Quote

Vive l'amour, May Love Live Forever .....
Gracias a la Vida !

Sunday, January 31, 2010

The Journey to Enlightenment


This is a scenic view of the Buddha statue at Chin Swee Temple, Genting Highlands. On the left is a path that leads you on a Journey to Enlightenment where the 10 chambers of Hell are depicted. It is a good journey of discovery especially for children to learn about the rewards of good karma and punishments for bad karma in the process of rebirth and reincarnation before a person reaches enlightenment.

Just look at the many many steps and stairs here. I bet it would be good exercise just walking around this place.


Scenic Sunday

This is my entry for the fun and wonderful weekly meme, Scenic Sunday #81. To participate or view other pictures around the world, click on the icon above.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Lights & Reflection


This is the walkway of a hotel lobby decorated with red lanterns and glittering lights for the coming Chinese New Year festival which falls on Feb 14th. From afar, the numerous little pink lights looks like plum blossoms. This is the time you see plum blossoms display everywhere, e.g. on lighting, red packets and floral arrangements and also painted on lanterns.

Do you think the polished floor further enhances the ambience when the lights are reflected back? Can you see the beautiful lanterns reflected on the shiny stone pillars on the right?


This is my entry for Weekend Reflections # 19. To participate or view what others have posted for Weekend Reflections, please visit here.

Friday, January 29, 2010

Skywatch from First World Hotel Window


I travelled off peak, took advantage of a promotion recently and stayed at the First World Hotel, Genting Highlands Resort. The standard room with a standard view costs me RM 38.80 only (approx. USD 11.00) for a 2 day 1 night stay with breakfast for 2 persons.

This is the view of the Outdoor Theme Park from my hotel window. The cloud formations here changes every few minutess and sometimes the whole view is shrouded with mist.

When I am high up somewhere, I always have this urge/curiosity to look down and enjoy the view below. Do you like doing this too? What kind of feeling do you get when you look at the clouds that seem so near and yet so far? To me it seems so near to Heaven's door. If a painter were to paint the clouds on the sky, what could he be painting here?

For more Skywatch Friday Season 4 Episode 29 pictures and to participate, please visit the Skywatch site. Skywatch was created by Dot and put in motion by Tom, who made it a huge success. Now it is hosted by Klaus with the help of Sandy, Wren, Fishing Guy, Louise and Slyvia.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

The Popularity of Bottled Water




Bottled water is so very convenient it has become the drink of choice for many people around the world. In 2007, more than 200 billion littres of bottled water were sold worldwide. In the US, bottled water has outsold both milk and beer.

How much energy is needed to make the bottled water? Scientists has estimated that the production of plastic bottles to meet the demand for bottled water consumption uses 50 million barrels of oil annually.

Do you think we can change our lifestyle to reduce the consumption of bottled water?

Thank you to Michelle of Rambling Woods for hosting Think(ing) Green Thursday # 34. To participate or to view contributions from other green thinkers around the globe, please visit here.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

B is for Beverage

Today is ABC Wednesday Round 6
B is for
Beverage!

It is also for Big, Beautiful and Best
This is very impressive and loud. It really stands out to grab the attention of people walking by.
Do you have any more "B" for me?


Today's post is an entry in ABC Wednesday Round 6, the meme initiated by Denise Nesbitt. For more information and photos, please log on to this site.


P/S: Heres some terrific suggestions:
Bodacious - Roger Owen Green
Bravo - Rob & Mandy

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Maneki Neko The Lucky Cat


The Lunar Chinese New Year falls on February 14th, 2010 which is also Valentine's Day. With the Tiger taking over from the Zodiac Cow, what better way to welcome the new year than with this member of the same cat family, Maneki Neko, The Lucky Cat!

