Wednesday, November 30, 2011

London's iconic bus makes a comeback - the Routemaster

Commuters in London will get a much smoother ride early next year when the new Routemaster buses go on the road and in time for the Olympics. More..Return of the Routemaster: London's iconic bus makes a comeback

Check out how cool it is..

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Island-hopping around Singapore

In Singapore when the pace gets too hectic to handle, there are islands around it to escape to for some peace and quiet.

Pulau Ubin is one of 63 islands (didn't know there are so many) that make up the city-state of Singapore whose citizens make up about 63% of the 5.2million people. (Source: Wikipedia)

Here is a lovely sunset scene on Pulau Ubin.

As dusk shrouds Pulau Ubin, "mainland" Singapore lights up the horizon.

Batam Island - where the fine white sand and sparkling waters of Melur Beach are arguably the finest in the area.

More island-hopping around Singapore on CNNGo..


Image source: CNNGo

Monday, November 28, 2011

Bangkok Factory Outlet Stores

Prompted by Evarts' comment about Factory Outlet Stores (F.O.S) in Bangkok, I went online looking. No F.O.S like the ones in Malaysia was found but I did uncover some great finds on real factory outlets. If you are planning on going to Bangkok for shopping, these are definitely the factory outlets to check out.

CNNGo suggests

1 - Crazy Steps Outlet for Shoes
2250 Petchburi Road, (just past Petchburi Soi 40), BTS: Huai Khwang. Open every day from 10am until 7pm.

What's there: Wide range of fashionable men and women’s shoes and accessories. The majority of items are sold at 50–70 percent off the retail price and new stock is available with an immediate 30 percent off store prices.

2 - X Sizes Outlet for Underwear
Sukhumvit 24, Bangkok 10110 (opposite Grandeville House). Open every day from 9.30am until 7pm.

What's there: Good selection of bras and panties in larger sizes, which can come in handy for larger breasted women trying to find a big cup size in the A-dominated markets of Bangkok or those with a little extra in the rear. The majority of bras are padded but there are a few unpadded designs too. Bras are available from 270 baht and panties from 49 baht. Bras can be tried on in one of two good-sized gothic dressing rooms with flattering lights and a mirror.

3 - Levi’s Factory Outlet Store for Denim
Pricha Building, 2533 Sukhumvit Road (opposite Sukhumvit Soi 62), Phra Khanong. Tel: +66 (0)2 332 7140, ext 3688. Open Monday to Saturday from 8am until 6pm.

What's there: Levi’s jeans, belts, t-shirts, jackets and other Levi’s paraphernalia are sold typically at 40-60 percent off the retail price. All major credit cards accepted.

What to buy: Ladies denim jacket at 700 baht and low-waist skinny jeans from 1,000 baht.


4 - Jim Thompson Factory Sales Outlet for Fabric, accessories and home decor
153 Sukhumvit 92, Phra Khanong. Tel: +66 (0)2 332 6530 ext 13. Open every day from 9am until 6pm
Website for More Jim Thompson factory sales outlets in Thailand

What's there: Four floors are crammed with discontinued or leftover custom orders of silk and cotton fabric, scarves, sarongs, ladies dresses, men’s shirts, homeware, suffed toys, purses, cosmetic bags and leather wallets from the Thai silk king's prestigious product lines. Take time out from your bargain-bagging at the fifth floor cafĂ©.

Others include

5 - Louis Vuitton
+66 2 656 1010
999 Ploenchit Road
Gaysorn
Bangkok , Thailand 10330

6 - Adidas Factory Outlet
Address: 47/223 Kimpo Building
Muang Thong Thani
Pakkred, Thailand
Phone: 0-2980-6619
Open 10:00-21:00 daily

7 - Decathalon Sports Outlet
Address: Bangna Tower A
2/3 Moo 14, Bang Na-Trat
Km 6.5 Bangkaew
Samut Prakarn
Phone: 0-2751-9560

8 - ECCO Shoe Factory
Address: Saha Rattanakorn Industrial Estate
Nakorn Luang, Singburi
Thailand
Phone: 0-3571-6601 Ext 6464

9 - F. House Jackets
Address: City Complex Phetburi Road
Pratunam (next to Amari Watergate Hotel)

10 - Outlet (Boom International Co Ltd)
Address: 17/15-16 Soi Pradipat 1
Pradipat Road
Samsennaim, Phayathai
Phone: 0-2618-6935-6

11 - Bangkok Christmas Decoration Export Co Ltd
Address: 218 Soi Amnuaysukh 2
Phetkasem 16 Road
Thailand
Phone: 0-2868-1881-4

12 - Thailand Furniture Mart
at 33/4 Rama IX Road Huay Kwang, Thailand
Phone: 0-2643-6030

- More factory outlets
- Malls
- Markets

However, to enjoy an incident-free visit in Bangkok, you may want to take note of these 8 things travelers should watch out for in Bangkok.

