Happy 53rd Birthday, Malaysia!!!

Today is Malaysia's 53rd Birthday! It is the Independence Day of Malaysia, or it is also called Merdeka Day!

There is no outdoor parade for this year's celebration. In fact, it is the first time celebrations taken place in the indoor stadium for the Merdeka performance. It is take place at the Putra indoor stadium in Bukit Jalil.

I remember when I was a small kid, I used to watch the outdoor parade of the Merdeka celebration live on TV . All the armies, policemen, firemen are marching, all the school bands performance, the jets performance, etc.. for this celebration. There were many spectaculars too. Overall, it is a celebration for the nations of the country.

This year, I am just staying at home for the Merdeka Day to watch TV and surfing internet. This is due to I am too tired to go outside to meet friends! :)

I am wishing Malaysia to have a happy birthday and wish the country will be more harmony, nations will be more happy, and the country becomes stronger and richer! Malaysia Boleh! 1 Malaysia! Let's go for it! Happy Merdeka!!!

Humour Corner :D

Our family was dining out and we have been waiting for quite sometime for our meal. My 10 year-old son got impatient and said, "Mommy, why do they call them waiters (pointing at the waiters)? We are the waiters! "

A Tragic Journey for the Hong Kong Tourists

It has happened a sad world news a few days ago. A group of Hong Kong tourists were having their pleasure travelling happily in the overseas, but it was ended as a tragedy in their last day of travelling.

The group of tourists have been hijacked and ended up 9 of them had lost their lives due to murder by the 'maniac'. Thus, some families have lost their loved ones, ie. parents, husband, son. It really is a shocking news to the whole world. I wonder why would this tragedy happening?!

When I read the news or watching the news on TV pertaining this incident, I really feel sad for it. When it was showing the scenes of the 9 coffins that would expatriate back to HK, it really is a hard feeling for me.

There are a siblings who have lost their parents in this trip, I wish these siblings (15 year-old and 8 year-old) will become strong in their life. May God bless all the survivors in this happenings too.

I believe that with such a shocking news, it's not only I feel sad for them, the whole world will feel the same as I am. I'm wishing this would not be happened again in any place, anywhere and anytime. World Peace!!!

Humour Corner :D

If your dog is barking at the back door and your wife is yelling at the front door, who would you let in first? The dog is of course. He'll shut up once you let him in.

Venice & Milan Snapshots (IV)

Milan

Venice & Milan Snapshots (III)

Black Spaghetti

Venice & Milan Snapshots (II)

VENICE

Venice & Milan Snapshots (I)

St. Mark's Square

Gondola Ride in Venice and Shopping at Milan

After Pisa and Florence, I went to Venice, the beautiful romantic city. I had my first gondola ride in my lifetime. St. Marks Square, Casanovas Bridge of sights, the Doges Palace and St. Mark's Catheral are all in Venice. I was also able to see the world's best artisans demonstrating the age-old art of glass-blowing at a Venetian factory.

The gondola is a traditional, flat-bottomed Venetian rowing boat, well suited to the conditions of the Venetian Lagoon. For centuries gondolas were once the chief means of transportation and the most common watercraft within Venice. Nowadays, the iconic boats still have a role in public transport in the city, serving as traghetti (ferries) over the Grand Canal. They also used in special regattas (rowing races) held amongst gondoliers. Their primary role, however, is to carry tourists on rides with a quite high prices. The gondola is propelled by a person called gondolier, who stands facing the bow and rows with a forward stroke, followed by a compensating backward stroke. Contrary to popular belief, the gondola is never poled like a punt as the waters of Venice are too deep. The gondoliers are wearing uniform, in black and white stripes shirts. They are very skillful and they can sing very well too. They sing to the tourists while rowing the gondola.

It was a new experience for me while I was riding on the gondola. I saw the buildings/shops near the canal, the gondola go through the tight spaces of the canals easily. The gondolas would never bump to each other as the gondoliers are so professional. I took many shots during my gondola ride. It took 30 minutes for the ride.

After the gondola ride, I bought some souvenirs and also saw a married couple in front of the church. I took some snapshots around the Venetian Canal. I took my lunch in a restaurant in the Venice. It was black spaghetti, the color of spaghetti is black due to it made from the calamari ink. After we eaten it, the teeth became black and my tour mates and I were laughing at each other. It was a happy lunch meal of the day.

After Venice, I went to another city, Milan. Milan is a beautiful modern city that combines the best of Italy's yesterday and today. It is the country's business, design, fashion and music capital, as well as rich in art, history and culture.

Italy's most important fashion designers have concentrated their shops, boutiques and showrooms in Milan's famous 'quadrangle of fashion' district near the city center. Milan also has nation's most important design schools, world-class music conservatories, the top companies and financial institutions, and Italy's leading Stock Exchange. Overall, Milan is the gurus of Italian fashion.

There are many branded fashion boutiques here, e.g. LV, Celine, Gucci, etc.. The prices of the products are cheaper as compared to Malaysia. But I did not buy as I had to control my spending.

Besides shopping in Milan, there is also Duomo Catheral, one of the biggest Gothic Cathedrals in the world. There are 3 museums inside, and can even take an elevator up (or stairs if you are in good shape) to walk outside on the roof. It is a beautiful building.

After done with the shopping, it was time for the meal. It was another enjoying meal for me during the dinner. I had wine for my dinner. I had been served with white wine. Well, it tasted good, but I got drunk at that evening. Back in Malaysia, I tried for red wine before but I did not get drunk. However, when I took white wine in Italy, I got drunk. Well, maybe I was too high for my holidays there!

Well, these are my holidays in Venice and Milan. I will continue next time with my other destinations. See ya!

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Good-Bye, My Cousin Bro!

7/8/2010, I received a sad news from my elder sister via phone that my cousin brother had passed away in the morning at the hospital of Guangzhou, China. He was diagnosed with the lung cancer (stage 4) in last October, and he went to the China for treatment, but failed.

After I heard of such sad news, I recalled my memories about this cousin brother. He was my favourite cousin brother among all my cousins. My cousin brother was 10 years older than I am and he treated everyone good. He was a very good person and my parents also liked him very much.

When I was young, about age 4 or 5, he used to take me for a motorcycle ride to round the housing areas to make me happy. Moreover, he also taught me to do my holiday home works. This cousin brother treated me very good, thus I like to hang around with him since young.

We had developed a very close relationship since we were young, therefore I treated him as my own brother. When we grew up, we still kept in touch with each other always. When I was admitted in the hospital, he sure would come to visit me. If he could not make it, he would give me a call to check on my condition. He always told me to stay healthy and be strong and never stress myself on work. He also always came to visit my mother and I after my father had passed away.

When I found out that my cousin brother had diagnosed with cancer in last year, I was very sad as I wondered why he would have such sickness for a good person. However, my cousin brother was so strong with his willpower, he did the chemo and became better. He had fought for 9 months since he diagnosed with his illness. When he went to China for his treatment in last month, I was thinking that he could make it and would come back in full recovery. But he did not.

My cousin brother had married and had 3 sons. I am wishing his family to stay strong and healthy always. Lastly, I would like to tell my cousin brother, Yin, to rest in peace and we will miss you!

Pisa & Florence (II)

Florence

Pisa & Florence (I)

from top

1) Birthday Celebration at the Cafe in Pisa
2) Gelato Stall
3) My mum and I in front of the Leaning Tower