Sunset at Bagan Hailam

We went for seafood dinner at Bagan Hailam, a fishing village near to North Port Klang. It was a fabulous day for photography. Check out the clouds!

Many came out here for fishing. You can see 2 men and a boy enjoying their fishing moments at this old jetty. One of the men's wife and 2 children were standing next to me supporting them from afar. It's nice to see such happy family moments.

Wish you had a lovely weekend like them too! Happy New Year to all!

Beautiful Lacquerwares

Saw these beautiful lacquerwares at a souvenir shop in Halong Bay, Vietnam. I like the colours of these plates. They are very expensive handicrafts of high quality.

Vegetable Seller

Another scene from the street of Hanoi. A vegetable seller.

Baguette Seller near Dong Xuan Market

Another street scene of Hanoi. We can see many baguette sellers on the walk to Dong Xuan wholesale market.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all of you!

Flower seller

A flower seller on the street of Hanoi.

Mother & Child

This photo of a mother carrying her fast asleep little daughter was taken at the Old Quarters of Hanoi, Vietnam. It shows how great a mom is, always willing to carry her child regardless of how heavy the child is or how tired she is.

Bird of Paradise

This is taken from my garden. Lovely bloom to share with all of you.

I am posting from Hanoi, the city of Vietnam now. Hope to post some nice photos of Vietnam to share with you here for the next few days.

Wish you all a lovely weekend ahead!

Roti Man

Roti Man is the term we use to refer to Bread Man. The Bread Man would deliver bread daily to our door step. Seen here is a Roti Man on an early Saturday morning.

Portuguese Settlement

This photo is taken at Melaka's Portuguese Settlement. I studied in the Sacred Heart Convent School in this settlement. Things have changed a lot here. The whole place has lost its flavour due to development which came with the booming of tourism industry in this place. It has been very different from my school days. We used to hang out at the Portuguese food stalls here after school, having our lunch before we had to go for our co-curriculum activities. I miss those olden days at the Portuguese Settlement.

Giant Joss Sticks

Aren't these giant joss sticks colourful and beautiful? These joss sticks are contributed by devotees during the recent deity's birthday celebration at a temple in Melaka. Devotees will offer such giant joss sticks as a gesture of appreciation to the deity for blessing them and fulfilling their prayer requests.

Have you seen such celebration in a Chinese temple?

Fried Radish Cake Seller

The fried radish cake (we locally call it chai tau kuih) is a popular local snack in Malaysia. You can get this snack at our hawker centre or from our night market mobile vendor, as shown here. It tastes best when eaten hot, directly out from the wok!

There are various version of fried radish cake, depends on which part of Malaysia you get them.

1) In Melaka, we have the sweet sauce condiment to go with it. And we can also ask the seller to add chilli paste when he fries the radish cake.
2) In Subang Jaya, the radish cake is fried without any chilli sauce added. Neither is there any sweet sauce to go with it. Just garlic, egg and dark soya sauce are added.
3) In the northern state of Penang, bean sprouts would be added when frying the radish cake.

I like the Melaka's version best!! How about you?

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I would also like to share with all of you this music video of Sean Ghazi performing the title song from his debut album Semalam. I saw his performance at the recent Toyota Classic concert and enjoy this jazzy piece that carries a flavour of swing with it. Hope you will like it too! Wish you all a wonderful weekend ahead! And happy doing the last minute shopping for Christmas!

Serene Lily

Despite growing in a pond of murky water, it can still bloom to be such beauty. It looks so serene.

Can I stand tall and stay calm and serene regardless of my surrounding ~ just like this lily?

Seats & Sinks

I find these row of seats for hairwash in a hair academy very interesting. They are all lined up as though waiting for customers to take them up. What do you think?

Simple joy

I was so delighted looking at this little boy enjoying his ice cream cone! Look at his expression! Such simple thing can bring so much of joy and contentment to a child. So, what are the things that can lift your spirit up? Simply an ice cream cone?

Banana Seller at the Night Market

This photo of a banana seller is taken at the pasar malam (or night market) in Melaka's Taman Kota Laksamana. Pasar malam is held on different night at different suburb. If you are in Subang Jaya on Tuesday or Sunday, you can visit our pasar malam at Section 13.