Happy bargain-hunting!


Image source: CNNGo

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Monsoon Floods worsen in Kelantan

As flood worsens in Kelantan caused by heavy downpour in this year-end monsoon season, more residents are being evacuated. A total of 2,345 people were still at flood relief centres in Kelantan and Terengganu on Saturday, The Star reported.

Although this number is small compared to the number in Bangkok, it nevertheless disrupts routines and causes inconvenience and hardship to the victims. The number of evacuees in Kelantan has risen to 1,884 but in Terengganu, the number has dropped to 461.

In Pasir Mas, a stretch at Km24 of the Pasir Mas-Rantau Panjang Highway is impassable to light vehicles.


For readers not familiar with the Malaysian landscape, note the kampong (rural/village) house in the second image. This is a typical house in rural parts across the country. The elevated nature of these houses is a big help in the event of floods. In a village setting, free-range chickens and other fowl are a common sight under the house or running around in the compound. Being made of wood, these houses, usually big, are airy and cooling.

Source: The Star

Friday, November 25, 2011

Friday Frolics - The Airport Test

It is said in the US and Canada that the holiday season starts right after Thanksgiving Day which is today US and Canada time. People would be making preparations for the holidays what with Christmas a month away. Airline tickets would need booking, hotel reservations to be made, two of the important items to take care of to ensure confirmed travel.

Though not eco-friendly, air travel is the fastest way to get from place to place unless of course if you have all the time in the world to go by sea.

This week's Friday Frolics quiz involves the airport, The Airport Test, to reveal a little bit more about your personality. Take the quiz to a further discovery about yourself.



You Are Compassionate



You are sympathetic. You naturally have a lot of empathy for everyone around you.

You can easily see the beauty in others. You appreciate them, and you never cling too tightly.


You are very intuitive. You can always sense when someone close to you is hurting.

You are a seeker of harmony, and you are a peacemaker. You don't understand why there is so much conflict in the world.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

World Meatless Day, Nov 25 (Friday)

Would you go meatless for the environment? What about for health?

This Friday, Nov 25, is World Meatless Day also known as International Vegetarian Day.

According to Dr P. Vythilingam, current president of the Malaysian Vegetarian Society, there are more than one billion vegetarians in the world today, with about one million in Malaysia. And the numbers continue to grow, which should be proof enough that human beings can and do survive on a non-meat diet.

Research has shown that vegetarians are less at risk of heart disease, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, cancers, bowel disorders, gall and kidney stones and osteoporosis.

If not for health, other compelling reasons for us to go vegetarian would be for the sake of the environment and animal welfare. And most importantly, anatomically, humans are not equipped to handle consumption of meat.

Industrial farming practices do indirectly lead to the health problems faced by non-vegetarians in terms of how the animals are bred and slaughtered, and the meat produced, according to Dr Vythilingam.

The good doctor further pointed out that there are a lot of antibiotics pumped into the animals to keep them healthy in otherwise harsh living conditions. There are the pesticides and DDT sprayed on the corn used for feeding livestock. And to make chickens grow faster, they are injected with hormones which can cause hormone-related cancers.

And whenever a cow is taken for slaughter, it becomes stressed and this increases the adrenaline inside its body, and this, in turn, affects the person who consumes the meat.

Further stress is inflicted on the animals in the form of the cutting of a pig’s tail (to prevent them biting each other in crowded pens), or the “debeaking” of a chick, all done without anaesthesia.

“They say the amount of DDT that is in livestock feed is 13 times more than the DDT on vegetables,” said Dr Vythilingam. “That’s a very dangerous level.”


Source: TheStar.com

Many people believe that a vegetarian diet lacks certain nutrients and vitamins needed for balance and health. It need not be so. A vegetarian meal that contains grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables will ensure a balanced diet. Iron and calcium can be found in leafy greens. Almonds, chickpeas and soyabeans also contain calcium, while grains provide protein and fibre. Vitamin B12 is only needed in microscopic amounts, and most breads today are fortified with it.

On the other hand, a non-vegetarian diet contains more fats and cholesterol. The fact is, because the stomach has to work harder to digest meat, people often feel tired after a non-vegetarian meal.

Non-vegetarians are also exposed to preservatives like nitrites and nitrates which are carcinogens. Animal diseases including mad cow disease, Japanese encephalitis, bird flu are also hazards to contend with which there are no such things in vegetables.

Let's take a look at the movement in the US and what people are doing.

From Wikipedia:

Meatless Monday – Every Week, go totally meatless on Monday – an international campaign that encourages people to cut out meat on Mondays to improve their health and the health of the planet. Reducing meat consumption by 15% (the equivalent of one day a week) lessens the risk of chronic preventable illness and has a strong positive impact on the environment. MeatlessMonday.com offers weekly meat-free recipes, articles, tips and news. Meatless Monday is a non-profit initiative of The Monday Campaigns Inc. in association with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The program follows the nutrition guidelines developed by the USDA.

