May Day

Time flies pretty fast. It’s finally the end of April and tomorrow is Labour Day which means public holiday for most countries. The day recognises the contribution of working people towards society but much more than that, it is also an opportunity to take a break in more ways than one. Several countries celebrate Labour Day on May 1. However, a few countries celebrate on a different day. In United States and Canada, it takes place on the first Monday of September.

How I wish that this year's Labour Day falls on Friday instead of Thursday. At least, I can fully enjoy the weekends 3 days stretch in a row if the holiday falls on Friday. Anyway, a break is better than nothing. Some countries hold multi celebrations including parades, concerts and other patriotic and labour-oriented events. Well, nothing unusual is happening in Malaysia. Hopefully, the weather will be pleasant tomorrow so that I'll be able to go shopping. The freaking heat is just unbearable these days.

Here's wishing Happy Labour Day to everyone, although i guess most of you will just laze around and catch up on beauty sleep on the first of May.

Hair dyes found to increase cancer risk

A woman's hair, as they say is her crowning glory. Hair–coloring is somehow popular these days. Obviously a person with colored hair looks more trendy and fashionable. Choosing the right color is another big decision.

There are a growing number of people who has turned to hair dyes. As for me, I have no intention on colouring my hair at the moment. Reason being it can eventually lead to hair thinning and loss of hair. Hair dyes can be harsh on the hair, leaving it damaged and brittle. Besides, I'm quite comfortable with my natural hair colour. After all, my hair colour outshines during broad daylight.

If you want to color your hair but have concerns about the safety of commercial hair dyes there are alternatives. There are tons of homemade hair dye recipes to be found on the Internet. Henna is also an option that shouldn't be harmful to your hair.

According to scientists, use of artificial hair dyes increases the risk of bladder cancer, lymphoma, and leukaemia not only for those who colour their hair but also hairdressers in close and regular proximity to the chemicals. This is a stern reminder to everyone who frequently use commercial hair dyes.

Great Words To Share

Star Fruits :Life Threatening??

It has been quite sometime I didn't buy any star fruits to eat. Its pretty terrifying when I read about the news that star fruits can be hazardous especially for those with kidney failures. Here's a stern reminder to all bloggers to take note. There are a lot things which we are clueless of the star fruits effects until something awful happened.

The Star reported that the 66-year-old, Tang Gon Seang who has been suffering from a kidney ailment, was in Shenzhen visiting his son, fell into a coma on March 29 after eating star fruits. Besides, there are a dozen people sufferred the same condition after consuming star fruits as well. Initially, I thought it could be due to some pesticides that was sprayed onto the starfruit in China but according to the doctors, starfruit can actually cause drastic effects to some kidney patients.

Star fruits contain a neurotoxin not present in other fruits. This poison can affect the brain and nervous system. The star fruit, while seems harmless for most people, can turn deadly for those suffering from kidney problems. This is because people with diseased and weakened kidneys are unable to filter out this toxin. As little as one fruit or 100ml of its juice can lead to serious implications.

If you have kidney impairment, DO NOT consume starfruit or starfruit juice. Because no effective treatment is currently available, patients especially those who are newly diagnosed with chronic renal failure or end-stage renal disease must be warned not to ingest star fruit, even in small amounts. However, healthy individuals should beware of this fruit's potential toxin too. It could also affect your health if you are not lucky. Having said that, I'm not too sure whether my kidney is in good condition. So it's better to play safe than sorry.

Some of the initial symptoms of start fruit poisoning include:

Hiccups
Numbness and weakness

Feeling confused

Agitation

Epileptic fist

health

Earth Day- Go Green

Today is Earth Day. It started in 1970 to raise awareness of the issues surrounding our environment. Earth Day and every day is a time to help save the planet and go green. It shouldn’t be seen as just another day in our calendar. There are many web pages dedicated to Earth Day on the web.

I hope that everyone will take the opportunity to contribute something for the Earth today. It doesn’t matter how small of a gesture. It can be writing a post on your blog promoting environmental awareness, plant a tree, go organic, recycle those old newspapers or anything related to Mother nature.

