Battle of Cape Rachado 1606

Dutch VOC with help from Johor versus Portuguese (Malacca).

The lighthouse at the cape witnessed the fierce battle involving 31 ships with cannons and numerous hands aboard.

If the story narrated in the link below is true, I can imagine how precious the resources of this great land were during the days in history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cape_Rachado

I wish to bring the family and pay a visit to the lighthouse in February during Ahad's Family Day insyaAllah.

a baby's smile

such a wonderful thing

when he smiles innocently

to me

RM5 Chicken Chop, My Friend's Tom Yam & Kenny Rogers Roasters

I guess it was not a good decision to haul the whole family to Hutan Bandar last Saturday night. The aim was to sample the cheapest Chicken Chop in JB. While Confucius said, "good thing no cheap, cheap thing no good", I reckon this might not be the case, as the owner of the business is a hotel chef. High chance he would adhere to some decent standard, if not spectacular.

 

The place was featured in Utusan Malaysia a few days prior, and Naza too, has been telling me about it much earlier than that. Factor in Saturday night, and the open air dining over there was packed with no table to spare. We came at about 9.45pm, and I could easily park the car. Quite a surprise at the beginning, for there are not many parking space available. Looking at the tables full with patrons but only with drinks, then only I realized that people may have opted to go off empty handed (and stomach). Such was the case with us, eventually. Naza met a friend from Ulu Tiram who had ordered since 8.50 pm. It was around 10 pm at that time, and she still haven't receive her order yet. She went to ZZ Restoran for her dinner, by the way, before coming back to Hutan Bandar for her Chicken Chop to-go. So that was it.

 

Wondering where to go at first, we ended up at My Friend's Tom Yam Restaurant. Quite nice, as there were not many people around. Plus, we could order western menu if we really want to eat chicken chop... Naza ordered seafood tom yam (with crab), salted fish kailan, buttered prawn, battered squids, siakap 3 rasa, nasi goreng cina for the kids, and drinks. Mak ordered mi ladna for herself, and the waiter said that it would take some time. Mak didn't mind with that, for she really wanted to sample the dish.

 

In about 2 minutes, we were served with the white rice and battered squids. And followed by Mak's mi ladna very soon after. Not quite as long as I had imagined it would be, after all. For that, I awarded 4 (out of 5) stars for their quick service. In less than 10 minutes, everyone else's dishes were all ready on the round table. It impressed me straight away.

 

We ate (me, a bit later - babysitting Umar) and it was time for the bill. Total was RM107 for 3 adults and 2 children. Not too bad. Well, it beats dining at Kenny Rogers Roasters having Kenny's Quarters (RM15) and drinks (RM7) for each, plus taxes. At least for the variety of tastes.

2010 - a new decade?

Mathematically, it's a misconception.

1.1.2010 is the beginning of the end of a decade. As simple as that. Not that simple? Read on.

I was quite disturbed to hear (well... mostly, read) people saying "Happy New Year 2010. Welcome to a new decade".

1st January 2010 is the first day of the year. But, it's not the first day of the decade.

A decade is a period of 10 years, a word from Greek 'deca' which means ten.

How do you count from 1 to 10? I have never heard people start counting from 0. Do you?

We count from one. 1 is the beginning.

Following the same rule, the first year of the decade should be the year 2011.

The first month of the year is January.

The first day of January, well, you get my drift now...

So, to state the obvious, the first day of the next decade would be the 1st of January 2011.

1.1.2011 - not that nice.

1.1.11 - much, much better.

As I said in the beginning of this entry, 1st January 2010 is merely the beginning of the end of the decade. Got it now?

2000 - the new millennium?

This was also a misconception. Ehm ehm... a miscalculation.

So the whole world celebrated the new millennium 1 year earlier than it should be. There were cries from people who knows how to count that the celebration was premature. But heck, 1.1.2001 as the new millennium? The numbers are not that tasty. 'C'mon, give us a break, you nerdy people', they said.

Anyway, democracy sometimes may mean that all the idiots are united.

By the way, 1.1.11 is quite catchy.

My prediction: come that day, marketing people will tout it as 'the beginning of a new decade'.

Surely, that day will see lots of weddings and newspaper headings like 'new decade babies', 'wedded on a new decade', etc.

We'll see...

photography contest

I wonder if there would be any entries for a photography contest, if I were to hold one.

The subject is 'police officers in Malaysia wearing seatbelt in patrol cars'.

So far (at least in JB) it's hard to find one.

Dewey the Library Cat

His full name is Dewey Readmore Books, very apt for a library cat, adopted by staff at the Spencer Public Library, in a small town of Spencer, Iowa.

A chat with Nassim over teh tarik after last Friday's night ride in Larkin, triggered my bookstore visit yesterday. It's been a while since I read a novel, so I'm hunting for one to read.

I was in MPH City Square Johor Bahru browsing for a Crichton's Pirates Latitudes. They only have it in hardcover (read: expensive), so I guess I'll just have to wait for the paperback version. I picked up one of Azizi Ali's book on property investment, looked at the backcovers of all books Toyota management (because they are all plastic-wrapped), while holding Umar in arms. Man, he's getting heavier day by day. Naza took care of selecting the children's educational books, and the payment at the counter (of course, with my $).

I lingered at the non-fiction (Albom, et. al.), and I saw Dewey posing innocently to the camera on the book cover. The backcover stated his full name (yes, this one's also was wrapped in plastic), and I'm hooked just by reading his name. So, I brought his story home as well. A true story would be much better than a novel if it involves cats, I think. Paulo Coelho (probably The Zahir) just have to wait until next month to reside on my bookshelf.

