Tissue Paper

Before 10 this morning, a pack of tissue paper means nothing much to me - it was just another normal tissue paper for hygienic purpose.

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My First New Year in April

by Tan May Ling

Travelling to Thailand is quite common among Malaysians since they are neighbours. So to say, this is not my first time travelling up north to Thailand. I’ve being to Hatyai and Bangkok ever since I was around the age of 4.

Yet, I never had much impression about Thailand, except clothes are cheap, but then again, it isn’t that low price. The last time I drop by at Thailand was when I was still in high school and quite frankly, Thailand wasn’t in my must-invade-list.

During Chinese New Year, my aunt drop by for a visit and out of nowhere, she asked if I’m interested with the Water Festival in Hatyai. Since I’m all into festival/culture kind of thing, I’ve decide to give it a shot and travel up to Hatyai after almost 10 years since my last visit.

 I wasn’t aware of this festival at all, and I don’t even know what’s the festival name but luckily there is always Mr Google by my side and I found out it is called “Songkran Festival” and it usually falls around 11th to 14th of April. Songkran Festival is also well known as the Thai New Year.

Moekanji from Danny Choo

For those interested in learning Japanese (and also a moe fans), Moekanji is finally released! I was tempted to get one for myself, but when I look at the words, I realised I was able to read out 80% of it.

Therefore, in my personal humble opinion (I hope I did not offend anyone), I wouldn't recommend this for those who: 

• took JLPT N5 (Level 4) or,
• completed N5 but have not yet taken the proficiency exam
• but most importantly, if you have no trouble read and/or write them out ( I noticed that most of my friend who learnt Mandarin do not have that hard time learning kanji compare to friends who are a complete stranger to Mandarin.)

Then again, the moe-ness is hard to resist! 

Check it out at the website if you are interested. After all, I do believe memory cards do help when it comes to learning a language, and PORTABLE as well! *if they have a smartphone version for my level, I will consider getting it*

April Fool Prank from Google

As usual, I'm impressed by the Google team again. Nice work!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/31/google-nose-april-fools_n_2990114.html

Smart vs not smart - which one do you prefer?

Was having a chat with my friend and both of us share the same thoughts, that although we are both from the first two classes (the smart one, according to Malaysia school system) in high school, we love to mingle with those from the last few classes (the lazy or not smart one).

Why?

Because they value friendship more than those smart ass, although a number of them do not end up with a great occupation like lawyer or doctor. It doesn't have to be a favour or help or whatever, it just have to be little things that nobody notice.

Seeing “Melbournes” through Arts

By Tan May Ling

Updated by 23th October, 2012

Photo by Candlelight Productions

Indulge yourself in the aromatic scent of freshly brewed coffee beans from The Café at Beer DeLuxe and let your senses guide you down the flight of stairs, leading you into the Atrium. There you will be greeted with colourful models of buildings, delicious looking food replicas and many other items, spread across four customized tables and some placed next to the greenery. This surreal view is what greets visitors upon entering the Atrium.

Inspired by the title “A Tale of Two Cities”, one of the novels written by Charles Dickens, the Candlelight Productions has brought to life “A Tale of Two Melbournes” at the Melbourne Fringe Festival this September. The event, which spans across ten days, from Thursday to Sunday (27^th September to 14^th October) takes place at the Atrium, opposite The Café at Beer DeLuxe, Federation Square.

There are four main tables, one for questionnaires, another for display, and the another two for visitors to express “what you love of Melbourne” and “your vision of Melbourne”. A Tale of Two Melbournes is all about using unconventional art materials to express their thoughts by building 3D communal artworks.

From afar, a gathering of people of both young and old is visible. They surround the tables with glue sticks, paperboards and other crafting materials used to create their replicas. Young children are seen to be having fun, fluttering from table to table, eagerly searching for the materials needed to craft out their vision of Melbourne. Once their ideas are solidified into tangible objects, they carry their work carefully around the event, enthusiastically sharing their ideas with the volunteers.

A Paradise behind the Mountain

Written by May Ling Tan on 16 September, 2012

Photography by May Ling Tan

Pantai Kerachut, Penang National Park – by May Ling

Apart from its world-class heritage sites, local gastronomical delights such as char koay teow, and asam laksa have become a necessity to many when visiting Penang Island. However, what remains undiscovered to many visitors is the existence of a hidden paradise located at the north-west corner of this busy island – Pantai Kerachut.

The dock for people arriving by boat – 

by May Ling

Pantai Kerachut is part of the recently declared Penang National Park. Instead of lazing around on over commercialized beaches, where pollution is adamant and left-over charcoals are a norm, Pantai Kerachut offers an experience that varies from the typical Penang beach, and allows you to grow closer to nature.

Surrounded by small fishing villages, the beach is well-preserved with a turtle reservation centre and a rare meromictic lake that exists only during the wettest months in Penang.

Trekkers like me can sign up for an approximately hour-long jungle trek up and down the hill that separates the beach from the fishing villages. The beach is also accessible via boat, but costs around RM80-RM100 per boat.

I was advised to leave the beach earlier because it is dangerous to travel by foot after nightfall. Hiking to the beach in the middle of afternoon is not a major problem as it is shady and cool once you enter the forest.

It can be quite challenging to travel by foot, especially for children. However, the reward is brilliant. The fresh air, small river streams and colourful butterflies astound you all along the way.

Turtle Reservation Centre in Pantai Kerachut – by May Ling

As the journey nears its end, the air changes into the salty scent of sea breeze with a bridge that connects the forest to the beach.

 Hidden among the bushes at the end of the finest beach is the Pantai Kerachut Turtle Reservation Centre. It is one of the few places in Malaysia where green turtles come in and lay eggs. Here, you can observe the hatching of turtle eggs and baby turtles swimming in the small pool.