Thursday, August 31, 2006

Malaysia - 49th Independence Day

TODAY, my country of Malaysia is celebrating her 49th birthday.

A website under the name of Road to Nationhood related the milestones in achieving the Independence Day on 31 August 1957.

Everyone that I knew in Malaysia is having a public holiday but I'm stucked in my office here in Khartoum, Sudan. Well, tonight itself, staff of Malaysian companies based in Khartoum will gather at a Malaysian-owned restaurant together with the Malaysian Ambassador to Sudan to commenmorate the Independence Day. Meantime, back to work.
Tags: Malaysia, Independence Day, Road To Nationhood

Annual Tomatina Festival

People throw tomatoes at each other during the "Tomatina" festival that takes place on the last Wednesday of August in Bunol, near Valencia. Some 40,000 Spaniards (including thousands of mainly British, French and German tourists) gathered at this year annual event hurling some 100 000 kilograms (220,000 pounds) of tomatoes, one of the world's messiest festivals.

This event was believed to have begun as an argument between two carnival participants in 1945. So popular is the event, the Spanish authorities have recognised it as a "festival of international tourist interest".

Tags: Tomatina, Festival, Valencia, Spain, Tour, Travel, Carnival, Tomatoes

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

UK Sports Academy

Well, this Sports Academy (proposed to be constructed in UK) thingy is springing up again and it seems that the Ministry of Youth & Sports will respond/update, by end September, upon the completion of an in-depth study. In-depth study? The project is definitely not viable so why still need to carry out an in-depth study. Many people have voiced out that this project will be a "white elephant" once constructed.

RM490 million (approx. US$132.4 million) could be better utilised if it was used to upgrade existing sports centre in Malaysia. Otherwise, it could be used to build more sports complex (smaller scale) to be used by sportsmen/women participating in the bi-annual SUKMA event.

Or the fund could be used to send elite/proven sportsmen/women to Australia (having the best Sports Institute in the world) for further improvement.

Alternatively, the fund could be used to finance elite/proven sportsmen/women to participate in certain sports event that could benefit them.

Otherwise, the fund could be used to build more sporting facilities for the public's usage and rental of such facilities could be obtained too.

By building such a big facilities overseas, who will manage the sports complex? what's the maintenance cost like as UK pound is high on the currency exchange rate? what's the usage rate going to be? Reason given was that the new sports complex could be used as a base for sportsmen/women in preparation for sporting events to be held in similar kind of weather conditions. Who could that be as majority of the M'sian (not looking down on them) do not qualify for the major sporting events. Even sporting giants (referring countries) only send their sportsmen/women to the host country few weeks prior to the event for acclimatisation purposes. And M'sia is trying to do one better - by having a costly underused overseas base.

The current batch of squash and badminton players (who have excelled in their events) do not such costly overseas base and they still succeed. It's all in their minds. But I'm wondering what's in the mind of those government officials who are so adamant to have this sports complex.
Tags: Politics, Sports Academy, UK

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Glass Bridge Skywalk at Grand Canyon

It was stated, via an email being circulated, that a Glass Bridge Skywalk is being constructed at the Grand Canyon National Park's visitors' area. I have sent an email to a person listed in the linked website but todate no reply. Is the construction of it true?
Tags: Glass Bridge Skywalk, Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon

Another Big Sandstorm

This time my colleague was really fast with his camera ...........














And I caught the following scenes at our villa's rooftop. My camera lense was not dirty but that's the kind of air that made the whole area blur.

Tags: Weather, Journal, Life, Diary, Khartoum, Sandstorm

Uncyclopedia on Malaysia

What's that?????

Well, if you (Malaysians who read this blog) want to have a good laugh, please read this Uncyclopedia about Malaysia.

As for other nationalities, please go to this link http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/Main_Page and type in your country's name under the Search area. You'll be shocked to know how come this writer knew so much about so many countries. I know why.
Tags: Uncyclopedia, Search

Monday, August 28, 2006

Privilege Ibiza - World's Biggest Club

Ibiza is a small island lying 90 km off the east coast of Spain, in the Western Mediterranean. It is part of the Balearic islands. Ibiza is known for its partying nites at bars/clubs.

Privilege Ibiza, located half way between Ibiza and san Antonio on the main road, near San Rafael, known as the world's largest club.
If it's your first time in Privilege you're highly likely to get lost. It's extremely easy to get separated from your friends and not see them again till the sun comes up. Don't worry tho, you'll make new ones.
Upon entering the club you go down a massive staircase. You are now are bang in the middle of one of the world's largest dancefloors. At its centre the dj is suspended above a swimming pool . At the far end is a stage where girls and boys dance around in varying stages of undress and a show with a non-linear dramatic structure (i.e. it's confusing) takes place.

Entrance fee: expect to pay up to 60€ (approx. US$113). Vodka lemon costs approx. 10€ and a beer 8€. Queuing is the norm so need to buy tickets beforehand. Privilege has its own range of merchandise too.

Privilege is hosting the gala of America's Best DJ Award on 28 August 2006. In June 2006, Privilege Kiev has opened in the city of Kiev, Ukraine.
Tags: Privilege Ibiza, Ibiza, Spain, Privilege Kiev, Entertainment, Club, Disco

Pattaya International Fireworks Festival

Pattaya is definitely firing up its presence internationally. Covid19 has hit many nations really hard and Pattaya wasn't exempted from ...