Monday, June 30, 2008

Baba's prediction on Euro2008

Faces of extreme joy and happiness....


Fernando Torres: the goal scorer

Fernando Torres again

Iker Casillas: the goalkeeper
Photo source: Euro2008

Baba was SPOT ON with his early prediction telling us that Spain will win 1-0 over Germany.

And I was....ummm...had one correct prediction too, even though i was 50-50 on which team will win but i had the gut feelings that Fernando Torres will score.


Felicitacion to them Spaniards for winning the coveted Henri Delaunay UEFA Euro2008 Cup hence the European Football Champion!!!

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Terbang sang helang bebas

What to do when the flight is so full, and people, mostly males in their midlife crisis ages sleeping and snoring and making all sort of gurgling the frog-in-the-throat sounds......? Not feeling like reading, I resorted to taking photos of clouds as the plane cruised by. I couldnt help but wondering with great amazement the beautiful panoramic views of clouds in variety of shapes and forms.


Aren't they awesome those clouds? One of God's greatest wonder, these clouds looked as if they just float around the earth and soon they will be carrying massive amount of fluid to be released as rain showers. Whether they are released in massive amounts or just drizzles of water from the sky, the clouds provide some sort of a shield from direct sun rays hence the natural UV protector.

Sometimes I wish I can fly like an eagle (helang) flying and soaring across the boundary-less skies looking with razor sharp eyes for some wonderful destinations to land and still look majestic (and fit) as ever.










Monday, June 23, 2008

Photoblog Labuan II

Fancy devouring fresh succulent crab the Labuan, Borneo way? I am already drooling just thinking of it again....those mouthwatering tender crab flesh cooked in 3 flavours: butter, sweet&sour and black pepper sauce. It's been a while since I claw deep inside the crab shell to scour those sweet, white flesh and cracking their legs to suck those extra sweet juicy fleshes.....I can still taste them in my mouth....hmmmm.....spanking gorgeous....simply delicious....

Feast your eyes on these photos:



The moment we set eyes on the dishes laid before us on a one-day in advance order. Otherwise, nangessss la tak mmmerassaa....It is so much in demand this Anjung Ketam restaurant by the sea, even the seating pun kena booking in advance.


Three hungry ladies, well, the one on the left was probably the hungriest one, just look at her hands on the table, couldnt wait to grab those yummy looking crabs. Table manners? fugeddaboutit.


That lady had to control ayu while her tummy already berkeroncong and she had to swallow those drrrrooooling saliva. Picture taken on the night mode hence the slightly fuzzy result. Nevertheless it added the AYU-ness on her.


Where are the other 3 people??!!!! Kitorang dah lapar gilerrrrrrrr.....

Just before we began our dinner. Bye bye crabbie, kami mahu melantak!

Photoblog Labuan I

Alang-alang dah upload photos into the PC I pun nak share those photos I took in Labuan recently:


The view from the Labuan Square. That white building is Grand Dorset hotel where i stayed.


Another view from the Labuan Square, this time we can see a rooftop grand stand facing the main road.


Flags of Malaysia encompassing 13 states and one federation state.Apparently Labuan is also a Federal state besides Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya


Some history lesson during the WW2


Australia involvement in the WW2 history.




Sunday, June 22, 2008

What can you find in Jakarta

Jakarta, either you love it or you just had to be there for a meeting somewhere in the capital of Indonesia.

I found these in Jakarta:



If you have just landed in Jakarta and waiting for your baggages to arrive on the conveyor belt, you will be greeted by a "komodo dragon".



A view of Istora Senayan, where the infamous Thomas Cup is held, from Hotel Mulia Senayan


Wonder why they got that red hot stiletto stuck under an escalator...


If you are not sleeping on your way to Bandung from Jakarta, you can see this beautiful aquaduct shape of a railway track.



You will see loadsa these handsome and artistic wooden doll carvings in a souvenir shop. Very Javanese.




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It's gonna be 10 years since I made my 1 month backpacking with my close mate Yana around Europe and one of the things that I will never forget is the day I met my friend , Feco (Ference Szekeres) (his latest pic below )on the train en route to Budapest in Hungary.



Our friendship is as strong as ever as it was on the day we met. We still keep in touch now and then and we miss each other the same. A simple fella, he "transmorphes" from a hetero turned homo turned bisexual and now back to hetero again. Quite a psychedelic sex life he had but he is very much monogamous.

We share each other's intimate stories including who we date and all. We have never judged each other from the sexual orientation to the religion beliefs as well as what we profess. We only met again once in 2003 during those few months he turned gay. He came to visit me in London with his former boyfriend.


2003 Bognor Regis trip with Feco, his former boyfriend Dolphy and me



We never stop hoping to see each other again. The day we met and the day we bid our farewells in London, we continuously sealing our friendship with a feeling so sincere sans any sexual tension between us - very much like brother-sister or very close friends feelings.





Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Shopping udang in Labuan

Greetings from Labuan. This is my first ever visit to Labuan on a working trip.

What can I say about Labuan? I will do this later but at least, and i think so too, and unashamed to say so that I am fortunate to stay at their "bestest" hotel: Grand Dorset Hotel (formerly known as Sheraton Hotel Labuan).

Thank you Halliburton and Schlumberger Labuan site plants for their warm welcome.

Tak lupa a special thanks to Suriati, Petronas process engineer, one of the main ladies at Petronas Methanol Labuan. A 1st class student of UKM breed, cepat laaa tackle minah nih (hurry on, go and get to know her)....! She's one cool and sporty lady i tell ya.

