Poem - Butterfly

Butterfly

The sky cleared
And I found you,
All alone, resting near
The greens that stood still,
Then slowly, your colours
Striking against the greens,
Against the coloured flowers
Your beauty is seen.
You started fluttering
In soft, tender whispers
And as nature swings
Your utmost beauty is ensures,
Then you flew away-
I wished you had stayed.

Colours of the mind

I've got here another fabulous article to share with all readers. Happy reading...........

"Colour preferences reveal your personality,", so says Swiss psychologist Max Luscher, who devised the Max Luscher colour test. He is now head of the Institute of Psycho-medical Diagnostics in Lucerne, Switzerland.

A preference for one colour and a dislike for another means something definite and reflects an existing state of mind, glandular balance or both.

"The 'love them' or 'hate them' colours are the ones which really count for us. Four colours - blue, green, red and yellow - represent our fundamental psychological needs, and most well-balanced people put these colours at, or near the top of, their list," he says.

BLUE - Blue represents the need for contentment
According to Luscher, feeling blue isn't always bad, because this colour represents a sense of belonging and fulfilment, and calms the whole nervous system. It also reduces our blood pressure and respiration rates. No wonder it's a popular bedroom colour. If blue is your number one choice, you'd want a calm environment where you can trust others and be trusted yourself. The lower down the list you place blue, the more you feel your existing relationships are unsatisfactory.

Green - Green represents the need for self-assertion
This colour has many lifestyle implications placed upon it, but the Luscher colour code sees it representing self-awareness, firmness and, occasionally, conservatism. "If your favourite colour is green, then you want to be sure of your own worth and expect such acknowledgment from other people," says Luscher. "You tend to be stubborn, self-opinionated, over-ambitious and susceptible to stress. This creates heart, circulatory and stomach disorders. The lower you list green, the more you worry about loss of social status."

Red - Red indicates your inner desire to succeed
Vitality, power and the drive to achieve the best results are expressed by this colour. It also ups speed pulses, blood pressure and respiration rates. "If red is a priority, you may want to live life to the fullest - so much so that temptations become irresistible. Place red low on your colour list and it may mean your sex drive is lacking and that heart problems may occur."

Yellow - Yellow expresses the urge for greater things and to always look ahead
Like the sun, yellow bursts with brightness and energy. It symbolises relaxation and freedom from worries. "Putting yellow first suggests you are constantly thinking of the future," says Luscher. "You expect to be happy. However, your energy may be spasmodic and you may want to escape from conflict." If yellow is unpopular with you, life has probably frustrated and disappointed you. Some medical healers claim that treating patients with sessions of being bathed in lights of particular colours can be remarkably therapeutic.

How do parents influence their teenagers' self-esteem and motivation to succeed?

As most of us have teenager children at home, thus would like to share this useful article hoping that it will be of great help.

Studies show that teenagers with low self-esteem typically have parents who are indifferent to either the successes or failures (or both) of the children. Lacking clear directions and goals, such children find it difficult to develop initiative. When this happens, children tend to form a negative self-image and give up trying anything new or challenging, including making new friends.

On the other hand, some parents can be so overprotective that they undermine their children's effort to grow up, and the children develop a fear of school. Psychologists have found that teenagers who suffer from school phobia are deeply afraid of leaving their family home and being separated from their parents.

Whether teenagers develop a high or low degree of motivation depends greatly on what their parents expect of them. If parents set high but achievable standards and express love and support for their teenagers' abilities, then adolescents will probably be reasonably confident of attaining success. Motivation will naturally follow. Parents who are overly critical and whose standards are impossibly high, however, may raise teenagers who avoid challenges for fear they will fail.

A famous mountain in Kuching

This famous mountain located in the Malaysian State of Sarawak is about 35km. north of the state capital of Kuching ~ Mount Santubong.

The name Santubong is derived from "san choo bong" in the Hakka Chinese dialect, meaning "wild pig king" (must be lots of wild pigs there at that time).

