Malaysian Art & Craft Exhibition 2011

Every year the National Craft Centre at Jalan Conlay, Kuala Lumpur became the venue for Malaysian Art and Craft Exhibition, this year the Exhibition runs for a week ending today. So much beautiful art and crafts were on display and sale making my visit so much fun and exciting. If you love art and crafts this is one exhibition that you should not miss.

Seni ukiran kayu di bidai pemisah.
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Hiasan ruang tamu...kerusi, lampu dan hiasan dinding
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Congkak kayu.. besarnya
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Kerongsang pewter
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Kain Samping Songket istemewa .... RM 15,000
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Lukisan ini akan ke Vienna untuk pameran disana
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Teman pelukis dengan lukisan yg akan ke Vienna
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Lukisan oleh teman di Art Colony Jln Conlay
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Teman pelukis realist yg amat berbakat
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Lagi teman pelukis dengan hasil kerjanya
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Landscape artist at Art Colony, Jalan Conlay
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Lukisan berkonsep Wanita Gemuk yang cantik

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Hiasan dinding ukiran kayu
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Kerusi kayu yg unik
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Pangkin kayu yang amat cantik
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Kerusi tinggi untuk makan pagi kot
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Lamp shade dari kayu terpakai
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Hiasan dinding yang amat menarik.
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Bilik tidur dengan perabut kayu
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Pakar tenun songket.. Tokoh Kraf Negara 2010..
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Songket yang teramat cantik dan mahal..... RM 6,000 satu
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Cincin Unik 1 Malaysia
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Borooch Pearl..... pilihan wanita
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Ukiran ceremik ....
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Kerongsang dan hiasan wanita
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Lagi hiasan wanita
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Gambar kenangan dengan pengusaha dari Sarawak
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Royal Chulan Hotel..... sebelah Pusat Kraftangan
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Rumah kayu lama
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Model Istana Minang
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Kahwin Campur & 1 Malaysia

Aain & Dato Arif ( Sdr Baru )

Baru baru ini saya menghadiri majlis perkahwinan seorang kakitangan Capt. Paul Aeria dan Pn June Low di Hotel Renaissance Kuala Lumpur. Paul berketurunan Protugis Campuran ( Vasco Da Gama ) manakala June berbangasa Cina ( keturunan Cheng Ho ) tetapi kedua dua mereka adalah rakyat Malaysia yang senang dan bahagia hidup di Malaysia. Jawatan yang baik dan kehidupan yang mewah membuat mereka hampir lupa hendak berkahwin dan keputusan menamatkan zaman bujang pada umur melebihi 40 tahun membahagiakan kedua dua keluarga June dan Paul.

Majlis perkahwinan mereka amat indah dan menarik kerana menggambarkan satu Malaysia, dimana para jemputan terdiri daripada pelbagai bangsa bersama meraikan pengantin, menjamu selera dengan penuh muhibbah. Tiada prasangka dan masallah perkauman langsung seperti yang selalu diwarwarkan oleh pemimpin politik. Hakikatnya selama ini kita hidup aman damai dan akan kekal begitu jika tidak di racuni dengan unsur2 perkauman yang segaja diperbesarkan. Dalam ucapan bapa pengantin prempuan, Dr Low mengucapkan terima kasih kepada semua yang hadir dan ahli keluarga yang berkerja keras menjayakan majlis. Ucapan terima kasih khusus kepada dua rakan karib beliau ia itu Dr. Awang yang banyak membantu dan menasihatkan beliau supaya membuka perusahaan sendiri setelah berkhidmat di hospital kerajaan. Dr. Samy yang bukan sahaja rakan karib tetapi yang telah membuat pembedahan terhadap kanser yang beliau hadapi sepuluh tahun dahulu. Persahabatan mereka bertiga yang amat akrab walaupun berbeza bangsa adalah satu contoh semagat satu Malaysia yang telah lama dipraktikkan dalam Negara ini dan boleh dilihat dimana mana. Semasa Malaysia menang melawan Laos semua rakyat Malaysia bersorak gembira tanpa memikirkan langsung tentang perkauman.

