Hope you have a Nice time here!

28 Nov 2010

Goodbye Guangzhou 2010, Hello Incheon 2014!

16 days of the Asian Games had come to an end. Athletes had enjoyed themselves in the second biggest Games in the world after the Olympic Games, while we, the viewers/spectators had also enjoyed watching them performed. Congratulations to those who had won their games. To those who had lost, don't be too upset. Take it as a chance to improve yourself to be a more competitive and a greater athlete. One day, you'll win!

China won 199 gold medals to become the overall winner. South Korea in the second spot, with 76 gold medals whereas Japan was in third spot with 48 golds.

Here are some of the highlights of the closing ceremony which was held at the same place as the opening ceremony at Haixinxia.


Firework display during the welcoming ceremony

Cauldron in flame for the past 16 days

Performance

President of the Olympic Council of Asia, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah

The extinguished cauldron

The South Korean flag being rised

Handover the Asiad torch to the South Korean delegate

The significant OCA flag too

Incheon performance time!

South Korea's valuable 'international product'


謝了,廣州!안녕하세요 인천광역시



27 Nov 2010

MAHA 2010

The 2010 Malaysian Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Show started last Friday and runs for 10 days at The Malaysian Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS). It was hosted by Ministry of Agriculture and Agrobased Industries and organised by the Federation Agriculture Marketing Authority. I haven't went to this type of exhibition before, so when my brother was going with his friend (both of them are studying about agriculture), my younger brother and I tagged along.

There were so many visitors until we couldn't mange to turn into the road the the gate B car park, which is situated at the side of the SKVE (if I'm not mistaken). So, we ended up entered from the main gate to MAEPS. The traffic here was not as heavy as the gate B though.

The exhibition were all about agriculture. So, there were a lot of fruits, animals, plants, equipments, fertilizers, etc. The exhibition were divided into 2 parts-indoor and outdoor. There were 3 buildings for exhibition on information, whereas, we took shuttle bus to a 5 or 10 minutes drive to visit outdoor exhibitions-animals, tractors, plants, fishes. They even had an auction for livestocks!

It was like a walkathon, as we can only walk through all the booths. It was quite hot though while visiting all the outdoor exhibitions, although we had umbrellas. Some parents even brought along their infants! (What's so special/important of the exhibition that 'encouraged' parents to bring along their infants to a crowded+hot place?)

It was a new experience for me to visit this type of exhibition, but it will be my last time though.


a tractor used to fetch visitors to the main building from the parking lots

small scale of paddy field


tractors from the outdoor exhibition booth

turtle in an indoor exhibition booth

livestock auction


even our Prime Minister was there!


24 Nov 2010

The Chinese Way

Sunday, 21st November 2010

The much awaited badminton event was going to start:the men's single match. It was a replay of the 2008 summer Olympic's final match-Lee Chong Wei vs Lin Dan. Both players went to the court carrying different "status"-Lee Chong Wei, the current world number one, and Lin Dan, the Olympic champion. The match between these two world class players was something that shouldn't be missed out for a badminton fans. Whenever they meet, they themselves show something we'd never seen before from their previous meetings, hence their meetings were always fulled with spectacular shots and excitement.

This time around, the match was far more excited than the Olympic's final, as three sets were needed to determine the winner. The first set was won by Lin Dan with 21-13, but Chong Wei broke his nemesis' good form from the first set by winning the second set 21-15. It was a great performance by Chong Wei in the second set. But his good performance flopped in the third set, where Lin Dan lead 11-1 to the interval of the match. The bigger gap was positive for Lin Dan, as he can win the set, as long as he can defended himself very well and minimize his unforced errors. True enough, he won the match in the end.

