Sunday, 26 August 2012

Hari Raya AidilFitri


Hari Raya Aidilfitri

19 August 2012 - 20 August 2012

After fasting from dawn to dusk for a month, Hari Raya Aidilfitri is a day that signifies victory for Muslims everywhere. On this special day, Muslims attend special morning prayers in mosques and visit the cemeteries of their loved ones. Decked in their traditional finery, friends and family from near and far come together to celebrate this joyous occasion. There will be lots of tasty delicacies to make the celebration memorable!







Selamat Hari Raya AidilFitri Maaf Zahir Dan Batin :)

Fascinating places in Malaysia


Batu Ferringhi

Batu Ferringhi, situated along the coastal road north-west of Georgetown and lined with a string of international- standard resorts, is the most popular beach in Penang. 

Soak in the sun or unwind on the beach while you enjoy a host of aquatic thrills from wind-surfing to canoeing. For a spine-tingling adventure, try parasailing to enjoy the view of the beach from the sky. 

As the sun sets, Batu Ferringhi comes alive with a carnival-like atmosphere with an open-air bazaar selling anything from ornate curios to enticing souvenir items. 

Watch local artisans demonstrate the intricate art of craft-making and batik- painting. Dubbed the Feringghi Walk, the bazaar offers shoppers a host of attractions.
























Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion  

Built in the 1880s, this famous indigo-blue Chinese Courtyard House in Georgetown was the residence of Cheong Fatt Tze, a prominent Chinese figure in the newly established Penang Straits Settlement during the 19th century. The mansion was built by master craftsmen brought in especially from China, who used their skills to fashion the mansion with 38 rooms, 5 granite-paved courtyards, 7 staircases and 220 windows. 

Rescued from the perils of development in the 1990s by a small group of Heritage preservationists led by Laurence Loh, the Cheong Fatt Tze mansion possesses splendid Chinese timber carvings, Gothic louvre windows, russet brick walls and porcelain cut & paste decorative shard works, art nouveau stained glass panels, Stoke-on-Trent floor tiles and Scottish cast iron work.Its layout is based on feng-shui principles, and filled with rare a collection of sculptures, carvings, tapestries and other antiques. 

In 2000, the Cheong Fatt Tze mansion received the inaugural Unesco Asia-Pacific Heritage Conservation Award, selected as the 'Most Excellent Project' in the Asia Pacific Rim following its RM7.6 milllion restoration works.
























Gurney Drive

If Penang is the food capital of Malaysia, Gurney Drive is arguably the best of Penang on a plate. The popular seafront promenade exemplifies the colours and atmosphere of Penang – fun, lively and vibrant. Also known by its Malay name, “Persiaran Gurney”, Gurney Drive offers delightful street and high-end cuisine. 

Food courts and open-air hawker stalls pepper the seaside stretch, offering gastronomic delights well into the night. Local favourites such as Penang Laksa, Bak Kuk Teh (a herbal stew of pork ribs and meat), Oh Chien (fried oyster omelette), grilled squid, and nasi lemak make for mouth-watering meals. The New Gurney Drive Food Court has both a halal and non-halal section, and is open from 6pm. 

If you’re craving for something other than hawker food, try the piping hot dim sum at the Corner Club Restaurant. For weight watchers, the 24-hour Mr. Pot offers a selection of sandwiches and toast, all-day breakfast sets, healthy meals and oil-free dishes. 

Nearby, along Lorong Burma, is the island’s first Burmese temple. Built in 1803, the Dharmikarama Burmese Temple has striking golden rooftops, pagodas, a huge Boddhi tree and a wishing well. 

Nearby, the Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram Temple greets worshippers and visitors alike with its unique architecture: sharp-eaves, extravagant ceilings and images of Asian dragons. The temple was built in 1845, with a huge 108-foot long reclining Buddha within its walls, said to be the third largest Buddha statue in the world.















Sunday, 5 August 2012

MALAYSIA

MALAYSIA is a federal constitutional monarchy in Southeast Asia. It consists of thirteen states and three federal territories and has a total landmass of 329,847 square kilometres (127,350 sq mi) separated by the South China Sea into two similarly sized regions, Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo. Land borders are shared with Thailand, Indonesia, and Brunei, and maritime borders exist with Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The capital city is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government. In 2010 the population exceeded 27.5 million, with over 20 million living on the Peninsula.


Malaysia has its origins in the Malay Kingdoms present in the area which, from the 18th century, became subject to the British Empire. The first British territories were known as the Straits Settlements, whose establishment was followed by the Malay kingdoms becoming British protectorates. The territories on Peninsular Malaysia were first unified as the Malayan Union in 1946. Malaya was restructured as the Federation of Malaya in 1948, and achieved independence on 31 August 1957. Malaya united with Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore on 16 September 1963, with  being added to give the new country the name Malaysia. Less than two years later in 1965, Singapore was expelled from the federation. Since independence, Malaysia has had one of the best economic records in Asia, with GDP growing an average 6.5% for almost 50 years. The economy has traditionally been fuelled by its natural resources, but is expanding in the sectors of science, tourism, commerce and medical tourism.


The country is multi-ethnic and multi-cultural, which plays a large role in politics. The government system is closely modelled on the Westminster parliamentary system and the legal system is based on English Common Law. The constitution declares Islam the state religion while protecting freedom of religion. The head of state is the King, known as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He is an elected monarch chosen from the hereditary rulers of the nine Malay states every five years. The head of government is the Prime Minister.


Malaysia contains the southernmost point of continental Eurasia, Tanjung Piai. Located in the tropics, it is a megadiverse country, with large numbers of endemic flora and fauna. It is a founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and a member of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the Non-Aligned Movement.