I would like to share with readers about the legend associated with the mountain. It's about two beautiful princesses, Santubong and Sejinjang. Santubong was an expert weaver while Sejinjang was an excellent rice tresher. One day, they had a quarrel and exchanged blows. Sejinjang swing her tresher which hit Santubong's cheek. Santubong threw her weaver at Sejinjang hitting her in the head. Putting an end to the quarrel, the king of Heaven crushed both of them into mountains. Santubong turned into Mount Santubong while Sejinjang was turned into Mount Sejinjang. It is said that Mt. Santubong resembles a woman lying on her back.

The two views above is the beach of Santubong Village (known in Malay as Kampung Santubong). Kuching folks used to drive up to the beach during weekends or public holidays, simply to enjoy the beauty that nature has to offer and also to "de-stress"! It can be very refreshing indeed!!

Carousel or Merry-Go-Round Day

How facinating to know that July 25th is a day to honor William Schneider Davenport who invented the Carousel or commonly known as Merry-Go-Round in the year 1871.

Though most children loves to ride on a Carousel but it is not only meant for kids........ I also love to ride on it......... This picture was taken at Genting Highland, Malaysia. It is said that, the best way to celebrate Merry-Go-Round Day is to "go around in circles".

Pleasure By The Nature.............

See how beautiful and wonderful Nature is............... there are unending words to best describe nature. I would like to share a great Poem by Dr. M.Swaroopa Rani M.A., PhD on nature.

Pleasure By The Nature......

Nature brings a colourful beauty to one's heart,
It flies in our hearts like colourful butterfly,
It strengthens the hearts with huge wings to fly,
A beautiful creature lives in the heart of nature.

A life is not enough to enjoy the whole nature,
Each and every part of the Universe comes under nature,
The nature is part of existence of human life,
Without the nature, there will be no future.

The nature survives the lives with pleasure,
The beautiful nature is a creator of great desire,
The fine nature lives with us and lives in us,
It brings many dreams and memories to us.

Oh God! We are thankful for gifting us a pleasant nature,
It is one's responsibility to save the beauty of nature,
A true living in the heart of nature helps an achiever,
To achieve the long life period of his splendid desire.

Just Wonder??? Is it a new Profession???

We always come across 'teaching profession', 'legal profession', 'medical profession' and many others.......... but looks like there is a new profession adding onto the long list lately........ wanna know what profession????? The 'Stealing Profession'.

Everyday we read in the newspaper regarding crime news which happens in and around our city! How shocking indeed - some happened in the night while people are sleeping, while others happened during broad day light. Stealing manhole covers - big or small seems to be an on-going job for those 'stealing professionals'!! It happened everywhere........ Once they strike, you will see the whole stretch in a particular area are gone - Vanished!! So, when you walk, make sure you watch for the holes or else you'll fall into it!!

Now, those 'professionals' not only strike at public area but are starting to move into private area..... where??? The Church compound!!! What is worst, there is a guard on duty, off course with gate open as it is next to a school and during broad day light! See what I mean by "Stealing Profession"......... They are behaving as if what they do is legal and right under the law!!!!

It may sound unbelievable but it is really happening in our city. Hope the authorities concerned will be in full force to put an end to such unwanted acts of those irresponsible criminals............

Article about Cats [Part 2]

Stray Cats

Cats which have been discarded by uncaring owners are regarded as strays, so as cats which are lost due to injury or sickness and have wonder away from their homes. Hunger, fatigue and fright may cause a cat to lost its bearings. The luckier ones after finding food and rest for a day or two will find their way home soon enough.

City stray have a better choice for survival than their country cousins because in town there are more places of refuge, more garbage to eat and more people to pick them up.

