Yep, I'm still at it, the Friday Frolics, I mean. Honestly? The truth is I've not been able to update the blog regularly so I thought I'd at least have something new for my loyal readers, you, on a Friday. Please bear with me but I'll try to update more often.
This week's quiz is an easy one to take.
Have a lovely Friday wherever you are.
Here in Kuala Lumpur it's hot, hot, hot! Temperatures must be at least 35deg C during the day. Nights are just as stuffy. But then again, there are worse things in life. I'm counting my blessings.
This is the first post of 2016 so let's make it a really positive one.
Google features an interesting animated doodle today for year-end 2015. Go to the front page to view this (minus the green border).
And do you see the bottom line which says: Watch and remember the moments of 2015? Go on, click on Watch and remember. You will see in a two-minute You Tube video what was trending in the world in the past one year of 2015. Interestingly what is the colour of that dress is also featured in the video if you know what I'm talking about. (I shall have to write about that dress based on my own experience. Come back and read about it later.)
In a nutshell, the Google page lets you explore the year's biggest moments and the questions they inspired. Watch and remember... Enjoy!
Happy New Year, Everyone! May it be your best ever!
Well, we've come to the last day of year 2014. It has been a good year for me but I won't bore you with details. I certainly hope it has been a good/great year for you too. Let me take this opportunity to thank you for being a part of my life. You have added spice to my life. Thank you.
Google has come up with this simple-looking doodle to end the year.
But click on the doodle and you will find Google Trending Topics for the year. Below are the topics that were trending in Malaysia and Singapore. What was trending in your country? You can check it out here.
Just like in other parts of the world, Malaysians around the country welcomed the New Year with a big bang, cramming the streets and the hotspots to ring in the new year.
In Kuala Lumpur in Dataran Merdeka (Merdeka Square), hundreds of thousands thronged the square which was lit up in a multitude of colours to welcome the New Year.
At the stroke of midnight, a 10-minute fireworks show lit up the night sky as revellers danced in celebration.
At Petronas Twin Towers, revellers were treated to fireworks at the stroke of midnight.
Party mode: A bird's eye view of party-goers ushering in the new year at Sungei Wang Plaza.
Fire breathers/Fire-eaters entertaining the crowd before the countdown concert for 2013 at Sungei Wang Plaza.
Celebrations in other cities around the world..
In London
Fireworks over the Big Ben and The Houses of Parliament mark the coming of the new year in Central London, Britain on 1 January 2013. Over 250,000 people were expected to take part in the festivities on the bank of the river Thames. - EPA/TAL COHEN - 1 January, 2013.
Jerusalem
The golden dome of the Dome of the Rock, Islam's third holiest place and part of the al-Aqsa Mosque complex, is seen as fireworks light the skies of Jerusalem to mark the new year on January 1, 2013. - AFP PHOTO/AHMAD GHARABLI - 1 January, 2013
December 31, 2012..
Where did the time go? We have come to the last day of yet another year. Some had fun, some say done. Some too much of the elements, some not enough sun.
Tomorrow will be a new year. I wish You and Your family a new year of good tidings, joy and laughter, love and dreams and living happily ever after.
Google doodle closes the year depicting the great moments of 2012. If you are on the Google Search page, clicking on Watch and remember (refer to doodle image above) will take you to the video below. On the same Google Search page, you can also share your 2013 resolution with the world as well as read the resolutions posted by others around the world. Enjoy the video..
So, the new year is upon us. A new year brings new beginnings and hope, of letting bygones be bygones, of moving forward into an anticipated better year.
What is ringing in the new year without parties and fireworks. Over here in Kuala Lumpur, the fireworks display lit up the skies above the iconic Petronas Twin Towers which can be seen for miles. In other cities around the world from Beijing to Kabul to New York people gathered to usher in the new year.
Let's check out some of the celebrations in cities around the world.
Tens of thousands of people welcomed the new year in Times Square in New York where revelers welcomed 2012 with performances from Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and Santana.
Lady Gaga and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg prepared to push the button to drop the ball.
Justin Bieber and Carlos Santana, right, performed at Times Square.
Fireworks exploded over Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro.
Fireworks lit up the London skyline and Big Ben.
Fireworks exploded over the Grossmuenster church in Zurich.
Revelers gathered at the Champs-Elysees in Paris.
Fireworks exploded over the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.
A woman wrote the number 2012 in the air with a sparkler near St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, Austria.
Fireworks exploded over the temple of the Parthenon in Athens.
Thousands gathered to see the fireworks display at Red Square in Moscow.
Fireworks over Marina Bay in Singapore.
Visitors waved Chinese flags during a performance in Beijing.
Fireworks lit up the skyline over Sydney Harbor.
