Transgenders! What possessed them to change their sex.  Find it hard to accept this sort of thing.

Warren Beatty's sweet daughter (Kathlyn) became a boy (Stephan). 

Warren Beatty's family photo.

Cher's daughter Chastity Bono before becoming a man.

Now she is a man named Chaz Bono.

Read: http://www.bellenews.com/2011/09/20/entertainment/chaz-bono-stripped-off-to-reveal-his-naked-torso-at-dwts/

Tracy, a former finalist in Miss Hawaii Teen beauty contest.  She became a transgender male and legally changed name to Thomas Beatie. He later became known as the world's first "pregnant man". 

His female partner was infertile, so he decided to be the one to bear children since he still had his womb.  Sperm by a donor.  The pregnant man bore 3 children.

If you wanted a son but got a daughter, dont complain.
If you wanted a daughter but got a son, dont complain.
Just be thankful for whatever you created, and pray your children will grow up normal.

Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance".  (Luke 5:31-32, NIV)..

MI4 - GSC Maxx Cinema - Berjaya Times Square

Digital 2D - MI4 Ghost Protocol movie at GSC Maxx Cinema Berjaya Times Square - Good!

I watched the 2D movie Mission Impossible  -  Ghost Protocol last night.  Never had watching a movie been so exciting for me that made my old heart jump and beat so much faster.  Old me let out a lot of "oohs and "aahhs" at the fast paced action, especially the climbing/swinging scene of Tom Cruise at The Burj Khalifa Tower.  Gave me vertigo!  

This sensational exciting experience was possible only by watching it in Maxx  Cinema, with its wide big celluloid screen and terrific  sound  systems.  It was like what we used to say many years ago in the 1980's a "sense-surround"  feeling.  I grew up in the 1960's watching movies in big screen stand-alone cinemas of Shaw Brothers and Cathay Organisation  that seats from 1000 to 1500 people.  All these old cinemas have closed down and the new cineplexes in shopping malls took over.  The Maxx cinema experience should be the only way to watch movies as it  captures the viewer's imagination making them feel like they are part of the action in  the movie. 

The Burj Khalifa Skyscraper, Dubai.

.  Go see a movie in Maxx and you'll know the difference. 

Lobby of GSC Maxx cinema halls

Clowning around...Jedi wannabe. Coming soon in 3D.

Inside the Maxx Hall -  555 seats. (didnt took a good shot)

The celluloid screen (is it still called celluloid I wonder...)

View of the Indoor Theme Park from the 10th floor cinema lobby

 I sat here at the Rest area (near the cinema) to rest. It has a close view of the roller coaster tracks.

I sat and waited, hoping to catch a close view of people screaming on the roller coaster as it climbs up, but at 8.45pm the ride was empty - no passengers riding, and it looked more like a "ghost ride".

Old Shaw Brothers' B B Park

While Berjaya Times Square has taken over as the new amusement center with its thrilling indoor theme park, let us not forget the well loved old amusement center - the old Shaw Brothers' B B Park.  It was demolished in the early 1970's to make way for Sungei Wang and Bukit Bintang Plaza which opened in 1977.  The Bukit Bintang Plaza's main entrance is located in this spot now.

B B Park - my childhood haunt. This is the main entrance on Bukit Bintang Road but we used to enter BBPark through its back gate (from Imbi Road).

Mr. Cheong Yoke Choy's old mansion's bomb shelter

Going back to Times Square brings back childhood memories.  I was born and grew up near Times Square.  The site of Times Square used to be Cheong Yoke Choy's old mansion, a well known rich chinese man in the early 1900's.  His mansion's front entrance faces Pudu Road (Pudu Jail).   In the 1960's when I was a kid, we and some neighbours sneaked into his vast compound one afternoon through an opening at the back perimeter fencing, through his small rambutan orchard, to do some exploring.  We wanted to see for ourselves the much talked about bomb shelter in his backyard, for hiding from Japanese bombings when Japan invaded Malaya.  The rich chinaman's  mansion and the bomb shelter was an enigma to us nosy inquisitive kampung kids.  Satisfy our curiosity we did! 

