I want to believe

because as of now, it seems like it's doom (pretty much) and with indescribable pain for having cancer. Haven't read or research (google) much about the cure of it, other than seeing the after effect of chemo, radioactive treatment, surgery...it's a totally different person. Not to mention about the emotional side of it - it will turn one into someone you don't know, as many would probably be given the verdict from doctor - cannot guarantee, therefore fatality rate is very high. Not to mention people got some part of the body removed (cut, chop, slice...) , which is also not guaranteed...the chances of making it - to recover? well, honestly, how do they come out with a figure like 50%, 30% and so on. Therefore, would it be better not knowing this plug-from-the-air-numbers? Oh no, "they" have proof per study. Who are "they"? where are "they"? if one start digging, it's either getting a cold face from the doctors or with better + more humane doctors, they could link it to some huge medical drug companies. These are the people who do the study + research to show that their drugs "work", some sort...and it's tested by FDA. Well, these people are also selling these drugs for profit, big huge humongous profit. Approved or not approved FDA, would you check? if approved, what's the success rate? what's the side effect? during the critical and desperate circumstances, one most likely will take whatever the medical insurance can cover and offer by the doctor or medical institution. Ok, now I am lost about what I wanted to say in the beginning...damn, the title is not about what Molder pinned on his cubicle wall about UFO :)

I received a forwarded message (so does many in my social circle) about a miracle drug; natural, not too difficult to find, 10000x better than the chemo (more effective) and only kill the bad cells, not the healthy cells, and no known side effect? too good to be true? well, according to the message, this drug was used by the natives in Amazon (not the online store) for long long time - by the medicine men to cure many deceases. It was then picked up by a drug company, huge one (would like to know which one), and spent millions onto research. Per the message, it was concluded after many years - it works miraculously. Except it cannot be patented (to protect this IP) because it is a natural material. So the company spent more to research to duplicate something like this drug but failed. In short, there is no way in hell the drug can be protected or only this company can be protected monetary wise (ain't non-profit org). The research was shelved and sealed from seeing the sky again. Then, it was leaked by someone with a heart (go watch The Insider, Russell Crowe & Al Pacino, yeah!!!)...here we are, with high chance drug coming from a tree/plant that cure a "small" suffering of today humankind sitting there, where millions pumped into various researches (from government and medical bills), searching for a cure and yet IP protected solution, and continue the sale and marketing of those non-guarantee drugs - which eventually will bring more suffering to the patients and the patients loved ones - most of the time. Cannot say these other drugs are completely useless. It's all because of monetary gain - not millions, it's in billions...drug companies, medical institutions, and well, the insurance companies as well. It's like head they win, tail they win as well. 

Anyone asking, why these people keep pushing for curing and not about how to prevent cancer, prevention is better than cure - see the Hippocratic Oath modern version, where many physicians need to take during graduation, something like a lawyer call to bar (in British system). Would it better to educate people preventing this deadly decease than marketing the non-guarantee drug, which also makes the patient bankrupt after passing away...hmmm, that's the new legal issue, who is going to pick up the bill when the patient's gone?

hmmm.....see some similarities of drug company, medical insurer, FDA, and the patient...

Wall Street banker => SEC Commissioner => Wall Street banker. And the taxpayer is ???

Wall Street banker => Sec of Treasury => Wall Street banker. And the taxpayer is ???

check this: http://www.hsibaltimore.com/articles/hsi_2001ds/hsi_200101_awb9.html

try google: graviola tree cancer cure

Again, I want to believe there is cure out there, it's just being covered up. And I believe there are ways to prevent it from happening. And put it this way; when a pipe leaked, other than fixing the leakage, one should check if the pressure at the source is too high that this pipe cannot take it. Keep patching the leakage spot may not prevent it from happening again...and our body ain't no pipe, it's flesh, organic, and a live form, it can fix itself when there is not so much toxic dumping from the mouth.

Bukit Jambul Country Club

BJCC in short....my home course, some would have expected this blog would supersede Tulek Rubiah Country Club blog - well at least i am not procrastinating too much right? only a day later i decided to blog it.

This golf course located at Jambul Hill - the Malaysian version of Southern Cal - Beverly Hills. All the nice bungalows and cars and filthy rich folks stay around this hill. 

OK, getting back to BJCC, it's a 5763 meters 18 hole PAR 71 golf course (the official website says PAR 72 - but only applicable to ladies); very short but very challenging course. Strategically located; 15 minutes from Penang International Airport, 10 minutes from FIZ, 10 minutes from Penang Bridge/Coastal Highway and 10 minutes from my house. This course basically is surrounded by houses, commercial offices and hotels; a course in a city. With such easy accessible this course is flooded with members and non members playing annually.

