Merdeka Eve Night and Merdeka Day

Yesterday’s night we see countdown events being held everywhere, especially in the Golden Triangle area of KL, capital city of Malaysia. No official fireworks displays are held around KL, only some private sectors had, No official celebration was held at KLCC and Dataran Merdeka, but there are still crowds there despite no fireworks.

Very quiet. Only little noise of fireworks can be heard from my house. Usually, noise of big bang can be heard on 12am yesterday, but not at all. No celebration atmosphere, just like usual day.

This year’s National Parade is held at National Parliament. Only 1600 spectators are allowed to enter into the area to watch the parade and the parade is shortened to only around 45 minutes to prevent transmission of H1N1.

The National Parade:

(People seen lining up along the road to National Parliament to watch the show)

(Helicopters seen flying, background is the Meridian Hotel)

(The line-up of the VIPs, the King, Queen, Prime Minister, etc)

(The march, background is the National Parliament Building)

I did not watch the parade, because I find it boring, and I don’t have the mood to wake up so early just to watch it, rather go jogging with my dad.

Anyway, Happy Merdeka! (Pictures are from The Star Online)

Happy Independence Day!

31st of August 2009, marks the 52nd independence day of Malaysia, my country! The last day of August, will be a public holiday for Malaysians.

Happy Merdeka to the One (and only) Malaysia!

A great dinner at Jogoya yesterday…

Few days ago, my sister planned to bring me and my dad to have a great buffet as dinner at the famous Jogoya Restaurant in Starhill Gallery, KL. The price is really expensive; almost RM 90 per person.

Honestly, this is the first time I’m entering Starhill. KL people like me don’t used to get into KL frequently because of traffic jams. Yes, yesterday night, same thing happened, TRAFFIC JAM, all along the roads near Pavillion.

(Inside the Starhill, cool design)

Anyway, it gave me some time to have a nice night view of KL skyline. Looking up high and viewing the newly-built Pavillion Towers is my interest. Many foreigners are seen walking around, in the crowd, in the busiest area of KL, Bukit Bintang area, or so called, The Golden Triangle of KL.

Okay, time for a great dinner (actually a supper) in Jogoya, a Japanese restaurant. This is a very huge restaurant, you might get lost in the restaurants. Many food are available, mainly seafood. Dim sum, sushi, soups, dessert, puddings, jelly, fruits, chocolates, cakes, cookies, breads, drinks, alcoholic drinks, etc are all there.

(The signboard, cool)

(In the restaurant, can accomodate a lot of people at a time because it is huge)

(A poster found promoting the restaurant)

(The food are delicious, very fresh seafood are served here)

From 10.00pm to 12.00am (two hours time), we tried to eat as much as possible. Finally, we are all full, too full. The interior designs of the restaurant are cool. Really love the feeling of having a delicious dinner in the restaurant. The services from the staff is excellent too, they will introduce you to the restaurant at the beginning if you are new here.

One Malaysia…

The title is simple, but it tells all…

My university (Limkokwing University of Creative Technology) had produced a song entitled ‘One Malaysia’ (same title with the motto of the year by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Najib Razak). This song is one of the six songs selected by the government in celebration of 52nd years of independence.

The song is nice, lyrics are simple, meanings are obvious…

This is a video of the song, from YouTube:

The lyrics in Malay version:

Dunia kan berubah

Perubahan melingkari

Melaksana, hasrat hati

Kejayaan terbukti

 

Dunia, yang megah,

Dengan misi, yang gagah,

Kerana, perpaduan,

Kita masih bersama.

 

Kita, satu bangsa, kita, satu Negara,

Kita satu matlamat, huh

Kita satu bangsa, satu Negara,

Kita, Satu Malaysia

 

Ooh..bermulanya

Sekarang

Perjalanan dilaksana

Seia, sekata, sehati, dan sejiwa

 

Membina, masa hadapan

Menuju kejayaan

Kita semua

Rakyat Malaysia

Harungi, saling menghormati

 

Kita, satu bangsa, kita, satu Negara,

Kita satu matlamat, huh

Kita satu bangsa, satu Negara,

Kita, Satu Malaysia

 

Kita, satu bangsa, kita, satu Negara,

Kita satu matlamat, huh

Kita satu bangsa, satu Negara,

Kita, Satu Malaysia.

————————————————————————-

The lyrics below are in English version, which I translated from the Malay version and is edited to suit the melody of the song:

The mighty world, is changing,

The changes, encircle all,

To achieve, the wish of heart,

So as to approve the success.

 

The mighty world, that is proud,

With mission, that is brave,

Because of, the unity,

We are still together.

