The A to Z Challenge 2019 is a celebration of its 10th Anniversary. So Happy Anniversary A to Z Challenge and to all participants this year!
That's part of the reason I'm joining this year - the 10th Anniversary.
The other part is I'd like to complete the theme I signed up for last year but never did complete the challenge. The theme is carried forward so to speak to this year. It is still on Malaysia - what's available here, what you can see and do if you are planning a trip to this tropical paradise (ahem!).
Alright, without much ado, let's begin, shall we?
I pick Asia for A this time around. A for Air Asia in last year's challenge.
Why did I pick Asia you may ask. Several years ago I was on holiday in Australia and New Zealand and the nice gentleman at a train ticket counter asked where I was from and when I said 'Malaysia', he was like 'Where? Is it (he named a country)'. I then realized that more people need to know where Malaysia is. I'm just doing a small part.
In case you too are not sure where Malaysia is, it is in ASIA like here...
The image above is courtesy of Wikipedia.
The capital city of Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur and the administrative capital (seat of government) is Putrajaya. However, Kuala Lumpur remains the largest city in Malaysia.
The official and national language here is Malay but English is widely spoken here, so no worries there if you have a concern about communication when you are here.
According to a 2017 census, the population here is over 32 million and are made up of four main Ethnic groups:
68.8% Bumiputera (Natives and Malay)
23.2% Chinese
7.0% Indian
1.0% Others
More information can be obtained on Wikipedia.
All that's for A. And on to B..
Showing posts with label A to Z Challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label A to Z Challenge. Show all posts
Monday, April 1, 2019
Sunday, April 1, 2018
A is for Air Asia
The A to Z Blogging Challenge begins today! Exciting month ahead.
For the month of April, my posts here will primarily be on Malaysia, the theme I chose to write about for the Blogging Challenge this year. Welcome to Malaysia!
And let the Challenge begin!
A.. can be for many nice things in Malaysia but I have chosen Air Asia, but of course.
The World's Best Low Cost Airline is Malaysia's very own Air Asia. They have been the Best for the 9th year in a row. You read it right. This was revealed at the 2017 Skytrax World Airline Awards held at the Le Bourget Airport in Paris, France in June last year, 2017.
When Air Asia has a Mega Sale, at least once or twice a year, I have lost count, one is able to travel with a '0' fare ticket to selected destinations. You only need pay surcharges. Now Everyone Can Fly so says Air Asia.. it's even on their aircraft livery.
Source: Yahoo.jp
Malaysia has seen an increase in air travel for leisure - in and around the country as well as overseas because of the availability of cheap airfares, thanks to Air Asia.
Imagine going to Johore Bharu, Bali, Hua Hin or Xian for as low as RM 29! For perspective, that's roughly USD7.50. Or visit Seoul, Jeju, or Busan for as low as RM 249 (below USD65)! Incidentally, these are their current offerings for a travel date later this year. See image below. For more information, visit the Air Asia website.
Ahem... a little digression here, a pretty picture no less. AirAsia Group Chief Executive Officer Tony Fernandes married his Korean girlfriend, Chloe, in France.
B... comes up tomorrow. See you then.
You can read my posts for the 2016 A-to-Z Blogging Challenge.
For the month of April, my posts here will primarily be on Malaysia, the theme I chose to write about for the Blogging Challenge this year. Welcome to Malaysia!
And let the Challenge begin!
A.. can be for many nice things in Malaysia but I have chosen Air Asia, but of course.
The World's Best Low Cost Airline is Malaysia's very own Air Asia. They have been the Best for the 9th year in a row. You read it right. This was revealed at the 2017 Skytrax World Airline Awards held at the Le Bourget Airport in Paris, France in June last year, 2017.
When Air Asia has a Mega Sale, at least once or twice a year, I have lost count, one is able to travel with a '0' fare ticket to selected destinations. You only need pay surcharges. Now Everyone Can Fly so says Air Asia.. it's even on their aircraft livery.
Malaysia has seen an increase in air travel for leisure - in and around the country as well as overseas because of the availability of cheap airfares, thanks to Air Asia.
Imagine going to Johore Bharu, Bali, Hua Hin or Xian for as low as RM 29! For perspective, that's roughly USD7.50. Or visit Seoul, Jeju, or Busan for as low as RM 249 (below USD65)! Incidentally, these are their current offerings for a travel date later this year. See image below. For more information, visit the Air Asia website.
Ahem... a little digression here, a pretty picture no less. AirAsia Group Chief Executive Officer Tony Fernandes married his Korean girlfriend, Chloe, in France.
B... comes up tomorrow. See you then.
You can read my posts for the 2016 A-to-Z Blogging Challenge.
Monday, March 19, 2018
A to Z Blogging Challenge (2018) - Theme
The Challenge is back!
At the end of my first challenge in 2016 (can read posts here), I told myself never again. So I skipped it last year, 2017.