This lucky cat is holding a fan inscribed with a very special word. This word is a combination of 4 chinese words, 招財進寶 (zhao cai jin bao) with the following meanings:

Zhao - invite or beckon with one's hand
Cai - wealth
Jin - enter, move forward, progress
Bao - treasures, honour

In summary it means "Welcoming Wealth & Prosperity"

The cat is also wearing a jade pendant with 5 bats (longevity and prosperity symbol) as the motif. The jade is pendant is hung on a string of pearls. The platform is surrounded by many pots of yellow chrysanthemums which symbolises perfection, optimism and joy. This cat was photographed at the 1-Utama Shopping Complex. I notice many shoppers who passed by will stopover to stroke or touch its right hand. Many also took photographs and some even recorded videos.

As this cat with a sexy mole on its cheek is wearing a cheongsam and adorned with a flower on the head, do you think it is a He or She?

Maneki Neko is also known as the Lucky Cat or Wealth Welcoming Cat ( 招財貓, pinyin 招き猫). Other names include Beckoning Cat, Welcoming Cat, Money Cat, Fortune Cat. It is believed to bring good luck to the owner. It depicts a Japanese Bobtail Cat beckoning with an upright paw and is usually placed at entrances or the cashier's counter welcoming customers. A raised left paw is said to attract more customers while a right paw attracts wealth. Some are mechanically or battery powered with a continously moving paw.

This is my entry for That's My World Tuesday. To view what others have in their world, please visit here.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Monochrome Maniacs - Chinese Lanterns


These are Chinese lanterns used to decorate the roof of a stall selling Chinese cultural items in a shopping mall.

All the lanterns has the same identical painting.

Do you know what is being painted on the lantern?



This is my entry for Monochrome Weekend Volume 2 Issue 22. My grateful thanks to Aileni for hosting this wonderful site. For other MM posts around the world, please click here

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Pagoda of Chin Swee Temple, Genting Highlands



Just as after entering from the main entrance of Chin Swee Temple is a nine-storey Pagoda decorated with many figurines of the Buddha. Inside this Pagoda there are 10,000 ‘blessing lamps’ installed for devotees of the Temple to dedicate to those that they would like to be blessed by Buddha.


Scenic Sunday

This is my entry for the fun and wonderful weekly meme, Scenic Sunday #80. To participate or view other pictures around the world, click on the icon above.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Venice in Malaysia


Couples coming to Genting Highlands for a holiday may like to go for a ride in this gondola. Perhaps they can imagine sailing down the canals of the world famous romantic city of Venice, Italy that is built entirely on water.

We in Malaysia can experience Venice at the indoor theme park of The First World Hotel, a theme park and shopping complex at Genting Highlands. This is one of the 6 theme areas which are named after famous cities and landmarks from around the world. The theme here is Italy - Venice.

The views around here are indeed spectacular. On the left is the bar and restaurants where one can wine and dine and enjoy love ballads and soothing music while there are shopping outlets, more cafes, fast food joints and theme rides such as carousels, ferris wheel, kiddy rides and children enjoyment at the Topsy Turvy Child Play Centre. There is even haunted house and Ripley's Museum for the more daring ones to enjoy. For the more adventurous ones, you can try Rock Climbing, bowling and snooker. Later, you can move over to see some live performances at the Genting Theatre or cinema.

If this is not enough fun and entertainment, how about some heart stopping moments at the casino which is within walking distance? There are 2 casinos at Genting Highlands.

Genting is also known as The City of Entertainment.


This is my entry for Weekend Reflections # 18. To participate or view what others have posted for Weekend Reflections, please visit here.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Skywatch on Malaysian Rainforest


This is a skywatch photo taken from the balcony of a Hotel Resort at Genting Highlands. The view is our Malaysian rainforest and blue mountain ranges covered in clouds and mist, but not snow!

The word 'Genting' in chinese language , 云顶 means top of the clouds. Now, when I am standing here at 1,760 metres (5,774 ft) above sea level and looking at the clouds below me, I get this feeling that I am 'On Top of The World'!

Can you see a bird flying high in the skies?

It must be a great feeling to be able to fly like this bird.


