Juwita kicked off her music career as a backup singer for leading Malaysian artists in her late teens. In this period, she developed her own style of singing and was frequently requested to do song demos for East Asian music publishing companies.  One of her rendition “Breathe Again” published by Warner Music Taiwan was used in “The Outsiders”, a Mandarin TV drama series.

Since her solo album, “Brand New World” which was awarded as the ‘Best Local English Album’ in 2005, she performed in many events, rallies, and concerts in Malaysia and Singapore.  She did a mini tour in Australia and was given an ‘Angel’ award at the National Gospel Music Awards in Canberra in the same year.

Another album, ‘For Real’ includes songs like ‘Beautiful Lies’ , ‘Desperado’ and ‘Walk Away’.  This album was one of the nominees in the Best Local English Album category for AIM14  (Malaysian Music Industry) in 2007.  She was the country winner in the Best Female Solo Artist category for the 2007 International Music Awards (IMA).

Here are few of her popular songs(click on the song titles to play):

Breathe Again

All This Time

You in Me

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One of my favourite actors is Henry Winkler. How that comes about was when I first watched Happy Days. It was like love at first sight.  He role as the “Fonz”, a high school dropout and greaser, was like second nature to him. He fits right in into the macho type character.

Well, he was born on 30 October 1945 in Manhattan, New York. His father worked as a president of an international lumber company. He struggled through his studies from elementary to high school due a learning disability later he identified it as dyslexia.

His parents wants him to work with them in the lumber company but he has plans in his career as an actor. Incredibly he graduated form high school and further his studies in Emerson College and did a Master of Fine Arts degree in Yale School of Drama.

After Yale, he began his career in appearing in 30 commercials. His break came in 1974 where he played a role as a member of a Brooklyn gang in “The Lord’s of Flatbush”.

Following after that, he was in a new ABC series called “Happy Days”. In there he acted as a high school dropout and auto mechanic named Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli set in the 1950s. He was seldom seen in the first few episodes as ABC feared he would been noted as a hoodlum but he was very famous with his viewers. As the result of this the producers made his role more prominent. The show’s ratings went up and Fonzie became the 1970s icon of a cool guy. As he rose to fame, he did not become snobbish however he was seen to be humble.

As Happy Days series ended in 1984, he decided to pursue producing and directing. The prominent movies and TV shows that he produced and directed were “MacGyver”(1985), “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch”(1996), “Scream”(1996), “The Waterboy”(1998), “The Practice”(1997), and “Arrested Development”(2003).

He was also an renown author as between 2003 and 2007 when he teamed up with Lin Oliver to write a “Hank Zipzer, the World’s Greatest Underachiever” which based on his early days of struggles with dyslexia. More than 2 million books were sold.

He married in 1978 to Stacey and has three children. They were into a lot of children charities. Recently in September 2011, he was confered with an honourary OBE from Queen Elizabeth II for his educational work on dyslexia in schools in UK.

Happy Days one of the episodes(click here to view)

MacGyver theme song(click here to view)

MacGyver Trailer season 7(click here to view)

Written by PC

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The owner of the home, Jeremy Noritz, first bought the apartment in 2006 for $1.3 million. He has since redesigned and redecorated the place to look like something straight out of a Jules Verne novel.

The redecoration of the co-op took about two years and according to Mr. Noritz ‘Like other large projects, the initial budget and scope were quite modest compared to the beast it would eventually become.’ He says that photos of zeppelins informed the design, as well as steampunk style.

The focal point of the home is the colour changing zeppelin that appears to float from the ceiling. In another part of a home, there are shelves that are filled with all kinds of antiques and strange memorabilia.

In the living room there are large wooden gears what weigh more than 500 pounds and vintage recliners with built in cup holders that were collected and salvaged from metal foundries and antique shops. Strange sculptures, blimps and fans also dangle from the ceiling, creating an interesting living space.

The bathroom, cleverly concealed behind walls of antique piping, gears, and cogs, is accessed by a pulley system.

The bedroom, decorated to look like an exploded zeppelin, holds a murphy bed, operated by a deactivated bomb, that lifts and lowers to move the bed.