Those who played in this course will truly understand the phrase " challenging golf" heheheheh. There are two types of challenges you'll find in this course; one is designed/intended for and the other is totally unwelcome. Very hilly layout which disguise the true distance. Very tight fairways leaving armatures with no room for hook or slice ball. Very small and hard or i should say OLD greens, an almost impossible for the ball to bite and stay on the green are part of the Robert Trend Jones Jr design. The unwelcome ones are cow grass fairways, originally they are Bermuda but due to a highly corrupted country - maintenance is skipped out from time to time. Non homogeneous greens consists of Bermuda, hybrid, tiff grass and sand during maintenance. When you have all these four elements, putting your read line will be mission impossible.  

Need not say much but all 18 holes provide golfers unique experience and scenery and every hole is challenging. Long hitters can keep their drivers for a serious game plan, while leisure golfers can enjoy the rest area right in between 9 and 10 hole. They serve local delicacies/snacks and drinks. The newly renovated club house with wood structures, high roofing and spacious terrace give golfers a perfect refreshment and chit chats opportunities after 18 hole work out. For drinkers, lucky you - they have a 180 degree outdoor sitting view while you are sipping a cold beer. Those afraid of the mosquito, they have a A/C indoor bar with a choice of tall tables and chairs or short and snugly benches and sofas. The bar provides pool, dart board and Golf Channel/ESPN as well.

Seems like a lot of complaints and compliments that confuse readers right? well DON"T. hehehe just give yourself a chance, drop by have a dinner or a drink while enjoying the atmosphere. better yet indulge yourself on the challenging round of golf and see if it's a complaint or compliment?

Teluk Rubiah Country Club

I was going through my cellphone's photo and realized there are a number of good stuff to blog about. This simple collage of Teluk Rubiah CC snapshot put together by Picasa gives you enough urge to pay a visit to this nice, not crowded and challenging golf course. This course is hidden in Perak State - with the help of GPS and fellow golfers i manage to find this hidden gem. (Map is included as reference to the place)

Club house, pro shop and shower room are sub par standard, they were giving us the "under new management and construction" bull crap. So don't waste time thinking of dining at the club house. Take your quickest possible shower and dine at Lumut.

Course length is quite standard 6225 meters for 18 holes. Course is under utilized hence well maintain. Greens are playable but not PGA standard. AT certain greens you can actually see your golf balls doing bunny little hops while you putt. Fairways, bunkers and hazards are very well design to give armatures the challenge. There are monkeys everywhere, i believe the management engage them to provide golfers the extra lost ball penalty situation. Sorry for those heavy bet golfers if the mishap falls on you. There are signboards showing "beware of snakes and beware of wild boars"; so balls that are near the deep woods are better off not go search for it. let the local experts handle it and you can buy back depending on your negotiation skills - of course you are not buying back to balls you have just lost.  Hole 1, 2, 9, 10 and 18 gives you a flat scenic, generous fairways, just like most of the US courses, while hole 3, 4 and 5 gives you the "Straits of Melacca" ocean view. Golfers/photog can really spend their time enjoying the scenery and breeze. The rest of the holes are set back to the hills giving you an experience of elevation golf. I love the hills as it's very cooling with lots of trees.... i hate the heat and often wonder why am i still golfing in Malaysia...hehehehehe

Make sure you pack yourself enough snacks and drinks for the 4 ~ 5 hours marathon, there isn't any rest area/snack stops. did i say no rest areas?....ladies beware of peepers!!!! as for guys we just pee when ever required. Bare in mind woods are not the suitable dumps as mentioned earlier the potential risk.

Besides the joyful golfing the next thing that amused me is the buggy. no it's not a BMW made buggy, so no A/C or stereo or comfy seats. it's a small little nipple look alike hooch hooch near the brakes.... hehehehe.. no kidding they provide a horn and GOD knows what the intention is for.

i highly recommend this course as a get away road trip + golfing. For family golfers there is a perfect resort to cater wives and kids while you have a piece of your valuable and enjoyable hours.

disclaimer: i am not affiliated to Teluk Rubiah Country Club and photo quality sucks...that i know, it's from my 2MP cellphone camera...what to you expect!!!!! hahahah

An oath is still an oath

Many may not notice or know of there is an oath taken by doctor prior to practice medicine, western medicine in this case. It's call Hippocratic Oath, it's believed written by Hippocrates, the father of western medicine. It serves as a ethical, moral and profession code for physician (and surgeon, I believe) - medical students need to take this oath during their graduation, as it is still practice today, in many med schools. Yes, it's many, not all schools, and now it is not obligatory and taken by all physicians. There are a modern version of it written in 1964 by a US medical college dean and of course the classic or original version, 4th century BC.

