" /></a><br />
This is one of my favorite sunset photos. I like the way the twilight shone upon the seemingly wrinkled beach which at some point, looks like water waves. <br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mi3Y_LJxYP4/Tfct-yKih9I/AAAAAAAABHw/ni9SkTR_AyE/s1600-h/DSC038103.jpg"><img alt="DSC03810" border="0" height="466" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lJnW_2QlR_Y/TfcuAClttpI/AAAAAAAABH0/6Dyp8AwZDvk/DSC03810_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC03810" width="595" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5UEgz2UO8gA/TfcuBzh1QTI/AAAAAAAABH4/T_QDRBHXQU8/s1600-h/DSC038133.jpg"><img alt="DSC03813" border="0" height="465" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0S3K98L926A/TfcuCwzRsuI/AAAAAAAABH8/J9K8jY3vYdU/DSC03813_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC03813" width="593" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4UFmko50R_I/TfcuEjMlPjI/AAAAAAAABIA/bIoA068jFN8/s1600-h/DSC038166.jpg"><img align="left" alt="DSC03816" border="0" height="227" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jPeEFZSS8Ao/TfcuFSs-6JI/AAAAAAAABIE/KiHj0q-OnV8/DSC03816_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC03816" width="286" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OVlYvfSOe9A/TfcuH7ANGdI/AAAAAAAABII/6v9_pxOiKN0/s1600-h/DSC038207.jpg"><img align="right" alt="DSC03820" border="0" height="227" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-igwCvnHCX1g/TfcuIwaqR7I/AAAAAAAABIQ/gC9XSLQBe6Q/DSC03820_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC03820" width="256" /></a><br />
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And this is not all. Sepang Golden Palm Resort is an ambitious project on its own. Luxurious hotels and other resorts will be built nearby. Imagine waking up in the morning being greeted by the morning breeze and the gorgeous palm-tree-archipelago. <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-P_zO9nbr9Qk/TfcuLrea5fI/AAAAAAAABIU/_KCIxEejh0Q/s1600-h/DSC038223.jpg"><img alt="DSC03822" border="0" height="458" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-foQ9Uy2sJF0/TfcuNIPcLJI/AAAAAAAABIY/lj9LGV9TUbc/DSC03822_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC03822" width="584" /></a><br />
Sunset is a feast for eyes and soul. Yet, the Blog and Roll Food Exhibition which soon followed suit was the real feast. A treat for growling tummy.<br />
Our feast started off with the “Bila-Bila” Bakery with a whole cart-load of nicely baked and decorated breads. Breads that look so delicate and some, alive, that I couldn’t bear myself to swallow. I wonder how long it took for the chefs to come up with such masterpieces. Just take a look at the rabbit and the word “BAKERY”.<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Ev6rrWnQFms/TfcuvMwR17I/AAAAAAAABIc/DRHBFOVYD6A/s1600-h/DSC038243.jpg"><img alt="DSC03824" border="0" height="411" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vx0w2wJ_nb4/TfcuwEQucpI/AAAAAAAABIg/p7qZzpPchWQ/DSC03824_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC03824" width="585" /></a><br />
A bakery doesn’t only serve breads and biscuits, it seems. On that night, Bila-Bila actually brought us a trishaw-load of fresh food. Even sweeter, Bila-Bila presented us with the Chocolate Chef serving cups of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macaroon" target="_blank">macaroon</a>. Believe it or not, it was the first time I heard the term. A new vocab for me, hooray! See the Hawaiian-dressed guy in the top left picture. He was the one who introduced to us the marvel of macaroon. I still remember how he said “You should have just eaten it on the spot. It tastes nice” <br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ye_DwgmxQq8/TfcuyPvVAlI/AAAAAAAABIk/35Au85vUOEs/s1600-h/DSC038556.jpg"><img alt="DSC03855" border="0" height="253" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NSXAgfFWb3A/TfcuzdK-kpI/AAAAAAAABIo/fpcQ7k_QkcU/DSC03855_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC03855" width="259" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wuXVIwIYt8g/Tfcu2NJ7nkI/AAAAAAAABIs/Qh7jgz2I-40/s1600-h/DSC038275.jpg"><img alt="DSC03827" border="0" height="253" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iMOqBfV99A0/Tfcu3dMmOxI/AAAAAAAABIw/HN0_VSkWAJY/DSC03827_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC03827" width="299" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7n6Re2r8BcU/Tfcu40jrl0I/AAAAAAAABI0/jvGxIuiR33w/s1600-h/DSC038303.jpg"><img alt="DSC03830" border="0" height="426" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HX4yiFKq74A/Tfcu6zvxQMI/AAAAAAAABI4/frs7pgoAfQk/DSC03830_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC03830" width="556" /></a><br />
The amusing facial expression of the Bila-Bila staffs was another plus for them. <br />
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Next, we moved on to the “Perahu”. As how it was aptly named (Perahu is the Malay word for boat), it presents to us with freshly barbecued seafood including the likes of salmon, prawn and crab. The Perahu seemed to be the most popular (judging from the queue) and the most publicized (judging from how many times the MC mentioned it) of all the five food stands that night. </div>
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However, the quality of the cooking was well disappointing. While the seafood served are fresh, the inexperienced kitchen staffs handling it spoiled all its freshness. The salmon was either undercooked or overcooked. The insincere manner of the staffs flipping the salmon also affected my mood in enjoying the feast. Similar complaint also came from <a href="http://chillsplay.blogspot.com/2011/06/blog-roll-golden-palm-tree-food.html" target="_blank">other bloggers who were present</a>. Not all about Perahu was lackluster, though. The fried black pepper crab was of the same standing as other restaurants I had been to. </div>
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Oe9alB-g8aw/Tfcu8B4oVQI/AAAAAAAABI8/FoEX8SiyHxM/s1600-h/DSC038583.jpg"><img alt="DSC03858" border="0" height="437" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Vv_D08zoglc/Tfcu9VjbS9I/AAAAAAAABJA/Cs_LHyp3wNM/DSC03858_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC03858" width="567" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FvLY0QbEuuA/Tfcu-_pdeAI/AAAAAAAABJE/o5iqkLLJ5OM/s1600-h/DSC038693.jpg"><img alt="DSC03869" border="0" height="417" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ivUqsfQb6Gw/TfcvHy9xffI/AAAAAAAABJI/cAi5-csSXSA/DSC03869_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC03869" width="560" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZSk9Z--jBdg/TfcvJqoIANI/AAAAAAAABJM/DLf8mF0H-TY/s1600-h/DSC038603.jpg"><img alt="DSC03860" border="0" height="371" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Fl-aUxKmMO8/TfcvKxaJYyI/AAAAAAAABJQ/zhGi6qGAZ9c/DSC03860_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC03860" width="562" /></a><br />
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A surprising feast came later. Not of eyes. Not of tummy. But of ears. The organizers have arranged for performances such as the African musical instrument, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didgeridoo" target="_blank">Didgeridoo</a> shown in the picture below. There were also dances and fire-spitting. Video editing is still ongoing. Will update soon.</div>
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-f4ZoCIEqyo0/TfcvMPwt5jI/AAAAAAAABJU/EJMTDbTx0PY/s1600-h/DSC038653.jpg"><img alt="DSC03865" border="0" height="434" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4OER4ForZ0k/TfcvNjUtj6I/AAAAAAAABJY/eZlgfxat_cQ/DSC03865_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC03865" width="553" /></a><br />
It was also during that night that we met with an interesting performer who also happens to be a <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Ustaz" target="_blank">Uztaz</a> and a lecturer in <a href="http://www.google.com.my/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kliuc.edu.my%2F&ei=ISf3TZHIHMbRrQeFyqGFCA&usg=AFQjCNFml-5CE7Xh7U5RO3FbZFctCm5W7A" target="_blank">KLIUC</a>. He is not just mere roadside performer. His performing groups (yes, plural) also join <a href="http://klstreetdrummers.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">KL Street Drummers</a> at times. I especially like the way he talks about his passion, music. In the following picture, he (on the right) was explaining to my friend (<a href="http://chillsplay.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Chi Liang</a>) about how human body parts alone can create music like a breeze. Good conversation is not a thing to miss. So time passed by quickly without us knowing it. It was already towards the end of the Blog and Roll when our conversation ended. So, that is about it. I only managed to try out 3 out of the 5 food stands that night. Alas, it is all past.<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9nSmzJJ9kys/TfcvOz_n5aI/AAAAAAAABJc/qnmR82x7yX8/s1600-h/DSC038723.jpg"><img alt="DSC03872" border="0" height="430" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NEHjTWGrGQA/TfcvPq4q8NI/AAAAAAAABJg/FoUGzknQyzI/DSC03872_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC03872" width="558" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bwPa2POz0WI/TfcvSPIyOYI/AAAAAAAABJk/BWrfcRNyhI8/s1600-h/DSC038784.jpg"><img alt="DSC03878" border="0" height="279" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-euKisiGzWEU/TfcvwA_breI/AAAAAAAABJw/HzA1BBZ1VBo/DSC03878_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC03878" width="357" /></a><br />
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<!-- nuffnang--></div>Vichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17220018844764301317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535446307011431809.post-34168925695306216122011-04-15T20:19:00.014+08:002011-11-19T05:25:35.977+08:00Of Glass Menagerie & Fire-escape<div align="justify">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>On “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams</b> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(A Literary Analysis on the Relationship between Fire-escape as a Symbol and the Personalities written by <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/zhiyulee">Zhi Yu Lee</a>. Video clips of music pieces mentioned in the drama is also embedded here as a side note.)</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TagaN61QPZI/AAAAAAAABDQ/u3FKykRW2yk/s1600-h/Of-Glass-Menagerie--Fire-escape6.jpg"><img alt="Of Glass Menagerie & Fire-escape" border="0" height="316" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TagaTHDdGKI/AAAAAAAABDU/xLQhXPhJaLE/Of-Glass-Menagerie--Fire-escape_thum.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Of Glass Menagerie & Fire-escape" width="456" /></a> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Introduction and Summary of The Glass Menagerie </u></strong> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“The Glass Menagerie”, a memory play set in an alley in St. Louis during <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1930s">the Thirties</a>, starts off with Tom Wingfield, the narrator-cum-character, introducing the social background and the characters in the drama. In the earlier scenes, the personality and the concerns of each character are portrayed: Amanda, the pragmatic, loving yet sometimes too possessive mother who still lives in her past; Laura, the shy, slightly crippled sister who drops out of the business college and lives in her own world of glass menagerie; and Tom, the breadwinning brother who spends his time in the cinema the whole night out of boredom and disappointment. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amanda and Tom quarrel over Tom’s excessive midnight outings that may have already affected his work and also his reading of D.H. Lawrence’s works that she deems as filths. After their reconciliation, Amanda repeatedly asks Tom to look for potential gentleman caller for Laura. Tom later invites his colleague, Jim O’ Connor, to his house without telling him about Laura. When Laura finds out that Jim happens to her crush during high school, she refuses to meet him. Jim, with his gentle humor, brings Laura out of her paralyzing shyness. After their reminiscing chat and waltz dance, Jim gently kisses Laura on her lips but quickly withdraws and explains that he is already attached to another home-girl, Betty. Laura, though disappointed, understands and even gives Jim the glass unicorn broken during the dance as a souvenir. Amanda blames Tom after knowing it. Tom then slams the door and leaves them for good.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fire-escape whose name is a touch of accidental poetic truth (Williams, 1944, p. 965) serves as both the entrance and exit of the apartment. In the novel, fire generally symbolizes the slow and implacable desperation of the Wingfield family. To me, fire-escape as a symbol reveals much about the characters’ life for <b><i>fire</i></b> signifies their suffering and <b><i>escape</i></b> represents their means of running away from the reality. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Fire-escape And Tom Wingfield </u></strong> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TagavNIbTWI/AAAAAAAABDg/jfUz7lLI7Qg/s1600-h/Tom%20Wingfield%20at%20Fire-escape%5B11%5D.jpg"><img alt="Tom Wingfield at Fire-escape" border="0" height="320" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TagazDbPxQI/AAAAAAAABDk/ZcqEekDDSDI/Tom%20Wingfield%20at%20Fire-escape_thumb%5B9%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;" title="Tom Wingfield at Fire-escape" width="164" /></a> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tom Wingfield at the fire-escape </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Among all the main characters, <b>Tom is the most intertwined with the fire-escape</b>. He has appeared on the fire-escape more often than the others. More importantly, in most occurrences, he is <b><i>moving out of the apartment</i></b><i>.</i> This shows how much he yearns for the outside world, far away from the troubles at home. <b>The burden of being Amanda’s breadwinning “right-hand bower” (Williams, 1944, p. 978) and the habitual bickering with Amanda are parts of the <i>fire</i> Tom experiences. The harshest part of the <i>fire</i> he is facing is the discontent with life</b> as most aptly summarized by his line “what I’m <i>doing</i>-what I <i>want </i>to do-having a little <i>difference </i>between them!” (Williams, 1944, p. 974) He has always wanted to be a man who is “by instinct a lover, a hunter, a fighter” (Williams, 1944, p. 974) but is bound by his warehouse job as what he exclaims, “For sixty-five dollars a month I give up all that I dream of doing and being <i>ever</i>!” (Williams, 1944, p. 975) He is also unsatisfied with the state of the American society where liquor, movies and sex “flooded the world with brief, deceptive rainbows” (Williams, 1944, p. 982) amid brewing revolutions in other countries such as the Nazis in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berchtesgaden">Berchtesgaden </a>and the Spanish Civil War near <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Guernica">Guernica</a>. This disappointment is only illustrated more when Tom comments that people “go to <i>movies</i> instead of <i>moving</i>”. (Williams, 1944, p. 992) </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To <i>escape</i> from the everyday agony, he resorts to writing poetry which earns him the nickname Shakespeare and gets him laid off. He also reads the controversial works of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D._H._Lawrence">D.H. Lawrence</a>. Out of boredom, he seeks for excitement through watching night movies and stage shows, a habit Amanda condemns. He also smokes habitually at the fire-escape to temporarily detach himself from the worries. Tom chooses smoking over a night-school accounting course, an irrational choice Amanda describes as “…the tragedy of it…” (Williams, 1944, p. 982) Tom’s form of <i>escape </i>is rather similar to his father’s, at least in the spirit. Both of them choose abuse of substances as a form of <i>escape. </i>To me, it is this similarity that adds to Amanda’s worry that “more and more you remind me of your father…” who “was out all hours without explanation.” (Williams, 1944, p. 980) It is also this very concern that roots the quarrels between Tom and Amanda. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the end, Tom does follow his father’s footstep to embark on an escapade to faraway places. Although he finally escapes from the <i>fire</i> of being the breadwinner and facing the triteness in his life, he inevitably jumps into another <i>fire</i>, the one of his guilt towards his sister. Due to his negligence in Jim’s case, he has to leave without anyone to take his place. He can never perform the “coffin trick” (Williams. 1944, p. 977). Indeed, he is right when he says “…who in hell ever got himself out of one without removing a nail?” (Williams, 1944, p.977) The fact that the drama starts and ends with Tom being at the fire escape is particularly revealing. I think that Tennessee Williams is implying that Tom, despite his <i>escapade,</i> still never leave the <i>fire-escape</i>, the one in his memory. He never enters the <i>apartment</i> filled with the <i>fire</i> either. Instead, he clings on to the fire-escape, his means of <i>escape</i>. Metaphorically, his not-letting-go represents his regret and guilt of leaving his unmarried sister who might have to “eat the crust of humility all their life” (Williams, 1944, p. 971) </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Fire-escape And Laura Wingfield </u></strong> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/Taga5O6-sgI/AAAAAAAABDo/z3OzuweATYk/s1600-h/l3%5B11%5D.jpg"><img alt="l3" border="0" height="372" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/Taga8KNUFVI/AAAAAAAABDs/BZezVuOHE6U/l3_thumb%5B9%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="l3" width="482" /></a> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laura Wingfield with her <em>escape, </em>the glass menageries</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Compared to Tom, Laura is much less directly related to the fire-escape as a symbol. Nevertheless, happenings on the fire-escape do shed light on Laura’s intricate personalities. <b>The <i>fire</i> Laura experiences is gentler than what Tom faces. Hers is the <i>fire </i>of inferiority, dependence, worry and the memories she conceals in her glass menageries.</b> Despite her exemption from financial responsibility, she has her worries especially in the increasingly stiff relationship between Tom and Amanda. Due to her slight physical defect, she cannot be physically involved in their quarrels but she does play a vital role in mending the difference between the two. Sharing the same worry as Amanda’s, she is the one who is “observing Tom’s empty bed” when he comes back late. Besides, she cannot seem to escape from the thought that she is crippled as seen in how she apologizes to Amanda, “I’m-crippled!” (Williams, 1944, p. 972) She also suffers hearing the clumping of the brace on her leg that seems “…so loud!” (Williams, 1944, p. 999) to her but is “practically nonexistent” (Williams, 1944, p. 1002) to the others. Perhaps less obviously than Amanda, Laura still misses her father. She always plays the worn-out phonograph records of her father’s although it is not clear whether it is “a painful reminder” (Williams, 1944, p. 971) to her as it is to Amanda. Not less grueling a <i>fire</i> is her hidden crush on Jim since high school and her disappointment on this unattainable relationship. Laura’s <i>fire-escape </i>is her collection of glass menageries which she spends most of her time with. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From her description on the unicorn which becomes “less-freakish” (Williams, 1944, p. 1004), the readers can see that Laura has subconsciously likened and linked herself to her glass collection. This is the way Laura escapes from her <i>fire</i>. Instead of escaping outward like Tom, she escapes inwards, into her own imaginary world in the glass menagerie. To me, to escape inwards is Laura’s only choice due to her physical defect that forbids her to travel far. She does, however, yearn for the outside world as seen from her admiration of penguins and tropical flowers, objects from exotic places. Sadly, she is still trapped in the house at the end. In my opinion, her fall on the fire-escape signifies her inability to escape from the family. Her inability to escape is due to her dependence on Amanda and Tom, which is then symbolized through their concerning questions afterwards. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Throughout the drama, the relation between Laura and the fire-escape is often indirect. Laura climbs the fire-escape less frequently. However, the readers can still infer her personalities based on how she reacts when other climb up the fire-escape. In the second scene, at the sound of Amanda’s ascent, she “catches her breath, thrusts the bowl of ornaments away…” (Williams, 1944, p. 969) This instance shows how submissive Laura is to her mother and how she cares not to hurt Amanda’s feelings. Another instance is when Tom and Jim arrive at the doorstep and how she hesitates to answer the door. Again, <i>fire-escape </i>as a symbol is at play here. The often extreme reaction of Laura’s towards what happens at the fire-escape symbolizes how strongly influenced she is by what Tom and Amanda do to escape from their troubles. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Fire-escape And Amanda Wingfield </u></strong> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TagbGItUcLI/AAAAAAAABDw/vX0hutmoqQQ/s1600-h/Amanda%20Wingfield%20with%20her%20daughter%20Laura%5B8%5D.jpg"><img alt="Amanda Wingfield with her daughter Laura" border="0" height="331" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TagbOLgxyiI/AAAAAAAABD0/PyyKifLY1Ms/Amanda%20Wingfield%20with%20her%20daughter%20Laura_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Amanda Wingfield with her daughter Laura" width="293" /></a> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amanda Wingfield (right) who always worries for her daughter, Laura (left) </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The <i>fire-escape</i> for Amanda is different that of Tom and Laura. Contrary to Tom’s <i>fire</i> that is based on idealism, th<b>e <i>fire </i>Amanda has to go through bases more on the reality. It is the reality of being a single mother in the Thirties that is grilling Amanda.</b> She is constantly worried about the finances of the family ever since his husband’s unannounced departure. For instance, she comments on how expensive Tom’s smoking habit is and how the money saved can give him “…a night-school course in accounting at Washington U” (Williams, 1944, p. 982) She also manages the subscription of the <i>Companion</i> to gain extra incomes. Though external signs are not obvious, Amanda still loves his husband but cannot accept his sudden abandonment that is so “painful” (Williams, 1944, p. 971) to them. She confesses to Tom after their reconciliation, “I’ve never told you but I - loved your father” (Williams, 1944, p. 979) Out of this love and the fear of losing another beloved, she is increasingly terrified when she sees Tom taking after her husband’s way. Besides, the worry that Laura “just drifts along doing nothing” (Williams, 1944, p 980) for either her business career or marriage has been vexing Amanda. This is why she makes “plans and provisions” (Williams, 1944, p 980) for Laura’s independence. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Different from her children’s, <b>Amanda’s <i>escape </i>is into her glorious past as a Southern belle</b> in the Blue Mountain. She repeatedly recounts her youth in conversations, even the one with Jim. I think that her tendency to do so roots in her regret over her irrevocable choice of his husband instead of the planters. Reminiscence as such can temporarily bring her out of the <i>fire </i>as she travels back in time far away from the agonizing now. In my opinion, Amanda’s participation in D.A.R (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daughters_of_the_American_Revolution">Daughters of American Revolution</a>) is also one of her ways to relate herself to her wonderful past. Only a woman who can prove lineal bloodline descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence is eligible to participate in the association. Exclusive membership as such can remind Amanda of her past identity. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Throughout the drama, Amanda appears on the fire-escape a few times. One notable instance is when she comments that “a fire-escape landing’s a poor excuse for a porch” (Williams, 1944, p. 982) and knows about the incoming visit of Jim, the gentleman caller. This comment of hers has a secondary meaning. Porch, an external attachment of a building, can be an extended living space. Fire-escape, as aforementioned, is the means of escaping troubles in life. So, Amanda’s line can be interpreted as “<b><i>one cannot avoid troubles forever as if avoidance has become his life</i></b>” just as a fire-escape can never be a porch. It is an apt remark for her husband’s and Tom’s sudden disappearance. As mentioned earlier, Laura’s reaction to Amanda’s ascent up the fire-escape signifies how influential Amanda is to Laura. However, how Tom insists on <i>going out </i>despite her pleads ironically shows her inability to contain Tom’s adamancy in leaving the family behind. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Indeed, fire-escape as a symbol has multiple dimensions in the drama. Its meaning and significance change with the different <i>fire </i>and <i>escape </i>of different character. Tom’s <i>fire </i>is that of discontent with current life while Laura’s is that of her inferiority complex. The <i>fire </i>facing Amanda is sparked from the challenges in her life as a single mother in the Thirties. With different forms of trouble and types of personality comes different form of <i>escape. </i>Tom chooses to escape outwards when his sister seeks refugee in her own imaginary Utopia. On the other hand, Amanda’s escape is towards her long lost past. Tennessee Williams intelligently uses the happenings on the fire-escape to complement the descriptions of each character’s personality. The fact that drama ensues and ends with the fire escape simply suggests the importance of fire-escape to the storyline. What each character says and does on the fire-escape is not only crucial to the plot but also particularly revealing of the characters’ personalities. Even whether the character appears on the fire-escape more often that the others and whether the character uses the fire-escape more as an exit than entrance do matter, just as in Tom’s case. I truly admire the depth and the aptness of the symbolism that the author applies in the drama.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Side Note: Songs Mentioned In The Glass Menagerie</span></u></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On a side note, I have found video clips for some of the music pieces mentioned in the play, the Glass Menagerie and embedded these for you. Enjoy!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Capital Ship For An Ocean Trip</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Book I Used</u></b> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Barnet, Sylvan, William Burto and William E. Cain. <u>An Introduction to Literature</u> (15<sup>th</sup> Edition). New York: Pearson Longman, 2008. </span></div>
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<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Book You Should Read</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"></span></h3><div class="blogger-post-footer">If there is anything you would like to know deeper, I would love to research, analyze and
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<!-- nuffnang--></div>Vichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17220018844764301317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535446307011431809.post-83992585696712227552011-04-01T19:07:00.001+08:002011-11-19T05:25:15.263+08:00Plot Summary & Review of ‘The Foreign Legation’ by E.L Doctorow<div align="justify">
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<strong><span style="font-size: small;">The Plot of the Short Story</span></strong> </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"></span></b> </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Introduction</span></b> </div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TZWx1DgmpdI/AAAAAAAABC8/13fIJ8dMlv8/s1600-h/lives-poets-novella-six-stories-e-l-doctorow-paperback-cover-art%5B20%5D.jpg"><img alt="lives-poets-novella-six-stories-e-l-doctorow-paperback-cover-art" border="0" height="312" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TZWx2uDUVgI/AAAAAAAABDA/B-WQeBbrh-w/lives-poets-novella-six-stories-e-l-doctorow-paperback-cover-art_thumb%5B18%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="lives-poets-novella-six-stories-e-l-doctorow-paperback-cover-art" width="198" /></a> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><em>The Foreign Legation</em> is one of the short stories compiled in the book <em>Lives of the Poets, A Novella and Six Stories.</em> The minimalist style the author employs has allowed multiple interpretations of the plot to be feasible in their own rights. In the introduction, the author spends many lines describing Morgan’s living space and daily routines after his separation with his wife. All the minute details the author pens give readers a sense of what kind of person Morgan is and how it feels like to be in Morgan’s shoes. From his habits such as spying on neighbors with binoculars, the readers can infer that his life before the separation was filled with family. That is why he has nothing better to kill his time except stalking others and observing the tiniest details that people are usually oblivious of. In the introduction, it is also implied that Morgan still waits for his family though he knows they would never come back. </span> </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Complication</span></b> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">In the writer’s opinion, the complication of <i>The Foreign Legation</i> is much longer than that of usual short stories. It starts when Morgan comes to the red-stone Catholic girls’ school and extends all the way until when he discovers the residences for some foreign legations. Throughout the complication, Morgan’s attitude towards sexuality has been stressed on. When he saw the girls from the Catholic school at the Ice Cream Shoppe, he has imagined how their skirt would come undone like a bandage<i>.</i> This shows his repressed sexuality after the separation. His fantasy of having the school girls steamed and oiled and so on while he was conducting to a symphony orchestra emphasizes his suppressed sexuality even more so. Despite being characterized as a minimalist, the author spends many lines describing how the history of the ancient Peru is intertwined with the obsession with sexual organs. The sex scene in the Cadillac that he witnesses outside his house is, again, related to sexuality. However, Morgan’s reaction towards it remains unclear. <b></b></span> </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Climax</span></b> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The turning point of the story comes when Morgan finds out about the residences of the foreign legations. Finding out this leads Morgan to add the new district as one of his jogging stop. This leads to the climax of the story that comes towards the ending. It is when the explosion happens. Morgan wakes up later than usual. When he jogs in the snow, he is thrown off balance by the sudden explosion at the residence of the foreign legation. What is more shocking is the maroon knee sock with child’s leg in it which he picked up, and put down again. One notable point is that Morgan’s reaction to the explosion is weird. When reactions of usual people would be of shock and fear, he cares about the appropriateness of his response. He asks the girl in running suit who happens to be around whether he was responsible for the incident. It is rather counterintuitive that he feels embarrassment instead of shock like how common people would react.</span> </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Resolution</span></b> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The story ends with the big bang, literally. There is no clear resolution to the story just as there is no resolution to the psychological impact of the terrorist attack to Morgan. There also seems to be no resolution to Morgan’s marital problems in the story. There is no satisfying explanation to what this embarrassment is about. Most important of all, there is no definite answer to the questions: “Who sets the explosion?” and “Why?”</span> </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Final Comments</span></b> </div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TZWx4KK8YKI/AAAAAAAABDE/4tiIgnmYHPs/s1600-h/EL%20Doctorow%5B2%5D.jpg"><span style="font-size: small;"><img alt="EL Doctorow" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TZWx5iiVfRI/AAAAAAAABDI/L_OM-dCXowg/EL%20Doctorow_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="EL Doctorow" width="169" /></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><u>EL Doctorow</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The writer likes the minimalist style employed by </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._L._Doctorow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">E.L. Doctorow</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> very much. It leaves readers ample room for imagination. It also makes multiple versions of plot possible. The story becomes different when it reaches different people’s hands. For example, one can claim that Morgan stages the explosion and find out enough supporting details to justify his claim. At the same time, however, another is also right to claim that Morgan is just an innocent suburban jogger who witnesses a violent terrorist attack. In the story, the author also leaves many key questions unanswered. For instance, he does not explain why Morgan would feel embarrassed when he sees the girl in running suit nearby the explosion scene. Can repressed sexuality as a theme be related to the bombing? Are oppressed sexuality and voyeurism among the reasons why Morgan is separated with his wife? Understanding the author’s truest intention with what he does not tell should lead the readers to a definite plot but the author chooses to focus on surface description. </span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Besides, the writer finds pleasure in making inferences based on contextual details the author includes. For literary minimalists like E.L. Doctorow, it is reasonable to deduce that every detail that he does tell carries a purpose. The reason why E.L. Doctorow spends a considerable part of the text describing perception of sexuality in the ancient Peru puzzles the writer. To the writer, the author attempts to convey Morgan dissatisfaction with his sexuality while describing the nature of Morgan’s profession. The fact that Morgan buys expensive steaks, fruits and vegetables that would go bad before he thinks of eating them implies that Morgan has been leading a disorganized life ever since the disintegration of his family. The writer likes how the author makes reading a more active role by <b><i>what he does not tell</i></b> and <b><i>what he does tell</i></b>.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Despite being labeled as a minimalist short story, the author is descriptive when it comes to unfolding contextual details that serve as hints and innuendos. For example, in the part where Morgan sees Catholic school’s girls in the Ice Cream, the author painstakingly pictures the scene: how Morgan pictures the skirt to be undone like a bandage if the pin are removed and how Morgan notices that the knee sock of one of the girls had slipped down the calf in the next paragraph.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">As a whole, the story is thought provoking to the writer and the process of directing the flow of the story is particularly enjoyable.</span> </div>