 

We are, of one great nation, we are, of one country,

We are, of one great vision, huh

We are, of one nation, of one country,

We are, One Malaysia

 

Ooh..it begins by now

By now

To accomplish, the long journey,

With an aim, a word, a heart, and a soul

 

Building to, the bright future

Getting to the success

We are all

Citizen of Malaysia

Facing while, always respecting

 

We are, of one great nation, we are, of one country,

We are, of one great vision, huh

We are, of one nation, of one country,

We are, One Malaysia

 

We are, of one great nation, we are, of one country,

We are, of one great vision, huh

We are, of one nation, of one country,

We are, One Malaysia

—————————————————————————-

What do you think of this song? National Day is just around the corner..countdown???…3 days more…

 

It’s Chinese Valentine Day…

This morning when I’m going to campus, I just found out that today is the 7th day of the 7th month in Chinese lunar calendar after listening to the radio, meaning that today is the Chinese Valentine Day (七夕節, Qixi Festival)

Thinking of this day, it reminds me of a Chinese legendary story, do you know the story? It’s like this:

In late summer, the stars Altair and Vega are high in the night sky, and the Chinese tell the following love story, of which there are many variations:

A young cowherd named Niulang (Chinese: 牛郎; pinyin: niú láng; literally “[the] cowherd”), came across seven fairy sisters bathing in a lake. Encouraged by his mischievous companion the ox, he stole their clothes and waited to see what would happen. The fairy sisters elected the youngest and most beautiful sister Zhinü (simplified Chinese: 织女; traditional Chinese: 織女; pinyin: zhī nǚ; literally “[the] weaver girl”, who represents the star Vega) to retrieve their clothing. She agreed to do so, but since Niulang had seen her naked, she agreed to his request for marriage. She proved to be a wonderful wife, and Niulang to be a good husband. They lived happily and had two children. But the Goddess of Heaven (in some versions Zhinü’s mother) found out that Zhinü, a fairy girl, had married a mere mortal human. She was furious and ordered Zhinü to return to Heaven. (In another version, the Goddess forced the fairy back to her former duty of weaving colorful clouds in the sky because she could not do her job while married to Niulang, a mortal.) Down on Earth, Niulang was very upset that his wife had gone. Suddenly, his ox began to talk, telling him that if he killed it and put on its hide, he would be able to go up to Heaven to find his wife. Crying bitterly, he killed the ox, put on the skin. Carrying his two children with him, he went off to Heaven to find Zhinü. The Goddess found out that he had come and was very angry. Taking out her hairpin, the Goddess scratched a wide river in the sky to separate the two lovers forever (thus forming the Milky Way, which separates Altair and Vega).

Zhinü must sit forever on one side of the river, sadly weaving on her loom, while Niulang watches her from afar and takes care of their two children (his flanking stars β and γ Aquilae or by their Chinese names Hè Gu 1 and Hè Gu 3).

But once a year all the magpies in the world would take pity on them and fly up into heaven to form a bridge (鵲橋, “the bridge of magpies”, Que Qiao) over the star Deneb in the Cygnus constellation so the lovers may be together for a single night, which is the seventh night of the seventh moon.

It is said that if it rains on the night of Qi Xi, it is the tears of Niulang and Zhinü crying at the misery of their life because the magpies will not come on a night that rains.

   

  

There is a TVB series on this story, I forgot the name, Sonija Kwok starred as the Zhinu, the cloud-weaving girl. It is a wonderful story, but no one knows whether it is true or not. Whether it is true or false, I still love this story.

It does not mean that I’m outdated, just stating this for all to remember our Chinese culture.

15Malaysia

Recently discovered the 15Malaysia programme. Do you know what is it?

15Malaysia is a short film project. It consists of 15 short films made by 15 Malaysian filmmakers. These films not only deal with socio-political issues in Malaysia, they also feature some of the best-known faces in the country, including actors, musicians and top political leaders. You may think of them as funky little films made by 15 Malaysian voices for the people of Malaysia.

As of current, five videos have been released out of the fifteen, each videos will be released every two days from 17th August 2009 to 16th September 2009, the Patriotic Month. Released videos are Potong Saga, Chocolate, The Tree, House. and Halal. I find that Potong Saga is hilarious, with the three uncles’ expressions to Namewee (I bet u know who he is if you are Malaysian). Chocolate…eeh…this short film does not relate to chocolate at all, but quite a simple nice film by the late Yasmin Ahmad. The Tree is very boring, talking, talking, and talking. House is very meaningful, really sad to watch this. Halal is kinda nonsense, showing something in hilarious way.

Doesn’t know what I am writing? Go check out the videos at http://15malaysia.com/films/. As simple as that.