The above images are borrowed from New York Times. For more, you can go on the NY Times'slide show.
and in Kuala Lumpur, fireworks over the Petronas Twin Towers.
Source: REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad
More pictures..
Indian folk dancers perform during the 28th Cochin Carnival at Fort Kochi in the southern Indian city of Kochi January 1, 2012. The Carnival is held annually to welcome the start of the New Year. - REUTERS - 1 January, 2012
Another image of fireworks over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House. -REUTERS/Daniel Munoz
Shinto priests leave the holy worship area through a wooden torii gate following the yearend purification ceremony at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, Japan, 31 December 2011. About three million people visit the shrine during the New Year's holidays every year to pray for their health and wealth. -EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
Balinese dancers perform as they take part in a cultural parade during a new year's eve celebration at a main road in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, 31 December 2011. -EPA/MADE NAGI
If extra-terrestrials were monitoring Earth activity during New Year's eve, they'd think the Earth was cracking up with colorful explosions! Even in Kuala Lumpur itself, there were more countdown venues this year with their own fireworks display.
Found some good shots of fireworks around the world online.
Here's one of the display at KLCC - Image shows fireworks next to skyscrapers Petronas Twin Towers during the New Year celebrations in Kuala Lumpur
Of course, there's nothing like seeing the fireworks in person but nevermind, a video could serve as a good substitute. This one is in HD and taken from a strategic location at K Residence Apartments. The best effort on YouTube after checking out the rest. Enjoy!
Here's another pyrotechnics show, an even better one. This one is in London featuring the London Eye. Awesome display. Must watch.
The above video is borrowed from AllVoices.com. There's also one for Sydney's fireworks display at the famous Harbour Bridge. Fireworks were launched from the bridge, to the boats in the harbour and from buildings around the waterfront. However, I found a better one on YouTube, so here it is. This video comes with music.
Here are a few more images of fireworks displays around the world. More can be found on AllVoices.com.
Fireworks explode beside the London Eye and The Houses of Parliament on the River Thames during New Year celebrations in London
Fireworks explode from Taiwan's tallest skyscraper Taipei 101 as part of Taiwan's centennial celebrations in Taipei
Fireworks explode over Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, celebrating the new year in Dubai
This has got to be my favorite. It has a certain serenity about it - quiet and soothing. Come to think of it, doesn't it look like an impressionist painting, something out of Van Gogh's collection? It's an image of Fireworks exploding behind the Houses of Parliament on the River Thames in London.
There you have it. Hope you enjoyed them all. Well, until next new year... may the next 364 days be as awesome as the fireworks you just saw..
Like cities around the world, Kuala Lumpur will be hosting her own countdown parties around the city. You can head on down to Dataran Merdeka, the street party at Sungei Wang, the dress-up-like-Lady Gaga party at the Pavilion, be at SohoKL or the Mutiara Damansara Commercial Centre, i-City or even up at Genting Highlands. Or you can just go up the KL Tower and enjoy all the firework displays around the city. At 276m high, the views would be awesome at the stroke of midnight!
By the way, be aware of road closures. Best to park a distance away. You don't want to be caught in the jam after the party. Public transport may be a better option.
Today is a fresh new year. Two thousand and eight! Yes! Happy New Year, y'all!
The new year spells new resolutions? Why do resolutions have to be made in the new year? Can they not be made in April or June or any other day or month of the year? Just wondering.
On a positive note, resolutions are something like a plan. You list down what you want or don't want and stick with it. If you will, this is part of the law of attraction at work. This is like willing things to happen. It's a powerful tool if put to good use.
The Olympics will be on this year, in China, on Aug 8. If you line up the timing numerically, it'll look like 08.08.08. Who knows, the opening ceremony may be timed thus: 08.08.08 at 08:08:08. Talk about feng shui. Freaky! Just my guess. It's good to look forward and not back. I remember at a seminar, we were asked to write down the unfavourable things we wish to forget and then afterwards crush up the paper and trash it. This action is supposed to make us put our problems behind us. It's supposed to work on you, psychologically. Come to think of it, the mind is really not all complex. It can be easily manipulated, something like, you tell it and it does.
The trashing of old bad memories must have some truth in it, as in Times Square, New York, a huge shredder has been set up for people to get rid of what they intend to put behind them, as in good riddance. Check out video clip on Time Square Shredder. List of items people want to forget include bad relationships, a paid mortgage, a copy of a removed appendix and a list of obsessions.
Cheers!
Oh, by the way, I've adopted a pet pigglet - on the sidebar. I've named it Siew Pai Kuat. It's Cantonese and translates to Barbequed Pork Ribs, for obvious reasons. Noooooooooo......., of course not! lol
