The month of July
Mood:  bright
Topic: Event and Celebrations
has been few months since I updated my blog. When I look at the last date when I wrote something, I was like... wow! is it really true that I had not been writing for so long??? Gosh! How time flies! Then I look at my friends' blogs, I was impressed.. I wish I could update and beautify my blogging page as like theirs, but considering my busy time, I guess just simply writing a blog would be cool!

Well, guess there's no point looking at the past now.. It is the month of July (my favourite month) and so much seems to happen in just this month alone! My water baptism (21st June... but it is worth noting it down >, the gift of speaking in tongues, Holy Spirit School and not forgetting my birthday!

What makes me most excited among all the above said is my water baptism.. that is the reason I wrote it down although my blog title is 'The month of JULY,' I believe it does not make a difference to God and myself when exactly it was. What is more valuable is my commitment to follow Christ and in the process begin to progress to fulfil the Great Commission.

I was pretty nervous actually (for some reasons) about water baptism. The thought am I worthy enough to be baptise, or the idea of going under water but on the day of baptism, God proof to be a good God. Trusting in God, He blesses me with excitement instead of fear. Although it was raining cats and dogs and my Pastor described it as showers of blessings  Together with the gift of speaking in tongues and the annointing I receive during the Holy Spirit School, I could feel myself growing stronger in my Christian walk. God is faithful! Praise the Lord!

              

                 

  My baptism marks a very significant date, slightly more than a week before my birthday.

    Like last year, I had a very memorable birthday too. Always being full of surprises, my friend once again gave me a day to remember by celebrating my birthday with a cake and card. It was kinda a surprise as they did not greet me when I arrived and they saw me at office. I thought they might have forgotten my birthdate   but they hadn't... it was just before going back time did they brought out the cake, sang me a birthday song and gave me the card as they wishes me Happy Birthday!   Of coz I was touched... haha! Thank you to all my office friends! You gals are great!

                

                       

                     

 I am really blessed. Blessed with good friends, and blessed for having the priviledge to follow my Father who art in Heaven. I pray and hope that I would be a blessing to all I connect with too. With this also, I would like to say thank you and know that I am really grateful for all that have happened. Things could not be any better!  

PSP and Nintendo DS Lite
Mood:  happy
Topic: Games

The Nintendo DS and the PSP are the latest in portables in electronic gaming even though that they are both a couple of years old.
They both have different kind of functions and are almost similarly priced.

The most recent gadgets that I bought is the PSP and Nintendo DSL - which was bought from Lelong.com at a very reasonable price. I am really happy with both this items although my favourite being the Nintendo DSL which caters for more games to my preferences. The PSP, on the other hand has better pictures, (Nintendo DSL has 2D and PSP 3D). 

The major differences of DS  and PSP :

 

PSP Product Specifications

• Product Name: PlayStation Portable (PSP)
• Color: Black
• Dimensions: Approx. 170 mm (L) x 74 mm (W) x 23 mm (D)
• Weight: Approx. 260 g (including battery)
• CPU: PSP CPU (System clock frequency 1~333MHz)
• Main Memory: 32MB
• Embedded DRAM: 4MB
• Display: 4.3 inch, 16:9 widescreen TFT LCD, 480 x 272 pixel (16.77 million colors), Max. 200 cd/m2 (with brightness control)
• Speakers: Built-in stereo speakers
• Main Input/Output: IEEE 802.11b (Wi-Fi), USB 2.0 (Target), Memory Stick™ PRO Duo, IrDA, IR Remote (SIRCS)
• Disc Drive: UMD Drive (Playback only)
• Profile: PSP Game, UMD Audio, UMD Video
• Main Connectors: DC OUT 5V, Terminals for charging built-in battery, Headphone/Microphone/Control connector
• Keys/Switches: Directional buttons (Up/Down/Right/Left)Analog pad, Enter keys (Triangle, Circle, Cross, Square), Left, Right keys START, SELECT, HOME, POWER On/Hold/Off switch, Brightness control, Sound Mode, Volume +/-, Wireless LAN On/Off switch, UMD Eject
• Power: Built-in lithium-ion battery, AC adaptor
• Access Control: Region Code, Parental Control
• Accessories: Stand, Headphone with remote commander, Headphone with remote commander and microphone, External battery pack, Case, Strap
• E3 Prototype Exhibition: USB Camera for PSP, USB GPS for PSP, USB Keyboard for PSP

Nintendo DS Specs:

The DS provides more interactive gaming and supports a duel screen, one of them being touch sensitive, and a stylus in which to write with on the touch screen with.

