What is hapening in Langkawi

What's happening in Langkawi?

LIMA '17, that's what it is.

Aeroplanes and fighter jets worldwide are landing at the airport here and warships and vessels of all sizes are coming in to berth at Resorts World Langkawi (RWL).

The 14th Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (Lima) 2017 is set to be bigger and better.

This island is bustling with activities for the five-day biennial event which starts today, March 21 and will end on March 25.

Read more about it here... entrance, what to expect including aircrafts, performances, performance dates, exhibitions to the public, etc. LIMA 2017 - Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition

Russian knight: The Russian Air Force’s aerobatic demonstration team’s Sukhoi Su-30SM fighter jet landing in Langkawi for Lima 2017 - The Star

Book Fest Malaysia 2013

If you've yet to visit this year's Book Fest, you have until tomorrow to do it.

BookFest @ Malaysia, established since 2006 is aimed at showcasing leading publishers, exhibiting the latest most innovative stationery, CD and Multimedia products. This much-anticipated yearly bookfair has more than 600 booths, allowing hundreds of publishing houses, book and stationery distributors from all over Asia and elsewhere including United Kingdom, United States and Canada, to present and display their goods.

Available are millions of books from the latest and best collection of Chinese, English and Malay titles.

The Book Fest occupies a total of 133,000 square feet of exhibition space.  The Chinese Pavilion is located at Halls 1 & 2; the English Pavilion in Halls 4 & 5 and the Lifestyle Pavilion in the Grand Ballrooms 1 & 2 as well as the Banquet Hall of Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

This year's BookFest @ Malaysia 2013 was officially launched on 2 August 2013. The exhibition opens from 10 am to 10 pm daily starting from 3 till 11 August 2013. Admission is RM 2.50 per ticket. FREE admission is given to students 18 years & below and senior citizens 60 years & above.

Visit the Bookfest Malaysia website for more details.

San Diego Comic-Con International 2013 - Jul 18 to 21

Source:  Google

Comic-Con takes place this weekend. If I were in the U.S. specifically in the San Diego area, I would be there any one or even all days of the 4-day exhibition.

San Diego Comic-Con International, commonly known as Comic-Con or the San Diego Comic-Con or "SDCC", is a multigenre convention held annually in San Diego, California, United States. It is a four-day event (Thursday-Sunday) held during the summer. On Wednesday evening, there is a preview for professionals, exhibitors, and some guests pre-registered for all four days.

Originally showcasing comic books, science fiction/fantasy and film/television, and related popular arts, the convention now includes a larger range of pop culture elements, such as horror, animation, anime, manga, toys, collectible card games, video games, webcomics, and fantasy novels. According to Forbes, the convention is the "largest convention of its kind in the world"; it is also the largest convention held in San Diego. In 2010, it filled the San Diego Convention Center to capacity with over 130,000 attendees. (Wikipedia)

This year, for the first time, Hello Kitty is making an appearance on Comic-Con, storming it as TIME magazine puts it.

Hello Kitty may have reached the Final Frontier, but she’s never been to Comic-Con before. That all changes this weekend, when Sanrio brings its beloved Kitty and her friends to San Diego for the annual comic convention, which runs from July 18 through the 21st.

Sanrio will make its official debut with “Hello Kitty Fashion Music Wonderland,” an interactive experience loosely based on Alice in Wonderland, but starring Hello Kitty. The weekend’s Hello Kitty event will feature a pop-up shop, offer Sanrio nail art, and, of course, will feature a visit by Kitty-chan herself. It is open to the public at Comic-Con’s Interactive Zone at Petco Park.

Read more: Hello Kitty Storms Comic-Con

Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is on at Putrajaya

Wheeeeeee! Hot air balloons took off to the skies on Thursday (Mar 28) at the 5th Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta - check out details. It must have been a sight to behold. Will you be there? The fiesta ends tomorrow, Mar 31.

For four days, every morning from 7am to 9am, balloonists will participate in a ballooning competition, vying for Rudy's Trophy - a trophy named after the late fiesta chairman and co-founder Khairuddin Abd Rani.

In the evenings, the balloonists will again take to the skies for a balloon show at 6pm.

