Children of Iraq

During the Criminalize War Conference, the children of Iraq were showing this banner that stated the killings which took place as a consequence of the US and British leaders decisions to wage war against the people of Iraq.

This is what war can do! Say NO to war!

Sunrise Over KL Tower

Sky Watch Friday returns again!

Today's posting features a sunrise with KL Tower and a little of Petronas Twin Towers in the foreground. This photo was taken from Padang Merbuk when I was there for Original Bootcamp.

Wish you all a great weekend!

Criminalize War - Torture Exhibition

This is not a Halloween exhibition. This prisoner of Guantanamo Bay Prison was tortured to stand like this for 15 hours. Can you?

This torture is called Water Boarding.

May I ask how do you feel after seeing the brutality done to prisoners featured in these photos? Don't your heart go all out for them?

Today I was shocked by the atrocities of war after seeing the exhibits displayed at the International Torture Exhibition that was held in conjunction with the Criminalize War Conference. This year's conference focus on the War in Iraq and so is the exhibition.

The exhibition showed how some of the detainees in Guantanamo Bay are being tortured. It is in Guantanamo where the detainees from what the U.S. calls the global war on terror have been kept. It is so shocking to learn that these tortures are being carried out during our current period!

I recalled seeing and reading about such tortures that many Cambodians went through during the Khmer Rouge regime era. But seeing today's exhibition and hearing the testimonials of former prisoners of Guantanamo Bay detention centre on how they were tortured by US military men, it makes me wonder how could a superpower democratice country that uplift freedom and human rights can do such inhumane act to another fellow human, all done in the name of justice & fighting terrorism! The detainees who gave their testimonials were captured for a few years, sent to various secret detention centres before being released without charges. Till today they never understand what have they done wrong to be pained in such manner!

Allow me to quote Britain's third most senior judge, Judge Johan Steyn, who criticized the U.S. for holding terror suspects in Guantanamo, calling it a "monstrous failure of justice". "By denying the prisoners the right to raise challenges in a court about their alleged status and treatment, the United States government is in breach of the minimum standards of customary international law," he said.

I like the Confucius quote that one of the speakers shared during the conference. He said, "Without passion, nothing happens. Without compassion, wrong things happen."

You can read many more interviews with former US 'war of terror' prisoners or their family members or legal counsels at the CagePrisoners website. After reading them, you would be grateful to God that you or your loved ones are not being imprisoned in any military detention centres!!

Below is a video of an interview between George Galloway, one of the speakers at the conference. George is also a British MP, author and broadcaster. He interviews Andy Worthington of Reprieve (lawyers representing Guantanamo detainees) and discuss the rendition, torture and on-going detention of British resident Binyam Mohamed in Guantanamo Bay, and the US administration's approval of torture.

Peace should never be attained through violence and war!! Let's say NO to war!!

ABC Wednesday - 'O' is for Outstanding Leader

Today I had the opportunity to see our former Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad (the man standing in the middle) at the "Expose War Crimes - Criminalise War" International Conference & Exhibition.

I was so glad because his leadership quality is something that I admire. He is not only visionary but also outspoken internationally. He stood up and spoke up on international issues that he disagrees upon, against the stands made by leaders of countries considered superpower of the world like US and British. Dr. M continues to be outspoken even after his retirement. He expresses his thoughts through his blog that is widely followed by fellow Malaysians.

ABC Wednesday returns with the theme 'O' this week. Find out what others are posting for this week's theme.

Lady in Saree

While taking photos of the ladies clad in saree doing the puja at the Sri Sakthi Easwari Temple in Sg. Way, this lady walked into my frame and I quickly clicked away. Love her beautiful vibrant-coloured saree.

That's My World Tuesday is a portal that features photos posted by bloggers from around the world. Check out what others are posting there!

Delicious Indian breakfast like roti canai & tosai are served at this food stall at the Taman Tun Dr. Ismail's market.



Visit Monochrome Monday portal for more photos in black & white.

Museums Street

This street is called Jalan Kota. It is located in the historical part of Melaka city. There are over 7 museums located on this street. It is now to a pedestrian street and is usually crowded with tourists on weekends. Seen here is a tourist and her 2 children taking a ride on a trishaw.