I was struck when I was watching the begining of Pathology, where the oath is shown...read about it long time ago...but it become a refresher when I glanced at the lines on screen. And it even struck me further - in what kind of medical care/treatment/diagnosis some of us received from some doctors, hospitals, specialist centres... long waiting lines, astromical medical bill - cannot question nor ask for itemization, credit card/cash deposit upfront, medical insurance card, which company you work for, "...google it if you want to know about it...", "it's like that (damn, it sounds like car mechanic/technician)"...

ok, first thing first, do you think you get real diagnosis and given consultation to get better or better - how to prevent getting sick? it depends on one's luck. With all respect, there are still many good doctors around and caring medical institutions that not looking at if one has medical insurance card or under employment of a huge western corporation. I do still see doctor when/where necessary.

I personally find that, if I run out of luck, I may be just treated as a piece modular mechandise - each part of my body will be priced differently in the eyes of medical care provider. And based on personal experience and others' experience - most of the times, I do doubt I would be treated as a patient as described in the oath...I feel more like I am a paying customer who doesn't have an alternative...and sometimes the customer care is so bad and unreliable + unacceptable that I doubt I would be really cured - it could be worsen if I stay on it longer, and the care/treatment given is based on how much my insurance can cover. Or just to be safe, ask the physician to spell it out, again, of the oath - when one is not sure if he/she is really providing a professional care for one, with ethical basis. So help me/us God!

note: readings of the original and modern version (do check out the prevention is better than cure portion at the modern version)

.................original as translated into English (wikipedia)....................
“I swear by Apollo, Asclepius, Hygieia, and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgment, the following Oath.
To consider dear to me, as my parents, him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and, if necessary, to share my goods with him; To look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art.
I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.
I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion.
But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts.
I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art.
In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or with men, be they free or slaves.
All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal.
If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all men and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my lot.”

..............Hippocratic Oath—Modern Version (from PBS).............

I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures [that] are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.I will not be ashamed to say "I know not," nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's recovery.I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.Written in 1964 by Louis Lasagna, Academic Dean of the School of Medicine at Tufts University, and used in many medical schools today.

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Most anticipated movies of 2009...

Well, this is just my taste. Being a sci-fi lover, most of my favourite movies biased towards those created with good imagination of visual effects and ideas. Here are the list, and believe that similar with most of the people, my top list of anticipating movie would be Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen.

Transformers 2

Such a stunning special effect. With more meteors falling into the orbit of earths destroying skyscrapers, it just means more machines. Well, look at one of the real big machine, just looks like Constructicons/Devastators, combinations of multiple transformers into one.. movie would just extend beyond my dream, couldn't wait to see it!

Watchmen

from director of "300". I just never forgot those "photoshop" effects applied to "300" movie, the color-burnt sky, high contrast scene, great visual effect. Hope this Watchment would be unique too. Based on the cold war era, Watchmen described the world that is packed with Superhero, kind of. Interesting to see how Dr. Manhattan killed those vietnamese soldier with super power, if that's really happen, America has won the Vietnam war. A must see...

X-men Origins: Wolverine

Cool...some favourite character of mines are in... like Gambit. It describes how Wolverine gets his undestructive Andamantium skeleton and blades. I would just never miss any X-men movies...

DragonBall Evolution (七龙珠）

Looking at the trailers, I just hope that it won't spoil the reputation built by comic, in fact the most success comic of all time in Japan! Can't wait to see 龟派气功...

G.I. Joe!

Teaser trailer is out. Remember those famous super soldier cartoon while you're kid? Go watch the real movie dude!

to be continued...

江城

bumped into this "couple" picture, taken couple years ago at the spot where 汉水(Han Sui) joins 长江(ChangJiang). Find that it's touching of the scene where the couple holding hands and staring at the foggy rivers. Utilized the remaining 30mins prior to night fall taking some pictures... It's cold that day as I had to wear a vest and jacket during a meeting earlier the afternoon - guess what...heater is not a standard feature for WuHan area infrastructure. As suggested from Mr Octopus, foggy/greyish day shots can be turned into black and white - which will create another feel, as I was pretty disappointing that moment as all shots were so "grey" or "blue" because of the temperature and the weather...it turns out pretty good as attached at the collage-turned into gray scale+increase contrast+increase gamma+increase blue a little (to keep the cold feel), 3 years later ...that was my very first trip bringing a dSLR. 江城(river city) is another name of 武汉(Wuhan).

note: the trees shot, stone bridge, house reflection shots were shot at 东湖(Dong Hu). The rest on right were taken at the spot where the two rivers join.

New Sentosa @ Ipoh

This is not the Sentosa at Singapore. Found it not too long ago, located at about 5mins from the south exit of Ipoh on North-South Highway. The exit that adjacent to the McDonald, or more unique landmark, JayaJusco. If you missed the highway exit, you will see the toll plaza if you're southbound :( The shop is at the corner of a shoplot at Ipoh Garden South.

