Florothon 2007

One of the events for Visit Malaysian Year 2007 is the Malaysia Flora Fest 2007 which starts from 29 January to 4 February. To kick of the flora fest, a Florothon was held today. What's a Florothon you might ask.

Well it's a brisk 2 kilometer walk for the participants wearing costume with flora theme from Dataran Merdeka to Lake Gardens and back. There are other small events also held at Dataran Merdeka apart from the Florothon like a drink balancing race and a young chef contest.

The highlight of the Flora Fest would be next week where there will be Flora Parade to be held at Putrajaya.

The Ministry of Tourism did put up a full page advertisement of the Flora Fest listing out all the featured events during the festival but there were no time when the even would be held. The website of the Ministry also does not provide the timetable and the agenda of the events.

I took the opportunity to go to the Florothon to do some shooting. I arrived at Dataran Merdeka about 9.00 a.m. and lucky for me the event was at the ending session. Here are some photos that I managed to capture.

Honda Accord Coupe Concept

I have posted some futuristic pictures of the Honda Accord on 9 December 2006. Before I knew it, Honda unveiled it's Honda Coupe Concept at the Detroit Motor Show 2006. The Honda Accord Coupe Concept carries Honda’s new trapezoidal grille on it’s nose. This new grille style first appeared on the new Honda Stream, and then a variation of it appeared on the new 3rd generation Honda CR-V.






Being an ardent Honda fan and a proud owner of an Accord, the concept car looks very sleek and futuristic. I think I can now start to save enough money to buy it when the sedan model is officially launch which by then my current Account will be due for replacement.

Happy Pongal to all my Indian Friends

Today our Indian friends celebrate Pongal. A colleague of our from India who is attending the same course as I am gave us some interesting facts about Pongal. Before this I knew Pongal was celebrated by the Indians as a mark of the end of the harvest season. They would celebrate it by cook rice in a clay pot. Indians celebrate Pongal just like how the Chinese celebrate the Chinese New Year.

However, when I found out more about Pongal from my Indian colleague.

Here are some of the facts that I gathered from her:

The first day of Pongal known as "Bhogi Pongal" is a day for the family gathering and is dedicated to Lord Indra, the king of the deities and God of the Clouds and Rains. It is also the beginning of the New Year according to the Malayalam calendar and before sunrise, a hugh bonfire of useless things in the home is lit that is kept burning throughout the night. The houses are then cleaned till they shine and are decorated with Kolams painted using rice flour. The harvest of rice, turmeric and sugar cane is brought in for next day.

The second day of Pongal known as "Surya Pongal" is dedicated to the Sun God. The granaries are kept full on this day and Sun God with his rays are painted on a plank as he is worshipped with the birth of the new auspicious month of Thai. Since the word "Ponga" means "to boil" representing plentiful and excess yield, a special dish is cooked on this day in a mud-pot that comes in innovative shapes and have artistic designs on them called "Pongapani". A colourful sugarcane market is also set up on this day. The special dish is called "Sarkkarai Pongal" and is offered to Sun God with sugarcane sticks.



The third day known as "Mattu Pongal" is dedicated to the cattle as cowherds and shepherds pay thanks to their cows and bulls, wash them, paint their horns and cover them with shinning metal caps. They are fed "pongal" and tinkling bells are tied around their neck. Cattle races are conducted and in the game called "Manji Virattu" groups of young men chase running bulls. Bull fights called "Jallikattu" are also arranged at some places where young men have to take the money bags tied to the horns of the ferocious bulls single-handedly and without the use of arms.

The forth day is celebrated as "Kanni Pongal" where unmarried girls cooks Ponggal wishing for wedding bells soon.

Long story huh?

To know more about Pongal check out this site:
http://www.pongalfestival.org/

Time ready flies

I came to realise that today is 14 January 2007, that half way through the month of January 2007. It was long since if have done the following things:

1. Joined my new organisation on 4 December 2006.
2. Went to Chennai on 13 December 2006
3. Celebrated New Year at the KLCC park on 31 December 2007
4. Started a new year at work while the kids went back to school on 3 January 2007
5. Started a 5 weeks course on the new banking systems of my new organisation on 8 January 2007

So far everything is going on fine but looking forwards to the coming days I will have to get myself ready, I mean financially ready because the Chine New Year is coming!!!