This article really caught my eyes and touched my heart! There are still many stray cats lingering around, especially in food courts. If we see one while eating, we are sure to share with them some of our food but....... be careful not to over-stretched your hand over those stray cats, or else you will find yourself been given a 'thank-you scratch' in return. This is a friendly advise to all, as I've experienced it before. Well..... those frightened stray cats are just responding in that manner for self-protection. I've got here a meaningful picture to share.......... Hope it will touch your heart too!!

Cute-cute Pandas

A friend of mine send me an E-Mail with pictures of cute Pandas from China after the earthquake. The earthquake was right in the area where giant pandas live. So, let me share these cute-cute pictures of the Pandas with you all........

Can stress hurt your vision?

I've got here a short but useful article to share with all.......

"Stress has been cited as a cause of detached retina. It may be that the surges in blood pressure associated with stress can undermine the retina's network of capillaries and tissue. This can cause part of the retina to tear free, affecting vision. Such a condition might result from an accumulation of stress over a long period - a hazard associated more with aggressive workaholics than with most people."

Beware! Don't walk alone.......

Whether you are man or woman, boys or girls, young or old....... be extra careful these days when you are out walking alone.

Wanna share with you all a fearful incident which a friend of mine witnessed early yesterday morning, roughly about 6.25 a.m. while he was travelling by car along Lorong Sky Garden. A woman was seen being threatened with a chopper by a man, and beside them is another man on a motorbike. As several vehicles seem to pass by the area, so passer-by sound their horn which later frightened them off.

This incident happened in the early morning (still quite dark as the sun is not up yet)........ but never ever take assumption that it won't happen in the day time. Another incident (few months ago) happened broad daylight at the Overhead Bridge of a Secondary School which is situated right in the heart of Kuching City. What is worst....... robbing from a student!!! See how bad these burglars, snatch thieves, robbers or law breakers are?????? I just can't imagined - how much can you get from a student???? Imagine what situation they are in, till they have to resort to stealing/robbing from a student - that poor student must be in shocked and frightened!!!

I just wish that they don't have to resort to an 'easy-way-out' which is by doing all these unwanted acts but instead to start earn a decent living. Definitely there are jobs out there for them but whether they are willing to change their sinful & wrongful life. I also hope that the authorities concerned will put in more efforts to stop put an end to such happenings, so that Kuching City will continue to be a peaceful and safe city for it's citizens.

Impatient drivers on the increased.............

I wonder........ why are impatient drivers on the increased in Kuching City????

Driving around Kuching City are really very stressful these days!! Sometimes, it makes me think.... if they have to rush to get to the destination in time (say for work, appointment, school, etc), might as well they travel earlier. If they are lazy to wake up early, then they have to be responsible for being late instead of trying to take it on others!!!

However, situations are not such, especially when you are always on the road each day - sure to see all kinds of people with different attitudes, characters and styles!!!

This morning while I was travelling along Tabuan Road, and is taking the left lane till I reach the traffic light. Why I take the left lane?? Well, simple..... that lane have two arrows - one for going straight and the other to turn to the left. As the arrow states very clearly, I decided to take that lane, afterall I am intending to go straight and is not offending any traffic rules. But an impatient driver (driving a red Kancil Car) came from behind kept sounding its horn, as if telling me that I am on the wrong lane and he is right!! So, to avoid any nuisance, the car infront of me move a little forward so I can move a little to let the "impatient fellow" go through. That's not enough, he drove angrily pass me by blowing his car engine so loud and giving me a fierce look!!!

I really, really wonder!!!! If all Kuching drivers are behaving as such, guess........ there will be no peace for Kuching Folks....... Everyday you are sure to see fightings happening between drivers along the roads of Kuching City.

Where are the 'give and take' attitude of the people in the old days???? To ensure safety on the road, every road users should be patient and be willing to "give and take' to ensure swift flow of traffic.

Guess, this is not what Kuching Folks want, especially the patient, responsible, disciplined & road worthy road users. It is we who make things happen, so lets make our city a peaceful place to live in..........

"Mankind must remember that peace is not God's gift to his creatures, peace is our gift to each other"
~ Elie Wiesel ~

How important is discipline?