For more Skywatch Friday Season 4 Episode 28 pictures and to participate, please visit the Skywatch site. Skywatch was created by Dot and put in motion by Tom, who made it a huge success. Now it is hosted by Klaus with the help of Sandy, Wren, Fishing Guy, Louise and Slyvia.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Help Save our Endangered Malayan Tiger


Image from Wikipedia: Tiger in the water, permission under a Creative Commons Attribution Liscense. Originally uploaded to Flickr.com by B_cool.

The Star Nwspapers today published an article on the need to save our Malayan tigers from extinction under the title, " Groups Roaring Up Support To Save Malaysian Big Cat From Extinction."

Our Malayan Tiger (Panthera tigris malayensis), is also know as Harimau Belang in Malay. According to The Star report, it's population is currently down to 500 in the wild in Peninsular Malaysia. It is listed as an endangered species here. Our Malaysian Government launched The Tiger Action Plan in 2008 with the aim to increase the population of wild tigers to 1,000 by 2020. It is hoped that the coming Year of the Tiger will encourage people to to cooperate and join forces to save the tiger from extinction.

"You can be the person who helped saved the tigers, or you can be the one who helped wipe them out."
..... Datuk Dr. Dionysius Sharma, WWF Malaysia Chief Executive

There are 5 factors threatening tigers
1) Habitat loss and fragmentation
2) Commercial poaching
3) Human-tiger conflict
4) Declining prey base
5) Science deficiency in the monitoring of tigers and their prey

Commerical poaching has been identified as the most urgent threat to tigers and it has the capacity to do most damage in the shortest period of time. The tiger population has been decimated due to illegal hunting for their skins, bones and other body parts.

MYCAT (Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers) will be launching a Year of the Tiger Programme, a series of public awareness campaigns targeting schools and both the rural and urban public. This will kick-off at Dong Zen Temple in Jenjarom, Selangor where 1,000 faces will be painted to symbolise the 1,000 tigers to be saved by the year 2020.

Anyone with information on the illegal poaching or trading of tigers can make a report through Tiger Crime Hotline at 019-3564194


Thank you to Michelle of Rambling Woods for hosting Think(ing) Green Thursday # 33. To participate or to view contributions from other green thinkers around the globe, please visit here.


Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Statue of Liberty at Genting Highlands

Today is ABC Wednesday Round 6
A is for
America!



This is a monumental replica of the Statue of Liberty, a famous landmark of the United States of America. This statue is located at the indoor theme park of First World Plaza, Genting Highlands.

Somehow, I seem to be having problems with night photography. I am using auto setting for my point and shoot Olympus FE-4000 camera, with fill-in flash. The glare of the lights can't seem to go away even after I use the 'night photography' mode setting and turn-off flash. Therefore, the focus is also not sharp. If I focus the camera on the statue, the background will become too bright and blur. Do you have any advice on how to improve on this?

Today's post is an entry in ABC Wednesday Round 6, the meme initiated by Denise Nesbitt. For more information and photos, please log on to this site.


Tuesday, January 19, 2010

The Peach of Immortality


This picture was taken at the Chin Swee Temple, Genting Highlands.

According to Chinese forklore, the Peach of Immortality is the food of the gods. This mythical peach tree which is grown in the Heavenly Orchard of the Jade Emperor takes 3,000 years to mature. It will bloom once every 3,000 years and the fruit takes another 3,000 years to ripen. Legend has it that these peaches gives immortality to anyone who eats it and also he/she will stay forever young. When the fruit ripens, there will be a feast among the gods at the palace of the Queen Mother of The West or (Zi Wang Mu, 西王母).

This is my entry for That's My World Tuesday. To view what others have in their world, please visit here.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Oscar Statue at Genting Highlands


This gigantic Oscar Statue is located at the indoor theme park of The First World Plaza, a theme park and shopping complex at Genting Highlands. This is one of the 6 theme areas which are named after famous cities and landmarks from around the world. The theme here is USA - Universal Walk.

This is my entry for Mellow Yellow Monday # 52. My grateful thanks to Drowsey Monkey for hosting this fun site. For other MYM posts around the world, please click HERE.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Chin Swee Caves Temple, Genting Highlands

Picture was taken on New Year Day of 1st Jan 2010.


