Joss Stick Antique Box

There are 2 engraved dragons on the wooden box.

Both sides of the box have dragons head in design.

Joss sticks are nicely fit into the wooden box.

During our honeymoon at Vietnam, we’ve doing a lot of shopping besides side seeing. While we’re shopping in one of the souvenirs shop, I noticed this antique wooden box. I’m admired to the hand-make engraving and is kind of can’t resist for me from buying it. It cost me about 50 ringgits (after conversion to my country currency) which I think it is a reasonable price.

The shopkeeper is very friendly. He asked me where I came from. I told him that I’m from Malaysia. Then he started to share me about his working experience in my country, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. How coincidence!

At first I can’t decide what to keep inside this wooden box. Finally, I find one thing which is very suitable to fit in this box – hah... that is joss sticks. From then onwards, I called this box as my joss stick wooden box.

Do you think it is a nice wooden box? And it fit well my joss sticks?

Malaysia Tradisional Batik

It would be impossible to visit or live in Malaysia and not to be exposed to one of the country's most highly developed art forms, “batik”. On your first visit to a batik store or factory you will undoubtedly experience an overwhelming stimulation of the senses - due to the many colors, patterns and the actual smell of batik.

Natural materials such as cotton or silk are used for the cloth, so that it can absorb the wax that is applied in the dye resisting process. The fabrics must be of a high thread count (densely woven). It is important that cloth of high quality have this high thread count so that the intricate design qualities of batik can be maintained.

The cloth that is used for batik is washed and boiled in water many times prior to the application of wax so that all traces of starches, lime, chalk and other sizing materials are removed. Prior to the implementation of modern day techniques, the cloth would have been pounded with a wooden mallet or ironed to make it smooth and supple so it could best receive the wax design. With the finer machine-made cotton available today, the pounding or ironing processes can be omitted. Normally men did this step in the batik process.

I have experienced the hands on of making batik during my high school time and I really enjoyed the whole process. Hope that our Malaysia Education Department will still include batik as one of the arts subject in school.

My Free DVD Player

I’ve been using Pioneer DVD player for 4 years already and recently it can’t play movie smoothly. I think it should be achieve its maximum life span now. So I decided to use my credit card point to exchange one unit of Phillips DVD player. It required 73000 point to do the redemption.

Anyway, after setting up this Philips DVD player, I found that the sound quality is not meeting my expectation. It is using analog 6 channel output with DTS features but then it does not have coaxial cable port to connect to my Yamaha amplifier.

This DVD player comes with HDMI technology that can upscale to 1080p high definition for sharper pictures. It’s also come with DivX Ultra that combines DivX playback with great features like integrated subtitles, multiple audio languages, multiple tracks and menus into one convenient file format.The best part is that, this DVD player come with Karaoke feature that provides endless entertainment and maximum audio and singing enjoyment. I can enhance the performance by adding an ‘echo’ effect to my voice. The key control allows me to choose the optimal key for my personal vocal range. So, welcome anyone of you to my house to Karaoke. Remember to bring along your own DVD song yah...

Risk Board Game

This is the full set of Risk.


Risk is a game of world domination, where the objective is to conquer the world. To win, one must attack and defend – attacking to acquire territory, and defending to keep it from opponents. The game board features a map of six continents divided into 42 territories. It's a game of strategy, battling to win by launching daring attacks, defending territory, and moving across continents with cunning plan!

Play three variations: World Domination, Capital Risk, and Secret Mission Risk. This game will engage and challenge any player to join the ranks of world leaders! The standard Risk board game includes dice, Risk cards, and six sets of miniature armies. The newer editions include new scenarios and objectives, and are stand-alone games (not expansions). Risk also came in software version besides the board game as above picture.

To start playing this game, we have to divide ourselves into 4 groups and then we will start to set up a strategy plan by placing our army for conquers. We usually play this game during our break or lunch time in the office. This is one of our team building game to improve our relationship as well as improve our networking with all peers. Besides Risk, we have computer games and playing cards like Uno. All these games are to help us release work pressure.

