Happy New Year 2012

Happy  New Year folks. 

May we continue to have peace and harmony in the country and with that be able to enjoy prosperity together. The year 2011 had been a great one and hope the new year would bring better life for all. 

Above is a closeup image of the stigma of the National flower, the hibiscus. 

Have a nice day.

Merry Christmas...

Merry Christmans folks. 

May we continue to have peace and harmony.  With  that we all would be able to enjoy prosperity together. 

Have a nice day.

An Outing with My Grandson...

It was a beautiful day with the sun shinning bright. I could see white clouds scattered across the blue sky up above. I thought that it would be a good day to go out to the old part of the city and visit the old Railway Station that I had not visited for such a longtime. I told my spouse that I wanted to go out and she suggested that I ask our eldest grandson to go with me. It was a good suggestion so she calls him and asks whether he would like to go with grandpa. As usual he said that he had to ask his mom first. After awhile he calls back and that his mom says it is all right for him to go with grandpa. I then pick him up at his home not far from ours and then drove the Honda to the KLCC parking area. 

Parked the car there we walk to the LRT underground station nearby. I told him that I got a Touch and Go card for the ride and that we have first get a ticket for him but he told me that he too got a Touch and Go card. With that we need not buy a ticket and could go in to the underground by using the cards. We talk as we walk. Well this boy has indeed grown up. He is almost of the same height as me now. We have seen him grow from the day he was born in 1996 and now his is 15 years old. See how time passes by and the grand kids are all grownup now. It is the first time that I had taken him to go out with me. And I felt real good to have him as my company on this visit to the old part of the city. We took the escalator to the underground station and found the train has just left.

We waited for the next train and after awhile it arrived and we went in. I found a sit and sat there while he preferred to stand. The train soon whizzed away to our distinction, the Pasar Seni Station. In between it made a few stops, soon the train arrived at the Pasar Seni Station and we got out of the station and walk downward to the footpath below. My grandson is familiar with this part of the town since he often comes here for his tuition class at one of the shop-house here. We wall along which chatting and the since both of us have not taken our breakfast yet we decided to have it at one of the Mamak Restaurant opposite the Pasar Seni or the Central Market.  We went in and he ordered a Tosei while I did the usual Roti Canai. He had Milo Ice and I had Plain Hot Tea. We sat and enjoy that breakfast and then after finishing it we decided to go straight away to the old Railway Station nearby. 

There is a path on the roadside leading to the station. We walk and then went up the step that leads us to the station. There I ask a work woman as to where is the Museum and she pointed to the direction of the main lobby of the station. With that we move along and eventually got into the station. We decided not to go the Museum first but instead to go and have a look at the outside of these old buildings that was build by the British during the colonial era. There I took some images of the station and its surrounding. Image on the left is the main office of the KTM or the Malayan Railway as the rail service is known here. We then went back and browse along the Museum. There are many things of the past as well interesting to look. All those artifacts of the old railway are of the past now and I am glad that they have set up this Museum to store all those old artifacts that are related to the bygone era of the Railway. 

As I was looking around the museum a man in uniform ask me whether I enjoy the visit. I told him I did. We got into talking and eventually found that this man is the curator of this museum and he is on Facebook. We exchanges information and I told him that I like the place and would return to spend more time here. There is so much to see and my grandson seems to be enjoying it too. This is also his first visit to this museum and I believe he is learning many things of the past here of how the only way to get around in the country in the past was only by railway.

After taking some images of the museum we left and went to visit the Pasar Seni. This is also the first time my grandson got to see this amazing market where there are so many things to see and buy. It was once a wet market that sells Fish, Chicken, Meat and Vegetable and it use to be a wet and smelly place to be. But it is not so now. It has been renovated into a modern shopping mall where handicrafts and other things of interest to tourist are sold here. There are also eating place where one could have a healthy meals. I ask my grandson whether he was hungry but he said he is not as yet, so we just sat to have some cold drinks there. 

After that we again went to see more of the stall including those outside where many artists can been seen doing their works of arts. I saw a young woman painting a portrait and I thought that she would be a good subject to photograph. I seek her permission to do so and she say its alright and to go ahead. With that I took many images of that artist in action in her little studio there. On the left is an image of her doing her works diligently. 

We then continue to browse the many stalls and eventually decided to leave and take the LRT back to the KLCC where I had parked my car. We walk to the Pasar Seni station and boarded the LRT toward the KLCC station. The train arrived and we boarded it and it whizzed toward our distinction. In just a few minutes we arrived at the KLCC station. 

