The light...

Folks, on that March 28, just before 8:30PM the telephone rang and it was our youngest grandson seven years old Azib calling to remind me that I had to switch off the light. I listen to his giggle and I smile and thought that what a way to remind Grandpa of this important event that is going to happen all over the world come 8:30PM tonight. I replied that I would do that when the time come and thank him for reminding me. Happy he put down the phone. He had told me earlier that he would switch off the light for one hour from that time. I am indeed glad that kids of this generation understood the important of doing the right things at such a early age. So folks it was really nice to see most home at our neighbourhood switch off the light for one hour on that evening.

After switching off the light at our home I went outside to look at the scene of the city. Sure enough the two landmark of Kuala Lumpur, the Petronas Twin Towers and the KL Tower are totally dark tonight. So are most of the tall buildings in the city. Great we all did it this time and I believe all the major cities all over the world are doing the same. Indeed it is great to see that we the citizen of the world could cooperate on such a project, in a small way to save our planet by conserving energy. Let us do it again and again our own way by not switching light that we do not really need, thus it not only save our planet but our money as well.

I do felt great that our kids and grand kids are in this together. Have a nice day.

Today March 28, The Earth Hour

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28 March, The Earth Hour

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Earth Hour 2009...

Folks, March 28, 2009 is Earth Day 2009. Global warming has created lots of damage to our blue planet so let us do our bits to save mother earth from getting warmer. Alone we could not do much but together we could save lots and lots of energy, so let us do it together. Come March 28, 2009 do switch off your light for an hour from 8:30PM to 9:30PM and live in the dark for that period. I believe if everyone on earth does just that we would be able to conserved lots of energy for a day. Our families in Ampang jaya have decided to do just that, so folks let do it together for our common interest. Have a nice day.

Magnificent Sight @ Kuantan...

After that grandiose episode of the sunrise at the beach at Teluk Cempedak and a short trip to Kemaman using the country road we got back to the hotel in town. As I was gazing through the window on the fifth floor of the Vistana Hotel on that beautiful Saturday afternoon I saw the sight like that of a painting on canvas; that of the sun rays penetrating the clouds over the town. It was a magic moment in time, a mystic of sort. What a magnificent sight. For a second it was beyond one’s comprehension. That one does not often see. Indeed a golden opportunity to watch such a brilliant display of the sun over the town. I wasted no time and snap a number of shots of that pictureque sight.

Here are some shots that I am sharing with all to ponder and admire of what nature had to offer in that short moment in time. Fascinating is it not. It is not always one get the opportunity to watch such a display of the sun. These images was take between 5:31PM and 5:33PM on March 7, 2009. Much as I had enjoyed taking the pictures I hope that those who visit my site would enjoy it as well. Have a nice day.

Tranquility @ Teluk Cempedak...

Oh! What a day. Here am I with my spouse on the beach at Teluk Cempedak, Kuantan at the wee hours of the morning. It was 6:30Am Saturday March 7, 2009. The weather at those early hours was cool. I had told my spouse that I want to watch the sunrise and for that purpose we drove to Kuantan. My spouse says that I must be crazy to do just that. Well I told her this trip to Kuantan is just for that purpose. I just want to be at the beach, watch the sunrise and photograph the happening. Watching the sun rise has been part of my growing up period of my life. Kuantan is my home town and this beach was where I used to camp on weekends and enjoy swimming. In those days this beach was just an isolated bay with golden beach, so undisturbed by development. To get here we had to hike on narrow path across bushes, watching the giant lizard and monkey scattering around as we walked the path on our way to the beach. Now we got here just by driving right to the front of the beach.


We used to be here in our early twenties and now on this beautiful Saturday morning; in our golden age we are sitting on the same sandy beach watching the same horizon but seeing different scenes been played in color at this hours of the morning. We thought we were early but on arrival we saw others were there already. After getting a comfortable spot I waited for the sun to rise and start snapping picture of the scene as the daylight broke. Slowly and surely the day began to transformed from dark to gray and then to dim light of amber, yellow, silver and those gorgeous shades of blue. Just above the horizon there was thick cumulonimbus clouds and it deflect the sun ray as it glow on the way up; such a magnificent sight to watch. It was just one of those majestic moments in time where the day began with the burst of such colorful display of the sun. I could feel the energy of the morning sun so refreshing, giving me that pure peace of mind that one would not get at any other places. The sea, the brilliant horizon, the magnificent sun, the landscape of greens does made such a great scene, a moving postcard of sort. Indeed such a picturesque sight to watch.

