Shantaram - A novel

I was online with a friend when we mentioned about reading a book. He was reading a novel then and i mentioned to him that i would be interested in reading what he was reading if he wouldn't mind sharing it. I received the story in pdf form. I must admit my early reluctance to complete reading it due to my non-interest the story was implying on. I am more on the detective and adventure stories especially the "Perry Mason novel" series. Gradually, i managed to grasp the storyline but i must admit that I skipped certain paragraph with detailed description. I did learned few words that the author used in this novel and since it's also the life events of the author, i must say i learned a bit about the country where the story was written. So all crackpot friends, I recommend you to read it.

A big thank you to my crackpot friend (Cyber friend), Mr Pson of Pune, India for sharing the story.

Shantaram is the fictionalized account of the real life adventures of author Gregory David Roberts. The narrator is a man called Lin, escaped from an Australian jail and arriving in Bombay, India with a fake New Zealand passport. He immediately meets a taxi driver named Prabaker who gives him tours of the city and a hut in the local slum. Lin starts a free clinic for the people in the slum, and to provide for his own income, he sells drugs to tourists. This gets him the attention of the local gangsters, and he's increasingly pulled into their world of crime, from counterfeiting to gun running to passport schemes. Lin falls in love, nearly dies in an Indian prison, and survives a continuing series of adventures. More than just an account of drugs and crime, Shantaram is the story of a man who, even in a life of violence, genuinely loves those in his life and the city that became his home, Bombay. "Shantaram is an exuberant, swashbuckling story of derring-do, told with reckless gusto and obvious affection, you'd have to be a snob not to admit to enjoying yourself."

Kita Makan Dulu - Yummy

Me and two friends were more adventurous this week, maybe due to 'bulan muda'. We went to Ocean restaurant to eat my favorite dish .... as always 'fish' cooked with soya paste, ketchup, ginger. Actually forget what the dish called, maybe masak kicap. Next time, will memorise what's in the menu.

The other dish we order was the fish soup. The soup was for 2 person and the 'ikan masak kicap' for 3 persons. The two dishes costs us around Rm50.

Aftermath .... it must be really delicious as can be seen with the picture below. Those of you who want to try this dish can go to Bundusan plaza .... ocean king.

Tak licin pun ..... erm kena sopan sikitlah ... hehe

Sigah oh Sigah - Penampang Jalan Pintas roundabout

The Sigah issue has been in the Daily Express forum for many weeks already regarding its pros and cons. The most popular comments must be the orientation of the headgear, whether the Sigah should face Kota Kinabalu or vice-versa. The present orientation of the headgear is facing east, the rising sun of which one view said is only applicable to the Kadazans when they die and their feet or face must be facing the east when they are buried. I don't know about that!.

It was said the orientation of facing the east must be the feng-shui, it must face the rising sun or Mount Kinabalu. Whatever it is, as the Sigah is already constructed, i just want to see how the finished Sigah looks like when fully completed. As of Sunday 29 June 2008, there was no workers doing any work at the site. Let's see how the end product look like. I Will the post the painted Sigah later ..... maybe a long wait? .....

The cracked pot

I received a very inspirational email in the form of presentation and it inspire me to share with you all. When i searched for the text, there are 2 version i.e Chinese and Indian which is actually the same story. Here it goes ......

A Story for all

A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After 2 years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.

"I am ashamed of myself, and because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house." The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house"

Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them.

Blessings to all my crackpot friends

Effect of global fuel increased?



Minyak naik ...... Barang naik ... segalanya naik .... adakah Tomato ganjil ini disebabkan oleh minyak naik? Fikir-fikirkanlah .....

Jogging - For a reason

I was promising myself week after week that i will resume my jogging activities again that weekend but never really come to it. Yesterday morning i did manage to wake up as early as 5.00 am and manage to watch Croatia beaten by Turkey on penalty shootout in the European cup. It was not really a bright Saturday morning (0630hrs) as if it was going to rain as the night before it was windy and raining. It was really refreshing when i reached Bukit Padang and there were many joggers doing their exercise and what have you.

The jogging track was 2.11 Km long and what i like about the track was that there was no short cut after passing the bridge. You don't have a choice, complete the track or you crawl back.

