Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

May Year 2011 bring you and family good luck and healthy life. Let's Go Green.

Me in 2005, pretty fit and "slim" at that time. It is always good to keep the good memory of yesteryears. Perhaps it is time now to work on the weight.

Appreciation

After serving the Lions Clubs International District 308B1, Malaysia for a year on promoting environmental conservation promotion, awareness and education campaign, I was presented the International President's Certificate and DG Gold Award by District Governor, Ln Datuk Danny Ooi for the works well done. It was such a fruitful year for me as I was able to see many of the Clubs and lions members undertake environmental-related projects. These range from cleanliness, trees planting, recycling, talks and exhibitions.

One of the many projects that satisfied me the most must be the record breaking Beverage Packets Recycling Campaign. Within a month, a total of 287,993 drinking packets was collected in which about 18% are contributed by lions. Kudos

My Teacher

After almost 35 years, I met with my primary school teacher, Mr Lee Choon Meng at a Lions function recently. The meeting was possible when my Lions Club has dealing with the Home for Angels in Bandar Sungai Long. The Home was founded and managed by Ms Lee Tee Xin, daughter of my teacher and also my classmate in the Secondary School of Raub, Pahang.

My Club's involvement with the Home was pure coincident. I was reading a press report on the Home one day and noticed that Ms Lee might be my classmate. Upon calling and confirmed with her, My Club has decided to adopt the Home. Numerous activities were carried out such as welfare assistance, children outings, sponsorship of education aids, providing legal aids and constant visitation. The journey of cooperation started from there which led to the meeting between myself and Mr Lee.

I wish my teacher good health and ever happy. Cheers

Chopstick?

I found this at a souvenir shop. I thought it is interesting as many might have thought the chopstick, the spoon, the bowl and the holder are meant for dining only. Creativity prevail. A combination of these made the presentation of gift showing Chinese culture in food a good one, I presume.

Pledge A Tree

In celebrating the 2009 World Town Planning Day, I pledged and planted a tree at the Cyberjaya Urban Forest Park. To be exact, the location of the tree is at N 02.56.318 and E 101.39.490 with elevation at +50 meter. Thank you for the advancement of GPS. I am now able to monitor my contribution geographically and visually.

Eco Handicraft

These are handicraft and souvenirs made from recycling paper such as newspaper, magazine and cardboard. I found these so interesting, and more importantly environmental friendly. The items are made by women group during their spare time together. The effort has also brought in financial return to them. Starting as a gesture for 3R, the program has developed into an income generation venture. I presume, this is a truly community sustainable initiative in practice.

Waste

I am not talking about the unfinished food on the table, but rather the cups, plates, containers, forks, spoons and any utensils you name it. These are items made of polystyrene. What make me sad is these were widely used for serving during an open house celebration by a supposedly high environmental conscious organisation recently. Well, corporate social responsibility towards environmental stewardship is not a slogan, but a doing.

Geneva

In the midst of cleaning up my files in the computer, I found this digital image. This photo was taken in Geneva, Switzerland during the SusDev Conference in 2005. I was invited then to put up display for Local Agenda 21 exhibition and attended the workshops. It was refreshing knowing what others are doing for the sustainable development.

Mid Autunm Festival

Mid Autunm or Moon Cake Festival is traditionally celebrated by the Chinese. I am equally surprised to notice this signboard when I was in Hanoi on 24/9/2009, last month. Vietnamese are also celebrating the Festival by having moon cakes.

Happy Moon Cake Festival.

Dragon Dance

This is dragon dance performance captured in Hanoi, Vietnam. Apparently, the head of dragon is smaller and the body is shorter compared to those we used to see n Malaysia. Nonetheless, the origin and purpose is the same: to celebrate during big occassions.

Food Display

The photo shows the display of foods in restaurants. This display using model is commonly found in most restaurants in Japan. The display is clear, precise and of course attractive. It is good for a person like me who cannot understand Japanese language. Perhaps we should explore this artistic piece in Malaysia. Food is an art, I presume.

Sashimi Lunch at Ueno

This is the sashimi lunch I have at the Ueno pedestrian shopping mall, Tokyo, Japan. It is fresh and tasty (of course with the wasabi), and importantly affordable compared to other parts of Tokyo. A bowl of rice with salmon fish, tuna fish and scallop only cost me $ 500 yen, some what $ 200 yen lower than elsewhere. I do have a good bargain.

Sashimi Breakfast

I likes sushi so much that I cannot resist from having a sashimi breakfast early morning at the Tsukijishijo Fish Market on 21/8/2009. There are so many stalls selling sushi and sashimi, and surprising so many tourists are taking them. I guess everyone comes to witness the fishes auction will not feel mission completed without having the sushi or sashimi there. I hope my friend, Li Lian who was there but decided not to have the breakfast will not regret later.

Mount Fuji

This is a picture of mine taken at the 45th Floor of Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office, Block 1. I was there to grasp the chance to see Mount Fuji from the watching gallery. Unfortunately, the sight was blocked by haze due to the bad weather. Well, next time must go to the Mount Fuji physically.

Ginza

I am standing at the main street of Ginza, Tokyo, Japan last Sunday. The road was closed on weekend for pedestrian passage. I do not think I have other opportunity to stand at the centre of the busier road and have a relax photo taken. This must be chance once in a life time. If you have come here on weekday, you cannot imagine that you might have the luxury of hiding yourself under the canopy and have a sip of coffee. Ginza, known as the most expensive central business district in the World is home to many high end shopping complex and flagship shops, the goods that I cannot afford.

Raining

The day I departed from Odate City, it was rained heavily. My luggage was wet while waiting for the bus to the airport. It must be rare experience for the local as annual rain flow level is not that high in this part of Japan. However, having the rain is not as bad as of getting typhoon, flash flood and earth quake in other part of Japan. Some of my friends jokingly said Malaysian should experience the earth quake and typhoon rather than the normal heavy rain, but for me it is better not.

Lake Towada

Lake Towada with depth of 328 meter is located at the Kosaka Town of Akita. An hour drive from the Odate City is worth the journey. The scenery from the observatory post at Hakka Pass is wonderful and refreshing. It is so calm and peaceful with cool wind brewing on your face. The green, with some artificially planted landscape integrated well with the blue water. This is an experience equivalent to the Lake Toba of Indonesia, i thought.

Odate Town, Agita

I am now in Odate Town, Agita after spending more than 5 hours on the plane and bus traveling from Kita-Kyushu City back to Tokyo and then to this town. This is an agro-based country side town with a lot of greenery and paddy field. Well, perhaps it is time to explore the other side of urbanised Japan.

Mojiko Retro

This picture of me was taken in front of the pedestrian bridge at the Mojiko Retro of the Kita-Kyushu City, Japan this Saturday afternoon. The scenery at the sea side with the buildings integrated well with the nature is so beautiful, more so during sunset time. A lot of tourists especially the local are spending their casual time here. This must be the first tourists spot I visited Japan so far. The area is famous for its strategic location, the siting of railway museum, a train station and jetty for cruise here.