Vienna Boy's Choir

It was an awesome night. This choral singing group have been around for the past 500 years and is very synonym to the Austrian culture. Singing in a SATB choir myself, I really appreciate harmonious rendition of songs by a choir group. Anyway, since these boys are not yet in their adolescence, there only 3 voice parts, Soprano, Alto and Tenor. If any of the boys voice range is Bass, they are probably to old for this choir and would have graduated. Anyway, although I do not understand what they are singing, they still sound beautiful. Then came Ave Maria, the whole Hail Mary in Latin. Finally, a song I understand.

The Boys have not cease to surprise me with a Mandrin and a Hokkien number. I think, the biggest surprise that night is when they did " Sayang Kinabalu". And how the crowd applauded! They did a few more jazzy tunes proving that they do not just sing classical tunes.

Check out the corporate sponsors of the event. Present that night was the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah and Tun Mahathir.

Permata Seni Choir made their debut on stage with the Vienna Boy's Choir and performed Rasa Sayang together on stage to end the night. :D A wonderful night indeed.

Steve Job (1955-2011)

Pancreatic Cancer. All the money in the world and yet, one could not cheat death. Still, he said, “Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me … Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful… that’s what matters to me.” Steve Job.

Jobs died at his home in Palo Alto, California, on October 5, 2011 at the age of 56. His death certificate, which was made public on Monday, October 10, indicated he that died about 3 p.m. on October 5 and the immediate cause of death is listed as respiratory arrest with "metastatic pancreas neuroendocrine tumor" as the underlying cause.

I first heard of his demise 2 years ago. Online. Turns out it was a joke or a mistake. Job had always be secretive about his private life, so ever since his first announcement about his condition and battle cancer since 2005, there have been a lot of rumors that he's already dead. A few times.
Jokes aside, it's for real now. No more dramatic unveiling of products that would change the world, again. He made the phrase, "One more thing..." the most exciting statement of all time.
I found out about his passing when when I was checking my twitter account. I was shocked since it happened after the launch of iPhone 4S. I think a lot of people had forsee the day will come since he resigned in August as CEO due to health reasons but not so soon. His death generates more tweets compared to the death of Michael Jackson. Then, the internet, Facebook and blogs starts to be filled with postings, news and tribute to him. No doubt, his works have touch a lot of people. There are, some who are not amused with all of that devotions to him, saying that it is wrong to morn for a technocrat as there are other people who have done good to humanity and yet died quietly, without hype.
Why the attention and devotion? I can think of a few.

1. Apple is Steve Job.
I guess we tend to associate Companies with a famous face. When we think of Apple Inc. first person to come in mind is Steve jobs and no one else. Bill Gates for Microsoft, Dreamworks is Steven Spielberg. These are just a few examples and I'm sure you get my drift. Many of this digital mourners do not know Steve Job personally but they have definitely enjoyed the gadgets made by Apple. What they get is an experience, a vision, something that Steve Job have seen and know that that is what we want all along and not know it. I got my first Apple last year, a MacBook Pro and tried MacOS X. And I've to say, I'm hooked for life, it's an escape for the forever freezing and virus prone Windows that I've been using for almost 20 years. Everyone thanked Job for their pleasant experience with these electronic contrivance and how their life change or made convenient.

2. Steve Job was a considered a failure before.

The Steve Job, who founded Apple Computers was kicked out by the very person he brought in to join him. Then, when he joined back as an Interim CEO or iCEO (pun intended), Apple Inc came back as one of USA's most valuable companies. Many would think that his life career stories as inspirational.

3. Steve Job was adopted.

Jobs was born in San Francisco to Abdulfattah "John" Jandali, a Syrian, and Joanne Carole Schieble an American of Swiss and German ancestry, both graduate students. Jobs was placed for adoption after Schieble's father opposed their marriage. If he was aborted, the world would have lost a great visionary and innovator. Jobs was then adopted by the family of Paul Jobs and Clara Jobs who moved to Mountain View, California when he was five years old.

There are more other reasons why so many are touched by his passing. He's an inspiration.

Blogged from my iPad

Day 2 Thailand

Woke up, no rain. Breakfast at chok dee restaurant, in front of the hostel, had Pad Thai wrapped with omelet. then it starts to pour real hard. Got our fare to Railey Beach for 130B pp. Tout asked for 150B but we told him, some boatman at the pier can take us for 130B, so we got it. 5 of us went cause Eun A's bro don't wanna go out in the rain.  On the boat, it started to rain even harder. There were water everywhere, under us, from the side and the front. Rain taste salty at some point. Amanda got sick as the waves got bigger. We were bobbing up and down, it's like being on an episode of the National Geographic's Deadliest Catch! After what lasted like an eternity of wave riding, we arrived at Railey East. It's surrounded by mangrove trees and spectacular cliffs. There's a path which leads us straight to Railey West, to where the beach is.  Got scammed today for our fare to the bus station. Paid double then the supposed 20B per person. 

I can still feel..