OK laa , I am off to dinner at Anjung Ketam......

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

THE BLOODY FUEL PRICE HIKE

I dont care who broke what record, or Mawi's pure intentions to get engaged and wed in one 7-day 7 night ceremony....

BUT THE OIL PRICE IS NOW RM 2.70!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHAT A FUCKING CUT-THROAT THIS IS

All they care is to rise the oil price hence all the other consumable products.....and then other goods will increase in tandem as all are related to oil and transportation and energy.


BUT what do they care about the public facility upgrades???????

ASSHOLES.....the whole lots...tak kisa laa sapa2 pon....pakatan ka barisan kaa.....u are all well off and we the RAKYAT are getting poorer, and totally stressed out!!!!!!!!!


Before those people decided on the oil price hike (bloody american assholes for creating all those wars and global destruction, yeah blame it on the muslims they say, but they are forcing the saudis to pump million gallons of oil for them, so who the fucked up one?)

OK, before they decided on increasing the petrol price by 40% (78 sen higher than the current price of RM1.92/litre ....ok litre not per gallon you assholesssssssss), they should:

  1. Provide very efficient public transport system! I heard loadsa buses tersadai unused, why is that so??? bloody idiots dont know that there are places outside KL , or what????? Improve the public transportation across the whole nation just like UK. OK sorry i cant compare with many other more efficient countries like germany and japan because I have lived in the UK for quite some time (nearly 8 years). Once u have upgraded the public transportation system, you will see that I will be one of the frequent users to go to UKM on bus this time. INI TIDAK, ada ka same shabby crappy old bus minis u provide in BBBangi?????? ade la a few intrakota /rapid kl around but that was it.....no bus schedules, no proper bus route map.....mangkok ayon sialanssssss........I am not ashamed to take commute on bus to work but please provide much better vehicles up the global standard with better bus passes and so on!
  2. Build loads and loads of car parks for us to park and ride so we can leave our cars and take the train/bus/etc whichever viable to our workplace.
  3. Increase our SALARY first, before thinking of the price hike!
  4. If u wanna increase the oil price, do so by at least adding 10 sen for another 3-5 months or so
  5. Dont bullshit us with all the crappy subsidy thingies.....and dont compare with those in singapore (they dont have their own oil reservoir) and thailand too...compare with Brunei and the better countries like Saudi Arabia and so on....and yes, please , stop exporting our oil, rice and so on....tka reti bahasa ke, kita sini menderita, OK...
  6. Stop asking people to send SMS to all those shitty AF and what nots....and if u insist, it must be of the same local SMS value i.e. 10 sen per sms or so....
  7. REduce the mentris allowances....
  8. Why hike the price when at the end of the day, it's the oil company who will get more and more net profit per year???????? what the fuck is this? some bloody ironic?
  9. AND SO MUCH MORE...I AM BLOODY EMOTIONAL RIGHT NOW, SO I THINK I BETTER GO COOK FOR DINNER OR SOMETHING.

Having said that, I now should:

  1. Drive at slower speed and try not to go higher than 100kmh unless emergency case. I will drive like i am so bloody in love and delusional and high....from 60kmh to 80kmh to work....
  2. Thats about it

I shudder at the thought of how many idiots we have in the government seats who are not visionary but materialistic to the last core.

I see hundreds ok!!! hundreds of cars queuing at the nearby petrol stations to fill up their tank so that they wont suffer the next day price hike.

I am so bloody angry everytime i think of how shitty is the commuter train service...getting stranded for no apparent reason just because the innercity commuter trains share railtracks with the national trains and carrier trains.....where has all the money gone per year if not upgrading the nation's public amenities??????

Apologies if u read this but I am so pissed off!

Sunday, June 01, 2008

Malaysian Men Selfish in Bed Part Deux

I have just came back from a trip to Sungai Petani, Kedah attending a close friend's wedding. They say there is always a first time for everything, and so let me list down a few things i did/ experienced for the first time during the weekend sojorn:

