巨星陨落

一大早就听到了这样一个坏消息
"Michael Jackson dead at 50"
相信这个消息也一样令你十分震惊。。。
我也一样，我并不是他的忠实粉丝（对他本人没什么好感，因为他的负面新闻太多了）
但我喜欢听他的歌。。。
一路驾车，一路听着电台播放他生前首首遗作，
（超喜欢Heal the world这首歌）
令我觉得感慨和惋惜，
也令我想起小时候和堂哥一起听他的歌的那段岁月。。。
虽然那个时候的我听不懂他的歌曲的意思（英文程度差）。
但我们就是会被他的舞台魅力吸引。

我会永远记住Michael Jackson是一位伟大及杰出的音乐人!
同时也献上我对这位巨星的哀悼之意。。。

《Heal The World》歌词
There's a place in your heart
And I know that it is love
And this place could be much brighter than tomorrow

And if you really try
You'll find there's no need to cry
In this place you'll feel there's no hurt or sorrow

There are ways to get there
If you care enough for the living
Make a little space Make a better place ...

*Heal the world Make it a better place
For you and for me
And the entire human race
There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make it a better place For you and for me

If you want to know why
There's love that cannot lie
Love is strongIt only cares of joyful giving

If we try we shall see
In this bliss we cannot feel
Fear or dread we stop existing and start living

Then it feels that always
Love's enough for us growing
So make a better world Make a better place ...

Repeat*

And the dream we were conceived in
Will reveal a joyful face
And the world we once believed in
Will shine again in grace
Then why do we keep strangling life
Wound this earth, crucify its soul
Though it's plain to see
This world is heavenly Be god's glow

We could fly so high
Let our spirits never die
In my heart I feel you are all my brothers
Create a world with no fear
Together we'll cry happy tears
See the nations turn their swords into plowshares

We could really get there
If you cared enough for the living
Make a little space
To make a better place ...

Repeat**

被“白马”感动

早上驾车上班的途中，听到了这首歌。。。
《身骑白马》
演唱的歌手是星光三班第一名徐佳莹
这首歌非常熟悉，旋律听起来还蛮好听的。。。很不错哦！
我之所以会对这首歌特别熟悉是因为，
我曾在星光大道电视转播里看到她演唱这首歌曲。。。
在加上副歌的部分是改编自一首非常动听的歌仔戏歌曲。。。
华语和闽南语的互相交錯唱到副歌那一段，我真的有被感动到哦。。。
回想现今歌仔戏已慢慢被新时代淘汰，
（相信现在的小孩子都不知道什么是歌仔戏吧！）
记忆中，七八岁的我时常都能在阿嫲家看到姑姑叔叔们正追看歌仔戏场景。。。
嘻嘻，我还记得当时杨丽花主演小生角色可说是十分受欢迎的。。。

在线上Google一下这首歌，
《身骑白马》唱的是千金小姐王宝钏嫁给薛平贵后，在寒窑苦守十八年，薛平贵外出打仗居然跟西凉的代战公主结了婚。十八年后当薛平贵知道王宝钏还在苦等之后，就抛下了公主和西凉的官位，跑回去找王宝钏。歌词前一段写代战公主的心情，后一段及副歌写薛平贵回家的心情，副歌是台语，选自杨丽花的歌仔戏。听起来还很有民族风味。

“乐来越爱”正式开跑

第五届“乐来越爱”全国华语歌唱比赛－正式开跑
这个歌唱比赛和我有着很特别的渊源
我开始创办第一届歌唱比赛，也参与了随后的每届歌唱比赛。
一路看着这个歌唱比赛一届比一届壮大。　　
今年，歌唱比赛已经踏入第五届，也就是说我们主办歌唱比赛已有十年的经验。。。
自然而然对这届歌唱比赛有着蛮高的期许。。。

今届的筹工委班底大多都是新血，
我和几位老鸟自然就必须花较多的心思从旁协助。。。
某某人时常在我耳边提醒我应该放手让新人发挥，而我也知道这是必要的。。。
但。。。
我承认我常常在协助的过程中会过于热心，
又或者我对某些事物的要求过于完美，以致常常不满别人所做的一切。。。
（对于不爽我的人，你们就怨我吧！）
但我还是觉得这是为你们好的啊！
希望你们能够从中学到更多，
学习如何接受挑战，和面对挑战。。。
我知道你们也付出很多。。。
而我会检讨自己，但并不代表我会降低我的要求。。。

希望这届歌唱比赛能顺顺利利，成功举办。。。

Bravo Federer!!