Source: MeatlessMonday.com


Sources:
- The Star.. Greens for Life
- Wikipedia
- Meatless Monday

Monday, November 21, 2011

Best Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes from Delish

Malaysians, comprising of diverse ethnic groups, celebrate a variety of festivals and holidays, each culture having its own unique celebrations. Even Thanksgiving, which is celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada has also caught on here. My local friends celebrate the holiday each year. Thanksgiving in Canada is celebrated on the second Monday of October and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. This Thursday is Thanksgiving Day in the United States.

Over here in Kuala Lumpur, Thanksgiving dinners can also be enjoyed in most of the 5-star hotels. Of course, turkey will be on the menu with all the right dressings, deserts and such. What would Thanksgiving be without turkey, eh?

This being Thanksgiving week, chefs at home would be busy sourcing and shopping for ingredients to cook up a delicious turkey dinner. Thanksgiving isn't Thanksgiving without a turkey, after all it is the star or centerpiece of the meal.

If you would like to try something different this year, i.e., cook your turkey a different way from your usual, here are some Thanksgiving turkey recipes you can check out - deliciously seasoned, glazed, stuffed, or rubbed turkey recipes with homemade gravy. Recipes are compiled by Kara Rodemer on Delish.

All recipes can be found on the Delish website where there are also more turkey ideas and recipes, stuffing how-to's as well as answers to your questions on turkey. Let's have a sneak peek.

Butter-Basted Roast Turkey with Mushroom Gravy
The star of Thanksgiving will be this roast turkey, glazed with a buttery herb sauce and encircled by fresh herbs and fruits. Serve this with a lighter-than-expected Sourdough Mushroom Stuffing.


Apricot-Glazed Turkey with Fresh Herb Gravy
The gorgeous mahogany color of this roasted turkey comes from a glaze of lemon-infused apricot jam.


Citrus-Marinated Turkey
Jose Garces prepares this turkey in the same style as a traditional Yucatán dish called cochinita pibil, a slow-roasted pork marinated in citrus and annatto paste (made from achiote seeds, the condiment adds an orange hue to foods). Brining and marinating the bird make it especially succulent.


Herb-Roasted Turkey
Stuffed with onion, apple, lemon, orange, and fresh herbs, this turkey will fill the house with a tantalizing aroma. Make sure you show this beauty off at the table before you carve it. Garnish your serving platter with fresh herb sprigs and citrus wedges.

Happy Thanksgiving!

School is Out in Malaysia

School is out for this academic year, last Friday being the last day of school. School holidays do have an impact in the office. You can tell when people come to work early and less stressed as parents do not need to get up extra early braving traffic jams sending their children to school. What a relief it must be for parents.

It will be another some seven weeks before the cycle begins again. Enjoy it while you can, parents!

Football final at the 26th SEA Games - Indonesia v Malaysia

Ooh, Barracudas!
Barracudas will be the mode of transportation for the Malaysian football team who will be playing the Indonesian side in tonight's highly-anticipated football final at the 26th SEA Games.

The game will be held at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Senayan, Central Jakarta.

An anticipated 100 Malaysian supporters will brave 100,000 screaming Indonesian fans to root for Malaysia. Telekom's Team Malaysia will also be part of the cheering squad. The Malaysian team athletes and officials involved in the Games will not be attending the final according to chef-de-mission, Datuk Naim Mohd, who held a briefing for the Malaysian supporters on specific security matters.

Regarding the ride in Barracudas,

Team manager Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin said the Barracudas were “most inconvenient”. He has asked the organisers to find a better way to transport the team.

“This is the third time that a Malaysian team will be travelling either to or from the stadium in an armoured vehicle. It isn't good for the sport,” said Hamidin.

At the Suzuki Cup AFF Championships 11 months ago, the national team rode to the stadium in the Barracudas due to security concerns.

On Thursday, after beating Indonesia 1-0 in the last Group A match, the national Under-23 team were forced to take the Barracudas back to the hotel to escape a hostile crowd.


The Star online today carried this image captioned:

Angry Indonesian football fans torched the ticketing booth in Senayan after tickets for today's men's football final between Indonesia and Malaysia were sold out.

I think it is sad that friendly games are not able to be played in a friendly atmosphere without any form of aggression or violence.


Sources:
- Army Guide
- The Star

Friday, November 18, 2011

X-citing surprise from RED AirAsia X OSAKA Double Decker bus

Hope you are having better luck with the weather at where you are. Kuala Lumpur has been having rain these past few days and it is raining as we speak.

