Camelback Mountain View at UTAR Kampar



Students who are on their way to the Kampar campus of UTAR often see this view of blue mountains in the background. The two mountains on the left are nicknamed 'Camelback Mountain' because they resemble the humps of a camel. The building on the right is UTAR.  It looks like good fengshui  with this stretch of overlapping mountains at the back providing the support and there are also 2 lakes some distance away from the main entrance for good wealth chi.

The famous Camelback Mountain is located in Arizona, USA.

Utah is a western state in USA. Utar is the acronym for University Tunku Abdul Rahman in Malaysia.

This is my entry for the fun and wonderful weekly meme, Scenic Sunday #120. To participate or view other pictures around the world, click on the icon above.

Lantern Parade of LED lights at i-City Shah Alam

All the lanterns are made of LED lights here at i-City, Shah Alam. This city is also known as the City of Digital Lights and it is a tourism attraction.

This is my entry for Weekend Reflections #58. To participate or view what others have posted for Weekend Reflections, please visit here.

Skywatch Friday - Sunset

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning,

but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”

..... Maria Robinson

I hope your day ended well today and you have a great weekend ahead.

For more Skywatch Friday Season 4 Episode 16 pictures and to participate, please visit the Skywatch site.

Thursday Challenge - Messy !

Sometimes, people like to select the roadside and use the public lamp post as a reference point for dumping unwanted items. Occassionally, you'll find sofa sets, bed sets and other furniture items.

If rubbish is packed properly for disposal and put at the back of the house, City Hall will collect it a few times every week.

Messy?
What is the procedure when dealing with rubbish in your area?

This is my entry for Thursday Challenge, the Photo Theme this week is MESSY (Children, Rooms, Garage, Yard, Disorganized, Hair,...). To view what others have for today, click here.

Orchids at Strawberry Farm Genting Highlands

Today is ABC Wednesday

O is for .....

ORCHIDS!



ABC Wednesday, Round 7 hosted by Mrs. Denise Nesbitt and the ABC Team of Denise, Roger, Jay, Troy, Barb, Gattina, Sylvia, Annelie, Linda and Helen. To participate and view what others have in mind, please log on to this site.

A Rock Garden at FGS Dong Zen Temple Jenjarom

Rock gardens with kois are very popular in Chinese, Japanese and Fengshui styled gardens.

Do you like rock gardens or perhaps have one at home?

This is my entry for Watery Wednesday # 111, the link is here.

Thousand-Hand Guan Yin

A statue of the Thousand Hand Guan Yin (千手观音) or Goddess of Mercy at the Chin Swee Temple Vegetarian Restaurant in Genting Highlands.

Guan Yin is the short form for "Guan Shi Yin" (觀世音). Guan means to watch; Shi means the world and Yin means the sounds of the people who are suffering and pray to her for help. Guan Yin is full of compassion, hence she is known as the Goddess of Mercy. She watches over and responds to us, the mortal beings who seek her help. Guan Yin is a bodhisattva, meaning one who has attained enlightenment.

According to legend, Guanyin has made a vow to never rest until she had freed all sentient beings from samsara or reincarnation. Despite strenuous effort, she realized that there were still many unhappy beings yet to be saved. After struggling to comprehend the needs of so many, her head split into eleven pieces. Amitabha Buddha, seeing her plight, gave her eleven heads with which to hear the cries of the suffering. Upon hearing these cries and comprehending them, Guan Yin attempted to reach out to all those who needed aid, but found that her two arms shattered into pieces. Once more, Amitabha came to her aid and bestowed her a thousand arms with which to aid the many. Many Himalayan versions of the tale include eight arms with which Avalokitesvara (Guan Yin) skillfully upholds the Dharma, each possessing its own particular implement, while more Chinese-specific versions give varying accounts of this number. (Source: Wikipedia)

Can you see the many faces of Buddhas arrange in a circle on top of her head?
Do you know that authentic statues of Guan Yin should have a buddha image on top of her head?

The Thousand-Hand Guan Yin is often depicted with many hands and many faces, signifying the many methods she can see, hear and offer assistance.

This is my entry for Mellow Yellow Monday # 92. To participate of view what others have for MYM today, please click on the picture icon above.

This is also my entry for That's My World Tuesday Season 3 Episode 3. MyWorld is the place where we become virtual tourists guides and show others the best of our world! To view what others have in their world, please visit here. 

Lakeview at Putrajaya Princinct 1

I snaped this photo of the scenic view across the lake at Putrajaya Pricinct 1, the venue of Floria 2010. After I downloaded the picture, I saw this couple who happened to pass by. Somehow, they seem to complement and fit into the picture nicely. Actually the venue was very crowded during the flora show and it is very difficult to get a picture without anybody in it. The steel structure on the top right corner is part of the famous Sri Wawasan Bridge.