Have a couple of good food at this coffee shop; 猪肠粉(chee cheong fen), 及第粉(gap dai fen), 炒猓条(char keow teow), 云吞(wonton) &面 (mee)-cna just order the云吞, (炸)料 for 汤粉noodle soup. Drinks? I love its white coffee, hot - "thick" enough...for those who likes cold drinks...still can order the ice version.  

To start with, if you are alone; order a 云吞面(wonton noodle) either prawn / pork version or just mixed. Watch out, the skin of the wonton is so thin and smooth (almost see thru) but yet you will not be "breaking" it when pick it up from the soup - hey, must order the soup version...dry one is for amateur. Finished the noodle too fast, sorry, no picture of the noodle :( 

Then go for the 猪肠粉(chee cheong fen), order the mixed叉烧(char shao) and虾(prawn), it's hong kong 猪肠粉(chee cheong fen), therefore, can mix too. The chili is in another small plate, and can add more of the deep fried minced (little) onion using the spoon on the top. Yes, it's smooth, freakin smooth, almost as good as the one at stadium. Now, two dishes plus a drink, perhaps?

Can go for the 及第粉(gap dai fen)...maybe I just miss this so much, it was so good...the 锅气and also the fried oil on the 河粉(ho fen) smells great can almost tast the wok (if you know what I meant)... well, the rest...it's up to your stomach capacity.

Good location and good food, one stop place to cover many so you don't have to drive around at Ipoh if you are in a rush...many of the good food open at different time...need a 12hr to go to most of them, and this one open at 7 or maybe 6:30 in the morning...yeah!!! by the way, this is not a replacement for the legendary food places - it's just an alternative.

Note: the proper way to order "iced-latte" is "kopi雪"not kopi-ping as in Hokkien speaking region. Ipoh is Cantonese speaking region.

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Happy Valentine & 364-day!

It's kind of quiet this year for Valentine's (and so did the CNY). Maybe I just don't go out or social that much? where've I been all this while? All I heard/seen is the couple package meal at Soba Yoshi, RM100++ In fact, it's for 2, haha...not a bad deal consider the pricing there. When walking at the mall, somehow, I didn't notice there is Valentine's day "thing"... where's the chocolate / teddy's bear / card and most important the flowers? and all the pink thing?

Not that kind of "romantic" person to celebrate this day for "lovers" or just simply good friend (in US, not couple also can celebrate this)...but would like to celebrate or wish in another way...happy 364 day + today, why just restrained to ONE day...be generous and sincere, make it all year long! if can afford, dine out all year long at your choice...from Lorong Pencuri to Ferrighi Grill/The View (well, if in PG) and those places in between...or the special chef's choice at the 1 table place in town...or simply I cook and throw in a bottle of Lafite? plus the flowers on the left...my favorite "duo"

Happy Valentine & wish you happy on the other 364-day :)

蘇州之寒山寺

《楓橋夜泊》月落乌啼霜满天,江枫渔火对愁眠。姑苏城外寒山寺,夜半钟声到客船。-- 张继
This is a poem by a 唐朝Tang Dynasty student 张继. 寒山寺Han Shan Si (Han Shan Temple, buddist) located at the old canal by a bridge (see picture) called Jiang Feng 江枫 outside of the old city of 姑苏城Gu Su. 姑苏, ring a bell? one of the names of 蘇州SuZhou in old days, remember 金庸天龙八部？...The temple is ~1500 yrs old built before 唐朝Tang Dynasty.The bell of this temple will be rung 108 time during new year.
The poem translation taken from a webpage with more description:

• The moon goes down, crows cry under the frosty sky,
• Dimly-lit fishing boats ‘neath maples sadly lie.
• Beyond the Gusu Walls the Temple of Cold Hill
• Rings bells which reach my boat, breaking the midnight still.

Don't you think it's so cool to tour a place which we read it through a +1200 yr old poem? It was also part of the 唐诗三百首

Flatliners

First watched it during college days at Central Market cineplex...at that time, cineplex is rare and so different from the traditional big theaters or cinema. Maybe because of the near real effect in this new breed of cinema, it gave me the creeps and haunting effect until now :( Throughout these years, I watch it replay on cable or satellite STAR, TNT, USA...lost count and lot track. And usually, I would try to avoid it before going to sleep...

As a big fan of Kevin Bacon, I won't missed this movie. 

It talks about a group of elite med students, trying to create a death experience in school, therefore it is "flatlined", and then resurrect by others at the table. It's to be the first to die and comeback to tell the experience. Taken place at a museum like hospital as temporary lab...for autopsy and lecture. It started with a real creepy, dark, mysterious mood + atmosphere when these students going thru lectures in "museum" hospital. Kiefer Sutherland was the leader among the team...he went out to stare at the sun/sky and said... it's a good day to die... They finally gathered and do the first trial to die...Keifer die for 30seconds. He was saved but the event seems open up a tunnel or channel to bring back some childhood experience and bring them to life, where others cannot see it... the story continues with others like Julia Roberts, William Baldwin (Alec's brother)...where each of them encountered something in the past and the duration was also being pushed beyond 1:30 of death.  Have to stop here or you will lost the fun of enjoying this movie, a must see movie on my list.

