Joy is a drink!

Joy is a drink!

(Pic taken in a hawker centre in Taiping, Perak. 2009)

A hawker centre otherwise known as food centre refers to open-air complexes housing many stalls selling a variety of inexpensive food. It can be found not just in Malaysia and Singapore but also in Hong Kong.Hawker centres sprung up in urban areas in the 50s and 60s following rapid urbanisation and were built partly to address the problem of unhygienic food preparation by unlicensed street hawkers.

Health Post: Cancer Wash

Hey, what's this about face creams and lotions, body lotions and baby lotions being cancer hazards? Mineral oil, petrolatum and D &C Red. No.33 for example, are some of the cancer-causing agents found in moisturizing creams and then this perhaps is just the tip of the iceberg. A typical facial cleanser is said to have 21 cancer causing agent, facial mask 12 and facial scrub,8. And the truth is we need just one such agent to create havoc!

Joy is a smile!

Joy is a smile!




(Pic taken at USM, Penang. 2009)




USM or Universiti Sains Malaysia is one of the more established universities in Malaysia.This public university has its main campus in Penang and two other branch campuses in mainland Penang and in Kelantan which is on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Not too long ago, it was in the limelight for a student admission fiasco. Although it only had 3,599 openings for students, the university mistakenly uploaded the names of some 8000 odds applicants who had met the minimum criteria and instructed them to confirm their places. For this blunder, USM deputy vice-chancellor (Academic and International Affairs) Prof Ahmad Shukri Mustapa Kamal apologised unreservedly, explaining that USM only realised their mistake some 24 hours after the names of the students were put up at the website.

Joy is dressed up!

Joy is dressed up!

(Pic taken near Taiping Bus station. 2009)

Dressed up boys and men perhaps remind one of skinheads. A skinhead is a member of a subculture that originated among working class youths in the United Kingdom in the 1960s. The subculture has since spread to other parts of the world. Skinheads spot long-sleeve or short-sleeve button-up shirts or polo shirts and may wear suits, coat and jackets. Jeans, often blue and splattered with bleach to resemble camouflage trousers, and slacks are worn deliberately short to show off boots, or to show off socks. The man may also wear aTrilby hat, pork pie hat, flat cap or winter woolen hats. Braces or suspenders, silk hankerchieves, badges and scarves may be part of the wardrobe too.

Joy is blooming!

Joy is blooming!


(Pic taken in Grik, Perak, Malaysia. 2009)



Grik or Gerik is a town in Perak, Malaysia. Located strategically next to the East-West highway which linked Kota Bahru, Kelantan to northwestern towns and cities of Malaysia such as Alor Star in Kedah and Penang, it is often dubbed the Rest Town.

Joy is cementing!

Joy is cementing!

(Photo taken in SMK Sri Kota, Taiping. 2009)

SMK Sri Kota is a little known secondary co-ed school in Kampong Boyan, Taiping.

Joy is an ice-cream man!

Joy is an ice-cream man!

(Pic taken in Jakarta, Indonesia. August, 2008)

Jakarta,the capital and largest city of Indonesia was first established in the fourth century. It was an important trading port for the Kingdom of Sunda and as Batavia, served as the capital of the colonial Dutch East Indies. The Japanese renamed it Jakarta in 1942 during Japan's occupation of Java.

Joy is Keeping a Distance!

Joy is Keeping a Distance!

(Pic taken at Agro Park in Batu, Surabaya, Indonesia. August, 2008)

Keeping a distance is sometimes a joy! Take for instance this story which I received from Thuan Hee: In Penang, if you are traveling around the mainland you've got to be extra careful. An old and damaged Honda Accord car PAM 6188 driven by a Chinese man believed to be 60 years old and suspected to be mentally sick, will drive near you, scratch your car and then flee. If you were to horn him, he will purposely stop at the middle of the road,show you a finger and if you were to drive again, he will then stop at the middle of the road. Don't say you have not been warned!

Avoid this car, won't you?

Joy s in the water!

Joy is in the water!

(Pic taken in Pangkor Island, Malaysia. 2008)

Pulau Pangkor, an island off the coast of Perak, Malaysia, is reachable by ferry from Lumut. Fishing and fish products are its major industries.

Joy is paying homage!

Joy is paying homage!
(Pic taken on Vesak Day at a Siamese temple in Assam Kumbang, Taiping. May,2009)

Vesak Day, sometimes referred to as Buddha's birthday actually encompasses the birth, enlightenment Nirvana, and passing (Parinirvana) of Gautama Buddha. In Japan, Vesak is known as hanamatsuri, Kanbutsu-e, Goutan-e , Busshou-e, Yokubutsu-e, Ryuge-e or Hana-eshiki and unlike most countries with a sizeable population of Buddhists, over there it is not a public holiday.

Joy is a head!

Joy is a head!