So how will I celebrate Earth Day?

It’s easy to take small steps.

• I'll start by conserving energy at home, turning off lights, computers and other electrical appliances when not in use.
• Recycling my household and office waste.
• Learn the art of recycling by attempting to dispose of aluminium cans and batteries at recycling centres.
• Being careful with my home and garden water usage, and more – towards greater environmental responsibility.

We can all do something, and thus help make an important difference. To green bloggers, Happy Earth Day!

World's Largest Ferris wheel

Singapore Flyer

London Eye

The world's largest Ferris wheel, the Singapore Flyer, opened its capsules to the public recently, offering a bird's eye view of the city as well as parts of neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia. It's a new icon for the city. You will be able to experience spectacular views of the Singapore skyline: the magnificent Marina Bay, towering skyscrapers, tropical greenery, and the bright lights and non-stop action against the beautiful skies. Having said that, I haven't been to Singapore for ages. There's so much development going on and it's bustling nevertheless.

Standing at 165 metres (541 feet) high, the Singapore Flyer, is 30 metres (98 feet) taller than the iconic London Eye. The capsule in London caters for 25 people, Singapore 28 while Beijing can cater for 40 people.

The Singapore wheel will not be the world's tallest for long, as the same group that will operate the Flyer is building a 208-metre high wheel in Beijing by the summer Olympics in 2008 and plans a 172-metre wheel in Berlin by 2009.

Initially, I intended to bring my family to conquer the Singapore Flyer during the upcoming school holidays but I changed my mind when I found out about the Beijing ferris wheel. I've climbed the Great Wall of China and god willing I 'd love to embrace the Great Wheel of China in the near future.

ferris wheels

Olympics Torch Run in Kuala Lumpur 2008

There is something about the Olympics that somehow inspires me. It is a real person's game, full of passion, enthusiasm and courage and best of all Olympics unites people regardless of backgrounds.

The KL(Kuala Lumpur) leg will take place on the 21st April 2008. Each torchbearers will run a distance of 250m within a time of 2.5 minutes, making a total distance of 20km covered by 80 torch bearers comprising local personalities and former and current Malaysian athletes. It will begin at Merdeka Square and end at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre. Along the way, it will pass by Wisma OCM, the City Hall building, Parliament House, the National Museum, National Mosque, old Central Railway station and the Chinese Assembly Hall. KL is among 21 cities outside China that are hosting the Olympic Torch Relay.

The Olympic Torch Relay in KL will also publicize the Visit Malaysia Year Campaign, which has been extended to August 31, 2008, through the live TV coverage of the Relay throughout the world. The torch arrived in KL from Bangkok before proceeding to Jakarta. KL last hosted a leg of the torch relay when Tokyo hosted the Olympics in 1964.

Beijing Olympic Torch Relay route

Olympia - Marathonas - Athens (Greece) (by airplane) Beijing (People’s Republic of China) (by airplane) Almaty (Kazakhstan) (by airplane) Istanbul (Turkey) (by airplane) St. Petersburg (Russia) (by airplane) London (Great Britain) – Paris (by airplane) San Francisco (USA) (by airplane) Buenos Aires (Argentina) (by airplane) Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) – Muscat (Oman) – Algiers (Algeria) - Islamabad (Pakistan) – Mumbai (India) – Bangkok (Thailand) – Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) – Jakarta (Indonesia) – Canberra (Australia) – Nagano (Japan) – Seoul (South Korea) – Pyongyang (North Korea) – Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) - Hong Kong – Macau – Sanya - Wuzhishan - Wanning - Haikou - Guangzhou - Shenzhen - Huizhou - Shantou - Fuzhou - Quanzhou - Xiamen - Longyan - Ruijin - Jinggangshan - Nanchang - Wenzhou - Ningbo - Hangzhou - Shaoxing - Jiaxing - Shanghai - Suzhou - Nantong - Taizhou - Yangzhou - Nanjing - Hefei - Huainan - Wuhu - Jixi - Huangshan - Wuhan - Yichang - Jingzhou - Yueyang - Changsha - Shaoshan - Guilin - Nanning - Baise - Kunming - Lijiang - Shangri-La County - Guiyang - Kaili - Zunyi - Chongqing - Guang’an - Mianyang - Guanghan - Leshan - Zigong - Yibin - Chengdu - Shannan Prefecture - Lhasa - Golmud - Qinghai Hu - Xining - Ürümqi - Kashi - Shihezi - Changji - Dunhuang - Jiayuguan - Jiuquan - Tianshui - Lanzhou - Zhongwei - Wuzhong - Yinchuan - Yan’an - Yangling - Xianyang - Xi’an - Yuncheng - Pingyao - Taiyuan - Datong - Hohhot - Ordos - Baotou - Chifeng - Qiqihar - Daqing - Harbin - Songyuan - Changchun - Jilin - Yanji - Shenyang - Benxi - Liaoyang - Anshan - Dalian - Yantai - Weihai - Qingdao - Rizhao - Linyi - Qufu - Tai’an - Jinan - Shangqiu - Kaifeng - Zhengzhou - Luoyang - Anyang - Shijiazhuang - Qinhuangdao - Tangshan – Tianjin – Beijing (People’s Republic of China)

