Fish Watching At Aquaria KLCC (Ocean of Discovery)

I had a hard time deciding on what to do with my camera. I hadn’t been using it eversince I came back from Hong Kong few weeks ago until a friend of mine called up last Sunday and asked me to join her for a fish-watching. Fish watching? Wow, where would that be?

I packed my things (especially my camera), got dressed and headed off to Aquaria Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, KL. It was about time to put the camera into good use.

Let me tell you what I know about the place. The RM60 million aquarium boasts of an area spanning two levels and covering over 5,500 sq m, making it the largest in the world. It features some 5,000 aquatic and marine animal exhibits of over 150 different species from Malaysia and around the world. The Aquaria has 19 tanks with various environments to keep and display fishes from various parts of the world.

Here are some photos of the aquatic creatures I managed to capture during my first visit to Aquaria, KLCC.

I Went 'Bang! Bang!' Again

It is a nice feeling knowing that you have the knowledge in handling one of the world’s most deadliest tools - the guns.

I hadn’t been practising my shooting since the day I started to know scuba diving. I kind of missed the thrill and loud bangs coming out of my hands.

A gun practice session was arranged by some good friend at CitySquare Indoor Shooting Gallery, Kuala Lumpur yesterday. As it was a last-minute arrangement, I came for the shooting practice wearing baju kurung complete with high-heeled shoes. I requested 50 numbers of 9mm bullets for the Glock and 30 numbers of 0.38mm bullets for the Revolver.

Feeling a little bit awkward at first, I started my practice with the Glock 9mm and shooting range of 10 meters. First 5 shots missed the target paper. 5 more hit the white area of the target paper. After several rounds of shooting, 15 bullets hit the black area of the target paper. Not good enough I supposed.

Revolver was a little bit easier. It’s lighter than the Glock. Maintaining the same shooting range of 10 meters, I made my rounds of shooting with all the 0.38mm bullets. I wasn’t doing any better with the Revolver either. Out of 30 bullets, only 10 hit the black area of the target paper.

Despite I didn’t do well in the practice, but hey, what the heck, I really had a big fun playing with real guns! Bang!!!

Transit To 2007

I embraced the coming of Year 2007 at Transit Party which happened at Sepang International Circuit. Sad to say, there were not more than 2000 people sighted at the large open area so I’d say it was barely a celebration. Only the car drifting and car auto-show had kept the half-dying party alive.

My Wonderful 31st Birthday Present

“Darling, you and I are going to celebrate your birthday this year in Macau and Hong Kong”, my beloved said just few weeks before December came around.

I remember he did the same thing for my last year’s birthday. We went to Kathmandu, Nepal. My mother complained that she missed me on my last birthday and she’s gonna miss me again this time. Oh Ma, it’s time I blow the candles out away from that huge dinning table of yours. She just smiled her sweet smile.

In December 2006, we were off to Macau, the city that never sleeps, they say. Our two close friends joined along for the trip. A-Ma Temple, the oldest temple in Macau, was the first place we visited. There stood the statue of a goddess called Lin Mo and she’s all glowing white and huge! The statue built in 1948 of the Ming Dynasty, was believed to be able to bring good fortune to the fishermen.

A-Ma Temple, Macau

Portugese arrived in Macau back in the 16th century (1513) but left Macau in 1849 for good. I could see most signboards, billboards, flyers and things like that were written in Macanese (Patua) and Portuguese. Surprisingly, when it comes to conversing, not many Macau people could speak Portuguese, let alone English. It took a lot of my effort and energy, not to mention money, to explain accurately and get what I actually wanted especially when they were about foods. By the mere mention of “Can I know where…” or “Excuse me, I’m looking for…” could make them flee away like I was some kind of a desease. There was a time, I had approached a guy who was standing outside a hotel in Macau. As I was about to get closer to him, I held out the map in my hand and asked where I could get a taxi to the airport and he ran away from me before I could even finish my words.