This is my entry for the fun and wonderful weekly meme, Scenic Sunday #119. To participate or view other pictures around the world, click on the icon above.

October is The Month of Holloween

Halloween celebrations is underway at the 1-Utama Shopping Complex, Petaling Jaya. I was admiring the ghostly masks and paraphernalia displayed at the Balloon Buzz stall when I saw this spotting model who was so kind to pose for me.

In case you need to plan for a hassle free theme party, their details are as follows:

Balloon Buzz Party Centre
One Utama Shopping Mall
LG212B, Lorong Ground Floor (Promenade Zone)
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Tel: 603-7710 3827
Email: bboneutama@gmail.com

Services rendered: Party supplies, balloon decor and delivery, balloon printing, clown service, face painting.

Are you attending any Halloween parties?

This is my entry for Weekend Reflections #57. To participate or view what others have posted for Weekend Reflections, please visit here.

Sunset Along The Highway

"What I do today is important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it."

..... Author Unknown

Did you have a fruitful day today?

For more Skywatch Friday Season 4 Episode 15 pictures and to participate, please visit the Skywatch site.

A Dragon Pillar at Chin Swee Caves Temple Genting Highlands

Dragons are potent symbols of good fortune in Chinese culture and fengshui. The most powerful of all dragons are heavenly dragons. An example is seen here. This golden dragon is coiled around a pillar inside a temple at Chin Swee Caves Temple, Genting Highlands. It is floating among clouds and there is a magical pearl in the mouth.

The dragons we usually see have 4 claws. Dragons with 5 claws are meant only for the Emperor who is regarded as the "Son of Heaven", hence only the imperial family can have them. In the old days, anyone else having 5 clawed dragons would be put to death. Similarly, not everyone can withstand the powerful chi of this 5 clawed dragon.

Have you seen a 5 claw dragon?

This is my entry for Thursday Challenge, the Photo Theme this week is GOLDEN (Jewelry, Coins, Sun, Leaves, Fields, Hair,...). To view what others have for today, click here.

A Naked Tree

Today is ABC Wednesday

N is for .....

Naked tree!

What are you thinking when you see this tree?

I think it is a beautiful piece of Mother Nature's art.
A lovely silhouette against the clear blue sky.

The Erythrina fusca tree which bears beautiful bright red flowers is a deciduous tree. Sometimes, it sheds all its leaves during a dry spell. Later when there is enough water or rain, shoots will sprout again.

Erythrina fusca tree is also known as Pokok Dedap in Malay

ABC Wednesday, Round 7 hosted by Mrs. Denise Nesbitt and the ABC Team of Denise, Roger, Jay, Troy, Barb, Gattina, Sylvia, Annelie, Linda and Helen. To participate and view what others have in mind, please log on to this site.

Rojak Fruit Salad at Kedai Kopi Kong Heng

This is a simple dish of rojak or fruit salad served at Kedai Kopi Kong Heng (Kong Heng Coffee Shop) in Ipoh. It is made of local tropical fruits and vegetables such as mangoes (raw and ripe), guava, umbra fruit, cucumber, sweet turnip and a piece of crispy cracker. We use the wooden sticks called 'lidi' to eat rojak. Lidi sticks are made from coconut fronds.

"ROJAK" is a traditional salad dish made of fruits and vegetables. It is commonly found in Malaysia, Singapore and Malaysia. It is available at the roadside stalls, night markets, restaurants, cafes and even served at hotel buffets.

The most important is the dipping sauce or rojak sauce which  is made of black soya sauce, sugar and shrimp paste, garnished with a sprinkle of toasted belacan (dried shrimp paste), grounded peanuts and finely chopped chili padi (bird's eye chili). A good dipping sauce is what differenciate a popular rojak seller than the rest. I think it is the toasted belacan that makes all the difference. Belacan is something you either love or hate and the smell can be pungent and obnoxious or just heavenly. It depends on the person's taste buds. Like kimchee, cheese, smelly tofu and durians, some people just love it while others can't stand it.

Besides fruit rojak, we also have mamak rojak, Indian rojak, Penang rojak and Indonesian rojak. When in Malaysia, why not try our colourful and tasty rojaks. Afterall, this is a good way to sample some of our tropical fruits.

What is your favourite salad and does it have a fancy name?

The word "Rojak" is a Malay word meaning "mixture". In everyday life, this word is also often used in colloquail language, e.g. "you are speaking rojak" meaning you use a mix of different languages in your conversation.

This is my entry for That's My World Tuesday Season 3 Episode 2. MyWorld is the place where we become virtual tourists guides and show others the best of our world! To view what others have in their world, please visit here. 

A Chinese Wealth Sailing Ship

A wealth sailing ship at a Chinese restaurant. This is a popular fengshui enhancer used to attract wealth. It is even better if it is laden with gold coins, gold ingots and precious stones.