The north-east monsoon season has started in Malaysia, so if you are visiting this part of the world at this time of the year, may I suggest you also pack an umbrella or you could buy one here. Umbrellas are plentiful here and are not too pricey too. You can find them at most shops and shopping complexes. The foldable type would be more convenient to have around. A raincoat might work better though umbrellas are more widely used and easily available if you need one.

Now here is something for you if you are in KL or PJ (Petaling Jaya). Caught this tweet from AirAsia that says:

[MALAYSIA] If you're in KL or PJ today, spot the #AirAsia X OSAKA Double Decker bus & be in for an X-citing surprise!

And from the AirAsia Facebook page..

If you're in Kuala Lumpur & Petaling Jaya today, there's no better way to welcome the weekend!

Keep an eye out for the sizzling RED AirAsia X OSAKA Double Decker bus, join in the fun and participate in the activities (& catch a glimpse of our Red Hot Cabin Crew!) and you'll be in for an X-citing surprise!


There you have it. Keep a lookout for the bus and join in the fun and activities. An X-citing surprise awaits!



Image source: AirAsia Facebook page

Friday Frolics - The Christmas Tree Test

Christmas being around the corner and everything, let's do a Christmas Tree Test, shall we?

I hear Christmas decorations are already up at the malls and shopping complexes in Kuala Lumpur. Can't wait to go mall-hopping to take in the lights and all. Great time to go trigger-happy too, the camera-type I mean. And with year-end sales and discounts at every store, the city would be filled with happy shoppers. If you are visiting Kuala Lumpur this time of the year, you would be in for a jolly good shopping experience. And for now, let's get on with the Friday frolicking.. The Christmas Tree Test.



You are Brightly Optimistic



During the holidays, you're the one who has a bit of cheer for everyone.

Even when things get hectic and chaotic, you keep on smiling.



You believe it's important to have a spirit of generosity and gratitude all the time... but especially this time of year.

You get more satisfaction from giving than receiving. You're always going out of your way to improve someone's day a little.

Job Search made easy

Are you looking for a job or looking to switch jobs or helping someone find work? Help is on the way. Scroll down right to the bottom of this page where you will see a Job Search box.

This is a Careerjet search box for Job Search. What you need do is just key in the job (What) you are looking for and the location (Where) of where you would like to work. Hit 'Find' and you will get a list of jobs available in the location keyed in.

Careerjet maps an extensive selection of job offerings by listing worldwide job vacancies in one database. Traffic is driven to the original job listing website (company websites, recruitment agencies, newspapers, etc.).

Give it a try. This is a cool search tool and the job options are tremendous.

The image below is what the Search box looks like, This one is just an image so it won't work. For actual usage, you will need to go to the Job Search box at the bottom of this page. Happy searching..

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Sufiah Yusof, Maths Genius

I stumbled upon this old story that was a hot topic of the day back in 2008. Remember Sufiah Yusof, the Malaysia Math genius who got into Oxford University at just age 13 and who chose to remain in the field of the oldest trade in the world, prostitution?

I remember laughing (in disbelief) back then when I read that there were people who felt that she needed rescuing and probably to drag her back to Malaysia for rehabilitation treatment!

In an interview with “News of the World”, 23-year-old Sufiah boasts “My clients love the fact that I can stimulate their minds AND their bodies … And I don’t believe my education has been wasted – in fact I usually take problem sheets with me to solve before appointments …

Read the story here..Maths Genius Sufiah enjoys Sex Career, no Regrets, FinanceTwitter

Update:
According to Wikipedia: Sufiah Yusof (born 1984) is a British mathematics prodigy originally from Malaysia. She is now working as a social worker.

A Source for Prototype SMT Stencils

Ever seen the components on an equipment or gadget circuit board? Noticed how tiny those chips are? Even tinier are the codes on the chips? Thanks to automation, many functions can be successfully performed.

Coding on spare parts like those on chips and circuit boards are normally done through stencilling. For large quantity production runs, auto-stencilling provides speed, quality and accuracy. However, for precise control for smaller production runs, the specially-designed Prototype SMT Stencils do the job better. Besides allowing you to hand-print just the amount you need, their frameless design provides convenience for easy storage.

FCT Assembly has a range of stencils to suit every need. With numerous facilities in the United States, they are one of the electronics industry’s leading manufacturers of lead-free solder products, superior quality stencils, and precision cut parts.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Big Bad Wolf Aftermath Sale - Nov 24-28 2011

If you had enjoyed the Big Bad Wolf Book Fair the last time and didn't get enough of it, here is your chance for another go at it.

The Big Bad Wolf Aftermath Sale it is called, will have all books going for RM5 and below! Yep, you read it right.

If you don't mind the scratches and the damaged bits, the leftover books from the last book sale are all here for the picking. The Big Bad Wolf says this is your last chance at their hoard for you will never see them again at these prices.