In an article on 'The Basics of Child Development', I've come across a short write-up on 'How important is discipline?' and find it very useful, thus would like to share with all.

Discipline can be thought of as the daily training that parents provide by action, word, and example to shape their children's behavior. Its basic purpose is to steer a child away from dangerous and unacceptable behavior and toward self-control. Almost all research indicates that behavior is most effectively shaped by rewarding acceptable conduct and withholding rewards if conduct is unacceptable. Eventually, by developing (internalizing) self-rewards, children learn self-discipline. As opposed to this kind of active involvement by a child in creating its own behavior, punishment simply suppresses behavior.

By the time a child starts to crawl, parent are already shaping its behavior in many ways - for example, teaching compliance to safety rules. At the toddler stage, lessons in coping and social skills have to be learned. Discipline in middle childhood usually involves the child's work habits and moral standards. By adolescence, a child has normally acquired some measure of self-discipline.

Write-ups on Trade Unions (Part 3)

Who can join a Trade Union?

Any worker over 16 years of age is eligible to apply to join the union which is relevant to his trade, occupation or industry. "Worker" here means a person who is employed by an employer under a contract of employment. However, union members under 18 years of age are restricted in their union activities. They are not entitled to vote on matters involving strikes, imposition of a levy, dissolution of the union or amendment of the rules of the trade union.

A worker granted study leave by his employer and who enrols at a local college or university would still be eligible for union membership as would a worker who is studying part time.

Public sector workers are required to join unions formed by workers in the same occupation, department or ministry. A similar restriction exists for employees of statutory bodies and local authorities. Such employees can join unions but the membership must be confined to workers in the same body or authority. Certain groups of government servants are not allowed to join unions at all. These are employees in the Police, Prison Service and Armed Forces and those in confidential or security work.

Certain categories of employees are not permitted to join unions, such as managers, executives and staff in confidential or security positions. However, the problem may arise as to who belongs to these groups. Should a dispute over such matters occur, the Minister of Labour has the power to make a final decision.

A special garden called 'Friendship'

Of so many names........ why is this garden called 'Friendship Garden'?????? What is so special about this garden????

This garden, unlike any ordinary garden is to commemorate 30 years of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China. Thus, the full name of this garden is "Malaysia-China Friendship Garden".

The structure and monument around the garden represents the landmark of the different province in China. There is also a 20 feet statue of Admiral Cheng Ho. You are also able to view fishes swimming in the man-made lake. The scenery and view of this garden is really beautiful. Joggers and walkers are seen daily enjoying either their morning or evening jogs/walks there.

Situated at Jalan Song, which is in the center of Kuching City, this garden is a favourite place for both locals and tourists.

Write-ups on Trade Unions (Part 2)

The next topic on "The right to form and join a Union" will be able to give employees a clearer picture of their stand on joining a Trade Union, hence they won't be deprived of their rights.

Workers in Malaysia have the right to form and join trade unions and this right is protected in the Industrial Relations Act (Section 5). The Act states that:-

1. No employer shall prevent a worker from joining a union by putting a condition in his contract of employment,
2. No employer shall refuse to employ a worker on the grounds he is a trade union member or officer,
3. No employer shall discriminate against a worker (for example in terms of promotion) on the grounds he is a trade union member or officer, and
4. No worker shall be threatened with dismissal or dismissed if he proposes to join a trade union or if he participates in union activities.

Although workers have the legal right to join unions there are also a number of qualifications which an employee have to adhere to. (Refer to part 3)

Workers also have the right not to join a trade union. Workers shall not be forced to join a union (Section 7, I.R.Act).

From the very old to the new...........

Though the new Stutong Community Market starts business effective 15th June 2008, I haven't been inside yet, except only at the road side taking photos of it on the early morning of the day itself.

It is only until recently that I make a trip there, roughly about noon and off course at that time we can easily look for a parking space and not to forget taking our sweet time capturing some photos.