Looks like it's not easy to stay away and so I signed up for the 2018 challenge a few days ago (listed at No.331 on the A to Z Challenge list). Besides, the blog needs some updating as it has been in a bit of a neglect, you see.
Back in 2016, I was doing random A to Z posts with no particular theme. This year I thought I'd do a theme on Malaysia - the places, the people, the food, everything to do with Malaysia, where I am located.
Come visit if you would like to know a thing or two about Malaysia.
And if you are game to join in the fun, sign up to the A to Z Challenge (2018). Sign-ups are open until March 26. The challenge starts April 1 - an alphabet a day (excluding Sunday).
Game?
At the end of my first challenge in 2016 (can read posts here), I told myself never again. So I skipped it last year, 2017.
Looks like it's not easy to stay away and so I signed up for the 2018 challenge a few days ago (listed at No.331 on the A to Z Challenge list). Besides, the blog needs some updating as it has been in a bit of a neglect, you see.
Back in 2016, I was doing random A to Z posts with no particular theme. This year I thought I'd do a theme on Malaysia - the places, the people, the food, everything to do with Malaysia, where I am located.
Come visit if you would like to know a thing or two about Malaysia.
And if you are game to join in the fun, sign up to the A to Z Challenge (2018). Sign-ups are open until March 26. The challenge starts April 1 - an alphabet a day (excluding Sunday).
Game?
Friday, May 13, 2016
Would I do the A to Z Challenge again?
Well, that sure was fun (and challenging at the same time), the A to Z Challenge, that is.
After a month-long journey of blogging daily what did I learn on reflection?
Firstly, it got my blogging back to a more regular tempo, which is good. I hope to maintain that.
The Challenge increased blog traffic some and received a number of comments. Thank you, dear bloggers. I visited these blogs and others but didn't leave/have not left comments. One of the reasons being some required signing in, those on Wordpress which...
This is my first year and I only found out about it just about a week before the list closed. So it took some thinking as to what to write for some letters. The next time it will be different with 11 months to work on it until the next challenge. Got a couple of themes in mind already actually.
Learned new things every day from the blogs. Wish I had more time to visit more and leaving comments. But then again will now be able to do so with the rush being over.
For easy reference or if you are interested below is my list of the A to Z posts - all 26 of them in April.
April - Blogging From A to Z Challenge (April 2016...
Best Airlines in the World
Chestnuts they are a-roasting
Dengue treatment, not!
Explosion at Mid Valley Megamall in KL
Food Forests
Genting Highlands - The City of Entertainment
H is for Haze
Inter-monsoon season is here
J is for John Lennon
K is for Kuala Lumpur of course!
Longevitology or the Study of long life
M is for Mid-way of the A-to-Z Challenge
Nuan Nuan, the new baby Panda born in Malaysia
Orange - quickest way to peel an orange
Protect Your Child
Quizzes for Fun
Rain, please!
Sad day..
T for Top Ten
U is for the Unseen
V is for Vegetables
W is for Watermelon, Water, Waterloo
X is for X-factor
Y is for You
Z is for Zzzzz's and Zucchini recipes
I would encourage everyone to join in next year. April is the month.
After a month-long journey of blogging daily what did I learn on reflection?
Firstly, it got my blogging back to a more regular tempo, which is good. I hope to maintain that.
The Challenge increased blog traffic some and received a number of comments. Thank you, dear bloggers. I visited these blogs and others but didn't leave/have not left comments. One of the reasons being some required signing in, those on Wordpress which...
This is my first year and I only found out about it just about a week before the list closed. So it took some thinking as to what to write for some letters. The next time it will be different with 11 months to work on it until the next challenge. Got a couple of themes in mind already actually.
Learned new things every day from the blogs. Wish I had more time to visit more and leaving comments. But then again will now be able to do so with the rush being over.
For easy reference or if you are interested below is my list of the A to Z posts - all 26 of them in April.
Best Airlines in the World
Chestnuts they are a-roasting
Dengue treatment, not!
Explosion at Mid Valley Megamall in KL
Food Forests
Genting Highlands - The City of Entertainment
H is for Haze
Inter-monsoon season is here
J is for John Lennon
K is for Kuala Lumpur of course!
Longevitology or the Study of long life
M is for Mid-way of the A-to-Z Challenge
Nuan Nuan, the new baby Panda born in Malaysia
Orange - quickest way to peel an orange
Protect Your Child
Quizzes for Fun
Rain, please!
Sad day..
T for Top Ten
U is for the Unseen
V is for Vegetables
W is for Watermelon, Water, Waterloo
X is for X-factor
Y is for You
Z is for Zzzzz's and Zucchini recipes
I would encourage everyone to join in next year. April is the month.
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Z is for Zzzzz's and Zucchini recipes
Z is for more Zzzzz's.
Strange that the first thing that came to mind about Z is the thought that I need to catch up on having more Zzzzz's as in catching up on sleep. Many of us are in need of that, I think.