Details of The Big Bad Wolf Aftermath Sale are as follows:

When:
24 - 28 November, 2011

Time:
10am - 9pm

Where:
Ground Floor, South City Plaza,
Persiaran Serdang Perdana,
Seksyen 1, 43300 Seri Kembangan,
Selangor

Same deal on discount: OCBC credit cardholders will get to enjoy a 5% discount during the BBW Aftermath Sale.

And now for the map to the venue, South City Plaza, Seri Kembangan. Click on map to enlarge it.

Quick, mark it down somewhere, or bookmark this page for later.

Side effects of Actos, a Diabetes drug

I read in the papers the other day that Diabetes is on the rise here in Malaysia. Our current sedentary lifestyle - bad food choices and lack of exercise - have contributed to this sad state. Fortunately, diabetes can be controlled with medication.

There are lots of medications/drugs that patients are being prescribed, one such is Actos. However, it has been found that this diabetes medication has caused some serious side effects including frequent urination and blood in urine. More serious side effects include bladder cancer, heart failure, liver damage and others.

In the United States, there are actos attorneys who are experienced and very well-versed in handling Actos claims for compensation with extremely successful outcomes.

Are you taking diabetes medication? Do you know what medication it is? It pays to know.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Bangkok flood situation - Nov 14

The Bangkok flood situation was our table-topic this morning at breakfast. I haven't paid much attention to the flood lately but looking it up again found that the situation is still a concern. Water level is still more than a meter high in the flooded areas.

(Source:earthobservatory.nasa.gov)

Bangkok Post reported that: City Hall has issued an evacuation order for 10 areas in Samae Dam sub-district of Bang Khun Thian district in western Bangkok's Thon Buri side as floods there have continued to rise.

The elderly, children and sick people are urged to leave immediately for designated shelters or other safe areas.

Overflow from Khlong Maha Sawat and Khlong Phasi Charoen caused the water level in those areas to rise rapidly. More..Evacuation order issued in Thon Buri

Meanwhile at Don Muang, Don Muang residents removed more of the "big bags" forming a floodwall on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road despite the prime minister's insistence that the barrier must stand.

About 40 residents helped to manually move the 2.5-tonne bags. Protest Leader, Mr Thinnakorn, insisted pulling the big bags away was to release some of the floodwater that has been trapped in more than 20 housing estates and to allow boats used by residents to get through. The removal of the bags was carried out in the presence of senior police from Don Muang police station.

On the other hand, according to Pracha Promnok, director of Flood Relief Operations Command (Froc), the barrier is helpful as it slows water flowing into Bangkok through upper districts.

At the same time, many more water pumps have been deployed to hasten drainage. Read Don Muang bags protest grows

I have got here a video that allows us to have an aerial view of the flooding in Bangkok.



And here is an image taken by the Advanced Land Imager (ALI) on NASA’s Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite. Image was taken on October 29, 2011.

Flood waters inundate Bangkok's domestic airport at Don Muang where flooding is most obvious, but much of the area in the image is flooded. The spaces between buildings and under trees are blue. Signs of flooding are also evident throughout the large image, which includes a much wider area.

The Don Muang Airport, a domestic airport, stopped operations after the runways flooded on October 25. However, the building housed the Flood Relief Operating Center and some 4,000 flood evacuees. The evacuees were forced to leave on October 25, and the Flood Relief Operating Center moved on October 29 when the building flooded. The airplanes shown in the image were decommissioned before the flood. Bangkok’s primary airport, Suvarnabhumi, is still operating and is expected to stay dry.
(Source:earthobservatory.nasa.gov)

Some good news as well. Recovery and clean-up work have begun at four flood-hit industrial estates in Ayutthaya as water in several parts of the central province has receded. They are Rojana, Hi-Tech, Bang Pa-in and Factory Land industrial estates.

Factory Land is almost dry as 80% of the estate has been drained. Of the estate's 93 manufacturing plants, 12 have resumed full operations while clean-up work is under way at the remaining plants.
More..Recovery, clean-up starts at four Ayutthaya estates

If you are still thinking about going to Bangkok, here is more information which may be of interest:

According to The Examiner:
Travelers from the US to Bangkok beware! The ongoing flood waters have nowhere to go in Bangkok, where over 5 feet of rain fell since March. Pacific coast travelers need to know that subways, garbage and travel are seriously affected including the Grand Palace and Safari World. Normally, only 40 inches of rain fall in Bangkok. Even worse, this water is trapped with no end in sight. California residents and travelers with travel vacation plans to Asia will want to skip Bangkok for the near future.
More..Bangkok flood spreads to subways, garbage piles up under 5 feet of rain

From CNNGo:
Most major tourism attractions in Bangkok still dry but situation remains uncertain

Mixed messages from Thai government and Bangkok officials continue to leave locals uncertain about when the city's flood situation will be resolved, as waters continue to sweep through parts of the city.

