s u n n y s i d e u p.

Okay --- I'm doing music and music this week end. I found the original CD of With or Without You by that great Irish group U2. Played in my car and boy ! Was that good. I remember the movie 'Blown Away (Liam McGinley (Jeff Bridges), Ryan Gaerity (Tommy Lee Jones) ).

It was about terrorism in Ireland when they were fighting the British Government. Now when this guy was preparing a bomb, he was happily singing , rocking and dancing to the song by U2.  That was a fantastic scene. A great movie and even greater song indeed. Watch the two clips below.

The movie clip...and below , U2..

Hope you'll enjoy this..

Yesss....another classic and another one of my favourites --- such a simple song ,yet so melodious....Hope you like it as well.

and the lyrics...

Till There Was You
There were bells on a hill 
But I never heard them ringing 
No I never heard them at all 
'Til there was you 
There were birds in the sky 
But I never saw them winging 
No I never saw them at all 
'Til there was you 
Then there was music and wonderful roses 
They tell me in sweet fragrant meadows of dawn and you 
There was love all around 
But I never heard it singing 
No I never heard it at all 
'Til there was you 
Then there was music and wonderful roses 
They tell me in sweet fragrant meadows of dawn and you 
There was love all around 
But I never heard it singing 
No I never heard it at all 
'Til there was you 
'Til there was you

I would like to post my favourite by what I think , is the greatest and most talented group this world has ever seen.

I know I have put up this lyric in my very very early posting in this blog, but Iwould like to do it again with a video clip this time.

Nobody but nobody could ever match, let alone beat,  the gifted talent that these four were blessed with !  Here is one of my favourites--lyrics and all, and like it said, to  ....

....... lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all
But of all these friends and lovers
 There is no one compares with you.....

It doesn't sound like lyrics of a song to me, I mean the words don't rhyme, and yet its so musical and fits nicely into the melody.

In my Life 

by The Beatles

There are places I'll remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places had their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all
But of all these friends and lovers
 
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never ever lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
In my life I love you more

Lyrics: In my Life, Beatle

And this is done by Slash and Ozzy Osborne in 2005...

So,  share my joy !

Today , I visited the Highlands on the decision made the previous night. To cut a long story short, the sunrise from Genting Highlands was the ultimate aim. So early in the morning, before sun rise, I was already on the road up to Genting.

It was kind of disappointing because I was expecting it to be very misty- (I love them mist !) -- but it wasn't.

....naver can get enough of this....

But the crisp cool air more than make up for it ! (Oh how I miss the temperate weather of UK !) . Anyway, parked the car and took a walk to enjoy that cool fresh air.

Walking in front of one of the hotels ( don't ask me for the names because I can never remember and put the names to any of the building ), there were a few cars with their engines running -- and then it hit me --deja vu ! -it is incredibly insane --but the mixture of the fumes from the engines and the cool air sort of send a very familiar feelings in me ! It so reminded me of my student days in Hull when I would wait in a bus at the bus-terminal to get home. The driver would leave the engine on and it was that fume and cool air that I was so used to as I sat and waited for the bus to take me home. Oh well---enough of that nostalgia ....

....that sun-rise....

Finally from the fourth floor of a building I saw what came for. I couldn't tear myself away from the window, went down to the small garden and had a breath-taking moment of appreciating God's creation in all its splendour !

By 8.30am--I had what I came for and left for the lower grounds !

....the breath-taking sight ..

That spontaneous feeling hit me again. I decided to go up to Fraser's Hills then, -which must have been a good 100 km. away. AND I DID JUST THAT !

 

...at the dam...

So, deciding to take one of the lesser known roads, I hit the long and winding road , by-passing Rawang, pass the Serendah Golf Club and headed towards Kuala Kubu Baru. On the way, I hit a bonus in the form of a massive dam (didn't quite know the name) and an equally massive man-made lake. Phew---what a sight !

Finally went on my way to Frasers. I was looking forward to a meal in place called The Tavern. The town Centre is a small quaint place. It has a small roundabout (if you can call it that) with a clock-tower of about 15 meters high. The Tavern is very 'English' in its design and it has this balcony where you can have a meal overlooking the roundabout, garden and lil old structures in the cool air which resembles ( well, nearly..) the English summer.

So with that in my head---I drove up eagerly. Looking forward to a nice meal and hot cup of tea !

...the signs at the foot-hills ...

But then---HORRORS !!!!!

All the vision in my head fizzled out---- . Apparently there is a major renovation project going on at all the tourist attractions ! In short, no Tavern, no tea, no balcony---nothing ! I was told that all the renovation would only be completed in June. I went to the Tourist Centre to find out if there was any other place I could have my meal . Anwer ? NONE !. So I blew my top telling them that they could have a big notice informing tourist of this at the foothill when I waited for my turn to drive up.

..waiting for my turn to drive up..

....flowers of Frasers...

But I didn't let that spoil my day. (But I admit I had to pull everything I got to be very patient) Maybe it was the cool air that made me kept my cool. Yes, it was so cool although the sun was shining brightly.. You didn't need any sweaters but the cool air did compensate for the sunlight in a strange way, and this strange mixture sort of did remind me of an almost English summer. So, --- and inspite of the set-back, I enjoyed the short stay up in Frasers.

Anyway, good thing it was already past mid-day when I drove back to hot dusty and polluted Kuala Lumpur. Who knows, had it been earlier, my spontaneous nature mught even make me drive even further north to the next Highland --Cameron Highland. Haaa---but that would have to be another time I guess ... (God knows when......)