一连十多天的法网赛终于来到了尾声。。。

最后一场是我最期待的男单决赛

决赛是由此赛事最大黑马-Robin Soderling对上连续四届闯入决赛的Roger Federer

这场决赛对费德勒来说可是非常重要的。。。

因为赢了这场决赛，他将完成网球全满贯的最后一块拼图，成为史上第六位全满贯选手。。。

他-终于做到了！

看到他获胜的那一刻，我也跟着激动起来。。。

激动是因为我看到了一个令我敬佩的人物终于完成他的愿望。。。

这个胜利真是来得不易。

2008年到今年，对他来说是十分艰难的时期。

因为他的表现开始走下坡，他也不再统治整个网坛。

世界第一位置也被取代，很多人也开始怀疑他能不能再站上大满贯颁奖台上。

能不能完成全满贯，能不能追平记录得到最多的大满贯。

但这场胜利，所有的质疑都是多余的。

他已经证明了自己是网坛历史上最伟大的人物。

OuR ThiRd DaY iN BanGkoK 14/04/2009

The third day in Bangkok was about Shopping, Shopping and Shopping......
Thailand recently has been developing rapidly, as what we can see from its transportation system and all the modern buildings in the city!
As what I know, Bangkok is now one of the Shopping paradise in Asia...
Therefore, visit Siam square become a must during this trip especially going with a 'moderate' frantic shopaholic (guess who? My dear lo...)hehe!!

Wake up quite late in the morning (to recharge more energy for shopping)
After took our breakfast, we were heading toward Siam Square.
Due to the red-shirt demonstration, there were army at the BTS station.....
Both of us pray hard for peace and for the shopping centre to start operate today.
(Most of the shopping centre closed yesterday due to the tense situation in Bangkok)
Our first stop was the popular Erawan Shrine for good luck and good fortune!Haha! Luck is on our side because most of the shopping centre open today!
Like Bintang walk in KL, most of the shopping center here are in the walking distance to each other...And some of it are linked up with sky bridge.
Let see if I can list out all the shopping mall here:
Central World, Emporium, Gaysorn Plaza, Siam Paragon, Erawan Centre, Siam Discovery Center, Siam Centre, MBK centre and .......you can name it.....Naraya is the shop which i can't forget......
Why? The place was packed with people especially ladies.....
People just grab like its free and shop like crazy here!!
Anyway, this shop offer nice bags with reasonable price!
Shopping, Shopping and Shopping.....
Until dinner time......See what we have for our dinner in the shopping complex?
Thai Food? Nope!
Its western food!
As recommended by my friend, this restaurant offer nice western food with reasonable price...
So we just give it a try......
My comment on the food: Not bad lo... Just like TGI Friday here with cheaper price!

What a lovely coincidence, we were at Bangkok at the time Thais celebrating Songkran Festival!
The street was packed with foreigner and local people......
Cars can't move because of crowded people who are playing water and dancing on the road......
Bangkok is definately a bargain shopping paradise.
The picture below says everything....Anyway, this was a nice trip and hope I will come back again!

OuR SeConD Day In BanGKok 13/04/2009

After the buffet breakfast (included as part of our hotel package), we continue our second day trip in Bangkok---We went to possibly the most famous tourist attraction in Bangkok- Grand Palace. We took a boat from Sathorn pier where near the BTS Saphan Taksin.

From the pier, you can go to quite a few of tourist spots such as Wat Po, Grand Palace, Wat Arun, China Town and so on.

(You can go to the counter at Sathorn pier if you wish to buy the ticket of one day river pass for unlimited ride or you can choose to buy one way ticket on the boat to any pier you want).

We chose to buy the one day pass ticket which cost us 125THB per ticket.

(Sad to say buying the ticket for day trip is not worth it, because you might not be able to visit so many places in a day. Anyway, we enjoy the sightseeing along the river road......)

Unique boat cruise along the river. It is one of the most important mode of transport for both locals and tourists)

Surprise to see a Chinese Pagoda along the river...The good thing to cruise along the river is that you get to see many landmarks and bridges such as Rama VII Bridge, Sapan Phut, Wat Po, Temple of Dawn and Grand Palace. From the boat, we saw the silhouette of Wat Arun.Enjoy the breeze on your face as the speed of cruise increases......Get off at Pier Tha Tien and walk for around 10 minutes to reach the main entrance of Grand Palace. Before we reach the entrance, there was a people who trying to trick us. He started to talk to us and told us that Grand Palace was close due to Songkran Festival holiday in Thailand. He told us he could take us to go around other interesting places by his tuktuk.
Without any consideration, I refused the offer and suggestted to go around and see if that information was true. Conclusion, my dicision was correct. The Grand Palace was open. The Grand Palace has a very strict dresscode, but you can 'borrow' appropriate clothes with B100 as deposit. We went to the ticket counter and pay B350 each before enter the Palace. Impressive wall painted with Ramayana scenes Grand Palace with the famous Phra Sri Ratana Chedi TowerThe Grand Palace of Bangkok is one of the most beautiful architecture I have ever seen. Within the palace complex are several impressive building including Wat Phra kaew, Dusit Phra, Chakri Mahaprasat Hall and other ceremonial buildings.