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<!-- nuffnang--></div>Vichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17220018844764301317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535446307011431809.post-74290830726208846352011-03-15T20:08:00.002+08:002011-11-19T05:24:59.698+08:00Of Beauty and Wisdom<div align="justify">
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<span style="font-size: small;">Beauty is contextual. And that is why beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. It is not constant. It fluctuates, like the ebb and flow of the la mar. With different pairs of eyes comes different version of beauty. Some loves flame-like passion. Some loves breeze-like grace. Some loves autumn-leave-like sorrowfulness. </span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">While beauty is more common in entertainment circle, it has also found its own place in other fields especially in chess. There has been a comprehensive effort of documenting photogenic chess players or even grandmasters but most of them are nothing more than a list of pictures. </span> <br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Beauty & Chess</u></span></strong> <br />
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">Alexandra Kosteniuk (born April 23, 1984)</span></em></strong> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Born in Perm, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Soviet_Federative_Socialist_Republic" target="_blank">Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic</a></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;">, she is Women’s World Chess Champion in 2008-2010. At a tender age of 17, she already made it to the final of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Women%27s_Chess_Championship" target="_blank">Women’s World Chess Championship</a>. When she was 20, she became the tenth woman to receive the highest title of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%A9d%C3%A9ration_Internationale_des_%C3%89checs" target="_blank">FIDE</a>, International Grandmaster. More interestingly, she has been the ambassador of chess while being a fashion model. There are even people who call her “Maria Sharapova of chess.” You may catch up with her podcasts through her personal website, <a href="http://www.kosteniuk.com/" target="_blank">Kosteniuk.com</a>. </span> </div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9U4eB9-mI/AAAAAAAAA-8/oeR3c0Q7Ma8/s1600-h/Alexandra%20Kosteniuk%201%5B6%5D.jpg"><img alt="Alexandra Kosteniuk 1" border="0" height="227" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9U5SGHxII/AAAAAAAAA_A/1I8RUNUEoOQ/Alexandra%20Kosteniuk%201_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Alexandra Kosteniuk 1" width="170" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9U6AvA52I/AAAAAAAAA_E/r6_519Z2Gd8/s1600-h/Alexandra%20Kosteniuk%205%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="Alexandra Kosteniuk 5" border="0" height="226" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9U7OTUUyI/AAAAAAAAA_I/j8r8APjYrJI/Alexandra%20Kosteniuk%205_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Alexandra Kosteniuk 5" width="312" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Almira Skripchenko (born February 17, 1976)</strong></span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">From France, she is the winner of the second <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Individual_Chess_Championship">European Open Women's Chess Championship</a> in 2001. When <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moldova" target="_blank">Moldova</a> (her birthplace) became independent of Russia, she rose to her fame by becoming the champion of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Youth_Chess_Championship" target="_blank">World Youth Chess Championships</a> (Under 16) in 1991. Starting to play chess at 6, she married twice. Both her ex and current husband are French Grandmaster. (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo%C3%ABl_Lautier">Joël Lautier</a> and then, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurent_Fressinet">Laurent Fressinet</a>) Yet one more trivia of her is that she is an avid poker card player. In 2009, she bagged home $78,664 when she finished seventh in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Series_of_Poker">World Series of Poker</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betting_(poker)#No_limit">No Limit</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_hold_%27em">Texas hold 'em</a> tournament. </span> <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9U7xGEu7I/AAAAAAAAA_M/KWnm4Fb-zHU/s1600-h/Almira%20Skripchenko%201%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="Almira Skripchenko 1" border="0" height="242" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9U8p3LKUI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/Yg8uYq9vRZI/Almira%20Skripchenko%201_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Almira Skripchenko 1" width="191" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9U9Iva5cI/AAAAAAAAA_U/MsVmUkJx5BM/s1600-h/Almira%20Skripchenko%202%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="Almira Skripchenko 2" border="0" height="242" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9U9hPNiFI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/MQ4_w4WVHbo/Almira%20Skripchenko%202_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Almira Skripchenko 2" width="212" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9U-ga3hFI/AAAAAAAAA_c/6gafGnaVSEc/s1600-h/Almira%20Skripchenko%203%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="Almira Skripchenko 3" border="0" height="242" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9U_-cEZVI/AAAAAAAAA_g/eaVvFXEq6Eg/Almira%20Skripchenko%203_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Almira Skripchenko 3" width="164" /></a> <br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Anastasia Gavrilova</strong></span> <span style="font-size: small;"><strong>(born 1990)</strong></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Not much information about her can be found online. According to the FIDE <a href="http://ratings.fide.com/card.phtml?event=1310356" target="_blank">database</a>, she is a Women <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%A9d%C3%A9ration_Internationale_des_%C3%89checs" target="_blank">FIDE</a> Master from Switzerland. She got her WF Master title at the age of 15 (year 2006). She is currently ranked 746th among female player in the world.</span> <br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VAqBGK3I/AAAAAAAAA_k/hhLp0e1JQrY/s1600-h/Anastasia%20Gavrilova%201%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="Anastasia Gavrilova 1" border="0" height="280" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VBB5V7EI/AAAAAAAAA_o/AEs3BXEI-g0/Anastasia%20Gavrilova%201_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Anastasia Gavrilova 1" width="203" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VCK5LZmI/AAAAAAAAA_s/UCns9U_iDps/s1600-h/Anastasia%20Gavrilova%202%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="Anastasia Gavrilova 2" border="0" height="279" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VCnh8UKI/AAAAAAAAA_w/WXUyugguoks/Anastasia%20Gavrilova%202_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Anastasia Gavrilova 2" width="181" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VDdHhWoI/AAAAAAAAA_0/IgJlC1TGYRs/s1600-h/Anastasia%20Gavrilova%203%5B11%5D.jpg"><img alt="Anastasia Gavrilova 3" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VEwF2qRI/AAAAAAAAA_4/u_F9aHEEKVk/Anastasia%20Gavrilova%203_thumb%5B9%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Anastasia Gavrilova 3" width="187" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Kateryna Lahno (born December 27, 1989)</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Kateryna, from Ukraine, has obtained World Grandmaster title at the age of 12, even earlier than Anastasia. In fact, she has broken the record held by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judit_Polg%C3%A1r" target="_blank">Judit Polgar</a> for this. When she was just 15, she won the 2005 European Individual Women's Championship. She is now ranked seventh among women players in the world. Like Almira, she is also married to a Grandmaster, Robert Fontaine (also a reporter).</span><br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VFvXewDI/AAAAAAAAA_8/jcLFYUFAFuI/s1600-h/Kateryna%20Lahno%206%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="Kateryna Lahno 6" border="0" height="242" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VGRcgJzI/AAAAAAAABAA/I2LFILQETUk/Kateryna%20Lahno%206_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Kateryna Lahno 6" width="189" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VHBu6qmI/AAAAAAAABAE/RtzGc5TEnIg/s1600-h/Kateryna%20Lahno%201%5B7%5D.jpg"><img alt="Kateryna Lahno 1" border="0" height="248" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VH62OF-I/AAAAAAAABAI/esmJZ2JBVZ8/Kateryna%20Lahno%201_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Kateryna Lahno 1" width="230" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VIdCWpgI/AAAAAAAABAM/dgMciI5dp9M/s1600-h/Kateryna%20Lahno%203%5B6%5D.jpg"><img alt="Kateryna Lahno 3" border="0" height="245" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VJNWOBnI/AAAAAAAABAQ/WM4Z_EACOlA/Kateryna%20Lahno%203_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Kateryna Lahno 3" width="147" /></a></div>
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Kateryna Lahno when she is still young.<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VJsUaLSI/AAAAAAAABAU/PclROLczwLM/s1600-h/Kateryna%20Lahno%204%5B2%5D.jpg"><img alt="Kateryna Lahno 4" border="0" height="197" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VKJM1KoI/AAAAAAAABAY/7TNRhc8lUgM/Kateryna%20Lahno%204_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Kateryna Lahno 4" width="244" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Monika Seps (born February 22, 1986)</span></strong> <br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Born in Switzerland and educated in biology at </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ETH_Zurich" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">ETH Zurich</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> (Albert Einstein's alma meter), Monika is a World International Master (WIM) currently ranked 442th among female players in the world. She earned her FIDE Master in 2005 and then, WIM in 2006. She has been the Swiss Female Champion for year 2001, 2002, 2005 and 2007. She lost her title to Tatiana </span><span style="font-size: small;">Lematschko for the years in between.</span> <br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VLa5Eb6I/AAAAAAAABAc/WtwIzPOwxHg/s1600-h/Monika%20Seps%201%5B2%5D.jpg"><img alt="Monika Seps 1" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VMBwFMEI/AAAAAAAABAg/3S-R-8bPcmo/Monika%20Seps%201_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Monika Seps 1" width="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VNSJlDhI/AAAAAAAABAk/4xY2InPquf0/s1600-h/Monika%20Seps%205%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="Monika Seps 5" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VOKyKVPI/AAAAAAAABAo/wlUDy1GCqH8/Monika%20Seps%205_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Monika Seps 5" width="164" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VOwBkoCI/AAAAAAAABAs/-sdY0MQ6OUA/s1600-h/Monika%20Seps%204%5B2%5D.jpg"><img alt="Monika Seps 4" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VPdSImQI/AAAAAAAABAw/mB2jv9wC_CI/Monika%20Seps%204_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Monika Seps 4" width="184" /></a> </div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VQDhL66I/AAAAAAAABA0/BOuUEJf_c_g/s1600-h/Monika%20Seps%207%5B6%5D.jpg"><img alt="Monika Seps 7" border="0" height="240" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VQ724vyI/AAAAAAAABA4/Ai3z9vcqmOs/Monika%20Seps%207_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Monika Seps 7" width="347" /></a> </div>
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</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Sanja Dedijer (born 1986)</strong></span> </div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Representing Bosnia & Herzegovina, she is now ranked 1190th among female players in the world without any FIDE title. She played in Torino Chess Olympiad 2006.</span><br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VRyCnx3I/AAAAAAAABA8/odlFWavTUvM/s1600-h/Sanja%20Dedijer%201%5B6%5D.jpg"><img alt="Sanja Dedijer 1" border="0" height="352" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VSqVt2kI/AAAAAAAABBA/w2g9ZPWySKA/Sanja%20Dedijer%201_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Sanja Dedijer 1" width="260" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VTVojwPI/AAAAAAAABBE/UZeyEACZnn8/s1600-h/Sanja%20Dedijer%202%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="Sanja Dedijer 2" border="0" height="354" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VUeVYitI/AAAAAAAABBI/MLb6ovuHpAg/Sanja%20Dedijer%202_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Sanja Dedijer 2" width="233" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Sophie Milliet (born November 2, 1983)</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Raised in a French town, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castelnau-le-Lez">Castelnau-le-Lez</a>, she is now the French female champion who is ranked 74th among female players in the world. She was awarded the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Master">International Master</a> title in March 2009, in respect of norms earned at the French Club Championship (2005), the Swiss Championship at Lenzerheide (2006) and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A9thune">Béthune</a> Open (2008)</span><br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VVOdMQiI/AAAAAAAABBM/sdfpBB6fOPM/s1600-h/Sophie%20Milliet%201%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="Sophie Milliet 1" border="0" height="319" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VWBUa9SI/AAAAAAAABBQ/IUPLg2GNons/Sophie%20Milliet%201_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Sophie Milliet 1" width="282" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VXRyPsJI/AAAAAAAABBU/xH9vGU8bWvA/s1600-h/Sophie%20Milliet%203%5B6%5D.jpg"><img alt="Sophie Milliet 3" border="0" height="316" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VYOmbV_I/AAAAAAAABBY/hWmscFzmITU/Sophie%20Milliet%203_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Sophie Milliet 3" width="203" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VY1M96LI/AAAAAAAABBc/sfxvBe8Hsw8/s1600-h/Sophie%20Milliet%207%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="Sophie Milliet 7" border="0" height="182" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VZgbscuI/AAAAAAAABBg/3mNv08UImRg/Sophie%20Milliet%207_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Sophie Milliet 7" width="242" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9Vaf26h7I/AAAAAAAABBk/pjUb53tyRgM/s1600-h/Sophie%20Milliet%206%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="Sophie Milliet 6" border="0" height="183" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9Va-rvGnI/AAAAAAAABBo/0R_6xlOJ5jM/Sophie%20Milliet%206_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Sophie Milliet 6" width="260" /></a></div>
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</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Vesna Rozic (born 1987)</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">She is Slovenian Women International Master (WIM) currently ranked 238th among all active female players in the world. She is the female champion for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovenian_Chess_Championship" target="_blank">Slovenian Chess Championship</a> 2007.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9Vbmh4w2I/AAAAAAAABBs/jUy_4iQf7bs/s1600-h/Vesna%20Rozic%201%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="Vesna Rozic 1" border="0" height="267" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VcS1dZRI/AAAAAAAABBw/nhGiDTKNTG8/Vesna%20Rozic%201_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Vesna Rozic 1" width="305" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VdP5GwcI/AAAAAAAABB0/Eux_YGufgHQ/s1600-h/Vesna%20Rozic%202%5B2%5D.jpg"><img alt="Vesna Rozic 2" border="0" height="164" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VdvcHmGI/AAAAAAAABB4/XdtsGjWfu_M/Vesna%20Rozic%202_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Vesna Rozic 2" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VevwffbI/AAAAAAAABB8/ene-EKBjtnY/s1600-h/Vesna%20Rozic%203%5B2%5D.jpg"><img alt="Vesna Rozic 3" border="0" height="164" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VfvQgNFI/AAAAAAAABCA/y_qKWeBXgwo/Vesna%20Rozic%203_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Vesna Rozic 3" width="244" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Zhu Chen (born March 16, 1976)</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Born in </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wenzhou"><span style="font-size: small;">Wenzhou</span></a><span style="font-size: small;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhejiang"><span style="font-size: small;">Zhejiang</span></a><span style="font-size: small;">, she is a </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess"><span style="font-size: small;">chess</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_(chess)"><span style="font-size: small;">Grandmaster</span></a><span style="font-size: small;">. In 2001, she became China's second women's world chess champion after </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xie_Jun"><span style="font-size: small;">Xie Jun</span></a><span style="font-size: small;">. At the age of 25 she defeated <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandra_Kosteniuk">Alexandra Kosteniuk</a> of Russia in a tournament for the 2001/2002 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_World_Chess_Championship">Women's World Chess Championship</a>, by 5-3. Educated in the premier college <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsinghua_University" target="_blank">Tsinghua University</a>, Zhu Chen is married to Qatari Grandmaster <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohamad_Al-Modiahki">Mohamad Al-Modiahki</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9Vguu4DGI/AAAAAAAABCE/NRj9ZbWrE20/s1600-h/Zhu%20Chen%201%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="Zhu Chen 1" border="0" height="236" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VhF4fgUI/AAAAAAAABCI/U9fulRtbWEs/Zhu%20Chen%201_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Zhu Chen 1" width="223" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VhvpmfnI/AAAAAAAABCM/U6DhZ31HXTU/s1600-h/Zhu%20Chen%202%5B8%5D.jpg"><img alt="Zhu Chen 2" border="0" height="238" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9ViZAnkqI/AAAAAAAABCQ/od3G7cZK59I/Zhu%20Chen%202_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Zhu Chen 2" width="173" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VjCBqXQI/AAAAAAAABCU/Zb2qmqXlNBw/s1600-h/Zhu%20Chen%202%5B7%5D.jpg"><img alt="Zhu Chen 2" border="0" height="239" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9Vj3XsMRI/AAAAAAAABCY/-Omq7FDfsTA/Zhu%20Chen%202_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Zhu Chen 2" width="172" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VklSWRAI/AAAAAAAABCc/gBNhtguhdQg/s1600-h/Zhu%20Chen%203%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="Zhu Chen 3" border="0" height="319" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TX9VltyyCQI/AAAAAAAABCg/oPPn5eWrcMI/Zhu%20Chen%203_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Zhu Chen 3" width="413" /></a></span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">You might be wondering why the chess players on this list are from Russia (and former Russian regimes), Ukraine, France and China. This is because that these are the countries with highest number of Grandmaster and International Master as seen from the <a href="http://ratings.fide.com/topfed.phtml" target="_blank">list</a> done by FIDE. </span></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 424px;"><tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="80"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></td> <td valign="top" width="80"><span style="font-size: small;">Average</span></td> <td valign="top" width="80"><span style="font-size: small;">GMs</span></td> <td valign="top" width="80"><span style="font-size: small;">IMs</span></td> <td valign="top" width="102"><span style="font-size: small;">Total Titled</span></td></tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="80"><span style="font-size: small;">Russia</span></td> <td valign="top" width="80"><b><span style="font-size: small;">2732</span></b></td> <td valign="top" width="80"><span style="font-size: small;">204</span></td> <td valign="top" width="80"><span style="font-size: small;">474</span></td> <td valign="top" width="102"><span style="font-size: small;">2010</span></td></tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="80"><span style="font-size: small;">Ukraine</span></td> <td valign="top" width="80"><b><span style="font-size: small;">2697</span></b></td> <td valign="top" width="80"><span style="font-size: small;">76</span></td> <td valign="top" width="80"><span style="font-size: small;">196</span></td> <td valign="top" width="102"><span style="font-size: small;">467</span></td></tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="80"><span style="font-size: small;">China</span></td> <td valign="top" width="80"><b><span style="font-size: small;">2657</span></b></td> <td valign="top" width="80"><span style="font-size: small;">27</span></td> <td valign="top" width="80"><span style="font-size: small;">20</span></td> <td valign="top" width="102"><span style="font-size: small;">104</span></td></tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="80"><span style="font-size: small;">Armenia</span></td> <td valign="top" width="80"><b><span style="font-size: small;">2656</span></b></td> <td valign="top" width="80"><span style="font-size: small;">33</span></td> <td valign="top" width="80"><span style="font-size: small;">19</span></td> <td valign="top" width="102"><span style="font-size: small;">75</span></td></tr>
<tr> <td valign="top" width="80"><span style="font-size: small;">France</span></td> <td valign="top" width="80"><b><span style="font-size: small;">2650</span></b></td> <td valign="top" width="80"><span style="font-size: small;">42</span></td> <td valign="top" width="80"><span style="font-size: small;">91</span></td> <td valign="top" width="102"><span style="font-size: small;">326</span><br />
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</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Another thing you can notice is that most of them earned their Grandmaster title in a rather young age. Chess is, in fact, the only sport where children can par with adults. </span><span style="font-size: small;">From the list, too, we can see that quite a few Grandmasters are married to fellow Grandmasters. Could it be just coincidence? I don’t have the complete statistic to make any judgment. Do share with me if you have found it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">If you can see, this list is arranged purely by their initials. The ranking is up to you. So, who among them makes it to the top of your list? Or, who have I missed? </span></div>
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<!-- nuffnang--></div>Vichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17220018844764301317noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535446307011431809.post-84094099122053965812011-03-02T17:58:00.001+08:002011-11-19T05:24:30.262+08:00Tea with Mussolini & The Scorpioni<div align="justify">
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<span style="font-family: Harabara; font-size: small;"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TW4UlFijZ1I/AAAAAAAAA98/c7-VOzaDYzs/s1600-h/Tea_with_Mussolini_film%5B14%5D.jpg"><img alt="Tea_with_Mussolini_film" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TW4UneLLmnI/AAAAAAAAA-A/GF9J3zTgTwc/Tea_with_Mussolini_film_thumb%5B12%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Tea_with_Mussolini_film" width="324" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Bell MT'; font-size: small;">In my literature class today, I got the chance to watch a 1999 semi-autobiographic film, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_with_Mussolini" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Bell MT'; font-size: small;">Tea with Mussolini</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Bell MT'; font-size: small;"> directed by </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco_Zeffirelli" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Bell MT'; font-size: small;">Franco Zeffirelli</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Bell MT'; font-size: small;">. The Scorpioni, the group of cultured elderly English ladies who looked after </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco_Zeffirelli" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Bell MT'; font-size: small;">Franco Zeffirelli</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Bell MT'; font-size: small;"> (Luca, in the movie) as a young orphan, attracted my attention very much. One particular scene was when they risked their lives in the line of fire to protect the frescoes in San Gimignano from demolition. A few rounds of Google search has shown that there is not much historical information about the Scorpioni. Being me, I have decided to compile all the information I can get and share with you here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Bell MT'; font-size: small;">The Scorpioni, to me, is the patron of the arts and cultures. It is essentially a group of five cultured expatriates who live around Florence in the 1930s and 1940s. Their biting wit and arch humor were well known to the Italians who call them the Scorpioni (Italian word for scorpions). Other than Tea with Mussolini, they were also mentioned in the memoirs of the writer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violet_Trefusis" target="_blank">Violet Trefusis</a>. The ladies frequented <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gran_Caff%C3%A9_Doney">Gran Café Doney</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uffizi" target="_blank">Uffizi Gallery</a> and English Cemetery of Florence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Bell MT'; font-size: small;">The Uffizi Gallery</span></div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TW4UqjCVT-I/AAAAAAAAA-E/s84xgSznJKE/s1600-h/800px-Uffizi_Gallery%2C_Florence%5B9%5D.jpg"><img alt="800px-Uffizi_Gallery,_Florence" border="0" height="327" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TW4UsbtKjSI/AAAAAAAAA-I/BQ15x0k1Mlc/800px-Uffizi_Gallery%2C_Florence_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="800px-Uffizi_Gallery,_Florence" width="470" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Bell MT';">The leader of the clique was, as </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco_Zeffirelli" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Bell MT'; font-size: small;">Franco Zeffirelli</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Bell MT';"><span style="font-size: small;"> recalled, an arrogant and bossy dowager of the community, whose name he could not remember. </span> The fictional character, Lady Hester Random (played by Maggie Smith who eventually won a <a href="http://www.bafta.org/" target="_blank">BAFTA</a> for this character), was crafted by John Mortimer, the creator of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumpole_of_the_Bailey" target="_blank">Rumpole of the Bailey</a> series. Another member, Arabella, the patron of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresco" target="_blank">frescoes</a>, would climb up ladders and even risk her life to save frescoes in dishabille. The motherly Mary O’Neill (Mary Wallace, in the film) is perhaps, the most pragmatic in this elite circle despite her affection towards the romanticism of William Shakespeare. To keep up with her Florentine lifestyle, unlike her wealthy counterparts, she had to work as a translator. Rounding up the group were Georgie, a lesbian archeologist and Elsa Morganthal, the former Ziegfeld Follies dancer.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Bell MT'; font-size: small;">One noteworthy fact about the film is that the pivotal moment where Lady Hester Random had tea with Benito Mussolini was fictional. It was based on a historical occurrence where the English writer Violet Trefusis met with Mussolini. It was said that Violet Trefusis, one of Virginia Woolf's Bloomsbury friends, often boasted of a tete-a-tete with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duce" target="_blank">Il Duce</a> (Benito Mussolini). The informal adoption of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco_Zeffirelli" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Bell MT'; font-size: small;">Franco Zeffirelli</span></a>, though, was real. The illegitimacy of his birth was real, too. (On a unrelated note, I love how Mary Wallace exclaimed “There is no illegitimate child in the world! Only illegitimate parents!) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Bell MT'; font-size: small;">Born in the post-WWI Florence, Zeffirelli (then, <b>Gianfranco Corsi) </b>was the illegitimate son of the mercer Ottorino Corsi and his mistress, Adelaide Garosi, who was later looked after by the group. Speaking from New York City, he recounted that the Scorpioni has taught him about life. He had learnt to appreciate the world, both outside and inside. If it weren’t for the Scorpioni, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco_Zeffirelli" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Bell MT'; font-size: small;">Franco Zeffirelli</span></a> would not have known so much about his own city, culture, and upbringing. “</span><span style="font-family: 'Bell MT'; font-size: small;">If you were born and live in Florence, after a while you get to be fed up with it,” Zeffirelli stated, “they brought me to see things with new fresh eyes. I'll never forget how they contributed to my growth." </span><span style="font-family: 'Bell MT'; font-size: small;">Mary O’Neill, especially, was kind of a surrogate mother for him. She introduced him to the beauty of English literature and theatrical art, particularly the Shakespeare. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Bell MT'; font-size: small;">As for the part where the ladies protected San Gimignano (the medieval hill town in the province of Siena, Tuscany) from being blown up by the retreating Germans, no historical evidence is available to attribute this to the Scorpioni.(Please correct me if I am wrong) It was thanks to the local citizens who buried it in stones in 1944, to keep the Nazi Army from blowing it up as a means to stop the advancing Allies. </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TW4Uv-vO2rI/AAAAAAAAA-M/RJ8bL05xXuc/s1600-h/800px-Toscana_SGimignano_tango7174%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="800px-Toscana_SGimignano_tango7174" border="0" height="392" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TW4UyAnySGI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/oLBqsXSpJp8/800px-Toscana_SGimignano_tango7174_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="800px-Toscana_SGimignano_tango7174" width="576" /></a></div>
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<!-- nuffnang--></div>Vichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17220018844764301317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535446307011431809.post-30384597712568675292011-02-24T19:22:00.002+08:002011-02-28T01:09:18.196+08:00What about Graffiti<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">So, what do you think about graffiti? Is it an art, vandalism or both? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Do you think it can have positive impact to our society? </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5btft7TkOCE/TWpoIB_tEiI/AAAAAAAAA90/htlBT0Ko6jw/s1600/DSC03332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5btft7TkOCE/TWpoIB_tEiI/AAAAAAAAA90/htlBT0Ko6jw/s400/DSC03332.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Please share your opinions through the following 2 minutes online survey form I created for my first college website assignment. My team planned to research statistical evidences on how people's perception towards graffiti is nowadays and then include our analysis on the raw data as part of our future website. To ensure the statistical reliability of the survey, we planned to reach out to at least 1000 respondents worldwide. I really hope that you could help me to fill it out and spread the words among your friends. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="2261" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://spreadsheets.google.com/embeddedform?formkey=dFRhbjhBdzJrNmVjSzczWndOajQ4d2c6MQ" width="720">&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;</iframe></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">If there is anything you would like to know deeper, I would love to research, analyze and