As of Monday most major tourist areas in central Bangkok, such as Sukhumvit Road, Siam and Silom, are still dry. Shopping malls, bars and restaurants in those areas are open, while most major hotels are operating as usual, including those on the Chao Phraya River.
More..Thai flood crisis: Updated info for tourists

And finally, a future concern? Will Thailand flooding be a major obstacle to contend with in the years to come?
The Thai capital, built on swampland, is slowly sinking and the floods currently besieging Bangkok could be merely a foretaste of a grim future as climate change makes its impact felt, experts say. - Floods Show What Lies Ahead for Sinking Bangkok

Related posts:
Bangkok flood situation Nov 7 Suvarnabhumi Airport is dry and fully operational
Bangkok flood - Pictures
Bangkok flood situation Nov 5
Further updates on Bangkok flood situation, Nov 1
Bangkok flood situation update - October 29 2011
Should you cancel your trip to Bangkok?
Thailand flood situation and getting updates via social media

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Factory Outlet Stores (FOS) Promotion - Buy 1, Get 2 Free

If you are looking for a good bargain on clothes, Factory Outlet Stores or FOS for short, may be the place to look.

Besides Reject Shop, FOS provides a close warehouse-like shopping experience where you can find designer labels but with a much-reduced price tag.

I have heard of Ralph Lauren shirts going for RM89 for two; DKNY jeans for less than a hundred ringgit; a D&G sweater going for RM59.90; Liz Clairborne tops for much less than the regular retail prize and Fcuk tees at a steal. Was told that FOS carries a lot of American labels including Ann Taylor and Paul Frank.

FOS can be found in many shopping malls and complexes in Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya as well as in bigger cities including Penang and Johor Bahru. There is even an FOS outlet up in Genting Highlands.

Even with reduced prices, FOS still holds regular promotions to clear their stock to make way for newer items. As a matter of fact, there is a current promotion running at all outlets. It is the Buy 1, Get 2 Free promotion in which you select three items with the Buy 1, Get 2 Free sticker on the item/price tag and you need only pay for the highest priced item and get the other two pieces absolutely free. This is the sticker to look out for.
This promotion is good at all FOS outlets and will be available as long as stocks last.

Happy Shopping!

Friday, November 11, 2011

Friday Frolics - The Present Wrapping Oracle

There are things we do that we take for granted the way we do them. Take something as mundane as gift-wrapping. No, nothing to do with getting up on a copying machine to get your skirt printed though some skirt prints do look good on wrapping papers.

We are talking about how you wrap your presents as well as the type of wrapping paper you choose. Do this interesting quiz to find out what your present wrapping habit says about you.



You Are Stylish



You are a sneaky gift giver. You're good at throwing people off the trail of what you're really giving them.

You are spontaneous and impulsive. You tend to do things quickly, and you're quite impatient.

You are very organized and together. No one would ever accuse you of being a slob.

Your style of dress is classic and chic. The clothes you wear will never go out of style.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

What will you be doing at 11.11am on 11-11-11?

Enjoying the peace and quiet in the office right now. For some strange reason, the office is awfully quiet today. All I see and feel is the sunshine streaming in from a hot 93-deg F day outside, co-workers extremely busy minding their own business, the aroma of coffee wafting through the air and the peace around me. Savor the moment, I tell myself.

Talk about savoring the moment, here is a thought: What will be doing tomorrow, November 11 at 11:11am - 11-11-11?

Will the moment catch you doing something goofy, or something meaningful and special (getting married perhaps or witnessing a birth) or something mundane and routine like sharpening pencils or still snuggling up in bed. Now there's a thought..

Record that moment and perhaps share it with the world if you like for we will not experience the moment again in this lifetime because it will only happen a hundred years (plus one day) from now.

The Star hopes you will share that moment with them. You can email them at online@thestar.com.my, send them a tweet to @staronline, use the hashtag #star111111), or Facebook them at http://www.facebook.com/TheStarOnline.

Now let me get back to savoring a beautifully quiet afternoon in the office. Toodle-loo..


Related article:
11/11/11: Why is today so rare and unusual?

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Close encounter of the asteroid kind - Asteroid 2005 YU55

This is Asteroid 2005 YU55, a mid-sized asteroid, that passed by Earth some three/four hours ago (Malaysia time).

According to CNN, an asteroid the size of an aircraft carrier passed within the moon's orbit Tuesday, the closest approach by an object that large in more than 30 years.

Asteroid 2005 YU55 passed within 202,000 miles of Earth -- about four-fifths of the distance to the moon -- at 6:28 p.m. Tuesday, NASA said.