Members of the public can go for the tethered hot-air balloon rides from 7.30am to 10.30am and 7pm to 10pm daily for RM20 per person. The ride will be hoisted 60 feet off the ground. - Bernama
Source: The Star..Hot air balloons dot Putrajaya sky

5th Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta - March 28 to 31

Like other capital cities around the world, there is always something happening too here in Kuala Lumpur.

Yes, the Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is back in Malaysia!

If you and your family had so much fun at the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta at Putrajaya last year, you will be sure to have yet another unforgettable experience at this year's event!

For the first-timer, it will be an awesome experience not to be missed!

Come March 28 – 31, Malaysia will once again host a fiesta like no other in the country! The Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta returns to the Monumen Alaf Baru (also known as Monument Millennium) grounds for the fifth year running promising to be more exciting, more fun-filled with activities the whole family can partake in.

You will get to see more exciting special shaped balloons such as the Smurf Balloon, piloted by Koen Audenaert of Belgium, as well as the Clown Balloon piloted by Sven Grenzner of Germany. Great photo opportunity there so don't leave home without your camera.

2013 also marks the return of the highly-anticipated “night glow” event where the hot air balloons will participate in a light-and-sound show on the night of March 30; culminating in a beautiful display of fireworks. You don't want to miss that!

Look forward to activities including
- a para-motor exhibition
- helicopter joy rides – suitable for families who welcome a unique experience
- tethered hot air balloon rides
- Mountain Dew Extreme Zone

and for the young ones,
- colouring contests
- other on-ground competitions.

You can also expect new and exciting activities including the Walk in the Balloon where visitors can experience being actually inside the giant balloons, music performance by the Kuala Lumpur Jazz Festival amongst others. Get 30% discount should you choose to use the KLIA Transit to Putrajaya during the fiesta period. How cool is that!

For optimum enjoyment, here is the suggested Visitor Guideline:

1. Come as early as you can to catch their 7am morning flight.
2. Wear proper attire and get ready for outdoor activities. A set of extra clothes would be a good idea just in case.
3. Be prepared for the weather. Bring shades and/or an umbrella.
4. Tickets for hot air balloon rides are limited, so come early to secure your ride.
5. Bring your camera or your sketchpad or whatever you have. Memories are made of such events. If you are tweeting or instagramming to share with friends and family, do remember to tag it #myballoonfiesta.
6. BYOB i.e., Bring your own bicycle to cycle around the event site as parking might be a hassle.
and finally
7. If you get lost, the landmark is the Monument Alaf Baru, Precinct 2, Putrajaya.

Here is how to get there to the 5th Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta.

More information about the Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2013 activity lineup and sponsorship opportunities can be obtained by visiting www.myballoonfiesta.com or by calling 03-7981 8769.

See you there!

Book Fair / BookFest @ Malaysia is back!

Officially called BookFest @ Malaysia, this is a Book Fair or book exposition not to be missed..

Established since 2006, the aim of BookFest @ Malaysia is to showcase leading publishers, exhibit the latest most innovative stationery, CD and Multimedia products. This much-anticipated book fair, deemed one of the largest book expositions held in the region, has more than 600 booths, allowing hundreds of publishing houses, book and stationery distributors from all over Asia and beyond to present and display their goods.

The fair will feature publishers from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Singapore and Malaysia. Millions of titles in English, Chinese and Malay will be available, housed in two pavilions know as the Chinese Pavilion and the English Pavilion.

This year, BookFest @ Malaysia will occupy a total space of 125,000 square feet of Hall 1 - 5 and Grand Ballroom 1 & 2, Level 3. The Chinese Pavilion will be located at Hall 1 & 2, English Pavilion in Hall 4 & 5 as well as a Lifestyle Pavilion in the Grand Ballroom 1 & 2, Level 3 of the convention centre.

This mega book fair/exposition will take place over a period of 9 days, from Aug 18 (tomorrow) right up to Aug 26, coinciding with the school holidays. For those who are visiting, you can look forward to a wide range of fun-filled exciting activities including performances, contests, as well as meet-the-authors sessions throughout the entire duration of the exposition. Chinese-inclined events will be held in Main Stage @ Hall 1 while the English-inclined events will be held in Stage @ Hall 5.

