Talent Wasted

Internal bickering in the Selangor Badminton Association, where 2 groups of people were jostling for party post, caused those under-12 years old badminton players to be left out in the coming national schools championship. These junior badminton players were champions in their respective categories in recent concluded state championship (of Selangor). By virtue of being champions they could have represented the state of Selangor against the other states in Malaysia.

If these junior badminton players were able to produce excellent results in the coming national schools championship, they would be drafted into the Bukit Jalil Sports School, an elite school for outstanding sportsmen/women, where training programmes (and studies as well) would be developed to nurture those national champions to represent Malaysia in future sporting events. Unfortunately, this has to happen.

Hoping for more repeats of Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong's feats in the future? Maybe still able to but not from the state of Selangor.

Another sports down the drain - the state of Malaysian football. It has dropped down the world rankings (no.154) terribly. Personally, I view that the management team of each state football team is the main problem. How much does a State Chief Minister or a royal family member knows about football? And yet they meddle with the management of the football team. Some of them had been the head of the management as long as they have been around/alive. From insider news, there is even racial quota on players (representing each major race in Malaysia) for each state team.

And yet some officials dare mention that Arsenal has agreed to train with the Malaysian football team if the Malaysian was based at the disputed Sports Academy in London.
Tags: Selangor Badminton Association, Badminton, Sports, Bukit Jalil Sports School, Malaysia, Koo Kien Keat, Tan Boon Heong, Football, Chief Minister, Arsenal, Sports Academy

Infant Massage?

An article in the Star newspaper today entitled "Miracle baby is two years old" stated that infant massage that was practised by the mother on the little baby when her chance of survival was slim encouraged the baby to grow healthily.

I met a medical doctor on Sunday who had been practising for the last few decades. He said that this new development has not been taught before in medical stream. And he said jokingly that in future, people will develop a new technique called "unborn baby massage". I think it may materialise as well as the Medicinenet's website has a topic on Bonding With Baby Before Birth already.

From the Childbirth's website on What Is Infant Massage?, what has been explained was infant massage was related to touching by the parents that would generate bonding which aids growth and development. So, it's no big deal after all. Every parents have been doing that all this while.

But the International Association of Infant Massage has developed a course to produce Certified Infant Massage Instructors that will train parents and caregivers to massage their babies.

Is this Infant Massage a new medical breakthrough or some practise being commercialised to a larger extent throughout the whole world now?
Tags: Medical Breakthrough, Health, Infant Massage, International Association of Infant Massage, Certified Infant Massage Instructors, Bonding, Parents

Pangkor Laut Resort (IV)

This is Emerald Bay, on the other side of the private island. The sand here is just like the talcum or baby powder, really soft.

We got here via the internal transportation arranged by the resort. Just a phone call, either a van or a 4WD will pick us up to our preferred destination. Excellent service.
Behind was the Chapman's Bar where food/drinks could be ordered. We took our lunch here as well.
The whole stretch of the beach was filled with deck chairs for the resort customers. We were there at 11am plus and it was empty.
The crowd only came after 12noon, maybe after their lunch.
Most westerners were having a nice time sun-bathing at this beautiful and quiet serene beach.
Small waves coming into the beach. Very calm and peaceful place that you could stay here for the whole day. The bar was serving everyone cold water with a dash of lemonade. As long as your cup is empty, they will serve you another cup. Extreme pampering!!
Sunset was setting in. Stayed till 4pm and went back to the swimming pool area.
This was the fully air-conditioned toilet that was just beside the Chapman's Bar. The resort really did ensure that you would enjoy the facilities there.

The surrounding area of the beach area. Well kept.
A fully equipped gym near the swimming pool.
Took this picture while walking along the jetty to board our ferry.
Last picture before departing.
At first I thought the open air ferry was our transport. To our relieve, the same fully air-conditioned private ferry arrived right behind.
About 20 plus persons departed together and we need not worry about our luggage the moment they took it away from our villa when we checked out. We only need to collect our luggage
at the Pangkor Laut Resort's office in Lumut.

Tags: Pangkor Laut Resort, Malaysia, Travel, Leisure, Holiday, Lifestyle

Malaysia vs. Indonesian Blogger

Not exactly the whole nation but Malaysia's Ministry of Tourism against Nila Tanzil from Indonesia. She was sent to Malaysia under her employer's name, SCTV, who was invited to send representatives to cover Malaysia's tourism activities during the Visit Malaysia Year 2007.