Saya juga adalah hasil daripada kahwin campur Melayu dan Cina dan langsung tidak mempunyai masallah berinteraksi dengan saudara saudara Cina saya yang amat memahami adat resam orang Melayu dan Islam. Kami menghormati antara satu sama lain dan menjadi penyumbang kepada pembangunan bangsa Malaysaia yang satu. Ramai kawan kawan India saya yang berkahwin dengan wanita Cina dan yang terbaru adik ipar Mawi ( Aain ) pun berkahwin dengan lelaki Cina yang menganut agama Islam ( Dato" Arif ). Walaupun perkahwinan campur memerlukan kesabaran, pengorbanan dan semangat tolak ansur yang tinggi, tetapi ia adalah satu phenomena yang tidak dapat dielakkan dalam suasana masyarakat majmuk di Malaysia, bahkan ia menyumbang kepada keharmonian Negara.

Semoga rakyat Malaysia terus saling hormat menghormati diantara satu sama lain berlunaskan kepada perundangan dan perlembagaan yang telah ditetapkan. Jika ini diteruskan kita akan terus hidup rukun damai membangun Negara yang tercinta.

Goodbye PPSMI....

At last the Government made the right decision to revoke PPSMI and took necessary steps to strengthen the teaching of English in schools. Yes it’s important that our students must be able to speak and write good English to face future challenges but not at the expense of Bahasa Malaysia and rural students. Research has been made on this issue by reputable professors and the result was very clear on the failure of the system.

Dr Mahathir as usual is making noises now that his policy has been reversed but he must realized that six years has been given to full fill his failed dreams. Yes he is forward looking in ideas and thinking but then not all his ideas are practical and successful. He made many major successes during his administration but at the same time quite a few blunders. It’s ok to give opinion and recommendations but let the current leaders decide what is best for the people.

Personally I have studied locally and abroad as well as in Sekolah Melayu and English School. Mark my word the reversal of PPSMI will not cause the downfall of Malaysia in facing global challenges. The down fall will be caused by our attitude to learning and sustaining our good values which is dissipating faster then we realized. The craze for power beyond the good of people and nation will be another factor that will kill Malaysia.

Langkawi Geopark - Therapy for City Stress

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Adha for Muslims Bloggers




A beautiful view from my balcony

I have been to Langkawi many times over the years but I guess I have not given the Island much justice by not writing or sharing anything about the Island to the cyber community. Although the island captivated me every time I spent my time there but never to the extent of wantig to blog about it, but then the trip to the Island last week was something special because I was spending three days two nights holiday with my wife and family there.

Sunset at the Perdana Quay & Marina

Mega Yachts & Sail Boats


Packed & Busy Marina

Langkawi has so much to offer to the local or international tourists in terms of its perfect beaches, historic sites, beautiful islands, nature watch and fishing or shall I say a perfect geopark, it"s new branding. In terms of facilities it has the most expensive hotels and even cheapest lodgings for backpackers. The whole area of Pantai Cenang is now full of shops, restaurants, cafes, bistros, spas, hotels and chalets. The area was full of local and international tourists especially at night. It looks like all the European tourists have migrated from Phuket to Langkawi.




Beautifully Designed and Decor : Sunday Bistro @ Pantai Tengah


Waiting for our dinner @Sunday Bistro


The kids love the Bistro as much

I managed to stop at Perdana Quay and marina which was full of yachts. It looks like Monaco with the trendy cafes by the waterfront. Since the café was too expensive even for me, so I decided to take some shots and walk around instead of spending my money there.

It won’t be complete to visit Langkawi without going on the cable car ride up 700 feet to enjoy the breathtaking view of the Island. I will be doing injustice trying to describe the beauty in words, so let the pictures tell the story on how wonderful it is from up above.

Fishes at the Under Water World Aquaria


Shark swimming with grace and fatality


Stingray flaying in the water


Rock or a fish?


Jelly fish ....... soft and itchy

The collections of fishes at the Under Water World will provide you with other dimensions of what lies in the waters around the island and even further beyond. My kids just love the Aquaria and for me it reminds of the diversity and mystics of living things in the deep ocean.


Cable car que

View from above

Viewing platform .... 700 feet above sea level

Awana Porto Malai was a perfect hotel for me while the RM 100 per day car that I rented provides us with cheap transport to roam the island. With the cheap regular Air Asia service to the Island, it just seal up a perfect holiday destination for many. My advice please don’t limit your visit to buy cheap branded dinner sets or batik jawa but explore the true natural beauty of the island and its slow pace which is a therapy to fast crazy city life.

Mahsuri Complex

Inside garden

Makam Mahsuri .... where the legend begin