So many things to do, so little time.. Yes?
Z is also for many other things. Zebra is the most common. Ai Shiang in the Y post asked if I was going to use zebra. That's an easy one, isn't it?
Z is also for Zeppelin, Zero, Zeus, Zip, Zombie, Zoo, Zygote, Zucchini and more. And speaking of zucchini, here are three recipes to try out with zucchini.
Are you a brownies fan?
Bake yourself some delicious moist zucchini chocolate brownies.
Having an abundant harvest of zucchini from the garden? Why not make some cheesy Zucchini patties. Yum, served with a bit of tomato sauce or sour cream dabbed on top.
And here's a recipe for blueberry zucchini bread for bread-lovers!
And this ends the 2016 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Yay! I made it!
Thank you for visiting. See you around.
Image source: Allrecipes
Strange that the first thing that came to mind about Z is the thought that I need to catch up on having more Zzzzz's as in catching up on sleep. Many of us are in need of that, I think.
So many things to do, so little time.. Yes?
Z is also for many other things. Zebra is the most common. Ai Shiang in the Y post asked if I was going to use zebra. That's an easy one, isn't it?
Z is also for Zeppelin, Zero, Zeus, Zip, Zombie, Zoo, Zygote, Zucchini and more. And speaking of zucchini, here are three recipes to try out with zucchini.
Are you a brownies fan?
Bake yourself some delicious moist zucchini chocolate brownies.
Having an abundant harvest of zucchini from the garden? Why not make some cheesy Zucchini patties. Yum, served with a bit of tomato sauce or sour cream dabbed on top.
And here's a recipe for blueberry zucchini bread for bread-lovers!
And this ends the 2016 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Yay! I made it!
Thank you for visiting. See you around.
Image source: Allrecipes
Friday, April 29, 2016
Y is for You
is for You.
Yes, you.
Y can be for a lot of others...
But it is YOU I want to thank for being a part of this blog. Thank You!
Image source: Google images
Thursday, April 28, 2016
X is for X-factor
X is for X-factor.
The X-factor referred here is the television music competition franchise created by Simon Cowell. It originated in the United Kingdom and it is now held in various countries.
The "X Factor" of the title refers to the undefinable "something" that makes for star quality. The prize is usually a recording contract, in addition to the publicity that appearance in the later stages of the show itself generates, not only for the winner but also for other highly ranked contestants.
Sam Bailey certainly has that X-factor. Follow her progress, in the video below, from audition to the final and eventually wins the X-factor in 2013.
Be entertained by her X-factor/talent. Yes, be entertained. Enjoy!
The X-factor referred here is the television music competition franchise created by Simon Cowell. It originated in the United Kingdom and it is now held in various countries.
The "X Factor" of the title refers to the undefinable "something" that makes for star quality. The prize is usually a recording contract, in addition to the publicity that appearance in the later stages of the show itself generates, not only for the winner but also for other highly ranked contestants.
Sam Bailey certainly has that X-factor. Follow her progress, in the video below, from audition to the final and eventually wins the X-factor in 2013.
Be entertained by her X-factor/talent. Yes, be entertained. Enjoy!
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
W is for Watermelon, Water, Waterloo
W is for Watermelon.
Watermelon is available here all year round.
See what we can do with this sweet watery fruit or draw inspiration from it.
Notice the square watermelon. That is grown in Japan.
![]() |
| Source: Yahoo! images |
W is also for Water, precious, precious water.
Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world. Without access to safe water communities are unable to take their first essential step out of poverty.
WaterAid has been working in Mali since 2000. Over the last decade we have worked with local partners and influenced decision-makers to help more than 205,000 people access safe water and more than 208,000 people access safe sanitation.
W is also for Waterloo.. in relation to ABBA, of course. Enjoy!
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
V is for Vegetables
V is for Vegetables.
- Vegetables and fruits are an important part of a healthy diet, and variety is as important as quantity.
- No single fruit or vegetable provides all of the nutrients you need to be healthy. Eat plenty everyday.
A diet rich in vegetables and fruits can lower blood pressure, reduce risk of heart disease and stroke, prevent some types of cancer, lower risk of eye and digestive problems, and have a positive effect upon blood sugar which can help keep appetite in check.
Eat a variety of types and colors of produce in order to give your body the mix of nutrients it needs. Try dark leafy greens; brightly colored red, yellow and orange vegetables and fruits; and cooked tomatoes.
The above is borrowed from the Harvard School of Public Health website. It goes on with more information..
Eat more vegetables and fruits each day
1. Keep fruit where you can see it. That way you’ll be more likely to eat it.
2. Explore the produce aisle and choose something new. Variety is the key to a healthy diet.
3. Skip the potatoes. Choose other vegetables that are packed with more nutrients and more slowly digested carbohydrates.
4. Make it a meal. Try cooking new recipes that include more vegetables. Salads and stir fries are two ideas for getting tasty vegetables on your plate.