I took a peek at the casino where people threw money like it did not worth anything. Hey, you’re throwing away your fortune, for God’s sake!

But all in all, Macau was a city full of life.

We took a ferry to Hong Kong, another city that never slept. People there walked real fast, that there was a time I almost felt they were practically running. Nahhh, they’re just walking actually. Among the places I visited in Hong Kong were The Maddame Tussaud's Wax Gallery, Victoria Peak, Ladies’ Market, Hong Kong Disneyland and Filipinos’ Market.

What I adored the most was its systematic subway called Mass Transit Railway (MTR). It reached many parts of Kowloon and Hong Kong. The taxis were as efficient as the MTR.

We had a one-night stay at Disneyland Resort which would have cost me a fortune. Check this out, RM1500 a night and no chance of free breakfast. And he’s doing all the paying. He he he…

Hong Kong city viewed from Victoria's Peak

The parade at Hong Kong Disneyland

Fireworks at Hong Kong Disneyland

We went to Shenzhen the next day, as it was one of the hottest spots near Hong Kong, recommended by my very good friend, S. Azwin. At Shenzhen, you entered this one amusement park called Window Of The World. It is also known as 'a replica park' where in here you can see vivid replicas of the world's wonders, historical heritages and famous scenic sites like Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, The Great Sphinx and more. The entire masterpiece is built at ratios of 1:1, 1:5 or 1:15. Lawak la China ni, habis semua nak imitate. Handbags, shoes, electronic items, sampai bangunan pun ada imitation. Hahaha...

A replica of the Taj Mahal, Window Of The World, Shenzhen

Haaahhh…. the trip was wonderful especially when you did not need to spend a single penny. So what will my next birthday present be? Or rather, where would I be on my next brithday?Hmmm...

The Company's Nostalgia Raya 2006

What: It’s Company’s Open House - ‘Nostalgia Raya 2006′

When: November 10, 2006 (5.00pm)

Where: Palace of The Golden Horses, Serdang, Selangor.

Who: All company’s staff, VIPs, The Keroncong Band.

What: It’s all about eating, drinking, taking photos, listening to ‘keroncong’, meeting friends, talking, talking and talking.

How: Attend the function by wearing classical clothes our moms and dads used to wear during their younger years. Come as the P.Ramlee or Saloma, you might be going home with the ‘Best Dressed’ award. So let’s bring the good old times back.…

My Travel Map - 2006

Up till date, at age of 31, 9 countries covered.

4% of the world explored.

96% more to go.

 

 

Caution! Rats On The Road!

On the September 5, 2006, the streets of Kuala Lumpur were jammed with… no, not cars, but ‘rats’. ‘Rats’ in ties and briefcases. These ‘rats’ were running, no.. not running away from cats, but running for a good cause.

The 7th Kuala Lumpur Rat Race had returned. The Edge and Bursa Malaysia co-organised the Race that would benefit twelve charitable organisations this year. Donations collected from participating local and foreign companies in Malaysia would be channelled towards the beneficiaries involved in various causes.

Bearing the UEM World Berhad official sign, twelve people were assigned to participate in the race. I was one of them. Hee… hee… hee… I was one of the UEM rats! I hated rats and now I had to be one of them.

Malaysia’s Second Finance Minister, Tan Sri Nor Mohamed flagged off the CEO race and the 4.5km main race at Bursa Malaysia’s Exchange Square.

The enthusiasm of the participants was clearly reflected in their upbeat mood.

The cheerleaders, representing their respective companies, were armed with banners, flags, mascots and musical instruments including bagpipes.

At the end of the day, everybody had fun and was happy, be it the winners or the losers. Well, I didn’t make my company proud but so what… at least I completed the run. After all, the run was supposed to be fun, wasn’t it? So why taking it too hard?

Here are some of the photos taken during the race... enjoy!

Nestle

General Electric

UEM Group

Maybank

Tabby (Maybank)

Blue Hyppo (TM Net)

Sazzy Falak & the gang (ASTRO)