  1. It was my 1st time using MAS local flight from KLIA to Alor Setar. My first local travel par avion was on AirAsia KL LCCT-Langkawi in 2006
  2. I witnessed for the very first time three nikah ceremonies held at one session in a local masjid in Sungai Petani. The kadhi took turn to conduct the nikah for 3 couples and my friend was the last one to be wedded.
  3. I did my first bridesmaid job to a friend. The first one i did was during my 3rd sister's wedding at the inlaw greeting ceremony (majlis menyambut menantu) at her husband's place.
  4. I bumped into that angkasawan negara, SMS and he was NOT ALL THAT. I was never really one of his hoard of admirers across the nation but I admired his guts on accepting the challenges and national aspiration to see a Malaysian son making his debut trip to the International Space Station on Soyuz space shuttle from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. Although he has the good boyish looks, he was far from a manly man....I could go on and on dissing about this fella yang a'la macam bagus as if the whole nation must idolize him for the rest of his life. I used to minat2 actors, singers and all that when i was much2 younger. These days, I no longer felt THAT urge to really meet just any celebrity, but I dont mind seeing them and communicating with them, and I would most probably select who I feel like talking to. And this SMS, dah la dalam TV cakap hafal script which was SO BLOODY boring, he managed to keep his oh-i-am-so-important look no matter how hard he tried to wear a humility face. Or maybe he only saves it during majlis dgn budak2 sekolah, universities and during meetings with VVVIPs, VVIPs and VIPs...
  5. The day before my outward journey to Sungai Petani (i.e. Thursday), I saw Ustaz Farid Ravi at KLIA . Now, he is one man I could feel the charismatic aura. Standing much taller than SMS and I personally think he is one goodlooking indian muslim man, I found myself humbled at his presence. Had i not busy sending my parents to the UK to attend my second brother's graduation in Dublin, I would go and greet that man myself.
  6. I asked one MAS pilot on my way to the KLIA arrival hall on who's responsible for the flight mechanical checking prior to taking off as well as passenger on-board. He told me that both the pilot and the aeronautics engineers would do a 20-minute routine check-up on the external aeroplane body to ensure that there is no faulty on the body as well as the engines. The reason to my curiosity was that while waiting to board the plane, it only took like 20 minutes between passengers getting off and those who are boarding in. It felt like a coach trip for me as I began to wonder about the (mechanical) safety aspect of the flight. As i listened to the pilot's very brief explanation, it amazed me knowing that by using all those special illumination based equipment (infra red, gamma-ray,that sort) and some other gadgets, they could save plenty of time. Our short conversation ended as soon as i saw SMS walking ahead of me on the passenger conveyor belt.
  7. I left my car parked at the airport roofed parking lot for more than 24 hours for the first time ever. The day before the journey, and knowing that it was a 2-day-1-night journey, I was estimating which one would be more economical: to book a KLIA Limo return journey which would cost me around RM110 or to leave my car at the parking lot where the first 24 hour charge is Rm 43.00 followed by RM3.5o for the 1st hour, and reduced to Rm2.00 or so the following hour. After a quick mental calculation, I decided that for this particular journey, I chose to park the car at the airport itself. The next day, upon my arrival, i went to pay my parking charges at the slot machine and I was right on the money-saving part as I only had to pay RM66.00.


I will add the wedding pictures soon.

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Here are a list of excerpts of the comments on Malaysian Men being selfish in bed:


Typhoon Sue
:

diaorg (Durex) interview saper selama nih? how could they use the word "so-and-so percentage of Malaysians" when so few of us actually take part in the surveys? I know for a fact i'm not accounted for in the 25%,.. errr... 75%... , err... whatever...


Ruby Ahmad
:

I agree with Typhoon Sue...he he. I pun belum pernah kena interview...aper daa? LOL!


Ms Istanbul:

Well said Manal. But u know this stats, since it covers just above 1k of the population, we wouldnt know whether it is exactly representative. Well, unless they interviewed the urbanites and if they clearly are not satisfied,surely something must be done by the men.

But I pun tak pernah kena interview. Could be more biased. *LOL* We women love to compare what. As I mentioned to U.Lee some time ago, men and women are like wine. The older they get, the finer they become (and hence it applies to my taste of men). *winks*


Uncle Lee:

However, I do agree the fact that work, children, financial worries, in-laws or out-laws next room can be a put off....and this applies to Hong Kong where most of the population stay in two room apartments or stay with parents.
Also applies to Japan, Tokyo where homes are expensive and whole families live together. I have good friends, of both species who keeps me informed, ha ha.
From my point of view and strictly my personal opinion and experiences...I will add or point to some of the many reasons why sexual fulfillment is or not often achieved....
Apart from what I mentioned above,....
Not in sequence:
1/ self hygiene can contribute to a certain extent to bedroom failures. Applicable both species.
2/Unless its a relationship in beginning stages, its all moonlight and roses, but after one kid, things go on cruise control.
3/ There is no real bed room chats, I mean real intimate chats between him and her. HE must initiate it.
4/ Where sex is concerned, most couples, married or otherwise tend to have fun and in less than 15 minutes, game over, with or without fireworks with one partner.
5/ Before marriage, both parties are at their best. 4 months into a relationship, both parties are relaxed in dressing, and things slow down. This applies very strongly when after marriage, first kid arrives.
6/ Wife or husband tired from work or kids, and do 'it' as a kind of duty.
I can go one with more, but will potong to one of THE MAIN contributions of sexual failure to a man, as well to a woman. In this matter, I first blame the man, and then the woman.
To me personally, it is a sin to have everything over and done with in less than 20 minutes!
Every man, every woman at some time or other will have or have sexual fantasies. Either with neighbours wife, daughter or Salma Hayek. She? With Ken Watanabe or Sean Connery or Daniel Craig, new 007.
I have not met or know a woman who has not had sexual fantasies, at one time or another or daily.
But one of THE BIGGEST sexual failure contributor is, bedroom intimate chats.
Most men, believe it or not are shy. 85% of my male friend are (according to their wives).
And most women CAN be conservative especially if strong mother influence, she who lives in the past before there were footsteps on the moon.
This is where the man MUST TAKE the initiative.
Seduction techniques must come into play here.
Teasing before, light touches, compliments to her to begin with.
Being adventurous.
AND! Once she is in the mood, never ever slam bang, thank you ma'am should be executed.
I believe that applies to Hollywood movies only.
Tease and enquire, ask, find out what she likes, enjoys most? Quite a lot of women will be too shy to expose herself to saying what SHE REALLY LIKES OR ENJOYS. Thus..HE should first tell her by complimenting her first, that he loves her very much and her beauty makes HIM want to do things to her. That only by engaging in certain activities he WILL enjoy her beauty.
Encourage, motivate, tittilate her till she confesses or confides.
However, there are women who are very conservative will not, dare not, do not want to be adventurous, thus the man has to apply some Ninjalogy here, ha ha.
Sex is just not a slam bang, thank you ma'am exercise....it should involve A LOT OF foreplay, and I mean the kind of foreplay that leaves a woman gasping till she puts up a white flag...
And by that knowing the fact a man is different to a woman, where she is capable of having multiple orgasms, HE a one time only....thus, he MUST ensure she achieves hers, and not once but several times if he knows she is a multiple person.
Not all women are multiples...a lot are singles, *wink*. Somehow I find Libra persons are more often than not, *wink*.
And, the only way HE CAN make her achieve the above is by being VERY adventurous, treating the final act of sex as THE gran finale...but the first hour or so as 'coming attraction' like in movies showing what is coming next.
There are many ways of making a woman achieve VERY EXPLOSIVE orgasms, leaving her breathless and even semi conscious.
A true lover, the man I mean must take the fact that if she does not cry out for the US Marines or imitate the mating call of a Canadian Timber wolf, he has failed.
Get a woman to achieve an explosive orgasm where the earth stops moving, birds start to sing, the bed does a rock and roll and maybe the neighbours wondering who getting choked, and if he is a bachelor, his reputation MIGHT spread, if a married man. he sure going to get those sly, sexy looks from the wife next morning, plus a good, hefty breakfast too.
To me, it all boils down to foreplay and being VERY ADVENTUROUS, a real Indiana Jones or a 007 in bed. And to take a woman's explosive cry when she arrives at Nirvana as the ultimate gold medal in sex.
Where I am concerned, my young days I mean, I start the teasing on the 3rd date. Never on 1st date, she'll think I only want her for sex. (sure I do, but I never rush things. A gentleman never does.)
The moment an opportunity arises, I will tell her teasingly that her beauty, her figure makes me have ALL KINDS of fantasies.
I will ensure what I say to her will gurantee a respond with a flirtatios hand brush on her hair, a cheeky or sexy look and her response, "tell me".
And that as incik Sherlock said once, "elementary, my dear Watson".



