Yeah, no more runny nose! Still stuffy though but more importantly, I feel better! But right now, I’m just too tired to blog. So, another photo. This was taken at a chess tournament that I participated earlier in Kuala Lumpur.
I love chess. Especially when I’m winning.
I wanted to blog something on economics and the environment but I unwarily caught myself some gems from my friends. Right now, I’m feeling terrible with a bad case of sore throat, a minor flu and an on and off headache. But I still want to blog. So, I cut down on the thinking part and post a picture instead.
Last April, I was at the Malaysian national monument complex. In Kuala Lumpur of course (tag). Well, this is another picture from that complex. This time, it’s the actual picture of the main monument.
At time of completion in February 1966, it was the largest bronze statue in the world. I’m uncertain which monument is the largest bronze statue in the world currently but one thing is certain though – Malaysians’ obsession with superlative is not of recent invention.The communist rebels really hated the Malaysians’ obsession that they bombed the monument in 1975. Nah. I’m kidding about the cause but the bombing did occur.
I like the silhouette against the blue sky. The burnt section however is not so admirable.
Finally, 20 squared times 2 is 800. God, I hate blowing my nose.
p/s – Vegetarianism are conquering the world! Starting with India:
BOMBAY, India – Never mind pets, smokers or loud music at 2 a.m. House hunters in Bombay increasingly are being asked: “Do you eat meat?” If yes, the deal is off.
As this city of 16 million becomes the cosmopolitan main nerve of a booming Indian economy, real estate is increasingly intersecting with cuisine. More middle-class Indians are moving in, more of them are vegetarian, and the law is on their side.
“Some people are very strict. They won’t sell to a nonvegetarian even if he offers a higher price than a vegetarian,” said real estate broker Norbert Pinto.
Damn. Vegs are capable of discrimination! The shock! The horror!
I’ve had always thought vegetarians are the nicest people around. Well, that’s another one of my stereotypes smashed to pieces. Come to think of it, I wonder how I had developed a thinking that accepts vegetarians-are-the-nicest-people. It probably due to one of my political biases.
While at Kuala Kangsar (tag), I and a few friends spent two nights at a resthouse by the Perak River. Roughly 200 meters away from our balcony was Sultan Abdul Jalil Bridge.
The concrete bridge is different from those modern bridges of stainless steels and wires that are so prevalent nowadays. It’s a breath of fresh air.Kuala Kangsar has another bridge farther upstream. The name is Sultan Iskandar Bridge and it’s made out of steel. If I got my fact right, the concrete bridge was built because the locals complained that the steel bridge was too far away from the town.
Across the river is a village called Sayong. Before the newer bridge was constructed, those that planned to travel by land from Kuala Kangsar to Sayong, or Sayong to the town or to and fro had to suffer one huge U-turn with kilometer as the proper unit of measurement. Walking was simply not a good idea. Therefore as late as year 2000, boats still played an important mean of transportation between Kuala Kangsar and Sayong.
With the concrete bridge, I observed that the river’s role as a mean of transportation has diminished. Not completely though.
p/s – last year, I said I expect Malaysia to see another bout of haze in 2006. Well, Indonesia promises that we won’t:
Indonesia promises this year will be less hazy
Sat May 27, 11:36 PM ET
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) – Indonesia has said the choking haze that annually blankets parts of Southeast Asia will be reduced this year as it cracks down on oil palm plantations that clear land by burning.
Indonesia’s Agriculture Minister Anton Apriyantono said authorities would enforce a 2004 law that imposes stiff penalties on plantations that burn land, a practice largely blamed for contributing to the haze.
I’m skeptical. Especially that enforcement part. But if Indonesia needs Malaysia’s help, by all means, please ask. I don’t want another “no thank you but we can handle this by ourselves” again.
East Timor is deep in crisis and they’re in need of help. I’m glad to hear that East Timor has requested assistance from Malaysia and even happier to know that Malaysia is responding to the request. My only regret is that Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) has neither been proactive nor responsive to the conflict. What’s more embarassing is to see Australia leading the expedition instead of ASEAN (tag).
Those that have been reading my blog long enough would know that I advocate a stronger ASEAN. Since East Timor is part of Southeast Asia, I strongly feel that East Timor is part of ASEAN, regardless the fact that the country has yet to be granted an observer status, much less a membership. Therefore, I see the conflict as a trouble in ASEAN’s backyard. So, it’s only logical for me to want to see ASEAN to assist East Timor. Unfortunately, ASEAN has not and because of this, I believe ASEAN has failed East Timor.
I do understand that ASEAN is primarily an organization concerned with economic, political and cultural cooperation. It’s not a military alliance and ASEAN has no peacekeeping force of its own. However, I have no desire to see a failed state within Southeast Asia; ASEAN should feel the same way too. If ASEAN does feel the same way, then it should have the means to prevent states from falling into anarchy. That means must include a way to maintain law and order.
Perhaps, it’s time for ASEAN to have a formal body that could take police actions in time of crisis. If ASEAN had such body, it could have taken the lead in assisting East Timor and indirectly telling the world that we are capable of caring for our own welfare. More importantly, ASEAN wouldn’t have failed its small neighbor.
Like what I’ve said yesterday, I didn’t get too much time to roam with my old trusty camera at the Malay College. But here’s another one that I managed.
This building is called the Overfloor. Most Malaysians – well, even those that attended the Malay College I suppose – strongly relate the structure with the School (tag). And a few other ideals too. But, this is supposed to be an entry with a light subject. So, I won’t touch on that.Concerning the photo, this is the first time I’ve ever posted a black and white. I feel the raw picture isn’t as good as I had expected it to be. So, I turned it into black and white instead. I’m not quite satisfied with the final product but I do like it better than the raw version.
The photo underwent two stages. I first lightened up the facade. Nextm I stripped the photo of its colors.
This is the “lightened up” version with its colors intact:
This is the raw version:
Finally, haha, go Leman!
This is the first time I see my house grabbing the first overall spot since I first set my foot in the School. And in sports! Eat dust Mohd Shah! With Vengeance. Capital V!But it seems that Leman has problem with discipline. Notice that Sulaiman’s Sahsiah points is the lowest among the Houses. LOL!