After walking through the rambutan trees and bitten by lots of mosquitoes, we found the bomb shelter built in an open field which is a distance behind the mansion.  I saw a small entrance (sort of looked like a small cave to me, maybe about 6 or 7 feet high and 7 or 8 feet width) but it was stinking with urine and I just hung around near the entrance because I was afraid to walk inside. The bomb shelter's entrance faces the direction of the old mansion (which is the direction of Pudu Jail).  If I remembered correctly, the shelter had 2 openings for entry or exit, and its sort of U-shaped. The sloping tunnel dugged into the ground leading deeper into the shelter was bricked up.  If you are looking down from above the air, all you see is a field of green grass with a higher mound in the middle. 

With Times Square built on it, the location of Cheong Yoke Choy's  old mansion's  bomb shelter would roughly be in this location of Times Square's main entrance and lobby.  So each time I walk into this entrance, childhood memories of that afternoon of trespassing brings a smile to my face.

View of Imbi Road from Times Square looking towards the direction of Sungei Wang Plaza

Opposite of Times Square is Sungei Wang, and KL's Golden Triangle.  This premier tourist district of Imbi Road, Bukit Bintang, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Alor used to be a settlement for the early Chinese immigrants/labourers who arrived from China  in the early 19th century.  All these early Chinese pioneers (whom we call chinaman in the old days) contributed to the growth and development of Kuala Lumpur leading to its prosperity today.  If you are of Chinese descent,  and if you are in this tourist district, take some time to ponder Kuala Lumpur's history....how these chinamen built up the chinese community and where we are heading to.

Whether you are a Generation X or Y or Z....dont forget your roots!

"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you."   (Exodus 20:12 NIV)

Istana Negara Malaysia - The New Royal Palace of Malaysia in Jalan Duta.
Finally a new palace to replace the old spooky palace.

On 15 Nov 2011 at 10.25am, the King's private flag was raised in the New Palace for the first time.

Went to have a look at our brand new National Palace out of curiosity. The Palace building is situated on top of a gentle hillslope with a commanding view of the KL skyline.  Visible in the distance is the Twin Towers and KL Tower.  The landscaping and gentle hilllocks on the left and right side of the Palace looks in tune with chinese "feng shui" - representing the Dragon and Tiger.  Another small hillock in front representing  the Turtle with a water feature - a small pond.

There are not many tourists and the place looked deserted.  Workers are seen working on  the landscaping.  The King (our Agong) has not moved in yet, but will the King really reside/live in this new Palace?  All the previous Agongs did not reside in the Old Palace except the First Agong.  Why? Some say its spooky and haunted.

After Malaysia achieved its independence on 31 August 1957, the first appointed Agong moved into that (old) Palace in Jalan Istana near Jalan Syed Putra. Two and a half years later, on 1st April 1960, he died in his sleep in that Palace.  His teak coffin  and lying in state took place in the Banquet Hall.  

Some facts about this old palace:  This double-storey mansion was built in 1928 by Chan Wing, a Chinese immigrant from Canton who made his millions through tin mining.  I heard stories from my ancestors that the "feng shui" of the mansion was not auspicious and the location in geomancy terms was on a "white tiger", therefore occupants of this mansion would not enjoy longevity.  (This would make an interesting urban legend. Are geomancy and feng shui for real?)

Chan Wing fled to India with his numerous wives and family during the Japanese occupation and the Japanese army took over the mansion.  After the war, it was sold, changed ownerships a couple of times.  The Sultan of Selangor was using it as his palace when it was taken over hastily by the new government to be used as a royal palace for the soon-to-be first Agong (from Negri Sembilan), when the country obtained independence from the British in 1957.

The next (second) Agong, the Sultan of Selangor,  died from a mysterious unidentified illness on the day appointed for his official installation as Agong on 1st Sept 1960.  He died at the guest palace in Istana Tetamu (Near Carcosa) in Taman Tasik Seri Perdana where he was staying while waiting to be installed as Agong.  Istana Tetamu was previously owned by the British goverment.  It was opened in 1913 and named Governor's House, then named King's House to house the British King.  Later renamed to Istana Tetamu after the Malaysian government took over the mansion.