Sweet jasmine:

wow...manal...what a hot topic here....but i guess I had not much to add here....with all the advise given by the 'love doctor'lee here....on the making of a true lover.......

So to all husbands, lovers, boyfriends....get some sex education


Madam Curi:

wow.......hot this is hot. I wonder who are the people being interviewed. No one ever interviews me.

KC:

since when married couples have orgasm...hahahahaha!



The Pisces Man:

You know Durex's survey always tend to create some controversy over their findings.

Anywya, they have a factory at my hometown. I once answered and submitted their questionnaire, with an expectation that my contribution would appreciated by them giving me a free gift. But the gift never arrived.

So, if they can't fulfill a simple promise to a customer, can we rely on them on such small-scale surveys? Hehheee..

Hmmmm..... orgasm...orgasm.. hard to say, hard to get, sometimes easy to get but most of the times, too tired or hard to find the time to get one! Ahak ahakkk... (not saying this represents me ok ;ppp)


Sir Cipan
:

I found that one of the best foreplay scenario is to start on your woman when she's yakking away happily on the phone ...

And the reason why some couples fail to hit the moon is because they're rushing/anxious to get there.

Rule No 1 to Good Sex - relax
Rule No 2 - be playful
Rule No 3 - use your imagination.


Mel Ija:


I LOVE the topic. Even before you brought it up, I read it in the paper already. Kind a sad isn't it? That it just had to be applied to the Eastern people.

Now orgasm.. hhmm.. I tend to agree to what your friend U.Lee seems to say. To me, Asian men just wants to get it over and done very quickly. It's ok if their partners do not achieve orgasm, but they MUST achieve orgasms. To me, not fair lah kan. You have to make your partner happy too. It can't be one-sided. I have a friend (married for abour 5 months now), and she has NEVER achieved orgasm. And she really wants to know how it feels. Kesian dia. To her, sex is just about pleasing the men, in this case, her husband. When she does it, she can't wait for the thing to end. She sometimes count the minutes. To her, that thing is especially designed for the men. I pity her for feeling that way. And she just got married, some more. And NO kids. Pity kan..


Zewt:

think malaysian men are too busy working... till late at night... where got power to go all the way?


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Friday, May 02, 2008

Are Malaysian Men Getting more Selfish in Bed?


The Star today has one most viewed article that (how obvious) has made me itchy to copy-paste (how normal these days considering I am like chock-a-block, almost totally inundated with piles of work to do!!) it to my blog.

It says a LOT on Malaysian men as well as the oriental and those in the far east. Although it could be taken out of perspective as, and I reckon so, those fellas might have been blushing to the reddest, bluest or even palest maybe when "interrogated"....or was it actually the ladies that have been willingly participating in the survey that has led to a rather dismal percentage on the account of failing to reach their orgasm, hence the grouses....I dunno....But I dont think men here (and anywhere on earth in general including those who are dwelling somewhere in the north pole and in the midst of the desert unless they are bed-ridden, dying, or handicapped that rendered them powerless) really have problem getting it off with or without their partners. Therefore, this 44% result was presumably obtained based on the ladies' opinions implying rather implicitly their disappointments.

Have a go at the article below to get more details:

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Plenty of sex but for many, it’s not all the way


PETALING JAYA: Malaysians are having lots of sex but they just do not seem to be enjoying it all that much.

While last year’s Durex Sexual Wellbeing Global Survey said four in five Malaysians were having sex on a weekly basis – this year’s results reveals that only 44% of Malaysians managed to achieve orgasm every time they have sex.