This one is interesting. There' also a suggestion of a Healthy Eating Plate vs. USDA’s MyPlate. Take a look.
This is the Healthy Eating Plate...
And this is the USDA's My Plate..
The Healthy Eating Plate, created by experts at Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School, points consumers to the healthiest choices in the major food groups. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate, though it has been revised to reflect some key findings, still doesn’t offer the most complete picture when it comes to basic nutrition advice.
The Healthy Eating Plate is based exclusively on the best available science and was not subjected to political or commercial pressures from food industry lobbyists. Here’s a table showing how the Healthy Eating Plate compares to the USDA’s MyPlate, section by section.
Details on the comparison is available on Healthy Eating Plate vs. USDA’s MyPlate. Worth reading.
Source: Harvard School of Public Health
Monday, April 25, 2016
U is for the Unseen
U is for the Unseen.
This is the last week of the A to Z Challenge. Though it's been challenging trying to keep up, it has been an interesting journey these past three weeks, and which now takes us to the letter U.
I have no idea why the word Unseen popped up. Let's go with it then.
Do you believe in the Unseen? The paranormal type I mean.
The ethnic Chinese of Taoist/Buddhist faith, of which this writer is a part of, just the beginning of this month took part in the ritual of tomb-sweeping, i.e., visiting tombs of departed relatives with food, incense, and other related offerings including money and clothes used in the other world.
This is a yearly affair around this time of the year. If you have seen a Chinese Taoist/Buddhist cemetery you would realise that it's very unlike the Christian ones. Chinese cemeteries have that air of 'scariness', or maybe it's just me or maybe it's the culture of belief of the afterlife and ghosts that gives us that feeling that our cemeteries are eerie.
For that reason, I make it a point never to take pictures in a cemetery when I make that annual pilgrimage to my grandparents' graves.
Speaking of taking pictures, I know someone who inadvertently snapped a picture of a ghostly figure appearing next to his friend whose picture was being taken. This took place at a staircase in a popular shopping complex downtown. Not sure if he still has that shot in his phone. That was quite some years ago.
Personally, I haven't had any such encounter. Thank goodness for that. But my roommate at a hotel in Auckland (that's right, New Zealand) had the experience. She saw one the very first night itself. Maybe because 'she' knew my girlfriend saw her, she thought it was ok to 'harass' my girlfriend after that. And she did, on the last night (fourth night) of our stay in this 5-star hotel. We were staying in one of the hotel suites.
(Lesson here - should you see a spirit/ghost, do not maintain eye contact or never let it know that you saw it. Pretend you didn't know it's there. Chances are it will also ignore you.)
I only knew about my roommate's encounter when she told me about it on the morning of the fifth day while we were waiting for our cab to the airport. My friend was not scared one bit. Such a brave lady! I would have asked for a room-change.
Want me to go on?
At dawn of the last morning of our stay, i.e. the fifth morning, I noticed my girlfriend (we slept in separate beds) was groping as if searching for something under the pillow and the sheets. At breakfast, I asked her about it and she said 'someone took off my pullover'.
You see, she had her pullover over a cotton short-sleeved blouse when we retired for the night. But come morning the pullover had been taken off and she suspected the 'thing' did it. Then she revealed that she had seen her the very first night itself. She was writing a postcard to send home. That was about 2AM when she saw a ghostly figure in white with wet long hair coming out from the bathroom. Yikes!
Why wasn't she scared, I asked her. She said she wasn't because she had with her not one but two amulets that her mom gave her.
A little about amulets. Over here, amulets are a part of the Chinese Taoist/Buddhist belief system. They are usually issued from the temple and mostly through a temple medium. He (usually it's a he) goes into a trance in which his body is being taken over by the temple deity and then he hears out anyone with a problem who need a solution. Together with the solution or advice provided (conveyed through a translator) amulets are sometimes issued when the occasion warrants it. I have seen these trance sessions and even been chased once by a medium, but that's for another day.
Back to the hotel episode, here's a tip to ensure a good night's sleep in a 'foreign' environment.
The next time before you retire for the night in a hotel room or in any strange place, do one of the following methods (someone in the know shared) on how to ward off spirits for an undisturbed good night's sleep.
1. Place your footwear each facing opposing directions by your bed. (See images.)
2. Sleep in the nude.
3. Sleep with your underwear at the head of the bed.
Nos. 2 and 3 are probably more for men but I practice the first one all the time - usually more than one pair. Yes, even in Auckland that time. Which explains, you think?
I didn't share it with my roommate because I thought she might think that I was overly superstitious. But you try it the next time you travel. I know it guarantees me a good night's sleep every time. It would too, for you. Tell me about it when you get back.
Image source: Yahoo!
This is the last week of the A to Z Challenge. Though it's been challenging trying to keep up, it has been an interesting journey these past three weeks, and which now takes us to the letter U.
I have no idea why the word Unseen popped up. Let's go with it then.