Chin Swee Caves Temple is situated at 4,600 ft above sea level and it has the most scenic view of Genting Highlands. On a misty day, it looks like Heaven on Earth. Here, one could enjoy the calm and peaceful atmosphere while looking at the most breathtaking view of the surroundings.

This temple was built by the founder of Genting Highlands Resort, the late Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong. It took 18 years to complete and was officially opened on 29 March 1994.

Would you like to visit this place?

For information on rooms and packages, retreats, you can visit their website here.



Scenic Sunday

This is my entry for the fun and wonderful weekly meme, Scenic Sunday #79. To participate or view other pictures around the world, click on the icon above.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Rainforest Treasures


A picture of our tropical rainforest in Ipoh, Malaysia.


There are 2 types of Rainforests in the world, namely Temperate and Tropical Rainforests.

Tropical rainforests are forests with tall trees, warm climate and lots of rain.

In Malaysia, our rainforests used to occupy a much larger area but logging and development has destroyed much of it.

Features of a tropical rainforest:

  1. Located in the 'tropics' region
  2. Rainfall of 80 inches per year
  3. Has a canopy of trees where most of the animals and plants live
  4. Has a high level of biodiveristy of flora and fauna
  5. It is home to about half of the Earth's plants and animals species

Rainforests are also called "Pharmacy of the World". More than a quarter of the world's medicine originates from its plants.

Rainforests are important because

  1. home to many plants and animals
  2. stabilize the world's climate
  3. protect against flood, drought and erosion
  4. source of medicines and food
  5. home to many indigeneous people.

Sources of information:

a) Wikipedia
b) www.mongabay.com

This is my entry for Weekend Reflections # 17. To participate or view what others have posted for Weekend Reflections, please visit Newtown Area Photo.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Skywatch at Perak Cave Temple

This is the view I get when I am standing in front of the entrance to Perak Caves Temple, Ipoh. A beautiful casuarina tree spreading its graceful branches against the background of beautiful blue skies.


For more Skywatch Friday Season 4 Episode 27 pictures and to participate, please visit the Skywatch site. Skywatch was created by Dot and put in motion by Tom, who made it a huge success. Now it is hosted by Klaus with the help of Sandy, Wren, Fishing Guy, Louise and Slyvia.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

2010 International Year of Biodiversity


This picture of a natural vertical rainforest is taken from the backyard of a friend's house in Ipoh, Malaysia. Inside this environment is a wealth of ecosystems and species of flora and fauna that Mother Nature has given to us Free Of Charge. What differentiates us humans from other inhabitants of Planet Earth is that we have the power and capabilities, and our actions and activities may have a tremendous effect on the environment. After all, the forest is full of surprises. Are we going to leave behind a legacy of nature's rich store of treasures for the future generation to appreciate or are we going to use them all up for our own enjoyment and benefits in this lifetime?

The International Year of Biodiversity 2010 was officially launched in Berlin on 12th January, 2010 by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

"The conservation of biological diversity has the same dimension as climate protection. We need a trend reversal - not at some point in the future, but immediately" ..... Angela Merkel.

The UN General Assembly proclaimed 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity to coincide with the deadline adopted by Governments in 2002 to achieve a significant reduction in the rate of loss of biodiveristy of species and ecosystems of the planet. According to scientist, the rate of loss due to human activities is as much as 1,000 times higher than the background rate.

During the year, people will celebrate the diveristy of life on the planet, and its contribution to human-being, while working to take steps needed to combat its loss.

Source: The above information is taken from the Press Release dated 12 Jan 2010 from the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity official website. To read the full details of the press release, please visit this link here.

The slogan for the International Year of Biodiversity is

"Biodiversity is life. Biodiversity is our life."

Do you like this idea and how can we contribute and do our little part?

Also, I'd like to wish all Tamils around the world who celebrate the Harvest Festival today, a Happy Pongal!



Thank you to Michelle of Rambling Woods for hosting Think(ing) Green Thursday # 32. To participate or to view contributions from other green thinkers around the globe, please visit here.


Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Happy Heart Pool at Chin Swee Temple, Genting Highlands.


The signage here reads “Happy Heart Pool”. Looking at the Chinese characters, I think it also means “calm and tranquil”. What do you think?

This is my entry for Watery Wednesday #69. To see what others have posted or to participate, click here.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Wheel of Reincarnation at Chin Swee Temple, Genting Highlands



When you visit the Chin Swee Temple at Genting Highlands, you will see this picture of the Wheel of Reincarnation.

According to certain faiths e.g. Hinduism, Taoism and Buddhism, the soul is immortal while the body is subjected to reincarnation and rebirth. Whether you will be reborn as animals, humans or gods will depend on the karma of past and present lives. This cycle of reincarnation or rebirth involves many lifetimes, sometimes as many as a few hundred lifetimes!


This is my entry for That's My World Tuesday. To view what others have in their world, please visit here.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Kuan Yin Statue at Chin Swee Temple, Genting Highlands


This is a giant statue of Kuan Yin, The Goddess of Mercy at the Chin Swee Temple, Genting Highlands. A normal person's height is just tall enough to reach the tip of the lotus flower that she is standing on at the bottom (not seen here).

Do not dwell in the past,
Do not dream of the future,
Concentrate the mind on the present moment.
..... Buddha's saying

This is my entry for Monochrome Maniacs Volume 2 Issue 20. My grateful thanks to Aileni for hosting this wonderful site. For other MM posts around the world, please click here.


Sunday, January 10, 2010

Buddha Statue at Chin Swee Temple, Genting Highlands



With the Buddha statue shrouded in mist, it looks like heaven here. Chin Swee Temple of Genting Highlands is located at 4,600 ft above sea level and about 10 minutes drive down from the peak.

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it,
no matter if I have said it,
unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense"
..... Gautama Buddha (563-483 B.C.)

Scenic Sunday

This is my entry for the fun and wonderful weekly memes, Scenic Sunday #78. To participate or view other pictures around the world, click on the icon above.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Beautiful Crystal Reflections



A sparkling crystal chandeliar on the ceiling of a hotel lobby reflected beautifully on the glistening floor. I can even see the colours of the rainbow reflected on the shiny marble floors.



I thought the reflection on the floor looks like the outline of a turtle.

What do you think?

This is my entry for Weekend Reflections # 16. To participate or view what others have posted for Weekend Reflections, please visit Newtown Area Photo.

Friday, January 8, 2010

Sunset over Cloudy Skies at Wangsa Maju


Picture taken from the Wangsa Maju LRT station

Looks like it is going to be a thunderstorm or heavy rain is coming. But first, lets enjoy the sunset.


“Clouds come floating into my life,
no longer to carry rain or usher storm,
but to add color to my sunset sky.”
..... Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)
Indian poet, playright, essayist and recipient of Nobel Price for Literature 1913


For more Skywatch Friday Season 4 Episode 26 pictures and to participate, please visit the Skywatch site. Skywatch was created by Dot and put in motion by Tom, who made it a huge success. Now it is hosted by Klaus with the help of Sandy, Wren, Fishing Guy, Louise and Slyvia.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Selangor Implements "No Plastic Bag Day" Every Saturday

Selangorians / Selangorites? Lets get ready our reusable bags before we go shopping. Effective from January 1st, 2010, Selangor will implement the "No Plastic Bag Day". Retailers and shopping centres are urged to participate with the aim to reduce the use of plastic bags.

When this campaign was implemented in some places last week, on Jan 2nd, there were still some customers who were caught unaware, so they complained and some even demanded that they be given plastic bags!

As I know, Carrefour, Giant, Jusco, Cold Storage and Convenience Store chains will all be implementing this policy by this Saturday, 9th Jan. In fact, some has already started doing it. Some supermarket will provide reusable carton boxes to customers while others will charge 10-20 cents for every plastic bag. Alternatively, we can also buy the reusable bags, prices which start at RM 1.99.