The owner is looking to sell the house, with all furnishings included for $1.75 million.

As a big fan of steampunk, this has got to be my dream house, with all its wheels and cogs. Personally, this is the best steampunk designed homes I’ve ever seen.

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The Monsopiad Cultural Village opened on the 1st of May 1996, in memory of the great and legendary Kadazan Warrior Monsopiad, a reknowned headhunter of the Kadazandusun people. Since then the attraction has seen many visitors, both locals and tourists alike.

Visitors to the village are encouraged to take part in the many activities offered throughout the day, from making rice-wine (also known as lihing), to learning to cook the local cuisine. Apart from that there are performances of the “Sumazau”, a traditional dance of the tribe, that visitors can also learn.

Within the village, you can take a guided tour of the House of Skulls, where the remnants of Monsopiad’s headhunting days are displayed. The tour also takes you to visit the Tangkob, or Granary, where paddy is stored, and also to the Kotos Di Monsopiad or Monsopiad’s Main House, dedicated to the life and times of Monsopiad and his decendants. In the house, there are displays of many traditional items, including the costume of Bobohizan Inai Bianti, a direct descendant of Monsopiad and very senior high priestess.

For those who are interested in visiting the Monsopiad Cultural Village, opening hours is daily, from 9 AM to 5 PM. Admission fees (which include a welcome drink and the guided tour) for locals is RM 55 for adults, RM 30 for students and RM 20 for senior citizens (aged 55 and above), while for overseas visitors, it is RM 75 for adults and RM 50 for students. For children, admission is free.

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Below are some of his popular titles. Click on the link below the graphic to hear the song… enjoy

Shadow Dancing

Everlasting Love

I Just Want To Be Your Everything

written by PC

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AT.MOSPHERE BURJ KHALIFA – the World’s Highest Restaurant with a good ambiance.
It is located on the 122nd floor of Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world in Dubai.  This comfortable and warmth little restaurant is best for its romantic dinner or a place for gathering of friends.  Especially the carpets do induce a special atmosphere.
However, the food are on the pricey side.

Interior of the At.mosphere

Fine dining at the AT.mosphere

Beautifully design, cosy, and terrific atmosphere with superb food in one of the best sushi restaurant in the world surprisingly at a restaurant called Buhle in Porto, Nothern Portugal.

Octopus Tartare

Delicious Sushi

Bukhara has noted of having a string of awards, which includes “Best Indian Restaurant in the World” and “Best Restaurant in Asia” by the Restaurant Magazine in the UK. It’s noted for its country-styled atmosphere, memorable kababs, and huge family size naan bread.

It’s address is at ITC Maurya Sheraton Hotel, Diplomatic Enclave, Sadar Patel Marg, New Delhi.

O Tzitzikas ki o Mermigkas restaurant. There are a few. One of them is situated at 26,Ag.Georgiou and Aischylou Streets, Chalandri, Athens, Greece.

A tavern with a modern twist and very good food, which has expanded into a small, family-owned, a chain of 4 restaurants. Its name found its origin from Aesop’s fable “the grasshopper and the ant” (actually in Greek it’s “the cicada and the ant”).
A large open yard with about 20 old-styled tables. The walls are decorated with glass pots full of spices and bottles of vinegar, wine and liquor barrels like an old, Greek liquor store.

The inside of the tavern

Appetiser – Stuff Onion

Written by PC

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The 100-year-old track spans 134 kilometres, and starts from Tanjung Aru, ending at the small town of Tenom. The feature of the North Borneo Railway is a British Vulcan steam locomotive, and it is one of the very few functional locomotives fuelled by wood.

In a joint project between Sutera Harbour Resorts and the Sabah State Railway Department, the North Borneo Railway aims to be an enhancement on the existing railway, and also to boost Sabah as a tourist destination.

Along the train journey stops will be made at every various stations. Throughout the journey you will be able to enjoy the sights and sounds of the countryside, the paddy fields, mangrove swamps and the beautiful coastal beaches of Sabah.