However, Singaporeans fare worse. Only 36% usually manage to feel the earth move, according to the survey’s latest report entitled “The Big O”.

Gender-wise, 62% of Malaysian males almost always reach climax during sex while women get a raw deal – only 25% almost always achieving orgasm.

The survey also found that 86% of Malaysians who frequently had orgasm feel sexually at ease with themselves while 60% of those who regularly came to a climax also enjoyed good psychological health.

Globally, the leaders are the Italians, Spaniards, Mexicans and South Africans who are most likely to climax every time with 66% usually managing to hit the spot.

Least likely to achieve an orgasm are the Chinese and people from Hong Kong (both 24%), followed closely by the Japanese (27%).

Reproductive and sexual health specialist, Dr Mohd Ismail Mohd Tambi, said that while orgasms are not the be all and end all of sex, regularly achieving orgasms improves emotional and overall well-being.

“If you want to have an orgasm, it is important that you surrender yourself to the good feelings you are experiencing. Relaxation is crucial.”

Dr Mohd Ismail said work worries should also be left outside the bedroom as couples needed to have protected and uninterrupted time.

Globally, eight in 10 people who frequently have orgasm felt close to their partner during sex.

The survey was conducted among 26,000 people in 26 countries of which 1,026 were Malaysians.

They were questioned on key aspects of their sex lives such as health, education, beliefs, attitudes to sex and social circumstances.

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What would that say about the Malaysian males? Any particular thought you have in mind?


I shall leave it at this point coz i am sooooo tied up with works, preparing presentation for weekend workshop, and etc.

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By the way, the former Malaysia premier, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad has created his own blog too : www.chedet.com. His daughter already has one: Rantings by Marina Mahathir and it has already reached over one million hits. With over 75% of this country's population enjoying the direct internet access and the recent political tsunami that has spread across the nation, it is without a doubt that blogging in Malaysia has become a powerful media tool in conveying messages and news (not to mention some propaganda as well). More and more politicians have started their own blog including the former Selangor menteri besar, Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo (click here).

Saturday, April 26, 2008

30-something single women: independence, and endearing integrity

I have got like A LOT to say about 30 something single women especially in malaysia and asia but right now, let me share with you an article from The Star:

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The mindset of modern Muslimah


Weekender talks to four Muslim women who challenge the preconceptions about their religion.

By ROSE YASMIN KARIM

Countless films and literary works have been made to unveil the Muslim woman – but no, you don’t get many happy stories. More often than not, the women are relegated to the role of damsel under duress.

Muslim women aren’t homogenous, though. Some devoutly observe the pillars of Islam, others observe as many as they can and there are those who don’t at all.

Some leave nothing but their eyes uncovered, others wear brightly patterned pashminas, jeans, cropped jackets and tank tops. Some are still in shackles, others are done being rescued.

Four thirtysomething women share their views on being Muslim:

Sara Takieddin, 32
Freelance audio engineer/sound designer/musician
(www.mp3.com.au/sara)
Annual income: RM29,540
Damascus, Syria

A talented musician and devout Muslimah (Muslim woman), Sara is one woman who seems to have it all. Her music has been played at a church service in the US, an occasion she proudly cites as one of her highest accomplishments.

“It’s the most amazing thing because it shows that Muslims and Christians can coexist,” says Sara who dabbles in a fusion of different genres like rock and New Age.

“Lately, I’ve been into Islamic themes, with a twist of the New Age. My musical creations are inspired by Thikr (remembrance of Allah). I am also influenced by music from Evanescence, Carol King, Loreena McKennitt, Toshihiko Sahashi, Dawud Wharnsby Ali and Zara, just to name a few,” adds the musician who plays the keyboard and guitar.

Sara works from home, and her day begins in the wee hours while most are still tucked under their bed covers. Music is not her sole passion, though.

“Whenever I get the chance, I work with Palestinian refugees. Other than that, when there is war, I’d aid the refugees, for instance, in the Israeli war against Lebanon. I also volunteered to help the environment and plant trees. I sometimes offer my audio engineering skills if it is for the benefit of Islam,” says Sara.

Sara obtained her diploma in audio engineering from SAE Institute Malaysia.

“One thing I appreciate is variety, and Malaysia has a lot of that,” says Sara, who’s planning to spend her honeymoon here.

On what’s it’s like to be a woman in Syria, Sara says women, regardless of religion, have the freedom to do whatever they want as long it does not contradict social norms.

“However, this only applies when she’s single. The moment a women gets hitched, she loses a big chunk of her freedom and individuality, although I notice there seems to be an awakening within the newer generation. Women are treated equally – roughly. Salary-wise, it’s comparable.

“In Syria, I don’t think women are given all her Islamic rights, because the male-dominant culture is repackaged and labelled as Islam. In Islam, women enjoy certain privileges which men are deprived of. The man is responsible for the complete maintenance of his wife and family. All financial burdens are borne by him alone.

“In contrast, women have no financial responsibilities whatsoever, except for her personal expenses – for instance, should she wish to own luxurious things. She is also free to retain whatever she possesses before marriage,” Sara states.

Sara’s love life also mirrors her faith in Islam.

“I wouldn’t get involved in a relationship where I’m uncertain marriage is the aim. I’d rather have my family enquire about the man to determine whether he is a good person,” she says

If she is attracted to someone, Sara’s modus operandi is to get a third person to talk to the guy. This was how Sara and her fiance met.

“I told a friend to find a potential husband for me, and he did. Both of us already knew each other but had no idea the other was looking. Now we’re in love and soon to be married,” she reveals.