I remember an incident many years ago when I was at the MPH Bookshop at Mid-Valley with my toddler son. There was this story teller, Ms A, who told the kids about saving the marine turtles from extinction. She told the kids about the danger of throwing plastic bags into the sea where baby turtles will mistaken it for a jellyfish and will die from soffocation when they swallow the floating plastic bags thrown by people. At that time, I was very glad that there are marvelous people like Ms A who took the time and trouble to educate kids about caring for our environment. This story has remained in my head until today, eventhough I was just a bystander, a parent tending to my child when the story was told then.


Now, I am ready! Look at the picture above. It's so easy. The bags are foldable and can easily fit into my blue reusable bag. When going to 'ta pau' (takeaway food), remember to bring a tiffin carrier or reusable container from home. At the bakery, bring along a reusable container too. Some people have already made this a habit.


Consider the Following Shocking Facts About Plastic Shopping Bags:

•Plastic bags are made of polyethylene
•Polyethylene is a petroleum product
•Production contributes to air pollution and energy consumption
•Four to five trillion plastic bags are manufactured each year
•Americans use over 380 billion polyethylene bags per year
•Americans throw away approximately 100 billion polyethylene bags per year
•Of those 100 trillion plastic bags, 1% are recycled
•It takes 1000 years for polyethylene bags to break down
•As polyethylene breaks down, toxic substances leach into the soil and enter the food chain
•Approximately 1 billion seabirds and mammals die per year by ingesting plastic bags
•Plastic bags are often mistaken as food by marine mammals. 100,000 marine mammals die yearly by eating plastic bags.
•These animals suffer a painful death, the plastic wraps around their intestines or they choke to death
•Plastic bag choke landfills
•Plastic bags are carried by the wind into forests, ponds, rivers, and lakes

Source from Suite101.com, article titled:
Say No To Plastic Bags: The Shocking Facts About Polyethylene Bags


A simple action on our part, an enormous impact on Mother Earth!

Are you ready to make a start?


Thank you to Michelle of Rambling Woods for hosting Think(ing) Green Thursday # 31. To participate or to view contributions from other green thinkers around the globe, please visit here.


Wednesday, January 6, 2010

ABC Wednesday - Y is for You, Youth, Young and Yellow


Today is ABC Wednesday Round 5

Y is for

You, Youth, Young and Yellow !


Preschool kids taking part in a march past during sports day.



"I'm youth, I'm joy,
I'm a little bird that has broken out of an egg"

..... James Matthew Barrie (Scottish dramatist and novelist, creator of Peter Pan, 1860-1937)


Remember to enjoy your youth. Take the time to be a child and play your heart out, after all you are only young once!




Today's post is an entry in ABC Wednesday Round 5, the meme initiated by Denise Nesbitt. For more information and photos, please log on to this site.


Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Hibiscus Liuli Crystal Fountain at Pavilion KL

The Grand Bloom of Fulfillment fountain is our nation's latest iconic landmark. You can view it at the entrance of Pavilion KL, a shopping centre located in Bukit Bintang area, the golden triangle of Kuala Lumpur city. This 3-tier Liuli crystal fountain measuring 3.6m by 6m is valued at RM 8 milion. Its essence is a reflection of the 1Malaysia concept.

This fountain was launched by our Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Ng Yen Yen on July 4th, 2009 to coincide with Malaysia's Mega Sale season then.

A signage nearby reads as follows:

"The Bloom of the Hibiscus, the national flower of Malaysia is a symbol of opulence, passion and progression.
The three bowls represent Malaysia's multiracial culture living harmoniously in unity. Ascending to signify the growing aspirations of the people.
Serenely the water converges from all directions, an endless source of blessings and prosperity.
The crystal glass fountain bestows luminous wealth upon the city and the nation.
Conceptualised by Pavillion Kuala Lumpur in collaboration with LiuLiGongFang".

Now, why not try this: Toss a coin into the Pavilion Crystal Fountain, just like the Trevi Fountain in Rome, where tourists would toss a coin into the fountain and make a wish or whisper your hopes and dreams. Perhaps it may just come true!
Or have you already done this before?