Million Blog List- A blogosphere experiment

I'm #472 on the

Million Blog List is trying to experiment to find out how long it takes to get 1,000,000 blogs listed themselves on their website. To get yourself listed, click the above logo. Please create an account before you add your blog address at the bottom of the list. Since you have nothing to lose, join me. Looks like I'm currently #472 on the list, not a spectacular number I'd say.

Meanwhile, another Wikipedia initiative is the Wiki Blog Directory, an open blog directory launched a few days ago where you can list your blogs in as many categories as is appropriate. Get yours listed at http://www.wikiblogdirectory.com/ for free. In addition to this, you can submit your best posts to Yearblook a competition to find the best blog posts.

What drives Lindsay Lohan to pose nude?

For a role as a nympohmaniac waitress in the upcoming low-budget film Florence, Lindsay Lohan has offered to strip naked in an effort to revive her failing career. Producers were happy for Lindsay to appear topless but she was eager to go naked to prove herself as a mature actress. Lindsay Lohan sure needs very little persuasion to get naked these days, for artistic purposes, that is. She is willing to get naked on camera for just $75,000?

An insider told The Sun: "Lindsay doesn’t care she’s getting paid peanuts. She wants to remind people she can act and that she is worth hiring."

Most of us have heard about Lindsay's troubled early years of drunk driving and cocaine. I guess she is getting pretty desperate nowadays and the rehab centres ain't working for her. I think stripping has become a passion that she truly enjoys doing for now.

She has recently posed nude for the New York Magazine, recreating Marilyn Monroe's legendary last nude photo shoot by Bert Stern. The actress is also working a new music album and she's hoping for big chart success. Lindsay Lohan and music? Somehow, I just don't see it.

Underground telephone cables stolen

There was a break down of telephone system near my hometown following removal of underground cables on Saturday (12.04.2008). Hundreds of telephone connections were completely disrupted. Looks like the copper thieves have struck again. Such stories are neither new nor uncommon, where cable theft often happens here. These crooks often cut the overhead lines and sell the contents of the cable, to the scrap metal dealers by weight as the price of copper is very high on the local market. I believe it is going to continue to go on for some time to come. It is extremely frustrating to the telephone subscribers when they suffer this kind of thing. This could take anything from a week, to a few weeks.

So far my area was not affected by the cable theft. Otherwise I'd be stranded in a misery moaning and groaning. I guess I'm pretty much connected into the cyberspace which really suits me very well. Infact, it has become the norm for people to exchange ideas via emails as well as using various messenger systems. Apart from that, the net has broadened the circle of people I know.