Honey Good For Your Health

Last Saturday while shopping at Jaya Jusco, I noticed some sales boy promoting on Manuka honey from the organic stalls. After understand the explanation from the sales boy, I’d like to share the “value” of honey here. First of all, Manuka honey is categorized in rating like UMF 10+ and 16+. Manuka Honey is a holistic health solution for sore throats, colds, canker sores, fever blisters, leg ulcers burns, bacterial infections, psoriasis, eczema, acne, and septic wounds.

After back home, I surf via internet about Manuka Honey and shared with you on what I found. Manuka honey will help with symptoms of an up-set stomach, stomach ulcer, (peptic ulcer) duodenal ulcer, due to its natural ability to destroy strep, staph, and h. pylori (helicobacter pylori) which is the bacteria that is believed to be the main cause of stomach ulcers.

Some people may also find other symptoms are successfully addressed. Reliefs for heartburn or acid reflux have responded well to supplementing with Manuka Honey. And even honey can be used externally. According to doctors in New Zealand, they found out that honey works well as a wound dressing to help heal infectious wounds. Those suffering from foot ulcerations and diabetic leg, bed sores, burns, and ulcers are helped.

Unfortunately, the 16+ Manuka Honey is out of stock, therefore I have to purchase with 10+ grades (see above picture) honey. It cost me 76 ringgit per bottle. So, let’s us take a good care of our health by drinking Manuka Honey.

Tawilis Fish

I was on business trip to Philippines. The best part of business trip is that during weekend I’ll have my own time to tour around besides enjoying the local foods and beverages. I wanted to blog out about the Tawilis Fish in here.

The real name of Tawilis Fish is Sardinella tawilis. The size of this fish is about 15cm long and weighing less than 30g. These fishes are in the freshwater of Tagaytay, Philippines Lake and the unique is that, the fishes exist in lake are entirely the member of Clupeidae family.

Tagaytay City lies on top of the Tagaytay Ridge at 640m (2,100 ft) above sea level which is the highest point in Cavite. And the Tagaytay Lake itself was a volcano many hundred years ago. Well, I requested my driver to bring me visit to the Tagaytay Lake as well as to tour around the Tagaytay city. I enjoyed the beautiful view along the way and I can see there’s a lot restaurants situated there.
So, I need not to worry about getting hungry...hah.

Surprisingly, the population is so high in this volcanic area even there are a few volcanoes are active ones. I can see there are many fishermen over there and they just catch Tawilis fishes for their living.

Oh yah, the local people will deep fried this fish till crispy like the picture shown above and the taste is not bad.

Online game

Today I would like to share with you what I’m doing when I feel bored at home. Usually, I’ll read comics, write blogs or playing online game. Online gaming will actually help me to make more friends besides learning on how important the team-work is.

The online game that I used to play is called Navyfield and the web address is http://www.navyfield.com/. This online game is free of charge and it is suitable for those who fans for battle ship. If you are familiar with World War 1-2 battle ship, you will definitely love this game.

The game consist of 4 nations of marine namely USA, UK, Germany and Japan. Each of the nations has its own strength. We can either choose battleship, carrier or submarine to play on. The best part of this game is joining or creating a new clan or your own team. Than you can start clan game or attacking harbor.

You can easily find me online after 7:30pm. My ID is whtan74. Most welcome you guys to join my squadron.

Be Alert when entering or leaving through doors

According to the National Safety Council, 300,000 injuries are caused by doors every year. Wow! Are you as surprised by this fact as I was?

Door safety relates to prevention of door-related accidents. Such accidents take place in various forms, and in a number of locations. Accidents vary in severity and frequency. We want to remind employees who are entering or leaving restrooms, to take your time, slow down, be alert when reach for the door or when pushing door out. Just slow down and understand that your haste can cause injury to yourself or others. Be aware of doors that open into the hallways like along the RP1 corridor. All safety awareness is based on knowledge and your actions. Awareness implies knowledge gained through one’s own perceptions or by means of information. Accordingly, who knew that 300,000 injuries are caused by doors annually; of course, this includes all types of accidents, but still that is a lot of injuries. We don’t want you to become part of these distressing statistics.

