Grail Diary

I loved Indiana Jones movies, some of my favorites when I was a kid.

Cue theme music....

For the first two movies, I've always fancied the hat, the leather jacket and the famous whip. But after watching the third movie, my attention shifted to another prop that I still wish to have for myself: the Grail Diary.

Dr Henry Jones Sr and Jr

A scene before Indiana takes The Path of God

The Grail Diary

Perhaps due to my love for reading, the Grail Diary became the first and only movie prop that I fancied owning one. I've always interested in what was written on that small leather diary.

A brief search through the Internet and I found many fans made their own diaries with all the details that fully replicate the movie prop. I envied them as I was never good in arts and craft, and I don't think buying one would be cheap either. So I'll just have to satisfy myself by looking at some pictures online. *sigh*

BookXcess 3rd Anniversary Celebration!

BookXcess will be having its third anniversary celebration on 13-15 August 2010.

A good time to expand your collection of books without robbing a bank! Don't miss it!!!

Irresponsible!!!

On 1 August 2010, I was really angry! I just couldn't believe how irresponsible some people can be!!

I was visiting Amcorp Mall that day, one of a few places I would go to when I’m spending the weekend alone. My usual routine was to visit my favorite bookstore BookXcess first, just to browse around or to buy books that I had in mind. Then I would just window-shop at the other stores and stalls at the flea market. Later, I would revisit BookXcess to see if I missed something the first time around.

During the revisit, I noticed a plastic bag with an empty paper cup in it, left among the books at the non-fiction section. I was surprised and angry that someone could be so irresponsible. What made me angrier was that I know who the culprit was.

During my first-round in the bookstore, I noticed a couple with their daughter at the non-fiction section. As I was browsing around, I saw the mother was eating something from a paper cup in a plastic bag. It was the exact same paper cup and plastic bag that was left among the books! I couldn’t be sure if it was the mother who left it there, as the food could be shared with the father and daughter, and it could be one of them who left it.

If it was one of the parents, they have set such a bad example for their daughter. While they did the right thing to encourage their child to develop a good reading habit by bringing her to a bookstore, they failed to be a responsible person by leaving their garbage there. If you couldn’t find a waste basket in the store, then bring it outside and throw it into a garbage can when you see one. Simple logic!

If it was the daughter, then both daughter and the parents were at fault. Either the parents failed to take notice the mistake the daughter had made and educate her promptly, or the parents did notice her mistake but decided to do nothing.

Of course, it was mere speculation as to what exactly happened, but there’s no doubt in my mind that the garbage came from that family. I decided to take a couple of photos and post it in my blog for everyone to see. And yes, I did pick it up and throw it away.

Can you see what wrong with this picture?

Unfortunately, this was not an isolated case. I had previously seen used tissues left among the books or on the floor. For everyone whose reading this, I hope that you would treat BookXcess better the next time you visit it. The bookstore, or any bookstore for that matter, is a wonderful place for everyone to be in. Be responsible. Don’t leave your garbage there. It’s a bookstore, not a landfill.

On a side note, some people still leave books all over the place, such as a fiction book at the non-fiction section, a RM 17.90 book at the “below RM 10” section, etc. Please put the books back where they belong if you decided later not to buy them.

China and the Cultural Revolution

Recently I finished reading two books involving China and its infamous Cultural Revolution.

Feather in the Storm talks about author Emily Wu's personal experience in surviving the Cultural Revolution, which destroyed thousands of lives in China. Her father Wu Ningku and mother Li Yikai were intellectuals, therefore her family was categorized as a "black" or rightist family and was subjected to continuous hardship, humiliation and abuse. She recalled her ordeals over a span of 19 years from the first time she met her father when she was three years old to the end of the Cultural Revolution in 1976 with the death of Mao Zedong.

Chinese Lessons recounted writer John Pomfret's experience living in China from 1980, studying in Nanjing University as an exchange student, and his perspective of the country. He witnessed how China was slowly opening itself to the world after the Cultural Revolution, how the lives of his former classmates changed, as well as his own life as one of the first exchange students from the US and his intimate relationships, his journalism career and as a witness to the Tiananmen Square incident in 1989.

These two books have allowed me to understand more about China, especially  the Cultural Revolution and its effects. It's hard to imagine how many lives were destroyed by this movement and how the same man who liberated China almost destroyed it with his own hands.

Laptop tray

Found this laptop tray being sold at MPH Mid Valley for RM 60.

It has a cushion base, a small LED lamp and recess for cup and pen/pencil. The tray is designed as such so that you can use your laptop, read a book, or doing craft work anywhere your want. For those who spend most of their time on their beds or sofas, this tray might worth their money.

Would you want to buy one?

Back from Perhentian Trip!

Enjoyable and Relaxing!!! These are the words that I think best described my trip to Perhentian Island!! Anyone and everyone who enjoy a relaxing vacation on islands and at beaches really should give Perhentian a try.

We left KL on 8 July around 10pm for the island via tour bus. It was an eight- to nine-hour drive to Kuala Besut, Terengganu. The long-hour bus ride was quite tiring, and my seat at second row from the back didn't make things easier. Fortunately, after experiencing what we called the "elderly karaoke torture" from our previous trip to Rompin, the ride was a breeze.