During the match, I saw that Lin Dan was very clever with his mind playing thing, and I felt that he was in total control when he is really in his up to form performance. I had a chance of feeling this when I went to watch 2010 Thomas Cup's final in Kuala Lumpur. At that time, the majority supporters in the stadium were cheering for the Indonesian team. But Lin Dan was not bothered by all the chants and cheers, because he still showed that he was in total control in the match. This time around, he should have some pressure, as the event was held in his native country. But then, he does not showed that he was being pressured and managed to show that he was in total control. On the other side, Chong Wei's performance in the third set was obviously flopped from his second set. I have not seen Chong Wei play with my own eyes, so I can't say anything about it. Set 1 was lost in a fighting way, where he really fights to gain points. But set 3 was quite humiliating, with the gap of 10 points during the interval. This showed that he was not in his top form at that moments.

Though Chong Wei had lost once again to Lin Dan, we should praise and congratulate him as he had gone as far as the final, but not criticize him. We should just say that today, he lost to a better player. As a spectator, we cannot say that a player should have win a match because it looks so simple and easy. We cannot understand what's in their mind or why they played poor, because we are not in that professional level. We shouldn't say players did not improved, because I believe each player improved game after game. The only difference is, the time it takes to improve in a player is totally different from another player. We cannot blame it all to a player for being a loser, but should praise them for their hardwork and gives encouragement. It's not totally all the players fault because LUCK played an important part in everything.

This time, lady luck was with Lin Dan. He is now the world's most successful badminton player, having won the Olympic Games, Asian Games, 3 times World Championships, 4 times All England Open, 4 Thomas Cups and 3 Sudirman Cups. Some people might not like him for what he is, especially most of the Malaysian, but we cannot deny his success, as he won each one with his hard work. Others professional players in the world are greats too, but now, Lin Dan is just a little bit better than them.

Chong Wei and Lin Dan while waiting for the prize giving ceremony

Lin Dan, upon getting his medal

Wednesday, 24th November 2010

The final of the men's 110m hurdles was one of the event I happened to watch during the Games. China's favorite boy, Liu Xiang, defended his gold medal in this year's event. He won China's first ever gold medal in the track and field event in the 2004 Olympic, thus his stardom rise from a zero to a hero. During the 2008 Beijing Olympic, he disappointed everyone because he bore the nations' expectation of retaining his gold from 2004 Athens Olympic, but he walked off the track because of an injury. The injury was significant and ruled him out of 2009 World Championship, a major competition. So, for 13 months, he was out from everyone's mind, right until he entered Shanghai Golden Grand Prix competition. Although he did not win, he had showed that he was slowly back in form. So, after 2 years from the injury, and now entered the Asian Games' event, once again, he bore the expectation of retaining his 2006 Asian Games' gold medal.

During the event, I saw that the whole stadium were fulled with hundred of thousands of people. The crowds cheered when Liu Xiang's name was mention. I can't imagine how much pressured does Liu Xiang carried during the event. When the gun was fired, all athletes on the line started to move. Liu Xiang was left a few positions behind at the starts. But he started to speed up, quarter way through the finish line. It was a real excitement watching all those athletes trying to run faster than on another, especially those front runners who were so closed to each other. In the end, Liu Xiang met the expectations of the crowds and his nation by winning the event. I can see that he was really relieved as he crossed the line.

2 different events, 2 different athletes. But the outcome was the same:winning another match no matter how hard it takes!

Liu Xiang, after crossed the line

17 Nov 2010

She Is So Good!

It feels so good to be with her again! It's been a while since the last time I visited her. I felt calm and relaxed when I saw her, and I think all the negative energies inside me were all gone.

Thank you, mother nature!

It was a public holiday today, so my family and I went to the north part of Selangor for a day trip tour. I feel good as it was kindda out of town, out of the busy+concrete city life. We first stop at Bukit Melawati. It's been ages ago since the last time I went there. This place has not changed so much though. There are still a lot of monkeys and the big trees are still there. It feels good to be able to see the sky horizontal with the Straits of Malacca. Spend about half an hour before went off to Kuala Selangor Nature Park to have a look. Didn't went inside though, as entrance fees are required.