Anyway, I hope the telephone connections will be restored as soon as possible. The investigations are in progress and a hunt has been launched to nab the thieves. Police are now appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

American Idol Gives Back 2008

American Idol held a concert to 'Give Back' to third world continents recently. The show was intended to raise funds for 6 charities including The Children’s Defense Fund, Children’s Health Fund, The Global Fund, Make It Right, Malaria No More and Save the Children. I really appreciate the fact that American Idol took the time to raise awareness for the worthy causes highlighted. The Idol give back foundation is a great effort trying to end poverty and child suffering. Wouldn't it be nice and wonderful to put the smiles back on the faces of children and the needy? Obviously, American Idol will be able to raise millions and millions of dollars for various causes around the world.

Many celebrities have graced the show and encouraged people to donate. I enjoyed the performances by Fergie, Heart, Carrie Underwood, Annie Lennox, Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan and John Legend. The cast of So You Think You Can Dance opened Idol Gives Back performing to Rihanna's "Please Don't Stop the Music" sung by 'Idol's' Top 8. The combination worked really well. They rocked the house. Gloria Estefan performed "Get On Your Feet" with Sheila E on drums and the SYTYCD dancers. This song rules! I've no idea how she did it but Gloria Estefan is virtually ageless. She hasn't lost a bit of her voice either. Apart from Gloria, Annie Lennox’s performance was simply awesome. Certainly did not lack of emotion. It was absolutely great to see Mariah Carey performed at the Idol Gives back. She nailed it! Mariah looked stunning and sounded flawless. I didn't know that Randy Jackson could play the bass guitar. The American Idol contestants wrapped things up with a performance of "Shout To The Lord." Everyone sounded good but it was not at all memorable, they really should have let Mariah performed the final spot.

CJ7 Movie Review

If you’re a fan of Stephen Chow’s, you should go check this movie. I think CJ7 is meant for younger audiences, although audiences of all ages might enjoy viewing it.

Living in a rundown apartment with his construction worker father Ti (Chow), young Dicky (Xu Jiao) is often picked on by his class bullies. With the exception of the compassionate Miss Yuen, played by Kitty Zhang, his teachers are cold, bordering on the outright hostile. Ti struggles to make ends meet, barely able to keep food on the table. Basically, this story revolves around Dicky's relationship with his father Ti and his school life, and how his life changes when he meets the CJ7, this little (computer-rendered) alien. CJ7 has extra ordinary powers that can turn things back to good condition.

A majority of viewers have been impressed by Stephen Chow's previous comedies such as Kung Fu Hustle and Shaolin Soccer, which have received numerous appreciations and awards worldwide. It's worth seeing this movie if you are seeking basic entertainment and joy. Not my favourite by any means, but rest assured that Chow has delivered yet another funny film.

Sufiah Yusof reveals

A tragic story of the world today. Genius people don't always make the best choices but this is the lifestyle chosen by Sufiah. Following the latest news on Sufiah, she has expressed no regrets being an escort whatsoever. Infact, she's having a fabulous life that way. There is no need for Malaysia government to intervene. Instead, the government should opened their eyes and seriously look into those who really need help. I think they are wasting the taxpayers' money to rescue one Malaysian hooker in overseas while we can do much for people with that fund. After all Sufiah is not a Malaysian citizen. She's a British citizen whose mother happens to be a Malaysian.

Personally, I feel that she should be left alone to manage her own life. Judging from her own side of story, I would said that Sufiah is a much happier soul today, compared to the hellish childhood she went through that provoked her to run away from home at an early age.

I’m still with my opinion that we should just let Sufiah pursue whatever path she thinks fit for her life. Whether, she still got that Maths ‘genius’-trait in side her - only time will decide. You can read the full story at http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/0604_hooker.shtml

2004: She marries Jonathan Marshall

Seeds of despair: Sufiah in 1997 on her first day at Oxford with her father Farooq and sister Aisha

Disney's Beauty and the Beast: The Broadway Musical

I love the Disney film Beauty and the Beast. It's a romantic love story with a great message. Beauty is not always just on the outer side, you must look on the inner to see the true beauty of a person. It reminds me of the TV series back in the 80's which centred the relationship between Catherine, an attorney who lived in New York , played by Linda Hamilton and Vincent, a gentle but lion-faced "beast", played by Ron Perlman who dwells in the tunnels beneath the city. I have yet to see the show on Broadway, but by judging from this cast album the show is bound to be awesome. For fans out there, this spectacular broadway will delight the entire family. It has long been entertaining people all around the world, from all walks of life.