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Ok its been a few weeks since the tournament. But heres a photo which I have inadvertently left out. Its class 23-24. They had a 100% participation in the tournament from this class. Thanks guys for the cooperation. My fellow organizers, kumicha and helas  and I do appreciate the gesture.. Lets hear it for these guys ...(clap, clap, clap....)

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Where I work, I am surrounded by computer geeks or soon-to-be-ones. I realised we are totally (well, almost) dependant on this technology. There was a time when Government officials were often proudly declaring their 'paperless' administrative prowess. 

Now , does that mean we are going to be 'super-efficient', well, okay, maybe I am being too ambitious here -- so lets just say 'efficient' with the advent of this technology ? I have seen and heard about students' projects which portray marvellous systems and what-have-yous.

But , to me , these systems are only as good as the HUMANS manning them . As a consumer and a user, I still wonder -- suspiciously at the famous sign standing unashamedly but boldly claiming  to us humans  the consumers -- 

" SORRY - SYSTEM DOWN :

or 

"OFF-LINE "

What does all these mean to us mortals ? It means ---

"go away---I have no time to entertain you ! What was that? You have a transaction to do with us ? Too bad ! Read the sign and come back another day !. What ! You took a day off today to do this ? Too bad ! Go take another day off tomorrow ! I've no time for you now, shoo! shoo! "

Just a few days ago I was unbelievably embarrassed when a colleague ( who is a foreigner) , was checking the web-site of a well-known local university on the Phd.s programmes.

Why ? Firstly, the site hasn't been updated for years ! Secondly, when he clicked on the button that shows "STAFF" with the hope of getting the details of the Academic staff ( it IS a learning institution) , but guess what he got instead !~  Photographs of the administrative staff, showing the clerks, officers and executive ....mmmmm ..nice !

Anyway these are just my afternoon thoughts---I'm sure I have more ideas and experience  to write about  , but sorry - my sytem is also down !!!!!

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enjoy this.......he was bowling next to our lane and can't help but capture our attention !!

We tried very hard to get him away from that elephant - and failed. Below -- the photographer being photographed.

The second game and below the first game 

Yes –we rewarded ourselves for a day’s hard work in making the Bowling Tournament happened ! Wwe promised ourselves we’ll give ourselves a treat , a trip to Putra Jaya, a nice meal at the waterfront and, but of course --- a game or two of bowling.

The trip to Ptr J. was smooth ( well, except for one of us – and I have promised not to write about it---so my lips are sealed ). We were not in a hurry and still arrived there in good time. The weather was fine (at that time)---so lots of photo shoot and as usual Helas –like ‘The Mask’ in the movie, showed us how to make different faces , postures and mood for each shoot ! 

More photo shoot of the spectacular scenery at the waterfront and finally settling in for a meal . Before we knew it, flashes of lightning and roaring thunder filled the scenery. In a funny way , to me it sort of dramatize the place.  

Anyway we went to the Mosque, and in the heavy rain, decided to spend time and do our Maghrib there before heading back to K.L for our game. So the only rose, Kumicha had to be separated from the thorns, Helas and me. Yup, we went our separated ways—all three of us –actually.

I must say, sitting in the middle of the mosque with the thunder storm going on outside ---sort of send chills down your spine.. Whenever a lightning strikes, you can see the streaks of lights racing past all the lass windows of the mosque. And the thunder --- now I know what it meant by the phrase ‘rolling thunder’. The distant but distinct rumbling of thunder went on for minute without any stoppage. 

Anyway --soon we were on our way to bowl some balls. It was so packed that we had to book the game. But the person at the counter was kind enough to jump the queue for us and soon we were all geared up and ready ! But it was kumicha who stole the first game. She was brilliant---a consistant and confident show indeed. I was just literally throwing balls--not bowling them. I couldn't find the line , couldnt screw it either. It was a dismal showing. I was so afraid of not even hitting 100. Kucky for me , I was beginning to peak on the last frame and that helped to push my score to a miserable 105 !!!  And kumicha's score was 109 !!Helas ? I will let him tell his part in his blog. 

The second game was much better . Its more me with a steady flow of spares and strikes. Kumicha was showing signs of panic , BUT, she managed to pull it and did a fantastic score of 126  to my 138 ! Helas ? I will let him talk about it in his blog. ...heheheh---sorry helas. 

Anyway after 2 games each, went for a drink and finally called it a night. Yessiree--it was a good day. We needed that !

More photos will come in the next posting !

Yes –we rewarded ourselves for a day’s hard work in making the Bowling Tournament happened ! And here it is – photos, highlights and all --. To make it easier , I’m going to put this in points.. But before this enjoy this clip which we caught –much to our surprise and joy !

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OK - I found these photos among my jungle of badly-organized folders. These were taken when I was teaching the International students. I'll just indentify them by the country rather then the names. 

From Afghanistan, Indonesia and Iran

From Mynmar, Libya, Afghanistan and Kuala Lumpur (heheheh)

2 lecturers and a student--leave it to to guess which is which

Ahh--Indonesia, China, Sudan, Bangladesh

Karim and me.

Khan (Pakistan) and me .

Indonesia, Acheh, India, China

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and below- taken at a farewell lunch.

Thats me beside the Austin Cooper--always fiddling with cars -- and look closely - with cigarette in my hand. Gotch !! And below me and my late brother.

The ol Armstrong --isn't it like a Chicago gangsters' car -- a real Mafia officail car.

and the Morris 1100 --a real tortoise of a car. My sister didn't keep it for long befor she changed to the Cooper - spacers, twin exhaust and the Goodyear G800 radial --THE tyre for speed at that time !