Next stop was Pasir Penambang. I had been there once, it was almost 10 years ago. It is a fishing village which full with seafood restaurant. There are a few shops where fishmonger sell the catches right after the catches were unloaded from the ship. Bought a big packet of keropok udang/ikan as our snacks to continue our journey. Then, about 45 minutes drive away, we reached Sekinchan. We drive through the paddy field before we went to the wet part, the fishing village. There was a great feeling when driving alongside the green paddy. I wonder how does it feel if we pass through the fully grown paddy in gold color.

Had lunch at Jiaan Chyi Seafood Restaurant. Ah Xian, from 阿贤人情味 tv program went there before. We had Hot&Spicy Prawn, Fried Tiger Shark Fish, Shark Fish Porridge, Pan Fried Squid and a vege as our dishes. Basically, they offered more dishes about sharks. The food were quite ok though.

We went to the fishing village just behind the shop after our lunch. The port is where the fishermen unloaded all their catches. Here, the unloaded the containers from the ship and then separate the fishes and pack into some smaller containers with plastic bags and ice. Then, a truck will come and fetch the fishes away, after confirming the amount of the fishes with the manager. Nowadays, fisherman, literally the person who goes out to the sea to catch fishes, does not involved in managing the selling of the fishes. These so called 'manager', actually used to be a fisherman. When they had earn enough money, they hired other people, normally the foreigner, to go out to the sea. Hence, they will do the management stuff, like counting and arranging where will the fishes to be send to.


We happened to watch the fishes being unloaded, packed and being sent off. We also saw some relatives of the owner were cleaning some mantis shrimp. While waiting for my mum to buy some fishes (fishes had not been unloaded), I went to watch a few people building a ship right beside the port. The ship was halfway finish, because the chassis of the ship was already there. The whole place was fulled with sawdust, because they build a ship with woods. In front of the port was the view of a clear blue sky with the sea. It was the greatest feeling upon seeing the never ending sea, horizontal with the sky.




This is not the first time I experienced this type of environment. But, it's been a while since the last time I spend a few hours surrounded by green green grass and clear blue sky with the sea. Thus, it really makes me feel great!


16 Nov 2010

A Season To Remember

Today, the 2010 F1 season heads to Abu Dhabi for it's season finale, with 4 drivers in title contention. Red Bull had officially won the 2010 constructor's championship in the previous Brazillian Grand Prix.

During the practices, all 4 title contenders' lap time were not bad, but Sebastian Vettel was more consistent than the other 3 drivers, where he finished at the first spot during 2 practices out of 3 practices. Actually, Vettel and Fernando Alonso were the real title contenders, as the points adrift between them were only 15 points. In this case, Vettel needs to finish the race and hope Alonso finish at the sixth position or more than that. Whereas for Hamilton and Webber, they need Vettel and Alonso not to finish the race, which is something that is not quite possible to happen. Vettel grabbed the pole position during the qualifying session, with Hamilton and Alonso in second and third respectively. On the other hand, Webber was in fifth position.

As if the ending race was not excited enough from the battles of these 4 drivers, accident happened halfway through the starting lap where Michael Schumacher spins and then an unavoidable Vitantonio Liuzzi drove over him, missing his head by inches. Safety car was then immediately deployed. Both drivers walked away unscathed. Safety car was deployed for 5 laps. When the safety car was in in lap 6, Vettel leads the field with Hamilton, Jenson Button, Alonso, Webber, Felipe Massa, Rubens Barrichello, Kamui Kobayshi, Robert Kubica and Adrian Sutil. There were no more incidents after that, only the normal overtaking and recorded the fastest laps in the race. Here, the title contenders needs a good pit stopping strategy. You wouldn't want to pit too early or too late, as you wouldn't want to stuck in a heavy traffic, wedged in the midfield. You need a 'just nice' pit stop.