Officially launched today, Aug 17, BookFest @ Malaysia 2012 will open from 10 am to 10 pm daily from 18 - 26 August 2012. Admission is RM 2.50 per ticket. FREE admission is given for students 18 years & below and senior citizens 60 years & above.

Source: Book Fest

Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

Source: Myballoonfiesta.com

The Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is back for a fourth year. Held at Putrajaya from Mar 15 (today) right up to Mar 18, visitors to the fiesta can also look forward to activities such as a para motor exhibition, a bicycle exhibition, helicopter joy rides, tethered hot air balloon rides, a remote controlled aeroplane model demonstration, meet-and-greet sessions with the participating balloonists, and the Mountain Dew Extreme Zone for the adventurous visitors.

There will not be any pre-booking service as the hot air balloon rides for the public are dependant on the weather. Children must be above four feet (1.22m) to go on the ride.

Admission is free.

Advice from The Star:

Visitors are encouraged to use the KLIA Transit from the KL Sentral station, and make use of the bus services provided from Park & Ride points and around Putrajaya to the fiesta grounds.

To find out more about the fiesta, log on to www.myballoonfiesta.com or call AKA Balloon Sdn Bhd at 03–7981 8769.

Balloons prepare to take off for their first flights at the Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, at Putrajaya, Malaysia, Thursday, March 15, 2012. More than 26 balloons from 13 countries are competing in the annual event now in its fourth year. - AP - 15 March, 2012

Balloons up in the air..

Image source: The Star

Singapore Airshow 2012

Above: Jackie Chan's Embraer Legacy 650 lands in Singapore for the Singapore Airshow 2012

If you are in Singapore from Feb 14 until 19, you may want to take in a visit to the Singapore Airshow 2012 at the Changi Exhibition Centre. This is Asia's largest airshow and one of the three most important aerospace and defence exhibitions in the world.

Plus, you will get to see actor, Jackie Chan's Embraer Legacy 650 which is making its first public appearance since delivery to the international movie star. Jackie Chan's jet, with its distinctive dragon motif, is also the first Legacy 650 to be displayed at the Singapore Airshow.

The  US$30 million (S$37 million) jet left Brazil to meet him in Singapore. Jackie Chan offered to be Embraer's Brand Ambassador, especially for China.

"I chose the Legacy 650 because its large three zone cabin, offering incredibly quiet performance and luxury," said Jackie Chan.
 

The Legacy 650 is very spacious with three distinct cabin zones, a wet galley and the largest in-flight accessible baggage compartment of its class.

Jackie's plane can hold up to 13 passengers and is capable of up to eight-hour flights around Asia and elsewhere.

For you who are familiar with aircrafts, the Legacy 650 range is 3,900 nautical miles (7,223km) affording such nonstop distances as Beijing to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Hong Kong to Adelaide, Australia, carrying four passengers. Its state-of-the-art cockpit includes the Honeywell Primus Elite avionics suite, greatly reducing the pilot workload and enhancing safety.

With three distinct cabin zones, the Legacy 650 is the only jet in its class with this level of comfort. Advanced Wi-Fi technology and significantly reduced cabin noise means the Legacy 650 ensures an environment in which passengers can work or rest. 

It includes a fully equipped wet galley and the largest in-flight accessible baggage compartment, something Embraer is known for.

Source: plushasia.com

Kuala Lumpur International Batik Convention and Exhibition (KLIB) 2011

If Batik is your cup of tea and you would like to know more about this art-form or craft or if you are in the Batik business, the Kuala Lumpur International Batik Convention and Exhibition (KLIB) 2011 held at the KL Convention Centre may be up your alley.

Started yesterday, this three-day international all-things Batik event organised by Yayasan Budi Penyayang Malaysia, includes presentations in the form of papers, workshops, demonstrations, panel discussions and art & craft as well as multimedia displays. A wide range of themes are covered including from the history of batik to versatility of batik to technique to transculturalization of batik, marketing batik and more.