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<!-- nuffnang--></div>Vichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17220018844764301317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535446307011431809.post-26005407452911665832011-02-18T20:38:00.003+08:002011-11-19T05:24:02.056+08:00Questions That Remain Unanswered<div align="justify">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><u>The Case of R. Gunasegaran </u></b> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was recently exposed to the case of R. Gunasegaran through a course in Legal Studies in my <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Education_Centre_(INTEC),_Malaysia" target="_blank">college</a>. At first, it appeared to be just another usual case study for me. However, further reading and thinking showed me the otherwise. Dozens of questions are in my head. I have attempted to compile everything I could find and to come out with an amateur analysis which is done to the best of my knowledge. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Introduction to the Case<b></b></i> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TV4Uilu2taI/AAAAAAAAA84/r_w3_SPUpjg/s1600-h/gunasegaran%5B8%5D.jpg"><img alt="gunasegaran" border="0" height="239" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TV4Ukfcf_sI/AAAAAAAAA88/Qz9a2EYTprs/gunasegaran_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="gunasegaran" width="307" /></a> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On November 3, 2010, the family of R. Gunasegaran, most notably his sister Ganga Gowri Rajasundram, has applied to the High Court to review the open verdict handed down at the inquest investigating his death.<a href="http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=53646" target="_blank">[1]</a> It had been more than one since Gunasegaran s/o Rajasundram’s “sudden death” as classified by the police, but the family is still waiting for the truth of R. Gunasegaran’s demise to see the light of day. A total of 23 witnesses have testified but yet, the truth was still unacceptable by the family of Gunasegaran. <a href="http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=31520">[2]</a> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On October 25, 2010, in the “open verdict” delivered by the coroner’s court in the inquest to determine the cause of Gunasegaran s/o Rajasundram’s, the coroner Siti Shakirah binti Mohtarudin found insufficient evidences to record a conclusion to the case.<a href="http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/Gunasegaraninquest_Coroner_sCourtdeliversopenverdict/Article/">[3]</a> Open verdict, according to <i>the Collins English Dictionary</i>, means a finding by a coroner's jury of death without stating the cause. In other words, Gunasegaran’s death was deemed suspicious by the jury but none of the other verdicts open to them could be reached.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/English%20Arthur.%20%22Open%20verdict.%22%20A%20Dictionary%20of%20Words%20and%20Phrases%20Used%20in%20Ancient%20and%20Modern%20Law.%20Washington%20D.C.:%20Beard%20Books,%202000.%20809.">[4]</a> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TV4Up4TKXaI/AAAAAAAAA9A/8Qy721HZ6iQ/s1600-h/image95%5B2%5D.png"><img align="left" alt="image95" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TV4UuDz8XDI/AAAAAAAAA9I/jYJq7qGXPQQ/image95_thumb.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image95" width="169" /></a> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The counsel representing the family of R. Gunasegaran, M. Visvanathan stated that the family would file an application for a judicial review at the High Court soon, as mentioned earlier. Many questions remained in their head. Ganga Gowri asked for a review of the coroner’s decision that the injuries sustained by Gunasegaran could have come from attempts to resuscitate him. She also questioned the decision of the coroner that Gunasegaran had consumed drugs beyond lethal levels. <a href="http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=53646">[5]</a> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Gunasegaran s/o Rajasundram, 31, a toddy shop assistant, collapsed while his thumbprint was being taken between 6.45pm and 7pm on July 16, 2008 at the Sentul police headquarters and was pronounced dead at 7.40pm at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital the same day. <a href="http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/Gunasegaraninquest_Coroner_sCourtdeliversopenverdict/Article/%3E.">[6]</a> The deceased was arrested in a drug bust on the day of death although the fact as to whether he possessed the drug remains unproven. His family members were later informed that Gunasegaran had, that same day, died, due to drug abuse-related causes. Similarly, a copy of the burial permit, issued by the hospital authorities states that Gunasegaran died from drug-related causes. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">However, the family believed in another version of truth, that the death was due to police brutality instead of the reported drug abuse. Upon learning of the death, the family have since been in contact with eye-witnesses to Gunasegaran’s arrest and detention by the police and have been informed that at the time of his arrest, Gunasegaran was physically assault by Lance Corporal Mohd Faizal; and that, at the Sentul police station, Gunasegaran was subjected to further assaults by the same police officer causing Gunasegaran to lose consciousness which he never regained until his death.<a href="http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/members_opinions_and_comments/16_july_=_r._gunasegaran_died_teohs_body_found.html">[7]</a> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This case has drawn the attention of many parties including the likes of The Malaysian Bar, World Organization against Torture (OMCT) and so on. In its statement on October 29, 2010, The Malaysian Bar questioned the effectiveness of the inquest <a href="http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/press_statements/press_release_end_police_brutality_now.html">[8]</a>when the coroner failed to reach a definitive finding in the case despite the strength of the evidences pointing towards the culpability of the police: testimonies of the three witnesses and the second autopsy report which found a 28cm long, 8cm width and 5cm depth scar on R. Gunasegaran’s chest.<a href="http://aliran.com/3206.">[9]</a> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">World Organization against Torture (OMCT) also expressed its deep concern when one of the key witnesses in the case, K. Selvachandran was detained under the two-year detention order under the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985 (DDA), which provides for detention without trial for up to two years. During the arrest, Mr. K. Selvachandran was allegedly beaten by the police in front of his wife and children before he was taken to the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters. He would suffer from hearing problems due to the beatings.<a href="http://www.omct.org/urgent-campaigns/urgent-interventions/malaysia/2010/12/d20998/">[10]</a> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The 11 Non-Governmental Organizations, which included The People's Parliament, SUARAM, Jemaah Islah Malaysia (JIM), Centre for Policy Initiatives (CPI) and Writers Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI), also released a joint statement on August 17, 2009 requesting a standard operating procedure (SOP) for investigations into cases of death in custody. <a href="http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=37030">[11]</a> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The reason <b>why the case of R. Gunasegaran is crucial to our discussion on police practices</b> is that <i>it highlights several issues with the policing of our country: the safety of whistleblower, the human rights during police custody, the procedures of inquests, the questionable practices in the police force and so on.</i><b> </b>Understanding this case could bring us to find out what more could be done to better the policing system of our country. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>A Deeper Look at the Court Proceedings</i></b> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Understandably, Gunasegaran case was brought to the Coroner’s Court since his demise was questionably in suspicious circumstances, in prison or police custody and the deceased was not previously ill or had not seen a doctor within 14 days before the death<a href="http://www.courtroomadvice.co.uk/what-happens-coroners-court.html">.[12]</a> Moreover, the cause of death is unknown or uncertain as highlighted in the judgment report. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">According to the six-page judgment report done by the coroner Siti Shakirah Mohtarudin, there were two versions of how Gunasegaran had died based on the testimonies of witnesses. Gunasegaran died on July 16, 2009, between 6.45pm and 7.20pm while his thumbprints were being taken by police for processing. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>The Open Verdict & the Post-mortem Reports</b> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The first version is that the deceased fainted when police were processing his thumbprints and then, he died on the way to the hospital due to drug-related issues as testified by both post-mortem reports. On the other end, following the testimonies of the three eye-witnesses, the second version was that the deceased had been kicked and beaten by a police officer who arrested him that caused his death. Both versions can be accepted in her opinion but a post-mortem report is an undisputed <i>prima facie</i> evidence.<a href="http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=31520">[13]</a><b><b></b></b> <i>Prima facie</i>, in common law jurisdiction, denotes legal presumption on the face of evidence or at the first sight, unless rebutted.<a href="http://www.duhaime.org/LegalDictionary/P/PrimaFacie.aspx">[14]</a> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The solicitors acting on behalf of Gunasegaran’s family did rebut on the admissibility of the first post-mortem report. Indeed, in an inquest, post-mortem reports are extremely important to establish the cause of death. Only if the post-mortem does not reveal the cause of death, or in certain other circumstances (industrial disease, violent or unnatural death, or death in prison), will there be an inquest. However, as we have seen from the difficulties in claiming a copy of the post-mortem report of the next of kin in Gunasegaran’s case, the cooperativeness of the related parties is questionable.<b></b> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The family has been told that the post mortem report will only be made available after Gunasegaran’s body is removed from the mortuary and after an application has been made to the hospital. The family has been told that the report will be made available two months after their application. Solicitors representing Gunasegaran’s family had written 4 letters to several parties involved including<b> </b>Kuala Lumpur Subordinate Courts to request for an inquest, Jabatan Perubatan Forensik of Kuala Lumpur Hospital to formally request for a copy of the post mortem report, OCPD of the Sentul police station to confirm that the police had no objections to a second post mortem on the remains of Gunasegaran. No response had been heard in at least a month. Only the letter requesting Pusat Perubatan Universiti Hospital (PPUH) for a second post mortem to be performed was replied. However, PPUH replied such a post mortem can only be undertaken if the police authorities confirmed their agreement to the same in writing. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Such policy is valid as the same was requested in similar cases such as A. Kugan’s and Krishnan’s. As what Bukit Aman legal division chief assistant director Razali Basri said, for any case of death in police custody, a court order must first be obtained for a post-mortem to be conducted on the deceased and any cost involved must be borne by the family.<a href="http://www.lawyersforliberty.org/2011/01/aye-to-second-postmortem-with-conditions">[15]</a> However, we question the efficiency in delivering the post-mortem report. Deference in the delivery of the post-mortem report to the next-of-kin, in “death in police custody” cases, until after the body has been buried and or cremated, is unacceptable. The family should be privy to the information. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The issue of deferring the delivery of post-mortem report arose again when Dr. Prashant of the PPUH (who is also responsible for the second postmortem reports in Teoh Beng Hock case and A. Kugan case.) was informed by the police that the medical officer who performed the first post mortem must be present when the second procedure is performed. As to when this medical officer will avail himself so that the second post mortem may proceed without any further delay, no one can say. We are also concerned about the responsibility for the family of the deceased to bear the cost of autopsy. This is especially true in the case of Gunasegaran’s family. To assist with their financial situation, famous legal blogger, Haris Ibrahim, initiated a campaign through his personal website, <a href="http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/">The People’s Parliament</a>. The commendable part in this case is that the police, in the end, registered the body for postmortem and hence, shouldered the cost. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On August 18, 2009, the High Court allowed the request by R Ganga Gowri, 32, for the post mortem to be conducted on Gunasegaran at the PPUH. Justice Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah also ordered a copy of the report on the first post mortem conducted at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) to be handed over to the applicant’s counsel within two weeks from the date. <a href="http://www.thenutgraph.com/court-allows-second-post-mortem-on-gunasegaran">[16]</a> In the second postmortem, the 18<sup>th</sup> and 19<sup>th</sup> witness at the court, the forensic investigator Nurulhasanah Mustapar and Dr. Prashant have reported the 28cm by 8cm by 5cm scar on Gunasegaran’s chest. This finding contradicts the first postmortem report. The second postmortem report also supports the testimonies done by the three witnesses, S. Ravi, S. Suresh and S. Selvachandran that Gunasegaran was subjected to physical assault during the arrest and custody. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">However, the coroner decides that she could not conclude if it was true that the injuries found in the post-mortem were due to beatings. M. Visvanathan submitted that there was a “conspiracy” by certain quarters to conceal the truth, by using post-mortem photographs that were insufficient to show a wound measuring 28cm x 8cm x 5cm, which was recorded in the second post-mortem.<a href="http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/146293">[17]</a> On December 5<sup>th</sup> 2009, both forensic photographers (Lance Corporal Admi Baharom and Mohd Zukri Ismail) who testified on the court admitted that of the total of 26 photos taken, none of the photos showed details of external anatomy before dissection, explicitly the chest and the head. <a href="http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/12/15/nation/20091215185958&sec=nation">[18]</a><b><b></b></b>This, to us, is not in line with the general guidelines for forensic photography. In fact, forensic photographs must demonstrate a fair and accurate representation of the scene, object, situation, or event and be able to be analyzed for information required by the courts<a href="http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/articles/pages/1135/Forensic-Photography.html">.[19]</a> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>The Questionable Practices during the Arrest and Custody</b> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TV4Uvaa2__I/AAAAAAAAA9M/aMDC1UCLPz4/s1600-h/20100827_gunasegaran_case_withness_rajinder_singh_01%5B4%5D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="20100827_gunasegaran_case_withness_rajinder_singh_01" border="0" height="240" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TV4Uy28JHpI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/ugqR9nSN5do/20100827_gunasegaran_case_withness_rajinder_singh_01_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="20100827_gunasegaran_case_withness_rajinder_singh_01" width="270" /></a>Throughout the period of custody, as now it is reconstructed through the court proceedings, some of the police practices are highly questionable in terms of human rights. At the sight of the collapse of Gunasegaran, no emergency assistance was given by the police officers. As testified by Sergeant Subari Sarno, Sergeant Major Rajinder Singh and other personnel did not provide any emergency assistance but just splashed water on Gunasegaran<a href="http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/1/19/nation/20100119200322&sec=nation">[20]</a> for about 10 minutes<a href="http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/2010/03/11/i-swear-to-tell-the-whole-truth-if-its-convenient-half-truths-when-its-necessary-and-lie-to-save-some-asses">[21]</a> on the excuse that suspects usually feign unconsciousness during detention. In our opinion, the element of negligence is simply not ignorable. This is not to mention the consistent testimonies pointing out that Lance Corporal Mohd. Faizal physically assaulted the deceased. In our opinion, Gunasegaran’s death could have been partly due to the negligence of the officers in charge. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Counsel M. Visvanathan.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">According to the verbatim account of closing submissions done by M. Visvanathan on 13th September, M. Visvanathan condemned the police’s recording of witness’s conversation in the midnight without informing as a violation of privacy. However, we conclude that the action of police officers, not only unethical, was against the provision of Section 112 (4) of Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) which states that “A police officer examining a person under subsection (1) <b>shall first inform that person </b>of the provisions of subsections (2) and (3).” In this subsection, investigating officers should inform the person involved that he or she is liable to answer all the questions and that his or her statements are legally bound to be true. Even when the person is not informed, under subsection 112(5) of CPC, the statement made <b>must be read to him in the language in which he made it</b> and he should <b>be given an opportunity to make any corrections</b> he may wish. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">The judgment of the investigating officers who record witnesses’ statements is questionable as they are the accused. Besides, the investigating officers, as pointed out by M. Visvanathan, are from the same police station with those involved in the arrest of the deceased on July 16<sup>th</sup>, 2009. In our opinion, the wisest decision back then was to have police officers from other police stations who have no conflict of interest to be in charge of the investigation into Gunasegaran’s case. <b></b> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The statements made by the police officers testifying in the court are not consistent among each other. In stark contrast, the statements made by the three witnesses (Ravi s/o Subramaniam, Suresh a/l M Subbaiah and Selvach Santhiran a/l Krishnan) who were detained together with Gunasegaran are coherent. While the others testified that it was Lance Corporal Mohd Zahir Ismail who sprinkled water on Gunasegaran, Zahir claimed that it was SM K.S. Rajinder Singh who did so. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There were also questions regarding the procedure of documenting cases. In the arrest report, only 4 suspects were named. Gunasegaran was omitted due to alleged case of drug possession. This fact is consistent with Rajinder’s testimony. Zahir explained that a separate arrest report for Gunasegaran was not made because of the unavailability of his urine sample. However, when questioned whether urine test is relevant in drug possession case, Zahir could not explain. The third report stating the possession of drug at 8.27 p.m. was made only an hour after the death. Yet, there was no mention of death in the late report. <b></b> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One noticeable part about this case is that Sergeant Rajinder, when questioned by M. Visvanathan, answered that he did not know the whereabouts of the drug that Gunasegaran allegedly possessed at the time of arrest. As one of the arresting officers, he should have known what happened to the drug. To the best of our pursuit and research, there is no further news regarding the whereabouts of drug. We think that this issue should be further pursued as the allegation that Gunasegaran possessed drug could have been proven false IF there was no drug to start with. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It is also a mystery that, to this date, the report of Gunasegaran’s death is still not made when it is, in fact, required by law, as what ACP Zakaria Pagan testified. <a href="http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=49339">[22]</a> According to the Star, in the court, Lance Corporal Norazman Mohamad, 45, said Sergeant Major Rajinder Singh was the officer in charge when the incident happened but he (Rajinder) should be blamed because he may have forgotten. However, when cross-examined by Counsel M. Visvanathan who represented the family of Gunasegaran, Norazman said he only expressed his opinion and did not blame Rajinder. Nevertheless, he agreed with the counsel that reporting the death was very important and should have been done.<a href="http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/1/14/nation/20100114185802&sec=nation">[23]</a> In Tuesday’s proceedings (dated January 19<sup>th</sup> 2010), Subari denied an allegation by counsel, M. Visvanathan, who is representing the deceased, that he and other police personnel did not make a report of Gunasegaran’s death and tried to delay the report of his arrest to close the case.<a href="http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/1/19/nation/20100119200322&sec=nation">[24]</a> He explained that the delay was due to the chaos when the deceased fainted. In our opinion, however the death report was delayed; the police officers should have informed Gunasegaran’s family of his death as soon as possible instead of 2 days after the incident. The family was informed on 18<sup>th</sup> July, Saturday, about 2 days after the death. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>The Safety of Whistleblower</b> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One reason why Gunasegaran’s case draws much attention is that one of the key witnesses, K. Selvachandran, was detained after testifying and was alleged physically assaulted by policemen. This is widely criticized by human rights groups across the globe like OMCT, as mentioned in the introduction to the case. In the joint statement by Lawyers for Liberty and SUARAM<a href="http://suaram.net/2010/11/memorandum-of-protest-to-the-igp-on-the-arrest-and-detention-of-inquest-witness-k-selvach-santhiran">[25]</a>, they expressed deep disappointment at the arrest of K. Selvach Santhiran who testified against Lance Corporal Mohd Faizal in Gunasegaran case despite the threat from police. The 2 year detention order was under Dangerous Drug Act (Special Preventive Measures) 1985 at December 14<sup>th</sup> 2010. K. Selvach had then been detained in Batu Gajah detention camp<a href="http://merdekareview.com/bm/news.php?n=11369">.[26]</a> Dangerous Drug Act (Special Preventive Measures) 1985 allows the police to detain a person for 60 days with no recourse to judicial safeguard and thereafter 2 years’ detention on the order of the Home Minister. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Selvach was one of three persons who were in police custody with R. Gunasegaran and they have consistently identified Lance Corporal Mohd Faizal as having physically assaulted the deceased. They did so despite threats to their safety by the police and despite the inducement that their cooperation would secure their immediate release. On the very day the verdict was delivered in the inquest, the police moved against Selvach and came to his home to arrest him. When Selvach’s children asked the police why their father was being dragged away, the police answered by beating Selvach in front of his own children. In a twisted perversion of conjugal love, the police tried to make Selvach’s wife S. Saraswathy kiss him before beating him up in front of her. <a href="http://www.lawyersforliberty.org/2010/10/a-kiss-before-being-beaten-and-taken-away">[27]</a> S. Saraswathy alleged that one of the policemen grabbed the house key when Selvachandran was trying to unlock the door, punched him and opened the door themselves. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To make the matter worse, Selvach’s family was not able to meet him although they were informed that they could visit him at IPK Kuala Lumpur at the morning before he was sent to Batu Gajah. Till the transfer to Batu Gajah, Selvach was without legal counsel. Besides, the detention of Selvach is gravely aggravated by the fact that he was arrested on the same day after the “open verdict” was delivered. Coincidence could not explain the suspicious proximity between the time of arrest and the announcement of the verdict.<a href="http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/legal/general_news/perfectly_legal_but_not_necessarily_good.html">[28]</a> Furthermore, if Selvach’s family statement was valid, the necessity of beating the man in front of his family after the arrest is questionable since K. Selvach was no longer a physical threat. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In our opinion, whistleblowers should be protected by the administration of law rather than punished by law enforcement officers. The blatant abuse of police power sadly pointed to police retaliation and clearly intended to intimidate those who speak up against injustices or wrongdoings perpetrated by members of the police force. Selvach Santhiran should be protected to speak about what he witnessed as that is his right. Concerned with the safety of K. Selvach under custody, a group of 70 people including representatives from several NGOs have had gathered under the watchful eyes of the police. The group demanded Selvach’s immediate release as well as a public apology. After handing in their memorandum, they then peacefully dispersed.<a href="http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/10/30/nation/20101030122642&sec=nation">[29]</a> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I second the NGO’s suggestions on the approaches to deal with this issue as follows. Selvach should be released and a public apology should be done by the police. An independent investigatory body should be formed to investigate the drug charges against Selvach. An investigatory commission, which can be different from the one before, must be established to investigate the assault done to K. Selvach. The cases of Gunasegaran and K. Selvach have called for the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), to investigate complaints about police personnel. As aforementioned, the practice of neglecting detainees’ right for unimpeded and free access to legal counsels at all times is condemnable. To instill a higher level of respect of suspect’s human rights, I suggest that training program to be carried out in the police force. It is also my sincerest hope that the delays that happen to Selvach’s hearing (at least 3 times) does not happen again.</span> <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To learn more about police force, I would recommend you to read:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">a) the Wikipedia page on Malaysian Police Act I created. (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_(Malaysia)_Act_1967">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_(Malaysia)_Act_1967</a>)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">b) the following book</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thinktogather-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1157638449&fc1=F9F9F9&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=FF8500&bc1=060606&bg1=060606&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span><br />
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<!-- nuffnang--></div>Vichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17220018844764301317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535446307011431809.post-39451119156429216062011-01-14T22:37:00.001+08:002011-11-19T05:23:31.600+08:00A Little Bit About Myself<br />
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All this while, I have almost spoken none about myself in this blog. All you can see is just a plain journal recording my observation and thoughts which might appear boring to some. This time around, I shall start revealing a little bit more about myself, something my close friends don’t even know. The sudden realization that I have already stepped into my twenties prompted me to retrospect, introspect and hopefully to prospect. So, I followed the advice from my <a href="http://productmatters.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">mentor</a> to take the StrengthFinders Profile Test developed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Buckingham" target="_blank">Marcus Buckingham</a>’s team. I was lucky to have gotten the access code to the online test from the copy of his book my school library keeps. <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TTBe_5DaAjI/AAAAAAAAA7c/ORM6pGiqFw0/s1600-h/9781416502654%20%281%29%5B8%5D.jpg"><img alt="9781416502654 (1)" border="0" height="285" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TTBfDEA7YWI/AAAAAAAAA7g/KnSa_BUbEV8/9781416502654%20%281%29_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="9781416502654 (1)" width="200" /></a>After spending about 35 minutes answering the 180 questions, the <a href="http://sf1.strengthsfinder.com/" target="_blank">website</a> then churned out my top 5 dominant themes of talents. By themes of talents, the Gallup research team means the recurring pattern of thought, feeling or behavior, which may not yet be the strengths. Nonetheless, these 5 themes suggest where we will have the greatest potential for a strength.</div>
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I must say that the results are truly revealing, in my case, at least. If you were to take a look at my five dominant themes, you would have probably understood me as a person. I am at the lack of words to describe myself, so I will just let this result sheet speaks for me. (Well, I admit I am lazy)</div>
<b>Learner</b> <br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TTBfFwn-amI/AAAAAAAAA7k/h_DaDgqF3sA/s1600-h/math_learner_lrg%5B7%5D.jpg"><img alt="math_learner_lrg" border="0" height="263" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TTBfJNz_AVI/AAAAAAAAA7o/hhJob4vjuSM/math_learner_lrg_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="math_learner_lrg" width="575" /></a> <br />
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I love to learn. The subject matter that interests me the most will be determined by my other themes and experiences, but whatever the subject, I will always be drawn to the process of learning. The process, more than the content or the result, is especially exciting for me. I am energized by the steady and deliberate journey from ignorance to competence. The thrill of the first few facts, the early efforts to recite or practice what I have learned, the growing confidence of a skill mastered—this is the process that entices me. </div>
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My excitement leads me to engage in adult learning experiences—yoga or piano lessons or graduate classes. It enables me to thrive in dynamic work environments where I am asked to take on short project assignments and am expected to learn a lot about the new subject matter in a short period of time and then move on to the next one. </div>
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This Learner theme does not necessarily mean that I seek to become the subject matter expert, or that I am striving for the respect that accompanies a professional or academic credential. The outcome of the learning is less significant than the “getting there.” </div>
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<b>Ideation</b> </div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TTBfMqOdwYI/AAAAAAAAA7s/EBCmjZgVo_Q/s1600-h/ideation%5B6%5D.jpg"><img alt="ideation" border="0" height="216" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TTBfQNVYkKI/AAAAAAAAA7w/L63SFlFpaBg/ideation_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="ideation" width="579" /></a> </div>
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I am fascinated by ideas. What is an idea? An idea is a concept, the best explanation of the most events. I am delighted when I discover beneath the complex surface an elegantly simple concept to explain why things are the way they are. An idea is a connection. Mine is the kind of mind that is always looking for connections, and so I am intrigued when seemingly disparate phenomena can be linked by an obscure connection. An idea is a new perspective on familiar challenges. I revel in taking the world we all know and turning it around so we can view it from a strange but strangely enlightening angle. I love all these ideas because they are profound, because they are novel, because they are clarifying, because they are contrary, because they are bizarre. For all these reasons I derive a jolt of energy whenever a new idea occurs to me. Others may label me creative or original or conceptual or even smart. Perhaps I am all of these. Who can be sure? What I am sure of is that ideas are thrilling. And on most days this is enough. </div>