Do you believe in the Unseen? The paranormal type I mean.
The ethnic Chinese of Taoist/Buddhist faith, of which this writer is a part of, just the beginning of this month took part in the ritual of tomb-sweeping, i.e., visiting tombs of departed relatives with food, incense, and other related offerings including money and clothes used in the other world.
This is a yearly affair around this time of the year. If you have seen a Chinese Taoist/Buddhist cemetery you would realise that it's very unlike the Christian ones. Chinese cemeteries have that air of 'scariness', or maybe it's just me or maybe it's the culture of belief of the afterlife and ghosts that gives us that feeling that our cemeteries are eerie.
For that reason, I make it a point never to take pictures in a cemetery when I make that annual pilgrimage to my grandparents' graves.
Speaking of taking pictures, I know someone who inadvertently snapped a picture of a ghostly figure appearing next to his friend whose picture was being taken. This took place at a staircase in a popular shopping complex downtown. Not sure if he still has that shot in his phone. That was quite some years ago.
Personally, I haven't had any such encounter. Thank goodness for that. But my roommate at a hotel in Auckland (that's right, New Zealand) had the experience. She saw one the very first night itself. Maybe because 'she' knew my girlfriend saw her, she thought it was ok to 'harass' my girlfriend after that. And she did, on the last night (fourth night) of our stay in this 5-star hotel. We were staying in one of the hotel suites.
(Lesson here - should you see a spirit/ghost, do not maintain eye contact or never let it know that you saw it. Pretend you didn't know it's there. Chances are it will also ignore you.)
I only knew about my roommate's encounter when she told me about it on the morning of the fifth day while we were waiting for our cab to the airport. My friend was not scared one bit. Such a brave lady! I would have asked for a room-change.
Want me to go on?
At dawn of the last morning of our stay, i.e. the fifth morning, I noticed my girlfriend (we slept in separate beds) was groping as if searching for something under the pillow and the sheets. At breakfast, I asked her about it and she said 'someone took off my pullover'.
You see, she had her pullover over a cotton short-sleeved blouse when we retired for the night. But come morning the pullover had been taken off and she suspected the 'thing' did it. Then she revealed that she had seen her the very first night itself. She was writing a postcard to send home. That was about 2AM when she saw a ghostly figure in white with wet long hair coming out from the bathroom. Yikes!
Why wasn't she scared, I asked her. She said she wasn't because she had with her not one but two amulets that her mom gave her.
A little about amulets. Over here, amulets are a part of the Chinese Taoist/Buddhist belief system. They are usually issued from the temple and mostly through a temple medium. He (usually it's a he) goes into a trance in which his body is being taken over by the temple deity and then he hears out anyone with a problem who need a solution. Together with the solution or advice provided (conveyed through a translator) amulets are sometimes issued when the occasion warrants it. I have seen these trance sessions and even been chased once by a medium, but that's for another day.
Back to the hotel episode, here's a tip to ensure a good night's sleep in a 'foreign' environment.
The next time before you retire for the night in a hotel room or in any strange place, do one of the following methods (someone in the know shared) on how to ward off spirits for an undisturbed good night's sleep.
1. Place your footwear each facing opposing directions by your bed. (See images.)
2. Sleep in the nude.
3. Sleep with your underwear at the head of the bed.
Nos. 2 and 3 are probably more for men but I practice the first one all the time - usually more than one pair. Yes, even in Auckland that time. Which explains, you think?
I didn't share it with my roommate because I thought she might think that I was overly superstitious. But you try it the next time you travel. I know it guarantees me a good night's sleep every time. It would too, for you. Tell me about it when you get back.
Image source: Yahoo!
Saturday, April 23, 2016
T for Top Ten
T is for Top Ten.
For T, I'm going for a Top Ten list of various topics from cats to coffee; from Korea to Bali. Isn't the Internet an amazing thing!
First up is..
1) 10 Things Cats Hate. Planning on getting a cat for a pet? This list is a good start.
2) Many of us need coffee to start the day. Take a look at the 10 Things Coffee Does to Your Body - the good and the bad of it.
3) Heard so much about Bali but not sure what is in store for the kids? Here are 10 Best Things to Do With Kids in Bali
4) It's been reported that in Malaysia diabetes is on the rise, maybe in the world too, I don't know. The worse part is that people are not aware that they have diabetes because Type 2 diabetes has no symptoms. Here's for awareness...Ten Things You Might Not Know About Diabetes.
5) 10 Things Great Managers Do
6) 10 Things Everyone Should Know About Money
7) 10 Things You Can Do to Save the Ocean
8) Other than K-Pop what else do we know about South Korea. Find out what 10 things South Korea does better than anywhere else.
9) 10 Things to Look for When Buying a Used Car
10) 10 Things Teachers Want Parents to Know
This is my ten of Top Ten. Do you have any list to share?
