Plenty to Think About for Renovation

New house should be ready by Dec '08 or Jan '09. By then the housing developer will deliver the vacant possession letter to allow me to occupy the house. Give and take, hopefully one to two months to rectify whatever defects not done properly in constructing the house. That will be end Feb '09 or early Mar '09.

Need to apply to the City Hall Council for the need to obtain a permit before the commencement of the renovation. That may take two weeks (I heard and if everything is smooth).

I'm already cracking my head on how to decorate up the house, where to put the respective furnitures, how to light up the house, what sort of cabinets be it for the rooms or kitchen and the most important is the matching of colours throughout the whole house.

Yesterday was on leave and settled some documents with my financier and hopped on to my new house with a contractor, husband and wife team (the wife seems to be very good with her interior ideas). Told / explained on how I wanted to renovate ...... don't know whether they are going to have a good laugh after we went our separate ways ...... haha. Did I make sense to them?

How did I paint my dream house to them? It's all hard works by reading many magazines in the last few months.

The problem now is after reading soooooooo many of these magazines, I'm still quite confused. Reason is - each time you flip through a magazine, you'll be fascinated with a particular design or setting and you'll tell your brain to scan that and keep it in memory.

Few days later, you see another good design and thought it would be good to have this and now my brain has two designs for the same spot .......... it went on and on. Headache! Headache! Headache!

Those are the tags which I have placed on relevant pages which have captured my brain. Now, how am I going to put all of this into only one house.

Now you can imagine what I have told the contractor. I gave many options with money as the main factor. Told them not to build something fit for a king when the finance comes from a servant.

With the world financial market crumbling one by one, would it be safer to spend it and get a nice place to live in. How much to spend for a house renovation? What should be done now and which one that can be deferred? Headache! Headache! Headache!

There was once I gathered a number of recommendations for interior designers or contractors from friends. Haven't called any of them but will do so any time now. Get all of them to meet at the new house and tell once and for all????

The thought of getting so many quotes will also put me in a quandary. How to tell them "Thanks for your quotation but I think I'm getting another person to do it".

Waaaaaah, initially you pressed for the best price and then opt for someone else ............. this is the business world and the best shall win ...... not necessary the one with the lowest pricing.

With this list (plus four more at hand), I should be getting at least ten quotations. Good enough or too many?

Now, whom to choose and based on what? Headache! Headache! Headache!

Did drop by at Goodrich at Sri Hartamas which has lots of wallpaper selections. Confused as well.

Anyone of you used their materials before? Recommended?

A big piece of wallpaper measuring 9' by 9' will cost you RM2,000 plus. I was shocked indeed but it was a nice piece ......... should I? Headache! Headache! Headache!

Just when you thought buying a new house is so easy. Buy, settle loan, house ready then move in with current furnishings. My my my .......
Tags: House Renovation, Interior Designer, Renovation Contractor, Wallpaper, Wallcovering, City Hall Council of Kuala Lumpur, DBKL

Talented Enoch Fernando

On Sunday, a talented musician from USA paid a visit to my church. Enoch Fernando's the name. Doesn't ring a bell? He serves at the Saddleback Church located at Southern California.

He is actually from East India. When he was young, someone sponsored him to study music in the USA, who bought him a grand piano to start it off when he first arrived in USA those days.

One of Enoch's piano teachers (Lazlo ............ missed out the second word) was also the piano teacher for Richard Carpenters (together with sibling Karen Carpenters formed The Carpenters).

His talents on the keyboard is so marvellous. The way he played those music pieces was so enchanting and people were fascinated. Some of those music pieces were accompanied with music videos.

He has been nominated before in the Grammy awards under the Best Instrumental for Christian Country Music ........ he was surprised on how he got under this category - country music.

This round, he stopped by at Kuala Lumpur while on his way back to East India to minister to the people who are going through tough times in the state of Orissa.

Upon the end of the service, people went straight to a counter set up for selling his CDs and DVDs. It could have pushed his music up the Christian chart on that Sunday morning.

Bought two of his, Akustic Passion and Ageless Romance.
How could I not have a picture with a person who is so filled with God's talent.
This is his wife, Rebekah Jakab Fernando. She also goes by the name of Becky Jake. She has a powerful voice that could deliver and mesmerise you with the meaning of the songs with such an ease.

Her preference - country music.

May God bless both of your ministries that are touching people's hearts all over the world.

Tags: Enoch Fernando, Enoch Music, Rebekah Jakab Fernando, Becky Jake, Christian Music, Country Music, Instrumental Music, Saddleback Church, The Carpenters

Australians Are Migrating

Malaysians who wanted to migrate have listed Australia as one of the top destinations for migration. When you flip open the Star newspaper, you could see advertisements on provision of services to assist you to migrate overseas with the word 'Australia' splashed across it.

