26 May 2008

Today's Travel: Ireland-Haven of Peace and Tranquility

Haileo('Hi' in Irish),
Let's enjoy some of the beautiful and majestic scenic views in Ireland.
As it is said that,
once visited Ireland, is never forgotten.


Rock of Cashel, one of Ireland's most impressive archaeological sites


Spectacular Tory Island, Dun Balair


Ashford Castle in County Mayo - built in 1715, now a 5 star hotel


Fascinating Beaghmore Stone Circles date from the Bronze Age


Bowl of heartening Irish Stew

[Images adapted from www.lonelyplanet.com]

25 May 2008

Of A Single Moment

I remembered,
the moment
when the sea is calm,
when the land is strong
when the wind is soft.

I remembered,
the moment,
when tsunami hits Acheh,
when earthquake shakes Sichuan,
when Nargis strikes Myanmar.

The second before,
we are there.
The second after,
we aren't there.

Reminisce the good days,
Cherish the sweet moments.
Embrace the future.

P/s: with these several lines, hope that the everyone out there would appreciate the beauty of life
and send my deepest condolences to the victims of the natural disasters mentioned above.

梦的哲学故事

有位秀才第三次进京赶考,住在一个经常住的店里。考试前两天他做了三个梦,第一个
梦是梦到自己在墙上种白菜,第二个梦是下雨天,他戴了斗笠
还打伞,第三个梦是梦到跟心爱的表妹脱光了衣服躺在一起,但是背靠着背。
这三个梦似乎有些深意,秀才第二天就赶紧去找算命的解梦。算命的一听,连拍大腿说:"
你还是回家吧。你想想,高墙上种菜不是白费劲吗?戴斗笠打
雨伞不是多此一举吗?跟表妹都脱光了躺在一张床上了,却背靠背,不是没戏吗?"
秀才一听,心灰意冷,回店收拾包袱准备回家。店老板非常奇怪,问:"不是明天才考试吗
,今天你怎么就回乡了?"秀才如此这般说了一番,店老板乐了
:"哟,我也会解梦的。我倒觉得,你这次一定要留下来。你想想,墙上种菜不是高种吗?
戴斗笠打伞不是说明你这次有备无患吗?跟你表妹脱光了背靠
靠躺在床上,不是说明你翻身的时候就要到了吗?"
秀才一听,更有道理,于是精神振奋地参加考试,居然中了个探花。

[Adapted from chinese.cari.com.my]

24 May 2008

優秀生何去何從?

優秀生不被重視的新聞,每一年都在重演。真正促使筆者撰下此文的原因,是筆者當年亦是在公共服務局的雙重標準下的受害者。因此,看到這兩位優異生的報導,他們的無奈與失望,筆者在感同身受之餘,也深表同情。

當年,筆者也考獲10科1A、1科2A的成績。原以為經過一番寒窗苦讀,能一圓出國留學的美夢,無奈,事與 願違。經過了一輪面試之後,獲知不被錄取的消息,當時的心情簡直是直跌谷底。當然,筆者當然也沒放棄過上訴的機會。猶記得,當時筆者還與父親一起乘搭輕快 鐵到安邦路的馬華大廈,就為了親手呈交那一份上訴表格。最後,還是一樣沒被錄取。自問什麼管道都已嘗試,結局依然,筆者唯有無語問蒼天,接受了。

公共服務局每年都增加海外獎學金的名額,考試局也同時每年提升考獲佳績的人數,讓大眾感到疑惑的是,這到底是我國學生越來越聰明,抑或是現在的政府考試水準愈來愈低呢?

在此膽敢請問教育部官員一句話,相信這也是許多優異生與家長們的疑問:到底公共服務局海外獎學金那70%學業、30%家庭背景、10%課外活動及10%面試的錄取標準,有多少巴仙的錄取是真正依照標準行事的?

某位優秀生的父親曾說過這麼一段話:“根據申請表格的要求,誠實地呈報家長的收入,卻因此失去競爭力,很多人未據實呈報收入,反而佔優勢”。可想而知,當那位家長說出這一番話時,他的心是那麼的痛。若是如此,所謂30%的家庭背景,還管用嗎?

未來,人力資源乃會成為國家發展的基石與資產。許多諸如澳洲、美歐、新加坡、台灣等先進國家和地區,皆競相吸納各國精英,反而我國還在繼續忽視優秀生的控訴。但願我國政府能夠善用人才,免得人才流失後才來懊悔。

刊登于5月24日星洲日报《言路》

22 May 2008

UEFA Champions League 2008 Finals

Bravo!! Manchester United has defeated Chelsea in an All-England UEFA Champions League Finals in a breathtaking penalty shootout. The final scores resulted in a so-near-yet-so-far 6-5 after both teams tied at 1-1.