The vegetable and fruit stalls, which are situated at the entrance itself and which is the first to be sighted are spacious, off-course being new are clean, airy and well-lighted. I tend to like the properly arranged stalls if were to compare to the old market. Wanna take a comparison to see the difference?????

(Left) The new Stutong Community Market - Vegetables & Fruit stalls

(Bottom) The old Gambier or Ceko Market - Vegetables & Fruit Stalls

(Left) The old Garment Store Bazaar which sells varieties of items, including clothings, accessories, etc. & also other services.

(Bottom) Stalls which are moved to the new Stutong Market..... aha.... the barber shop also comes along....... facinating indeed!

Finally, as we walk further up, we see a very big/huge food court. At the moment, quite a number of stalls are not open yet. It can sure accommodate lots of shoppers who go marketing during the weekend and at the same time taking the opportunity to have their breakfast there. We too stop for a drink...... see what we have???? White Lady, Metahon & ABC - these are some of the popular ice drinks in Kuching....... It really quench our thirst!! Wanna try?? Either take a visit there....... or come to Kuching........... haha......

Article about Cats [Part 1]

During my return visit to the Cat Museum recently, which is for the fourth time, I really came to realise that there are so many write-up articles about this most lovable pet - Cat!!

As there are many cat lovers everywhere, thus I would like to share the articles with all friends and readers, especially those who are in Kuching but have never visited the Cat Museum and specially to those who are not living in Kuching City.

The first article which I have to share is entitled : "Cat In Ancient Egypt"

Ancient Egypt was believed to be the first country to domesticate the cat. As a great grain producing country, cats were credited to have kept down rats and other pests which attacked grain stored in granaries and eventually became the most respected of all animals. It was reported that when a house caught fire, the first thing to be saved was the house cat.

The death of a family cat was considered a painful experience, and the whole family went into mourning immediately by shaving off their eyebrows, and mourning would last until the eyebrows grew back. The Egyptians even kept cats in temples and considered them sacred and offered sacrifices to them. On the death of a temple cat, the whole city mourned and was given the most elaborate service and was ultimately laid to rest in a real tomb and was even preserved as mummy. In the middle of the 19th Century, over 300,000 cats mummies weighing over 20 tons were discovered at Beni Hassan, Egypt.

In ancient Egypt, it was very unlucky to come across a dead cat in the street and a passer-by would start to cry aloud with grief beating his chest and lamenting the loss. Anyone found guilty of killing a cat was put to death.

As early as 3,000 B.C. the ancient Egyptians even had a cat goddess named Bastet and which symbolised motherhood, fertility and protector of crops and rain making.

Article to share on 'Holiday Etiquette'

I came across this useful article which must be shared, especially for those who are intending to make a holiday trip or vacation overseas and hope it will be of great help to all........

When you travel to a foreign land, it's good to do a little research on the local customs to avoid making a misunderstood gesture or saying something to offend the local sensibilities. Here are tips to help you make the best of your trip.

Get the preview of the culture
What is proper in Malaysia, may not be so in other countries. Try to get as much information as possible before your visit. For instance, here it's common for us to show the "OK" sign (where you make a circle with your thumb and index finger, and the remaining fingers are pointed straight up). But apparently, that hand signal is considered rude and offensive in Brazil.

Respect all local customs and cultural beliefs
You're a visitor, not a judge. Although some local beliefs might sound ridiculous, never criticise them in front of the locals. Instead, make an effort to learn as much of their culture as possible.

Know the gross facts
Did you know that in Kalimantan and Sulawesi, Indonesia, grilled or deep-fried bats are considered a treat? Plus, some Balinese are known to eat deep-fried dragonflies as appetisers while Mexicans sell Tequila with worms! Be well-informed of these unique delicacies before you make the wrong decision at the food stalls.

Learn the language
You're not expected to converse fluently in their language but try to learn common words or phrases. The locals will appreciate you making the effort to speak their language, even if it's just to say "Aloha kakahiaka" ("Good Morning" in Hawaiian).