苏州之虎丘

虎丘(HuQiu, Tiger Hill) is a garden like tourist spot at 苏州(SuZhou). It was made famous 2500yrs ago (yes, 500BC) for a burial of a king 吴王 at this region of ancient China during the warring states 春秋era. His son 吴王夫差 buried him with thousands of famous swords at the 剑池Sword Pond (see picture), including the famous 鱼肠剑(YuChang) Sword, according to legend. Many emperors since then trying to search for these treasure but without any luck. The tour guide did mention about the huge rock about size of a few modern day concert stage that we stand on next to the sword pond was the place where a feast for the labor/worker/craftman was held after the burial. And all these labors were slaugthered at this same spot after the feast...err...and that's why there are a few of the column like pillars at at four corners of this stage/rock to "control" or "protect" if you know what I meant. The characters on the stone walls dated from 明朝Ming dynasty (1400+ AD) and some even older.

The hill mentioned, is actually 30m tall. Per geological information, this place was originally under the sea and it surfaced from sea level, that the reason it was also name 海涌山(Hai Yong Shan, "hill came out from sea"), as labeled at the banner/signboard at the main entrance, next to the stone lion. As I don't know much about rock or geology, I cannot tell those signs of sea in this place...one may ask...it's SuZhou, it's 1.5hr from Shanghai, how can this be sea? There must be evidence to say so, and I believe it.

SuZhou people are lucky as this huge park/garden is full of awesome scenery's; not like the smaller scale Chinese gardens园林 for some royal or rich families...one can spend a day there to do some painting, take pictures (I wish I can stay longer, and the light is brighter) of the little pond, the moat, the walls, the pagoda (it's leaning too), steps (108 if I recall it according to the tour guide), greenery, flowers (lots of them), and walking around... Most of the buildings were NOT 2500 yrs old, as 虎丘HuQiu has gone through multiple wars, fires (some man made), and negligence ...

How to get there: join the tour by buying a tour package ~RMB200 at Shanghai travel center next to Shanghai Stadium 上海旅游集散中心(上海体育场南) at Puxi, which includes a few of the famous spots at SuZhou, including this 虎丘. Duration 0900-1800. Check with the hotel concierge on the ticket purchase and package 24 hr ahead so don't have to take subway to the Puxi, Shanghai Stadium/Sport Center exit and walk to this travel center to buy ticket on the same day.

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Thaipusam in Penang, 2009

Thaipusam is always a grand day when all the devotees of god doing all kinds of activities on that day to show dedication to god. It's a big event for Hindu but no doubt many Chinese with same beliefs in gods are involved as well. The piercing of Kavadi is simply an event that should not miss. Piercing is done so as to reduce the sin that we have made. This gallery is to show you the great event taking place in place this year and hope you enjoy the album, by clicking the photo. Cheers!

RAW vs JPEG

Everyone knows shoot RAW is better than shoot JPEG, but by how much the improvement is? some may wonder. 

for me i would have to admit i am a little retarded, it took me 2 years before seriously give it a try shooting RAW. ...Yes I am starting and going to shoot RAW a long as the camera is capable.

You can read all about it on the web, but you haveto try it yourself to believe it and realize the advantages of shooting RAW. Post processing in RAW is also way better. You always read it on the web that you can recover photo quality (for instance over/under exposure)....conveniently CS3 has recover slider - just move your mouse vigorously (hehehe) and you'll definitely see the difference.

OK picture speaks for itself. I am sure attached photo you can easily tell which is RAW and which is JPEG...if you can't don't doubt yourself.... it's just too much resizing for blogging... but seriously there is a difference. And don't worry about the wording if its too small, the intention is have you to look at the Moon not the setting and date. in short RAW picture is all most making the moon on my monitor look 3D, and JPEG is like the opposite of RAW. ahhahahah

what are you waiting for go get yourself a 8Gb storage card and start click click in RAW. 

YoU WilL LovE It.

:~)

 

Golden Dragon Loh Mee (金龙卤面）

This could be the best Loh Mee that I have ever tried in my life.
I never keen on having Loh Mee and definitely not my favourite noodle. Typically I choose hokkien mee over Loh mee due to the spicy soup awakening your appetite, and yes prawn taste as well. I keep hunting for good hokkien mee stalls around Penang and try all of it, and yes, will introduce the best hokkien mees in my future blogs but not now.