This is now my 200th post…

Wow…not even a year, my blog has not even celebrated its first year anniversary, and my blog now has 200 posts. It’s 200, no joke. This post is the 200th one, quite a historical and memorable one. Next month, end of September will be the first anniversary.

Not to boast my blog, but my blog has a daily views of over 300. More than 300 people are viewing my blog per day, all around the world. Some are searching for architecture posts, some are for current events, some are for wonders of the world, etc. This is the current achievement. Just check on the right hand side of the page, see the blog stats? It’s over 74 000, and keeps on increasing day by day.

(Sorry, no real fireworks to celebrate this, can’t afford….haha)

Happy to have this blog around, always updated (despite my busy schedule in my study), for all to read and enjoy from all around the world!

First and second weeks gone…here comes the third week

First and the second weeks of my semester are already considered hectic for me, not only for me, but for all the students. Assignments’ handouts are given so early and we are given big tasks to complete all; building models, creating presentation boards, writing reports, answering tutorial papers, drawing perspectives, etc.

On last weekend (means yesterday and previous Saturday), I used fully my whole weekend on Design assignment which is 80cube that I have explained earlier. Time to build the final model, time to create presentation board, time to do manual drawings for the design, all done in two days. Crazy?

Anyway, yesterday I still spend some of my time watching TV, live broadcast of Macau Open Grand Prix Gold 2009, a week after BWF World Championship. Wow, Malaysia did a great job here, but not last week. Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong won over Choong Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah (both pairs from Malaysia) in the men doubles final. Lee Chong Wei won over Wong Chon Hann (both from Malaysia as well) in men single final. The other three matches are won by China. Some excellent players did not attend, so Malaysia had a bigger chance on it.

Third week of the semester begins today, four weeks to go before non-contact week, 13 weeks to go before semester ends. Long long time to go. More and more assignments coming ahead. Recently, I have not much time to update this blog too. See my previous post, it’s on 18th August. Now is already 24th August. One word to explain that; BUSY!!!

Sick of model-making!!!

For the first project that costs 25 percent of the whole module of Design 102, called as 80 cube. Briefly, we have to choose two descriptive words out from the list given and do research on the words. We have to understand deeply what the two words mean.

Then, we have to design at least three process models for each word. (Total: 6) and we have to build two more models combining the process models of two different words. Now the total is 8. We are not done yet. We have to finalize our design and build the final model with 8cm width, 8cm length and 8cm height. (That’s why it is called 80 cube). There must be a conceptual idea for the model and it should be a habitable or functional space. Then, we have to compose those photographs and drawings into an A1 presentation board.

Really getting mad in the process of building models, not only one but eight and another final one in this weekend. At first, still has the mood to build it, and change the design a bit based on situation. As time progresses, my works can be seen clearly from a beautifully-crafted complex model to a ugly-crafted simple model. 8 models built in around three days. For me, it’s crazy!

The mess:

The models I have made:

The photographs of process models:

I have chosen ‘suspended’ and ‘intersecting’ for the descriptive words.

I made a mess on the living room which my family scolded me for not cleaning it up properly after my works were done. Hence, I change my place to my small compacted-with-rubbish bedroom to work on my models. Really getting tired and sick of it! Now I am seriously thinking am I taking the model-making class rather than a design class. Anyway, model-making is part of design, but not as important as like this!!! Build two or three is still considerable, now…HUH!!!

What an exciting match yesterday…

Eventhough Malaysia is not in the final of yesterday’s BWF World Championship Final Day, I still use some of my time to watch the live broadcast.

I am amazed by the men doubles match between Fu Hai Feng, Cai Yun (China) against Lee Yong Dae, Jong Jae Sung (Korea). Both pairs have the potential to win and their skills are excellent. No wonder two Malaysian pairs (Koo Kien Keat, Tan Boon Heong and Zakry Latif, Fairuzizuan) lost to them in the semi final. They can’t really beat the finalists unless they are lucky, to be honest.

 

The final match is super exciting. I am actually watching series from internet and my eyes looked to the TV. Wow, what a great fight. This is what badminton is all about. Full of spirits, skills, excellent performances, and team cooperation. Finally, the China pairs won with a bit of luck in the end of third game, 28 – 26.

Anyway, I can still see two Malaysian flags raising high above in the stadium besides the China and Korea flags, showing our existence in badminton world as we are getting the third in men doubles. Eventhough we did get poor results in this world championship, we still have the hope.

On the other hand, Lin Dan won the men single match against Chen Jin from same country, China. Lin Dan mentioned to the press that his biggest worry is still Lee Chong Wei, eventhough he lost in the quarter final.