It is the time where:

1. The kids need need cloths and shoes for Chinese New Year.
2. Need to buy all the festival stuff like cookies and soft drinks.
3. Make extra monetary contribution to my parents
4. Prepare enough funds for the "hong pow" that I need to give out to my wife, kids, nieces and whoever deserves one.
5. This year will be a bit special because we got my wife's uncle and family who will be arriving from Bangkok to spend the new year with us

Looking at the about list, it will easily cost be a bundle to get through the festive season. However, unlike other years with my previous organisation, I was paid a year end bonus of 2 months' salary. Since I have tendered by resignation, the bonus was not due to me. I do not think that I will be getting any additional funds (apart from my salary) from my new organisation. So now, I am scratching my head where to get the funds from to support the above usage for the festive season. Looks like I will have to dig into my reserve funds (which is not much... that's the truth).

Let's just hope that I would get a windfall. who knows from where to ease my financial situation.

My heart hurts

Even though after being transferred out of the department that I have been for the past ten years and even after leaving the organization that I have been for the past 25 years, I still in touch with my former staff who I have worked with closely. The way of communication is by way of telephones calls, e-mail and if I am able to squeeze in my time, I will pop over to have lunch with them (I have to travel by LRT from my current office to meet up with them). However, the feedbacks that I gathered from the staff that I have worked closely with were not pleasant. I felt sad and heart broken to hear about their current working condition when compared to days when I was there.

Remember the stories on how the children of stepmothers are treated? Stories like Cinderella and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The abandoned child will be ill treated and were not cared by the step mother (and step sisters). Things were not like the days when the maternal mother was around to care for them and to love them.

Things were totally different in my former department after I left. My former staff was not happy working in the new environment where the atmosphere was not the same when I was around. They felt that the new “management” is too bossy and were slow in making good and effective decisions. They spoke of the current style of management compared to the time when the department was managed by me.

During my days in the department, I tried very much to work in an environment where every one has a share to voice their ideas. I “dirty my hand” my getting involved in their projects not because I do not trust them but it allowed me to learn about the project. I would as far as possible attend the meetings with my staff to support them and at the same time teach them how to be able to contribute positively in meetings with other departments.

I am not trying to say that I was a good leader or manager, but I proud to say that that people enjoy working with me (not for me).

After hearing all the feedbacks and happenings from my former staff, I felt like I am the sprit of the “dead mother” who is looking at how my own children have been ill treated and their unhappiness state after my “demise”. Like the sprit of the “dead mother” I could not anything but to watch on the side line hoping for the best but expecting the worse.

Even though I am glad that I made the correct decision to leave my previous organization, I cannot detached myself totally from my former staff. I cannot help to sympathizes for them undergoing their current predicament; I cannot help to jot down my feelings here in my blog. Even though I know that the “current management” may read what I have written, I could not give a damm of what they think of what I have written because they should realize that they are dealing with people who work with them and not for them.

Countries that I have visited

Well I found out that I have visited 13 countries (5%) of the world.

Most of them are merely stepping my feet on tourist spots. For example, Canada, I was in Vancouver and Calgary only. While the countries in Europe, I have only been to the stops where my European tour has taken me. But looking at the figure... well its quite and achievement.



create your own visited countries map
or vertaling Duits Nederlands

Great start for a new year 2007

I started my new year 2007 with a BANG. I really mean a bang as I was shooting the fireworks display at KLCC.

Actually, my plan was to shoot the firework displays around the city from a hilltop called "Little Genting". I started my journey there at about 8.45 p.m. hoping to get a good spot to place my tripod and camera. Nearing the place, there was a traffic jam, I thought to myself that the crowd must be arriving at the hill to view the fireworks display too. However, I was surprised. There was police block at the foot of the hill. The lady police asked my where I am going. I said that I am going up to the hill to shoot the fireworks display. She said that I cannot proceed and I am to make a U-turn. I was very disappointed for not being able to go up the hill.

I decided to take my chance to go to KLCC to shoot the firework display. I did not want to go to Bukit Bintang area because I know that the place will be packed with people who will be spraying the colour webs. I parked my car near the French Embassy and proceed by foot to the KLCC park. There were many people there waiting to see the fireworks.

I set up my camera and tripod aiming at the fireworks target area which is just behind the twin towers. Ten minutes before 12.00 midnight, there were sound of firework explosion from the Bukit Bintang area. I could not see the fireworks because it was blocked off by the ExxonMobil building.

When the clock strike 12, the firework display at KLCC started. I set my camera to be shutter released by my remote control. As the fireworks shoot up, I was just clicking away the remote control. In the end I ended up with more than 150 shoots. The fireworks shot up high and loud and at time there were showers of sand and paper from the left over of the fireworks that were shot up. The display lasted just 10 minutes.

So that's how my explosive 2007 started.