This "clash of the giants" has been highly anticipated even before the match kicks-off. According to a poll which was announced earlier before the match on Sports Center ESPN, Man.U has a slightly high percentage(55.6%) of winning this match, compared to Chelsea, with(44.4%). And, The results proved that.

The song of victory was composed by Man.U Cristiano Ronaldo at the 26' minutes. A nice, perfectly-timed cross by Paul Scholes from the right, into the penalty box, and the unmarked C.Ronaldo leaped high and did a well-practiced and skillful header. This left the stunned Petr Cech, doing nothing and just barely staring at the ball to roll into the net.

And, there are severals nice teamworks from Man.U, where they created numerous scoring opportunity. There was one when Rooney made a long-cross almost from the mid-field to C.Ronaldo, which was just outside the opponent's penalty box. This was extraordinarily superb.

Then, at the 45' minutes, Chelsea finally saw a glint of hope, when Frank Lampard scored the equalising goal. The ball shot by Didier Drogba(if i m not mistaken), hit Brown and Ferdinand, and bounced to an unmarked Lampard, and he made it.

The scores went on to a 1-1 tie.

Avram Grant commiserates with his skipper.

After the 90-minutes game, with an extra time given, here comes the exciting penalty shootout. Ironically, the person who scored the opening goal of the match, missed the penalty. While for Chelsea, this was really not their day. John Terry was able to tricked Van de Sar to the right, while he shot to the left, but the ball didn't go into the net, but instead hit the post. For N.Anelka, Van de Sar once again proved his goalkeeping skill and managed to catch the ball. The match has a result. It's 6-5.

Congratulations, Red Devils!

[The Devils Roar!]

~~luminodreamer89~~

19 May 2008

Thomas Cup 2008 Finals Results & Analysis

Although Korea stepped into the Thomas Cup finals by defeating the host, Indonesia with a surprising victory(3-0), it still fails to claim the Cup. China, with her powerful and skillful squad, claims to be the champion of the game once again, by defeating the Korean 3-1.

At the beginning of the game, Korea has been widely criticized for its strategy by losing game after game in the preliminary round to avoid an early meeting with China. However, this is a team match. There is no rule that said such strategy cannot be used. The strategy spells its effectiveness by sending Denmark and Indonesia, each at quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively back home.

Let us talk about the finals.

1st Singles: Lin Dan(China) vs Park Sung Hwan(Korea)
Scores:
10-21, 21-18, 21-8

Due to a delayed telecast on RTM 1, i have almost missed the first game. So, it's not appropriate for me to comment on the first game. When it comes to second game, we can actually see that Lin Dan regained his "usual" form, which he used psychological strategy and his fierce and incredible smashes. But, Park put on a good fight, and unfortunately, he lost by 3 points and lighted up some hopes for the Chinese by bringing the first match into the rubber game. In the 3rd game, it is quite obvious that Park has lost his tricky net-plays and his placings. He could have reached his tiredness. And that gives China to cling the first point.

1st Doubles: Cai Yun-Fu Hai Feng(China) vs Lee Yong Dae-Jung Jae Sung(Korea)
Scores:
23-25, 16-21

Honestly, this is the best game i have ever watched in this Thomas Cup(as long as there is a live telecast on RTM 1). Both pairs ranked the 2nd and the 3rd best men doubles in the world. And, their performances proved that. Both pairs demonstrate the legendary speed and power in the first game. Fu Hai Feng is really great at his killer-jumping smash. However, the Korean, Jung is exceptionally outstanding in defense and placings. These two men with their counterparts bring the game to a breath-taking 23-25 scores. For the second game, the shuttle swirled at an average speed of 200km/h. The Korean pair is good in net-plays and smashes. Whenever there is a chance to smash, the chance will be grabbed in hands immediately. This rekindles the hope of the Korean to win the cup by snatching the first point from the Chinese.


2nd Singles: Bao Chun Lai(China) vs Lee Hyun-Il(Korea)
Scores:
28-26, 21-11

After gaining victory in their first doubles, the point now ties at 1-1. Therefore, the Korean and the Chinese want to gain the second point from this singles. The first game was indeed interesting. Bao, with his towering heights, can easily change the direction of the shuttle and thus bring him some winning points, nevertheless, Lee, with his marvelous net-plays and lobs, often tricked Bao. But, when they come to the second game, Lee is obviously too exhausted to run for the shuttle and this gives an advantage to Bao. The result? China gains the second point, and makes it to 2-1.