A large asteroid as big as YU55 hitting the Earth could cause global catastrophe such as a tsunami with waves 70 feet high. However, scientists say that there is no need to worry about this one though risk of asteroid collision is real. NASA calls these "potentially hazardous objects". The next few days will provide a gold mine of information for scientists in studying the asteroid. Below is a video-shot of the asteroid path.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Anwar to be PM, even from jail

Interesting article today. Read on..

The Star reported that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be Prime Minister if Pakatan Rakyat forms the next government, says DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng. This was said in response to MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek’s question of who is going to be Prime Minister should Pakatan Rakyat win the general election.

“The answer is obvious. It is very clear that it will be Anwar as decided by all three parties,” Lim said after presenting RM100,000 to the Kong Hock Keong board of trustees chairman Datuk Lam Wu Chong for the restoration of the Goddess of Mercy temple on Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling.

When asked what would happen if Anwar were to be jailed, Lim said he would still be Prime Minister, citing Turkey as an example.

“Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan couldn’t contest because he was in jail.

“But when they won, they allowed him to contest and he became Prime Minister,” said Lim, who is also Penang chief minister.


Meanwhile in a separate article, Pahang DAP vice-chairman J. Simmathri has called on the Pahang government to issue permanent land titles to residents who had been living on TOL land for the past 40 years.

He said that about 70% of the TOL holders were vegetable farmers.

Also, Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy had said that new Tamil schools will be built if Pakatan Rakyat takes control of the government.

Currently, there are only 523 Tamil schools in this country compared with 1,500 Tamil schools in the early 1960s.

Conrad Murray found guilty of manslaughter

Finally it's all over and Michael Jackson can rest in peace?

After a six-week trial and nine hours of deliberation, the jury reached the unanimous verdict that Dr Conrad Murray is guilty of involuntary manslaughter.

Conray Murray was Michael Jackson's personal physician and was the one who gave the "Thriller" singer a fatal dose of the powerful anesthetic propofol, which was ruled as the main cause of the pop star's June 25, 2009 death. Dr. Conrad Murray had pleaded not guilty.
More..Michael Jackson's doctor found guilty of manslaughter, The Star

Monday, November 7, 2011

Bangkok flood situation Nov 7 Suvarnabhumi Airport is dry and fully operational

More on Bangkok flood situation - Nov 7 update

According to Bangkok Post, images of a Thai Airways International Airbus stranded in deep floodwater at Don Mueang airport have caused misconceptions among many people outside Thailand that Bangkok is closed to air traffic.


Images like this could be driving away visitors to other destinations according to an airport official. The reality is, the main airport, Suvarnabhumi, is functioning.

Strong 3.5-metre-high polder dykes surrounding the airport constructed in 1995 and completed in 2000 are capable of preventing penetration of water. The dykes have made the airport a closed area, whereby water cannot flow in from the outside.

In addition,there is in place a high-standard water-management system, with drainage canals all around the site to drain water into the reservoirs plus two main pump stations, each equipped with four water pumps, with ability to drain water at a rate of 12 cubic metres per second or 1 million cubic metres per day.

Also, travel to and from the airport is unaffected as the roads and the Airport Rail Link tracks are elevated above the dykes.

In any case, some locals are of the opinion that now is not the time for people to be going to Bangkok as there are far too many problems still related to the floods, including the high possibility of disease breaking out. Clean-up will take months after the flood has receded.

How about an all-around view of a flooded part of the city? Here is an interesting 360-degree panoramic view of Kaset Intersection Bangkok Flood 2011 in Bangkok




Meanwhile, another zoo in the Bangkok area has been hit as floodwaters continue to swamp the city.

The 500-acre complex, Safari World, is the second Bangkok animal park to come under threat in recent weeks, after the city’s popular Dusit Zoo was forced to relocate some of its animals when floodwaters got too close. Safari World is located in a particularly vulnerable place, east of Bangkok’s shuttered Don Muang airport in an area of the city that has faced serious, ongoing flooding.

Parts of the complex have been hit by knee-high water, but staff have pushed the animals farther inside the zoo onto higher ground. Nevertheless, “we’re not evacuating,” Mr. Litti, the executive vice-president said. In many ways that would present more challenges than staying, he said, due to the logistical issues.

More on Wall Street Journal.. Another Bangkok Zoo Gets Hit By Flooding

Image sources:
- Bangkok Post
- Wall Street Journal


Related posts:
Bangkok flood situation - Nov 14
Bangkok flood - Pictures
Bangkok flood situation Nov 5
Further updates on Bangkok flood situation, Nov 1
Bangkok flood situation update - October 29 2011
Should you cancel your trip to Bangkok?
Thailand flood situation and getting updates via social media

Madame Marie Curie - 144th birthday

If Marie Curie were to be alive today, she would have been a grand old lady of 144 years-old. The above is Google's doodle to commemorate Madame Curie's 144th birthday. She died on July 4, 1944.