(Pic taken in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Jakarta, Indonesia.August,2008)

Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) means"Beautiful Indonesia Miniature Park". It is a culture-based recreational area located in East Jakarta. Being one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city, TMII boasts of gardens such as Anggek Garden, Apotek Hidup Garden ,Cakot Garden, Prasasti APEC Garden and museums such as Indonesia Museum, Keprajuritan museum , Perangko Indonesia Museum, Pusaka Museum and many more. One would require more than one day to see it all!

Health Post: Swine Scares!

How would you know if you have swine flu? You'd probably have a high fever followed by a cough, sore throat, running nose and perhaps breathlessness. Swine flu is scaring the butts out of people lately in Mexico and in North America too, I suppose. Spain's Health Ministry at one time confirmed 54 cases of swine flu in the country, making Spain the hardest-hit nation in Europe. Do see a a doctor to ascertain if it is swine flu especially if you have come into contact with the saliva, nasal secretion and faeces of an infected pig. The pork or its products you have eaten probably are not the culprit especially if they are well cooked. Go about your life as usual and if just want to play safe, wear a mask and enjoy! You can be fashionable yet even if you put your mask on!

Fashionable masks in Mexico during the recent swine flu outbreak!

Joy is what goes up!

This is a BlogCatalog Exclusive: What Goes Up Movie Marketer Contest entry!

Joy is what goes up and definitely, it is not the prices!


(Pic taken at Tesco Taiping just before Chinese New Year. 2009)


Joy perhaps is more like watching a movie like the yet to be released 'What Goes Up', a film about a morally challenged New York reporter played by Steve Coogan who learns life lessons from a group of dysfunctional students played by Hilary Duff, Josh Peck and Olivia Thirlby. The theatrical premiere will be on Thursday, May 28 and after May 29, the movie will open in selected theaters in America. It is not simply a joy for Americans who will get to see the movie first but I do think it would be a joy for just anyone who get the opportunity to watch the movie. It will be a joy indeed to watch how a normal person cope with dysfunctional people and not to live with them yourself!

Joy is releasing lanterns in the Ganges!

Joy is releasing lanterns in the Ganges!

(Pic taken at a ghat in Varanasi, India. December, 2007)

The Ganges is one of the major rivers in India. It flows 2,510 km through the Gangetic Plain in northern India to Bangladesh, rising in the western Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhhand and draining into the Sunderbans delta in the Bay of Bengal. The river is considered holy by Hindus who worship it as the goddess Ganga. If you were to visit a ghat in Varanasi in the early morning, you'll not just get to see Hindu pilgrims taking a morning bath but you'll get to see some releasing lighted lanterns into the river. You can buy a lantern and release one yourself, too!

Joy is being in love!

Joy is being in love!

(Pic taken outside Queensbay Mall, Penang. 2009)

When Queensbay Mall opened on December 1, 2006, there were rumours of shoddy work since it was a rush job to meet the Christmas season opening. The mall was once referred to as Bayan World Megamall and in terms of size, it supersedes Gurney Plaza which is yet another shopping mall in Penang. When I was there at Queensbay Mall recently, a pair of lovebirds in school uniforms was spotted having a warm moment.

Joy is playing Chess!

Joy is playing Chess!


(Pic taken in the old part of Jakarta near Jakarta Historical Museum, Indonesia.2008)

Jakarta Historical Museum in Jakarta Old Town area used to be the former Stadhuis of Batavia, the seat of governor General of VOC. The Dutch East India Company was known as Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie or VOC in Dutch. It was a trading company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia.

Joy is approaching!

Joy is approaching!

(Pic taken in Sarikei, Sarawak. 2008)

Once, Mau Wei, Amber and Gendil and I travelled by car from Bitangor to Sarikei in Sarawak. We took the old route and had to cross a river to reach Sarikei,the town by the Rajang River, near where the river empties into the South China Sea. The town is popular for pineapples and pepper.

Joy is buying a drink from a hawker!

Joy is buying a drink from a hawker!

(Pic taken at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Jakarta, Indonesia. 2008)

Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) or Beautiful Indonesia Miniature Park in East Jakarta, Indonesia is a 250 acres culture-based recreational area. There are about ten gardens and fourteen museums here to delight tourists who may also choose to take a ride on a cable car to enjoy a bird-eye view of this park.

Java Jamboree is currently on at Travel Pangs!

Joy is a threesome!

Joy is a threesome!

(Pic taken in Jakarta, 2008)

Photo taken in Jakarta Old Town area at the site of the former Stadhuis of Batavia, the seat of Governor General of VOC, tehVereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie otherwise known as the Dutch East India Company. The historical building now serves as Jakarta Historical Museum.

Java Jamboree is currently at http://travelpangs.blogspot.com!

Joy is listening to the Dhamma!

Joy is listening to the Dhamma!

(Pic taken at Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya, India. 2007)

Dhamma or Dharma in Buddhism could mean the teachings of the Buddha which lead to enlightenment or the constituent factors of the experienced world. The Buddha taught the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, the Three Marks of Existence, and other guidelines in order to achieve the freedom and liberation from suffering. For musings on the dharma, click Dhamma Delights!