A quick research this morning returned the links scattered in this entry. Interesting, indeed. Especially for an ex-librarian (in MBS Sentul), book lover, and feline adorer in me.

Up to this point, I'm only at the first chapter. I'll continue reading during lunchtimes. Meanwhile, have a load on Dewey's photos in Spencer Library's website. He's also on Facebook, by the way.

photo credit goes to Spencer Public Library

selamat hari raya aidil adha 1430H

A few of the guys in the office left for their kampungs already, although my Kelantanese colleague seating next to me is still in his seat staring at the computer.

I guess since last evening, my mind too, have left for Senawang. Aidil Adha had never been a big celebratory occasion for me, subconsciously regarding it as the lesser hari raya, second to Aidil Fitri. Perhaps I need to experience it in Kelantan and Terengganu, where they say the celebratory mode is the other way around.

It has been quite some time since we went back to Senawang. That's why i'm eager to go back this weekend (tonight, insyaAllah). Aidil Adha being the occasion, Ibu's house is expected to be full, with Hafiz my younger brother and his family making the trip from Ipoh and Akak with Azeem and Byron from KL celebrating the day. Oh, and this will be Umar's first trip to Senawang.

For Naza and I, we'll be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary on Saturday. That's another big occasion, too. Should I get her the Casio digital piano or a solitaire diamond ring or a pair of diamond earstuds? The keyboard is not prone to being lost, although it is very much less sparkling than diamonds. Still scratching my head for the fund, though...

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Adha to you.

Al Insyirah

Bismillahirrahmaanirrahiim

Al Insyirah
Bukankah Kami telah melapangkan untukmu dadamu?,
Dan Kami telah menghilangkan dari padamu bebanmu,
Yang memberatkan punggungmu?
Dan Kami tinggikan bagimu sebutan (nama)mu.
Kerana sesungguhnya sesudah kesulitan itu ada kemudahan,
Sesungguhnya sesudah kesulitan itu ada kemudahan.
Maka apabila kamu telah selesai (dari sesuatu urusan), kerjakanlah dengan sungguh-sungguh (urusan) yang lain,
Dan hanya kepada Tuhanmulah hendaknya kamu berharap.

Surah 94, Al-Quran Kareem

Jangan Merokok

Kapal ni dulu siap belayar keliling dunia dok promote kempen jangan merokok. Tu diaa… punya la besar dia punya tulisan.

Kawan-kawan, jangan merokok.

BT-ing

I'm sending/replying SMSes from my office PC lightning fast, thanks to Bluetooth connection, and Nokia PC Suite.

Ultra cool! Well, that's one of many things that I could do differently (faster) with my handphone via BT.

With NPS, I could also manage my handphone data, faster. Backup, organise or deleting data has never been easier.

What needed are

• a pc
• good internet connection (to download the NPS software)
• bluetooth USB dongle - got it for RM30, I bet there are cheaper ones elsewhere

Check out what's behind the 'Bluetooth' name - wikipedia

Okay, I'm lagging waay behind in terms of embracing the technology. That being said, it means that I'm using it at a time when the technology is matured and the cost of the hardwares are relatively cheaper :)

What's next? Perhaps a BT earpiece for handsfree communication while driving (only).

sore arm

We went for Umar's first immunisation on Saturday evening in Pasir Gudang. The doctor didn't chart his growth, but we did a check on his weight.

He weighs 4.3kg, on his 60th day. No wonder my arm is sore this morning. I guess from carrying him around the house, for his time being awake is a bit longer now.

Other obvious signs: puffy cheeks, double chin (hiding his neck), rounder butt cheeks (used to be flat as a chopping board), and his head is filling the beanie hat now.

We are happy for this. Alhamdulillah.

Seri Alam Toastmasters Club

The Seri Alam Toastmasters Club is a continuity of MMHE Toastmasters Club. Established since 2005, as a company club it was open primarily to MMHE employees, while also accepting members from outside the workplace. It has gone one step further, and now it is a community club. Meaning, you can also be a member.

For the time being we are having the meetings in MMHE's office in Bandar Seri Alam (read: free venue), with the courtesy and support of MMHE.

Currently, yours truly is the Sergeant-At-Arms for the club. What is Toastmasters? Find out more about it here.

--------------------

Club Information
Club Number	00856876
Club Name	Seri Alam Toastmasters Club
Club contact phone	017 7151881
Club contact e-mail	wan@mmhe.com.my
Meeting Information
Meeting Day	1st & 3rd Thursday
Meeting Time	7:00 pm
Meeting Frequency	Twice a Month
Meeting Place 1	MMHE Seri Alam office
	Jalan Suria 2, Bandar Seri Alam, Masai
Meeting City	Johor Bahru
State	Johor
Zip	81700
Officer Terms	Annual
Advanced	No
Club Type	Community Club
Is your club	Open to all interested parties
Charter Date	12/01/2005

Aidilfitri 1430H 2009

(L to R): Adam, Nazahiya, Umar (on lap), Akmal Hizam, Marsya

Selamat Hari Raya from all of us.
Mohon maaf, zahir dan batin.

Ben 10 in Malay

Ben 10 was just starting on Cartoon Network over Astro that Raya morning. I was entertaining local kids coming over our house in Plentong. Without hesitation one of them said:

“Eh, tukar Bahasa Melayu lah”.

I did not know that it’s served bilingually. It did not matter to my children, and so we were not bothered with the technology. Five minutes later I heard Ben uttering Malay words.

Splendid. We learn something new every day.

Image copyright Turner Media Innovations

Evening Sky - 02.09.2009

I just had to stop at the roadside en route to Plentong when I saw the sky that evening.

It was fantastic.

Subhanallah.