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<b>Intellection</b> </div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TTBfSlkQG-I/AAAAAAAAA70/vmcRs5qyr0U/s1600-h/intellection%5B3%5D.png"><img alt="intellection" border="0" height="98" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TTBfUrdjH1I/AAAAAAAAA74/P7OnZjcQGv0/intellection_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="intellection" width="553" /></a> </div>
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I like to think. I like mental activity. I like exercising the “muscles” of my brain, stretching them in multiple directions. This need for mental activity may be focused; for example, I may be trying to solve a problem or develop an idea or understand another person’s feelings. The exact focus will depend on my other strengths. On the other hand, this mental activity may very well lack focus. The theme of Intellection does not dictate what I am thinking about; it simply describes that I like to think. I am the kind of person who enjoys my time alone because it is my time for musing and reflection. I am introspective. In a sense I am my own best companion, as I pose myself questions and try out answers on myself to see how they sound. This introspection may lead me to a slight sense of discontent as I compare what I am actually doing with all the thoughts and ideas that my mind conceives. Or this introspection may tend toward more pragmatic matters such as the events of the day or a conversation that I plan to have later. Wherever it leads me, this mental hum is one of the constants of my life. </div>
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<b>Input</b> </div>
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<strong><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TTBfXL5akzI/AAAAAAAAA78/WOIXLXOuaag/s1600-h/typewriter_ribbon_tins_01%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="typewriter_ribbon_tins_01" border="0" height="305" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TTBfZ5FYPdI/AAAAAAAAA8A/21x2r3VeCas/typewriter_ribbon_tins_01_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="typewriter_ribbon_tins_01" width="549" /></a></strong> </div>
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I am inquisitive. I collect things. I might collect information—words, facts, books, and quotations—or I might collect tangible objects such as butterflies, baseball cards, porcelain dolls, or sepia photographs. And yes, I do collect newspaper cuttings and many other things that only my family members know. Whatever I collect, I collect it because it interests me. And mine is the kind of mind that finds so many things interesting. The world is exciting precisely because of its infinite variety and complexity. If I read a great deal, it is not necessarily to refine my theories but, rather, to add more information to my archives. If I like to travel, it is because each new location offers novel artifacts and facts. These can be acquired and then stored away. Why are they worth storing? At the time of storing it is often hard to say exactly when or why I might need them, but who knows when they might become useful? With all those possible uses in mind, I really don’t feel comfortable throwing anything away. So I keep acquiring and compiling and filing stuff away. It’s interesting. It keeps my mind fresh. And perhaps one day some of it will prove valuable. </div>
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<b>Deliberative</b> </div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TTBfbWyTK2I/AAAAAAAAA8E/n_VEqgwQwPA/s1600-h/deliberative%20democracy%20net%5B4%5D.gif"><img alt="deliberative democracy net" border="0" height="297" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TTBfd5wruYI/AAAAAAAAA8I/-HR-4OX8rt0/deliberative%20democracy%20net_thumb%5B2%5D.gif?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="deliberative democracy net" width="446" /></a> </div>
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I am careful. I am vigilant. I am a private person. I know that the world is an unpredictable place. Everything may seem in order, but beneath the surface I sense the many risks. Rather than denying these risks, I draw each one out into the open. Then each risk can be identified, assessed, and ultimately reduced. Thus, I am a fairly serious person who approaches life with a certain reserve. For example, I like to plan ahead so as to anticipate what might go wrong. I select my friends cautiously and keep my own counsel when the conversation turns to personal matters. I am careful not to give too much praise and recognition, lest it be misconstrued. If some people don’t like me because I am not as effusive as others, then so be it. For me, life is not a popularity contest. Life is something of a minefield. Others can run through it recklessly if they so choose, but I take a different approach. I identify the dangers, weigh their relative impact, and then place my feet deliberately. I walk with care. </div>
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All in all, I am a monster with big head but small body, tend to think than to act or to speak. Haha, something like this guy from Dexter’s Laboratory.</div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TTBfgp85w2I/AAAAAAAAA8M/GifB0uroeOA/s1600-h/Skeletons_of_cartoon_characters_4_thumb%5B1%5D%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="Skeletons_of_cartoon_characters_4_thumb[1]" border="0" height="326" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TTBfjhIuFvI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/4vd3XuPwvng/Skeletons_of_cartoon_characters_4_thumb%5B1%5D_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Skeletons_of_cartoon_characters_4_thumb[1]" width="484" /></a></div>
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<!-- nuffnang--></div>Vichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17220018844764301317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535446307011431809.post-64212183806207665502010-12-14T01:57:00.002+08:002011-11-19T05:23:18.163+08:00ASEAN: The Potentials & Challenges<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>Summary and Afterthought on the </u><a href="http://youngcorporatemalaysians.com/ycms2010/" target="_blank"><u>Second Annual Young Corporate Malaysians Summit</u></a></span></div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZa3Fe_A3I/AAAAAAAAA5U/pfqwhx1Uuyo/s1600-h/155743_470972649262_594369262_580495%5B2%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="155743_470972649262_594369262_5804955_7797407_n" border="0" height="161" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZa4BclvOI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/NpbJlcX8ZMU/155743_470972649262_594369262_580495.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="155743_470972649262_594369262_5804955_7797407_n" width="592" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ASEAN was once a hype word in the global market. However, its visibility was brought down largely by the emerging markets like China and India. With the rise of Indonesia and the ASEAN Economic Community 2015 nearing its deadline, it is only timely that we look at ASEAN once again. This is why <a href="http://youngcorporatemalaysians.com/ycms2010/" target="_blank">Young Corporate Malaysians</a> set ASEAN: Emerging Opportunities and Challenges as this year’s theme.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The event was indeed a success with its record breaking amount of sponsorship received and the number of participants. After opening speeches from the charismatic founder of <a href="http://youngcorporatemalaysians.com/ycms2010/" target="_blank">Young Corporate Malaysians</a>, Wan Mohd Firdaus and the humorous Johan Raslan the summit kicked off with speakers from Indonesia, Irhoan Tanudireja and Ferry Wong. </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZa54xmqMI/AAAAAAAAA5c/EkXkF9zPiIM/s1600-h/156636_470968259262_594369262_580485.jpg"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Speaking on the Emerging Opportunities & Challenges of Indoneisa- Irhoan Tanudireja (Left) and Ferry Wong (Right)" border="0" height="306" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZa7OBRQ-I/AAAAAAAAA5g/HD8YS6DdOLg/156636_470968259262_594369262_580485%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;" title="156636_470968259262_594369262_5804852_6429115_n" width="520" /></span></a><br />
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<u><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Speaking on the emergence of Indonesia- Irhoan Tanudireja (Left) and Ferry Wong (Right)</span></strong></u></div>
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Indonesia: ASEAN’s Next Biggest Thing</span></u></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They started off with a brief introduction to Indonesia and then a detailed, insightful analysis on the future of the Indonesian economy. Amidst the recent global financial crisis, Indonesia was one of the only three nations which still posted a positive GDP growth. It was also projected that in 2011, Indonesia will be the only country with increasing GDP growth rate while the growth of China and India slow down. With its huge population (2009 estimate: 238,000,000) supporting its domestic market, Indonesia is expected to be the next BIG thing on investors’ table. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like Malaysia, Indonesia is blessed with abundant natural resources. It is now the largest Crude Palm Oil (CPO) producer, It also boasts its crude oil, natural gas, tin, copper, and gold. What’s more, it hasn’t fully expanded its Islamic Finance market despite being the most populous Muslim-majority nation. Indonesia certainly has the potential to be the next Islamic Finance hub. As of now, Islamic finance only contributes to about 3% of Indonesian banking assets although 86.1% of its population are Muslim. (Year 2000 Census)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to Straits Times report on July 28, the government’s efforts to woo foreign direct investment (FDI) has been paid off. In the first 6 months of the year, FDI has soared 46%. For the April-June period alone, actual investment rose 56 per cent from the previous corresponding period to 50.8 trillion rupiah. Foreign direct investment during the three months increased 53 per cent on-year to 35.6 trillion rupiah. The number is expected to be even higher as President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has vowed to remove 'bottlenecks' to investment to help the country post seven per cent growth by the end of his final term in 2014, compared with 5.5 per cent this year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, concerns linger. Despite its stellar GDP growth figure, Indonesia has inherent weaknesses which might drag it down if they are not dealt with seriously. Its poverty rate still stands at 14% high (2010 estimate.) Its unemployment rate as high as 7.7% (2009 estimate) is perhaps the most unsettling of all. If these are not rectified, social unrest which might entail will undermine its growth. Indonesia has an interesting labor law which requires employers to pay employees who resign as long as they have served for 3 years. This incurs huge costs on the employers, forcing them to embrace contract employment. If this law is not rescinded, efforts to improve employment will be undercut. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next main concern is its lack of high quality infrastructure crucial to sustaining its relatively high speed growth. Natural disasters such as earthquakes, landslides. tsunami and volcanic eruptions have time and time again spoilt the Indonesian attempts to improve infrastructure. The inefficient transportation system of the archipelagic nation have largely hindered Indonesians from fully realizing their potentials. Traffic congestion in the capital is extremely serious, if not notorious. “It takes me 2 hours just to get to my workplace in the financial district, Irhoan remarked, “even though my house is right inside the city.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Corruption in Indonesia has been prevalent, if not ubiquitous. It is ranked 143rd among 180 nations in terms of Corruption Perception Index. Some businesses even claim that corruption has contributed to 20% of their operation cost, leading them to regard bribery as “indirect tax”. Overly tight and inflexible business regulation is yet another factor which holds businesses back. While new business registration in Singapore and Malaysia takes only days to process, it takes months and sometimes years in Indonesia. Other than business registration, land clearing overregulation has tied the government’s hands in executing major development. The new law which will be brought to the Parliament next month might just solve this issue. It grants pemerintah (government) the power to confiscate and buy land at market price in order to discourage speculators.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The good thing is that Indonesian government appears determinant in making the leapfrog possible. It has said that infrastructure development will be the main focus in the next 5 years. It will pump in at least U$ 140 billion of which 48.8 billion comes from Public Private Projects (PPP). It is also expected that the current government under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will continue to be in power at least until the next election which will probably fall on year 2014. This has provided the political stability that Indonesia had always needed. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, Indonesia with its vast resources, huge population is definitely going to be the next BIG thing if it successfully overcome its inherent weaknesses. We shall see how it goes in the next few years.</span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>ASEAN: Emerging Opportunities and Challenges</u></span></strong></div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZa8Jkor1I/AAAAAAAAA5k/tKVAz2tnHIQ/s1600-h/36271_470971444262_594369262_5804920.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="36271_470971444262_594369262_5804920_1683271_n" border="0" height="297" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZa9vNI8dI/AAAAAAAAA5o/rjT8BOmuB3g/36271_470971444262_594369262_5804920%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="36271_470971444262_594369262_5804920_1683271_n" width="576" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From left: <a href="http://chenchow.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Chen Chow Yeoh</a>, Peter Bird (Rothschild Investment Bank), Shireen Muhiudeen (Corston Smith Wealth Management) and John Pang (CIMB ASEAN Research Institute) </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZa_BT23vI/AAAAAAAAA5s/E5WpJ4cFtb4/s1600-h/155753_470968294262_594369262_580485.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="155753_470968294262_594369262_5804853_6040993_n" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZbANAQtuI/AAAAAAAAA5w/lZ0aChHIDEg/155753_470968294262_594369262_580485%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;" title="155753_470968294262_594369262_5804853_6040993_n" width="177" /></span></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second session started off with Shireen Muhiudeen sharing on the corporate governance in ASEAN. She summarizes and compares the corporate governance policies and their execution in the ASEAN countries. All in all, she finds that Thailand has made the most progress in terms of corporate governance. Thailand is the first among ASEAN members to adopt poll voting. To learn more about corporate governance in Thailand, there is a good resource <a href="http://www.standardandpoors.ru/gamma/4/trans/NUSCorp_Gov_Thailand2004Eng.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Throughout the session, she had stressed many times on the importance of corporate governance and our roles as small shareholders in overseeing it. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peter Bird and John Pang then shared on the big picture as to where ASEAN stands both geographically and economically. With the rise of China and India, Southeast Asia seems to have come back to being what it was during the pre-colonial era: the bridge between the trade between China and India, the superpowers back then.</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZbBa0VpDI/AAAAAAAAA50/phj1kc8y_0U/s1600-h/154112_470968489262_594369262_5804859_7748287_n%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="154112_470968489262_594369262_5804859_7748287_n" border="0" height="333" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZbCheHkCI/AAAAAAAAA54/KVceA-XL1Bg/154112_470968489262_594369262_5804859_7748287_n_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;" title="154112_470968489262_594369262_5804859_7748287_n" width="218" /></a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZbE7y9GXI/AAAAAAAAA58/IE39t7owMIg/s1600-h/asean7tt23.gif"><img alt="asean7tt" border="0" height="328" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZbF9sOOBI/AAAAAAAAA6A/0Oa6VxPzf38/asean7tt_thumb21.gif?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;" title="asean7tt" width="356" /></a> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While Peter Bird focused on where ASEAN stands in the global environment, John Pang recounted the ancient and modern history of Southeast Asia. ASEAN was started as a intergovernmental body to prevent conflict and to contain the Communist movement back in 1960s. It was not until late then ASEAN shifts its focus to economic cooperation and even integration. ASEAN has been criticized as a meeting exclusive to the top leaders and that the people are not well informed of the progress of ASEAN. It was no surprise that nobody raised hands when John asked, “Have you heard of ASEAN Economic Community 2015 before?” He then said, “The deadline is in 5 years’ time yet no one has heard about it, that’s the problem.” For your information, ASEAN Economic Community 2015 aspires to achieve economic integration and to transform ASEAN into one single market and production base by year 2015.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In order to realize this aspiration and ultimately to remain relevant amid the competition with China and India, ASEAN has to work as one to overcome its weaknesses such as insufficient intra-ASEAN investments, stiff mutual competition and so on. Peter Bird has urged sovereign funds and businesses in ASEAN to invest more in one another like how European Union countries did. He also pointed out that ASEAN appears to be merely a geographical group, not an economic group. To put it simply, ASEAN is a group of mutually competing countries instead of that that complements each other. John Pang has also said, “We should make sure that ASEAN should be more than just a sum of the parts.” There ought to be intergovernmental rules to realize full economic integration.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZbHRmtNhI/AAAAAAAAA6E/VUfi_B2EM78/s1600-h/155023_470969294262_594369262_5804880_6956722_n%5B2%5D.jpg"><img alt="155023_470969294262_594369262_5804880_6956722_n" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZbIoXKL6I/AAAAAAAAA6I/FrepZBvnezA/155023_470969294262_594369262_5804880_6956722_n_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;" title="155023_470969294262_594369262_5804880_6956722_n" width="220" /></a>In fact, a group of companies like CIMB, JobStreet.com, AirAsia and so on have have started to regard themselves as ASEAN companies. The promotional message of CIMB perhaps has said it all. To illustrate this, John Pang made an humorous note: “When the CIMB interviewer asks : ‘Do you want to work in other ASEAN countries?’ If you say ‘no’, you won’t get the job anymore. That’s how ASEAN CIMB is.”</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While you may think that ASEAN is unrelated to you. Think about it further. Malaysia has the best alignment of interest with the proposed ASEAN Economic Community. Indonesia could have very well gone on its own as its GDP is nearly 40% out of the total ASEAN GDP. Not being able to catch up the train with Indonesia means that Malaysia will be even more irrelevant in the market.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Among the attendees, there was still doubt as to whether ASEAN can be one single entity in the future. Peter Bird replied that compared to European Union which had to integrate Eastern Europe and Western Europe, ASEAN would face less problems in integrating. </span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>SESSION 3: The Direction of Islamic Finance in ASEAN</u></span></strong></div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZbJ6VidNI/AAAAAAAAA6M/Y4IPnqf1AnY/s1600-h/33821_470972854262_594369262_5804964_7156471_n%5B4%5D.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="33821_470972854262_594369262_5804964_7156471_n" border="0" height="268" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZbLnRU7oI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/l393Z4dxDNM/33821_470972854262_594369262_5804964_7156471_n_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="33821_470972854262_594369262_5804964_7156471_n" width="579" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From the left: Qurratul Ain Zainul (Bank Negara Malaysia), <strong>Dato’ Dr Nik Norzrul Thani </strong>(Chairman, Zaid Ibrahim & Co), <strong>Hisham Abdul Rahim (</strong>Executive Director, BNP Paribas Investment Islamic) and <strong>Rafe Haneef (</strong>CEO, HSBC Amanah).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next session was about the direction of Islamic Finance in ASEAN, the next most lucrative chunk of banking industry. While the Islamic assets now stands at U$ 1 trillion high (July 2010), it is going to reach U$ 2 trillion in the coming 3-5 years. According to Standard and Poor’s, Islamic finance market has grown at 10% p.a. for the past decade. Why it matters so much to ASEAN is that it has strong footprint in Southeast Asia, other than Middle East. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Several issues pertaining to Islamic Finance had been discussed. Among them are:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Is Islamic Finance based on sound economic principle or purely on religious and moral obligation?</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZcDHj6njI/AAAAAAAAA6U/RysGkjHXrr0/s1600-h/163025_470973364262_594369262_5804970_2449436_n%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="163025_470973364262_594369262_5804970_2449436_n" border="0" height="266" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZcEKyNCRI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/RA5yog1xTGI/163025_470973364262_594369262_5804970_2449436_n_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;" title="163025_470973364262_594369262_5804970_2449436_n" width="232" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rafe Haneef, who skipped his cousin’s wedding just for <a href="http://youngcorporatemalaysians.com/ycms2010/" target="_blank">Young Corporate Malaysians</a>, answered that the role of an Islamic bank or institution is essentially a fund manager, that manages risk and rewards. There is no guarantee of reward. If you want no risk at all, put you money into the deposit account. Islamic finance operated through sharing of profit and loss between bankers and savers. In short, it is a “I can eat only when you can eat” scenario. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He then further explained how much Islamic principles coincided with <a href="http://www.monetary.org/chicagoplan.html" target="_blank">The Chicago Plan 1930s</a>. The Chicago School advocated that if someone is unwilling to undertake risk, then his funds should be kept in a deposit fund, a case which Islam has been advocating for centuries ahead. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The financial problems which have been facing us all this while can be attributed to the mismatch between deposit and loan. Bankers use deposit to invest in high risk profiles and even to speculate. Savers can retrieve their savings anytime but investments can take years to deliver. The shortage of deposit is inevitable. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The dual banking system advocated in the Chicago Plan 1930s coincided closely with Islamic finance principles. The Plan separated the loan-making function, which can belong in private banks, from the money-creation function, which belongs in government. Lending was still to be a private banking function, but lending deposited long-term savings money, not created credits.</span></div>
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<strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why does Islamic Finance base itself so heavily on the conventional system and not stress enough on the core of Sharia compliance?</span></strong></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Islamic finance cannot be fully realized just yet because we have been so deeply entrenched in the conventional system. The ideal Islamic Finance model gives no guarantee to depositors but conventional banking system does. Thus, in order to remain relevant on the market, Islamic finance has no choice but to follow the conventional. This situation in turn has sadly made Islamic backing indistinguishable from conventional banking.</span></div>
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<strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Speaking about Shariah compliance, how do we dealt with Shariah harmonization?</span></strong></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The same case happens to conventional banking as well. There is discrepancy in banking regulations in many countries. It is only reasonable for Islamic banking to face such discrepancy since there are four mazhabs. What’s more, the discrepancy is mild.</span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>SESSION 4: Where is Malaysia in ASEAN?</u></span></strong></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZcFWU4PmI/AAAAAAAAA6c/6TEM8YVPabI/s1600-h/68562_470976559262_594369262_5805054_2780441_n%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="68562_470976559262_594369262_5805054_2780441_n" border="0" height="280" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZcGWye_FI/AAAAAAAAA6g/qzWHwZHZw7k/68562_470976559262_594369262_5805054_2780441_n_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="68562_470976559262_594369262_5805054_2780441_n" width="584" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From the left: Dimishtra Sittampalam, Citibank, Chow Sang Hoe (Malaysia Advisory Leader, Ernst & Young), YM Tengku Dato’ Zafrul Tengku Aziz (CEO Maybank Investment), Dato Dr. Mahani Zainal Abidin (CEO, Institute of Strategic and International Studies)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The last session was perhaps the highlight of the summit. After, we are most concerned about and familiar with our very own country. I have made a table summing up the strengths, concerns and opportunities of Malaysia in ASEAN mentioned throughout the session.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZcI2EMZyI/AAAAAAAAA6k/I4dE8OHAdB0/s1600-h/Malaysia%5B12%5D.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Malaysia" border="0" height="413" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZcKEWqFEI/AAAAAAAAA6o/_uGGnT1-5ZE/Malaysia_thumb%5B10%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Malaysia" width="588" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Personally, I think the two most important key points of this session are the “Middle” dilemma and “Human Capital Dilemma”. </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZcLufBYlI/AAAAAAAAA6s/DpzWdZTtjk4/s1600-h/Pyramid%20ASEAN%5B4%5D.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Pyramid ASEAN" border="0" height="353" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZcMr_UszI/AAAAAAAAA6w/9jq-Gt13yhQ/Pyramid%20ASEAN_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Pyramid ASEAN" width="563" /></span></a></div>
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<u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ranking of GDP per capita (2009 estimate) in ASEAN</span></u></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZcOf-NMgI/AAAAAAAAA60/1TmAxi-zBz0/s1600-h/67106_470976474262_594369262_5805051_7489907_n%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="67106_470976474262_594369262_5805051_7489907_n" border="0" height="236" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZcPbMJfhI/AAAAAAAAA64/07urjY3NleQ/67106_470976474262_594369262_5805051_7489907_n_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;" title="67106_470976474262_594369262_5805051_7489907_n" width="244" /></a>As how the speakers acutely pointed out, Malaysia is really stuck in the “middle”. Physically, it is in the middle of ASEAN. Economically, it belongs to middle income category. In terms of GDP growth, it is also in the middle. In terms of population, it is also of middle size: too small for domestic economy yet too big to move up value chain. The only way to move out of this “middle” trap is embracing service industry. But Malaysia is falling short of the most important ingredient: high quality human capital.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If we compare the composition of labor market across the world, we will find that the percentage of skilled worker out of total work force in Malaysia is less than others. While Singaporean and Korean stand at 35% and above, only 23% out of Malaysian workforce are skilled workers. The brain drain issue does not help at all. It is estimated that there are at least 1 million Malaysian experts living abroad. </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZcQr0uA3I/AAAAAAAAA68/CBUV-GYeRgo/s1600-h/155357_470976384262_594369262_5805047_8045288_n%5B8%5D.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="155357_470976384262_594369262_5805047_8045288_n" border="0" height="193" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZcRlYusgI/AAAAAAAAA7A/ae0k3LSXT-M/155357_470976384262_594369262_5805047_8045288_n_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;" title="155357_470976384262_594369262_5805047_8045288_n" width="244" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dato Dr. Mahani Zainal Abidin urges the government to not only focus on attracting foreign and Malaysian talents abroad but also on retaining and building talents in the country. Lifting up the quality of the bottom 60% of our workforce would definitely spur our economic growth. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Malaysian wage issue is yet another factor that might undermine Talent Corp’s efforts. Some might say that “if we don’t have enough talents, we can just buy them.” However, if we look at the wages across ASEAN, we would know that Malaysia simply cannot afford. The average starting salary of fresh graduates in Singapore and Indonesia is U$2100 and U$900 respectively. Malaysian fresh graduates with same skill set only cost U$ 750. This figure is definitely not attractive to foreign talents. To worsen the situation, the real wage (wage raise minus inflation) actually registered zero or even negative growth in Malaysia. Therefore, a comprehensive, systemic review on Malaysia human capital market is highly needed. The annual wage review mechanism of Singapore could be an example.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chow Sang Hoe from Ernst and Young then concluded the session by directing the focus back to “YOU”. He urged us to accept and leverage on the “given”s (such as geographic locations, cultural diversity) and to act on “what we can change” (such as mindset). He remarked that the youths he met can be divided into 2 categories, one who keep complaining and relying on government and one who do real things. He has also personally witnessed how hard and sincere everyone in <a href="http://www.pemandu.gov.my/" target="_blank">PEMANDU</a> including its 50 project managers works. So, instead of dragging down when government plan is not working, we should give feedback and contribute what we can. Is it not the basic responsibility of being a “rakyat”?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That’s all that I can recall. Please correct me if I have made any mistake. Hope that this post can help those who did not get to attend. By the way, the goodie bag from the summit was AWESOME.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZcTP_r6qI/AAAAAAAAA7E/Eg-eEwbfnRg/s1600-h/151004_470972774262_594369262_5804963_4175075_n%5B3%5D.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="151004_470972774262_594369262_5804963_4175075_n" border="0" height="364" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TQZcUi2AV6I/AAAAAAAAA7I/b8thXWGWLsM/151004_470972774262_594369262_5804963_4175075_n_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="151004_470972774262_594369262_5804963_4175075_n" width="644" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photos in this blog post are used on the courtesy of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ywcgabrielle?sk=info" target="_blank">Gabrielle Chong Yong Wei</a> and graphical illustrations are my own works =)</span></div>
9GEYZ7CN3TCG<br />
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Some reference book you might want to read.<br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thinktogather-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=981427934X&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
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<u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></u></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Comments are welcomed and encouraged on ZewSays.com, but there are some instances where comments will be edited or deleted as follows:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1) Comments deemed to be spam or questionable spam will be deleted. Including a link to relevant content is permitted, but comments should be relevant to the post topic.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2) Comments including profanity will be deleted.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">3) Comments containing language or concepts that could be deemed offensive will be deleted.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">4) Comments that attack a person individually will be deleted.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The owner of this blog reserves the right to edit or delete any comments submitted to this blog without notice. This comment policy is subject to change at anytime.</span><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">If there is anything you would like to know deeper, I would love to research, analyze and
write about it. Just tell me using the comment box below.