The ships usually resemble ancient merchant or explorer ships that were capable of sailing the 7 seas and return home laden with lots of valuables and treasures. War ships with cannon and ammo are considered a no-no. Also, they should be sailing into the home or office, i.e. facing inwards; otherwise all the wealth will sail out with the ship!

Do you believe in fengshui?

This is my entry for Mellow Yellow Monday # 91. To participate of view what others have for MYM today, please click on the picture icon above.

Public Garden at Putrajaya

This path is so straight it seems to lead to infinity.

"By confronting us with irreducible mysteries
that stretch our daily vision to include infinity,

nature opens an inviting and guiding path toward a spiritual life"

.....Thomas More 

This is my entry for the fun and wonderful weekly meme, Scenic Sunday #118. To participate or view other pictures around the world, click on the icon above.

Sincero Riverbank at Lost World of Tambun Ipoh

Sincero Riverbank is a place for clubbing and dining. This place is located just at Sunway Lost City of Tambun, Ipoh.

To know more about this place, you can visit their website here.


This is my entry for Weekend Reflections #56. To participate or view what others have posted for Weekend Reflections, please visit here.

Sunset Along North South Highway

“You had better live your best and act your best and think your best today;

for today is the sure preparation for tomorrow and all the other tomorrows that follow”

..... Harriet Martineau (English Essayist and Novelist. 1802-1876)

Hope you had a memorable day today!

For more Skywatch Friday Season 4 Episode 14 pictures and to participate, please visit the Skywatch site.

A Peaceful Place at Gunung Lang

On weekdays, this place is so quiet you can hear the sounds of the water dripping from the brook.

“Good humor is one of the preservatives of our peace and tranquility”

Thomas Jefferson (1762-1826) 3rd US President.

This is my entry for Thursday Challenge, the Photo Theme this week is PEACEFUL (Relaxing, Harmonious, Friendly, Serene, Mild Weather, Calm Water,...). To view what others have for today, click here.

A Meadow Garden

Today is ABC Wednesday!

M is for .....

a Marvelous, Magical, Meadow Garden.

ABC Wednesday, Round 7 hosted by Mrs. Denise Nesbitt and the ABC Team of Denise, Roger, Jay, Troy, Barb, Gattina, Sylvia, Annelie, Linda and Helen. To participate and view what others have in mind, please log on to this site.

An Auspicious Marriage

A pair of banana plants is used to flank the entrance to an Indian wedding ceremony. The whole banana plant with trunk, fruits and flower is used.

Banana plants bear fruits in combs and bunches. They also produce many offsprings in the form of suckles. Hence, they are regarded as auspicious and they signifie fertility, abundance and prosperity. It is hoped that the marriage will be as fruitful or productive as the banana plant.

According to Chinese tradition, choosing an auspicious date and time is important for marriage.

Did you undergo any special religious ceremonies to ensure a blissful married life?
Do you believe in 'living happily ever after' ?

Congratulations!

My World Tuesday turns 2 today!

 This is my entry for That's My World Tuesday Season 3 Episode 1. MyWorld is the place where we become virtual tourists guides and show others the best of our world!here.

To view what others have in their world, please visit

A Palm Leaf for Weekend in Black and White

"It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light"

..... Aristotle Onassis

This is my entry for this week's The Weekend In Black And White. My grateful thanks to Dragonstar for hosting this wonderful site. To participate or view the world in monochrome, please click here.

Scenic Sunday at The Lost World of Tambun Theme Park

The Lost World of Tambun Theme Park, Ipoh.

Wishing everyone a happy day of Perfect 10s on this day of 10-10-10!

Did you do anything special to make this day more memorable?

This is my entry for the fun and wonderful weekly meme, Scenic Sunday #117. To participate or view other pictures around the world, click on the icon above.

Weekend Reflections at Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa

This is the top of a dome shaped pillar at the entrance to Sunday Resort Hotel & Spa. The reflections are on the left.

This is my entry for Weekend Reflections #55. To participate or view what others have posted for Weekend Reflections, please visit here.

Sunset Over Butterfly Park, Bandar Bukit Tinggi Klang

We have been experiencing rain and showers almost daily. This sunset picture is taken just after the rain. The sun's rays is also reflected on the green field.

For more Skywatch Friday Season 4 Episode 13 pictures and to participate, please visit the Skywatch site.

Traditional Chinese Puppet Show For Thursday Challenge

Recently, I chance upon this traditional Chinese puppet show near a Chinese temple in Klang. It was put up during the birthday celebrations, called The Feast of A Thousand Autumns of the resident God of a Taoist temple. A loudspeaker is used and the opera songs and dialogues are recorded and broadcasted. Two puppeters worked behind the curtains to control the movement of the little puppets. The whole session was conducted in Hokkien, the most widely spoken Chinese dialect in Klang.