As Vettel and Alonso looked like they were on the right track, Hamilton and Webber were out of the title contender. For most of the race, Hamilton was behind Vettel, whereas title contender Alonso was wedged in the midfield after a poor tactical petting decision by the Ferrari team. To be precise, Alonso was wedged behind Vitaly Petrov who defended his position as much as he can, for the whole race.

Hence, this situation continued until the end of the race, where Vettel clinched his maiden Championship here in Abu Dhabi at the age of 23 years and 135 days, becoming the youngest world champion, 4 points ahead of Alonso.

Herzlichen Glückwunsch, Sebastian Vettel!


15 Nov 2010

Welcome to the Games!

The 16th Asian Games officially started on last Friday! As the world's second largest Games after the Olympic, the opening ceremony, this time in Guangzhou, was as awwesome as the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic. With the artistic performances from all the actors, spectacular fireworks display, wonderful singing performances from David Tao, Zhang Ziyi, Kim Hyun Jung, Joey Yung, Mao Amin, Song Zuying, Wei Wei, 谭晶, and Sun Nan, great piece of work from pianist Lang Lang and the spectacular cauldron lighting, it was no doubt one of the great piece of opening ceremonies that I've seen.

The best part of all was the cauldron lighting by the Chinese world champion diver, He Chong with 2 kids. It was a very Chinese way to light the cauldron, where the last torchbearer, He Chong and the kids lighted a giant firecracker which then lighted the main cauldron. The whole opening ceremony was very colourful too, when there were about 2 major fireworks display, which surrounded the venue. The artistic performances were not bad either, especially the four dimensional performance, where the actors were hanging on air and move according to the sail-shaped screens. And there were a few performances related to the theme of the Games, "Water". Then, there's the parade of the athletes. As the host country, no doubt China has the biggest formation of athletes, which I believed there were still some athletes who were not there.

Oh, one last wonderful+memorable scene for me in this opening ceremony was that my favourite badminton player, Fu Haifeng was chosen to take the athlete's oath on behave of all the athletes in this Games. I was so surprised to hear his name and saw him walking to the stage. He then hold the Games' official flag and started to read out the oath. I was so happy and was too excited to see this whole scene, until I... I think I forgot to close my mouth as I was so surprised to see him! =)


Firework on 8.06 pm, the welcoming ceremony.


The whole venue filled with the firework.


Inside the venue, Haixinsha Island.


The final torchbearer, He Chong.


Lighting the firecracker...


...and the firecracker was risen by the elevator.
The cauldron was on fire by the flame from the firecracker.

The fire will continue to light until the final day of the Games.


Fu Haifeng had the honor to take the athlete's oath.





7 Nov 2010

Filler-Music-Westlife



Lyrics:

Hard to find a way to get through
It's a tragedy
Pulling at me like the stars do
You're like gravity
Even if the wind blows
It makes it hard to believe

How you gonna love
How you gonna feel
How you gonna live your life like the dream you have is real
And if you lost your way
I will keep you safe
We'll open up all the world inside
I see it come alive tonight
I will keep you safe

Doesn't even matter to you
To see what I can see
I'm crawling on the floor to reach you
I'm a wreck you see
When you're far from home now
Makes it hard to believe

So how you gonna love
How you gonna feel
How you gonna live your life like the dream you have is real
If you've lost your way
I will keep you safe

We'll open up all your world inside
Till you come alive tonight
I will keep you safe

We all fall down
We all feel down
Cause rainy days and summer highs
The more we pray the more we feel alive

How you gonna love
How you gonna feel
How you gonna live your life like the dream you have is real
How you gonna love
How you gonna feel
How you gonna live your life like the dream you have is real

If you've lost your way
I will keep you safe
We'll open up all your world inside
So you come alive tonight
I will keep you safe

I will keep you safe
I will keep you safe

*It's the new song from Westlife! This lead single, Safe is from the soon to be released album, Gravity.