“After my partner and I tie the knot this June, we will be relocating to Los Angeles, California.”

In April 2005, Sara began to wear the hijab (head scarf).

“When I totally grasped the wisdom behind Islam’s command of wearing the hijab, I knew I couldn’t bear myself not wearing it,” she says.

When Sara needs to unwind, she enjoys soaking in her Jacuzzi.

“If I badly need to unwind, I read the Qur’an,” says this plucky lass who enjoys globe-trotting solo.

“I’ve been to Canada, Egypt, Lebanon, Switzerland, the UK and US. Next on my travel list is Turkey. I’ve been wanting to go there for a long time.”

Elham Gholami, 30
Customer Service Executive
Annual income: RM31,417
Tehran, Iran

Today, very few Muslim countries adhere to the Islamic ideal in their treatment of women and place restrictions on women, something that has no grounds in the Quran, or the hadith, the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad,” says Elham.

“Women are accorded different rights and privileges depending on the government and customs in the area,” she opines.

“Pakistani women have political rights but are often exploited by men. Saudi women have no public role, yet they are extremely protected by their families and government and are offered dowries, often very high ones, and are entitled to keep their own wealth,” says Elham.

“In Iran, it’s somewhere in the middle.

“Not everything Muslims do is based on religious principles. In its original state, Islam gave women privileges and didn’t impose double standards upon them.

“Muslim women are entitled to inheritance, and allowed to choose or refuse prospective husbands. But in some Muslim countries, their rights have been taken away.

“In Iran, we are free to educate ourselves and seek jobs, but we have to cover up, and this is a strict ruling especially in offices and universities. Still, to me, it is bearable,” she shrugs.

The Quran, says Elham, teaches that men and women are equal.

“The only thing that makes one person better than the other is his or her character. Islamic legislation has given women unprecedented status, even if some don’t always live up to these standards,” says Elham, who is optimistic about the future for women in Iran.

“It’s improving and I’m certain that conditions will get much better.”

When she’s not working, Elham paints and does yoga.

“A big portion of my salary goes towards fees for these classes. I attend yoga lessons twice a week and painting class once a week. I’ve been staying in the same house with my family for over 20 years, but I don’t know my neighbours very well.

“Before a girl marries, she must also obtain her father’s approval,” says Elham who is still single.

“I’m lucky my father allows me to do what I like, and I’m free to marry the man of my choice, as long as he is Muslim.”

Dating in Iran is frowned upon.

“A man and woman who date are punished, but a lot of young people do it although it is forbidden.”

Amina Jamal, 36
Sales manager
Annual income: RM 14,767
Lahore, Pakistan

What is it like to be the only female in a multinational company?

“It’s not easy but it’s interesting,” says Amina.

“At times, my male colleagues don’t take me seriously, which is exasperating. I lead a team of 14, and some of the men under me have problems taking orders from a lady boss.”

Her colleagues are like an extended family to her.

“Half the time we are arguing about one thing or another, but it’s normally all in good spirit. I enter the workplace on my own terms and I am grateful to Allah and my family for it. If it wasn’t for my mother’s support, I would not have been able to work nights or at odd hours,” she explains.

Amina’s previous employment was with an American company, and her hours were from 5pm to 3am.

“The company’s clients are in New Zealand and Australia, thus the late shift. I didn’t get to see much of my family then. Now my hours are more reasonable. I start work at 2pm and leave the office by 10pm,” she says.


Amina’s family is used to not having her around when breaking fast during Ramadhan and celebrating Eid.

“They’re accustomed to it as it has been that way for the past seven years,” she says.

Amina says she enjoys dining out and trying new eateries.

“I have been to all the restaurants in Lahore and whenever a new one opens, I make a beeline for it with my friends. A highly recommended place for good food is at Mirchi on M M Alam Road. In the old city of Lahore, Cuku’s Cafe is worth a visit.

“If you eat on the topmost floor in the evening, you will get a breathtaking view of Badshahi Mosque across the road. The food is brought from neighbouring roadside restaurants and pulled up using a pulley system.”

Pakistan, Amina argues, has surpassed even the US in gender equality, in that it has had a female head of state.

“Women are allowed to drive, vote, attend co-educational universities and hold paying jobs,” she adds. However, there are areas where Pakistan’s treatment of women isn’t very Islamic.

“Women have no control over their own property and are usually accorded minimal dowries. The norm is that the bride’s family has to provide all sorts of gifts to the husband and his family,” she says. Because of this, a large number of girls aren’t married.

“Men in Pakistan prefer prospective brides to be well-off in order to get high dowries. These women are the ones more likely to get married.

“In Islam, the man is supposed to be the provider of his family. Women are not obliged to go out and earn. If she wants to, she can do so, provided the job does not jeopardise her sanctity, honour and grace. Around 20% of the labour force is female.

“Women are also employed in the armed forces, are members of National and Provincial assemblies and are made ministers. In very traditional areas though, women are dominated by men because of ignorance and illiteracy.

So what does Amina look for in a guy?

“He has to be educated, open-minded and financially strong,” says the holder of a master’s degree in English.

“I like reading books on contemporary religion, Islam, philosophy, history, biographies, comics and poetry. For ear candy, I enjoy bhangra, rock and roll, disco, Latin, and folk music.

“I like Red Earth products. My make-up staples are lipstick and eyeliner. When I go out, I put on brightly coloured shalwar kameez, the national dress of Pakistan.”