2nd Doubles: Xie Zhong Bo-Guo Zhen Dong(China) vs Lee Jae Jin-Hwang Ji Man(Korea)
Scores:
21-12, 19-21, 21-12

I still remember how this Chinese pair lost to our Malaysian pair, Zakry-Abdul Latiff. However, when this Chinese doubles plays on court with the Korean, they are still at the same level, but the Korean pair's speed and power are comparatively less effective. The Korean pair's placings are considered okay, but their smashes are indeed less powerful. Although they managed to drag the Chinese to the 3rd game, that doesn't stop China from taking the Thomas Cup back home once again.

If possible, I will write a post commenting our Malaysian badminton team's performance. Till we meet.

~~luminodreamer89~~


18 May 2008

September Morning

The sun,
lines of magnificent lights,
rise from the horizon,
break the silent dawn.

Leaves fall,
slow but calm,
on the solemn path,
of a lonely traveler.

September breeze,
blowing a tinge of remorse,
a momentary sadness,
in the right chamber of his heart.

He traced,
nothing more than a piece of indistinct memory
he observed,
nothing more than a scene of hazy vision.

Touching Moment

A touching ad about concerning cancer patient...


When lizards are in love...

17 May 2008

Quote of the Day

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.

Source:[A Tale of Two Cities] by Charles Dickens

16 May 2008

710

These are some pictures i took around my house...at 7.10pm(that's how the title comes!!)^~^right-hand-corner...UFO or Bird?
Layers of amazing and soul-calming clouds....
Moonlight river? Or moon amidst the clouds?
When clouds turn into phoenix..

soaring clouds...

Album of the Week



Album title

Before the confirmation of the official title, the album was planned to be named That Chick, a reference to one of the album tracks. The album name means "(E) Emancipation (=) equals (MC) Mariah Carey (²) to the second power". It is a play on Einstein's famous mass–energy equivalence formula and is the sequel to her 2005 album, The Emancipation of Mimi.


Track listing

  1. "Migrate"(featuring T-Pain) (Carey, Hills, Belawa Muhammad, Faheem "T-Pain" Najm) - 4:18
  2. "Touch My Body" (Carey, Crystal "Cri$tyle" Johnson, Nash, Stewart) - 3:25
  3. "Cruise Control" (featuring Damian Marley) (Carey, Dupri, Johnson, Damian Marley, Seal) - 3:33
  4. "I Stay In Love" (Carey, Cox, Kasseem Dean, Adonis Shropshire) - 3:32
  5. "Side Effects" (featuring Young Jeezy) (Carey, J. Jenkins, Johnson, Storch) - 4:22
  6. "I'm That Chick" (Johnta Austin, Carey, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Rodney Temperton) - 3:31
  7. "Love Story" (Austin, Carey, Dupri, Seal) - 3:56
  8. "I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time" (Carey, Davis, Mark DeBarge, Johnson, Etterlene Jordan) - 3:01
  9. "Last Kiss" (Austin, Carey, Dupri, Seal) - 3:36
  10. "Thanx 4 Nothin'" (Carey, Dupri, Seal) - 3:05
  11. "O.O.C." (Carey, Dean, Sheldon Harris) - 3:26
  12. "For the Record" (Carey, Cox, Shropshire) - 3:26
  13. "Bye Bye" (Carey, Eriksen, Hermansen, Austin) - 4:27
  14. "I Wish You Well" (Carey, Poyser, Mary Ann Tatum) - 4:35

[Adapted from Wikipedia]

Currently listening to:
2. Touch My Body
13. Bye Bye

Recommended Hit(s):
2. Touch My Body
13. Bye Bye


Rating: A

15 May 2008

傀儡

傀儡

有一段时间,突然想呐喊。在无际的海洋前,呐喊出心中的憋气。憋久了,毕竟不太好,应找个适当的管道发泄。憋气,憋在心中的气,零零散散,没有一个是有着完美的胴体,好像是被肢解的灵魂,漂浮着,没有落脚的归属。盘旋在心底处,似乎还抱着希望,寻找失去的部分,拼成一幅陌生的回忆,勾勒出欲望的思绪,寻回不见了的情感。