Shows like these a becoming a rarity now, being replaced by stage performances by modern singers and dancers. Perhaps if you have watched the Jackie Chan movie, the Karate Kid 2010 starring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith, you will remember a scene where there is a puppet show depicting the chinese Valentine lovers Niulang and Zhinu.

This is my entry for Thursday Challenge, the Photo Theme this week is  "MUSIC" (Singing, Dancing, Playing, Instruments, iPods, Concerts,...). To view what others have for today, click here.

Lemon Grass, Lychee and Laksa at Lavender Cake Shop & Bistro

Today is ABC Wednesday!

L is for .....

Lemon grass, Lychee, Longan and Laksa at Lavender

This drink is make with lemon grass juice and lychee syrup. I think it goes well with the curry laksa noodle served at Lavender Cake Shop and Bistro. They also have mini longan cakes and brewed lemon grass tea.

Lavender Cake Shop and Bistro has it headquarters and a few outlets in Johore Bahru. This outlet is located at AEON Shopping Complex, Bandar Bukit Tinggi, Klang.

Have you tried the lemon grass, lychee, longan, lemon, lime cocktail or juice in any of these combinations?

ABC Wednesday, Round 7 hosted by Mrs. Denise Nesbitt and the ABC Team of Denise, Roger, Jay, Troy, Barb, Gattina, Sylvia, Annelie, Linda and Helen. To participate and view what others have in mind, please log on to this site.

Ancient Chariot at Genting Highlands Mushroom Farm

Can you believe your eyes?

An ancient Greek chariot of horses at the Gentings Highlands Mushroom Farm. Or is it Celtic or Roman chariot? Well, I'm not sure. Behind them, you can see a field full of blooming yellow daylilies and in the background are some of our Malaysian giant ferns.

I wonder where this chariot is going and if they got lost in our Malaysian tropical rainforest jungle.

This is my entry for That's My World Tuesday Season 2 Episode 52. To view what others have in their world, please visit here.

Spider Lily of Malaysia

Spider Lily is a common name for a few species of lily plants depending on your geographical location. It can refer to Crinum Lily, Hymenocallis or Lycoris.

The scientific name of this plant is Hymenocallis littoralis. We can find lots of them in Malaysia. We just called them "Spider Lilies". Hymenocallis in Greek means "beautiful membrane". This flower is pure white in colour. It has 6 long and slender petals that are joined by a thin membrane. The plant can grow in watery soil near the beach and they can also survive in dry areas. 

During our childhood days, we like to rummage between the folds of their long green leaves in search of spiders. The beautiful black spiders are housed in empty matchboxes and brought to school hidden in the trouser pockets for a game of "spider fighting". The champion spider receives a lot of pampering and get to stay in a beautiful matchbox or tin container home. Sometimes, some sore losers may become unspotting and stomp on the winner, killing it. This brought a lot of tears and anguish to the owner. Spider fights may also lead to 'man fights' but it was just a game. Of course this is a boy's game. Girls play paper dolls and the pebble game.

Do you have a different spider lily in your area?

Have you ever played this game of spider fighting?

This is my entry for this week's The Weekend In Black And White. My grateful thanks to Dragonstar for hosting this wonderful site. To participate or view the world in monochrome, please click here.

A Boat Ride To The Garden of Gunung Lang Ipoh

During the Hari Raya Holidays this year, a ferry ride accross this lake at Gunung Lang Recreational Park, Ipoh cost only RM 1.00 per person. Life-saving vests also provided.

This is my entry for the fun and wonderful weekly meme, Scenic Sunday #116. To participate or view other pictures around the world, click on the icon above.

A Picture of Calm and Tranquility at Gunung Lang Recreational Park

At the Gunung Lang Recreation Park in Ipoh, you can take a ferry ride across this lake of tranquil waters to the opposite side where there is a beautiful exotic garden and playground.

Can you see the clouds and blue sky being reflection on the calm and clear waters?

If you are standing here right how, would you like to jump in for a cool, refreshing dip?

This is my entry for Weekend Reflections #54. To participate or view what others have posted for Weekend Reflections, please visit here.

City Daiy Photo Theme Day For Oct 2010 - Graffiti

Today is City Daily Photo Theme Day for October 2010. The theme is GRAFFITI.

This is a picture of the KTM commuter station in Kuala Lumpur. I took this picture from the Pasar Seni LRT Station. The area is the public transportation hub of the city. From this picture alone, you can see passenger cars, taxi, a Post Malaysia truck and even a KTM commuter train pulling into the station.

It's a blue sky today for Skywatch Friday.

GRAFFITI - Is it an art, a nuisance or a crime?

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

For more Skywatch Friday Season 4 Episode 12 pictures and to participate, please visit the Skywatch site.