Finally, it’s the end….

What a great performance, I just watched the closing ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic and to my frustration, it doesn’t comes out what I was anticipated. It was not that great and awesome if compared to the opening ceremony, but that’s the reality that everything will start with great roar and ended up with a hiss.

Am I right? Perhaps others think the different. Well, the first performance comes from the Chinese percussion team. I was awed by the hanging drum. Wondering how they get those heavy drums up to the mid air. Much effort must have been dedicated to this astonishing stunt.

Nothing special follow one except for the honour session for the volunteer of the Beijing Olympic. Honestly, they should be the backbone of this game. Everyone thought that the atheletes were in the spotlight, but for me, those volunteer should have more than that because they sacrifice themselves (without payment fro mthe government) for both the preparation and the process of the game. Without them, this game surely won’t going smoothly, or even worse, there would be no Olympic, who knows…

The next thing that make the crowd cheer would be the appearance of some stars on the centre of the arena. Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, Wakin Chau, Wang Li Hong….and more. These stars pushed the ceremony to the peak with their new songs.

The most eye catching event would be the firework. I wonder how they done the preparation work. So much firework had to be positioned and it comes with mutiple waves, which make the preparation harder. I have to say this would be the greatest and most extraordinary firwork I ever seen and so do other who witnessed the whole event, I’m quite sure of that. All these thanks to those who were willing to dedicate themselves for the game. A great thankyou from me

Boom!….Vesuvius at rage

You may think those figure above are just another replication inspired by the Chinese terra-cotta army. But you’re wrong if that’s what your thought. Those are once real people and what’s more, they’re Ancient Roman.

So, what caused this? Aren’t they statues? Why they shaped like this?…. Such questions may arose for those who see this pictures for the first time. The main craftmen for these ’statues’ were the ashes from the Mountain Vesuvius. And yes, these Romans were once the inhabitants of the porpular Roman city of Pompeii and Herculanium.

Herculanium? Many have heard what’s Pompeii but Herculanium is not that significant. Well, one reason, Herculanium has less preservatived ’statues’ compared to Pompeii’s. Both cities’ faith were under the control of this active volcano years ago (even in present day).

And on this day, the mountain erupted in the afternoon of 24 August 79AD. The eruption were so enormous that it overpower the atomic bomb both in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. And no more eruption after that were so powerful until the eruption of Krakatoa.

The eruption kicks off with a big splash of ashes and debris ranging miles into the atmosphere. A deadly pyroclastic flow follow on. And it would eventually take major casualties of disaster. With temperature rises up to thousands of degree celcius, the flow killed everything in its path. While for the human, their flesh were burned, all left was a shell shape of the human being.

Though this tragedy claim numerous lives, it was still the largest contribution for the archological world as this event preserved the original Roman lifestyles and their building intact. This archeological site was discovered during 17th century and was fully excavated by the end of 19th century.

Among the great discoveries were the residential area of the ancient Rome, forums, bath houses, markets…..and even temples were unearthed.

Olympic: Honour, Respect and ego?

As we can see nowadays, the Olympic spirit are burning and everyone are starring at the tv, some even stick to it in hope to catch a glimpse of some history making athletes nad most possibly, supporting their own country for……well you guess it, medals.

Why are these medal so important? Doesn’t it true that the passion for the festive is even more important? Everyone seems thirst for medals. Everyday, every moment and everyone are giving their full concern on the olympic medal tally (including me, I admit it) but I started to realise, is this the game organized only for those medal war?

This battle of medals hed claimed the spotlight of the whole event. No doubt this game is originally held for world peace and harmony, but it seems denatured. People are caring more on the results of winning or losing of their favourite athletes rather than the original objectives of the game.

Is thsi a metaphore for a country desire for respect and honour? Or this weird ideology is simply propelled by the egoistic instinct of the country? This question seems to have endless and rather controversial answer and I decided to leave it here since the answer may seems inconclusive to me.

Lee Chong Wei puppeted?

I get this news from night news report on AEC channel. According to the news, both party intended to use him as propaganda for spreading each others political strength. How can this be? Well it all start from his return journey from China after winning the silver medal for Malaysia.

He was intercepted with a time arrangement by the members of the central government. He used to be spending his time with his family and possibly having a vacation in Bali (that’s what I heard from the news) after being apart from them for few weeks and worse he was under great pressure before and after the match.

But everything had changed once he disboarded the plane in Penang. He’s now blocked from his family. Perhaps preparing for a great advertisment for the side that puppeted him. Pls, give him a break, he’s an athlete, not a tools for propagandaes.

Last but not least: Don’t give up!

Lost….I can’t believe it. But what can we do, sometimes we need to depend on fate to win a match no matter how much effort we had spent. After watching the Gold medal match of single male badminton, I felt so…..frustrated.

However, last but not least, at least we get a silver medal. That’s the first time since last two Olympic. Great job Chong Wei, you’re our pride and so do other atheletes. Work harder and strive for next Olympic in London!

This post should have published few days ago, unfortunately, I forget to click the ‘publish’ button

Lee Chong Wei in, for the great finals!