I managed to complete 2 rounds and made a detour to a more challenging track, steep-ladder like track. Those who are into extreme sport and fit are encourage to try this track. I didn't attempt to scale the path due to the track wet and a bit muddy after the downpour that night.


Before completing my 2nd round jogging around the track i managed to joined a Chinese aerobic version. It happened that they were into the middle of the aerobic routine .... apalagi saya pun join jugalah sebab saya pernah buat exercise tersebut .... ei ...er ... sam ..... ser ... woo ... liao ... penat juga .... memang penat non-stop for about 20 minutes or so. Exercise ini baik sebab semua badan bergerak. Agak-agak aerobic exercise ini dimulakan pada jam 07.30 pagi, so if you happen to be there wait (or pura-pura buat exercise di tempat tersebut kalau segan - 1st timer konon ) at the empty space around the water world.

Someone in Pune .....

Eating out - Noddles (Mee sup)

Previously, going out for lunch was a must for me to take rice and it was like a religion. It was like a tradition but as time goes by, our taste eventually crave for different set of food. Nowadays we will find office workers as far as Kota Kinabalu to queue up to have their food like noddle soup with fried fish.

There is one restaurant in Penampang town which is popular with this type of noodle soup. They used fresh fish only. This restaurant open its door around >8.00 am in the morning where other restaurant open as early as 6.30 am. When asked why they open so late .... tunggu ikan sampai kerana guna ikan yang segar saja. No wonder the fish was fresh. There are few available version of the noddle soup but i like mine without evaporated milk. So look for the "Atong restaurant in Donggongon town branch or the other at Bundusan near Bundusan hotel.

EATING OUT with simple, healthy and reasonable prices.

Food like this which was suppose to be eaten in the kampung, now can be found in restaurant in KK city. A plate of food which consists of kampung hill paddy rice, Sardine fish (Ikan Basung masak Ampap/Pinaasakan) and the ever popular Hinava and of course the ever hot chilli paste. The price is reasonable at RM5.00 per plate. A bit dissapointed with the hinava though, only about a spoonful of it. They should have mix it with bitter goud for a crouncy bite and colourful presentation. The Bosungan ampap/pinasaakan was alright and i really like the hill padi rice, soft and with the right amount. Other dishes like Nonsom Bambangan, Mangga with ikan bilis, nonsom sada etc are available. Visit triple 6 and look for Etnic food corner to sample restaurant version of kampung food .... good luck.

The Reason Why People Get Drunk

After a colleague sent me pictures of drunken people, I tried to find out why people get drunk. I am not talking about people having drinking problem. I'm talking about why do people decide to get drunk for fun? Don't call me a prude (sopan .. hehehe) cos I do drink sometimes but mostly on controlled volume and choosy on the type of alcoholic drink ( Minuman Datin ! …as Arthur usually say ). I really hate vomiting when getting drunk and really don’t enjoy it very much.

In social settings, alcohol makes the person feel more relaxed. It gives the feeling of a stimulant (puts people in this europhoric state) when it really is in fact a depressant. For a lot of people, having a drink or two at a party can really make conversing easier. It makes them more relaxed and less tense. But it is also during these 'ARAMAI TII events' where ‘orang kita’ are most proned to getting drunk. Just a few quick examples:
-the person has already had a few too many drinks. they lose count of how many ( Sepuluh 4 and now sepuluh 3 … naik harga minyak bah ) they have consumed. They keep drinking.



A new study shows that it's bad for people under 50 (55, maybe?) years old to drink. For those above that age, it's good for heart reasons, but depends on the gender. But, there's no real reason why anyone under that age to be drinking for their benefit. It actually makes things worse under that age. There are tons more reasons why not to drink than there are why to drink.

Nothing wrong with getting drunk, dancing, losing your inhibitions and having a great fun time! It is thrilling and a way to escape your world of worries and problems just for a night. Just don’t take it too far i.e. do start fights etc. Also don’t let alcohol become a bad habit that you can't step away from.....then it’s wrong.

Kiihoi …. Drink segelas ….

Chinese eye Test - Test whether your eyes in good condition, otherwise see your optician.

If you cannot decipher anything, then try pulling the corner of your eyes as if you were Chinese. (Sepetkan mata anda)

Or

Remove your reading spectacle
or Move away from your pc.

Good Luck.