"Golden" colour covered most of the building here. It seems like everything here glitters. I like the textures and statues around the Palace especially the demon guardian in front the door.

From the temple, we walked to Grand Palace Hall. A giant European style building. I like the ball shape tree in front of the Hall.....Just wonder how they prune the tree.... Take a photo with the royal guard standing on the gate entrance.After hanging here for around two hours, We decided to proceed to our next destination.

On the way back to the pier, we saw one big family having fun throwing or shooting the water among each other or to the people passed by. (Luckily we walk quite a distance from them) Took a ‘自恋照’while waiting for the boat.Our next destination was Wat Pho. Wat Pho is known for its gigantic reclining Buddha and its extensive collection of Buddha images.
It was quite challenge for me to take a shot without annoying other tourists. (This place was crowded with many tourists) And it was just too big and very difficult for me to capture the whole statue into a picture. Make a wish and throwing the coin into the bowl behind the giant statue while Dear choose to shower the little buddha for a good fortune.

There are lots and lots of towering structure like this (with a spike on top) around Wat Pho. They called these structures as Chedis. This is very unique because it was made of porcelain. We finished our so called cultural trip by 4 or 5pm and proceed to our 'shopping' tour then.

金宝好吃的炸丸

话说五一假日我跟了一大班朋友到永平度假。
回来的途中，我们到金宝区觅食。
结果熟悉金宝的朋友就带了我们到位于金宝36档小贩中心里吃午餐。

听说在这里有很好吃的牛腩面。。。
但我们当中很多人都是不吃牛肉的，所以我们就选择了另一个金宝特色美食
——炸丸+粉料（除了面包鸡之外）。

炸丸+粉料的特色就是清汤或者干捞粉（通常是河粉）配搭一些我们这里没有的炸丸或我们这里有的酿豆腐“料”，再加上金宝或怡保特有的辣椒酱。
味道不错。

炸丸一开始吃的时候是硬硬的，可是其味道就是越嚼越香，越吃越上瘾。。。
我个人觉得它的质感就类似马来人的keropok lekor。
除了炸丸，还有炸腐皮，各式的酿豆腐，牛筋丸等等。。。
价格还算便宜。。。
（通常酿豆腐都会比较贵）

吃完后，我们当中还有人打包了100粒炸丸（1粒10仙）回家呢。。。
可想而知。。。

My GoPenG HoLiDaY (01/05/09)

1/5/2009--Labour day
It supposes to be a holiday for me to take a good rest at home, but I decided to spend the time (2 days 1 night) with dear and friends. Wake up early in the morning and left Jenjarom to meet up other friends before depart to Gopeng for white water rafting.
We took about 2 hours to reach Gopeng town and drive for another 6km to reach our final destination- My Gopeng Resort.

Upon arrival, we were briefing by the resort owner and took our lunch at the canteen. Our resthouse is a basic bamboo hut built in traditional style. Mattresses and pillows were the only furniture in the resthouse.

Our first activity was white water rafting on the Kampar River. Each of us was equipped with a life jacket, a helmet and a paddle. The resort owner introduced us an instructor who will guide us along the activity. The instructor brief us some safety issues and basic techniques (paddling command and paddling skill) before going down the river. White water rafting was fun especially when we started jumping into the water and going on the rapids. We really had our enjoyable time during rafting. The most unforgettable part in this raft tour was the moment our raft capsized and plays water fighting with our fellow rafters. I am not a water person. Therefore, I felt so excited and challenged when I fell and sank into the water. Anyway, this is a really good experience for me.

After completed the mission, we all sat at the back of an open truck and driven back to the resort. This was my first time being ‘delivered’ in such a way.

Back to our resthouse, some of our gang decided to have their own activity around the resort while others (including me) decided to play ‘hamster ball’……(How to play?) See the picture below:

It was really hard to balance ourselves in the ‘ball’. I really tried hard to stand up but I failed to do so. Anyway, it’s quite fun!

The heavy rain in the evening spoiled our plan at night because we had to cancel our jungle night walk. Therefore, we had plenty time to kill at night. After the steamboat dinner, I choose to walk around the resort and chit-chatting with dear and friends.

In short, I’m quite glad that I’ve experienced the water rafting.