Marie SkĹ‚odowska Curie (7 November 1867 – 4 July 1934) was a Polish–French physicist–chemist famous for her pioneering research on radioactivity. She was the first person honored with two Nobel Prizes —in physics and chemistry. She was the first female professor at the University of Paris. She was the first woman to be entombed on her own merits (in 1995) in the Paris PanthĂ©on.
More on Wikipedia

Syabas Nicol David!

ROTTERDAM: Nicol David created history by winning her sixth world title in emphatic fashion at the Luxor Theatre here yesterday with the promise of more to come.

The undisputed queen of world squash was in devastating form as she pulverised long-time rival and world No. 2 Jenny Duncalf of England 11-2, 11-5, 11-0 in just 29 minutes in the final of the World Open.


More..Nicol claims her record sixth world title in emphatic style, The Star

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Reggae Mansion Kuala Lumpur - Rave Reviews - Updated Jan 2013

Source: The Star

This sky-blue 3-storey building on the junction of Jalan Tun Perak and Jalan Tun H.S Lee in Kuala Lumpur is the new kid of hostels in town.

Reggae Mansion is a hostel for international backpackers. Only difference is, it does not host Malaysians, Indians and Middle-Eastern nationals which is causing an uproar among local Malaysians. Please see update below.

The hostel is not accessible to wheelchair-bound people (hostel has no lift) and those aged above 60 (Reggae Mansion is a backpacker and party hostel). These conditions are stated on their website. Formerly, Malaysians, Indians and Middle-Eastern nationals were not allowed but the conditions have changed to the following:


The hostel chain which operates here (KL) and in Penang said it provides Western meals and drinks which are not suitable for Muslims, and thus the “ban” is out of respect for the religion.

Reggae Mansion is strategically located in the city. It is near Chinatown, the nearest LRT station (Masjid Jamek station) is a mere 5-minute walk away. McDonald's and Burger King restaurants are closeby. Their rooftop Skybar serves a wide range of *ALCOHOLIC drinks and the kitchen offers their famous WESTERN and ASIAN food menus *NON HALAL.

While locals are calling for a boycott of the hostel, overseas travellers who have stayed at the hostel gave rave reviews. One guest touted it as the “best hostel i have EVER stayed”; another “The best place to stay in KL”, yet another called it “A no-expense spared backpacker palace!” One other commented, I'll stay with them again and again. In all fairness, there are some minor concerns but the positives far outweigh the negatives. You can read the reviews on Tripadvisor. Rooms are clean and secure, privacy assured, more than adequate bathrooms, ample room space, good wifi, great rooftop bar with views of the Petronas Twin Towers and the KL Tower, cheap beer are some of the inputs.

However, all restrictions have been lifted as Reggae Mansion has reversed their policy on guests.

For rooms, you have a choice of either Private Rooms or Dormitory. Tripadvisor has these pictures..
The Restaurant

Reggae Mansion Kuala Lumpur is located at
49-59, Jalan Tun H.S. Lee, Kuala Lumpur 50000, Malaysia
T : +603 20726877; +603 20726878
F : +603 20726876
E-mail: contactus@reggaehostelsmalaysia.com

Location Map of Reggae Mansion Kuala Lumpur

View Larger Map

How to get to Reggae Mansion
Attractions near Reggae Mansion

Related article:
Reggae Mansion stands by ban..The Star
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Where to get Flower Coupons

Flowers never go out of style. You don't even need a reason to send someone flowers no matter the distance. Right?

If you have friends and family overseas and you have sometimes been in a dilemma as to how to go about getting them flowers, here is a site blossoming with great deals where you can compare flower coupons to get them the best rose bouquets or basket of flowers at the very best discount.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Bangkok flood in Pictures

If a picture is worth a thousand words, below are thousands about the flood in Bangkok or rather Thailand now. These images were received in an email and no source was quoted. I would like to credit the source so if you have information about the source, please let me know in the Comments.

























And my favorite..A monkey helping a dog/puppy. Just look at the monkey's expression. Aww!

Meanwhile, the floods in Thailand are pushing up prices of fresh produce in the northern states of Malaysia including in Kedah. Prices of fish, red chillies and vegetables have increased sharply as a result of the floods in Thailand. Due to its proximity to the northern states, Thailand is the main exporter of these produce.

Red chillies are now going for between RM13 to RM15 a kg from RM8 to RM10 previously; RM3.50 for mustard (from RM2.50 previously), RM5 for tomatoes (RM4), RM5 for lime (RM3), RM3 for ladies' finger (RM1.50) and RM3.50 for cucumber (RM2). Source: The Star


Related posts:
Bangkok flood situation Nov 7 International Airport is dry and fully operational
Bangkok flood situation Nov 5
Further updates on Bangkok flood situation, Nov 1
Bangkok flood situation update - October 29 2011
Should you cancel your trip to Bangkok?
Thailand flood situation and getting updates via social media