Got out of the station and then walk toward the concourse of the mall. As we walk I ask my grandson whether he would like to eat something and I suggest that we take the Hotdogs at the 1901 Stall. He agreed and we sat and enjoyed that freshly steamed hotdog with cold drink. After that we head straight to the parking lot in the basement and then I drove the Honda back home. Well, it was indeed an interesting outing with my grandson, one of those days in the life of a grandpa. 

Have a nice day. [Please click on image to enlarge]

The Senduduk buds....

Senduduk is a wild flowers that grows well on the roadsides and in between rubber trees in Rubber Plantations. As a child we would eat the berries and get our mouth all colored purple. Growing up in the forties and the fifties kids make their own toys and one of it is the bamboo gun. The buds of the Senduduk as seen above are use as bullets for the gun.  The above image was taken with a Micro Lens. Enjoy it folks.

Have a nice day.

Of Grass..

Well folks we see grass everywhere but do we really notice it and give some thoughts on its importance to our survival. Just take a second and think. Would we be able to live on this planet without oxygen? It is the greens on this planets that provides us with the oxygen that we so needed for our survival on this planet. And one of the many greens is the ordinary grass that we see on the roadsides and on the playing fields. Without oxygen we would all perished. It not only gives the look of freshness which is so pleasing to our eyes, it is also one of our important sources of Oxygen. 

So the next time you passed a patch of grass do give some respect to these humble plants. Above is the flower of a blade of grass that grows in front of my house. See how beautiful it is when look at close range. I took that flower of the blade of grass using the Macro Lens and it turn out to be such a beautiful image of that humble grass. Enjoy it folks. 

Of Pollination...

In everyday life one takes the flower as beautiful or just brushes it aside and move along, at time hardly noticing it. It is only when photographed that one get to see the wonder of a flower. One of it is the stigma as seen at close up. It is the sticky part of the pistil where birds and bees in search of nectar would left pollens on the flower, thus help in the pollination process of the plant.  Above is the closeup of the pistil of a white Hibiscus in my little garden, an amazing part of nature as seen using a Macro Lens. Enjoy it folks.  

[ Click on image to enlarge]

Have a nice day.

The Ant...

Above is an image of a little Ant enjoying it morning visit to the Hibiscus flower behind my house. 

The image was taken using a Macro Lens. 

The image above shows how small the ant is  relative to the flower.

Enjoy it folks.  Have a nice day.

[Please click image to enlarge]

Of iPad and Photography...

I have been toying with the iPad since I start using it from August this year. It was a gift from my kid on my 72nd Birthday on August 17th. Indeed a great gift and I cherished it very much. I found it to be using an advance computing technology putting the Laptop to another era. Tonight I tried the camera using the special effect Apps provided and the result is as you see above. I am astonished as to the quality of the image, awesome indeed. And sharing it here for all to see and enjoy. Have a nice day.

November 11, 2011[11.11.11]...

Woke up to a beautiful Friday in November. Today it is special folks for today the date is written as 11.11.11. Not always we get this combination of date, month and year. I am posting this at 11.11AM Malaysian time today. so that we get all the one's that happens today. 

Have a nice day folks and take care.

This year Eid Adha...

This year Eid Adha falls on November 6, 2001. Woke up early and together with our son-in-law and the two grandsons went to attend the special Eid Adha prayer at the local mosque nearby. With the two granddaughter now studying overseas it left little Adibah to help grandma, her mom and Auntie Lin in the kitchen preparing the cakes and cookies for the Eid. 

She had insisted of making some cookies and with the help of her auntie Lin got it done. With her two elder sisters away she was left alone to do her things without been tease or disturb by the elders. And the result of her works is the image above; tasty and colorful indeed. She did well and we are happy with it. 

While she was happily in the kitchen her two siblings are busy at the computer as seen in the image on the left. 

Meanwhile Lin our youngest daughter who has taken over the kitchen from her mom did the Butter Cakes. It is one of my favorites cake and I love it. 

As for the lunch she prepared a Chicken Biayani which turns out to be good. Better then the one we often ate at the restaurant nearby. 

Well folks we did had an enjoyable Eid Adha. It was indeed a great family reunion. 

Have a nice day.

[All images was taken with the iPad camera - please click to enlarge]

ETS - Malaysia first Electric Train...