The PSP is a portable Playstation, capable of storing all kinds of media on the device. These include videos, photos and music files. These are very useful and in this way the PSP outranks the Nintendo DS. The PSP has high definition graphics that are 3D. This makes game play more realistic. By having a memory card to keep data on, UMD videos or game disks are able to make multiple saves which can be very useful.

Overall, both the DS and PSP provides exciting style into your gaming environment. The PSP is reliable and useful and is very good all round and I guarantee that it will entertain you very well in every way possible. The DS is also very small and will give you entertainment to a certain extent but it is not in the same league as the PSP. 
 

Celine Dion Is Coming!!!
Mood:  surprised
Topic: Event and Celebrations

It has been many days I left a spot in my blog... but I am so excited about the latest news that I absolutely have to write this down 

When I read the news that Celine Dion is coming to Malaysia a few days ago, I was excited. I have been a fan of hers since 12 years ago! Can you imagine that? Like all teenagers who follows their fave band, I have also kinda waiting for her to have her concert since a lifetime! Hmm, it feels that way anyway...

Reading the news, I really hope she comes this time (remembered the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Malaysia, when everyone thought that she is coming, but the news was a rumour. I was really disappointed :(. Back then however, I was only a student and could not afford the price of the ticket even is she did come (so that was not so bad) :P I really hope I can attend this one and I am sure it will be a blast!

Anyway, below is the copy of the news that I found on the Star Online :-

Celine Dion is coming

By JO TEH

PETALING JAYA: Canadian superstar Celine Dion is set to thrill Malaysian fans on April 8.

The lanky songstress will be having a show here as part of her smashing year-long Taking Chances World Tour, following the release in November of her latest album Taking Chances.

Back in action: Dion’s Taking Chances World Tour is her first after a three-year hiatus.

“This is her first tour in Asia and it is significant that she chose KL instead of our neighbouring countries,” said Arianna Teoh, executive director of Artiste World, the organiser of the show.

Artiste World is a subsidiary of top concert promoter, Galaxy Group.

The world tour, to kick off in South Africa this month, will be the first for the 39-year-old since her return to the music scene in 2002, after a three-year hiatus.

Apart from Malaysia, Dion will also be performing in Australia, Belgium, China, Germany, France, Italy, Japan and the United States.

“This is a lifetime opportunity and definitely a family affair. Her hits transcend all ages,” Teoh said.

“The show is also the biggest production ever done in the country and we are certain it would lift the entertainment industry to a greater height,” Artiste World managing director Alan Chan added.

“This is a very brave move for us. In the past, promoters have not dared to bring in A-list artistes or rather it was rare,” Chan said.

Born to a large impoverished family in Quebec, Dion, the youngest of 14 children, first gained international recognition in the 1980s after she won the 1982 Yamaha World Popular Song Festival and the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest.

Dion achieved worldwide success with the release of several English and French albums.

At the height of her success in 1999, Dion announced a temporary withdrawal from entertainment in order to start a family and enjoy life. Her music has been influenced by genres ranging from pop, soul, and rock to classical and gospel.

To date, she has sold over 200 million albums worldwide and has under her belt the 2004 Chopard Diamond Award from the World Music Awards show for becoming the Best Selling Female Artist in the World.

The concert will be held at Stadium Merdeka on April 8 at 8pm.

For details, contact 03-2282 2020 or visit www.galaxy.com.my.

The question remains however ... How much is the ticket? I bet it is really expensive for someone like CD, I really hope I can afford it eventhough it is not the front row :P

Christmas in Malaysia
Mood:  bright
Topic: Event and Celebrations

I have always love Christmas. It is the event of the year that I am looking forward most to. More than my birthdays and more than anything else in the world :) There are many reasons why I particularly like Christmas. The three main things I love about Christmas :

1. Remembering the birth of Christ - to give us eternal life and life more abundantly. Singing Christmas songs and going to church Christmas morning is not just a routine but it is fun with the thoughts of the birth of Christ and the being thankful for the purpose He has in our lives.  