Anyway, it just happen that my wife brought me to this Loh Mee at Perak Road, well without other good food stalls in vicinity I have to order this bowl of Loh Mee reluctantly. That bowl has just simply changed my mind and perception. Soup is good and concentrated. Feel so contentful with those soften pig intestines, chicken legs, eggs inside. Everything just slip into your mouth smoothly, well, coupled with the strong taste of chilli and garlic as well. Taste is just excellent. Soup is really thick and those strong smells just buried inside. Go taste it, hopefully it would change your mind too. Cheers!

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Maa Roy Thai Restaurant, Penang

Thai food is always my favourite. This Maa Roy Thai Restaurant can be found along Abu Siti Lane branched from Macalister Road. Food is quite nice, with couple of good dishes. Go and try the steamfish with lemon. The sour soup coupled with strong garlic taste would boost up your appetite. The softshell crab is good too, smell good and real crispy. Mango Kerabu taste like a strong blend of sour, sweet and spicy, really good as well. Decoration of the shop is so so, but I would emphasize more on the food. Green curry is just so so. Not all the food taste excellent but going with my choices probably won't go wrong. Go enjoy...

It should be near "A" and check out your left...

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苏州之耦园

苏州园林甲天下。苏州园林综合建筑、山水、花木、雕刻、书画集于一体，漫游于园中将经历步移景换的意境。拙政园和留园名列中国四大名园，耦园为现有60多个园林之一。自公元前6世纪春秋时吴的部局；水陆并行、河街相邻，还可在园林里外见到它之缩影。所摄之照片不及实景之一二， 尤其带不出书卷气，只好把对联，匾额及诗画也带进。撑艇老妇有唱江南小曲，吴侬软语加上沧伤。。。

由上海旅游集散中心买苏州一日游套票约200人民币.大约1.5小时车程。启0900-回 1830。

Ou-Yuan is unique among other SuZhou chinese gardens because it has 2 gardens in one residence, therefore it's called Ou ("O") for being duo/twin/couple. It also subtly implying a couple live in "low profile" or quietly and away from the busy life (hideout) especially city. Built in early Ching Dynasty 1644-1910 (not sure the exact date). Three sides of it adjacent to water/river and the remaining side is a street. It's filled with classical chiese residence elements like study, living room, lobby, artificial "hill"/garden/pond,plus lots of trees and plants. It's like a chinese painting of a residence, in reality. In fact, there are many chinese painting and calligraphy in the rooms, guess it's a must for scholar/government official those days. This garden is the remaining of 60+ gardens at SuZhou and "melt" into the old city city plan dated 2500+ yrs ago in the warring states era - where the city was planned to be criss-cross with waterway+land...

How to get there: join the tour by buying a tour package ~RMB200 at Shanghai travel center next to Shanghai Stadium 上海旅游集散中心(上海体育场南) at Puxi, which includes a few of the famous spots at SuZhou, including this Ou Yuan. Duration 0900-1800. Check with the hotel concierge on the ticket purchase and package 24 hr ahead so don't have to take subway to the Puxi, Shanghai Stadium/Sport Center exit and walk to this travel center to buy ticket on the same day.

。。。以下简介采自中国网。。。

耦园位于苏州市内仓街小新巷，原为清初陆锦涉园。清初，保宁知府陆锦致仕归里后于此始构涉园，一名小郁林。后一度由书法家郭凤梁赁居。继为崇明祝氏别墅。同治十三年左右，归按察使湖州沈秉成，聘画家顾沄主持，重修扩建如今。因一宅而有两园，遂称耦园，并寓夫妇偕隐双栖之意。1941年为常州实业家刘国钧所得。

全园布局，颇为得法。黄石假山作为全园主题，堆叠自然，位置恰当，陡峭峻拔，气象雄浑，为苏州园林黄石假山中较为成功的一座。实为值得游赏流连的去处。此园因在住宅东西两侧各有一园，故名耦园。古时两人耕种为“耦”，“耦”、“偶”相通，寓有夫妇归田隐居之意。

东园面积约4亩，以山为主，以池为辅，重点突出，配搭得当。主体建筑坐北朝南，为一组重檐楼厅。这在苏州园林中较为少见。其东南角有小院三处，重楼复道，总称“城曲草堂”。西园面积更小，以书斋及织老屋为中心，前有月台，宽敞明亮，后有小院，幽雅清秀，隔山石树木又建书楼一座；其南亦有一院，为不规则形状，西南角设假山，设置花木，间置湖石，显得幽曲有趣。

全园主景黄石假山，筑于城曲草堂楼厅之前，石块大小相间，手法逼真自然。假山东半部较大，自厅前石径可通山上东侧的平台及西侧的石室；平台之东，山势增高，转为绝壁，直削而下，临于水池，绝壁东南设磴道，依势下至池边，此处气势为全山最精彩处，假山西半部较小，自东而西逐级降低，坡度渐缓，止于小厅右壁。东西两半部之间有谷道，两侧削壁如悬崖。而绝壁东临水池，假山体量与池面宽度配合适当，空间相称。山上不建亭阁，而于山顶山后铺土之处，散置十余种花木，随风摇曳，平添了山林趣味。而池水随假山向南伸展，曲桥架于水上，池南端有阁跨水而筑，称“山水阁”，隔山与城曲草堂相对，形成以山为主体的优美景区。