Well, this is new to Malaysia. They had been on this project for years already and I found the first phase was completed this year and the service start operation last May. It is call the ETS, short for Electric Train Service. As usual with me I wanted to try something new and this is surely going to be an interesting ride on an electric train in the country. So I planned to take the train to the north, to the city of Ipoh, the capital of the state of Perak. I ask my spouse whether she wanted to go too but she decline saying that it’s not that comfortable to sit for the more than two hours ride. I told her that I would go alone and try it. A relative who heard of me going call and say that he wanted to go too; so that was nice, we have now two cranky old man to take the trip together. 

On the gorgeous morning of October 13, 2011 we made history. I had told that relative of mine to meet me at the Sentral Station and we would take the 10:45AM train. This train would make a few stops on the way with the ETA in Ipoh at 13:01.  There are three types of services to Ipoh; one a nonstop, another with a few stops and the other with many stops. We decided to just take the one with a few stops that leave at 10:45 in the morning. [image on the left is the Ipoh Railway Station]

It was a beautiful day with the sun shining bright. I could see some white clouds against the blue sky.  It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day to travel. I drove the Honda to the parking lot of the KLCC then walk to the underground station of the LRT nearby and took the LRT to the Sentral Station arriving there just before ten. The Sentral Station, the hub of the railways service to all part of the country is already hived with folks like any other central station in the world are at this hour of the morning. It was really nice to see so many people on the move and going somewhere. We are actually going on a trip to nowhere. Just for the fun of it only. That folks is the beauty of been a retiree, nothing to worry and with plenty of time to ourselves. Time is ours to use how and whenever we like careless of the happening in the real world. Life if beautiful and I am enjoying it. So this first trip on the ETS is going to be an enjoyable one. Besides I had my iPad with me and could surf the net and at the same time give live commentary in Facebook for the world to share my trip today. 

I went to book the ticket and for senior we were given a 50% discount and that amount to just RM27.00 one-way. At 10:45Am we boarded the train and it whizzed it way to Ipoh with a few stops on the way. We both got seats on the front and nearer the TV screen overhead, where they show some movie and the same time the time as well the speed the train was traveling. I took my iPad and start surfing the net. It was really nice to going places when one could just take it easy and enjoy the ride. With the iPad I did a live posting of the happening on FaceBook all the way until we arrived in Ipoh. While in the train drink and snack were sold. I ordered a black coffee and a sandwich. The coffee taste good and the sandwich were as well. I relax and enjoy the ride while surfing the Net. Soon there are comments on the FaceBook posting. I replied the best I could and kept posting new images of the happening on the train and the scene outside. [Image on the left is the Ipoh tree]

On arrival we got outside the station and since Lias, my relative knows this part of the town well, he took the lead. There is a beautiful park out-front of the station. I love park so I took the time to browse along and took as much images of the well manicured garden. The greens on the park refresh me. I wonder along and found there is wealth of knowledge in that little park. Here planted in a prominent setting is the Ipoh tree, a tree where the poison Ipoh latex came from. It was use by the native to poison their blowpipes darts. The place that was once a jungle full of the Ipoh trees is now a sprawling metropolis the capital city of the state of Perak. Ipoh soon became the mining town and now the name of that humble tree is the name of that town call Ipoh. In this garden too there is a Cenotaph to commemorate the lost of lives during the second world war where many lives was lost building the infamous railway-line to south Thailand. After awhile we decided to move on and eventually went to have lunch at the food court behind the Town hall building. After that lunch of a traditional Malay food we decided to just take a spin on the town by taxi. As usual we got to talking with the taxi-man that adds to our knowledge of this town in the north. We decided to get some of Ipoh's famous White Coffee and then took the ride back to the Railway Station. 

There we decided to get the 4PM train to KL. While waiting for the train we decided to have coffee at the Station's cafe. It was nice to sit outside and watch folks gather to board the train. As usual, with the iPad I posted an image of us while having coffee there. Unlike the laptop one does not have to download the photo from the camera and then post it to FB. With the iPad it was made easy; just click and then post it using one of the Apps. In my case I use the Mypad+. Voila it got posted while we were sipping coffee there. Soon the train arrived and we board it and this time it whizzed away to Kuala lumpur. As the train approach Kuala Lumpur I saw scenes of my city that I had not seen from this angle. I took my camera and snap a number’s of the changing scenes. It was a magnificent sight to see the panoramic scenes of the city. The images are as I had posted in my earlier Blog posting here.