This is hard to believe, but as for before last weekend, I never knew that I could care and love someone. I experience forgiveness and increase my knowledge about chastity as a way of life. I fall, and yet, He, in all his wisdom and grace, lifted me and assure me that I am ok, and there is nothing that I do that cannot be forgiven. For an instant, the burden and guilt that I'm carrying with me was instantly lifted, and I feel like a new whole being. It's not what I know anymore, but what I felt.
I began to understand now that, when I'm attracted to someone, I'm attracted to God, who I see in her, which makes her attractive. Sometimes, I think God made her, just to show off. There is just something about her that makes her special.
However, I felt that it's hard for her to open up. It's like she's resisting to get to know someone or be close with someone. There's some hurt or betrayal she experience which I think makes her vary in the idea of forming friendships. She's friendly, but didn't talk much. She could be introverted but she's not that way when she's with close friends. I hope that we'll be good friends one day.

My Thailand Trip Day 1

My journey was eventful so far. I missed my bus to Hat Yai. What a way tot start a vacation. First, upon returning home, I couldn't find my goggles. I need them to snorkel as it is powered. Then, when I left for the first time, I've forgotten another important item, my camera charger and I came back for it causing me to miss the 8.35pm ERL to Bandar Tasik Selatan. Traffic light system in Putrajaya sucks big time, it took me ages just to get back to my place at P15, retrieve the charger and back to Putrajaya Sentral. True enough, I missed the 9.05 train too. I actually bought my ticket much earlier and entered the platform before I realize I didn't have my charger with me. Since I left my damaged camera back in the car, I assume the charger is in there. Turns out it's not and there rest is as I mention before. To get out of the platform, I asked the help of the personal in the ticket booth. She let me out but ask for my ticket which I find weird. 
When I got back to the station, I ask for my ticket back and the looked back at me with some kind of blank expression and gave me what I thought was my ticket.
Turns out, she gave me a wrong one as I was denied exit at the Bandar Tasik Selatan station. So I went to the ticket counter to enquire about the problem. I showed it to the staff in the booth. He was taking his sweet time and its was awhile before he attended to me. I showed him my ticket and told him it didn't work. He take a look and then told me it s a wrong ticket and ask me to why did I buy that is I intend to stop here. I told him I bought my ticket to Bandar Tasik Selatan, not to KLIA as he had claimed. I showed him my receipt to prove my purchase and he still won't let me out. Then he left me there waiting.
Boy was I pissed. I shouted at him, "what's your problem man! I showed you my receipt, what else you want me to do. I got a bus to catch! (it's already 9.50 and I still have not gotten in the LRT to Plaza Rakyat). Normally I wouldn't shout but this is too much. He asked me, "what you want me to do?" I told him, "let me out la!". Then cheekily he replied, "if you want to go out, go la "activated the gate and I sprinted out with my stuffs up the escalator to the LRT.
LRT rides can lead to hypertension especially when you are in a hurry and got a bus to catch. There was no train till 10 minutes later. When I got on board, the train took it sweet time to class the doors, reopen it and then just paused. WTF! Then I got a call for the bus company I bought my ticket online from. She told me that my bus is leaving in 5 minutes, with or without me. I ask her to wait, telling her I'm on my way in tHe LRT. Then the train DID IT AGAIN!! it paused at Chan Sow Lin. I was agitated I could break a window. 
When I got out, I ran like hell, my physiotherapist would be so proud of me. When I got to counter 17, I got the bad new, my bus left, just right after I arrive. Anyway, she arranged for another bus for me which leaves at 11. 
When It's time for us to board the bus, one of the ticket seller lead everyone to the bus. I followed the crowd and stopped to buy a drink for the journey. When I turned around, everyone is gone. On my ticket it was not written the platform number either. I saw at the onscreen display for bus departure, there's a bus leaving for Thailand at platform 19, so I ran over there. When I got there, I found out It wasn't my bus. I searched other platform too but no avail. So, I rushed up to the information counter but she take a look at my ticket and ask me to get back to the ticket counter all the way on the 2nd floor. So I went up, again, running. When got there, the ticket lady was astonished. I asked which platform my bus is and she was clueless. She made a call and asked me to get down to platform 1 again. I went down. There was NO BUS down there. After an eternity of waiting, the ticket guy called me, waving me to come up. Apparently, the bus is waiting outside. It never got in thus explaining why it  didnt had a platform no. 

The bus was comfy, I got no complains except for the guy who sit behind me keeps poking my back with his leg. Use the leg rest la dude! My butt is not for fondling. 

When I arrived in Changloon, I found out the one can't travel if their passport is 6 months less to expiry. I found it out in the passport biometric booth and I've to see the officer in-charge. She gave me a caution, wrote it in my passport and let me go. No problem at Thailand side. There are SO MANY PEOPLE ENTERING THAILAND TODAY! The bus was crawling at the checkpoint, clearance took us 2-3 hours easily. It's 11 am and I'm still on my way to Hat Yai.