Since I am not of working class, you can feed me by visiting my sponsors' recommendation.
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<!-- nuffnang--></div>Vichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17220018844764301317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535446307011431809.post-72506275313944067442010-12-05T12:07:00.001+08:002011-11-19T05:22:53.644+08:00Raise Your Hand to Stop Child Abuse with UNICEF<div style="text-align: justify;">
There are a few topics which I want to blog about in the next few weeks but none of them is more important than this one. As I'm writing this, there are already 7 children being abused in the past 24 hours, in Malaysia alone. This number could very well be only a "tip of the iceberg" as there are a lot more unreported cases. Many children who are abuse physically, mentally, emotionally, psychologically and even SEXUALLY choose to suffer in silence. Tears shed remain unseen. Desperate cry go unheard. </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TPsHPJ79-0I/AAAAAAAAA4c/yjWYugkwZVE/s1600/GetonBoard-Photo4-hugging-teddybear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TPsHPJ79-0I/AAAAAAAAA4c/yjWYugkwZVE/s320/GetonBoard-Photo4-hugging-teddybear.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raise Your Hand to Help Kids Like Her</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Why do all these cases happen when children are supposedly protected? Parents have the greatest responsibility in this. 1 in 2 child abuse victims reported are abused by parents. Parents addicted to drugs and alcohol, parents ignorant of parenting issues, parents with difficulties in relationship. These parents could have been otherwise loving parents but stress and addiction break them. </div>
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So what can we (adults, young adults and teenagers alike) help them? By learning more about child abuse. By educating friends and family around us. By reporting child abuse cases at Child Line 15999. By supporting child abuse campaign around us. I would like to share with you here about the signs of child abuse. These include:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<ul>
<li>Unexplained burns, bites, bruises, broken bones, or black eyes</li>
<li>Injuries to or around the genitals</li>
<li>Bruises or other marks in various stages of healing indicative of repeated beatings or physical assaults</li>
<li>Refusing to go to a friend’s or relative’s home for no apparent reason, for example, “I just don’t like him anymore.”</li>
<li>Acting out adult sexual behavior or sexually explicit language a young child is unlikely to know </li>
</ul>
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If these symptoms are coupled with other behavioral and emotional signs and they happen repeatedly, we might want to suspect a child abuse case. Do investigate before making any judgment. If it involves people you personally know, advise them and support them. Home visitation and parent support group surely help. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TPsNcWP3zAI/AAAAAAAAA4g/GvOV4E9wSRM/s1600/GetonBoard_hand_image_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TPsNcWP3zAI/AAAAAAAAA4g/GvOV4E9wSRM/s1600/GetonBoard_hand_image_2.png" /></a></div>
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The first thing you can do after reading this is to support the Raise Your Hand Campaign from UNICEF. They need 100 000 campaigners to support them. All you have to do is just choosing a hand template and writing your message on child abuse. This is the very platform for Malaysians to unite against child abuse by learning more and doing more. If you are Facebook or Twitter users, put this as your personal update and get people to support the campaign. If you are a blogger, writer or educator, use your influence and educate your readers.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TPsOLpUp06I/AAAAAAAAA4k/oIacVIEBM3Q/s1600/GetonBoard-Photo5-give-your-support.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TPsOLpUp06I/AAAAAAAAA4k/oIacVIEBM3Q/s320/GetonBoard-Photo5-give-your-support.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Remember. Every decision you make about children will affect their future. A message from you could possibly save a kid from being abused. You can help them. Support them now by clicking on the link below.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #00aeef; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><strong><a href="http://u16921.sendgrid.org/wf/click?c=NHIHXw%2Fuxt2XSZTW2pvWsbb4pGGQzoUzc1vIEIZ7eyB95OU0fXg%2BH4FiofMXXg79&rp=P9xSmUXi%2FD3NRNHZQE14bpcz1%2FgOXwOlRfxIRu7SguwBVACW30%2Bp7X%2BHb7JKGcF7%2Foy5%2F6sGjzR3Iv8JNXMTlA%3D%3D&up=OpSLFakgZuAZ5i4JBF0xUinuLfV5OfuOXANLOWcszS4%3D&u=U3sl67NITHqzqZVSvQC5VQ%2Fh11" style="color: #114170;" target="_blank">http://uniteagainstabuse.my/<wbr></wbr>zhi-yu-lee</a></strong></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #00aeef; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 24px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">For those keen learners out there, you can read more on child abuse by downloading these materials directly from UNICEF. These documents are very reader friendly. The link is <a href="http://uaa-static.s3.amazonaws.com/GetOnBoard%20-%20Fact%20Sheets.zip">here</a></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 24px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">By the way, do not forget to be a fan of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/unicef.malaysia">UNICEF Malaysia Facebook Page</a> here. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;"><br />
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<u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></u></div>
<div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Comments are welcomed and encouraged on ZewSays.com, but there are some instances where comments will be edited or deleted as follows:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1) Comments deemed to be spam or questionable spam will be deleted. Including a link to relevant content is permitted, but comments should be relevant to the post topic.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2) Comments including profanity will be deleted.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">3) Comments containing language or concepts that could be deemed offensive will be deleted.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">4) Comments that attack a person individually will be deleted.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The owner of this blog reserves the right to edit or delete any comments submitted to this blog without notice. This comment policy is subject to change at anytime.</span><br />
</div>
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">If there is anything you would like to know deeper, I would love to research, analyze and
write about it. Just tell me using the comment box below.
Since I am not of working class, you can feed me by visiting my sponsors' recommendation.
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<!-- nuffnang--></div>Vichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17220018844764301317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535446307011431809.post-90643340202187494042010-10-29T03:22:00.001+08:002011-11-19T05:22:36.341+08:00A Not So Serious Experiment Report<div align="justify">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">Red Cabbage as Kitchen pH Indicator</span></u></b> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">As mentioned in our discussion about acid-base reaction, many natural materials found in kitchens can be used as pH indicators. In our experiment tonight, we will be using a common cooking ingredient, red cabbage.</span> </div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TMnMfPhidSI/AAAAAAAAA0s/_6-qnuoZCa0/s1600-h/clip_image002%5B6%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;"><img alt="clip_image002" border="0" height="317" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TMnMhW9K1ZI/AAAAAAAAA0w/u3vngkytDcw/clip_image002_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="clip_image002" width="405" /></span></a> </div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">Materials Required:</span></b></div>
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<table border="1" cellpadding="0"> <tbody>
<tr> <td><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">Red cabbage</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">Plastic Cups</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">Stain Remover</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">carbonated or seltzer water</span></td></tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">Vinegar</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">Spoons</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">drain cleaner or lye</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">muriatic acid</span></td></tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">Sodium bicarbonate</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">knife</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">baking soda</span></td> <td valign="top"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">Water</span></td></tr>
<tr> <td><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">Bleach</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">Water Kettle</span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;"></span></td> <td valign="top"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;"></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">Snapshots of All Materials</span></b> </div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TMnMjrNFWbI/AAAAAAAAA00/ok_dmgOZCoE/s1600-h/clip_image004%5B6%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;"><img alt="clip_image004" border="0" height="314" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TMnMlIWPW9I/AAAAAAAAA04/S9VkWuri5oY/clip_image004_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="clip_image004" width="400" /></span></a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Chiller;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A. </b><b>Preparing Red Cabbage Extract</b><b></b></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">First, we had to tear off leaves from the cabbage and then, cut them into smaller pieces.</span> </div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TMnMmf25DsI/AAAAAAAAA08/mjo27wDOPyE/s1600-h/clip_image006%5B4%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;"><img alt="clip_image006" border="0" height="164" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TMnM9jtkbHI/AAAAAAAAA1A/NYmHRPRdayg/clip_image006_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="clip_image006" width="208" /></span></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TMnM-hMqAUI/AAAAAAAAA1E/ghWWgR7ebYU/s1600-h/clip_image008%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;"><img alt="clip_image008" border="0" height="208" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TMnM__rjfNI/AAAAAAAAA1I/9ZCzvtagVp8/clip_image008_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="clip_image008" width="157" /></span></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TMnNBVteneI/AAAAAAAAA1M/6lX_pKdJAYo/s1600-h/clip_image010%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;"><img alt="clip_image010" border="0" height="162" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TMnNCifI8lI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/ByudWRL6bHc/clip_image010_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="clip_image010" width="214" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">Then, we boiled the red cabbage leaves in distilled water using water kettle. Please don’t be surprised, this is because we are not allowed to use stoves in our hostels. Once the water boiled, we turned down the heat to boil it gently. </span> </div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TMnNDpp5HgI/AAAAAAAAA1U/btAiZiGJXxc/s1600-h/clip_image012%5B5%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;"><img alt="clip_image012" border="0" height="245" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TMnNFqwK0bI/AAAAAAAAA1Y/W7Hjoxl9wRU/clip_image012_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="clip_image012" width="320" /></span></a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">When the distilled water turned purple, we then took the cabbage soup out and let it cool down. In meantime, we then went a few rounds of futsal games downstairs. When we came back, we then filter the cabbage pieces out using the crudest method as shown below. We would only need the cabbage juice as our pH indicators. Be careful that cabbage juice can really stain your shirt. So, do necessary precautions which we did not.</span> </div>
<div align="justify">
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TMnNHsmWOsI/AAAAAAAAA1c/RGbjyxjNnPo/s1600-h/clip_image014%5B5%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;"><img alt="clip_image014" border="0" height="241" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TMnNJffWw7I/AAAAAAAAA1g/hxWk87JkBuE/clip_image014_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="clip_image014" width="295" /></span></a> </div>
<div align="justify">
<b><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">Testing pH Values of Household Items</span></b> </div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">Testing pH values of items using red cabbage juice is super easy. Just simply mix them and you will be fine. Since our red cabbage juice was made highly concentrated, the reaction went on really fast. Just a blink of eyes, the color changed. If the item tested is acidic, the cabbage juice will turn pink and sometimes red. On the other hand, if it is basic, the cabbage juice will turn green. In a neutral solution, however, cabbage juice remains reddish-purple. </span> </div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TMnNK-U3xuI/AAAAAAAAA1k/qZdcJ3XcU54/s1600-h/clip_image016%5B4%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;"><img alt="clip_image016" border="0" height="214" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TMnNMdKAfzI/AAAAAAAAA1o/Vhaw5C_9KJU/clip_image016_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="clip_image016" width="272" /></span></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TMnNN4B9pCI/AAAAAAAAA1s/Lrq1XnFQ9kg/s1600-h/clip_image018%5B4%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;"><img alt="clip_image018" border="0" height="209" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TMnNPqQOGVI/AAAAAAAAA1w/crKfB3-9ZJ8/clip_image018_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="clip_image018" width="266" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">Our Results through Pictures</span></b> </div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">Sodium Bicarbonate</span></b> </div>
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<b><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TMnNRH_iANI/AAAAAAAAA10/JA8bvmcuUoE/s1600-h/clip_image021%5B9%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;"><img alt="clip_image021" border="0" height="255" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TMnNSUOj5aI/AAAAAAAAA14/ShgnMyjy0Zw/clip_image021_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="clip_image021" width="295" /></span></a></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">Final Color of Cabbage Juice: Green</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">Interpretation: Sodium Bicarbonate is basic.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">Vinegar</span> </div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TMnNUHlUG4I/AAAAAAAAA18/oP8XvrN0s3I/s1600-h/clip_image024%5B4%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;"><img alt="clip_image024" border="0" height="233" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TMnNVwiQDzI/AAAAAAAAA2A/6Q6c6UIlHQs/clip_image024_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="clip_image024" width="296" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">Final Color of Cabbage Juice: Pale Red</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">Interpretation: Vinegar is acidic</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">Stain Remover (containing acid)</span> </div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TMnNYAguSHI/AAAAAAAAA2E/yhFBdgt662w/s1600-h/clip_image026%5B4%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;"><img alt="clip_image026" border="0" height="222" hspace="12" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TMnNZtvn33I/AAAAAAAAA2I/VbsiqXP0x9Q/clip_image026_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="clip_image026" width="282" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">Final Color of Cabbage Juice: Pale Red</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">Interpretation: Stain remover is acidic</span> </div>
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<tr> <td><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">Bleach </span></td> <td><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;"></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TMnNbKJjvFI/AAAAAAAAA2M/3UzLhdknbTw/s1600-h/clip_image029%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;"><img alt="clip_image029" border="0" height="236" hspace="12" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TMnNcVgRypI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/_I_VOIvOAGQ/clip_image029_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="clip_image029" width="240" /></span></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TMnNd_KdGFI/AAAAAAAAA2U/iMhL2bMdCPE/s1600-h/clip_image030%5B4%5D.gif"><span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;"><img alt="clip_image030" border="0" height="174" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TMnNf8Rt20I/AAAAAAAAA2Y/Jamj-020R7I/clip_image030_thumb%5B1%5D.gif?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="clip_image030" width="290" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">So What Is Behind This Experiment?</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Chiller; font-size: large;">Through boiling, we had extracted the pigment molecules called anthocyanins which change color with the pH of their surroundings. This simple experiment only shows the rough acid-base range but not the exact pH value. It is just as simple as this. So, do try out this simple pH indicator at home like what we did! </span> </div>
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<!-- nuffnang--></div>Vichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17220018844764301317noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535446307011431809.post-31956461980206567892010-10-08T21:48:00.009+08:002011-11-19T05:22:23.497+08:00Stories From The Curious Mind-Chapter 7<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">(Official blog post for </span><a href="http://www.myselangorstory.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">My Selangor Story</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> Blogging Contest)</span><br />
<strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">A Story To Be Continued|| That of Friends, Flames, Firsts and Frames</span></strong><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TK84nju95pI/AAAAAAAAAzY/5JPsfA14LaA/s1600-h/IMGP0002%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0002" border="0" height="191" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TK84xsCuw3I/AAAAAAAAAzc/G_f-sxW0Ofw/IMGP0002_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0002" width="660" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">(First photo taken using <a href="http://www.pentax.com/" target="_blank">Pentax</a> Optio P80, perhaps the first panoramic shot of my life)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Life seems to be a balance of the opposites. With life comes death. With happiness comes sadness. However, the line between the opposites is, more often than not, blurry. The end of My Selangor Story has officially brought the start of my journey as a blogger. Most importantly, it signifies the beginning of the friendship which binds all 30 of </span><a href="http://www.myselangorstory.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">My Selangor Storytellers</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> together. </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TK8gPpbnxfI/AAAAAAAAAy4/KQjDBNP3N7M/s1600-h/IMGP0644%5B6%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0644" border="0" height="299" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TK8gYlZaTqI/AAAAAAAAAy8/20hfBYHPkv0/IMGP0644_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0644" width="450" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The very process of recording My Selangor Story has certainly broadened my horizons. Many experiences I have are of the first time of the 19 tender years of mine. It was my first time to travel without family or friends for so long (Now, it feels kind of short, though). It was my first time to meet so many bloggers at once. It was the first time I watch a live band performance. It was my first time holding a <a href="http://www.pentax.com/" target="_blank">camera</a> all day long. It was also the first time I tried out ATV. The list goes on and on.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TK8gd8Sa8OI/AAAAAAAAAzA/oTUfcdXmD0U/s1600-h/IMGP0470%5B6%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0470" border="0" height="329" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TK8giTJEV9I/AAAAAAAAAzE/qQcohVaM72A/IMGP0470_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0470" width="439" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">A glimpse back into the My Selangor Story journey brings forth many feelings, thoughts and memories. Travel is about experiencing and observing. It is all about looking at things from a different angle. Through this tour, I did see different sides of things around me. Those of friendship, passion, experience and memories. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Throughout the journey, I have seen bonds among friends who just met each other. I have also seen how local people interact with each other. One thing I particularly remember was that how close the stall owners in Uptown Shah Alam are. What’s more, I have made more than 30 friends in less than one week and all of them are awesome people. The always cheerful </span><a href="http://alidabdul.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Alid</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, the cute </span><a href="http://spectreoutreach.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Spectre</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, the cool </span><a href="http://thristhan.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Thristhan</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, the forgetful </span><a href="http://kemalife.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Kemal</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, the thoughtful </span><a href="http://wanderlustheories.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Dania</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> and many more. </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TK8gzRsF_PI/AAAAAAAAAzI/kYsbcM_MSj8/s1600-h/IMGP0387%5B6%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0387" border="0" height="340" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TK8g4-Av4QI/AAAAAAAAAzM/5DIZUgIKYSo/IMGP0387_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0387" width="454" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Making friends from Indonesia and Singapore was indeed a brand new experience. From </span><a href="http://fadli.web.id/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Fadli</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, my roommate who shares same computer and cellphone model with me, has been a great companion. From him, I have learnt a lot more about Indonesia and internet industry (he is an IT guy). Not to forget </span><a href="http://alidabdul.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Alid</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, my friend who also loves Hindi movies. I really had a wonderful time with him especially towards the last few days. I felt really sorry for not being able to see them off in person.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TK8hBwsGiqI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/QjRbnfXe_CE/s1600-h/IMGP0660%5B6%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0660" border="0" height="315" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TK8hGWSy5xI/AAAAAAAAAzU/CgtcUJTOYTY/IMGP0660_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0660" width="420" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Not only did I befriend fellow bloggers, I have made acquaintance with the TV Selangor crews who always tag us along and sometimes joined in our fun. If not for their ride, I really don’t know how I would have to come back to Shah Alam. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TK85CvdbhhI/AAAAAAAAAzg/_ahtHxC5HV4/s1600-h/IMGP0552%5B6%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0552" border="0" height="255" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TK85H4MWvlI/AAAAAAAAAzk/ccFaFAMwF3g/IMGP0552_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0552" width="331" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TK85c7up7HI/AAAAAAAAAzo/d9x1PSIpJlw/s1600-h/IMGP0562%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0562" border="0" height="254" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TK85sFdZyGI/AAAAAAAAAzs/gpFhmw5oSQM/IMGP0562_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: move; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0562" width="330" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Apart from making friends (check out their blogs at the bottom), I have also seen passion and dedication of Selangor people. There are so many of inspiring persons throughout the journey. The successor of the Uptown has his modern market dream. </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Night-Service/114753181898401" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">One Night Service</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> has their dream as well. Listening to Jerome Murat’s philosophies in performing arts was enjoyable, too. Even among ourselves, many are amazing people like <a href="http://www.zaraaluwi.com/" target="_blank">Kak Zara</a> and Abang Bent. It is these people who make Selangor shines. Every single person I saw on the way has his or her stories to tell. If only I was given the time.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.sunwaypyramid.com/tenants/tenantpages/tenant_3399899310.asp" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Frames</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> are what keep memories alive. With camera, I have sealed the beauty of the places I have been to, the people I have talked to and so on. I shall never forget the tranquility of Chin Swee Temple, the gorgeousness of Kanching Waterfall, the warmth of Dorani Homestay and the fragile lights of fireflies. Selangor simply has so much to offer.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TK8568FT-xI/AAAAAAAAAzw/GuCe5g-qCFo/s1600-h/IMGP0573%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0573" border="0" height="203" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TK85_5lbn3I/AAAAAAAAAz0/kxMuAJ6JP1I/IMGP0573_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0573" width="644" /></a></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TK86GHjk4kI/AAAAAAAAAz4/cgI57SUewrc/s1600-h/IMGP0612%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0612" border="0" height="199" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TK86QuOhzLI/AAAAAAAAAz8/99XdvZMIY48/IMGP0612_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0612" width="660" /></a></span><br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TK86aBxHQtI/AAAAAAAAA0A/maVhzp_xfps/s1600-h/IMGP0515%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0515" border="0" height="198" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TK86j2ksdhI/AAAAAAAAA0E/nY9IGCSMNO8/IMGP0515_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0515" width="660" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is my video-book summarizing my 6-day-5-night <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.myselangorstory.com/" target="_blank">My Selangor Stor</a>y tour with a melodious touch. It was truly a story of friends, flames, firsts and frames. By the way, by embedding this video, I have add another "first": my first ever personal video project.</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">My Selangor Story was really a story of friends, flames, firsts and frames. Oh yeah, there are two more “f”s. Food and freebies. The generosity of the sponsors was simply overwhelming. Thank you, My Selangor Story sponsors, partners and everyone who makes this event a reality! Pentax was probably the most important sponsor of all. If not for their Pentax Optio P80, My Selangor Story would have been a story with no pictures and videos. I especially like the panoramic feature, as seen from my pictures. </span><br />
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<!-- nuffnang--></div>Vichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17220018844764301317noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535446307011431809.post-16589000051200697882010-09-28T07:31:00.021+08:002010-10-06T20:16:09.349+08:00Stories From The Curious Mind-Chapter 6<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Official blog post for </span><a href="http://www.myselangorstory.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Selangor Story</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Blogging Contest)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<strong><a href="http://www.tropicanamedicalcentre.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tropicana Medical Center</span></a></strong><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> || A New Star in Medical Tourism</span></strong><br />
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</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After one whole of chilling and playing around, the fifth day of My Selangor Story had finally come. You could never guess where our first destination was. It was the </span><a href="http://www.tropicanamedicalcentre.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tropicana Medical Center</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> at Kota Damansara. Yes, you didn’t hear me wrong. It is a hospital. Or should I say, it is not a hospital. You might be wondering what My Selangor Story had to do with a medical center. Medical tourism is now considered a subcategory of tourism. People do travel for both treatment and sightseeing. Malaysia is quickly catching up on this and TMC is one of the pioneers. </span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The medical center was fully equipped with all the cutting-edge medical equipment with acronyms as their names. Being not so much a fan of medicine, I could not still remember most of those names. I could not say about the quality of the medical treatment here for sure but I did know how artistic and comfortable the medical center was. It was that comfortable until a point that I could not differentiate whether this was a hospital or hotel. The wall was not white as those of most hospitals out there. They also had art pieces everywhere. Art appreciation does cure illness. </span><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxeMSApP9I/AAAAAAAAAs4/cEEHhRmN2Vc/s1600-h/IMGP0790%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0790" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxeQ4R4MeI/AAAAAAAAAs8/0Ahabw9J8Os/IMGP0790_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0790" width="361" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxeVS9dmwI/AAAAAAAAAtA/y9mQqbi_REI/s1600-h/IMGP0804%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0804" border="0" height="264" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxeY2WGJbI/AAAAAAAAAtE/5cIj69f-xHQ/IMGP0804_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0804" width="295" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was particularly amazed with the delivery wards which looked more like a hotel suite. Bringing babies to the world in this suite would really be awesome. I bet </span><a href="http://alidabdul.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alid</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="http://www.feeqsays.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Feeq</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> had that in mind, too. </span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxemNwXd_I/AAAAAAAAAtI/hckgmtx29HM/s1600-h/IMGP0810%5B8%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0810" border="0" height="343" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxeqfusUSI/AAAAAAAAAtM/iR4f9KMc8AI/IMGP0810_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0810" width="453" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We also explored the semen collecting room. It was really a fresh thing for me. When I learnt about IVF in biology classes, I had never thought of how semen is collected. It was then only I knew that this is done in a room like this, with TV and bed.</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxeuj5GCPI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/yWzLmVZLiyI/s1600-h/IMGP0802%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0802" border="0" height="255" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxexTHeM4I/AAAAAAAAAtU/oea-vRudV88/IMGP0802_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0802" width="339" /></a></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">IVF had been a miracle for couples who yearn for babies but the fact that only about a half of the operation can be successful hit me. How sad it was to hear that there will be no children in one’s life, no one to continue one’s story. It seemed like everything still depends on Him in the end, no matter how hard one tries.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not forgetting the new born baby who was sound asleep.</span><br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxeztHZUWI/AAAAAAAAAtY/rJzlWj8Ko4U/s1600-h/IMGP0817%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0817" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxe2SghYeI/AAAAAAAAAtc/jzutFoBpEuQ/IMGP0817_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0817" width="378" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxe5CosUyI/AAAAAAAAAtg/l4xbjTv4Mfk/s1600-h/IMGP0818%5B9%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0818" border="0" height="337" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxfHVnU43I/AAAAAAAAAtk/b7j7KmO1wfI/IMGP0818_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0818" width="447" /></a><br />