It was a great train ride to and fro KL-Ipoh-KL and indeed a value for money. The interior was beautifully done with a cheerful concept. The ride was smooth and comfortable all the way. How I wished this ETS would go north as far as Penang and to the South as far as Johor Bahru, our gateway to Singapore.I did had a great time on that train ride. An enjoyable day trip indeed.

Have a nice day. [Please click image to enlarge]

Genting Highland...

Above is a scene of Genting Highland resort in the clouds as seen from the Karak Highway.  The image was taken last March while traveling toward Kuala Lumpur from Kuantan. I was not driving thus I took that image on that cool afternoon.  Enjoy it folks. 

Have a nice day.

Of Waffle...

I love Waffle but could never find one to my liking in the restaurant or at shops that sell cakes. So when our daughter Lin were around last week I bought some Strawberry and ask her to make some Waffles for me. Without much ado she start from scratch and did it for me. Above is an image of that wonderful waffle that I had as dessert. It taste so good that I had a second helping. What a day and I enjoyed it. 

Have a nice day.

Enchanting Kuala Lumpur.

It was a gorgeous evening with the sun shining bright. I was in the train returning to Kuala Lumpur after an interesting trip up north to the city of Ipoh. As the train approaches the city of Kuala Lumpur; for the first time I get to see Kuala Lumpur in such a beauty the evening sun had on it. It was a magnificent sight to watch and wonder as the ray of sun play itself on the skyscrapers of the city. The glasses of the outer wall of the buildings seem to dance in the light, turning the scene into a colorful work of art as in a painting.  It is my city and I love watching it from this angle. I have live in this city for almost forty years and have seen it develop over times from a small city into a sprawling metropolis of 1.5 millions people. Above are the scenes that I had managed to snap through the window of the moving train.  Magnificence scenes indeed!  

Have a nice day.

Mixed Fruits Chutney...

I loved Fruits Chutney [Acar Buah Buahan]. It is one appetizer that we always have in the house. We would enjoy it when eating steamy hot rice or with Biayni rice. Since it is not widely sold in the market or the quality is not that good we do not buy it. Instead my spouse would make it for our own use, as well to give to friends or relatives. 

So last week after we got all the dried fruits my spouse prepared it.  It is like making jam or pickle. The difference is that here the fruits is cook in oil and spices and then bottled. It could be eaten immediately but it is best after three days. By that time every ingredients that are use to make the Fruits Chutney has fermented evenly with the fruits. And it would taste good. Like Jam and Pickle it can stay fresh for a long period of times. For a longer shelf life it is best stored in the fridge. 

Have a nice day.

In Remembrance of Steve Jobs 1955 - 2011

A genius of our time. He gives us the best computer technology of our times. May he rest in peace. Apples announcement of his demise here.

[Image taken from Yahoo.com]

The Train Ride...

I was invited to give a Luncheon Talk at the Stamford College in Petaling Jaya. It was to be held at 1PM on September 28, 2011. Since I did not want to drive there I decided to just parked my car at the KLCC parking area and from there takes the LRT to the nearest station to the college. I was told by the Lecturer Rabiah who had contacted me earlier that she would pick me and suggest that I stop at the Asia Jaya LRT station. So just after 11AM on that beautiful Wednesday morning I drove the Honda to the KLCC car park and then walk to the station using the subway to the KLCC LRT station across the road. I used the Touch n Go card to get in and proceed to the underground station.

Soon the train arrived and to make sure I am taking the right train I ask a young woman nearby as to the right train and she was helpful indeed and told me that this is the one to take. The train stop and its doors opened. I went in and try to find a seat but there was none. The youngsters does seem to care to give their seats to an old man, so I just hang on hoping that someone would leave and I would take the seat. I need the seat because this is going to be a long ride. While I was waiting someone from behind me tap my shoulder and showed me the empty seat beside his. I thank him and sat there; happy that now I could just enjoy the ride.

The ride from the KLCC station to just before the Central Market station was underground, thus it was dark throughout the journey. Just after the Masjid James station the train went up into the open track above ground. It was really beautiful to see the burst of light as the train emerged from darkness of the underground to the clear blue sky as it move on above the street. From here the train travels above ground. On a clear day like that day I could see bright scenes of the streets on both sides of the moving train. It was a panoramic view all the way. I took my camera and take a few snaps of the scene. I felt real good sitting in the train, took out my iPad and surf the Net and wrote a few posting on Facebook. The iPad works well indeed in the train since I got 3G connection throughout the ride. It would surely be not that easy with the Laptop. Now I know why the Tablets computer is getting popular among the masses especially the young; its so versatile, light to carry and easy to use. After awhile I put back the iPad in the bag and just watch the changing scene as the train stop at one station after another. After just twenty five minutes the train arrived at the Asia Jaya station. On the way down to the ground level I call the Lecturer Rabiah who had promised to pick me up, telling her that I had arrived. She said to just wait at the front of the step and that she would come over in minutes.