Gambar-gambar ini adalah diantara email yang saya terima dari kawan yang prihatin. Harap ianya dapat menambah pengetahuan kita dengan alat-alat yang baru. Harap tidak disalahgunakan ok ..

What is this thing?








Can you guess what is inside the packet ...... familiar? I know
what are you thinking ... ? hehehe.

















More clearer? I think it is about 2cm .... what? ...Too short ...yalah but effective kata kawan sia ... Ok kita tengok lagi gambar berikut ...













Aii ... kenapa pula disarongkan di jari .... boleh guna untuk lain-lain juga kah ni?

Sebenarnya digunakan untuk PDA pointer pula ini. Kalau kamu ada PDA mungkin kamu tahu apa benda ini kan.










Information only ... kadang-kadang kita tersilap juga. Manalah tau tersilap dan terpakai alat ini untuk kegunaan lain. Fikir-fikirkan lah ........

Moral : Jangan tersalah mengunakan barangan untuk kegunaan lain.

Cara Penyedian Makanan yang unik - Mengukus kuih ubi kayu dengan tempurung

Ini adalah diantara pameran Kaamatan yang saya rakam macamana suku kaum Bongging dari Pulau Banggi Kudat mengukus kuih ubi kayu dengan cara yang unik.

Alat-alat yang digunakan adalah seperti dalam gambar dimana temperung kelapa diletakan diatas cerek. Temperung ditebuk ( 3 lubang) dimana wap air panas akan keluar melalui lubang tersebut sekaligus mengukus ubi kayu. Lubang cerek akan ditutup supaya wap tidak akan keluar dari mulut cerek tersebut. Cara yang digunakan oleh suku kaum Bongging dari Pulau Banggi ini amat unik sekali.








Kuih Dodol cara membakut

Gambar yang ini adalah makanan yang biasa kita dengar iaitu Dodol. Pada hari raya kuih ini adalah makanan yang selalu dihidangkan oleh saudara Melayu kita.
Apa yang unik dengan Dodol ini adalah dodol yang berwarna putih. Mengikut penerangan yang diberi, dodol dari Membakut ini tidak mengunakan gula Melaka. Oleh kerana masakan tersebut baru dimasak maka tidak sempat mencuba macamana rasa dodol tersebut. Mungkin boleh pergi ke Membakut untuk mencuba dodol tersebut.

Anda kenal apa kah makanan ini?



Ini adalah makanan pembuka selera aka HINAVA. Penyedian resipi ini adalah mudah sekali. Anda hanya ada ikan Tenggiri (recommended) Asam limau nipis, bawang merah, bawang putih, halia, chili (optional), Peria (bitter gourd 'optional'), salt to taste dan biji bambangan yang di parut dan dikeringkan. Kalau tidak tahu atau pura-pura tidak tahu apa itu biji bambangan boleh cari di Tamu Donggongon atau di pasar. Ada yang syorkan untuk masukan potongan ikan tenggiri ke dalam air panas selama seminit untuk memasaknya tapi bagi saya ianya lebih baik disimpan dengan air asam limau nipis sahaja serta garam dan yang lain-lain. Kalau yang belum pernah buat resipi ini bah senang bah tu ramai yang volunteer ... Enjoy itu gambar Hinava ... kobiis ...

Ini sama juga, biar air liur kamu keluar especially yang jauh dari kampung .....

Malaysian Artistes for Unity

I accidently come across a blog which highlighted this song and after i clicked to its official website, I was pleasantly surprised that this is actually a Malaysian effort. You can visit its website by clicking : Malaysian Artistes for Unity, this song in various formats, along with its music video, ringtone, lyrics, chords, among others, are available for download FREE there. Do visit the website for the song, get more info on this initiative as well as support them (there's even a Malaysian Artistes for Unity Facebook group, apparently).

To view Video after clicking the website, click 'On Air'. Select download for free song download.

Enjoy the song and Video.

Malaysian Woman to carry Condoms

My understanding of the suggestion by the Deputy Minister of health regarding the protection of HIV to every woman in the country is simple .... '' ok if you're HIV positive, not to worry i carry condoms .... ". Interesting .... how Malaysian woman will react to this! ..