Antique Fan Switch

A few weeks ago I went to a temple located at Air Itam for praying. After I’ve done with my prayer, I chat to the person in charged of the temple and suddenly something really catches my eyes.

Wow! Amazingly in that temple still can find this “superb” old model fan’s switches. I told the person in charged of the temple that this switches is considered an antique now. According to her, they will try their best to reserve the temple as it is! Hopefully any repaired work or renovation to the temple, they will try to keep it as existing design no matter is interior, exterior or fitting.

Hope that after 10 years the switches can still remains there in the temple.

Japan Food

This is my 1st day dinner when I was business trip to Philippines. The restaurant is located nearby to the hotel that I stayed. I like the cat fish and it taste delicious. I’m sure will dine again in this restaurant for my next trip visit to Cavite, Philippines.

My Latest Phone

This is my latest PDA phones that I purchased. It is HTC TyTN II supports the full spectrum of network standards and allows me get in touch ANYWHERE in the world. With an internet connection via 3.5G HSDPA, that is nine times faster than 3G, using the TyTN II to download files and surf Web. It also can use Skype or MSN.

- Enjoy super fast connectivity worldwide with HSDPA/UMTS, GSM, GPRS, EDGE, Wi-Fi®, and Bluetooth®

- Do more on the move with Windows Mobile® 6 Professional - instant e-mail, calendar, notes, tasks, and contacts synchronization

- Find your way to your destination easily with built-in GPS navigation and software

- Capture magic moments with the built-in 3 megapixel camera with auto focus. Personal point of view, very good and sharp picture. But cons are slow when snap picture. Sometimes the object that you going to take already pass…

Obake-Ya Japanese Restaurant

This restaurant located at Leith Street (Opposite Red Garden Food Court). What so special about this restaurant? Did you ever take your lunch or dinner inside jail? Now u has the chance to try it. You can visit my face book to get more pictures.

Hooters Restaurant At Makati/Manila

During my visit to Philippines last 2 weeks, my colleagues bring me to Hooters restaurant which located near Asian Mall. This restaurant served western food. And they hire a lot of pretty ladies as waitress. All of the waitress are “hot” and they dance every hour. If you visit Manila one day, you must try to dine there. Hooters restaurant also can be found in USA.

Favorite Drink

I like this drinks!

Kek Lok Si Temple’s Night View

This is the night view of Pagoda Temple or Kek Lok Si Temple, Penang. In fact, this photo has been snapped 2 years ago and I’d like to share it with you all.

Reputedly, it is the largest Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia. The temple’s enclave is including a pagoda and a huge statue of the Goddess Kuan Yin.

Besides the monastery, a seven-storey pagoda of 10,000 Buddha images displays the essence of an eclectic mix of Chinese, Thai and Burmese architecture. The main hall has colorful souvenir shops. A shrine filled with statues and a courtyard where a large pond full of carp and tortoises are main attractions.

Butterfly Farm At Penang

The Penang Butterfly Farm, reputedly the world's first tropical live butterfly sanctuary where is located just 15 minutes away from the Batu Ferringhi tourist belt.

Butterfly Farm is established in 1986 with about 4,000 live butterflies of 150 different species, a nature park with small reptiles in their natural habitats as well as the Museum of Asian Artifacts.

Expansion plans are underway to include a night zoo, which will feature nocturnal creatures and tropical insects. The farm is a not-to-be-missed for many and it attracts about 250 to 300 visitors daily. Entrance fees to Butterfly Farm will vary between Malaysian and non-Malaysian.

I suggest the best time of visiting the farm is at the morning session because you may see more butterfly then. The farm also has scorpion and some other small animals. Don’t forget to visit this place when you’re visiting Penang, Malaysia.