Disney's lavish musical tells the love story of a young BEAUTY, whose unconditional love, breaks a spell to turn a BEAST back into a prince. To break the spell, the Beast must learn to love and be loved. Belle could be his chance, if only the Beast can control his anger and find the heart that he never had as a man. But time is running out and if he does not learn his lesson soon, he will be doomed to live in isolation for all eternity.

SHOW SCHEDULES:

Date: 24 June - 3 July 2008 (except for 30 June 2008 : Rest Day)

Venue: Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre

Can you have fun in the dark?

Power blackouts can be a real hassle to many. When I was a teenager, my sisters and I would howl 'Oh no, not again!' with the complete darkness. Then we would lit our gas lamps moaning and groaning and stayed together until the lights came on again.

But millions of people willingly and happily subjected themselves to silent darkness to observe 'Earth Hour' on Saturday, March 29th 2008. Earth Hour was initiated by WWF-Australia and it has inspired 27 other cities to switch off their electrical appliances during the designated hour. Other cities that had not signed up also showed their support in turning off their lights in a bid to raise awareness on global warming.

Has our beloved Kuala Lumpur done their bits to embrace Earth Hour? Some say the initiative is still new and most KL-ites are ignorant about it. Infact, such event like this is a great start for people across the globe to go green. Perhaps you can find something fun and interesting to do without lights or other electrical devices - invite friends over for a candlelight snack and a chat, go for a walk, take a nap, have a romantic date with your spouse or significant other. Maybe I’ll be able to see stars for once in my life.

Will you support Earth Hour? Can you survive for one hour without lights? Well, action speaks louder than words.

Dazu craving stones

We spent one day at Dazu craving stones. There were many potholes on the roads along the way to this countryside town, but our brave bus driver was not daunted and sped along, resulting in many huge bounces and bumps. However, it was great to visit the Dazu Carvings to get a chance to catch a glimpse of the traditional Chinese art. Some sculptures were small, some were huge; some were brightly painted and tell religious, moral and historical stories. The masterpieces were captivating. Highlights included the niches depicting heaven and hell and a golden Buddha with over 1,000 hands carved into the cliff-face, all painted in gold.

We returned back to city at about 11pm and we ventured out into the streets of Chongqing in search of a good massage. I enjoyed a two hour accupressure massage with one hour dedicated to my feet and another hour dedicated to the whole rest of me. It was a great relaxant after an exhausting day. Next stop and final destination..............Xiamen.

stone carvings of Buddha, Dazu Grottoes

remarkable sculptures

the greenery surrounding the carvings



A thousand-hand Guanyin Bodhisattva statue

Chongqing-The Mountain City

Taking the train to Chongqing was definitely a long ride. It was the usual overcrowded hustle and bustle of the china folks. Hundreds of people were flocking all over the station, rushing to get into the train first. I don't understand though, as we all have numbered seats. The Chinese just feel the need to rush around. It's their mentality to be the first in every situation. I noticed that most locals carried huge packages full of only god knows.

We arrived early morning and jumped in a taxi to our hotel. Couldn't wait to get to J.W. Marriot hotel for a well deserved shower. We didn't have much sleep in the train so, we actually had some rest at the hotel before the commencement of our shopping activities. Later, we strolled along the streets and came across some traditional chinese dancing going on in a square and watched for a while. There were several little backstreet markets around town. Here you had the opportunity to purchase very fresh (still alive and moving) fish and eels which were placed in buckets, frogs, chickens and ducks which were butchered then and there if you wished. Prostitutes could be found at almost every turn, bravely plying their trade on five-foot ways and street corners. I had to confess they were young and voluptuous. I wouldn't say my hubby didn't enjoy what he saw. But too much of a good thing is a bad thing. There's a price to pay if you mess around and bring back sexually transmitted disease as a souveneir.

Anyway, the reason we were in Chongqing was to visit the Dazu Craving stone. To be continued......