Though I’m not a professional badminton player nor a badminton maniac, but the Olympic fever held me stick to the TV, waiting for my country’s first gold medal. For now, nothing can be the most anticipated event, except for the badminton men finals which will be held this Sunday night (some call it Super Duper Sunday).

I watched a program weeks before Olympic about Lee Chong Wei in channel AEC. Which the channel broadcasters were sent for a training mission from our country’s Olympian. And one of them is Lee Chong Wei. I learned much from that program. And realize that, our country’s citizen rely very much on him to get our first gold medal for this games.

And now is the begining of the great firework. Tomorrow, the great show will be unleashed. I will catch the historic moment at all cost. And for him, our hope, I will surely support him. Go, Lee Chong Wei!! You can do it!

Gangsters threatening our school pupils

It was a normal Thursday. I was having my Chinese orchestra practice. And I was told that our school pupils has encountered some gangsters from outside had injured 2 of our school students. I was not believing it at first and expect it was just a past story. But as I ask further it came out that the incident happen on that day and it’s a real situation.

“What!? Slashed?!” as I asked further I was told that our form 4 students, Tan Chee Han received wounds on his back by 2 stroke of knife on his back. The suspect that caused this incident is believe to be members of a gangster group called “Ren Hai ；仁海”. Another students, the victim’s friend also received wound on his nose. Fortunately, another student manage to flee to safety

According to the news I read, the gangsters comes straight at the three friends and ask whether the students are Ren Hai’s members. A quick “no” reply kick off the fierce attack.

I was shocked by the incidence. I’m starting to worry about my friends safety. Especially my fellow orchestra members. How the “refortification” of our school will complete as fast as it could to ensure a more secured school compound.

I read the news from http://www.kwongwah.com.my/news/2008/08/15/27.html

Spirit of sports

Today our Chinese teacher discussed with us about the Beijing Olympic. And we elaborated till the topic on how to improve the performance of our country’s sport teams performance and encourage more great sportsman to be trained.

Well, the first thing would be the money problem. Investing a sport team is not an easy task. And yes, my friends did suggested that sportsman needs to be provided with sustainable and assured amount of income, this will make them focus on their job without concerning their retiring age to come (many sportsman ended up poor as there were no pension for them). No matter what’s the result of the ‘war’, every sportsman should be provided with that kind of service, this will encourage more people to taking part in sport.

Besides, many parents think that the future of sport is so dimmed that it’s not worthed to be try. Thus, vanquishing their childs dream of becoming a great athelete. They wrongly advised their child to avoid sports in order to have full focus on their academy. Besides, schools also neglected the important of sports. Sportsday were often held for one day, there won’t be any active sport activities after that. Most of the time will be spend on exam….exam…and exam… the whole objective of study has been denatured.

I think our country should learn more and still have more to learn from other sport doctrine country. By investing more and more on sporting facilities like sport science, nutrition and doing more research on it. And more importantly, promise the athlelete with high rewards with each prizes brought from each games. And I think Malaysian government has starting to change their strategies, one big steps toward our goal. Good job and ‘add oil’ to those who are fighting for our honour in Beijing. Wish them the best of luck!!

Politicians: Pros and Cons

Everyone wanted to lead, no one wanted to be a person that obey others throughout their life. That’s because of natural human instinct for dominance which we would like to show our power and get people’s respect. However is leader always that fortunate or so called, lucky? I don’t think so.

Many people think that leader is a person who can enjoy their life time with luxurious cars mention, offices and even working trip where common citizens won’t have the opportunity to do. But as a leader, it’s an obligation to represent the peoples. If that responsible fail, bad luck befallen them (the leaders).

In fact, many leaders can be seen nowadays to be criticised and sometimes even humiliated by medias once they done something wrong even that’s not what they wanted to. They’re also a prey for paparatzies which sometimes their privacy won’t be secured at anytime.Today, I received an e-mail which makes fun about politicians on the rising of the price of petroleum. After reading such “joke” I realise it’s not an easy task to satisfy the people, the one who’re under the our leadership.

My opinion is that, not only the national politician are under constant thread. So do leadership in various field, like a school. Being a leader of a society is also quite a burden especially the society that the school has been given so much hope on winning glory and reputation. Consequently, the leader needs to be well prepared for any situations, decipline problems….performance troubles….etc, etc. and most important is, the leader needs to be ahead of other members in order to lead them. If they fail that, they fail their job.

For me, leading is an unforgiveable curse.

Congratulation to my cousin on his convocation!

This maybe his happiest moment in his life. Getting a scroll of graduation cert is one things, the most significant feature would be wearing a blackish robe with a square hat on top of each students’ hat.

“3….2…1……” and off the hats go, they wer thrown as high as they could. Why? I don’t know, perhaps it has been a tradition or just to show their happiness. I think this would be very meaningful for him after years of hard work.

Though I don’t have the opportunity to go ther eand witness the ‘firework’ but I’m sure I will receive dozens of pictures sent by him.

I hope one day I could be like him, but in oversea where I do it with peoples who speak different languages and have different culture. It would be great if they become my friend and even greater if I can stay once finish the study there….

OK, back from dreaming. I just built a castle in cloud nine. Now the journey still far and hard. Full of barricades and challenges. However I would like to say another “Gratz” to him