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</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the very last minute before we had to leave, I found that they had brushes made from baby hair here, what was thought to be the best blessing for our children to do well academically.</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even from my brief visit here, I could already see how dedicated the nurses at the </span><a href="http://www.tropicanamedicalcentre.com/" target="_blank"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tropicana Medical Center</span></strong></a><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> are. They stopped us from visiting the wards to protect the privacy of their patients. This had showed their professionalism. Should they had said yes, I would really question that.</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxfL-BbaGI/AAAAAAAAAto/N1qNFsYmsa8/s1600-h/IMGP0811%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0811" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxfQ7XZEnI/AAAAAAAAAts/mFNucSyKGVk/IMGP0811_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0811" width="547" /></a></div><hr /><a href="http://www.sunwaypyramid.com/tenants/tenantpages/tenant_3399899310.asp" target="_blank"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Frames</span></strong></a><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> @ </span></strong><a href="http://www.sunway.com.my/pyramid/" target="_blank"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunway Pyramid</span></strong></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After trying out the advanced equipment at </span><a href="http://www.tropicanamedicalcentre.com/" target="_blank"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tropicana Medical Center</span></strong></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, we then went to the </span><a href="http://www.sunwaypyramid.com/tenants/tenantpages/tenant_3399899310.asp" target="_blank"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Frames</span></strong></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> @ Sunway Pyramid for our lunch.</span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxfUl_XlAI/AAAAAAAAAtw/dYVYXks3q2M/s1600-h/IMGP08201.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0820" border="0" height="371" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxfWixLgWI/AAAAAAAAAt0/UEa8dwcwLds/IMGP0820_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0820" width="490" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As what its name suggests, the Frames, painted in pure white and silver, is like a frame containing memories of all those who have dined here. Its wall was also full of photos in classy frames. I had always wanted to visit here and now Sunway had given a chance to fit myself into this little frame. </span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxfdhtWHHI/AAAAAAAAAt4/1LnjT7aBYnY/s1600-h/IMGP08271.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0827" border="0" height="346" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxffxLkZCI/AAAAAAAAAt8/ihXlBxulEcg/IMGP0827_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0827" width="457" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even the menu was of thoughtful design. It was made into a roll of paper tied with a purple ribbon. It gave me a tinge of suspense, forcing me to guess what is on the menu. The food served was of all origins. I ordered a Kalio Bilado, a type of Minangkabau chicken rice. </span><br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxfnvwY5HI/AAAAAAAAAuA/voSLvikYQNk/s1600-h/IMGP08283.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMGP0828" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxftdEwAmI/AAAAAAAAAuE/vl5h2r4r-4I/IMGP0828_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0828" width="640" /></span></a><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxf1r8OdOI/AAAAAAAAAuI/TClFV4XxuOM/s1600-h/IMGP08303.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMGP0830" border="0" height="229" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxf4c1QJmI/AAAAAAAAAuM/klzrkHciRf4/IMGP0830_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0830" width="303" /></span></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxf-6PwOdI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/MOj9ucqYot8/s1600-h/IMGP08293.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMGP0829" border="0" height="225" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxgBV00d3I/AAAAAAAAAuU/q3LkNb5H8rI/IMGP0829_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0829" width="297" /></span></a><br />
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</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The texture and taste of the chicken was simply irresistible. The size of serving, too, was more than satisfying. I would definitely recommend you to try this next time you come here. Not to forget the desert, too. Dressing in black and white, it gave me a mouthful of bliss and happiness especially at the moment when the ice-cream melted together with the chocolate cake. Unforgettable indeed. </span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxgI8AoosI/AAAAAAAAAuY/wJ3yHsXKE0k/s1600-h/IMGP08333.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMGP0833" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxgNjKrp3I/AAAAAAAAAuc/L8dJRsOgEGw/IMGP0833_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0833" width="640" /></span></a></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxgUYS4YiI/AAAAAAAAAug/QX8unDqvXAc/s1600-h/IMGP08353.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMGP0835" border="0" height="228" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxgeualk2I/AAAAAAAAAuk/9RDKiT-0e6I/IMGP0835_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0835" width="301" /></span></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxgkTsDuKI/AAAAAAAAAuo/frhNizkPMVU/s1600-h/IMGP08343.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMGP0834" border="0" height="229" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxgm0DKREI/AAAAAAAAAus/qaRcc06Y9-w/IMGP0834_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0834" width="302" /></span></a></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the way, while writing this, I really wondered whether I should now position myself as a food blogger. Food all the way from Shah Alam to Sunway. No wonder Malaysia is a Paradise of Gourmets.</span></div><hr /><strong><a href="http://www.sunway.com.my/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunway Lagoon Theme Park</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> || Highlight of the Day</span></strong><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After answering our appetite’s call, we then looked for more thrills at the four theme parks of Sunway Lagoon. We were going to conquer them, one by one. Water Park, Amusement Park, Wildlife Park,Extreme Park and Scream Park! Here we come!</span><br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxgqRxYPFI/AAAAAAAAAuw/pbTSKk3AhXk/s1600-h/IMGP04585.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0458" border="0" height="292" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxgueYnUwI/AAAAAAAAAu0/TcJfWlEOZxU/IMGP0458_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0458" width="387" /></a><br />
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</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Riding the running stream on the huge “life-buoy like" Grand Canyon River Rapid was particularly fun. At certain points, it gave you a “musical kick” like that in the </span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inception</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. At certain points, too, it would surprise with a sudden burst of water. Hooray, let’s get wet! </span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next point was even more thrilling. The three to four continuous bumps of the Colorado Splash Coaster nearly stopped my heart. The final landing literally hurt, too.</span></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxgyDxIvxI/AAAAAAAAAu4/ToCxog7Ayss/s1600-h/IMGP04486.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMGP0448" border="0" height="322" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxg1kFMqoI/AAAAAAAAAu8/FkdkYJk6D-M/IMGP0448_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0448" width="243" /></span></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxg4zr2BFI/AAAAAAAAAvA/cScUEuqQiqg/s1600-h/IMGP04528.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMGP0452" border="0" height="321" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxg7TwkM_I/AAAAAAAAAvE/lMLQYKZR5xU/IMGP0452_thumb6.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0452" width="405" /></span></a></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first roller-coaster ride in my life also happened here in Sunway Lagoon. The feeling was truly beyond description. At some moments, I felt as if I was falling down. I screamed. I shouted. My face went pale, too. It really gave me a shot of adrenaline up to the head. This was yet another reason for me to remember Sunway Lagoon.</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, we went to the Scream Park (a fancy name for ghost house) It was super fun to fool around with all those ghosts. The most funny part was that the ghosts inside were super polite. After scaring you, they said “This way, please.” It was kind of weird to hear that, though. There was one part of the Scream Park which I remembered the most. It was in the visual illusion tunnel. I really felt like the tunnel was spinning and could not move forward at all. Thanks to the 3D glasses. By the way, it was the cute </span><a href="http://spectreoutreach.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spectre</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> who got me out. Nice guy, do read his blog.</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After Scream Park, we then made our way through the scenic yet slightly shaky Pedestrian Suspension Bridge. It was really a nice place to enjoy the bird eye view of the entire Sunway Lagoon. </span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxg-Z6rCXI/AAAAAAAAAvI/p-nO2eagMDM/s1600-h/IMGP04605.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0460" border="0" height="245" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxhBD4m-iI/AAAAAAAAAvM/9jBdNqc8BKw/IMGP0460_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0460" width="325" /></a></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxhDzSAeKI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/xpe8OuilU8M/s1600-h/IMGP04614.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMGP0461" border="0" height="236" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxhHA-57CI/AAAAAAAAAvU/nX7BTknQt8k/IMGP0461_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0461" width="313" /></span></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxhK3MGIzI/AAAAAAAAAvY/c9YM4KCqVLE/s1600-h/IMGP04636.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMGP0463" border="0" height="236" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxhO6pfdzI/AAAAAAAAAvc/8tmF9R8KFcc/IMGP0463_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0463" width="313" /></span></a></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, we went down to where the All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) was. By the way, I would like to give a big thank you hug to </span><a href="http://www.zaraaluwi.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kak Zara</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> who lent me her wristband so that I could play with the awesome looking ATVs. (I accidentally lost my wristband, sob)</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At first, I almost lost control of it when I tried to turn on the way up the hill but I managed to figure out how to do in the end. It required a careful control of the throttle and the steering. It was really a wonderful experience for me who had never rode a motorcycle before. Going up and down the hill with the four wheels was indeed cool although the ride was brief and not-so-challenging. Can I have one more round, please? </span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxhRhAABJI/AAAAAAAAAvg/6H9aULR9bLE/s1600-h/IMGP04706.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0470" border="0" height="400" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxhV00oF8I/AAAAAAAAAvk/VLjj-CuNh1s/IMGP0470_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0470" width="531" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxhYzi09iI/AAAAAAAAAvo/X7lKLDn2VkU/s1600-h/IMGP04686.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0468" border="0" height="396" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxheSjQKBI/AAAAAAAAAvs/ea5VlZwwKtU/IMGP0468_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0468" width="526" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxhjCu_2BI/AAAAAAAAAvw/YT4pIAQoGBA/s1600-h/IMGP04664.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMGP0466" border="0" height="241" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxhnRlS39I/AAAAAAAAAv0/UvGLmAFAf28/IMGP0466_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0466" width="319" /></span></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxhsZPQFHI/AAAAAAAAAv4/d9EcOfCvpzs/s1600-h/IMGP04674.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMGP0467" border="0" height="241" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxhvrVYB5I/AAAAAAAAAv8/upixgZFy28A/IMGP0467_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0467" width="319" /></span></a><br />
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</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we came down from our ATVs, it was already near the time for us to move. Before that, of course I went and got myself wet in the huge pool with my fellow Indonesian friends. The huge pool was safe even for a mildly hydrophobic me. With the background of multi level waterfall at the back, this part of the Water looked very scenic albeit its slight mechanical feel.</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxhy6VuPaI/AAAAAAAAAwA/SfK3G0WmqGw/s1600-h/IMGP04714.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMGP0471" border="0" height="239" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxh6Ik77YI/AAAAAAAAAwI/YWvkihqi2PM/IMGP0471_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0471" width="317" /></span></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxiAq8YkLI/AAAAAAAAAwM/QzEjqZdOwzo/s1600-h/IMGP04721.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMGP0472" border="0" height="237" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxiFpruoNI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/R1sbIxjSvow/IMGP0472_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0472" width="315" /></span></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxiJJv7ZDI/AAAAAAAAAwU/GKLEPIt9xuQ/s1600-h/IMGP04887.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMGP0488" border="0" height="233" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxiMFQSXqI/AAAAAAAAAwY/sQsBrjaaZks/IMGP0488_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0488" width="320" /></span></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxiS_SpSKI/AAAAAAAAAwc/9a3MHsqRC-M/s1600-h/IMGP05135.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMGP0513" border="0" height="233" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxieUr32tI/AAAAAAAAAwg/cdfjMjluRoQ/IMGP0513_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0513" width="308" /></span></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxikdwT-3I/AAAAAAAAAwk/CdLHgSCfSCg/s1600-h/IMGP05215.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0521" border="0" height="348" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxio6kJGnI/AAAAAAAAAwo/es6cEnKD7gg/IMGP0521_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0521" width="462" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxiti-gdlI/AAAAAAAAAws/2_z8cIy-hAg/s1600-h/IMGP05225.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0522" border="0" height="355" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxixGmeO4I/AAAAAAAAAww/kVLZgfqQrOY/IMGP0522_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0522" width="471" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxi1B0ZNfI/AAAAAAAAAw0/lvCns8AHDsk/s1600-h/IMGP05235.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0523" border="0" height="357" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxi6wlPa1I/AAAAAAAAAw4/HZu6aTQ57rE/IMGP0523_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0523" width="474" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Soon, dusk came and we had to leave to the Haven Points to have our farewell dinner. To add the final note for My Selangor Story trip.</span><br />
<hr /><strong><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxjAtPBxYI/AAAAAAAAAw8/LgWJurqMoAo/s1600-h/IMGP08394.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMGP0839" border="0" height="189" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxjDg3qBMI/AAAAAAAAAxA/uE3WEWFNIIw/IMGP0839_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0839" width="644" /></span></a></strong><br />
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<strong><a href="http://www.havenrestaurant.com.my/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Haven Restaurant</span></a></strong><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> || The Farewell Dinner in the Most Scenic Place</span></strong><br />
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</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the way from Sunway to Bukit Langat, we purposely made a detour to pass by Jalan Tun Abdul Razak to have a look at the city center. This was the part of Kuala Lumpur where I had never been. The skyline here was comparable to those of other cities like Singapore. Awesome detour!</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was some glitches which delayed our dinner at Havens. It was not all our driver’s fault because it was easy to get confused with so many lookout points available here. The delay was not all bad, too. At least, I had gotten more rest on the bus and more time to chit chat. </span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again, we were given VVIP treatment in </span><a href="http://www.havenrestaurant.com.my/" target="_blank"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Haven Restaurant</span></strong></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. They actually made lobster as our appetizer! It was marvelous! Gorgeous! Heavenly! And I ran out of my adjectives. The food was literally finger licking good, too. I was particularly touched when they gave let us to bring the umbrella back home after it had shielded us from the drizzle when we went up to the viewpoint tower. </span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxjMBKLCcI/AAAAAAAAAxE/z4rLKkbmNQI/s1600-h/IMGP0846%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0846" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxjTIw74pI/AAAAAAAAAxI/d4xbOjUxTQE/IMGP0846_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0846" width="640" /></a></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since appetizers and desert were of buffet style, it brought yet another chance for us to test our food presentation skill. </span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxjicKxQ5I/AAAAAAAAAxM/Hq-Kn8GeGmo/s1600-h/IMGP0847%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0847" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxjrn9w3wI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/zu9wbPFHOZE/IMGP0847_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0847" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I ordered salmon. The taste was good. However, my small stomach could not seem to fully savor a portion this huge. If only I had someone to bring along to share, yeah?</span><br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxj31Jm6hI/AAAAAAAAAxU/zURAMiadv5M/s1600-h/IMGP0849%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0849" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxkBU2Nv_I/AAAAAAAAAxY/4-LJGlWndVA/IMGP0849_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0849" width="640" /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The grilled chicken chop was nice, too. </span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxkNUg3xPI/AAAAAAAAAxc/ixsg3AesaTg/s1600-h/IMGP0858%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0858" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxkRpUtxnI/AAAAAAAAAxg/vYgnaAKgQag/IMGP0858_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0858" width="640" /></a><br />
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</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I would say the rib was the best of all. Words do not suffice here. Not even picture could. Let’s witness </span><a href="http://thristhan.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thristhan</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in awe of the ultra huge portion of the ribs. For the ribs, three man, </span><a href="http://thristhan.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thristhan</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://dylan-zd.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dylan</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="http://sylistic.com/travel/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sy Yuan</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> actually fought with each other. Everyone on the table was pretty entertained with their rib eating race. Size did not seem to matter much here. Dylan, despite his relatively small build, had given a real good fight. </span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxkfXXPnbI/AAAAAAAAAxk/Q_-3n8xhMOI/s1600-h/Thristhan%20In%20Action%5B5%5D.gif"><img alt="Thristhan In Action" height="292" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxkzfYhckI/AAAAAAAAAxo/UwUonodBCWc/Thristhan%20In%20Action_thumb%5B3%5D.gif?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Thristhan In Action" width="387" /></a><br />
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</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The atmosphere at </span><a href="http://www.havenrestaurant.com.my/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Haven Restaurant</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> almost led me to believe that I was still in </span><a href="http://www.rwgenting.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Genting</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. With the fragrance from shisha and the melodious voice of </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Night-Service/114753181898401" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One Night Service</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, all the 30 </span><a href="http://www.myselangorstory.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Selangor Storytellers</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> really enjoyed their dinner here. </span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxlBUKMO-I/AAAAAAAAAxs/QjtS4ki3jIQ/s1600-h/IMGP0859%5B4%5D.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMGP0859" border="0" height="248" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxlJTGSnsI/AAAAAAAAAxw/1KYHaOfN3QM/IMGP0859_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0859" width="327" /></span></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxlRuwNnkI/AAAAAAAAAx0/cXDfi63tFQo/s1600-h/IMGP0868%5B3%5D.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMGP0868" border="0" height="249" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxlXMOTGSI/AAAAAAAAAx4/UmzDmKx1Q9Q/IMGP0868_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0868" width="189" /></span></a></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I then moved my eyeballs from the food to the scenery. I still couldn’t believe that it was in such order. (It seems as if I was a food blogger.) From here, the whole Kuala Lumpur skyline was within the reach of my eyes. At some moments, mist came on and off. The city seemed to be really shy in front of us. </span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxlkdv1K1I/AAAAAAAAAx8/mDto-4-lQ2U/s1600-h/IMGP0844%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0844" border="0" height="413" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxlsRPQrLI/AAAAAAAAAyA/9Bb1wZyqkpc/IMGP0844_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0844" width="546" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxl4Mr8kjI/AAAAAAAAAyE/tONEgcAov8c/s1600-h/IMGP0845%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0845" border="0" height="271" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxl-qaIAOI/AAAAAAAAAyI/Aqceo5Er5yM/IMGP0845_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0845" width="357" /></a></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxmKY8r6NI/AAAAAAAAAyU/AyAs8KIBkk8/s1600-h/IMGP0563%5B6%5D.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMGP0563" border="0" height="254" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxmPSgBvUI/AAAAAAAAAyY/q2fMJ6knrGM/IMGP0563_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0563" width="336" /></span></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxmYxlSIKI/AAAAAAAAAyc/UsfS550etvA/s1600-h/IMGP0581%5B7%5D.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="IMGP0581" border="0" height="256" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxmcjYMekI/AAAAAAAAAyg/YcGtiQxMPlA/IMGP0581_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0581" width="339" /></span></a></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxmhzel9VI/AAAAAAAAAyk/UH5D0bbQ5cg/s1600-h/IMGP0584%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0584" border="0" height="355" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKxmmfvWwvI/AAAAAAAAAyo/x992v5PFMbg/IMGP0584_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0584" width="472" /></a></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The story Haven ended just yet. Stay tuned for the final page of </span><a href="http://www.myselangorstory.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Selangor Story</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">If there is anything you would like to know deeper, I would love to research, analyze and
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<!-- nuffnang--></div>Vichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17220018844764301317noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535446307011431809.post-3520318556452889612010-09-27T00:17:00.000+08:002011-11-19T05:21:58.087+08:00Stories From The Curious Mind-Chapter 5<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Official blog post for </span><a href="http://www.myselangorstory.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Selangor Story</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Blogging Contest)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Goodbye, </span><a href="http://www.zewsays.com/2010/09/stories-from-curious-mind-chapter-4.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Homestay Sungai Haji Dorani</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">! Goodbye, </span><a href="http://www.zewsays.com/2010/09/stories-from-curious-mind-chapter-4.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pak Cik Tauhid</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">! Good bye, </span><a href="http://www.zewsays.com/2010/09/stories-from-curious-mind-chapter-4.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">paddy field</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">!</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrlLCNld_I/AAAAAAAAAow/kXGzkfCSKOs/s1600-h/IMGP06444.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0644" border="0" height="429" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrlRDtssKI/AAAAAAAAAo0/LoFLOnS8te0/IMGP0644_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0644" width="644" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrlZ2pN1II/AAAAAAAAAo4/5IsOvcRiWVA/s1600-h/IMGP0640.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0640" border="0" height="233" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrleA1eJ2I/AAAAAAAAAo8/zqvUFpGjpXY/IMGP0640_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0640" width="330" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrlq7WLN-I/AAAAAAAAApA/nWVHUk4zZ68/s1600-h/IMGP06364.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0636" border="0" height="235" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrlx2FiE0I/AAAAAAAAApE/L1AMBDmrXh0/IMGP0636_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0636" width="312" /></a><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whenever there is a start, there is an end. But never did I expect that my stay in the homestay would end this soon. So long, Sabak Bernam!</span><br />
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<strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunway City</span></strong><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leaving all the green, we finally made our way to the booming integrated city, Sunway. It is a usual “lepak” (hangout) place for my schoolmates and me. Sunway City and Subang Jaya town as a whole, exudes an unique atmosphere. It has the hustle and bustle of Kuala Lumpur but is free from the its chaos and crowdedness. Everything looks new here.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had been to Sunway Pyramid countless times but </span><a href="http://kualalumpur.sunwayhotels.com/stay/pth.aspx" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunway Pyramid Tower Hotel</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> where we checked in was indeed something new for me. Glitches happened on the way but nothing would spoil the spirit of all the 30 </span><a href="http://www.myselangorstory.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Selangor Storytellers</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Unexpectedly, I had gotten a new roommate, </span><a href="http://alidabdul.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alid</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. We got along really well since the first moment we met. What to do? We shared so many same interests, catching up with Hindi films and traveling.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One thing I liked about </span><a href="http://kualalumpur.sunwayhotels.com/stay/pth.aspx" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunway Pyramid Tower Hotel</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> was its eye soothing deco. </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrl7_Qr_BI/AAAAAAAAApI/HWDuNcQqQPU/s1600-h/IMGP06793.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0679" border="0" height="236" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrmLP3BpWI/AAAAAAAAApQ/IEu65hCPSpU/IMGP0679_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0679" width="313" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrmpr0CEuI/AAAAAAAAApU/EGD-q6VDTxc/s1600-h/IMGP06783.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0678" border="0" height="236" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrna1EDNVI/AAAAAAAAApY/sdWobVZAHxY/IMGP0678_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0678" width="313" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrnhPwV2KI/AAAAAAAAApc/UGft2ZTZODA/s1600-h/IMGP06604.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0660" border="0" height="328" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrnkQdzs4I/AAAAAAAAApg/jABAT_OlwWs/IMGP0660_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0660" width="436" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a brief freshen-up, we then happily went to the Mantra for lunch. </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrnvQJDL-I/AAAAAAAAApk/xpHUP4oyTp8/s1600-h/IMGP06534.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0653" border="0" height="236" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrn2qrfgRI/AAAAAAAAApo/KEzyixh88KQ/IMGP0653_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0653" width="464" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They served decent Indian cuisines here. Through the dropdown window here, we could enjoy a 360 bird eye view of the entire Sunway Lagoon. </span><br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrn7k4NlII/AAAAAAAAAps/bfXNq9vg9y8/s1600-h/IMGP06563.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0656" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKroEKIi8rI/AAAAAAAAApw/9A2QflTksTo/IMGP0656_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0656" width="644" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The food served here were decent, too. I wouldn’t say that the Indian cuisines here are of top notch as I had tasted other nice ones (What to do? My roommates are all Indians.) But tasting roti canai in such a classy restaurant would surely worth your time albeit the only fallback was that the tarik wouldn’t go well with air-conditioner. </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKroJmp2AoI/AAAAAAAAAp0/3-ZXqLYKooI/s1600-h/IMGP06583.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0658" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKroSOCRjBI/AAAAAAAAAp4/5BMPyib_5aY/IMGP0658_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0658" width="644" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I took in quite a lot of food as I thought that we were going down soon for the theme parks. However, while I was having fun “nongkrong” (hanging out) with </span><a href="http://hananan.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Citra</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://sylistic.com/travel/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sy Yuan</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="http://fadli.web.id/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fadli</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, bad news came. Due to some “unforeseen circumstances”, the trip to theme parks was postponed to the next day. Everyone could not seem to hide that tinge of disappointment on his or her face. But come to think about it, we were given a break for this one whole day. Exploring </span><a href="http://www.sunway.com.my/pyramid/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunway Pyramid</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Shopping Complex in a way I had never done before might not be a bad idea.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKroYrYETQI/AAAAAAAAAp8/L5WaU5XuYh8/s1600-h/IMGP06673.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0667" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKroc_IeVGI/AAAAAAAAAqA/KoXsoDwKOWw/IMGP0667_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0667" width="644" /></a></div>