The firework display shots are as the slide shows below. There are a total of 72 shots divided into two sets of 36 picture. Take your time to enjoy it.

Note:
It would be easier if you click on the "View Slide Show" tab to launch a new browser window to see the full slide show. Or you can see the photos at my photoblog www.caesda.blogspot.com

New Year Fireworks Set 1

New Year Fireworks Set 2

New Year Message to all my friends

Last year I created panic among my friends when I sent out the following SMS as a New Year greeting:

I'm going away from your life
I won't be coming to your life anymore
As I am going to die within a few days time
I don't know whether you are happy or sad

Yours loving 2005

Some of them called me to ask what happen and why am I "dying". I told them to read the message carefully, the one "dying" was not me but "2005".

This year I do not want to create the same panic again and have sent out the following message:

Happy Birthday Esther

Today we celebrate the birthday of my second daughter , Esther. She's sweet 16 today. She was the baby girl of the family.

Just the usual stuff for birthday, another cake from Secret Recipe. However, I have got her everything she wanted ( hand phone, cloths and shoes) but I just feel that a birthday is not a birthday without a present. So while I was walking back to the car park after taking delivery of the cake, I saw a cute green bear at the display window at Memory Lane. Green is Esther's favorite colour and I bought the bear for her. The bear was cuddly and cute (I wish I have one too!!). She and her sister has not come back when I reached home with the cake and I decided to place the bear on her bed just to surprise her.

When she came back, I was outside her room at the PC and expecting a screen of surprise from her immediately when she enters her room. Instead, no sound came. About 10 minutes later, I heard screen with surprise running out of her room with the bear. She asked me whether I was the one who bought it and I acknowledged. She was jumping happily on the gift that I bought for her.

Here are some pictures of the bear and the birthday ceremony.

Spectacular view from Kodanadu View

Here are two more shots from the Kadanadu View.

With a close up look, you can see a waterfall coming from the ridge of the mountain.

Here a picture taken further away, you can still see the waterfall.

Trees at the tea plantation

I just love the trees that were growing at the tea plantation. The trees were hugh and healthy. I could not help but to take pictures of the trees and here are some of it:

Faces of India

We managed to trek into a tribal village where we were suppose to see some Indian tribe that are residing in the village. As I have mentioned earlier, nothing primitive was found except the temples of the tribe. The people there are dressed in the modern clothing. I could not help to snap photos of this child who was sitting with two ladies (one of which I guess would be the mother of the child) who were busy sewing traditional patterns on a piece of cloth. The child eyes were very captive and here are some shots of her.

The sacred temple of the tribal people

Adventure in India - Part 2

Continuing my story on my journey to Chennai.

17 December 2006

Reached Chennai taking the 10 hours train ride from Coimbatorne. At 6.30 a.m. in the morning, the Central Station is busy as ever. People getting on and of the train. Outside he station, tuks were waiting to ferry the people back to their home. We managed to get on board a mini bus which ferried us back to our hotels (One team at the Mariot while I was staying at the Taj Coromandel).

The busy Central Railway Station of Chennai

In the afternoon, one of the girls SMS me to take a trip to T.Nagar where they are going there for shopping before their journey home on the night flight.

I took a tuk to T.Nagar where I found out that the place was like our Petaling Street of Kuala Lumpur. There were selling mainly clothing and Indian ornaments. I am not too keen in getting anything there, I just wanted to see how the place looks like. In the end I bought a Tamil Nadu guide book which cost Rupees 160-00 which I will be using to plan my trip the next time I am there.

The tuks of Chennai running wild on the streets

18 December - 20 December 2006

I have to extend my stay in Chennai while the rest of the team from Malaysia and Singapore flew back on 17 December 2006. I spent much of time time in the office in Chennai and was only back in my hotel in the evening. Nothing much to do anyway. I felt homesick after being away from home for 1 week and not seeing my family.

I packed all my things and got ready for my journey home on the night flight from Chennai at 10.25 p.m. Since the flight from Chennai to KL will take 3 hours and 15 minutes and the time difference is 2 1/2 hours, I reached KLIA at 4.40 a.m.

By the time I checked out of the airport and board my taxi, I was home at 6.00 a.m. in the morning

21 December 2006

Woke up at 9.30 a.m. and prepared myself to get back to my office in Malaysia because I have to meet up with my new staff. My eyes were still sleepy but I have to get to the office.

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year

It's the time of the year where Christmas is here and the New Year is drawing close. It has been an eventful year for me and I hope it was the same for you too. To help me spice things up I have invited this beauty to wish all my readers and friends a Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year.

P/S Let me know if you want to see more of her picture!!!