There were so many things happening at the same time. The hermit crabs congregated on the soft beach soil making pattern as it move. I sat there and watch it and for several seconds lost track of times. The bashing of the beach by the waves broke the monotony of the silence beach. Jolted back to the reality I could smell the fresh air and felt the humidity of the sea water; giving that feeling of freshness that only the environment of the beach could offer. As I watch the sun slowly rises I saw a few early birds flying low and then settled to walk along the beach picking its morning meals. Yonder I could see the flickering of lights from boats from afar that ply the China Sea.

For that moment in times I was mesmerized by the tranquility of the place and the ever changing colorful horizon. Indeed it was worth the whilst to be here. The sun had been worship for million of years and today I sat with my spouse admiring it appearance on the horizon and enjoying every minutes of the wait. The sun, our sun the source of our energy, for without it lives on this blue planet would ceases to exist. So folks do give due respect to this wonder of our galaxy and take your time to appreciate what nature had to offer for our well being. I would be coming back again and again to the beaches on the east coast to watch the sunrise and like this gorgeous morning we, that is Asmah and me did enjoy this morning at the Teluk Cempedak beach in Kuantan.

With great satisfaction we head back to the Vistana Hotel to enjoy breakfast there with another couple whom we had invited to join us for breakfast at 8.30AM that beautiful morning in Kuantan. Folks it was a great day. Colorful indeed. Have a nice day. [click image to enlarge]

Ikan Cencaru Goreng Berlada...

Folks after that cycling episode let us think of how best we could get nutritious food so as to continue to live a healthy life. Today's posting is about fish. The white meat that would give us plenty of protein and other minerals to give our body a boost to start our day. The fish shown in the images above is known here as Ikan Cencaru and in English it is often referred to as the Jacket fish. I believe because the skin is like a jacket and could be peeled off easily, thus the Jacket Fish[Torpedo Scad]. Do not peel the skin, leave it as it is after washing. To me it is not wise to peel the skin before frying, for it would released the flavour as well as the nutrition of the fish. It is best to peel the skin off only after cooking/frying. Best done as you eat it.

We found out that you get the best of this fish by just frying it with a concoction of chilly paste [dried chilly paste, sliced anion, shallot, garlic, ginger; mixed together plus salt to taste]. For this purpose you have to slit the back of the fish rather then the normal front part. Slit deep into the fish and then stuff the concoction of the chilly paste into it. Fry it on slow fire and Voila! you get a wonderful Ikan Cencaru Goreng Berlada[Chilly fried Cencaru]; to go with your steaming white rice. It is heaven!. Try it and I believe you would enjoy this wonder of a fish dish. Cooking it any other ways it would not be as good. Have a nice day. [click images to enlarge]

For the love of cycling...

It was a great morning, the weather is a bit cools and I was somewhat in the state of day dreaming. Suddenly the gate bell chimes. Who was it I wonder? At this hour of the morning I am not expecting any visitor that I know of. Maybe it was some friend just dropping by at these early hours of the morning. Well I rush to the front door and saw what look like a boy in an orange cycling gear and stopping by. At first I just could not recognize who he was but then I realized he must be that friend of mine who is now sort of addicted to cycling. I open the gate's door and he came in with a package of tea. I invite him up but he decline but instead hand the package of tea which he says came from a friend in the UK. Smiling he says that he would come later after going on with cycling around the neighborhood. I thank him and continue with my morning ritual.

An hour later he came back smiling in the cycling gear likes a young boy excited with his new found toy. Folks, he is no boy but the blogger whom I address as Pak Adib. An engineer by profession and of retiring age but still in business his own way. I went down to greet him and took some images of that exciting moment; for not always I get to snap picture of blogger with a bicycle. Above are some images of Pak Adib with his mountain bike. Look how young and handsome he is in that gear, so energetic. Folks that bike do energize this friend of mine; it is now an extension of himself. With that bicycle of his and the cycling gear that he wore, it does made him younger then his age. As for his mountain bike it came with other gizmo that would surely made cycling more colorful. Likes the Bluetooth devise that he showed me, to activate wireless his speedometer and the other gadgets. He says with another gadget when is fixed to his body it could also take his heart beat as well. What a way to go with such technology at our disposal. Taking bicycling to another level.