2. The joy of exchanging gifts - to see the happy faces and fulfilling some hopes of the needy through charity.  It is the event where we show our love and being contented in the company of our loved ones.

3.  Hmm... I would have to say the decorations that is in the various shopping malls! Just lovely sights to behold! Just look at the pictures below :P 

Picture taken in Mid Valley

Picture taken in Times Square.

Picture taken in KLCC

and last of my pictures but not least;

The Curve.

As we marvel at the Christmas decorations in other countries, this leaves me with the thought that Malaysia is capable of beautifully decorated Christmas too. Tourists will undoubtedly have an excellent Christmas vacation in Malaysia.

~ Admist our excitement and glee, may we not forget, JESUS is the reason for the season. ~ 

Merry Christmas Everyone! 

Finally Celine Dion's Taking Chances
Mood:  cool
Topic: Favourite Music

Singapore Trip - Cousin's Wedding and other Activities
Mood:  happy
Topic: Singapore Trip

Last weekend, I was in Singapore to attend my cousin's (Hui Ling) wedding. The happy couple after 3 years of relationship with her husband, Chia.

Wedding ceremony 

On the wedding day, the newlyweds serve tea (holding the teacups with both hands), inviting the groom’s elders to drink tea. In return, the newlyweds receive lucky red envelopes (“lai see,” which means “lucky”) stuffed with money or jewelry.

Like all new couples, they both look really beautiful (dress in traditional wedding costumes) and happy. On the wall hangs the chinese character which means Double Happiness: Each half of the symbol is the standard character for happiness, written "hsi" or "xi," and pronounced something like "she" in Mandarin (high level tone –; the first tone). Therefore, two "hsi" graphs together represents the wish for the two young newlyweds to have happiness together. The double happiness graph (pronounced "shuang-hsi" in Mandarin) is a special Chinese character used for marital happiness.

Orchard Road

At night, we visited Orchard Road which is a road in Singapore retail and  entertainment hub of the city-state. It looks more or less like the Bukit Bintang area in Malaysia. It rivals all other areas in terms of sheer volume, quality, and choice. Many of its shopping centers are filled with a variety of products from around the world. Most malls carry the concept of "everything under one roof". Virtually everything that is desired can be found in these shopping centers. Nearing Christmas time, the street looks stunningly beautiful at night when lighted up beautifully with lights and decorations.   

Jurong Birdpark 

The next day we visited the Jurong Birdpark - The Asia Pacific's largest indoor aviary. The world's largest collection of South-east Asian birds. The world's tallest artificial waterfall. Need we say more? This 20.2-hectare landscaped park is home to more than 8,000 birds from 600 species. The numerous enclosures and bird shows provide plenty to see, from free-flying falcons in a simulated hunt to parading penguins on a make-believe Antarctic beach. Most spectacular is the Waterfall Aviary, a simulated tropical rainforest housing uncaged African and South American species. Also not to be missed are the South-east Asian Birds Aviary and the nocturnal house.

Wedding Dinner 

At night, we attended Hui Ling's wedding dinner in a 5star hotel - ParkPlaza Hotel.  The services and food was superb.

We returned the next day back to Kuala Lumpur again. Although our days there are short, the trip has been a really satisfying one. It has been a great trip, our only regret is that we were not able to spend more days there. We would really miss Singapore and be sure to return for another visitation again.

Transportation in Singapore
Mood:  happy
Topic: Singapore Trip

16th - 19th November : This marks the date I went to Singapore after many years.  As many will, I am really excited about the trip. After all, I am going there for a purpose - besides visiting Malaysia's neighboring country, I am going to attend my cousin's Hui Ling's wedding too. Going with my family and a few other relatives added to the fun. <the more the merrier, right>

So on Friday nite (10.30pm), 12 of us embarked on the Komuter train which took us 10 hours to get from Kajang to Singapore.  That is a pretty long ride if you ask me and we basically spend the whole night in the train (sleeping and chatting).  After some time, I got a bit restless even when time to sleep. It was difficult to do so at a sitting position - uncomfortable and the rumbling of the train was noisy. Too bad, the bed tixs on the trains were all sold out. Nevertheless we manage to get some sleep in the end. 