Don't be afraid to ask questions
Ask as many questions as you want, in order to learn more about their culture. The more you ask during the trip, the more you gain in the end.

"Vacation used to be a luxury, however, in today's world, it has become a necessity"

Memories of the Gambier/Ceko Market

Fond memories really flush my mind when I have a drive through Gambier Street this afternoon....... just couldn't help thinking of the old market which once used to be a busy spot since early morning. It used to be jammed with traffic, but now...... we can easily pass through the area.

As we can see from the photos above, everything is quiet and empty......... I do feel sad though, but things that are too old needs to be replace by the new so as to get new developments for our city.

The poor, lonely cat is only seen there enjoying it's undisturbed 'nap' - very soon it also have to migrate!!

Pets in the comfort of our homes...........

Most household, though not all, have pets in their home. Dogs and cats are very smart animals and they too have feelings like us human. If you care and love them everyday, you too are sure to get their love in return. Let me share with you an example..........

My brother have a pet cat at home, and in his free time he loves to carry & caress it. So, each day at a certain time, it will climb up the window sill to look out for my brother's home-coming. If my brother is late, you are sure to watch it climbing up and down as if feeling impatient. When he arrive home sure it will go straight to him and follow him up and down till he stop to pick it up and hold it........ See..... how smart they are?????

I would like to share with you a short interesting article which I've read about dogs and cats.

"In the comfort of our homes, dogs and cats, as well as other kinds of pets and domesticated animals, sleep longer and sounder than they would if they have to exist in the wild. Their need for wakefulness - to hunt for food and to avoid being eaten - is reduced. A housebound cat or dog may sleep a total of 13 or 14 hours a day".

The best of a 'good' morning........

Morning is always the start of another new day! As we all know, if we have a good start then the rest of the day will be great, but if like-wise.......... then it can real lousy!!

So, to make sure that we all have a good start of the morning and have the rest of the day feeling great, here's another poem on "S M I L E" to boost and cheer us all up.

S M I L E.........

Have you ever stopped to think.........
How much a smile can do?
A smile can make a moment bright,
Or make a dream come true,
A smile is like a priceless gift,
That can make a burden lighter,
and often right a wrong,
A Sincere one can mean 'I understand'
Or simply I am your companion,
A sincere smile too can bring,
A quarrel to an end...........
So, why not keep on smiling?????

Have a nice and super wonderful day to all....... & keep on smiling!!

From an old landmark to the new.........

I would like to refer to my previous blog dated June 15th regarding the moving of the old Gambier Market to the new, and would like to further update readers with the new upcome of the old Gambier or popularly known as Ceko Market by Kuching Folks........

Since traders have vacated the old market effective 15th June 2008, the tearing down process of the stalls and buildings are in progress.

Guess...... with the old landmark being demolished.......... what is going to be the new landmark for Kuching City???? Kuching Folks must be eager to know right!!!!

What I've heard is that, this new landmark will be the 'Sanctuary Hotel and Mall' which comprises of Shopping Complex, Cafe and Hotel.

This building is part of the new waterfront extension whereas, the next phase of Kuching Waterfront stretched from this Ceko/Gambier Market to Brooke Dockyard.

That's so much for the time being....... if anyone out there do have some more information, you are most welcome to share it with us. Let's keep in touch then!

First Day Cover

Would like to share some First Day Covers which we've collected since 1977 with all great people out there.........

(Left) England - Christmas 1978 (Right) European Assembly Election 1979

(Left) The Royal Wedding 1981 (Right) Hibiscus Malaysia 1979

(Left) British Achievement in Chemistry 1977 (Right) Hong Kong 2000

(Left) New Zealand 1998 Urban Transformation (Right) Indonesia-Singapore Cable 1980

British Flowers 1979

These First Day Cover might seen to be just pieces of envelopes with stamps on it, but for people who have the interest in collecting and keeping it, only will they know how to appreciate and treasure it!!