This fountain has been acknowledged by the Malaysia Book of Records as Malaysia’s tallest Liuli Crystal Fountain.

This is my entry for That's My World Tuesday. To view what others have in their world, please visit here.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Monochrome Maniacs - Down a Winding Staircase


Looking down the winding staircase of a hotel lobby. Do you feel giddy?

This is my entry for Monochrome Maniacs Volume 2 Issue 19. My grateful thanks to Aileni for hosting this wonderful site. For other MM posts around the world, please click here.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Scenic Sunday # 77

Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur


“It is good to realize that if love and peace can prevail on earth,
and if we can teach our children to honour nature's gifts,
the joys and beauties of the outdoors will be here forever.”
..... Jimmy Carter (born 1st Oct 1924) ,
39th USA President (1977-1981), recipient of Nobel Peace Price 2002.



Scenic Sunday

This is my entry for the fun and wonderful weekly memes, Scenic Sunday #77. To participate or view other pictures around the world, click on the icon above.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Weekend Reflections # 15



This picture was taken at the 1-Utama Shopping Complex. Standing on the sides at a certain angle, I can see a few images of the beautiful stained glass circular design being reflected on the clear glass separators on the roof. Even the 2 paralled escalators and all the side windows are reflected here.

This is my entry for Weekend Reflections # 15. To participate or view what others have posted for Weekend Reflections, please visit Newtown Area Photo.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Dawn of a New Year 2010 and Once in a Blue Moon Affair


This picture was taken at 12:08pm in the afternoon of Jan 1st, 2010. Cloudy Skies now in front of my house in Klang, Malaysia. At this moment of updating my post, I am watching CNN and New York still has more than 55 min to go before the arrival of the new year. Everyone over there is so happy and in party mood. I had a quiet new year at home, spent in relaxation while watching others countdown on TV.


I took this picture of our full moon on Jan 1st, 2010, time: 12:42am, just after we welcome in the new year. It does not appear blue but rather yellow.

Once in a blue moon, the world get to witness a blue moon on New Year's Eve. Revellers ushering in 2010 in the USA, Canada, Europe, South America and Africa will view the blue moon on 31st Dec 2009, and is expected to occur at 7pm on Dec 31st, Universal Time (formerly known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

I guess Malaysia will see the first full moon on Jan 1st, around 3:12am where there will also be a partial eclipse. The next full moon, i.e. our blue moon is expected on Jan 30th.
For the Western Hemisphere, the first full moon appeared on Dec 2nd, followed by Dec 31st. For Eastern Hemisphere friends, the first full moon will appear on Jan 1st folowed by Jan 3oth.
A full moon occurs every 29.5 days, and most years have 12. On average, an extra full moon in a month - a blue moon - occurs every 2.5 years. The last time there was a lunar double was in May 2007. New Year Eve's blue moons are rarer, occuring every 19 years. The last time was in 1990; the next one after this will come again in 2028.

Blue moons have no astromonical significance. The popular definition of blue moon came about after a writer for Sky & Telescope magazine in 1946 misintepreted the Maine Farmer's Almanac and labelled a blue moon as the second full moon in a month. The almanac defined the a blue moon as the third full moon in a season with four full moons, not the usual three. Though Sky & Telescope corrected the error decades later, the definition caught on.

Sources:
1. The Star publication dated 31st Dec 2009, titled 'Rare Blue Moon' Treat for Revellers.
2. Inquirer.net breaking news on 31st Dec 2009, article titled "Celestial Rarity: 2 Full Moons for RP in 2010".

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010!

Today is City Daily Photo Theme Day for January 2010. The theme is "Changes".
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants



For more Skywatch Friday Season 4 Episode 25 pictures and to participate, please visit the Skywatch site. Skywatch was created by Dot and put in motion by Tom, who made it a huge success. Now it is hosted by Klaus with the help of Sandy, Wren, Fishing Guy, Louise and Slyvia.

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