翻看了躺在书房抽屉里许久的笔记本。也不知道它在那儿度过了多少的春夏秋冬,睡了又醒,醒了又睡,迷迷糊糊地被我放进去,然后又恍恍惚惚地被我拿回出来。人家说,笔记本的内容是一种生活,活着的思绪。看着,看着,好象在时空的交错处,与自己在对话。感觉得到,就好比是科幻片里的主角,坐着时空机,回到从前,然后看见自己的模样,不知如何开口的尴尬。彼此,微笑,点头,继而让寂静从新填满两人之间的隙缝。纵然,心头有千言万语,却在口角边,驻留了一阵子,又溜回心里了。

内心的不定,让自己在街道上,一时之间不知何去何从了。原以为,在规划图里,已经让自己摸索好要走的路。可是,时过境迁下,这路,也变得陌生起来。陌生的令人恐惧,恐惧的让人担心。突然,脑袋一片混乱,就好像数不清的幻灯片在一瞬间闪过一样,让人目不暇给。眼皮的垂下,似乎无法再承受突如其来的视觉感。无可选择下,我选择了逃避。

走回房间,就好像走进了自己的小小世界里,似乎躲开了尘世间的种种不确定,避开了路上那有色的眼光,一切一切都恢复了盘古开天辟地时的那番宁静。至少,四角的墙壁,能够给予我些许的自由。我不知道如何面对着窗外的世界了。望着窗外,窗外有蓝天,蓝天下却布满了乌云,阴森的灰色,似乎在远处,拉着手上的绳子,牵着我的躯体,逼使我向前,不准我往后退。

公园里的长椅,没人坐在那儿了。剩下的只有往日的背影,和在云霄外飘着的欢笑声。记忆里那熟悉的声音和举动,都一一消失了,就好像无缘无故的蒸发掉,无迹可寻。倚在长椅的小男生,与两三个友人,一起有说有笑,分享着内心的小秘密。回望成长的相片里,追忆着那不变的永恒,却始终敌不过岁月的不饶人,阳关道与独木桥,整齐地排列着,各走各的,好比在某隐秘处,有人为我们锁上身后的发条,像木偶般,步上了看似注定的路程。

收音机,缓缓的,播放着六七十年代的爵士乐曲,让正梦游在思潮里的我,更为陶醉。醉在梦境里,醒在现实里,多么可悲啊!双眸,痴痴的,不知道在望着什么,只知道迷糊的看着在天花板旋转着的风扇,会让自己灵魂出窍,暂时躲避着繁华世界的喧嚣。看起来,自己像个懦弱的武士,多过像个奉行着享乐主义的凡人,当人人在为生命的使命拼搏时,自己则抽身离开。

望着镜前的自己,其实也不太确定,是不是那曾立志要为国为民的血气方刚的少年,还是早已愿为生活里被绳索和发条牵引着的傀儡呢?

刊登于4月1日星洲日报 副刊《后浪》

Dream-Thoughts

Vaguely,
I opened my eyes,
seeing nothing, but darkness,
yet the mind and soul is in one.

A strange feeling in my heart,
A curious feeling in my thoughts,
why has I come here?
what is the purpose?

River flows calmly,
Birds fly freely,
Flowers blossom
and the sound of nature is all in rhythm

And
now I knew,
why has I come here.
what is the purpose.

Simplicity, greatness of all.
Observe with the eyes in your soul,
Feel them with your pure senses
Cherish the beauty of the Eden Garden in your heart.

12 May 2008

512

12th of May. One day before the darkest day in Malaysia history. The infamous May 13th incident.

It has become a "taboo" or a so-called forbidden topic to be spoken out in public since the year of 1969. Although we have marched into the new millennium, it still acts like a nylon rope which holds us back from going forward to advancement.

No doubt, the incident is more to a sad memory we force ourselves to forget about it totally, and if there is a remedy or medicine that we could use to erase this memory, i think those who have undergone the painful incident would really like to do it.

However, due to this incident, the government has implemented the useless(sorry to say so, the truth is always pain) NEP. The main aims of this policy are to eradicate poverty and re-structuring the society. Those was aims back to 1970.

Now, it has turned out to be a "privileged card" for the aborigines ( bumiputras). When they ever buy a property, 10% discount is given "unanimously". By the way, they also enjoyed some benefits in the field of education, job-opportunity, political and economical etc..

On and off, they have their own leaders from their own parties raising the keris, and shouted some meaningless slogan, which would only destroys the ethnic union and nothing else. And, don't know since when, the Malay's Right has become the most important issue, tripping across our national policies and many other rules.

