Carousel Ride

Walking through the Indoor Theme Park in Genting, I caught this little girl on the Carousel ride.

Sky Watch Fri - Calm Sky & Ornate Temple in Genting Highlands

A serene scene greeted us at the Buddhist temple located half way up Genting Highlands. Look at the ornate patterns on the building of the temple! Isn't it breathtaking?

So peaceful and calm, with the cool, fresh air ~ what a great way to enjoy life on a Sunday morning!

This is a posting for the Sky Watch Friday's meme.
Before you leave, enjoy the music video by Chris Daughtry entitled What About Now. Watch the video and reflect on the words. Love the strong message that it carries! Hope you like it too. Wish you all a lovely weekend!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What About Now - by Chris Daughtry
===================================

Shadows fill an empty heart
As love is fading,
From all the things that we are
But are not saying.
Can we see beyond the scars
And make it to the dawn?

Change the colors of the sky.
And open up to
The ways you made me feel alive,
The ways I loved you.
For all the things that never died,
To make it through the night,
Love will find you.

What about now?
What about today?
What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love never went away?
What if it's lost behind words we could never find?
Baby, before it's too late,
What about now?

The sun is breaking in your eyes
To start a new day.
This broken heart can still survive
With a touch of your grace.
Shadows fade into the light.
I am by your side,
Where love will find you.

What about now?
What about today?
What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love, it never went away?
What if it's lost behind words we could never find?
Baby, before it's too late,
What about now?

Now that we're here,
Now that we've come this far,
Just hold on.
There is nothing to fear,
For I am right beside you.
For all my life,
I am yours.

What about now?
What about today?
What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love never went away?
What if it's lost behind words we could never find?

What about now?
What about today?
What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love never went away?
What if it's lost behind words we could never find?
Baby, before it's too late,
Baby, before it's too late,
Baby, before it's too late,
What about now?

Sky Watch Fri - Clear Day in Genting Highlands

We were so lucky to enjoy such clear view in Genting. Usually it is misty in the morning. I wish all of you would be lucky too and have a great weather this weekend! Happy Sky Watch Friday!

For viewing photos of sky around the world, please visit Sky Watch Friday's portal.

Monochrome Monday - Hand Gesture

This photo shows a hand gesture (also called Mudra) of a Buddha statue up in Genting Highland. There are several key mudras portrayed in Buddha statues. This one is called the Teaching mudra. It is said that the Buddha was teaching the Four Noble Truths when he had this hand gesture.

This photo is posted for the Monochrome Monday's meme.

Sky Watch Fri - A Calm Morning

A very peaceful landscape greeted us on last Sunday morning up in the temple at Genting Highlands. We were there to spend a weekend having fellowship with some undergraduates. Fortunately, the sky was so clear, the sun was so bright, as though they knew we were coming.

This is a posting for the SkyWatch meme.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A friend sent me this beautiful story of kindness. I hope to share it with all of you.

I arrived at the address where someone had requested a taxi. I honked but no one came out. I honked again; nothing. So I walked to the door and knocked. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knick-knacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, and then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated'.

'Oh, you're such a good boy', she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'

'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly.

'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice'.

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued. 'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?' she asked, reaching into her purse.

'Nothing,' I said

'You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said.

'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift?

What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away? On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID, BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.

Thank you for finishing this story. I wish you a wonderful weekend ahead.

"Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance."

Magic Mirror

We went to a musical play called Magic Mirror in the Genting Highlands on Thursday nite. It was an impressive performance, from the quality of music, vocal, costumes, backdrop, lighting......I was bowled over! I have not been to many traditional costumes play. This one will have a lasting impression on my memory! For more of my photos taken during the play, please visit: USJ.com Photography thread.

For more information of this play, please go to:

• Portraying a deity
• Catch the Magic Mirror on the hill
• Magic Mirror - The Musical
• Magic Mirror - Synopsis of the Play is available here.

I have also recorded a video of two playful characters in this play. You can view them introducing themselves and their roles here.

Colours on the Highland

A photo on Colourful Garage in The Hague Daily prompted me to post this photo on the colourful First World Hotel in the Genting Highlands. When I first saw this hotel, it makes me ponder how the painter manage to paint the patterns on this high rise building. Did he draw the patterns on the building first before he started painting? And how did he manage to turn out the patterns perfectly? Can anyone enlighten me on this?

Uncle Lim of Genting Highlands

I was in Genting Highlands today and came upon this new statue of Tan Sri (Dr) Lim Goh Tong, the founder of this highland resort, at the Chin Swee Caves Temple. Most of us in Malaysia refer to him as Uncle Lim. Many of us do not know the background history of this successful well-known Malaysian enterpreneur. I found the information below at the site of the statue.

The success story of Uncle Lim is a unique one in the corporate history of Malaysia. From a humble vegetable seed seller, he went on to build Malaysia's premier Genting Highlands Resort, a part of a sprawling conglomerate that is one of the most successful companies in Malaysia, placing him among the country’s top entrepreneurs.

His story is an inspiring one: beginning with nothing to his name, turning difficulties into opportunities, acting on brainwaves, taking calculated risks and confounding skeptics through sheer foresights and perseverance. His achievements earned him many awards, including Manager of the Year Award 1986, the Special Tourism Award 1997 and an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Entrepreneurship from the University of Tunku Abdul Rahman in 2005. In recognition of his contribution to the national economy, the title of “Tan Sri” was bestowed on him by His Majesty, the Yang DiPertuan Agong on 6 June 1979.

Uncle Lim was born in 1918 in Anxi, Fujian Province in China. He had an excruciatingly tough childhood. After losing his father, he became the family breadwinner at the age of 16.

In 1937 he came to Malaya (the former name of Malaysia before Independance) to join the building trade and later became a subcontractor. During the Japanese Occupation, he became a trader dealing in scrap metal and second-hand machinery. He also ventured into the mining industry. Having accumulated enough wealth, he took another shot at realizing his dream of becoming a big-time contractor. As a Class A contractor, he proved his mettle by successfully undertaking many major Public Works Department projects.

It was during the construction of the Hydroelectric Project in the Cameron Highlands that he got the inspiration to build a highland resort. He reckoned that in tropical Malaysia, everyone would love a holiday up in the cool mountains. He identified Gunung Ulu Kali, a 1800-metre mountain, just 58-km from Kuala Lumpur and straddling the border between the states of Selangor and Pahang. His proposition was regarded by many as crazy idea. But his conviction was strong enough to make him take a gamble at a time when he could afford to retire comfortably.

His humility, his ability to get on well with the country's top leaders and his proven capability as a Class A contractor, won the confidence of the authorities in giving him the land for the project, measuring slightly over 6,000 hectares.

On 31 March 1969, during a visit to Genting Highlands to lay the foundation stone for its first hotel, Malaysia's 1st Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, said to expedite the development of tourism in this remote area, the Government would favourably consider an application from Genting to operate a casino. A casino licence was granted to Genting on 28 April 1969.

Since it opened for business on 8 May 1971, Genting Highlands Resort under Uncle Lim’s stewardship has become Malaysia’s premier tourist attraction which play host to millions annually. On 31 Dec 2003, he retired and handed over the Chairmanship of the Genting Group of Companies to his second son.

Uncle Lim is well-known for its philanthropic deeds. In 1978, he established Lim Foundation, dedicated to charitable causes.

Uncle Lim passed away on 23 October 2007, leaving behind his wife and their six children (3 sons & 3 daughters).

To read more about Uncle Lim, please visit Wikipedia.