The second Agong didnt get installed officially, died 5 months after the first Agong.  The first Agong didnt complete his term of Kingship of 5 years.  He died in his sleep inside the old palace...probably his dead soul is still reigning there.
Since then all the other Agongs reside at their own private residences in Kuala Lumpur.  The Palace was used for ceremonial purposes only.

The Old Palace

The Old Palace main gate

The Old Palace Guards and Horse

New Palace under construction. Location - Jalan Duta.

See the wet floor underneath this horse.  I think this horse shitted and the floor had to be washed.  There was a stench of dung in the air.  (The other horse's floor was dry).

The hillock in the background looks artificially created (representing turtle).

Old Palace = 11.34 hectares.  New Palace = 96.52 hectares

Cost = RM800 million or a few billion ringgit?

Total number of domes = 22

Highest dome = 40m (as tall as 10 storeys)

The 14th Agong (Kedah's Sultan) will be installed here on 13 Dec 2011.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The new palace has more privacy, surrounded by a fringe of natural forest.  It will be difficult for people who intends to march and present any political petition to the King like before.  If all the access roads (all flyovers) leading to the new palace are closed and blocked off,  no one can go near the Palace.

Must see pictures of the interior of the new palace - very grand, luxurious, majestic! Wow! All the Agongs will definitely want to move in and live, eat, sleep, play...and forever be Agong. Click

One of the picture is this bedroom....which i likeeee.

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." - James 1:27 (KJV)

Update : 13 Dec 2011 (Tuesday)
Our 14th King was installed this morning.  The oath taking and signing  ceremony was shown live on TV.   Presenting our new King (84 years old) and Queen from Kedah State, who will reign for 5 years beginning today.  (The King is merely a figurehead and does not rule the country.  Power is in the hands of the Prime Minister and an elected government.)

List of Agongs (Kings) since Independence Day in 1957

1. YANG DI-PERTUAN BESAR OF NEGRI SEMBILAN (Born 24.8.1895 - Died 1.4.60)
Tuanku Abdul Rahman Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad. He was installed as the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Sept 2, 1957 (at the age of 62), but died while in office on April 1, 1960.
Tenure: Aug 3, 1957 - April 1, 1960.

2. SULTAN OF SELANGOR (Born 13.5.1898 - Died 1.9.60)
Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah Al-Haj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Ala’iddin Sulaiman Shah. He died on Sept 1, 1960, just hours before his installation as the second Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Tenure: He had been performing the duties of Yang di-Pertuan Agong since April 4, 1960 (62 years old), following the death of Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

3. RAJA OF PERLIS (Born 25.11.1920 - Died 16.4.2000)
Tuanku Syed Putra Ibni Almarhum Syed Hassan Jamalullail. He was installed as the third Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Jan 4, 1961, at the age of 40, making him the youngest ruler to have been elected to the post.
Tenure: Sept 21, 1960 - Sept 20, 1965.

4. SULTAN OF TERENGGANU (Born 24.1.1907 - Died 20.9.79)
Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Zainal Abidin. He was installed as the fourth Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Sept 21, 1965, at the age of 58.
Tenure: Sept 21, 1965 - Sept 20, 1970.

5. SULTAN OF KEDAH (Born 28.11.27)
Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah. Installed as the fifth Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Feb 20, 1971, at the age of 44.
Tenure: Jan 21, 1970 - Sept 20, 1975.

6. SULTAN OF KELANTAN (Born 10.12.17 - Died 1979)
Sultan Yahya Petra Ibni Almarhum Sultan Ibrahim. He was installed as the sixth Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Feb 28, 1976, at the age of 59, but died while in office on March 29, 1979.
Tenure: Sept 21, 1975 - March 29, 1979.

7. SULTAN OF PAHANG (Born 24.10.30)
Sultan Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Abu Bakar Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mu’adzam Shah. He was installed as the seventh Yang di-Pertuan Agong on July 10, 1980, at the age of 50.
Tenure: April 26, 1979 - April 25, 1984.