。。。。。。

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金马仑

this is not Cameron Highlands the highland place. It is a coffee shop (commonly referred as kopitiam 咖啡店 in Penang), as recommended by 食神50mmf1.4. Paid a visit there just now for dinner. The place is airy, not so cramped and lots of food stalls; char koay teow, siam fried rice, western food, ... and the 煮炒(in Hokkien spoken region, like Penang) or 大炒 (in Cantonese spoken region). Picture shown is 煮炒 and dishes included: belacan chicken, fried peas with minced pork, “Kum Heong" fish fillet甘香鱼片 and  omelette芙蓉蛋. First threes were recommended by 50mmf1.4 :)  The foos is excellent, will try others on the menu (as posted on the signboard above the cook) next time. When the bill came, I almost laugh out, haha......go and try, then you will know why. It's a good family eating out place, and be there before 730pm to get a table.


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Searching of Koay Jetty, in memory...

Koay Jetty, a long-gone historical sites that is famed along with Chew Jetty, has been demolished by the waves of modernization constantly affecting Georgetown Penang. Well, if Georgetown is accepted as one of the UNESCO heritage site much earlier in 2004, Koay Jetty may not be gone. It just have to give way to the construction of Jelutong Expressway. Thanks to the highway too, it does help to improve the daily life of Penangites, allowing faster and shorter distance to go to downtown from Bayan Lepas or Greenlane. Well, guess that Koay Jetty just shouldn't be there, it just can't follow the fast pace of urbanization and city life...

Koay Jetty is just unique. Different than Chew, it has vast space of swamp area in front of residential area. 1st picture shows the blending of modern building with the old wooden houses as well as the serene mangrove swamp, that's one of it's kind among those clan jetties. In fact that was the only mangrove swamp at east coast of Penang. It's just quiet. During our visits all residents have moved out, guess with compensation, though not sure if it's a good one. The feeling was nice, as if those isolated city park encompassed by modernized buildings, it's simply a jewel within the city that didn't seem to be interrupted by the quick pace of city life which was just very nearby. Bird chirping were heard loudly and if you don't know, the mangrove swamp was believed to be the home to 30 species of birds, including northern migrants and the largest nesting colony of the protected Black-Crowned Night Heron. During those old days, flocks of birds can be seen around this area, hovering on top of those high-rise apartments. Now, they are nowhere to be seen beyond the demolish of their habitats. Concerns of Malaysia Nature Society has come true. The highway just ended the mystical swamp area with the heritage buildings of Koay Jetty, together with the habitats of those bird species.

Well, enjoy these last 2 photos of Koay Jetty, just forget about searching for this heritage that fails to be preserved...

Store Rules 1856

Seriously, I am wondering what the world will be like if these were enforced today...
1. ok
2. ok
3. ok, replaced with modern electrical appliances
4. ok, sounds good too.
5. haha
6. many practice these even further today, 10% of monthly salary
7. now I got a problem :(
8. ok too, save money :)

note: shot taken at US Pizza Islandglades, near Green Lane

Portraiture of Flower (in kitchen)

ever wondering how aperture will change the outcome of a picture? take a look at this series of pictures. Shots taken using Nikkor AF 105mm/f2.8 micro on Nikon D70s, with tripod. Lighting is natural window light at around 5pm, in kitchen. Just imagine if shooting portraiture with a human as subject, instead of flower...the outcome: lighting, sharpness, and bokeh should be pretty much the same...except, a human subject probably won't be so patient if one trying so many different aperture settings.

Finally, a contribution to the blog title :)

Sleepless in Perak

Now this is not about a movie..it's about a reality show that is on-air showing funny drastic turns of those comedies in Perak, Malaysia. Well, frankly I haven't been entertained by politics news for quite a while after the 308 election, except ripples that created by 916 announcement that intend to overturn the current government which turns out to be no-go, again, not something unexpected. Now, exactly the revenge of the sith is occuring on Perak, looks like it's more real than ever, or at least closer to it. Guess our CEOs or executive VPs of our country are delighted and waiting for announcing the good news to turn the Perak governing body upside down, in and out, over and over again..whatever....