Finally, on Friday morning, we reached Kuala Besut of Terengganu just after sunrise. We had our breakfast and collected our snorklers before heading out to the sea. The ride took about half an hour before arriving at Pulau Perhentian. Although the journey took about ten hours and everyone was tired, the view of the beach, the wide ocean and the hills with thick vegetation revived us. We were waiting to be checked-in at the Flora Bay Resort and took the opportunity to snap some photos. Some of us took a slow walk along the beach before we assemble for the snorkeling.

 Kuala Besut jetty

Collecting our snorkels

 Group photo

And we're off!!

 And we're here!!!

 Busy taking photos...

 ...photos...

 ...photos...

 ...photos...

 ...photos...

...and more photos!

 Enjoying a walk along the beach

 Found something peculiar...

We believed it was a sea cucumber

After 12pm, we head out for our snorkeling sessions. Those of us who can't swim had a short practice at a nearby shallow beach before heading to deeper waters. Throughout the day, we visited several spots around Perhentian to look at corals and various sea creatures, including small sharks. Everyone was having a good time.

 Practice, practice...

 Everybody getting ready to hit the water

That's me in blue shirt

Here fishy, fishy, fishy...

  So many of them!!

Say Cheese... (?)

Me having fun

Everyone was sharing their experiences

By the end of the evening, we headed back to the resort for a shower and some rest before our dinner at 7.30pm. After that, we spent the rest of the day at the beach or at the souvenir shop, taking things slowly and relaxed ourselves. I particularly enjoyed a walk along the beach and the view of the clear night sky filled with stars. My only regret was that I didn't have a powerful camera to bring the night sky home with me.

 Me and the guys outside our room, Bakawali.

The flowers of Esmerk

 The evil souvenir shop!!!

On Saturday, after our breakfast, we started the day with a visit to Redang Island. During the 45-minute journey there, some of us on the boat was lucky enough to spot a flying fish gliding along the right side of the boat. It appeared for only a few seconds, so we weren't able to take a photo in time.

I believe I can fly...

After reaching Redang, the first thing that almost everyone did was calling home since the island was the only one with a telecommunications tower. We continued taking picture along our way to the famous More More Tea Inn for more photos and souvenirs. No one left empty-handed.

 Welcome to Redang!!

Calling home

Again with the photo-taking

Having a good time

Beach babes, haha... :P

More More Tea Inn

Let's go in, hurry!

The crowd!

After our wallet-emptying ritual, we continued with our snorkeling at Redang, Lang Tengah and the marine park, trying to catch sights of baby sharks, turtles and more corals and fishes. I was already tired from the previous day, especially at the last snorkeling spot where we were forced to swim against a rather strong current back to our boat, but I still managed to summon up some energy for some short swims.

 Continue with the snorkeling

 More fishes!

Ocellaris Clownfish, a.k.a Nemo

I know it's big, no need for the facial expression...

Red sea cucumber

At the jetty, where we can see...

Amazing corals!!

More amazing corals!!

The highlight of the day was probably when one of the guides brought a sea turtle up to the surface for everyone to pet and take pictures. It was really nice but I kind of felt sorry for the poor thing. It was just minding its own business when suddenly a human grabbed it, brought it to the surface and then a group of human swarmed around to touch it. I just hope that this experience won't make it avoid Malaysia completely.

The superstar!!

The crazy fans!!

"Hello everyone! How's my adoring fans?"

"Hello... Hi there... Love the orange outfit..."

"High five!!"

"Gotta go. Hope you guys come again soon. See ya!"

After a tiring day, we went back to the resort satisfied. Some of my colleages decided to have a round of beach volleyball before hitting the showers. I continued back to my room for shower and some rest, before heading to the court to watch them play.

 The match

The spectators

A group photo after the game

Our dinner was a barbeque feast. Some of us took the chance to take photos with our guides as we will be leaving the island next morning.

 FOOD!!!

We ate so fast everything was a blur

Satisfied...

A quick snap with the guide

After dinner, some of us took our last walk along the beach, walked as far away as the Arwana Resort on the other end. It was at that time we were trully glad to choose Flora Bay for our lodging because the low tide revealed that the beach area in front of Arwana was the dirtiest. I couldn't help wondering why would anyone throw rubbish at a beautiful place like this. We packed our bags before hitting the bed.

Early morning on 11 July 2010, Sunday. We checked out from our rooms and waited for our boats by the beach, taking last-minute photos. We left around 9am, reached Kuala Besut around 9.30am and continued with our long bus ride back to KL. That was the end of our Perhentian trip.

 Our last morning on Perhentian Island

Having breakfast

Still messing around

A few more photos...

Don't forget our handsome guides:

Leaving the island...

It was kind of sad that it ended, seeing how we loved the island so much. We still talked about the trip for at least a week after that, exchanging and sharing photos by swapping thumb drives or through Facebook. I hoped that there will be another island/beach trip next year. I'm sure everyone would want it too.

Ah, Perhentian... Good times...