Chongqing's super high rise apartments and overpowering structures

Chongqing skyline at night

In the evening, you can see beautiful sunsets here

Rooftop Terrace of a hotel

Day 7- Terracotta warriors, Xian

There's not much activities on Day 5 & Day 6 as my hubby has some unfinished assignments to complete. After days of walking tirelessly in Beijing, I need to perk up my energy level. I actually had plenty of time to rest at the hotel but I didn't sleep the whole time. Infact, I enjoy strolling around the city searching for souveniers and lingering over my cuppa at one of the many streetside cafes. My vacation to Beijing is something I'll cherish for years to come.

As this was our 1st train journey within China we didnt really know what to expect. Hubby and I arrived in Xian at 7 a.m., after 12 hours on a sleeper train from Beijing. It is a bit of a walk to the 3 huge pits that house the terracotta warriors and there are many vendors along the way. The vastness of the tomb and the attention to detail is simply amazing. There is a lot of ground to cover and the main pit ,No. 1, is the largest and most popular. There is approximately 6000 warriors, all facing East, in battle formation, towards the Emperor Qin's tomb, which is 2000 years old. All warriors are ranked and dressed accordingly. Each warrior has a different and unique appearance, no two are exactly the same. What we saw in the museum is only a fraction of the army; many, many more figures remain buried. The Chinese have not decided how to excavate the emperor's tomb because the ground contains very high levels of mercury. Although picture taking is strictly forbidden, we were lucky to be visiting on a day when the Chinese guard was oblivious to tourists using digital still cameras.

Then it was time to catch another overnight train (17 hours this time) to Chongqing. We would have all liked to stay longer in Xian, it was a great place to just wander around in.

The major excavation pit (Pit 1)

Horses ready for battle

Every piece carefully put together

Pit 3

Restored for exhibition

Many of the figures have been restored but are missing heads.


Restored for exhibition (Pit 2)

Day 3: Summer Palace

The main structures on Longevity Hill

Kunming Lake

A bronze statue in front of the gate of the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity

The summer palace is really a residence befitting an Emperor or Empress. This huge summer residence - complete with palace, lake, islands, pavilions, marble boat and other sights. Mainly consists of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake which serve as the scenery browsing area. It makes for a nice scenic walk, offering great views of trees, water and a contrast between the red of the buildings and the green foliage. You could spend a longer time here if you the have time too. You can take a sheltered outdoor walk of more than 1/2 mile under a "long corridor" with thousands of paintings. Be prepared to walk a lot in this park.

Day 3: Great Wall Of China

Needless to say, no trip to Beijing is complete without a trip to the great wall. The Great Wall is truly awesome. It is much bigger than I had ever imagined. There are 3 sections of the wall that are open to the public. The most famous stretch of Great Wall is at a place called Badaling. Access to the wall is extremely easy here and safer for visitors to climb to the Great Wall . To visit all of the Walls is impossible and obviously hubby and I only climb a tiny part of it. Looking at crowds of all walks of life, you can't stop thinking that no matter how high or long the walls are, on the long run they can't separate people.

The steps are rather steep , uneven and quite narrow at some points. And do not underestimate the effort needed on some parts of the wall. Challenging but quite exhausting though. Honestly, the climb down is pretty scarier than the climb up, as all of a sudden you can view just how steep the wall is, but thankfully there are handles on the side to help yourself down.

There are many stories, true or legend, about the workers who lost their lives during the building of the wall, and whose bodies were buried under sections of the wall itself. So sad, huh?

For those who are going independently, the easiest route is by taking the 919 bus (green and white) from Deshengmen Long Distance Bus station. The bus ride takes approximately 1 hr 30mins to Badaling. It is very regular. After walking the wall I returned to where the bus had arrived and easily got another one back to the city. Anyway, enough talk...just go see it for yourself!!! Embrace Great Wall of China!

Practical information
Badaling: 70 km from Beijing, open every day 6.30am-8pm, 45 yuans.
Mutianyu: 100 km from Beijing, open every day, 7am-8pm, 35 yuans.
Simatai: 110 km from Beijing, open every day, 8am-5pm, 35 yuans.