This week's personality quiz is a Bridge test. Talk about bridges, Singapore and Malaysia are looking at the possibility of building an underground tunnel. This was discussed during the recent visit of Singapore Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong's. Is this going to be the third link, or is it the fourth?
Oh dear!
Premier League champions, Manchester United, suffered a second straight defeat losing 3-0 to Newcastle. This leaves Manchester City three points clear at the top of the table.
Manchester United's Park Ji-Sung challenged by Newcastle United's Tiote and Williamson during their English Premier League soccer match in Newcastle
This is United's third defeat in twenty matches which means they stay second on 45 points, just three points ahead of third-placing Tottenham Hotspurs, and they have a game in hand.
Here we are talking about the beautiful weather here in Kuala Lumpur while over in East Malaysia, Kuching to be exact, we see floods after 12 hours of continuous rain. Many parts of Kuching in Sarawak are at a standstill today.
A car is caught in flood waters near the former government quarters area in Batu Lintang. Photo by Andrew Voon.
It is a hot day today, temperature hitting 95deg F. Thank goodness for the aircond in the office. On days like this, the malls and shopping complexes would be popular places.
Blue skies and all things nice(?)..
The durian would be one happy fruit. Durians thrive best under hot and dry weather, just like what we are experiencing today although in some parts of the country - primarily the east coast - there is still some flooding.
Back to the funky fruit, durians are once again in season. If I were to own just one of these Tortoise durian trees, I would be one happysurfing durian fan!
I believe this is a new durian species, locally called Durian Kura-kura or translated as Tortoise durian - beats me why it's called such. See the big cluster of fruits? What's amazing too is how low these fruits are located though I see a drawback here. As the fruits are easily plucked, there is a chance they will be harvested long before they are ripe enough, which is how durians are harvested the current way. Malaysian durians are nice and sweet because they are not plucked from the tree but are allowed to fall off from the tree when they ripen naturally.
(Image source unknown. Taken from a forwarded email. If you know the source, please leave source in a comment.)
Continuing my recent visit to the historical city of Malacca from Part 1 (road trip and sights along the way) and Part 2 (entering Malacca city itself).
Checking in at the Frontdesk was a breeze and the queue was just for a mere ten minutes though the line was getting longer closer to the check-in time.
There is ample parking at the hotel though cars jamming up the hotel entrance during check-in time needs some addressing by the management. Guests are advised to park in the vicinity of where their room/apartment is located. Having checked in, we were issued keys to our apartments. We relocated our vehicles to the Orchid Wing where we would be staying.
Mahkota Hotel Malacca is a sprawling complex of rooms and apartments, beautiful landscaping, pools (including a spa pool), a karaoke lounge, dining outlets. I may be mistaken but all rooms seem to be facing the sea or rather the Straits of Malacca though I had hoped the body of water is nearer the hotel. Looking out to sea and seeing how miniscule the passing ships were made me regret not having a pair of binoculars with me. Made a mental note to pack that on my next outing.
Below is a combo image of the hotel complex. The lower portion is the hotel lobby. (Images borrowed from hotel website.)
After dropping off our bags at the apartments,
we realised it was already close to 4pm and we haven't had lunch.
Mahkota Hotel Malacca is located a short distance away two shopping complexes, one of them is Mahkota Parade, a shopping center with lots of shops and food outlets, so we headed to Mahkota Parade for lunch. After a satisfying lunch, we did some walkabout in the complex.
Christmas decor at the foyer of Mahkota Parade..
Christmas tree at the other shopping complex (whose name I did not note). Oops! (Never mind the bare-back lady, just focus on the Christmas tree.)
A tourist attraction closeby is the 110-meter Taming Sari Tower. From the viewing deck at 80 meters, the ride offers a spectacular and panoramic view of Malacca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The passenger capacity is 66 passengers and the ride is for 7 minutes with a ticket price of RM20 for adults and RM10 for children. There is a special discount for MyKad holders. Operation hours are 10am to 10pm daily. Taming Sari Tower or locally called Menara Taming Sari is located at Jalan Merdeka, Banda Hilir,75000 Melaka.
While the nephew and his parents took a ride up the tower, mom and the rest of us stayed grounded and chilled out at A&W. An hour later saw us heading to Jonker Walk, the part of Malacca that is one of the main draws to this historical city.
I thought I could include Jonker Walk in this episode but looks like this post is already too long and best that we take a break here.
Getting a gift for a newborn child is not too difficult. Recently, co-workers in the office pooled together to buy some great baby gifts for Susan who last month gave birth to a beautiful daughter, Sara.
Among the gifts we bought is an uppababy vista stroller. I must say this stroller stands out among the gifts and I have no doubt baby Sara will be comfortable in it. It is easy to use too so it will be less of a hassle for Sara's parents or the child's minder.
Sunderland beat Premier League leader, Manchester City, 1-0 with a goal at stoppage-time. Man City remains the EPL leader ahead of Man United but on goal-difference.
Here are the team standings. Click twice on image to enlarge.
Source of Table:PremierLeague.com Source of image above: TheStar.com.my
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