Malay Wedding

Today's posting is a bridal couple at a Malay wedding. They are beautifully dressed in traditional Malay wedding costumes in gold colour theme. Even the wedding dais colour matched the costumes of the couple. They are preparing for the 'bersanding' ceremony.

Have you attended a wedding recently? What was the colour theme of the wedding?

Temple & Blue Sky

This is the Sri Sakthi Easwari Temple in Sungei Way, Petaling Jaya. We came across this newly renovated Hindu Temple after we went to the Nine Emperors Temple in Sungei Way to offer prayers as it is the celebration of the Nine Emperors birthday.

I did some research on the net and found from Wikipedia that the structure of this temple is in accordance to Dravidian architecture. Dravidian architecture was a style of architecture that emerged thousands of years ago in the Indian subcontinent. They consist primarily of pyramid shaped temples which are dependent on intricate carved stone in order to create a step design consisting of numerous statues of deities, warriors, kings, and dancers. The majority of the existing buildings are located in the Southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Karnataka.

As many Malaysian Indians hail from Southern India, so I believe this temple is influenced by the buildings in Southern India.


Today's posting is for Sky Watch Friday's participation. If you are keen to see more photos of the sky, why not pop by there? Wish you a happy weekend!

ABC Wednesday - 'N' is for New Pantai Expressway

ABC Wednesday returns with the theme 'N' this week.

For today's posting of 'N', I am sharing a photo taken at the New Pantai Expressway, one of the highway connecting Subang Jaya to the city, Kuala Lumpur.

This photo was taken near the Jalan Pantai Baru exit. In the distance where the high rise buildings are, that are the Mid-Valley Megamall & The Gardens shopping malls and the Boulevard & Cititel Hotels. This highway is supposed to cut down the travelling time from Subang Jaya to the city. However on Fridays, everywhere has traffic jam. This is the traffic jam where we got stucked as we were heading down to Sentul Temple for a Stress Management talk in conjunction of World Mental Health Day.

Friendly Soccer Match

It's fun watching these young teenagers having a friendly soccer match at the park near my house today evening.

Do visit That's My World Tuesday for more photos from around the world.

Deepavali - Fruit Kolam

Continuing the joy of Deepavali celebration, I am posting a kolam that used some fruits, i.e. apples and oranges as part of it. Today's posting is not fully monochrome. I have kept the fruits in colour to highlight it. Learnt this Photoshop trick from a digital photography magazine that I read at the news vendor. Sssssshhh.....yup, I didn't buy the magazine. Just flipped it and read the tips and tested it on today's photo. Have you done the same in the past like I did?


Visit the Monochrome Monday's portal for more photos in black and white.

Deepavali's Kolam

Here's one of the pair of beautiful kolam & elephant used in the Deepavali decoration at Sunway Pyramid Mall. Isn't it beautiful?

Happy Deepavali

Happy Deepavali to all DPBs around the world. May the glow of lights illuminate our hearts and minds.

This is my neighbour's little daughter, Akhila, in her new clothes. We were invited to their house to join them in the Deepavali celebration, which is a celebration of light over darkness, or good over evil.

Sky Watch Fri - Beautiful Sunset at Manila Bay

During my visit to Manila in March this year, I truly love the beautiful sunset at Manila Bay. As I was staying a walking distance, I would spend evenings sitting by the waterfront, eating grilled dried squid and enjoy the sunset with my camera. Here's one of the amazing sunset that I saw. Hilda of Manila, if you read this, I want to say to you that I love Manila!!

For Sky Watch Friday photos, please visit the portal! Happy Friday to all!

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I leave you with this beautiful video that an inspiring friend shared with me today, entitled On Becoming A Person by Carl Rogers. Carl Rogers described the qualities and characteristics of a fully functioning person, one who works towards self actualization (according to Abraham Maslow). A fully functioning person moves away from facades, "oughts", expectations and the need to please others. Instead, he or she moves towards self direction by taking full responsibility of his or her life, accepting change in life, comes to terms with own complexity and contradictions, accepts others fully and has trust and faith in self. In short, there is no fear in a fully functioning person. You too can end fear.