Inaugurated in 2005, people from various fields – artists, designers, students, lecturers, people in the batik and handicrafts industry, batik enthusiasts and aficionados have been attending this Exhibition, which has a wide array of batik fashion and products. You won't want to miss this once-a-year Batik extravaganza for the chance to pick up a beautiful batik piece of art - a batik shirt, dress or kaftan for yourself, batik art to decorate your home with or other batik souvenirs to bring home as gifts for friends and loved ones.

Head on over to the KL Convention Centre for this fourth edition of the Kuala Lumpur International Batik Convention and Exhibition (KLIB) 2011. Admission is free.

DATE AND TIME:

KLIB Convention 2011
9th - 10th Dec 2011:
10:30am - 6:00pm

KLIB Exibition 2011
9th - 11th Dec 2011:
10:30am - 5:00pm
The exhibition is open to the public and trade at all times.
Visit: www.expomal.com/klib

ADMISSION:
Minors of 16 years and below will NOT be admitted. All visitors must be in proper business attire. The organiser reserves the right to refuse entry to those deemed inappropriately dressed.

PROGRAM DETAILS:
List of selected speakers for 2011

1. Mr. Ray Pierotti - surface design for painters, weavers, textile designers and interior & architectural designers - USA

2. Mr. Alexsey Zaytsev - The connection of the variety of technics in art works of batik - Azerbaijan

3. Ms. Miyoko Kawahito - Ori-nui Shibori (Folded and Stitched Tie-dyeing) Technique using Awa Natural Indigo- Japan

4. Ms. Lee Creswell - Creating a batik using Cold Liquid Wax and Seaweed Solution - UK

5. Ms. Monika Salva - batik-diversified textures of wax in contemporary textiles -India
More international speakers..

Malaysian Speakers
1. Prof. Dato' Najib Dawa - Malaysia Batik

2. Prof. Madya Khairul Aidil Azlin - Enhancement of Batik Indigenous Design Through Indigenous Knowledge

3. Dr. Nazlina Shaari - Environment Friendly Mordant for Natural Dyeing Process in Batik

4. Mr. Edric Ong - Asian Textiles in world fashion

5. Mr. Eddie Yap - From canting to textural brush strokes to shibat (shibori+batik)

Visit the Kuala Lumpur International Batik (KLIB) Convention & Exhibition 2011 website for more information.


Source: KLIB

Last day - Snap for Cash Contest at the KL International Motor Show

Photography enthusiasts are still in the running to win the RM5,000 prize at the KL International Motor Show at PWTC. Today is the last day to get up close to the StarMotoring models in the Snap for Cash contest at the Motor Show.

The models will be wearing StarMotoring, RedFM and Daily Chilli sashes. You will find them at the Star booth in Hall 2 or moving among the crowd.

All you need do is to go up to the girls, give them your particulars and snap a picture with them.

Then, submit your best photo to the contest site at star-motoring.com/snapforcash.
StarMotoring has set up an online self-registration page to facilitate picture uploading and voting.
Go to http://www.star-motoring.com/snapforcash/ .

On the top right corner of the navigation bar, click on “Log in and Register Here”.  Fill in your details in the registration section and check your email for the link to the upload page.

Today is the last day, so hurry to stand a chance to win that RM5,000 prize money!  Good luck!


Image source: The Star

Appreciating Art

I watched "Thomas Crown Affair" the other night for the umpteenth time. The word 'art' conjures up some pretty pictures, at least it does for me. But then again, beauty is subjective and it really is in the eye of the beholder.

Just like these works of art below. The first piece reminds me of the one in my office which makes me feel how inadequate I am at interpreting modern art. Sigh.





And then there are these..




Mind you, all these are pieces by famous artists and are slated for Fall Auction at Sotheby's this coming week. Even auction houses have been impacted by the economic downturn as prices for art pieces - paintings, sculptures, drawings - have taken a beating.

Gone are the days of lucrative financial incentives like guarantees (a minimum sum offered to a seller regardless of the outcome of a sale) that were regularly doled out when times were good. Gone too are extravagant parties and lavish catalogs the size of telephone books.

People now think carefully about what they buy and how much they are willing to spend. Prices are also lower because there aren’t many blockbuster artworks on the market.


Source: NY Times