Why Australia? Knew a few friends that have migrated to Australia. Bumped into a schoolmate last year who was providing professional migration services in particular to Australia. If not mistaken, he should have migrated himself and family by now. He did tell me that I do qualify on merit and told me to try ............. yeah, he was sourcing for business at the same time. Anyway, I didn't.

Reasons for those friends that have migrated or some in the process - mainly for their children's education. Firstly, by being a resident there, the school or university fees would be much much lower than by sending them over from Malaysia as a foreign student. Of course, if your family is loaded it's not an issue at all. What's wrong with Malaysian education? You and I know very well.

Next thing people migrate would be for job opportunities. A young couple that I knew migrated owing to better work environment and of course higher salary. They are doing very well now. Malaysia is really suffering from the brain drain of professionals. All my friends who have migrated or in the process are truly professionals in their fields of work. They are bringing their experiences away from this land of Malaysia.

Just when people are migrating into Australia, not many people knew that Australians themselves are also migrating away from their land. How come?

For the record, 76,923 Australians became ex-Australians in year 2007 alone. Those who left were aged between 25 and 54. Out goes 76,923, in came 149,635 to become Australians in the same period .... hehe. I'm very sure that lots of well-to-do or professional Indonesians are flocking into Australia (heard from and verified with friends).

Do you know where did the 76,923 ex-Australians migrated to? Their top destinations were New Zealand (18.4%), United Kingdom (17.8%), USA (9.3%), Hong Kong (7.2%) and Singapore (6.4%). These top five countries have accounted for 59.1% of those who migrated.

Unfortunately, three of those countries - New Zealand, USA and Singapore - are already in recession. If you are migrating or have migrated, why?

Reading: Biggest annual exodus from Australia on record - News.com
Reading: "Weighing" Brain Drain - Education in Malaysia
Tags: Australia, Brain Drain, Migration, Professional Migration Services, Migrate To Australia

Record Inflation of 231,000,000%

When inflation sets in, many Third World countries will not be able to handle it. They are already considered poor nations but cost of living is rising daily.

Zimbabwe's economy has been spiralling downwards with no signs of any potential economy comeback.

Inflation rose from few hundred per cent up to an impossible rate of two hundred thirty one million per cent (231,000,000%). Many people will not be able to comprehend what kind of inflation is this. In layman example, a loaf of bread that was sold at 100 Zimbabwe Dollar in year January 2007 is now sold at 23,100,000,000 (that's hitting above Twenty Three Billion Zimbabwe Dollar).

The country tried to print bigger currency denomination to counter the increasing rate of inflation but to no avail. Then it changed the currency valuation by deleting the number of zeros. Is that the correct way to handle the economics? Whoever that gave this advise is really marvellous. Were they graduates from Cambridge UK or MIT, USA? Or local politicians that graduated from their local universities?

Hence, it decreases the value of the currency and on a positive note, it helped the citizens in the way of carrying lesser currency notes when they go for shopping. Effective Aug 2008, from the height of a 100,000,000,000 Zimbabwe Dollar (One Hundred Billion) currency note that equates to less than USD400.00, it now becomes 10 Zimdollar (at a rate of Z$10 billion = 1 Zimdollar).

As root of inflation was the political instability, inflation rate continued its climb. The nation needed to print bigger currency denomination notes again. Firstly, the 10,000 Zimdollar and now 20,000 Zimdollar (equivalent to US$20). You could only withdraw the maximum of 20,000 Zimdollar from your bank account ...... daily!

It will be neverending and by early next year, the 100,000 Zimdollar will be out on the street. By then, I would have lost count of the number of times it has printed new notes. Next level of inflation rate? This African nation is really one of a kind with the leaders in power, who are living in posh lifestyle, not considering the suffering citizens.

Reading: Zimbabwe inflation hits new high - BBC News/Africa

Related posts:-
* Zimbabwe's Growing the Wrong Way
* Just How Much is 500 Million Dollars?
Tags: Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Dollar, Zimdollar, Economics, Inflation, Africa

Busy Dataran Sunway Commercial Centre

Met up with a kitchen contractor, visited several shops selling housing materials and furnitures at Dataran Sunway commercial centre, Kota Damansara area, and was really surprised with the busy area. Didn't expect the place to be packed with cars and the shops available could just offer anything you needed and wanted.

As the stomach signalled its hunger for food, it was time to look for a food outlet. Saw this upbeat cafe and found it to be cooling. Need a good hideout from the hot weather.

The nearby Station 1 Cafe offers food that varies from the western dishes to oriental dishes and fusion food. It has a wide range of beverages. It's quite common to see this kind of cafe mushrooming all over Klang Valley. Apparently, this was their 18th outlet, the latest.

Price wise - reasonable for such cafe.


Kampung Style Fried Rice. Not bad lah. Same taste all over Klang Valley also.

The fried egg really looked pathetic. Would you request them to fry another one?