We reached Singapore on Saturday morning (approx 8am) we finally reached our destination. We have to get through the imigrasion office @ Woodlands to get our passports checked before we are allowed to cross over to Spore.  It is quite a spacious checkpoint. The security is pretty tight, as we got down the train, I noticed there was a guard dog that came onto the train, to sniff if there is unauthorised things brought onto the train.

From Woodlands, we took the taxi to our aunt's place where the wedding ceremony takes place (more on this on my next blog).  Although most of the taxis I noticed are using Toyotas, there are other taxis which uses differents car models too according to places we wish to visit. Most of these are Japanese. They are very efficient as it took less than 5 minutes for a cab to arrive after each call which usually takes about half an hour in Malaysia! Talk about efficiency! Singapore taxis are quite highclass - using credit cards where in Malaysia only accepts cash.

Visit http://taxisingapore.com/ for more choices according to your preferences (taxis models, starting fares (mostly S$2.50 and telephone no.).

Another thing which I noticed is the different colors of number plates on vechicles- there are reds, blacks, white and yellow. I find this rather unique as mostly number plates in Malaysia are black. I found out later that the different color of number plates depends on the type of class and engine (cc displacement) of the vechicles. 

Transportation in Singapore is indeed a cinch! The efficient public transportation network of taxis, buses and the modern Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) rail system ensures that getting from point A to point B is hassle-free and extremely affordable. Almost every part of Singapore is connected by bus, MRTs or taxis which made our travelling very convenient. Due to time constraint, our destination from A (Choa Chu Kang) to B is only Orchard Road (shopping + night Christmas deco) and City Hall (cousin's wedding dinner).  Nevertheless, it was enough to impress me. Not only are the stations clean and courteous services, but with 51 stations covering all four corners of Singapore and trains arriving every few minutes, we were assured of a speedy and enjoyable journey.               

 

My two days trip to Singapore have been pleasant with the good transportation. I am equally satisfied with my trip to the tourists' destinations of Singapore (which I will share in my next blog). Most of these transportations - bus, taxis and trains are under the services of SMRT. And I do think it is doing a very good job in providing the best convenient way of travelling to tourists and citizens alike. Singapore - Truly unique!

 

Attending A Close Friend's Wedding..
Mood:  happy
Topic: Friends Wedding

    It has been a long time since I last written my last blog. Way back in the month of July (just after my 25th birthday)!  Omigosh! I couldn't believe it is that long... I used to write like almost everyday...hmm, not exactly on the Net but safe in my diary (which i am still keeping), long before i discover there is sumthing called the blog... Hmm, how time flies.

      Many things seems to give me the thought of writing another blog - like the trip to Johore to attend my best friend's wedding. It was lovely going on a trip I planned my own. Coincidentally the wedding was held in Kluang, Johore which provide me a sense of nostalgia returning there again (after many years)! The fact that I went alone... well, not exactly but with my brother and another good friend, Aisyah (and her fiance) is wonderful! Doing things (travelling, hotel bookings, looking for food, etc) on my own proof that I could be independent and doing stuffs with Aisyah strengthens our friendship bond. 

The trip has been truly memorable. I thank God for their companionship... As pleasant as the trip had been, there are hours I could be dead bored too especially 5 hours on board the train without any activities... just an old TV which is on mute! hehe!   

 

 

  Srivani, or Vani (that is what I call her for short) looks really beautiful that day. It is my first time attending an Indian wedding and I got to widen my knowledge about different customs. The wedding was really filled with bright colors and good food buffet style - although a little too spicy for me. And their wedding car is really beautiful decorated too. Wish I could sit on one like that in future :)

Oh yeah, I was in Saree too - especially for Vani. Vani was the first 'teacher' that taught me how to tie a Saree and we even went to look for it together. Therefore I knew it would be meaningful if I wore it on her wedding day. I was kinda shy to put that on actually as I was afraid not being used to it, the Saree may drop!  Thankfully it didn't.. haha! I find it quite comfotable too - unlike wat some people say... :D But wonder when would be the next time I will be wearing it again.

At the end of the ceremony, I sent her my best wishes again. I will deeply miss her when I return to Kajang and Vani will be staying in Johore Bahru. Once a very good colleague and now still my best-est friend is now saperated by distance. I am happy that Vani is united with her best man. I do believe someday we will meet again. I will be waiting for the day to see my dear friend again. Till that day, this page is specially dedicated to you, Vani. With all my best wishes and friendship love. God bless.