Putting Your Mind in Charge of Eating Problems

Modern life makes it easy to take in more calories than we burn, and the result is weight problems. To complicate matters, our bodies work against losing weight. In earlier, harsher times, when food was scarcer and we spent more physical energy to get it, the human body developed a survival technique to avoid starvation. With less food, the body's metabolism slows down, saving energy. Less fat is burned. Since dieting is really a kind of controlled starvation, we must look to our minds for the will and long-term planning to overcome the reluctance of our body to burn its energy reserves of fat. Furthermore, gradual weight loss is healthiest and most lasting, and that requires even more patience and mental discipline.

• Decide. If you feel wishy-washy about losing weight, it won't work.
• Set realistic goals. After you reach your desired weight, you have the rest of your life to maintan it, so there is no sense in trying to shed pounds at a heroic pace or aiming for a weight that's unnaturally low.
• Respect calories. Calorie-counting doesn't work for everyone, but the fact remains that 3,500 calories add up to a pound of fat.
• Rethink eating. Snacking between meals erodes willpower and adds calories. Also, food eaten near bedtime is more likely to turn to fat. At meals, remember that feeling full lags about 15 minutes behind what you swallow. Finally, many dieters find a small, tasty meal more satistying than a large, bland one.
  
• Weigh in regularly. Daily weight fluctuations may have nothing to do with how much you eat, so checking the scales too often can be misleading. But weigh yourself at least once a week, at the same time of day.
• Avoid fad diets. Over 90 percent of people who lose weight on fad diets gain it back, one reason being that the pounds lost in the first week or two are mainly water. Also, such diets are often nutritionally unsound.
• Get some exercise. Brisk, 10-minute walks reduce tension and elevate mood. Strangely, exercise both burns up calories and makes you less hungry. And it need not be painful: moderate, regular exercise like walking can be as helpful as the more vigorous kind.
• Learn to love water. Drinking six to eight glasses a day reduces your appetite and cleanses your sysem.
• Reward yourself. Sticking to a diet for a few days can bring new self-esteem and the fortitude to continue. If you need more tangible rewards, as in the conditioning techniques used to train animals, you can treat yourself every so often to something special other than food, of course) for persevering.

Friends, these are useful tips which I would like to share with all.

"To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art"

An all-round views of Kuching

The viewing platform at the top of the Civic Centre tower offers the best all-round views of Kuching and the surrounding area.

It comprises of a tower block, a utility block, a multi-purpose hall and a Planetarium. Restaurants, cafes as well as bars are also available.

On a clear day, Mount Serapi and Mount Santubong are visible.

This famous tower of Kuching City is not only a popular spot for tourists but also a favourite place for Kuching Folks. When you are up at the viewing platform you will have this feeling of nice, happy, gorgeous & great sensation!!

Sharing A Quote

"I hear I forget
I see I remember
I do I understand"

I come to know of this quote when I am attending an Advance Women Leadership Course few years back, and find that it needs to be shared with all friends......

It is really true that things heard are easily forgotten. At times I do admit that we don't really hear what is being said, that's what people tend to say 'turning a deaf ear' and another chinese word which is commonly use is "No Ears"...... especially when the elders giving advise to their children and they seem not to care........ We also tend to be easily distracted for what is being said.

It is easier for us to remember what we see as an image is already been captured in our mind and we can easily recall the images when we visualise it. It is like using a camera to capture pictures - our eyes is the camera, when we see things we store it in our mind which is either the film, memory card or photos which have been developed.

Finally, off course things which we have done is what we experienced, thus we tend to understand it. That is why sometimes we don't understand certain things, it is because we never do it and don't know how to go about with it. For those who have been doing the same thing over and over again, they will understand fully. It is like those students who are pursuing their higher education, they not only study through theory, but also do practical training - this is where they learn through doing in order to have the full understanding of the things that they study!