For T, I'm going for a Top Ten list of various topics from cats to coffee; from Korea to Bali. Isn't the Internet an amazing thing!
First up is..
1) 10 Things Cats Hate. Planning on getting a cat for a pet? This list is a good start.
2) Many of us need coffee to start the day. Take a look at the 10 Things Coffee Does to Your Body - the good and the bad of it.
3) Heard so much about Bali but not sure what is in store for the kids? Here are 10 Best Things to Do With Kids in Bali
4) It's been reported that in Malaysia diabetes is on the rise, maybe in the world too, I don't know. The worse part is that people are not aware that they have diabetes because Type 2 diabetes has no symptoms. Here's for awareness...Ten Things You Might Not Know About Diabetes.
5) 10 Things Great Managers Do
6) 10 Things Everyone Should Know About Money
7) 10 Things You Can Do to Save the Ocean
8) Other than K-Pop what else do we know about South Korea. Find out what 10 things South Korea does better than anywhere else.
9) 10 Things to Look for When Buying a Used Car
10) 10 Things Teachers Want Parents to Know
This is my ten of Top Ten. Do you have any list to share?
Friday, April 22, 2016
Sad day..
S is a Sad day for music fans around the world.
Indeed a sad day. Legendary musician, Prince has passed away, aged 57.
Prince, whose full name was Prince Rogers Nelson, died Thursday. He was found unresponsive in an elevator at Paisley Park, his home and recording studio, in Chanhassen, Minnesota.
Prince rose to fame in the 1980s with hits like Purple Rain, When Doves Cry and Kiss.
His publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure, confirmed to AP. “It is with profound sadness that I am confirming that the legendary, iconic performer, Prince Rogers Nelson, has died at his Paisley Park residence this morning at the age of 57,” Schure said in a statement. “There are no further details as to the cause of death at this time.”
Earlier this month, due to illness, Prince had to cancel a scheduled performance in Atlanta. Last Friday, he was briefly hospitalised after his plane was forced to make an emergency landing at the Illinois Quad City International Airport. It was reported that he had been struggling with the flu.
RIP Prince. You will be missed.
More about Prince from CNN:
- Photos through the years
- Timeline of his life/Fast Facts
- Prince's Most Iconic Moments
- Celebrities pay tribute
Indeed a sad day. Legendary musician, Prince has passed away, aged 57.
Prince, whose full name was Prince Rogers Nelson, died Thursday. He was found unresponsive in an elevator at Paisley Park, his home and recording studio, in Chanhassen, Minnesota.
Prince rose to fame in the 1980s with hits like Purple Rain, When Doves Cry and Kiss.
![]() |
| Source: CNN |
His publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure, confirmed to AP. “It is with profound sadness that I am confirming that the legendary, iconic performer, Prince Rogers Nelson, has died at his Paisley Park residence this morning at the age of 57,” Schure said in a statement. “There are no further details as to the cause of death at this time.”
Earlier this month, due to illness, Prince had to cancel a scheduled performance in Atlanta. Last Friday, he was briefly hospitalised after his plane was forced to make an emergency landing at the Illinois Quad City International Airport. It was reported that he had been struggling with the flu.
RIP Prince. You will be missed.
More about Prince from CNN:
- Photos through the years
- Timeline of his life/Fast Facts
- Prince's Most Iconic Moments
- Celebrities pay tribute
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Rain, please!
R is for Rain, please!
Every September our skies here are shrouded with haze or smog but hey it's not even September yet and we are experiencing rather unhealthy air quality today in certain parts of the country.
Lest we be too ready to blame slash-and-burn land-clearing activities in Sumatra, this time, it is due to local open burning, vehicular pollution as well as peat fires caused by extremely hot and dry weather.
Yes, only heavy downpours can drench down the unhealthy particles in the air.
Think RAIN.
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Quizzes for Fun
Q is for Quizzes!
I find quizzes a great way to relax and to escape for a while from the seriousness of everyday living - sort of like mini escapes if you like.
For that reason I started Friday Frolics , my own little collection of quizzes, where I have a quiz every Friday.
Long-time readers of this blog would have noticed there's no quiz this month. But not to worry, the quizzes will be right back after the A-to-Z Challenge . And we are at 'Q' today already!
Just for a sampling below are a few quizzes, if you are up to it. Enjoy...
What Side of Your Brain is Dominant?
The Shoe Personality Test
What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have?
And one more for the road.. Find the Panda among the snowmen. Or did you find it the last time?
I find quizzes a great way to relax and to escape for a while from the seriousness of everyday living - sort of like mini escapes if you like.
For that reason I started Friday Frolics , my own little collection of quizzes, where I have a quiz every Friday.
Long-time readers of this blog would have noticed there's no quiz this month. But not to worry, the quizzes will be right back after the A-to-Z Challenge . And we are at 'Q' today already!
Just for a sampling below are a few quizzes, if you are up to it. Enjoy...
The Shoe Personality Test
What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have?