Amina has heard so much about Malaysia through her friends.

“They like it and say it is a modern country. I’m eager to visit it one day."

Nour Farouk Lambaz, 30
Archivist
Annual income: RM48,705
Amman, Jordan

Jordanian Nour has accumulated quite a number of stamps on her passport.

“I’ve travelled to Egypt, France, Germany, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, UK and US,” she says.

“Next on my travel list are Brazil, Croatia, Czech Republic, Iran, Italy, Lebanon and Mauritius.”

For the last 26 years Nour has been living with her family in a housing complex for Royal Jordanian Airlines employees in Amman. Her father is an artist and mother a teacher.

“When my family and I first moved here, the location seemed so far out. Now, Amman is growing rapidly and it no longer feels inaccessible. I like the area because it feels safe,” says Nour whose mother is Turkish and father Jordanian.

“My parents are practising Muslims. Both pray, fast, give zakat (alms) and perform the Haj. I try my best to pray five times a day, but I give out zakat, fast and hope that I too, God willing, will get to go to Mecca and fulfil the Haj one day.”


An archivist in a pan-Arab company, Nour is a stickler for detail.

“Because of the amount of sorting and listing I do, I’m trained to be organised and logical,” says Nour.

When she’s not busy cataloguing records and doing research, Nour treats herself to massages, facials, horseback riding, going on hikes and driving her car with some good music on.

“Horse riding classes are expensive, but it's worth every penny! I love the feeling when you're one with the horse. It makes me feel strong and able to go anywhere”

Nour has also been practising yoga for the past eight years.

“Yoga makes me stretch muscles I never knew existed,” says Nour who graduated from the University of Jordan with a Bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature.

In May this year, Nour will be getting married and she will be coming to Kuala Lumpur for her honeymoon.

“My family has given their consent. Although I make the final decision as to whom I marry, their opinion matters to me,” she says.


Speaking on the position of Muslim women, she says, “In most cases, when Muslim women are oppressed, it is by their men who are not very good Muslims. So it’s not Islam. Islam is a very fair and beautiful religion. It is the reason pagan Arabs became scholars at one point. It is the reason girls stopped being buried alive.

“In Jordan, we are moderate Muslims. But Muslim women, as well as Christian women, play a secondary role. Women are usually busy bringing up children. Men are the providers,” she explains.

Nour feels motherhood is one of the most important roles in society.

“Competent mothers who can run a warm and welcoming home and raise a family of happy, confident and well-disciplined children are becoming increasingly hard to come by.”



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Where 30-something single men failed, the women are just on the uprising. Single men in their 30s especially in Malaysia, and more specifically, Malays, seem likely to lose their self-esteem when it comes to thinking of settling down. Although there are still many typical 30-something ladies who have also given up on the whole marriage and family idea, I have met more and more of them who have liberated themselves from conforming to the society and become what they should be. Many of them are still hoping that they will be having their own family and so on, but they have gained so much, experience and what nots that the Malay men are getting intimidated by the uprising power and prowess displayed by the women.


I find it strange too, judging from my own experience how low one 30 plus man's confidence compared to when they reach their so-called peak between 22 to 29. They (and so those typical malaysian ladies) have been setting in their mind that marriage and having family begin only when one is in their 20s. And if these 30plus malay men decided to marry, they will only look for those much, much younger girls and their female peers no longer in their quest list. So stupid some of them to think that women can only bear child when they are 29 and younger. A woman who has never given birth before would start to have some difficulties to conceive when they reach 40. However, with modern hi-tech medical and bio-engineering technologies, the impossibilities of the yesteryears can be denied or at least, much have been improved and so, such impossibility has reduced to almost nothing.


I am so glad to have known many 30-something single ladies in the malaysian blogosphere scene and they are still way cool and youthful, one would only imagine the gregarious Sex and The city girl or better to capture the idea of what they have become into. Mostly,it is about their exposure to the more wider horizon , being western educated and all that. Nevertheless, the local university graduates are also doing so much better in terms of embracing life as a single woman in their 30s.

When the western men and many women, especially in the US and UK and some rich European countries see the age 30 and above as the right marrying age, I hope Malaysians would do the same and not be embarrassed to grace the earth as a single person, having to tick single status box on the form and declaring themselves singleton without much regrets.

And I also hope that once I marry, it will be mostly on fulfilling the other half of the sunnah nabi and with all the experience i have, marriage will be like a merge of two enterprises/empire or some sort of a consolidation. Sex is important and I am looking forward to doing it the halal way. I think I had enough of adding sins into my book.



Friday, April 25, 2008

Identical TRIPLETS?


I know this is definitely a miracle case with a probability of 1 in 200, 000, 000 chances but I also think it is a bit freaky. I mean, I am already a bit freaked out seeing grownup lookalikes, as in identical twins especially men, but I dont think i can fathom the idea of having THREE identical triplets. It can be a nightmare to me just to recognize which one is which and all three of them can play TRIPLE pranks.

Read more of the news from Daily Mail here.

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Parents celebrate their 200 million-to-one miracle - identical triplet girls

By JAYA NARAIN -


With their bright blue eyes and cherubic smiles, Gabriella, Alessia and Olivia are a picture of cuteness.

But as well as being adorable, they are also quite extraordinary.

For they are naturally-conceived identical triplets.

Scroll down for more ...

Three of a kind: Identical triplets (from left) Olivia, Gabriella and Alessia


Medical experts say the chances of such births are around 200million to one.