Catching Up

Caught these elderly ladies having a chat outside their house, enjoying the cool air in the afternoon after a light shower. It's nice to find the elder people still have friends to hang out with.

ABC Wednesday - 'M' is for Magnificent View

ABC Wednesday returns with the theme 'M'. For this theme, I am posting a lady admiring the magnificent view seen from the observation deck of KL Tower.

For more postings of today's theme, do visit the ABC Wednesday portal.

My World Tuesday - Harmony Street

This street in my hometown Melaka is called Goldsmith Street. However it has the nickname of Harmony Street. Why?

On this street, you will get to see the 3 places of devotion for the 3 major races in Malaysia. They are all located on the left side of the street, close to one another, as seen from the above photo.

The building in orange and green is the Sri Poyyatha Vinayaga Moorthy Temple. A few doors away, where you can see the beige and green building with a minaret, that's the Kampung Kling Mosque. Further down, where you can see 2 red flag poles, that is the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia. Isn't it interesting that all these 3 places of devotion are able to co-exist peacefully on the same street?

Please visit That's My World Tuesday portal for more photos.

Monochrome Monday - Tree

A beautiful tree in the park across my house.

Monochrome Monday is hosted by Aileni. Please visit its portal to view more pictures in black & white.

Kathina in SJBA

It's Kathina in Subang Jaya Buddhist Association today. I caught this wording on the T-shirt of a fellow devotee near these rows of flowers arrangement.

Wish all of you happy and well too!

Healthy Lifestyle

On Sunday morning at the Tun Fatimah Stadium park in Melaka, different forms of exercises are being conducted in various corners of the park. There are Tai Chi, Qi Gong and Line Dancing. We joined the aerobic exercise there and I had fun taking some reflection shots of these visitors exercising.

Early Moon & Street Lamp

A beautiful half moon was already on the sky when I go around the park to take photo at 6.30pm. I just propped the moon next to the lamp post so the moon has some company. Happy Sky Watch, folks! And a GREAT weekend to you!

Visit Sky Watch Friday portal for more spectacular shots of skies from around the world.

Dutch Square in Melaka

This is a scene taken on last Sunday morning at the Dutch Square in Melaka. The fountain was built by British colonial to commemorate Queen Victoria Regina's 64-year reign from 1837-1901. This is a popular tourist spot in my hometown. It is called a Dutch Square as this square is surrounded by buildings built by the Dutch, i.e. the Stadhuys (where I was standing) and Christ Church.

The Dutch ruled Melaka from 1641-1795. However, in 1795, the Dutch Governor surrendered Melaka to the English East India Company. In 1818, after the Napoleonic Wars, under the Treaty of Vienna, Malacca is restored by the British to the Dutch. The Dutch continued to rule Melaka till 1824. That's why there are many historical remains of Dutch and English that can be found in Melaka, on top of the Portuguese, who first came to Melaka in 1511.

That's a summary of the history of my hometown Melaka.

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I found this video of Beyonce performing her hit Single Ladies during the MTV Video Awards. She looked smashing and her dance was awesome. Shake away and put your hand up with this video!



Single Ladies lyrics
Songwriters: Harrell, Thaddis Laphonia; Knowles, Beyonce; Nash, Terius; Stewart, Christopher;

All the single ladies, all the single ladies
All the single ladies, all the single ladies
All the single ladies, all the single ladies
All the single ladies

Now put your hands up
Up in the club, we just broke up
I'm doing my own little thing
Decided to dip and now you wanna trip
Cause another brother noticed me

I'm up on him, he up on me
Don't pay him any attention
Just cried my tears, for three good years
Ya can't be mad at me

Cause if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
Don't be mad once you see that he want it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
Oh, oh, oh

If you liked it then you should have put a ring on it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
Don't be mad once you see that he want it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it

I got gloss on my lips, a man on my hips
Got me tighter in my Dereon jeans
Acting up, drink in my cup
I can care less what you think

I need no permission, did I mention
Don't pay him any attention
Cause you had your turn and now you gonna learn
What it really feels like to miss me