Pasar malam is an interesting place to visit if you want to have a feast of the senses - the sight, taste and smell - can all be exeperienced in one location! It is also an excellent place to mingle with the locals and of course to capture interesting photos of locals daily lives.

Vadai Seller

Has anyone of you tried vadai? This is a south Indian snack. There are a few varieties of vadai. In this photo, you see the flat round dhall vadai and the doughnut ring vadai. I love the crispy dhall vadai. We can always find vadai at our local night market. The night market in Subang Jaya is held on every Tuesday and Sunday. It's a good haunt for local food and fruits! If you are in Subang Jaya on these days, make sure you visit the night market, or we locals call "pasar malam".

Have you been to any "pasar malam" in Malaysia?

Time for a Tiger

These big posters of Tiger Beer at Gold Smith Street (Jalan Tukang Besi, in Malay language) are really eye-catching!

Tiger Beer was first produced in 1932 and received initial Western exposure during WWII. Supposedly, British author Anthony Burgess (A Clockwork Orange) was so impressed with the brew that he used its advertising slogan “Time for a Tiger” as the title of one of his first books. Culturally, Tiger is also used by natives in North Vietnam as the prime ingredient in a ritual bath for newborn boys.

Peeping Tom

What a colourful combination! The tiles and the colour of the entrance to this temple must have drawn the little girl to it. Out of curiousity, she is peeping to see what is behind the locked door.

This photo is taken at a Hindu temple of Melaka's Goldsmith Street.

Skating

I enjoy watching people skate at our mall's indoor skating rink. Can you skate?

Pre-War House at Jonker Street

This is a pre-war house in Melaka's antique street, called Jonker Street. During weekend, this street will turn into a pedestrian street, with vendors pedalling their wares and food by the street side. A nice place to visit over the weekend. I took this photo on a Saturday at a stall of a vendor selling local handicraft products.

How does the pre-war houses in your city look like? Care to share them with us?

Almost Actual Size

This poster reminds me of the many occasions when I stand at the counter of our fastfood restaurant and wonder when my actual burger would look as good as those in the restaurant posters put up just above the counter! Have you wondered too?

It always bring to mind the scene in Michael Douglas's Falling movie, where he pointed a shotgun at the waitress and compared that the burger he got with the one on the poster, and demanded a new burger to be delivered AND should look as good as burger in the restaurant's poster! Do you recall that scene?

This Carl Jr's Restaurant gives me lotsa doubts too! With the tagline of "Almost Actual Size", I doubt they could deliver!!! Will check it out one day and let you all know if their burger meets their tagline standard!! Or should I bring a shotgun there?? Hee..hee...

Chinese Zodiac Amulets

I found these amulets for sale at Cheng Ho Teng Temple in Melaka. The wearer of this amulet will be blessed with good well-being. One picks the amulet that matches the year one was born according to the Chinese Zodiac.

The Chinese Zodiac comprises of 12 animal signs:
1) Rat 2) Ox 3) Tiger 4) Rabbit 5) Dragon 6) Snake
7) Horse 8) Sheep 9) Monkey 10) Rooster 11) Dog 12) Pig

Two zodiac signs are missing from this tray. Can you guess which two?

To know which zodiac sign is yours, please go to Wikipedia.

In the Spirit of Giving

During this festive season, let's take time to be grateful for what we have. At the same time, let's also take time to remember the less fortunate. Let's share a little of what we have with them.

In the spirit of Christmas, I would like to share with all of you this beautiful performance of Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D Major by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra with a group of angelic children. Do enjoy, Pachelbel's Canon in D Major:

Shopping & Skating

This is a photo of the Sunway Pyramid Mall. It's school holiday now in Malaysia. Thus we can see many students skating at the mall's skating rink, while their parents are shopping. This is the only mall in Klang Valley that has a skating rink. I love watching small kids skating. Because I myself can't skate and the children makes me wonder why I can't while they can! Put me to shame! I wish I have the courage to learn skating one day!

Do you skate?

December Theme Day: Bridges

December 1st - is Theme Day! And it's my first time participation!