This was my order, the Mixed Grill. Need big portion kind of dishes to feel my stomach after the long walk all over Dataran Sunway.

The accompanying black pepper sauce was excellent. The corn was prepared with the right sweetness required.
Chicken Chop with rice. Nice mushroom sauce that comes with it.
The Deep Fried Fish Fillet. The fish was fresh and soft. It melts in your mouth (not only M&M).
The Tom Yum soup has the sour taste that comes with the spicy tinkling. As I can endure hot and spicy stuff, it didn't meet my criteria for a good tom yup soup.








There was a stage within the premise but don't know when will they have performances or was it for customers like me that whenever I feel like it, I can sing anytime.

Understood that Chervie Ho Yee Mun (sorry, don't know who she is) was supposed to perform at this outlet on 13 Oct night.
Tags: Station 1 Cafe, Kota Damansara, Food, Dataran Sunway, Kota Damansara, Chervie Ho Yee Mun

No Inglish But Can Deputy Prime Minister

Traditionally, the top two ranking persons in the UMNO political party would also be the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia.

It's very important to see the outcome in each UMNO party election that could also decide the fate of Malaysia. The next UMNO party election will be held in March 2009. The present Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak has offered himself for the position of UMNO President since the incumbent President, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, has decided not to defend his position.

As Datuk Seri Najib Razak is moving up the political ladder, the number two position, Deputy President, will be empty. This position has been eyed by a number of aspirants who are as follows:-
* Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib
* Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam
* Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
* Jazlan Mohamad

Nothing personal against Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib but this was the same guy that was acquitted in a Brisbane court of Australia in 1998 for failing to declare foreign cash when entering and leaving Australia. One of the reasons that he was acquitted - "I know no inglish so ahhhh I dunno and cannot read signs or rules that said must tell people how much I got."

Now, he's going for the number two position that could make him the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. His reason for offering himself, I like it lah - "because I want to help the party president strengthen and rebuild Umno.”

Uncle, we are talking about the nation here .......... not just your political party.

Reading: Umno may see big battle for No. 2 slot - Star
Tags: Muhammad Muhammad Taib, UMNO Party Election, UMNO Deputy President

Movie Stars Can Claim Datukship

In Malaysia, a person who has contributed significantly to the welfare of the nation would stand a chance of being recognised by the state government or the federal government, depending on the nature of contribution.

Recognition could come in the form of receiving honorary titles such Datuk, Datuk Seri, Tan Sri or Tun. Equivalent of a Tan Sri is the knighthood in United Kingdom ("UK") where the title is known as Sir. In rare cases, one would receive the Tunship, equivalent to a Lordship in UK.

As for a Datukship in Malaysia, it's supposed to be highly regarded. With the latest bestowing of this title to an individual who's a movie star in the land of India, in my humble opinion, it will downgrade the title.

Shah Rukh Khan, the indian actor to die for for many Malaysian ladies, would be bestowed with a Datukship. One would question his contribution(s) to our nation in entitlement for the honorary title of Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (DMSM) to be awarded by the Malacca State Government.

In questioning the state government for the reason, the Malacca Chief Minister's political secretary Saadon Basirun gave this superb reason:-

*he was awarded the title for his contribution to the entertainment industry at international level and also contributed to our tourism industry when he acted in a movie filmed in Malaysia*

Now, this is the fun part. You should read Lim Kit Siang's blog posting of the same issue. Why only Shah Rukh Khan has been recognised for his role in a movie that was filmed in Malaysia?

What about the following international superstars that filmed their internationally known movies in Malaysia? They don't deserve any tiny weeny bit of recognition at all?
* Police Story starring Jackie Chan and Maggie Cheung
* Entrapment starring Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta Jones
* Anna and the King starring Jodie Foster and Chow Yuen Fatt
* After This Our Exile starring Aaron Kwok
* Lust, Caution starring Tony Leung, Wang Lee Hom & Tang Wei with the movie director being Ang Lee
* The Touch starring Ben Chaplin and Datuk Michelle Yeoh
(can you name anymore?)

What about the people involved in our very own locally produced movie - Sepet. This movie has been garnered with awards in:-
* Best Asian Film Award at the 18th Tokyo International Film Festival in October 2005.
* Ninth Malaysian Video Awards
* 27th Creteil International Women Directors Festival in France
* 18th Malaysian Film Festival
* Global Chinese Golden Arts Awards
* Anugerah Era 2005

The Datuk title is supposed to be a prestige title which is to be bestowed on someone who has a tremendous record or contribution for the land of Malaysia. The best thing is Shah Rukh Khan won't be able to make it for the investiture ceremony. Somehow downgrades the Datukship title.

Reading: Shah Rukh Khan To Receive Datukship - Bernama
Tags: Shah Rukh Khan, Datukship, Malacca State Government, Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka, DMSM, Investiture Ceremony