And one more for the road.. Find the Panda among the snowmen. Or did you find it the last time?
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Protect Your Child
P is for Protect Your Child.
This is a great message to spread.
We protect our email, our bank account, our phone with a password.
So why not protect our child.
From ChildPassword.com:
You can help prevent your child from being abducted
by simply doing the following:
1. Create a special password that is shared by you and your child and
other trusted people. Under no circumstances should this be shared
with anyone else.
2. Make sure your child memorises it.
3. If a stranger approaches your child and tries to convince him or her
to come with them, your child should demand the password.
4. If the stranger doesn’t know the password, your child should refuse
to go with the stranger and immediately alert a nearby teacher,
parent or policeman.
What method do you use to protect your child?
Friday, April 15, 2016
M is for Mid-way of the A-to-Z Challenge
M is for Mid-way.
M is the 13th letter of the alphabet which is to say participants of the A-to-Z Challenge have completed half the month-long blogging project.
Personally it's been quite a challenge but satisfying to know that I managed to blog regularly or find new things to write about.
Thank you for visiting and leaving your thoughts. I will have to work harder at replying and dropping by your blog. So many blogs to enjoy (more than 1700 blogs), so little time. Exciting times ahead!
M is also for Malaysia. Btw, ever wondered where Malaysia is? Here's a map to help along.
Malaysia is made up of two land masses. West Malaysia is a peninsula flanked by Thailand to the north, Singapore to the south and Indonesia to the west.
East Malaysia is on the island of Borneo comprising Sabah, Sarawak and the Federal Territory of Labuan.
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Longevitology or the Study of long life
L is for Longevitology.
Longevitology, ever heard of this technique of healing by way of adjusting energy flow in one's body?
Longevitology (Chang Sen Xue in Chinese, which translates as "study of long life") is one of several healing modalities intended to adjust energy flow throughout the body to improve the body's ability to heal itself.
The general theory of health and illness underlying Longevitology is the same as in other forms of Asian medicine: Good health is the result of energy (referred to as Ch'i, Qi or Prana) and blood flowing smoothly through the organ systems of the body; illness results when the flow of ch'i is disrupted. When proper energy flow has been restored, conditions are optimized for the body to heal. The body lives in a rich field of universal yang energy. Just as a healthy body draws oxygen into the lungs to breathe, it also draws in universal energy to replenish itself. It does so through points on the body, neural plexes called chakras. Chakras are the body’s power centers, energizing cells and organs so they can function. Each chakra governs the functioning of a different organ system. When all chakras are operating properly, metabolism will be efficient, the immune system will be effective, and waste and toxins will be readily excreted.
In Longevitology, Master Lin Tzu-Chen and Wei Yu-Feng opens the student’s chakras to receive this universal energy. Students are taught how to use this energy to heal themselves and others of common ailments. Master/Teacher Lin Tzu-Chen and Wei Yu-Feng travel throughout the world annually to teach Longevitology.
Courses are taught in Mandarin and English translation is available in some locations. Classes in Malaysia are taught in Mandarin and English translation is available. I completed all the three classes - beginning, intermediate and advance classes. I must admit, I see results, not that I have any major illness or anything like that but I find that little, little discomforts disappear much faster than they used to. I also do adjustments for family members.
People who received Longevitology energy adjustments reported the following common benefits:
•Calmness;
•Reduced stress
•Pain relief; deeper, more restful sleep
•Increased energy
•Relief from migraines, tension headaches and back pain
•Increase mental alertness
•Faster healing of injuries
•Regular elimination
•Shrinking of tumors
•Improved quality of life
•Among others.
I strongly encourage you to join a class not only for your own benefit but also for the benefit of those around you. But in the meantime if you need some adjusting to relieve some pain due to an injury or to accelerate recovery after a surgery or for any of the above, visit an adjustment center near you, if any. Adjustment centers are available to the public. There are quite a number of adjustment centers in Kuala Lumpur as well.
Here's a class schedule for you to check out. Two classes were just completed in Vancouver, Canada and the next class with be in Los Angeles and then back to Canada, Toronto, Las Vegas and then in Phnom Penh in Cambodia. This is all for April.
In Malaysia, the next class will be in June and that's in Sarawak. And then classes will move on to London, Wells in the UK and then on to Lille in France. That's all in June. Sign up, you won't regret it. Oh, did I mention that it's all free of charge? This is a non-profit organization started in Taiwan.
Perak will have a class in June, and one in Pahang in July. There's one in Selangor in July too. Yay for people in the Klang Valley. There are three classes in Myanmar in July too. Singaporeans are not left out. There's a class in July as well, end of July. And if you are in Taiwan, you are lucky because there are two classes running simultaneously in two different cities fortnightly.
Good news for you if you are in the KL area. Though not in the schedule yet, there's a class already in the pipeline to be held in Setapak in November. Let me clue you in on that, so check back on the Longevitology for updates and contact details.