Pak Adib says that his gang of cycling enthusiast would put the bike onto their cars and then meet at a park in Putra Jaya or some other places and then from there would cycle around in the vicinity and enjoying the ride. It is safer to cycle around in such places rather then cycling along the public roads. They would meet from time to time or at least once a week. It is sort of like a club meet of like minded folks. In this case they all have one thing in common in that they all love cycling and outdoor adventure. It looks interesting and challenging and who knows I might take to it and join his cycling group in this adventure of another kind. Anything could happen in the golden age.

Folks it is alright to be addicted to cycling. In fact it should be encouraged. It not only save our energy resources but it is good for our health as well. Indeed it is a good hobby. Have a nice day.

One year and wiser....

Folks March 8, 2008 is one year ago. It is a milestone in our history in that we Malaysian made history by voting in numbers thus changed the political scenario of our country. To me indeed it is a good change and good for our young democracy. I for one did not expect to see these changes during my life time but for the wisdom of Malaysian especially those of the generation of my children I got to see that change. Thanks Malaysian for that.

It is my hopes that these change in the political scenario would be the beginning of more changes to our lives as we move forward. It is not going to be easy but with experiences and wisdom we would be a better country from now onward. It is democracy at work and the change is part of the democratic process; the best political system that we got and we should nurtured it for the benefit of all the citizens of our beautiful country, Malaysia. Have a nice day.

The mystic of Chilly...

Well I thought that I shall just post these images today. It is the fruit that we call Chilly that Malaysian cannot do without. It is part of our cuisine and dishes would never taste as great without this wonder of a plant, the Chilly. From the mildest to the hottest one it is still loved by all and food would not taste as good without it.

A simple can of Sardine in tomato sauce would instantly turn into a gourmet food of sort with the Chilly. Chop/slice a fresh red Chilly into pieces, cut some anions, crush a small piece of garlic, throw it into a hot pan with boiling oil, sauté it for a while and Voila! Out comes that wonder smell of that fresh chilly. Put in that can of Sardine with the tomato sauce and you would have at an instance that wonderful dish, a favourite of mine, to go with a plate of steamy white rice. With some fried salted fish it is heaven!!. Without that Chilly it would not be so. It is that wonder of the Chilly that made the differences. Hey!, wait a minutes; what would our Nasi Goreng [fried rice] be without that wonder fruit? Chilly!. What a mystic!. Have a nice day.

The Present is a Gift...

Good morning, it is the first day of March 2009. A beautiful day indeed here in Ampang Jaya. To liven up this new day in March let me begin with the posting of a reply that I did to an anonymous poster in my last posting for February 2009. She had good words on my kind of blogging and I thanks her for that. On her return visit/comment on the same subject I replied philosophically to her comment. Below is that two cents worth of thoughts:-


" Anonymous[1:38AM], Yvonne, A very good morning to you. Whether it is a raining day like now in Ampang Jaya or the sun shining bright, it is still a good day to me. We woke up breathing and that is already a good sign.

We start living yet another day, that is today. Today is the future of yesterday, it is the present. The present is a gift to us to live for another day, for the past has gone forever. We have been there and today is yesterday future and tomorrow is the future. It is the present that is important to us. It is a gift so makes hays while the sun shines for the the present would be with us only but for a mere seconds and then it became the past. That is why I kept telling that we must enjoy that very moment in time, the present. And Yvonne, the present is a gift and we all love Gifts. Accept the gift with all your heart and enjoy it for the present is but a few second with us and soon it would be the past. So do think positive and live lives by the day, the minutes, the seconds for we would not go that path again.

I am into the seventies and happy that I have enjoyed life all throughtout that jouney of life and continue to do so now. Sure there are hic up along the ways, but what is life if there are no the up and down. It is that varieties that made living so very wonderful. They say the varieties is the spices of life, true and do made it as colorful as ever and I am sure you would enjoy the day.

Yvonne do live in the present. It is a gift.

Thanks for the return visit and the kind words. Have a nice day. "

Take care.