I take my time to look for the way to get out of the station. I move on without really going anywhere. I then ask a passerby and he pointed me toward another direction, the way to get out of the station. This is my first time at this station thus the confusion. With that I walk toward the step-way and then wait for her to arrive. Well when one wait time seem to pass by slowly. Since I had only spoken to her on the phone I actually do not know how this lecturer look so I watch for any car that would stop but most of the car just passes by and move on. After awhile a dark color car with a charming petite woman stop and I knew in that instance that it must be that Lecturer. I move toward the car and peep through the widow and mentioned her name and sure enough it was her. Without much ado I got into the car and then she sped away. We chat on small chat while she drove and eventually arrived at the college. Well folks it’s going to be the beginning of a beautiful day here at Stamford College in PJ.

Have a nice day.

The Talang flower...

Above are the Talang that grows in my little garden. It is a creeper plant and would grow well in the open where there are plenty of sunlight. The Malay use this flower for food coloring especially when preparing the blue color Ulam rice. 

Have a nice day.

While the time away...

After that great time at the Mamak restaurant at Ampang Point I move to the old part of the city. My nephew had wanted to do some shopping at Maju Junction Mall, so I decided to tag along. While he did some shopping and getting supplies for his business I just browse along. Then decided to have some food and drink at one of the shop at the front of the mall, As this is the first time I am here I decided to try a posh looking place call the Noodle Station. I took a table outside facing the main road and ordered a Mee Mamak and Ice Lemon Tea. I then took out my iPad and ask the waiter for the WiFi password. With that I start surfing the Net while watching folks goes by.

The order came and I sat to enjoy that Mee Mamak, one of my favorite food. I felt really good to sit here in the middle of the city and enjoying the cool fresh air that comes with the breeze in the open-airspace of the place. Opposite on the other side of the road is the former Rex Cinema. In those days it was one of the cinema that show great movies when it come to Malaysia. It was always packed to capacity when it opens its door every day and night. I remember I did watch one of the great movies at that time. It was that hilarious movie entitled 'And God Must be Crazy'. As usual with this road it is always jammed with traffics that ply this road that was famously known once as Batu Road. Well it is on this street that the Japanese soldiers march when they came to take over the capital city of Malaya and occupied Malaya for three years. It must have been a terrible scene of those happening to watch then. Indeed a bitter period of our history. Well that is history now and now KL as it is popularly known is the capital city of an independence country Malaysia.

Then my nephew joins me and he ordered Chow Kweh Teow. I believe this place would be filled with youngsters enjoying their evening on this sidewalk place of happening. I remember during my youth we would hang out at such places on weekend to have a drink with friends and enjoying ourselves, careless of the happening around us. It was a great time then and I believe the youth of today does the same thing and enjoying themselves too. Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman [Batu Road] in Kuala Lumpur was the happening place during the colonial era where some of the best restaurants and bar are situated. The restaurants and bar are gone now. Today it is a place where folks go to shops to buy things that are cheaper than in the Mall. Anyway it is as crowded as ever and I still love to take a slow walk on the pathway of the old shops.

Here visitors could get a glimpse of the past where once there was no shopping mall but rows and rows of shop houses that sell almost everything that one needs. Well folks time has changed and there are a few shopping malls here now. I believe tourists would love this part of the city since nearby is the 'Little India' and 'Wisma Yakin' a shopping complex that sell  things Malay. Where one could get a taste of the fusion of culture of what made Malaysia such a unique place. This places are well-connected by the LRT and buses, so if you tourists out there who want to seen this old part of Kuala Lumpur do get there the cheaper way. Not too far from the shopping complex and shop houses is the famous Dataran Merdeka or Independence Square; The large green field opposite is the reminiscence of the British colonial era. The old Government offices and the Courthouse opposite the Merdeka Square are a good example of the great architecture then. These buildings are heritage building now and it worth a visit to see the past in one great spot of the city...

Have a nice day.