For those of you who want to take a day trip on this lovely train, boarding times are at 9:30 AM at Tanjung Aru Station. The tours are only available every Wednesday and Saturday. Advanced booking is required a day before departure. On course, the trip will set you back RM250 (adults) and RM150 (children between 3 to 12). Breakfast and Lunch is provided on the train and for those who are staying at Sutera Harbour Resort, the fare is inclusive of a return trip from the station back to the resort.

To get to the train station, you can either take a bus from the main bus station at Wawasan Plaza, or hail a taxi and and tell the driver wher you want to go. Bus fares will cost RM1.50 a person and RM15.00 per taxi.

For more information, visit the Sutera Harbour Resort page.

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House based on a triangular shape with slanting frontal feature to bear against the wind and rain.

Ocean feature like design building.

Acro, a small city within a city concept. A building with self-sustainability equipped with solar panels, water turbines, wind turbines, water recycling facility and passive solar glazing system.

The four pictures below are architectural concepts of sea city and buildings:

Are they inspired by the lost city of Atlantis?

Written by PC

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Grand Dorsett’s F&B Manager and Chef offering a brief welcome and intro.

A tour of Grand Dorsett’s newly renovated room followed High Tea.

Then we got to hang out at the club lounge.

After that was a tour of the award-winning Emperor Restaurant. It has a “no pork” menu.

Entrance of The Emperor mimics a Chinese bridge.

We voted to dine in Terazza Brasserie. It was a Mediterranean setting with fine International cuisine, overlooking the lush resort grounds and pool setting. Here are some shots of the food on offer…

And here’s my first round at the buffett table…

Yep, I’m definitely Malaysian

Some freebies & souvenirs that I brought back home

Grand Dorsett Subang has 6 F&B outlets in different settings ranging from casual & relaxed to formal dining:
1. Terraza Brasserie
2. The Emperor Chinese Restaurant
3. Miyako Japanese Restaurant
4. Cafe Aroma (Continental & Delicatessen/Patiserrie style)
5. Piano Lounge (Drinks in a warm, relaxed setting)
6. Splashes Pool Bar (Light snaks & drinks – great for your private cocktail party)

The hotel’s website is at http://www.granddorsett.com/kualalumpur

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Given that comic book fans are mostly males, it is surprising that male superheroes are more popular than female ones.

Could it be the desire to be a superhero is stronger than drooling over a super heroine? The thought of swooping in and saving a damsel in distress… which male in his sane mind has not fantasized over this at some point in his life?

Whatever the reason may be, it’s puzzling because super heroines are way cooler for 3 simple reasons:

One – costumes. I’m sure you agree with me on this. It’s not just the fact that the notion of men in tights make you laugh, it’s also the unfortunate design of their costume. I mean, look at Superman. He’s got his underwear on the outside and that cape certainly does not enhance the overall look (no offence to Christopher Reeve, he definitely looks solid in real).

Women in tights though, conjure up all types of very pleasant images, whether it is a whole bodysuit or just super tight shorts. Case in point: Catwoman, Black Widow and Wonder Woman. Whether it’s the comic version or the movie version, these super heroines look H-O-T!!

In fact, the colour scheme of blue and red also works better for Wonder Woman than it does for Superman. Or maybe it was the stunning Linda Carter?

Two – their strength and abilities. Wit the exception of those from X-men, a lot of the super heroines kick ass because they have acquired the physical ability through hard training. They don’t have super powers that enhance their physical abilities (like Spiderman from his radioactive spider bite or Superman, who essentially is an alien).

For example, there’s Elektra who was a female ninja assassin. She wields a pair of bladed sai and studied martial arts in China. As for the Black Widow, she was a Soviet agent who was trained as a spy, martial artist and sniper.

And of course, there’s also Lara Croft who is not only athletic, but also intelligent with an interest in archaeology.

And lastly, no weird weaknesses. There’s no female heroes who are affected by the colour yellow (unlike the Green Lantern) or noise pollution (Daredevil). I can’t safely say though that they would be immune to shopping bargains. Perhaps there’ll be a comic or movie that will let us know later.

In the meantime, let us revisit the costume factor again (hubba, hubba). Here’s a few more (they may be lesser-known but no less sexier):

Aeon Flux (Charlize Theron)

Vampirella (Maria Di Angelis)

The Huntress

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