8. SULTAN OF JOHOR (Born 8.4.32 - Died 22.1.2010)
Sultan Mahmood Iskandar Ibni Almarhum Sultan Ismail. He was installed as the eighth Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Nov 15, 1984, at the age of 57.
Tenure: April 15, 1984 - April 25, 1989.

9. SULTAN OF PERAK (Born 19.4.28)
Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Yussuff Izzuddin Ghafarullahulahu Shah. He was installed as the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Sept 18, 1989, at the age of 61.
Tenure: April 26, 1989 - April 25, 1994.

10. YANG DI-PERTUAN BESAR OF NEGERI SEMBILAN (Born 19.7.22 - Died 27.12.2008))
Tuanku Ja’afar Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman. He was installed as the 10th Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Sept 22, 1994, at the age of 72.
Tenure: April 16, 1994 - April 25, 1999.


11. SULTAN OF SELANGOR (Born 8.3.26 - Died 21.11.2001)
Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Hishamuddin Alam Shah. He was installed as the 11th Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Sept 23, 1999, at the age of 73, but died while in office on Nov 21, 2001.
Tenure: April 26, 1999 - Nov 21, 2001.

12. RAJA OF PERLIS (Born 17.5.43)
Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail. He was installed as the 12th Yang di-Pertuan Agong on April 25, 2002, at the age of 59.
Tenure: Dec 13, 2001 - Dec 13, 2006.

13. SULTAN OF TERENGGANU (Born 22.1.62)
Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah. He was installed as the 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong on April 26, 2007, at the age of 45.
Tenure: Dec 13, 2006 - Dec 12, 2011.

14. SULTAN OF KEDAH (Born 28.11.27) His second time as Agong. (formerly 5th Agong).
Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah. He was elected the 14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong at the Meeting of the Conference of Rulers on Oct 13, 2011.
His tenure started today Dec 13, 2011.
He is 84 years old now.  By the time he finishes his term he will be 89 years old.  Hope he does not die while in office.  Or maybe they like to die while they are King - grand burial.  Whatever...wait and see.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some trivia:  The Agongs are elected by the Conference of Rulers which consists of all the Sultans.
The current Sultan of Johor is of mixed parentage (malay and caucasian).
The current Sultan of Selangor is divorced.  His father died while in office as Agong, his grandfather died on his installation day as Agong.  So is he fearful of being jinxed?  His male heir from his second marriage is of mixed parentage too (malay and caucasian).  His two daughters from his first marriage are mixed-race too = (3/4 malay 1/4 chinese).  His ex-wife's mother from his 1st marriage was chinese.

UPDATE: 11 April 2012 (Wednesday)
This morning our elderly new King was officially installed.  I saw the ceremony live on TV1.

A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment, but he who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long life. (Proverbs 28:16 NIV)..

Today is 11.11.11

A gift from my cousin - this new hi-tech "self-wringing" mop. Thanks.  Make mopping the floor more fun.

Hefei University of Science and Tecknology - ranked no. 1 tourist attraction in Hefei by TripAdvisor.

Delhi weather in Jan :  Day= 20 degrees; Nite 8 degrees (Avg 13 degrees): click
World climates (Hefei and other cities) temperature graphs - Jan coldest month : click
Hefei weather forecast : click
Trip Advisor Hefei top tourist attraction: click
Anhui news and travel homepage  : click
Hefei's old well and attractions  : click

Rempitted in Sepang race track...now will there be a resident ghost motorbike racer perpetually racing on the track...eeek.
Death in Malaysian MotoGP.  Italian rider died at the Sepang circuit this afternoon.  RIP.
Read news/see video of crash: dailymail.co.uk. click

20 October 2011 is the Death Day of Libya's Terrorist Dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
After ruling for 42 years with an iron fist, his citizens has revolted.  Living a lifetime of power and luxury, and quirky behaviour like having 40 female virgin bodyguards, his last moments were spent hiding in this concrete drain.   Hopefully Libya will have a new good democratic government, not a corrupt one.