Thailand Trip Approve

I'm going to Thailand! It's not my first trip there but I'm traveling alone. I've only been to koh phangan before. now, I plan to start at Krabi, Phuket and then Bangkok. I'd stop by Koh Phi Phi if I have time. anyway, I think I'll spend most of my time on the road, couldn't get cheap flight to anywhere. despite the week I'm going is the Raya weekend, I manage to get a bus ticket to Hat Yai, which is a miracle since tickets everywhere is sold out. and i bought it online. it's so convenient now days to buy stuff online. my initial plan was to take the train, at least i'ed enjoy the scenery. too bad train tickets are sold out till 30th august. it did cross my mind to drive too, but I think it means more $$ to spend servicing and getting the cr ready. I think I don't mind driving if I don't go alone. I discovered www.expedia.com.my. They seems to have awesome offers for lodging. shame that the rooms can accommodate 2 ppl at a time.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPad]

PC Expo KLCC August 2011

outdated post. Spend the whole day searching for great deals for electronic stuff and cute models to tie portrait shots. definitely less babes this year, this year's offering not that great either.

Mobile Blogging from here.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPad]

peavey ampkit vs irig vs apogee jam or Griffin Guitar Connect?

What guitar interface should i get to use with my Ipad? IRig is available in Malaysia for RM195! Honestly, it's overpriced. Griffin GuitarConnect Cable is a better deal for being cheaper. It's RM112, available in the Apple Online Store. Still, i don't think these 2 products can match the sound quality of Apoogee Jam since we're talking about digital signal. (Via the dock connector.)

Ice Snow Coconut pudding@Room 18 Berjaya Times Square

Ice cream, strawberry slices and mint leaf on top, pudding filled with coconut flesh. very tasty. Not too sweet and not too cold. Looks very Milky but didn't taste like milk at all. In fact taste like coconut jelly. Not forgetting to mention that it's pleasant esthetically. Recommended to those who can't stand sweet and cold desert.

maalini curry house mamak session.

mamaking

The answer to curb illegal parking

Now, this could be the answer to curb illegal parking. How bout in the busy streets of KL where motorist park at their whim? Something the mayor of KL can consider. :)

The event of the video is stagged. However, notice how at the end the mayor himself helps to clean the shattered glasses on the road.


http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/mornings/video%3A-lithuanian-mayor-runs-over-car-in-tank-20110803-mr?obref=obnetwork

Malaysia vs Singapore 2014 World Cup Qualifier

I just found this out while surfing to buy the tickets for the game this Thursday.


World Cup 2014 Qualifying : All Tickets are sold out for online purchase. Tickets can only be purchased at Stadium Nasional, Stadium Shah Alam & Stadium MBBJ


Dang.. How am I supposed to get the tickets then? Bukit Jalil. I sure hope there's no riot involved. Hehehe....

Buying Bus Ticket Online

You know, it's not a myth anymore that you can purchase Transnational bus ticket, ONLINE. Yeah, You heard me right. Online. Thats my ticket to JB right there. I'll just have to collect it from the counter later.

Just go to this website http://www.ticket4u.com.my/transnational/

And you can pay for your ticket via maybank2u.

Since my bus departs from the new TBS (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan), I stumbled into this site http://www.tbsbts.com.my.

Quite informative for travellers. ^__^

New Lease Of Life.

I'm back to Putrajaya. Again. After my course is over. So now, I'm back to my previous department. Since I've not been assigned a post yet, things can get a little slow, though I use this time to recuperate from my 7 1/2 months of work hiatus. Who would have thought it is over in a blink of an eye.

Sabah trip, again.

I'm in Sabah, again. This time is for field research. I'll be placed in a district with a foster family and do a qualitative research on poverty in this district. Well, I've never been to Kota Marudu, but I'm sure it's gonna be an adventure for me no doubt. :)

INTAN Sabah is so awesome. The rooms are neat. 3-4stars hotel equivalent. It looks more like a chalet. What is missing is a beach or else it will be a holiday spot.

Kuching

Home sweet home.

There's really no place like home. Finally, I have a long break from my 7 months course. My knee got hurt during military training i went a couple weeks ago, which makes me winch every time I climb the stairs or knee.

Whenever I'm back, I'll make it a point to eat as many Kuching delicacies I could find. I even made a list:

Kolo Mee - the best I had is at open air market. Look for the stall with a yellow sign board.

Kampua Mee

Mee Sup

Laksa

Tomato Mee - Petanak Market

Tomato Kuey Teow

Kuey Chap

Sio Bee - Open air market. - The one and only

Rojak Sotong Kangkung

I can only think of these. It has been awhile since I had those. Those I'm manage to find are in italic.

Last Tuesday, I drove down to Lundu with my parents, with the sole purpose of buying...

FRESH CRABS.

It' s full moon and a good time to eat crabs as they are HUGE at this time of the month. The trick is to come to Lundu wet market around 3pm. My mum told me that, she has been here a few times, at the end of the year when she have to be on duty for SPM examination.

True enough, at 3.30pm, this Pak Aji came with a basket of freshly caught crabs. Considering the long drive, i bought 3 kgs.

Mummy cooked sweet sour and curry crabs that night. Now, that is AWESOME.

ER2011 has started