If a picture tells a thousand words, here are a few more thousand words. These images show attendance and participation in class in a number of cities. No bluffing one. This is a serious affair.
Don't worry. Longevitology is not a business; nothing is bought or sold. It is not a religion, and it has no political aspirations. Longevitology groups are present in several nations, including Taiwan, the US, Canada, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Holland, Japan, Singapore, Germany, Austria and Belgium. Like I said earlier, classes are FOC.
For more information, visit the Longevitology site which is the source of information and images on this post.
Saturday, April 9, 2016
H is for Haze
H is for Haze.
Heard over the news that the Haze is making its appearance again.
The good news is air quality is still within healthy levels as what the API index shows..
Heavy rains the past few days have greatly reduced the number of hotspots especially in Sabah according to the news and cloud-seeding for rain has been called off.
Here in the peninsula temperatures are rising. Some states are seeing temperatures rising to 37°C.
Friday, April 8, 2016
Genting Highlands - The City of Entertainment
G is for Genting Highlands.
'The City of Entertainment' - this is what Genting Highlands is also known as.
Just an hour's drive from Kuala Lumpur, Genting Highlands is a place where city folk can get away from the heat and the hustle and bustle of the city.
The hill resort, at an average elevation of 1,740 metres (5,710 ft) above sea level has a cool spring-like climate with the average temperature falling in between 20°C to 25°C during the day and to around 15°C at night so it can get quite cold. Do pack a cardigan or a jacket. You will need it not only for the night but for when you go outdoors as the winds can be chilly.
Resorts World Genting has five hotels. One of the five hotels, the First World Hotel, holds the Guinness World Record as the largest hotel in the world from 2006 until 2008, and regained the title in 2015 with a total of 7,351 rooms.
![]() |
| First World Hotel |
Genting Highlands resort is popular with tourists and locals alike (like I said it's only an hour's drive from Kuala Lumpur) for the many attractions available. There is something to do for everyone from the young to the young-at-heart.
This is the First World Plaza or what is commonly known as the Indoor Theme Park, where there are games and rides for everyone. And, of course, many food outlets, you'd be spoilt for choice. The place never sleeps.
There's even a tow boat ride a la the Venice gondola.. without the gondolier, of course.
The Genting Outdoor Theme Park is currently closed, since 1 September 2013, to make way for the RM1 billion world’s first 20th Century Fox World, originally due to be completed by 2016 but has now been delayed to 2017.
Over the years, Gentings had evolved into a shopping destination as well.
Genting Premium Outlets is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2016. It will be Southeast Asia's first hilltop Premium Outlet Centre. The development will cover 600,000 square feet and costs MYR 200 million. (Wikipedia)
But now open is a Nike Factory Store, where prices are a real knockdown from the ones in the city. So if you are there you may want to check the place out. It's in the vicinity where the bowling alley is. That's right. There is also bowling (ten pin) available besides other activities to spend a fun and eventful holiday there.
A word of warning though, unless you don't mind standing in line or get caught in both human and vehicular traffic, try to avoid going there during public holidays.
If all those rides and stuff are not exciting enough for you, try your hand at the casino.
Genting Highlands operates the only land-based casino in the country. When it was first started there was a strict dress-code for men (jacket or long-sleeved batik) but not anymore. Currently, a collared shirt is what's required. No shorts or slippers allowed I should think.
Also, formerly a RM200 deposit to enter was mandatory but not anymore.
Gentings can also be reached via a cable car system. Called Genting Skyway, it is a gondola lift connecting Gohtong Jaya and Resort Hotel at the top. Its lower station at Gohtong Jaya township, located approximately 51 kilometres (32 mi) northeast of Kuala Lumpur, comprises a 5-storey station building and a 10-storey car park while its upper station is located at the Resort Hotel.
Genting Skyway is also recognised as the "World's Fastest Mono Cable Car System" with a maximum speed of 21.6 kilometres per hour (13.4 mph) and possibly the "Longest Cable Car in Malaysia and Southeast Asia". It is a 3.38 kilometres (2.10 mi) transport to the hilltop.
By the way, if you are there and if you are interested to know more about Genting Highlands do go by their gallery. It's located somewhere near the lobby of the main hotel. I stumbled upon the place on my last visit. Genting celebrates 50 years.
Also when you are there, if you are interested in exotic cars, on weekends mostly, there'll be a whole line of such cars parked just in front of the main hotel as well as at Maxims. You'd see many admirers taking selfies with the cars.
Did I mention there's an indoor heated pool? If you are a guest at one of the hotels, (but of course), that is available for you.
If you are a tourist to Kuala Lumpur and want to know how to get to Genting Highlands, check with your hotel. They'd be able to assist.
Sources:
- Wikipedia
- Genting Highlands website
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)























