So glad that now I am entertained, after being so long haunted by the pouring news of economic downturn coming all over the worlds, like Penang with xxx closing down, yyy retrench 20,000 employees, zzz company cut 10% pay, AAA has no underwear to wear, bla bla bla. And funny things is Perak is going thru the same process, but probably not that many employees are affected, at least not 20,000, or maybe not even any one, depends on the next steps of actions. No pay cut, I think, no matter what happen. Oh Wait a minute, some of them might even have salary increment, or even better, compensation for Voluntary Separation Scheme. Citizen life will still go on as usual, except more chit chatting to understand what's going on. Anyway, is this right or wrong, Merdeka Survey has pointed out some hints. When opposition talks about turning the country government upside down, in and out, guess they are still worrying whether they do the right thing, but smart enough that they reitirate would have election agains if 916 is successful, so as to give citizens power for voting again. That has to be said with confidence, if they know they already gained enough support than ever. Well, this same thing happens in Perak. Aha! Here comes the trick, somebody may thought what's wrong with it, opposition has claimed that, why can't we, doesn't seems to be anything wrong right? That.....guess this is something for us to ponder... Anyway, glad that I have a new drama series for me to follow up day and night, spare my days off. And would be interested to know the time when I can see the Return of the Jedi. Oh yes, if there is really a Jedi of course. Anyway we should know in few days later or probably tomorrow. Stay tuned for more news, or more entertainment from Star War final episode, or probably just another retrenchment, VSS story from Perak. cheers! (updated Feb 4, 2009)

sleepless in seattle

was listening to Stacey Kent's "In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning", which was featured in Sleepless in Seattle...forgotten which part of the movie it was played? could be the scene when Tom Hank's stay awake in late night/early morning? it's kinda "old" movie to many, it's considered a romance, sort of, and comedy to me. After this movie, Meg Ryan became my favorite actress until You've Got Mail. There are so many memorable songs in this movie...and of course; quotes, scenes, ...

Selected soundtracks: Louis Armstrong - "A Kiss to Build a Dream On" , Carly Simon - "In the Wee Small Hours of The Morning", Joe Cocker - "Bye Bye Blackbird", Harry Connick, Jr. - "A Wink And A Smile" , Tammy Wynette - "Stand By Your Man"

Quotes (as covered in imdb):

Doctor - the shrink on radio talk show, Sam - Tom Hanks, Jonah - Sam's son, Annie - Meg Ryan, Jessica - Jonah's female friend

Doctor Marcia Fieldstone: Tell me what was so special about your wife?

Sam Baldwin: Well, how long is your program? Well, it was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were suppose to be together... and I knew it. I knew it the very first time I touched her. It was like coming home... only to no home I'd ever known... I was just taking her hand to help her out of a car and I knew. It was like... magic.

..............................

Jonah Baldwin: Talk to her, dad. She's a doctor.
Sam Baldwin: Of what? Her first name could be Doctor.

.............................

Jessica: I am telling them you're twelve so you can fly unaccompanied and the stewardess won't carry you around and stuff like that.
Jonah Baldwin: Are you crazy! Who'd believe I'm twelve?
Jessica: If it's in the computer, they believe anything.

..............................

Sam Baldwin: Didn't you see Fatal Attraction?
Jonah Baldwin: You wouldn't let me!
Sam Baldwin: Well I saw it and it scared the shit out of me. It scared the shit out of every man in America.

...............................

Sam Baldwin: I'll tell you what I'm doing this weekend, I'm getting laid. It's the 1990's and nobody's getting laid. I'm the only man in America who's getting laid this weekend and I haven't been laid that much. Six girls in college, maybe seven.
[sees Jonah standing in the doorway]
Sam Baldwin: How long have you been standing there?
Jonah Baldwin: Forever.

............the above quotes taken from IMDB, too much to remember the exact words...................

there was one when Becky (Meg Ryan's colleage and close friend) and Meg Ryan were talking but not in imdb...

Annie: All I can say is "Hello" [she refers to the scene when she flew from Baltimore to Seattle, and drives/follows Tom Hanks and his son until they see each other across a road. And the only word came out after that trip was "hello". She flew there after listening to the radio talk show by the freaky shrink.]

Becky then yelling something like I know it, just like the movie...[Becky refers to the movie An Affair to Remember when Deborah Kerr finally met Cary Grant but she cannot stand up for her leg because an accident and too proud to break the ice?, and Cary Grant is going to leave ...]......................

Scenes

Tom Hanks standing on the deck in front of his "floating home" at Seattle, breathing in and staring up.

Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan staring at each other from both sides of a road in Seattle

Meg Ryan driving to Baltimore after Christmas's Eve dinner and listening to radio

Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan (and Jonah) met at the observation deck at Empire State Building (well, the lobby is fake, and the elevator doesn't carry all the way from lobby to the observation deck - confirmed as I was there to check it out in 1995, it couldn't be rennovated so fast from 1992-1995 time frame I think)

....................

there is so much to chew on in the movie...and the classics referred to include An Affaird to Remember, Dirty Dozen...it's an era when things are much different from today's...the 90's..no ipod, no cellphone (or at least not as small and popular) and you can say goodbye to someone who is flying off, at the gate, adjacent to the airplane. huh? what???? grab one before it's extinct in this region...