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKror9Wxe8I/AAAAAAAAAqE/rEvMtT9vUps/s1600-h/IMGP06623.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0662" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrox7huovI/AAAAAAAAAqI/AlFFUQEk2Wo/IMGP0662_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0662" width="644" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My new Indonesian friends and I tried to catch some movies in the TGV Cinema here but too bad, the timing worked against us. It was only then I noticed that the cinema is right on the sky. I especially liked the clouds hanging on the sky. From certain angle, it looked kind of real. I guessed I was seeing only then because I stood from the viewpoint of a traveller and not so much a participator. It is always hard to really observe things around you as more often than not, we take them for granted. We thought we knew them so well that we don’t care to look deeper. Is it not the same case with life? We never really know ourselves, do we?</span></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKro5JFWnzI/AAAAAAAAAqM/aZbg-w8a8Eo/s1600-h/IMGP06633.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0663" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrpEDXIHMI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/qyq8MFxRXjc/IMGP0663_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0663" width="644" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.sunway.com.my/pyramid/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunway Pyramid</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is also the only shopping mall with its own ice-skating rink. Now, instead of skating inside, I had changed my role into an observer from top. From here, I saw people falling down, couple supporting each other and so on. It was really fun observing the pattern of people skating (sorry, geek talks here)</span></div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrpI71IvVI/AAAAAAAAAqU/zp6410TArew/s1600-h/IMGP06773.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0677" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrpN23X3eI/AAAAAAAAAqY/VhtfWQ_xmOQ/IMGP0677_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0677" width="644" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wait, there was something new here. KTM had come to </span><a href="http://www.sunway.com.my/pyramid/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunway Pyramid</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">! </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrqHpzMNTI/AAAAAAAAAqc/dFef-P7TYcI/s1600-h/IMGP06745.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0674" border="0" height="227" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrqMwV8aVI/AAAAAAAAAqg/AbkAB-nJi5s/IMGP0674_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0674" width="301" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrqWqswyNI/AAAAAAAAAqk/IHBmuIi10Fw/s1600-h/IMGP06654.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0665" border="0" height="230" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrqboVflvI/AAAAAAAAAqo/3vDYkBRJ4Pw/IMGP0665_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0665" width="305" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrrQMFgWbI/AAAAAAAAAqs/4zUHN7eprAE/s1600-h/IMGP06753.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0675" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrrU6V3z5I/AAAAAAAAAqw/w5L6NtLr1X8/IMGP0675_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0675" width="644" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shopping is not really my thing. Aside from movies, bowling, archery and ice-skating, I really could find no place anymore. And so I “lepak” at Starbucks with Sy Yuan for its Wi-Fi. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Time did fly. It was already about time for us to go for the buffet dinner at the Sun & Surf. Finally, I had stepped into the </span><a href="http://kualalumpur.sunwayhotels.com/stay/srhs.aspx" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunway Resort Hotel and Spa</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Gorgeous it was. Too bad, we couldn’t stay here.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrrZtN0vLI/AAAAAAAAAq0/Sj1J0jAqqZA/s1600-h/IMGP06843.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0684" border="0" height="309" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrrf8yNyUI/AAAAAAAAAq4/awQcJi-E8vA/IMGP0684_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0684" width="411" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The dinner was really a satisfying one. What’s more, we had a really nice chat to add to the nice food. I already had great food and great friends. What’s more to be asked?</span><br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrrp3NT7tI/AAAAAAAAAq8/PJrOs-r5zks/s1600-h/IMGP0687%5B8%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0687" border="0" height="261" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrryRo3uAI/AAAAAAAAArE/BdUzxDudoac/IMGP0687_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0687" width="347" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrr2jVg9CI/AAAAAAAAArI/yfXJUCSxSo8/s1600-h/IMGP0711%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0711" border="0" height="258" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrr63M3ENI/AAAAAAAAArM/9kiFNCTQa5Y/IMGP0711_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0711" width="329" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrr_wkXupI/AAAAAAAAArQ/fjGQuKckzBQ/s1600-h/IMGP0710%5B7%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0710" border="0" height="266" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrsF9A1J0I/AAAAAAAAArU/OIeToP78CKQ/IMGP0710_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0710" width="335" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here too, I had my first lesson on how to tackle oysters from Grandmaster </span><a href="http://thristhan.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thristhan</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. The oysters served here was really fresh. Mixing it with Long Island sauce, I felt like I was in the heaven. </span><br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrsKPcntXI/AAAAAAAAArY/us_V3sViZA4/s1600-h/IMGP0703%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0703" border="0" height="397" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrsUSpBc7I/AAAAAAAAArc/X6VB8-DYLd0/IMGP0703_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0703" width="528" /></a> <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With food around and camera at hands, food presentation game was only natural. Good thing about buffet is that you could arrange your food in whatever way you liked. A test bed for creativity indeed!</span></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrseG_qkoI/AAAAAAAAArg/1RkIMhXuRhs/s1600-h/IMGP0700%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0700" border="0" height="383" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrsnGWJeRI/AAAAAAAAArk/o9Z1zWVXQCk/IMGP0700_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0700" width="509" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrsxXicoDI/AAAAAAAAAro/bj7pfS2M8nQ/s1600-h/IMGP0696%5B6%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0696" border="0" height="376" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrs1V9e9UI/AAAAAAAAArs/wuNyM7ImTWE/IMGP0696_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0696" width="501" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, let’s turn our camera to people. First up, </span><a href="http://wanderlustheories.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dania</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> who had just made me famous in her recent blog post. A graphic designer with loads of fun she is. Look how she indulged herself with her chocolate marshmallow.</span><br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrs4xMgbbI/AAAAAAAAArw/8di-LlF2tPo/s1600-h/IMGP0693%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0693" border="0" height="370" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrtAO84CBI/AAAAAAAAAr0/LoWVjPp6iy8/IMGP0693_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0693" width="492" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next, </span><a href="http://thristhan.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thristhan</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in awe! The food must be awesome. And that explains his expression.</span><br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrtGdUsNGI/AAAAAAAAAr4/v10AFUBx3u0/s1600-h/IMGP0706%5B12%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0706" border="0" height="368" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrtL_R9MQI/AAAAAAAAAr8/WhGgBSGyiJM/IMGP0706_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0706" width="489" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This guy really knows his stuff. If he says the food here is good, then it must be. Then, here comes </span><a href="http://spectreoutreach.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spectre</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> who really enjoyed the dinner here. He is a really cute and funny. And he carries his HTC everywhere. </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrtP1JMjEI/AAAAAAAAAsA/tbiYnHdRvNI/s1600-h/IMGP0697%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0697" border="0" height="342" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrtvYnYAEI/AAAAAAAAAsE/yoX4M0zZ2KI/IMGP0697_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0697" width="455" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our journey did not just end at Sun&Surf as the night was still young. A few of us were assigned a secret mission: to investigate the night life of Selangor. We drove to Hilton Petaling Jaya to watch live band performance. The performers were really cool. It was my first time to listen to the 80s rock songs but they had made me to fall in love with the lyrics and the tunes. </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKruXaZrVPI/AAAAAAAAAsI/noUaWHw9me8/s1600-h/IMGP0390%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0390" border="0" height="292" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrueJNCslI/AAAAAAAAAsM/cWeroJopZ60/IMGP0390_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0390" width="387" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKruh4bjAtI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/IqQha0yFzj0/s1600-h/IMGP0382%5B6%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0382" border="0" height="378" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKruloaJQJI/AAAAAAAAAsU/25d6jNO8Vbo/IMGP0382_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0382" width="502" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrurr8NjdI/AAAAAAAAAsY/B3ew0PTy7Ck/s1600-h/IMGP0386%5B10%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0386" border="0" height="375" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKru5rjqEcI/AAAAAAAAAsc/ulPgy0nQgAw/IMGP0386_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0386" width="498" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Music and dance are never mutually exclusive, are they? Here, Alid became our master for dancing. However weird his piano dance moves were, we were obviously having fun.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrvCeHCdrI/AAAAAAAAAsg/mWqVLzBfei4/s1600-h/IMGP0393%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0393" border="0" height="259" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrvs4h6z_I/AAAAAAAAAsk/fPbsdqO5g34/IMGP0393_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0393" width="343" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrv0S6LamI/AAAAAAAAAso/EWT57DFPczM/s1600-h/IMGP0391%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0391" border="0" height="259" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKrv4xXQI_I/AAAAAAAAAss/CKFYJulAqX0/IMGP0391_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0391" width="343" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was really a crazy night with crazy friends (especially </span><a href="http://alidabdul.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alid</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">) and crazy dance. Good night, world. Or should I say “good morning”?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How to get to Sunway Pyramid?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=sunway+pyramid&sll=3.080695,101.612549&sspn=0.044739,0.077162&ie=UTF8&radius=3.19&split=1&rq=1&ev=zi&hq=sunway+pyramid&hnear=&ll=3.080695,101.612549&spn=0.044739,0.077162&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&q=sunway+pyramid&sll=3.080695,101.612549&sspn=0.044739,0.077162&ie=UTF8&radius=3.19&split=1&rq=1&ev=zi&hq=sunway+pyramid&hnear=&ll=3.080695,101.612549&spn=0.044739,0.077162" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How to get to Hilton Hotel, Petaling Jaya?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=hilton+hotel+petaling+jaya&sll=3.080695,101.612549&sspn=0.044739,0.077162&ie=UTF8&hq=hilton+hotel+petaling+jaya&hnear=&ll=3.102495,101.641055&spn=0.042595,0.077162&z=14&iwloc=A&cid=478092809657836559&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=hilton+hotel+petaling+jaya&sll=3.080695,101.612549&sspn=0.044739,0.077162&ie=UTF8&hq=hilton+hotel+petaling+jaya&hnear=&ll=3.102495,101.641055&spn=0.042595,0.077162&z=14&iwloc=A&cid=478092809657836559" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small></span><br />
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<!-- nuffnang--></div>Vichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17220018844764301317noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535446307011431809.post-56479530226822261122010-09-26T00:00:00.006+08:002011-11-19T05:21:44.299+08:00Stories From The Curious Mind-Chapter 4(Official blog post for <a href="http://www.myselangorstory.com/" target="_blank">My Selangor Story</a> Blogging Contest)<br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">Hutan Lipur Kanching (Kanching Forest Reserve)</span></strong><br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKmfXaCi8VI/AAAAAAAAAjw/5vC9LZrzW50/s1600-h/IMGP0582%5B28%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0582" border="0" height="198" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKmffH0gooI/AAAAAAAAAj0/PCJuA44EOVQ/IMGP0582_thumb%5B25%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0582" width="706" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After leaving from the always dazzling </span><a href="http://www.rwgenting.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Genting</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Highland, we then headed on to another escapade in Selangor, the Kanching Forest Reserve located between Selayang and Rawang. From our itinerary, it seemed like it was going to be a day for us to “flirt” with the nature. The little explorer inside me could not seem to sit still upon hearing jungle trekking and firefly watching. As excited as I was, I still slept on the nearly 2 hour journey there to recharge myself.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKmfj1jxchI/AAAAAAAAAj4/8nuL83jSxgU/s1600-h/IMGP0584.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0584" border="0" height="355" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKmfnkXf2_I/AAAAAAAAAj8/jwcXmdcn_lQ/IMGP0584_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0584" width="468" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKmfsswZGKI/AAAAAAAAAkA/sOeclaHui1I/s1600-h/IMGP0541%5B6%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0541" border="0" height="348" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKmfxX-TRVI/AAAAAAAAAkE/V6qemfyLfY8/IMGP0541_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0541" width="459" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKmf5lBm9xI/AAAAAAAAAkI/UV1VG7WpEBs/s1600-h/IMGP0545%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0545" border="0" height="339" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKmf-2ngnXI/AAAAAAAAAkM/DUwmUEqq--g/IMGP0545_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0545" width="447" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the moment we stepped on the ground of Kanching, we were already greeted by the monkeys here. Monkeys here seems not to be afraid of human at all. En. Fazli even warned us of monkey snatching tourists’ belongings. Wow, to achieve this level of notoriety means these monkeys have made quite an achievement, haven’t they? Warning aside, I thought they were the most photogenic monkeys I had ever seen.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKmgFdy7oUI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/xB1_POgdQLk/s1600-h/IMGP0557%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0557" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKmgJmHJ1oI/AAAAAAAAAkU/PSFU9f3PYn4/IMGP0557_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0557" width="367" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKmgOPHSJiI/AAAAAAAAAkY/UOb3aIf0OJs/s1600-h/IMGP0549%5B6%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0549" border="0" height="346" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKmgZID0GtI/AAAAAAAAAkc/cSItV8FHTQQ/IMGP0549_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0549" width="456" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rain clouds was slowly forming in the sky. Rain was never a friend for outing. Then, our Papa for the trip, En Fazli announced that we could only climb up to the second waterfall, Lata Terentang. I have the pictures of the three higher waterfalls before. Red wooden bridge rests in the middle of white of the falling water and the green of the leaves. It really looked like a painting. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Putting the mild disappointment aside, I then followed up the hill with my sneakers (not suitable for this). The climb was easy if compared to other hills I usually went. The first waterfall was Lata Bemban. I could almost touched the falling water on the wooden viewpoint.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKmgfirkCVI/AAAAAAAAAkg/PupOgCUdP9k/s1600-h/IMGP0561%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0561" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKmgkM7HjQI/AAAAAAAAAkk/YI36h73k07g/IMGP0561_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0561" width="367" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKmgp1JdKbI/AAAAAAAAAko/Ui_3THZcE58/s1600-h/IMGP0560%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0560" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKmgvADmSzI/AAAAAAAAAks/aZSP5xM7Qto/IMGP0560_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0560" width="639" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKmg0XopZrI/AAAAAAAAAkw/ZG3O9PjvwKk/s1600-h/IMGP0565%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0565" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKmg7dIoVAI/AAAAAAAAAk0/E9gsGwO7pbc/IMGP0565_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0565" width="639" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the we moved further up, the trail became steeper and the water too splashed on the rock harder. The wider space of Lata Terentang makes it a picnic heaven. Amid the background seemingly taken from Chinese pugilistic novels, families, friends and couples have their fun immersing themselves in the cooling water.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKmhAm5XxNI/AAAAAAAAAk4/TwgD_BO0YyY/s1600-h/IMGP0579%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0579" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKmhG2erWDI/AAAAAAAAAk8/WtX1zmFN3Ek/IMGP0579_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0579" width="368" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKmhLyl7qHI/AAAAAAAAAlA/x5d6KUQDPU8/s1600-h/IMGP0581%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0581" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKmhPWUpHQI/AAAAAAAAAlE/YLl1WthxNZk/IMGP0581_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0581" width="368" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKmhThxARmI/AAAAAAAAAlI/EN7owcRe5ms/s1600-h/IMGP0567%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0567" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKmhXUu47GI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/mCBYaTdR-_A/IMGP0567_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0567" width="639" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKmhbFoevQI/AAAAAAAAAlU/GYfMzAiOpIw/s1600-h/IMGP0572%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0572" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKmhgRK7qDI/AAAAAAAAAlY/I2THvtHsAEg/IMGP0572_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0572" width="639" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From here too, I could see the starting point of Lata Bemban. </span><br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKmhkoHH_dI/AAAAAAAAAlc/DCHOTw4N8tQ/s1600-h/IMGP0580%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0580" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKniO7wj3iI/AAAAAAAAAlg/xkf06eikC0Y/IMGP0580_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0580" width="639" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Little naughty explorer inside me prompted me to go further up to see how splendid the view up there was but the call for us to go back spoiled my plan. The shot closest to the next level I had was this.</span><br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnin9Q6zXI/AAAAAAAAAlk/dhCx6_55rr4/s1600-h/IMGP05714.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0571" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKni7w6IRtI/AAAAAAAAAlo/MqM7blisERA/IMGP0571_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0571" width="367" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I like waterfalls for its gorgeousness and for the splashing of water on rocks. With its strength strong enough to wash stones away, it can wash away all the unhappiness and tiredness you carry with you. If you wish to witness the even more awe-inspiring views up there before me, do come to Kanching Waterfall.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After having a quick lunch and watching a monkey fight, we then left for our foster parents in Homestay Sungai Haji Dorani in Sabak Bernam.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mdsb.gov.my/103" target="_blank"><strong>Homestay Sungai Haji Dorani</strong></a><strong>, Sabak Bernam</strong><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As always, I slept on the way again. After looking at all the awesome photos </span><a href="http://fadli.web.id/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fadli</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> had taken, I kind of regretted doing so. Sabak Bernam is situated at the northwest of Selangor for its paddy field and scarecrows. At first glance, the place looked a bit like Kepala Batas, Penang where my old hostel was.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnjUFhc79I/AAAAAAAAAls/kiFBcFcRLnI/s1600-h/IMGP06127.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0612" border="0" height="185" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnjeK9Nn9I/AAAAAAAAAlw/NoVFAZUkrHI/IMGP0612_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0612" width="646" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were first greeted with </span><a href="http://www.musicmall-asia.com/malaysia/instruments/kompang.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">kompang</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and kuda kepang performance presented by the locals. I particularly liked the kuda kepang performance, especially when the </span><a href="http://www.musicmall-asia.com/malaysia/folk/barongan.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">tarian barongan</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> came in. The dance might seem repetitive but I could see how meaningful it is to the locals. It took me quite a while before I could catch up with the beat. </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnj0qjmQiI/AAAAAAAAAl0/zWfPkPQEf0E/s1600-h/IMGP05975.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0597" border="0" height="252" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnj8SoWQ3I/AAAAAAAAAl4/kbGUmeY7lko/IMGP0597_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0597" width="334" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnkUb3cEzI/AAAAAAAAAl8/fpgVOzRLzKk/s1600-h/IMGP06014.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0601" border="0" height="251" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnkcW4lIwI/AAAAAAAAAmA/bVCZyT-U7Pg/IMGP0601_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0601" width="333" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnkpMkxITI/AAAAAAAAAmE/DKJ2Vi65XJg/s1600-h/IMGP06045.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0604" border="0" height="166" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnks6M4q5I/AAAAAAAAAmI/QEQBVjHD0PI/IMGP0604_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0604" width="220" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnlCp3r9MI/AAAAAAAAAmM/QHJkpvIYwb4/s1600-h/IMGP06073.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0607" border="0" height="184" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnlHTBAYAI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/3tdo2nVXXPY/IMGP0607_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0607" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnlaFyVRnI/AAAAAAAAAmU/X6teG-8wVLM/s1600-h/IMGP05994.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0599" border="0" height="157" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnlcMOrM6I/AAAAAAAAAmY/tF8R52WEJ1o/IMGP0599_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0599" width="208" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kuda Kepang was not all that unfamiliar since it had been mentioned in our history textbooks for umpteenth times. </span><a href="http://www.musicmall-asia.com/malaysia/folk/barongan.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tarian Barongan</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> was something I had never heard of before. Barongan who was once man became what he was now because of a spell casted upon him by the fairy whom he teased. The monstrous tiger, Barongan was danced somewhat like the lion dance. The clapping of his mouth was as loud as the roar of tigers. </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnltwOxoCI/AAAAAAAAAmc/BZFUNqPF_p0/s1600-h/IMGP06096.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0609" border="0" height="334" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnl0um5III/AAAAAAAAAmg/H19IOzMbWy8/IMGP0609_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0609" width="444" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnmC-X8EjI/AAAAAAAAAmk/eGrNuAZ3h-4/s1600-h/IMGP06108.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0610" border="0" height="398" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnmL8R6gaI/AAAAAAAAAmo/VbY024BGPhc/IMGP0610_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0610" width="440" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was happy today not only because that I got to experience Kuda Kepang but because that this traditional dance had already found its heirs. Wearing branded sneakers, these kids danced well. I could see how much they loved this traditional art. I was even more sure of this when Pak Cik Tauhid, my foster parent told me that they learn this out of their own initiatives.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pak Cik is a nice guy. He had hosted countless groups since he joined the homestay program. He actually kept on feeding us his kuih raya and syrup. The scenery here was refreshing. I could not see the green of paddy as Pak Cik just ploughed the field but that did not matter. I particularly enjoyed the breeze here. Air was fresher, too.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnmbtLqfPI/AAAAAAAAAms/nOubmnGx8sM/s1600-h/IMGP06176.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0617" border="0" height="351" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnmfzgOBsI/AAAAAAAAAmw/vmQ0ENxID_M/IMGP0617_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0617" width="467" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnmtT_f7YI/AAAAAAAAAm0/ia1ESjoeXhg/s1600-h/IMGP06366.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0636" border="0" height="352" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnm7KQjyTI/AAAAAAAAAm4/eWKNLl-BXgk/IMGP0636_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0636" width="467" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnnQtyCPrI/AAAAAAAAAm8/obC5XGExZH4/s1600-h/IMGP06336.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0633" border="0" height="334" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnnXbsYLiI/AAAAAAAAAnE/TTm7RavpzII/IMGP0633_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0633" width="468" /></a></div>
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnnlvsZhZI/AAAAAAAAAnI/Sg1ErDyl7A8/s1600-h/IMGP06136.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0613" border="0" height="367" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnnsLtrDoI/AAAAAAAAAnM/0eTBdtsRoKY/IMGP0613_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0613" width="488" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could tell that Mak Cik and Nenek have taken care of the house well after looking at the flowers they plant and food they cook.</span><br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnoJ5PrKXI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/vbGU6PIclHw/s1600-h/IMGP06244.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0624" border="0" height="287" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnoQ1QT8qI/AAAAAAAAAnU/OX3pFL8xlDg/IMGP0624_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0624" width="381" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnoe6BDSNI/AAAAAAAAAnY/x21lz1Gj-Zc/s1600-h/IMGP06233.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0623" border="0" height="182" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnoiPq0ZVI/AAAAAAAAAnc/H2K_jT3DAoU/IMGP0623_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0623" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnow2BIWzI/AAAAAAAAAng/lcVOwdKzuCA/s1600-h/IMGP06213.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0621" border="0" height="184" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKno0P_DgfI/AAAAAAAAAnk/APdM7tIq_cg/IMGP0621_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0621" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnpKGYveRI/AAAAAAAAAno/UGEiDS1MaO0/s1600-h/IMGP06204.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0620" border="0" height="290" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnpO0AXf3I/AAAAAAAAAns/Cfw1ENxqBaA/IMGP0620_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0620" width="385" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After an hour of rest in our comfortable guestrooms, we then made our way to the highlight of the day, Firefly Watching!</span><br />
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<strong><br />
</strong><br />
<strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kampung Kuantan Fireflies Park, Kuala Selangor</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<h5>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lights on Wings</span></h5>
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<em><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Little lights seems talking to the sky,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">To laugh at the city light that won't feel shy.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Oh fellow men oh fellow men why?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We chase away lights no money can buy.</span></span></em></h5>
<em>Sincerely yours</em><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">10.39pm Kampong Kuantan Fireflies Park.</span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am sorry but this is going to be post without picture as flashes too bright or whispers too loud could kill the fireflies at anytime. I failed to capture them with camera but I did keep those images in my heart. Now, with a keyboard, I wish to work the wonder of words so that you, too, can see the picture.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even before we reached Kampung Kuantan, we had been repeatedly warned not to use flashlight and not to make noise. I could sense the quiet excitement of everyone at the moment when we put on the life jackets. For a kid growing up in a city, fireflies only appeared in songs. To see them face to face is to witness miracles. Sampan, too, was foreign to me. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Together with </span><a href="http://hananan.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Citra</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://wanderlustheories.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dania</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="http://spectreoutreach.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spectre</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, we skidded through the river. I really loved hearing how oar gently pushed against water. It felt like how mother combing her daughter’s hair. The sky was dark. There was no star in the sky. Only moon light was to be seen. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why, the stars had landed on to the </span><a href="http://mangrove.nus.edu.sg/guidebooks/text/1074.htm" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">berembang</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> trees. Thousands of them were right in front of us. Their lights were so tender. I couldn’t help but to reach out my hand, to touch them, to feel them. One quietly landed on my palm. Oh gosh, it was so small, not much bigger than a rice. Then, another landed on </span><a href="http://spectreoutreach.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spectre</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">’s hand. There were two on his hand, both shining at different rhythm. One slow and steady. Another quick and flickering. “Must be a male and female”, I whispered to the rest.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aren’t they beautiful? Each shines with its own tune. When all of them gathered, it became a symphony of all sorts of rhythms. A unique voice I would call it. If it matches with yours, then it will be yours. We didn’t speak much, worrying that we might disturb them. And time passed by without us knowing.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sampan slowly drifted away from the </span><a href="http://mangrove.nus.edu.sg/guidebooks/text/1074.htm" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">berembang</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and moved towards the shore. This little “flying lantern” still lingered on my palm. I would very much wish to bring it home but I chose not to. I whispered to it, “Go home, where no lights are shone.” And it flew. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So long, fireflies.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The journey ended with a documentary screening session in the TNB sponsored auditorium. Even for a not-so-big-fan for documentary would sit down quietly and learn more about these tiny bugs with such bright yet frail light. I might have not captured you with camera but who cares? You are already in my heart, the best photo album I have.</span></div>
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<strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Surprise! Satay Hut, Tanjung Karang</span></strong><br />
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<a href="http://www.tourismselangor.org/" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnpXfF6lOI/AAAAAAAAAnw/dZDeB-WDWzg/s1600-h/IMG_2887%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2887" border="0" height="402" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnpcrNxNxI/AAAAAAAAAn0/VwBrrI9seG4/IMG_2887_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2887" width="644" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.tourismselangor.org/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tourism Selangor</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> was really full of surprise and so we were brought to Tanjung Karang for the Satay Hut. It was claimed to taste even better than Satay Kajang. I could not tell whether the claim was true as I had not yet tasted any Kajang satay yet. One thing I was sure, however, was that Satay Hut was probably the best satay I had ever tried. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was cooked evenly. The inner part was chewy while the outer part was crispy. The paste was mouth-watering, too. </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnpoEqCMGI/AAAAAAAAAn4/aGEjIykj5eg/s1600-h/IMG_2905%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2905" border="0" height="366" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnpwtdQ1SI/AAAAAAAAAn8/Fl_gVpLxSa8/IMG_2905_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2905" width="646" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnp_LRViCI/AAAAAAAAAoA/3ChAZcgWTIo/s1600-h/IMG_2904%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2904" border="0" height="366" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnqHeQI08I/AAAAAAAAAoE/ggbuJiAeETE/IMG_2904_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2904" width="646" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnqSDjc6HI/AAAAAAAAAoI/fqTEKb96dGk/s1600-h/IMG_2902%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2902" border="0" height="469" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnqX2srpBI/AAAAAAAAAoM/OQeHpK16SCc/IMG_2902_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2902" width="644" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnqmcJkVlI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/sf8O0DWmmbg/s1600-h/IMG_2901%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2901" border="0" height="466" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnqtJ1BmRI/AAAAAAAAAoU/rwioJaRt6tI/IMG_2901_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2901" width="644" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnq31AmvRI/AAAAAAAAAoY/g7MLWOahNjA/s1600-h/IMG_2893%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2893" border="0" height="366" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnrAPb8nVI/AAAAAAAAAoc/FHtGuIILfT8/IMG_2893_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2893" width="646" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnrIJTRXyI/AAAAAAAAAog/y5d6Msd2ASM/s1600-h/IMG_2900%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2900" border="0" height="486" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnrNXKaA2I/AAAAAAAAAok/bfQTXkWgbng/IMG_2900_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2900" width="645" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnrjUUXlYI/AAAAAAAAAoo/-eeSQ0_zhJs/s1600-h/IMG_2896%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2896" border="0" height="461" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKnrq_BH0rI/AAAAAAAAAos/Cimdlg5x5oA/IMG_2896_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_2896" width="646" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh no, I am really spoilt with all the yummy food! Next time, whenever my friends want to “belanja”me satay, I wouldn’t take unless it is nice than Satay Hut. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so, I ended my day 3 with a stomach full of Satay Hut. Fully packed with energy coming from satay, tomorrow will surely be a nicer day.</span><br />