Sharing an article about Chocolate

Chocolate, being a favourite comfort food for many is full of goodness. I came across this article from a column 'Food News' in a women magazine and being a 'choco lover' myself, I just can't help sharing this useful article with all wonderful people out there.......

Chocolate contains essential elements such as iron, calcium and potassium, as well as vitamins A, B1, C, D & E. Cocoa powder is also the highest known natural source of magnesium which helps heart and joint problems and pre-menstrual tension.

Chocolate is a cocoa-based product, and cocoa beans are high in flavanols, part of a family of antioxidant flavanoids, protecting against free radicals that cause ageing, cancer, artherosclerosis and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. In fact, cocoa has been found to have nearly twice the antioxidants in red wine and up to three times that in green tea.

Chocolate contain phenylethylamine and serotonin which trigger the release of endorphines or feel-good chemicals in the brain. Eating chocolate delivers a "lift" to your mood and mental state. It's no wonder we often reach for a bar when we're down.

While nutrient-rich, chocolate is also high in sugar and calories, so don't expect to gobble it down and stay trim. Moderation is key, and it's good to maintain a balanced diet. As with most good things in life, when you limit your intake of chocolate, the pleasure in every bite is even sweeter.

So friends, make sure we don't "overdose" ourselves with it - always remember to "take it in moderation" and...... Happy Chocolating.........

A Scary Experience of Hail........

I wonder how many people ever experience hail in a tropical country like Malaysia???? We all have been experiencing very heavy down pour of rain with scary lightning and thunder......... guess that is not as scary as experiencing hail!!!!

What reminds me of hail???? As I was in the car this afternoon, waiting to fetch my son from school, I heard big drops of rain dropping onto the roof of my car........ There I began to wonder whether it is rain or hail??? Then I take a good look...... really feel relief as it is only raindrops.

This really recalls my scary experience of hail, couple of years back. I was on my way back from work and suddenly there is a heavy thunderstorm, but no rain...... Soon after that, I heard noises like stones being thrown over our cars..... at that time the traffic is very heavy...... As I take a good look at it, goodness..... I saw something like ice dropping over my windscreen, some small but others are as big as a transparent marble. I was really scared that it might break my windscreen!! As the wind is so strong, I saw roofs, planks and others being blown into the air. Suddenly came a zinc roof which flew to my direction and "Bang", hit the roof of my car and off it flew again........ After the hit from that zinc roof, I really get so scared that I can feel my whole body trembling!! But in that moment of fear, I suddenly pray out loud to God.... "Oh God, please protect me and help me to reach my destination safely" With God's protection and guidance I manage to get home safely and soon after that, the thunderstorm and hail also subsided.

Just to refresh ourselves, rain develops when growing clouds droplets become too heavy to remain in the cloud and as a result, fall toward the surface as rain. But for hail, it is a large frozen raindrop produced by intense thunderstorms. There is really a big difference between the two.

As I do some research on hail, here's some facts which I would like to share with all.......

• On 11 July 1990, softball-sized hail in Denver, Colorado, caused $625 million in property damage, mostly to authomobiles and roofs.
• People are also seriously injured - battered by softball-sized hail
  
• Hail also does a great deal of damage to crops. In U.S. costs run into hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
  

Guess, there must be people out there, who never experienced hail - thinking of experiencing it.... but not for me - once is enough!!!

Poem - Nightfall.....

Nightfall........

Sunlight streams as golden light,
In the dusk of evening.
To their homes, the birds of the air take flight,
To rest themselves till morning.

The sunbeams shine on the trees,
Making them look lovely and red.
The birds prepare for their slumber as well as the bees,
For the sun has finally gone to bed.

The bat come out to search for food,
The rats scamper across the floor,
The owls in the forest laugh and hoot,
While the hog lies sleeping at the door.

As the moon awakes from it's sleep,
It shines its silvery light in the night.
And the rabbits from their warrens peep,
To have a view of the lovely moonlight.