Read news Mirror co. UK : click

See death photos of other hated dictators like Saddam Hussein, Benito Mussolini and his mistress, Nicolae Ceasescu, Japanese General Hideki Tojo, Joseph Stalin, Pol Pot and Mao Zedong. click

"A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment, but he who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long life." (Proverbs 28:16 NIV)..

Las Vegas man with gigantic 45kg testicles. Needs donations - US$1 million for surgery.

Read news - The Daily Chilli : click

On some other news - Police arrested a group of thieving casanovas using online social media Facebook luring them to a relationship and then cheat them of cash.  click The Star news

Freezing weather in Britain. Its autumn now but already snowing in parts of Britain!  Cold cold days are coming. Poor folks over there. Gonna be a very wintry Christmas. Glad to have my tropical sun everyday of the year.
Read : Dailymail.co.uk

Birthday surprise for me - 4 complimentary TGV movie tickets from Nuffnang!  Thank you so much Nuffnang and TGV.  Now I can go watch free movie. Havent had any freebies for a while. Yippee! Will be watching a comedy - JOHNNY ENGLISH.  Gonna have a good laugh.

Terrorist Bombings
911 - 10th anniversary today!

Today is the 10th anniversary of the Al-Qaeda muslim terrorist attack on America.  Four aeroplanes were hijacked and crashed into targets.  Two (Flt 11 and 175) crashed into the World Trade Center, the 3rd (Flt 77) onto Pentagon and the 4th (Flt 93) thwarted by some passengers missed target and crashed in Pennsylvania. Its such a sad day in history, and we need to remind ourselves that terrorist threats still exist.  Three Malaysians working in the WTC died.

It was in the news that some of the terrorists members had conducted meetings in Malaysia prior to 911.  

Some pictures to refresh our memories and to be reminded of the need to vanquish terrorism.

2 of the terrorists going through airport check-in.

Mohammed Atta (R); Abdulaziz Alormari (center).

8.46am: Flt 11, 1st plane to crash into North Tower.

9.03am: Flt 175, 2nd plane about to crash into South Tower.

South Tower bursting into flames.

Many people died horrible deaths.

The fires burnt for 99 days.

Pentagon on fire.

The Suicide Bombers.

FBI photos of the hijackers of the 4 aeroplanes.

Terrorist No. 1 - Osama bin Laden - Born March 10, 1957;  killed May 2, 2011 in Pakistan under special orders of US President Barack Obama.  Yeah! 

(Anyone knows palm reading? Does his palm shows he is a terrorist and will die at 54 I wonder?) 

Let there be Peace in the World now.
To see more images and timeline: click September 11 News.com

Tribute of Light Memorial at Ground Zero

Down with terrorism!
"For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”  (Deuteronomy 20:4)...



December 25, 2009 - The underpants bomb

The "underwear bomber" Umar Farouk Abdullah struck on Christmas Day. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a 23 year old Nigerian muslim tried to blow up an aeroplane enroute from Amsterdam to Detroit with the bomb sewn into the crotch of his underpants.

Sentenced to life imprisonment.  Read ABC news

This "underwear bomb" is the reason why we cannot carry liquids onto a plane.

The plastic explosives (powder) sewn into the crotch of his underpants. Ouch!

 
The highly explosive powder, (which luckily for the passengers in the plane, did not explode).

The liquid acid detonator in a syringe which failed to detonate properly - it caught fire and syringe melted. Acid did not came into contact with the explosive powder, otherwise bang...explode...



December 21, 2001 - The "shoe bomb"
"Shoe bomber" tried to blow up a plane during a flight from Paris to Miami.  This is the reason why we have to take off our shoes at airport check-ins.


The "shoe bomber" - Richard Reid, a British muslim convert.



"Rectum" bomb and "printer" bomb.

This is the mastermind Al-Qaeda bomb chief designer - 30 year old Ibrahim al-Asiri.

He made the "printer-cargo" bombs. He also made and planted a bomb inside the rectum of his brother who died in a suicide attack on the Saudi intelligence chief.  Are'nt they sickos!

Read ABC news (May 7, 2012)
Read ABC news  (new wave of bombmakers being trained by Ibrahim to carry on his deadly legacy).

What the world needs now is love, sweet love, not terrorists.