People of the tea plantations

Images of the workers of the tea plantation

Panoramic View of the hills of tea plantation

The above panoramic view of the tea hills was merged from 4 photos.
Click on photo to see more details

Daily happenings at Chennai

Sorry folks that I have been away for the past week and was not able to access to the Internet to upload my posting. So here are the daily events that had happened during my Chennai trip which I have prepared earlier on:

13 December 2006

My flight from KLIA to Chennai was at 7.45 p.m. and touched down at Madras Airport at about 9.00 p.m. after a flight time of about 3 hours. On the arrival hall I was greeted by the hotel staff who escorted me to the hotel limousine which was waiting are the car park. Just like in China, there were so many people waiting at the airport welcoming back their relatives and friends from the flights that arrived the same time as mine.

The ride from the airport to the hotel was another great experience. The Indian drivers are great drivers, they were able to maneuver themselves within the traffic by sounding their horns and flashing their headlights. The traffic consists of lorries, cars, scooters and the local three wheeled “mini taxis”. I had a hell of fright going from the airport to the hotel.

The hotel I was staying was the Taj Coramandel which is a 5-star hotel in Chennai and I would not like to reveal the cost of the room. Upon arrival at the hotel, I was lead straight to my room where the room registration was done. This is the first that I have ever experienced having to register at my hotel stay in my room. The registration process was done by the executive butler.. talking about service man!!

14 December 2006

The next morning I had my breakfast the same floor of my hotel room. Took my sweet time for the breakfast, put on my office wear and ordered my transportation from my hotel to my company’s office in Chennai.

When I arrived, I heard someone called me. I was surprise that there are people in Chennai who know me. Well actually, I had earlier on sent my photograph of myself to all recipients of the e-mail that my boss had used to introduce me to the Chennai team. They can easily recognize this “Chinese Man” from the photo that I have sent. It feels great that the team knew me but it took me some time to remember who is who since the Indian names are rather long.

In the evening, I and the others from the Malaysian and Singapore teams were required to get ready to go on a train ride to participate in our Team Building Workshop. I did not know where the place is except that I come to know that the place is called Mist’ea Valley located in a place called The Nilgiris.

We were packed into a van which transported us to the Chennai Central Railway Station. Wow, it has been a long time since I have taken a train ride not to mention that I need to spend the night in the train itself. The train ride was a 10 hours train ride from Chennai to Coimbatore which is a 492 KM journey.

15 December 2006

The train started its journey at about 10.00 p.m. and we reached Coimbatore at 6.00 a.m.

Coimbatore railway station at 6.00 a.m.

We were then loaded up into 2 vans and a four wheel drive for a 2 ½ journey up the hills to the Nilgiris where are camp site is located at tea plantation. The view of the tea plantation was lovely. The weather was sunny with cool breeze blowing. Feels just like Cameron Highlands. I do not want to elaborate much on the workshop activities as it’s the normal routine sort to activities.

Great view of the hills are the tea plantations

When the night arrives, the weather turned from cooling to really cold. At one stage I was shivering even though I sat next to the bonfire. I have to climb into the tent and into the sleeping bag. The sleeping bag was able to keep me warm through the night until the next morning.

Spectacular sunset view of the hills

16 December 2006

The next day we prepared ourselves to a journey out of the camp site to the Kodanadu View Point where we were able to view the valleys and plains of three Indian states bordered Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. The view was breath taking.

Ridges, plains and hills from the view point overlooking the three borders of Tamil Naidu, Kerala and Karnataka

After the visit to the view point, we were off to a jungle trekking to see some “local tribe” who was staying in the area. Nothing much there to see because the “local tribe” has move with the modern era and has embraced the “modern” was of live.

Coming back from the jungle trekking expedition, we were welcome to a lovely picnic lunch in an open area. The cool breeze was blowing and it was a great outing having lunch with the natural surrounding.

After lunch, we have to make our journey back to Coimbatore to catch the train back to Chennai. We had dinner at Coimbatore where the restaurant serves the biggest tosai in the world (see the photo).

It was another long train ride back to Chennai on the train and we managed to safely arrive back at about 6.00 a.m.

I checked back to my hotel room and the first thing I did was to fill up the bath tub and soaked myself in the warm water.. I did not mention.. the weather was so cold in Nilgiris that I have not had a bath for the pass two days.

To be continued.....

Unable to view the pictures?

Don't blame me if you cannot view the pictures that I have posted. It's not my fault!!! Blocking access to Blogger.com is really a shame to allow people to share their thoughts and pictures. For organisations that block access to Blogger.com.. this the wrath!!