This photo shows 3 children on the bridge over Melaka River. This is the bridge located near the famous Stadhuys building. From this bridge, one can sees the old godowns at the rivermouth, that have now been turned into a Maritime Museum.

Melaka River forms the backdrop of this photo. Melaka River has been spruced up recently to be a tourist attraction. A Melaka River Parade was held recently, where floats and parade cruise along the river. There is even a Melaka's Eye (ferris wheel-like structure), similar to London's Eye, built by the river to add more attractions for tourists.

Fellow Daily Photo Bloggers around the world are also participating in today's Theme Day. Due to different time-zones, some photos might appear at a later time. To view how the Bridges theme are interpreted in different cities, check out their blogs at:

Boston (MA), USA - San Diego (CA), USA - Stayton (OR), USA - New York City (NY), USA - Portland (OR), USA - Montego Bay, Jamaica - Inverness (IL), USA - Singapore, Singapore - Stockholm, Sweden - Setúbal, Portugal - Brussels, Belgium - Phoenix (AZ), USA - Seattle (WA), USA - Hyde, UK - Manila, Philippines - Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA - London, England - Austin (TX), USA - Toulouse, France - Weston (FL), USA - Sesimbra, Portugal - Selma (AL), USA - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Saarbrücken, Germany - Cleveland (OH), USA - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - American Fork (UT), USA - Seoul, South Korea - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Norwich (Norfolk), UK - North Bay (ON), Canada - Arradon, France - Paderborn, Germany - Durban, South Africa - Philadelphia (PA), USA - Cypress (TX), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Prague, Czech Republic - Portland (OR), USA - Greenville (SC), USA - Boston (MA), USA - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Wichita (Ks), USA - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Petaling Jaya (Selangor), Malaysia - Grenoble, France - New York City (NY), USA - Nottingham, UK - Hobart (Tasmania), Australia - Arlington (VA), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Miami (FL), USA - Cheltenham, UK - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Saratoga Spgs. (NY), USA - Las Vegas (NV), USA - Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Nashville (TN), USA - Toruń, Poland - New Orleans (LA), USA - Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Melbourne, Australia - Moscow, Russia - Trujillo, Peru - Château-Gontier, France - Quincy (MA), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Joplin (MO), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Brookville (OH), USA - Chateaubriant, France - Chandler (AZ), USA - Stavanger, Norway - Baziège, France - Auckland, New Zealand - Wellington, New Zealand - Ocean Township (NJ), USA - Subang Jaya (Selangor), Malaysia - Detroit (MI), USA - Riga, Latvia - Nelson, New Zealand - Budapest, Hungary - Cape Town, South Africa - Sydney, Australia - Dunedin (FL), USA - Sofia, Bulgaria - Radonvilliers, France - Turin, Italy - Montpellier, France - Kansas City (MO), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Haninge, Sweden - Wailea (HI), USA - Lubbock (TX), USA - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Terrell (TX), USA - Mexico City, Mexico - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Budapest, Hungary - Montréal (QC), Canada - Sharon (CT), USA - Le Guilvinec, France - Jefferson City (MO), USA - Saigon, Vietnam - London, UK - Crepy-en-Valois, France - Orlando (FL), USA - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Paris, France - Mainz, Germany - Newcastle (NSW), Australia - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Darmstadt, Germany - Naples (FL), USA - Torino, Italy - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Bogor, Indonesia - The Hague, Netherlands - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Anderson (SC), USA - Melbourne (VIC), Australia - West Sacramento (CA), USA - Christchurch, New Zealand



Today is also World's Aids Day. The theme for this year is: Stop AIDS; Keep the Promise - Leadership. This is an appeal to governments, policy makers and regional health authorities to ensure that they meet the many targets that have been set in the fight against HIV and AIDS, and especially the promise of universal access to HIV treatment, care, support and prevention services by 2010. This campaign will run until 2010, with a related theme chosen for World AIDS Day each year.
The 2007 theme, “leadership”, highlights the need for innovation, vision and perseverance in the face of the AIDS challenge. The campaign calls on all sectors of society such as families, communities and civil society organisations - rather than just governments - to take the initiative and provide leadership on AIDS.