Thereafter, upon her return to Indonesia she put up some comments in her blog (seems to have been edited now) which were deemed unfavourable by Malaysia's Ministry of Tourism who put up a protest. Nila has been suspended until further notice due to that. And in an indiret manner, Nila was referred to as a liar by the Malaysia's Minister of Tourism, Tengku Adnan. There goes the war of words.

Even Indonesian websites have picked up this on-going battle of words:-
* Nila Tanzil: Mana yang Tak Benar? - DetikINET
* Menteri Malaysia Cap Blogger Indonesia Tukang Kibul - DetikINET

Reading: Ku Nan blooper: Backlash in Indonesia - Screenshots
Reading: Malaysia Tourism Board Disappointing - Maverick Indonesia (got Nila's picture from here)

If you say the wrong things (deemed wrong usually) as a blogger, no matter how far you are, you won't escape. It seems that people nowadays can't take constructive criticisms. A shot in the foot for the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 as well.

At this moment, Indonesia is aiming for at least 1,000,000 Malaysian tourists to visit Indonesia this year out of a Malaysia population of approximately 24,800,000 (which represents 4%). Based on Malaysia's Ministry of Tourism's database for year 2006, only 1,217,024 Indonesians visited (the legal ones, of course) Malaysia out of an approximate population of about 234,600,000 (which represents 0.52%). Can Malaysia match Indonesia's 4% target as well which works out to about 9,284,000 Indonesian tourists?
Tags: Ministry of Tourism, Malaysia, Visit Malaysia Year 2007, Nila Tanzil, SCTV, Indonesia, Tengku Adnan, DetikINET, Tourist

Pangkor Laut Resort (III)

The beauty of the swimming pool area overlooking the beach.

The swimming pool was besides a restaurant where we had our first lunch.
Reflection of coconut trees lining up along the clean beach with some sea villas in the background.

Nature was part of the resort where even a peacock would stroll into the restaurant.
This is a restaurant known as Uncle Lim's where it serves mainly Chinese or Nyonya dishes. This is the place where we had our breakfasts and dinners. As for lunch and dinner, we were given option to choose different restaurants. We stayed put with Uncle Lim's restaurant for 2 dinners due to the Chinese dishes.

The first dinner costs us about RM500 (RM3.50 = US$1.00) and the 2nd night's dinner was filled with mainly seafood dishes and the price shot up to RM1,050. Thank God that all meals were part of a package that I have gotten with the resort. If not, I'll cry after leaving the resort. Nothing much on food presentation but as long as it's edible and taste good, it has served the purpose.
Closer to the sea villas this time. A bit more pricey compared to my villa at the hill.

Another batch of sea villas located in the Spa Village where only customers who are 16 and above are allowed to stay. It's known for its famous spa treatment and you wouldn't want to hear children throwing their tantrum in the midst of your spa relaxation. That's the reason for having an age limit. (*to be continued)
Tags: Pangkor Laut Resort, Malaysia, Travel, Leisure, Holiday, Lifestyle, Spa

Football Studies

A local college, Cyberlynx International College, has started a new course that will help you to graduate with a BA (Hons) Football Studies. The course will get you to be familiarised with the following:-

* basis of FIFA rules & regulation

* individual-player skills / styles

* art of football management through economics, law & marketing

Duration of this course is 3 years (either through full or part time). This course is being taught in collaboration with its partner university, University of Bedfordshire of United Kingdom. Under the UK's syllabus, the area of study includes:-

* Football and society

* The football business

* Football and the Media

* Introduction to football coaching skills

* Sports fans

* Teaching and coaching

* Sport development

* Issues in football

* Sports injuries

* Advanced fitness assessment

* Leisure and sport management

* Developing coaching study and skills

Not bad. Would have applied for this course if it was available during my time. Definitely no problem for the football topics.

Tags: Education, Football Studies, Cyberlynx International College, University of Bedfordshire, Football Management

Louis Vutton's Thong

Lately, Louis Vutton ("LV") has been producing products that we could get easily at a fraction of the LV's price. I just cannot recall where have I seen this similar thong design somewhere in the city of Kuala Lumpur being sold in stores selling cheap stuff.

Maybe LV had ran out of ideas for out of this world's design ..........
Tags: Louis Vutton, LV, Thong, Fashion, Kuala Lumpur