We are now in the year of 2008 (in case some of our honorable leaders forgot). The old communist country has awaken and held the world oldest and prestigious sports event, the Olympic Games. The States, in the first time of history, having a lady and a Blackman to run for presidential election. Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea all have stepped forward, but the cute, little Malaysia who is still proud of the independence we gained in 1957, continues to go round and round in the same circle and stroll in the memory lane.

Please...wake up my dear Malaysia!!!

Reminiscence

Here I sat beside the window,
listening to the gentle wind,
calmness i feel though,
the heart is still longing.

Oh, what a lovely sky!
pure white clouds surf across,
reminding me who m I,
the seeker of my own dream.

19 years of self-expedition,
seeing nothing but an image on the pond,
a wish to realize the Personal Legend,
so near, yet so far.

Day and night,
gazing up the sparkling night veil,
searching for some guide
to drive forward my motivation.

~~luminodreamer89~~

10 May 2008

佛光山-东禅寺

man-made netherland garden...am i having hallucination?
Mary has a little lamb...but which one belongs to her??
the garden..
rocks on the pond...
flowers beside the bridge...
man-made japanese garden...
what a sculpture...


Location:
佛光山-东禅寺, Jenjarom, Klang

Date taken:
February 2006

Descriptions:
a pic tells thousand words..there's a heaven existing in malaysia...

09 May 2008

Exam!!!

Omg...it's exam season again...

Haiz~~

Once, i was so confident in my preparation, but now, though still confident, but not as before. Just that now i m more concerned and conscious of my study...if this time i m not going to make it...i will have to put extra lots of efforts...

Tension is crawling up my spines right now...the mind is getting clear and blur at the same time...the hands has lost its coordination with the eyes( no more sports..T.T)

anyway, it's time to sign off...till we meet...

[may the luck be with me]

~~luminodreamer89~~

08 May 2008

Enchanted



I have just watched this movie, erm...right after 10 minutes i finished watching it, i come to my own blog.hahaah!!

Anyway, this is really a nice movie. I mean, really nice.

The most important or main issue brought up by this movie, according to my own consideration,
it is the director or the screen-play writer wants us to "re-believe" again on the fairy-tales we heard when we were young, due to the cruelty of the real world.

Everyday, we meet crimes, family tragedies, work pressures, or even studies pressure, we have limited our very own thoughts n feelings. We don't feel good for the food we have, we don't feel the serenity when we sit with our family in the living room, and we don't ever believe that hopes are always there.

We have succumbed to the reality that everything is tough, everything is cruel. Nothing in this world is worth to be cherished besides the social status, financial status etc.. We have forgotten that there are more for us to cherish and appreciate.

Namely, the friends, the family, and not to forget also the beauty of nature. For an example, when the sun dips into the horizon, the intense orange that shone across the ocean has been taken as a normal scenic view that happens everyday. We have forgotten the feels of appreciating the majestic sunsetting view.

Anyhow, this movie is about the main actress in the movie, Gisele who is the princess would-be of the Andalasia. She was pushed down into a well when she was about marrying Prince Edward.

However, she was still being so cheerful and joyful when she was in the hustle and bustle of the New York City. And she met the local attorney, Robert and his daughter, Morgan. After some complications, she finally found her true prince, whom will give her the true love kiss.
And they live happily ever after. A sound ending, just like the title of the movie.

Rating: A-

06 May 2008















Location:
Sky View from Air Asia

Date taken:
December 2007

Description:
Overlooking the earth through the cumulonimbus
clouds, and enjoying the blue, endless silence in mid-air..what an enjoy!












The calmness on the delta wraps up the lonely boat, which is sailing on the sea aimlessly, appreciating the beauty of the sunset.














Location:
France Village, Bukit Tinggi, Malaysia

Date taken:
December 2006

Description:
A very nice place where you can fully indulge yourself in the 16th and 17th century of France. Feels the historical infrastructure with your senses!

05 May 2008

Billboard of May

1. Cry on My Shoulder-Deutschland Sucht Den Superstar

2. Chasing Cars-Snow Patrol

3. Bleeding Love-Leona Lewis

4. Shower Me With Your Love-Surface

5. Tonight I Celebrate My Love-Peabo Bryson; Roberta Flack

6. Apologize-Timbaland Feat. One Republic

7. 亲爱的那不是爱情-张韶涵

8. Kiss Me Goodbye -Nobuo Uematsu

9. 我愛的人-星光幫

10. Jenny- The Click Five

Reflection of the beauty~~




White clouds reflected on a green paddy field. The serenity and tranquility of the nature flows naturally into the earth.