Malaysian women urged to carry condoms;
The Associated Press
Published: May 31st, 2008 11:08 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Malaysia's deputy health minister urged every woman in the country to carry a condom to protect against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, a news report said Sunday.
"This is not to debase them but to protect them. Women are the first ones to get exploited by their (HIV-positive) partners," Abdul Latiff Ahmad was quoted as saying by the Sunday Star newspaper.
"But this is just a suggestion, it's up to them."
Abdul Latiff made the remarks to coincide with the International Aids Memorial Day, which was celebrated openly Saturday for the first time in the Muslim-majority country in a bid to reduce stigma for victims. In the past, the event was held behind closed doors.
Last year, 745 Malaysian women were identified as HIV-positive and 193 women were diagnosed with AIDS, he said in the report.
Officials have said nearly 81,000 Malaysians have been infected with HIV. Less than 10 percent of them are women, but the number is steadily rising.
Abdul Latiff and other health ministry officials could not be reached Sunday for comment.
Malaysian AIDS Council President Adeeba Kamarulzaman was quoted as saying besides sex workers many women who contract HIV are housewives, infected unknowingly by their husbands.
"It's not that people don't know that condoms can protect them. But there are some men who do not care to take the precaution, even though they know they have HIV," she said.

Unduk Ngadau 2008
Leonie Lawrence Gontuni - Penampang

Top 7 winners of Unduk Ngadau 2008

From left : Ann Mary 7th(Kl), Verone Lansu 5th(Kgu) Florence Masimbin 2nd(Kinabatangan), Leonie 1st(Ppg), Emily Majil 3rd(Tbn), Petronella 4th(Ppr) and Aloysia Thecla Phillip 6th(K.Belud)

36 contestants representing their district with different traditional costumes. Beautiful, flowerly, colourful and sparkling traditional dress.

Ini lah masaalah besar bila ambil gambar sebab terlalu ramai jurugambar amateur. Ambil tangan dan kepala asalkan dapat juga background 'Pesta Kaamatan"

A

Aburst of firework display just after the announcement of the winner. First time in Tadau kaamatan. Is it relevant to the celebration? You to decide! Apa pun terlompat bah Unduk Ngadau bila api muncil didepan mereka.

UNDUK NGADAU 2008

The legend , it was said that ‘Kinoingan’ sacrificed his beautiful and obedient daughter called HUMINODUN so that all his people would have seed to grow the food they needed. It is therefore a must to hold a Unduk Ngadau contest as a deep sense of respect and admiration that the KadazanDusun have for the legendary “Huminodun”. It is a sacred title ascribed to Huminodun for her absolute to Kinoingan so much so as to be willing sacrifice for the sake of her father’s creation. Unduk Ngadau is also coined as a commemorative term in praise of Huminodun’s external youth and the total beauty of her heart, mind and body.

In essence therefore , the ‘Unduk Ngadau’ of selecting from the KadazanDusun beauties, one of who would best resemble the ascribed personality of Huminodun.

Selecting of Huminodun

I was at the Hongkod Koisaan (KDCA) from 12.00 pm onwards until the crowning of the Unduk Ngadau 2008. I was able to get some pictures but since i was far from the main stage, i just shot whatever i could get with poor quality of the pictures.

Merry is the word that describes the event, as laughter and gaiety was apparent in the faces of the celebrants. They came with friends, family, groups and i guess many tourist from different countries. What suprised me was the participation of the younger sets of youths whether participating in dances, assisting their elders welcoming guests in their traditional attires and manning their traditional houses. Apart from that they were seen mingling with the crowds both inside the building or under the hot sun. It is a good sign that the younger generation are interested in the traditional custom.

There were 36 contestants for the Unduk Ngadau, 15 manage to get to the final round where they were jugde on Q & A (IQ test). More than half of the 15 finalist failed to give good answer, maybe due to their nervousness including few favourites contestant of which they failed to get good position due to the answers given. My favourite for the title also failed in the Q & A but still managed to get in the top 3. The top 7 are as follows :

1. Leonie Lawrence Gontuni - Penampang

2. Florence Masimbin - Kinabatangan

3. Emily Majil - Tambunan

4. Petronella Cherry Bernard - papar

5. Verone Lansu - Keningau

6. Aloysia Thecla Phillip - Kota Belud

7. Anne Mary T. Khan - Kuala Lumpur