Cause if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
Don't be mad once you see that he want it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
Oh, oh, oh

If you liked it then you should have put a ring on it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
Don't be mad once you see that he want it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
Oh, oh, oh

Don't treat me to the things of the world
I'm not that kind of girl
Your love is what I prefer, what I deserve

Here's a man that makes me then takes me
And delivers me to a destiny, to infinity and beyond
Pull me into your arms, say I'm the one you own
If you don't, you'll be alone
And like a ghost Ill be gone

All the single ladies, all the single ladies
All the single ladies, all the single ladies
All the single ladies, all the single ladies
All the single ladies
Now put your hands up, oh, oh, oh

Cause if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
Don't be mad once you see that he want it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
Oh, oh, oh

If you liked it then you should have put a ring on it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
Don't be mad once you see that he want it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
Oh, oh, oh


© 2082 MUSIC PUBLISHING; B-DAY PUBLISHING; EMI APRIL MUSIC INC.; WB MUSIC CORP.;

ABC Wednesday - 'L' is for Lunch

ABC Wednesday returns today with the theme 'L'.

'L is for lunch! This is the delicious Nyonya Mee Siam that we had for lunch last Sunday when a group of my friends came down to my hometown, Melaka, in preparation for a youth exchange programme that we are organizing. Doesn't it look yummy?

What is others posting for 'L'? Go to the ABC Wednesday portal to find out further!

My World Tuesday - Spring Roll (Popiah)

For today's That's My World Tuesday posting, here's a photo of the Spring Roll seller on the old street of Melaka. This old man has been peddling his fresh Spring Roll on a tricycle since I was young. He used to push his cart around town in the afternoon. But these days, he parked himself by the roadside in Jalan Bunga Raya. One can hardly find such food pedlar in Kuala Lumpur.

Upon order, the fresh spring roll skin (the white, round dough) will be filled with steamy hot, stewed yam bean or jicama, a piece of lettuce, fried eggs, lard, fried shallots, scalded bean sprouts, cubed fried bean curd with some chilli and sweet paste. It is best eaten fresh! Yummy snack!!

He also sells fried spring rolls. You can see the fried spring rolls placed in the green basket.

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Saw this video of Lee Ann Rimes performing Can't Fight the Moonlight, soundtrack of the movie Coyote Ugly at Hazel of Bangkok's blog. This is one of my favourite movies and songs. Hope you will like it too.

Monochrome Monday - Tree & Gazebo

Glad to share with you this photo that I took at the park near my house. It was a Sunday evening with bright setting sun. I think it would be just perfect for taking black & white photos.

Since I joined the Monochrome Monday posting, it has made me work on improving my black & white photography. It can be quite frustrating seeing my photos turned out poorly, yet those posted on the Monochrome Monday's portal looking spectacular! So, I try to view my objects in black & white and try to figure out how the object texture and light play on the object would turn out.

Today's photo is one of the result of my experiment in BW photography. I have added a little brown tint using Photoshop to this photo. I love the shadow of the leaves on the tree trunk. In my opinion, the tree trunk has interesting texture that adds depth to this photo. Constructive feedback to improve my monochrome shot is a great welcome!

Thanks to Aileni who is hosting the Monochrome Monday portal. Please visit it to view more gorgeous photos in Black & White!

I wish you all a lovely Monday!

Across the Bushes

Eyeing through the fencing of an abandoned building at the park are some high rise buildings that are found in USJ. The reddish-brown building is USJ Summit Mall & Hotel. The yellow-beige building is SeGi College. Behind these buildings, at USJ1, more high-rise apartments are being constructed.

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I am away in Melaka. Today's posting appear courtesy of Blogger's automated feature.

Pose & Play

Met these group of 5 children at the park near my house on last Sun. They just got to the park and were curious seeing me with my camera. They asked if I could take their photos. Upon saying yes, these children actively pose for me. As they play at the playground, they would call out for me to take their poses! It was so fun to have 5 willing models to give me these wonderful poses! I am working on improving my potrait shots so I wish I can see them often at the park!

Someone posed an intriguing questions that get me pondering! The question was what's the difference between a snapshot and portrait shot? I leave you to think about it!