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<!-- nuffnang--></div>Vichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17220018844764301317noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535446307011431809.post-68675962690003957642010-09-25T21:24:00.000+08:002011-11-19T05:21:25.645+08:00Stories From The Curious Mind-Chapter 3<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Official blog post for </span><a href="http://www.myselangorstory.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Selangor Story</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Blogging Contest)</span><br />
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<strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Dazzling Genting Highland</span></strong><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Right after our </span><a href="http://thinktogather.blogspot.com/2010/09/story-from-curious-mind-chapter-2.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Royal Selangor</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> visit, we headed on to the </span><a href="http://www.rwgenting.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Genting</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Highland. The last time I went to Genting, the City of Entertainment was that when I was still a primary school student. I was extremely delighted when I knew that Genting was included in our itinerary although part of it sat in the reign of Pahang. A chance for me to relive my childhood memory I would call it.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our journey in Genting started off with a welcoming feast from Genting. Our name could be seen everywhere. To add to the glory of our journey, the EXCO for Tourism, Consumer Affairs & Environment, Y.B. Elizabeth Wong actually joined us for lunch. Of course, not to forget Tabby and Allie who had followed us all way long. Together with Dato’ Anthony Yeo, the senior vice president of Genting Malaysia, YB Elizabeth Wong presented all 30 My Selangor Storytellers the Genting goodie bag which weighed at least 3 kg! </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKeHJV6qx3I/AAAAAAAAAeU/87_drwY15Oo/s1600-h/IMGP0301%5B13%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0301" border="0" height="219" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKeHMp-RcHI/AAAAAAAAAeY/BWBOVYvWJ0o/IMGP0301_thumb%5B10%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0301" width="291" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It seemed to be true that Malaysians truly are food lovers. I was overwhelmed with the VVIP class hospitality from Genting. Having an opportunity to dine with the top management of Genting is truly once in a lifetime one. We really had a nice chat about blogging experience and service industry with the room division manager, Mr. Simon. </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKeHeNdfSrI/AAAAAAAAAek/DHQWEXAS_eY/s1600-h/IMGP0310%5B8%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0310" border="0" height="248" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKeHmrNKYkI/AAAAAAAAAeo/M2e8kA0snp4/IMGP0310_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0310" width="330" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not only did I enjoy the chat, the food served at the </span><a href="http://www.rwgenting.com/en/fb/buffet/cterrace/index.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coffee Terrace</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> was mouth watering, too. As much as I wish to share with you, I could only show you the pictures I took.</span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKeHtslBTCI/AAAAAAAAAes/mDYc3_EgPLU/s1600-h/IMGP0313%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0313" border="0" height="184" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKeH21O8vXI/AAAAAAAAAew/BIzJ-0n4KIA/IMGP0313_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0313" width="277" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKeH-CNnIII/AAAAAAAAAe0/MBj_tEtb708/s1600-h/IMGP0312%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0312" border="0" height="184" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKeIDKN3BhI/AAAAAAAAAe4/qYwipGQSuzI/IMGP0312_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0312" width="244" /></a> <br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKeIIZX2RVI/AAAAAAAAAe8/yc-jPT9klsA/s1600-h/IMGP0309%5B7%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0309" border="0" height="182" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKeIKpJExPI/AAAAAAAAAfA/SilixtHht-Q/IMGP0309_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0309" width="266" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKeIPvtpjTI/AAAAAAAAAfE/kRcoJqky-9M/s1600-h/IMGP0308%5B2%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0308" border="0" height="184" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKeITRC32AI/AAAAAAAAAfI/j3tlgXvG8t0/IMGP0308_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0308" width="244" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKeIZoz_vEI/AAAAAAAAAfM/WBvNcT9gF_s/s1600-h/IMGP0326%5B19%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0326" border="0" height="285" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKeIdUXZjrI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/VYXljnvEKe8/IMGP0326_thumb%5B17%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0326" width="422" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With our fully satisfied stomach, we then checked into our room. Thanks to the generosity of Genting, each of us was given a double room at the First World Hotel! This more than comfortable room then became the best place for me to recover from flu and to prepare for the </span><a href="http://www.rwgenting.com/en/entertainment/2009/dazzle/main.htm" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dazzle Show</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> tonight.</span></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKeIju-_vHI/AAAAAAAAAfU/E33ZXfFXymQ/s1600-h/IMGP0333%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0333" border="0" height="186" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKeImVQjD8I/AAAAAAAAAfY/YONqOJfvHDI/IMGP0333_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0333" width="246" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKeItvNR7hI/AAAAAAAAAfc/EzsjA0ugEUA/s1600-h/IMGP0336%5B2%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0336" border="0" height="184" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKeIznbAnSI/AAAAAAAAAfg/D1g1TZGA2dQ/IMGP0336_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0336" width="244" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After squandering at McDonald for its free Wi-Fi for about an hour, </span><a href="http://kemalife.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kemal</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and I then went to the Pavilion for the Dazzle Show. From the outside, the Pavilion looked more like a game arcade. The moment I stepped in, however, the dark purplish blue lighting gave it a mysterious atmosphere. It felt as if magicians might appear out of nowhere at any moment.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fellow My Selangor Storytellers were given an extraordinary privilege made possible by Genting. We were seated at the very first row, right in front of the stage. And the best thins was that we were allowed to take pictures throughout the show albeit no flash was allowed. I was kind of proud upon listening the warning “Pictures and Videos Not Allowed.” It was that kind of feeling that you feel when you could get away with playing truant while others get stuck in class studying. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once the warning message ceased, the mind boggling part of the night began. It first started off with the French mime, the Statue of Jerome Murat. The man behind it, Charles Gluck was indeed amazing. Whenever I thought that I had figured his tricks, he surprised me with a new one from a totally different angle. Not only that the trick was top notched, the plot blew my mind away, too. To exaggerate a little, the plot was somewhat comparable to that of the Inception. A white statue was made alive. A head was extended from the chest. At certain moments, I could not even differentiate which one the real head was.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the mime, I was then brought a man who will never run out of umbrella, Ernesto Planas from Cuba. An amazing hand he has. From four small umbrellas, he could make an huge canopy out of nowhere. He threw one umbrella after another. Amid the heavy rain, the first guy you want to see is of course him. He was not only good with umbrella, of course. Watching how he taught our fellow blogger, </span><a href="http://spectreoutreach.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spectre Phang</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> to appear and disappear shoes was truly entertaining. </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKeJHvlcI4I/AAAAAAAAAf8/rt91gjcqtMw/s1600-h/ErnestoPlanas%5B5%5D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="ErnestoPlanas" border="0" height="455" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKeJJcg5H7I/AAAAAAAAAgA/0tA2jMLE3as/ErnestoPlanas_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="ErnestoPlanas" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The dance performance from the 14 Dancers was similarly entertaining. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The show which I liked the most was the Hand Shadow from Sonny Fontana. With his hands, hair and other small tools, he was able to project shadow of any kind on screen. Adjusting the distance of his hands from the projector, he could enlarge and minimize shadows at ease. One scene I remembered the most was the huge eagle which flew around the Pavilion. It was truly amazing!</span></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKeJsJPhEGI/AAAAAAAAAgs/fiynwqrIFYk/s1600-h/variety-live-sonny-fontana-570%5B2%5D.jpg"><img alt="variety-live-sonny-fontana-570" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKeJtUYO3ZI/AAAAAAAAAgw/2QD7RPiPb5U/variety-live-sonny-fontana-570_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="variety-live-sonny-fontana-570" width="212" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the show, we even got the chance to chat with Charles Gluck (the person behind the Statue of Jerome Murat) at the exit. Exactly opposite to the Statue of Jerome, he was very humorous and affable. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One thought did bother me after the Dazzle Show, though. I had missed the Outdoor Theme Park earlier. To recover the loss, I then headed on to the Indoor Theme Park with another blogger, Kemal. I supposed this was the path less trodden among the tourists at Genting. Since it was already past midnight, there were many parts which we could not get to try out. One of them was Snow Park. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the end, we then toured around the indoor theme park on boat with this handsome gondolier, a man of few words. The theme park was designed like a mini world. We could see replica of landmarks from all over the world everywhere here. </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKeKFNLF7uI/AAAAAAAAAhM/o5HsA25lqVY/s1600-h/IMGP0432%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0432" border="0" height="278" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKeKHkdPUTI/AAAAAAAAAhU/COt4kEPNgmI/IMGP0432_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0432" width="209" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKeKPe_AVxI/AAAAAAAAAhY/Yfs9NPD_gDE/s1600-h/IMGP0463%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="IMGP0463" border="0" height="277" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKeKY1LqwYI/AAAAAAAAAhc/6bJkAnicOWA/IMGP0463_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMGP0463" width="368" /></a> </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We also experienced the 4D Cinema. The </span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Haunted House</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> on screen was of a weird plot but the effect was awesome. It felt real. We went up and down the roof as if we were cats. There was one moment when I mistook the show as reality. It was really confusing. Do try it out when you come.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My story in Genting quickly approached its end on the next morning. After having a pleasant albeit adventurous breakfast at the World Club Lounge, we visited the Chin Swee Caves Temple on our way down the hill. The tour lasted for only about half an hour. The view up there was breathtaking. I was totally at peace in the Chin Swee Temple.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fvictorleezhiyu%2Falbumid%2F5523619549632262337%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="533" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="720"></embed></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again, it was already time to leave. I shall always miss the moment I had with you, Genting. Thank you for your top hospitality. I really felt at home.</span></div>
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Before that, a small piece of information sharing.</div>
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How to get to Genting Highland?</div>
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<!-- nuffnang--></div>Vichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17220018844764301317noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535446307011431809.post-84137821969993594722010-09-24T22:55:00.471+08:002011-11-19T05:21:07.530+08:00Story From The Curious Mind-Chapter 2<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Official </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">blog post for </span><a href="http://www.myselangorstory.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Selangor Story</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Blogging Contest)</span></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Royal Selangor Visitor Center</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sun rose and so the second day of My Selangor Story ensued. From the Carlton Hotel, we set off to the </span><a href="http://visitorcentre.royalselangor.com/vc/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Royal Selangor</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Visitor Center at Setapak Jaya. Our patient tour guide from Royal Selangor explained to us how Royal Selangor got the "Royal" title from the Sultan of Selangor. What attracted my eyes the most was not the gigantic mold replica at the entrance but this long wall of hand prints of Royal Selangor craftsmen of more than 5 years of experience (most of them have over 20 years of experience)</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Wall of Fame for experienced Royal Selangor craftsmen.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are the delicate fingers which brought us thousands of pewter pieces for the past few years. Decades of practice have bestowed their hands the magical power which virtually allows them to build everything from a mini Digi Yellow Man to the largest pewter tankard in the world.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Digi Yellow Man sculpture made from pewter.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKVwrZ0xi6I/AAAAAAAAAa8/SI7_jgBKJlI/s1600/IMGP0294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="483" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKVwrZ0xi6I/AAAAAAAAAa8/SI7_jgBKJlI/s640/IMGP0294.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Fellow My Selangor Storytellers with the largest pewter tankard.</span> </span></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could not help but to wonder how these pieces are made and there, our tour guide of the day brought us on for the Factory Tour. I was even more amazed with the patience of these loyal craftsmen after having a closer look at how these pewter pieces come by. These workers who have been with </span><a href="http://visitorcentre.royalselangor.com/vc/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Royal Selangor</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> for over 30 years seemingly treated their tedious routine like a holy ritual. An eye for details and a great deal of patience they have. Even in front of cameras, I could hardly see them leaving their works aside. I think they were well aware of how much every single detail matters. One small mistake is all it takes to wash their blood, sweat and tears down the drain.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Royal Selangor Craftsmen At Work.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zaraaluwi.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Kak Zara</span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> trying out pewterware making.</span></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The School of Hard Knocks at Royal Selangor Visitor Center.</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As how other factory tours end with hands-on workshop, mine at Royal Selangor ended with the School of Hard Knocks, where I had mastered the Magic of Pewter Knocking 101. Our instructor of the day exuded an aura similar to that of the craftsmen we saw just now. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The instructor of the School of Hard Knocks</span></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How about the 30 bloggers then? </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We also exhibited the same magnitude of professionalism: cam-whoring all the way.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="307" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKXDCdvr8xI/AAAAAAAAAbs/5UvmlOn0uGo/s400/IMGP0251.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Yours Sincerely is now enrolled at the School of Hard Knocks.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Supplied with a piece of pewter sheet, a wooden hammer, type blocks and a mold, we were to build our own pewter bowl. A pewter bowl with our initials at the bottom. Very cool, indeed!</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKW7Y39As4I/AAAAAAAAAbk/3zyA7ppgK9c/s1600/IMGP0246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKW7Y39As4I/AAAAAAAAAbk/3zyA7ppgK9c/s400/IMGP0246.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Type Blocks.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hammer and mold.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the count of our instructor, then the annoyingly messy music started. Random knocks came together into a mess. It was not until our instructor of the day came to everyone to show the correct rhythm, then only things were better. Knock! Knock! Knock! All bloggers knocked hard on their pewter sheets. At the moment, My Selangor Storytellers have turned the School of Hard Knocks into the School of Hard Rock. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/728mJd-9yTsFBDFLhp7Ckw?feat=embedwebsite" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img height="533" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKYYbeJE4UI/AAAAAAAAAcg/OT2kAaclmSs/s640/IMGP0255.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Fellow My Selangor Storytellers working on their first pewter bowls.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As time passed by, my pewter bowl had slowly taken its shape. At its completion, I felt something that I had not felt for a very long time: satisfaction at building something, at giving life to something. I bet that was exactly how those Royal Selangor craftsmen feel in making pewter ware. It is this feeling that keeps them in this field. There was one thing I saw which worried me, though. Not many young people work in Royal Selangor. If that really is the case, the future of this trade is really worrying me.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My name carved on the pewter sheet.</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enough about my worries. There is this very interesting story about the Royal Selangor pot that I want to share. It is a story shared by </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Datin Paduka Chen Mun Kuen, the captain spearheading the family business passed down by her grandfather. On the war ridden land of Malaya during the WWII, Ah Ham followed all the others into abandoned warehouse to scout for food. However, he came out with a melon shaped pot instead. When he was picking up this very pot from the ground, a piece of shrapnel just whizzed through where his head should be. It was just a whisker, indeed. Therefore, it is no surprise that Ah Ham values this pot as his lucky pot. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So how did this pot end up in the Royal Selangor Museum? A guest recognized the Royal Selangor's mark at its bottom and brought it to the pewter maker. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9UkxoY1fVpmDDCWrDRzBnA?feat=embedwebsite" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img height="588" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TKYZovhfGKI/AAAAAAAAAcw/KbWZ1-kIj1g/s640/IMGP0275.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Datin Paduka Chen Mun Kuen sharing her story about the Melon Pot</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, it seems like Royal Selangor's pewter wares are auspicious. It should be a good idea for you to come down to Setapak Jaya and pay Royal Selangor Visitor Center a visit.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where is the Royal Selangor Visitor Center?</span></div>
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<!-- nuffnang--></div>Vichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17220018844764301317noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535446307011431809.post-46544813707324276072010-09-23T19:37:00.004+08:002011-11-19T05:20:40.692+08:00Story From The Curious Mind-Chapter 1<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Official blog post for My Selangor Story Blogging Contest)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shah Alam: The Capital</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dragging my cumbersome luggage all the way from Shah Alam to Sunway Skypark, I have embarked on My Selangor Story journey. There was no red carpet as much as I wished but the reception by the </span><a href="http://www.fireflyz.com.my/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Firefly</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> crews and the Kopitiam was really overwhelming. The curry puffs and hot tea had readily answered my-already-protesting-stomach. The “chit-chatting” session with few other bloggers was quite nice too though I did not talk much.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since almost everyone was holding his or her own camera (except for me), it seems only natural for us to have some “cam-whore” sessions. The strikingly bright orange of our Firefly-sponsored jerseys really stood out in the classy brown of the Kopitiam which hosted us. The affable and funny official photographer of Firefly was an addition to the overall liveliness of our first meeting. He was hopping here and there, making sure that we stretched our mouth as wide as we could. The Firefly crews who brought our fellow foreign bloggers all the way from Penang, Singapore and Indonesia were also there posing with us. However, time flew. We then had to make our way to the Shah Alam.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, you did not hear me wrong. It was Shah Alam, the place where I studied. Having been in Shah Alam for nearly one and half year, I could guess the destination we were heading right away. It was the i-City, the IT hub of Shah Alam located in Section 7. We started off with a brief overview of </span><a href="http://i-city.my/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">i-City</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> development project learning how they are to build the soon-to-be hub for IT startups and knowledge economy.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One thing that caught my eyes was of course, the light tourism. Starting off as a supplementary project, the City of Digital Light has unexpectedly attracted increasingly huge number of tourists. For those of you who have been there, if you think that the static light show was just so-so, perhaps its next phase, rhythmic light show and interactive light show would change your mind. Try to imagine 3D dolphins which will move following your fingertip. You would definitely not want to miss this part of Selangor which never sleeps, the city that is always on.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Come join me moving into the fairytale built with dazzling lights which dim the moon and stars. What welcomed us at the entrance were the auspicious swans and salamander which, according to Chinese beliefs, bring wealth and happiness. Not only that, how can we miss out peacocks with their dazzling tail, these deer talking to the stars?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were also countless little Christmas trees over here. Hide-and-seek, anyone?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, I guess you guys must be thirsty now, care having some juicy mangoes from i-City? </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In i-City, everything looks and works like wonders. Look, I have even gotten myself a moon on my face.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Moving in further, we can then see rows and rows of pine trees shining in a mesh of yellow, red, green, blue and white. Didn’t we all color tress this way when we were young?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The place I have showed you so far is the permanent setting. On the other side, there are light scenes of different seasonal themes, such as the EID, Christmas, Deepavali and Mid-Autumn. Let me work some magic and let it snow. Da da! Here we are in the Snow City.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One thing I must say is that i-City is really the place for couples. Isn’t talking heart-to-heart in front of this light scene romantic? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Isn’t this pair of couples in Snow City sweet?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, it is also the place to be with families and friends.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did I forget to tell you about my dinner? It was steamboat sponsored by Tasty Pot Restaurant. And guess where our dining space is? It was in the middle of the digital light park under the stars. The food was awesome and the service was good. Do remember to drop by here when you come over to i-City.</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jom P Uptown!</span></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our trip did not end in i-City. Instead, we headed to the best place to hang out at night in Shah Alam, the </span><a href="http://www.uptownshahalam.com.my/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Uptown</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> at Section 24. Jom p Uptown! (Let’s go to Uptown) Uptown is the most popular night market in Shah Alam which operates every night. There are more than 400 stores here. Everything that should be and shouldn’t be in a pasar malam can be found here, literally “macam-macam ada”. To name just a few, there are combat accessories, watched, clothes, traditional food, foreign currency, property agent, magic store and saloon and so on. There is also a PS2 rental shop here for parents to drop their children. There is also a stage in front of the Jass Café here for people to sing their hearts out. The ambassador of the Uptown, Irwan Shah also performs here. His singing is definitely as entertaining as that of other famous singers. If you are a song lover, do come over to the Uptown.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here in the Uptown, too, I had witnessed the spirit of entrepreneurship of the people here. The founder of Mr. Jackee who was only a factory worker has now owned a Toyota Estima after setting up his business in the Uptown. I had also seen how our tour guides interact with the tenants. I am sure that every tenant here has his or her own inspiring stories to tell here. Of course, time given was not enough for me to further observe the life of the people here. When you come over the Uptown next time, please do chat with the tenants here. Everyone here has a story to tell.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My first night in My Selangor Story ended with good news. </span><a href="http://www.p1.com.my/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">P1</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> has sponsored every blogger free wi-fi, the Wiggy! Hooray, now I can be Facebooking and Tweeting all the way in Selangor!</span></div>
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">If there is anything you would like to know deeper, I would love to research, analyze and
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<!-- nuffnang--></div>Vichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17220018844764301317noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535446307011431809.post-88966624016388416682010-09-13T23:24:00.024+08:002011-11-19T05:20:22.493+08:00Another Story From The Curious Mind(Official entry to My Selangor Story Blogging Contest)<br />
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There is this one story I wish to share. It is about the sense of belonging to a place. During a “teh tarik” session, my friend was saying how upset his parents were finding out that their place falls under the reign of Selangor instead of Kuala Lumpur. This reminded me of the fact that Kuala Lumpur is more recognized by the foreigners than the state of Selangor. However, I know that it does not have to be this way. Why, Selangor surely has a lot more to offer that what people thought. A simple Google search can show you that. Sunway Lagoon, Sepang Circuit, the Blue Mosque, Bukit Cahaya Sri Alam Agricultural Park, Shah Alam Extreme Park and so on.<br />
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Being a teenager from Johor Bahru, I have no lack of entertainment. So, disappointment crept in when I was sent to Shah Alam to study. The non-existence of cinemas along was all it took to put me off. However as time passed by, I realized that I might have been wrong all this while. By chance, I had discovered the breathtaking beauty of Section 5, Shah Alam when I jogged with my friends.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TI8hAeW_71I/AAAAAAAAASI/hh3Zbyz4j4A/s1600/Section+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JuULx65Dskc/TI8hAeW_71I/AAAAAAAAASI/hh3Zbyz4j4A/s320/Section+5.jpg" /></a></div>
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Here is the Transformer-themed administrative building in Section 5, Shah Alam.<br />
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<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F109244095840391585619%2Falbumid%2F5514247544409569185%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"></embed><br />
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And this the view of Taman Kelahiran Shah Alam.<br />
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<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F109244095840391585619%2Falbumid%2F5514252748288527729%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"></embed><br />
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Then, I started to harbor a thought: starting a photo-blog project to showcase the beauty of Shah Alam. (http://www.my-orangers.com/ ) As the ORangers Project grew, I have become even more certain that Shah Alam might be the hidden gem of Malaysian tourism. As ambitious as it may sound, I decided to expand the project to the other parts of Selangor and then, the long-awaited opportunity knocked on the door: My Selangor Story Blogging Contest spearheaded by the Selangor Tourism Board.<br />
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So, why should you vote for me? It is not my nature to appear self-promoting but I am really eager to take this challenge. I am really passionate in promoting local tourism and my project website www.my-orangers.com shows it all. I even plan to channel the cash prize (if you are willing to vote for me, that is) back to the project to further promoting Shah Alam and Selangor local tourism. Even more, I love observing and living the cultural diversity unique to Malaysia and of course, Selangor. I especially enjoy chatting with the Mah Meri (one of the 18 tribes of Orang Asli in Malaysia) on Carey Island. I loved having “mamak” session with my friends from so many different origins (Malays, Baba Nyonya, Bidayuh, Melanau, Indians etc.) If you have noticed, I said something similar when I was interviewed by the Astro View for its August issue.<br />
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Next, I am proficient in three languages (Chinese, English and Malay, in alphabetical order) and photo-editing skills. I am also a frequent denizen of the whole social networking empire (Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, Google Buzz etc.) and also other handy online tools like Google Earth, Picasa, and Facebook Developers etc. Developing a Facebook application promoting Selangor tourism? Building an online forum for Selangor people? Not a problem. In the age of Social Networking, that is the way to capture people.<br />
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So, if you like to see Selangor in all its glory, please vote for me. A simple click on the My Selangor Story banner below is all it takes. After clicking the banner, you will be brought to My Selangor Story Contest entries. There, please look for the entry titled Another Story From The Curious Mind with my picture on the left and then click on the stars to vote. Many thanks in advance.<br />
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<!-- nuffnang--></div>Vichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17220018844764301317noreply@blogger.com4