Their delighted parents are Richard Rees, 22, and his 23-year-old fiance Carmela Testa, who is a midwife.

She gave birth in January surrounded by colleagues at the maternity unit in Peterborough where she normally works.

The sisters were born seven weeks prematurely via Caesarean section.

They weighed between 3lb 4oz and 3lb 10oz and spent three weeks in an incubator until they were strong enough to go home.

Scroll down for more ...

Triple trouble: The girls are proving a handful for their parents

Miss Testa said: "I found out at my 12-week scan I was having triplets.

"I knew they would be identical because there was just one placenta, so they were from the same egg.

"I was very shocked. They weren't planned. I'm quite small - only 5ft tall - so at the unit they joked that out of all the midwives it would have to be me that gave birth to triplets."

She added: "Everything is fine now and the girls are all putting on weight. I'm so overwhelmed when I see them. I can't believe they are mine and that they are perfect."

Telling the triplets apart is not proving too difficult.

"Olivia has a strawberry birthmark on her neck, Gabriella is a little bit smaller and Alessia has a sharper cry," explained Mr Rees, a vocational coach.

Identical triplets occur when one fertilised egg splits to create three embryos which grow separately but normally in the womb.

Non-identical triplets occur after three separate eggs are fertilised. This is increasingly common during IVF treatment.



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Kuuuurrrr semangat innit? They sure look very adorable and all, and I congratulate Richard and Carmela on their naturally conceived identical triplet girls. But seriously, I dont think i can tolerate having identical twins. Non-identical is fine by me. Seeing the identical ones are like looking at some clones or some Children of the corn, or Village of the Damned or The Wicker Man or something horror like that. They may look cute when they are younger but as they become matured and all grown up, and wearing the same dresses, acting similarly, and even walk together doing many things together, that sort of imagination really send some chills down my spine.


Of course, I wouldnt mind if they become two separate individuals even if they possess the same visible physical traits and shapes. In some cases, and I mean some men are having a fetish on going threesome (menage a trois) with twins though I am not exactly sure whether it applies to women on identical male twins too. Imagine some identical twin males marrying another identical twin females and only they know how to identify one another. Would a wife and husband swap occur among them? No need to tempt them on that, i reckon. Definitely will drive some people nuts seeing such couples around. Despite the odds surrounding them, they are still one of God's miracles.

There was one time, during the dusk at my old college in london that I received a visit from a 30 something male twins wearing almost similar tartan motive shirt with peculiarly matching trousers , similar hairstyles, similar height and both were wearing glasses. Somehow, they embodied the geekish look. I was in my old lab that time when one man appeared at the door step asking me how to find this Professor. As it was rather a usual, harmless even kinda query, I told him what he needed to know. Shortly after that another man appeared next to him, standing in front of me looking exactly the same, totally identical. Right at that moment, i squealed a bit, yet trying as much under my breath to refrain meself from being over dramatic.

"There are two of u?"


"Yeah, we are twins, identical ones," said the 1st guy appearing ever so nonchalant yet amused with my sudden act. Coz it was a bit of a suspense to me. How could I not? Not especially during that wee hour when the building was mostly empty as many have gone away.


"OK then. But u seriously scared the living daylight out of me being alone and late in the lab and all that. This is my 1st time ever seeing two identical men in some sort of similar clothes. "


"Sorry about that (giggles)". His brother seemed so unperturbed at all. I wondered why. Must be too accustomed by such a reaction demonstrated by yours truly.


"Alright then, thanks for the info."



"No problem". And they left together side by side. Creepish, i tell ya, reminded me of that dorky looking identical twin who loved to dance and hang out at a club in Ally Macbeal.


See, I am not one who is so fond of identical twins even though I used to think that they r so lucky to be born like that.



Thursday, April 24, 2008

Lingzhi-misai kucing herbal tea wonder

Sebab dah lama tak update this blog, i insert an excerpt on Lingzhi, a type of mushroom that has been proven to have a certain substantial medicinal effects on five organs: Heart, Lung, Kidney , Pancreas and Liver.


I have began consuming Lingzhi-Misai Kucing (Orthosiphon stamineus benth) herbal tea for a few days now without taking my usual one betablocker per day pill to stabilize the blood pressure. I find it quite effective on controlling my heart palpitations to a normal beat at a normal systolic and diastolic measurements. Alhamdulillah, i feel so much better now, although i do experience a little dizziness , but that is a normal effect and more on this , you may read below. On top of that, those regular visits (at least 3 times per week) to the gym doing aerobic workouts and all helps increase my stamina and wellbeing.


Now i know my own health threshold point when it comes to avoiding getting hypertension. I just have to keep losing those extra pounds off in order to balance those hormones in my body and to reduce the hypertensive symptoms.



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Excerpt on Lingzhi from this website: Best Reishi:



Ganoderma Lucidim (also known as Lingzhi in China; Reishi in Japan and Youngchi in Korea) . For centuries, Ganoderma is claimed as "King of Herbs" by herbal practitioners in China and Japan for its efficacy in the maintenance or improvement of general well-being. Lingzhi has been listed as a Chinese herb and classified as a superior herb dating back to 2800 BC.


This is one of the treasures of traditional Chinese medicine. Being named as the "fairy herb", it is proven by pharmaceutical studies and clinical research that Lingzhi help to prevent from and cure diseases, and prolong life. In the famous ancient Chinese medical publications, "Shen Nong's Materia Medica" and "Pen-ts'ao Kan-mu" (Compendium of Materia Medica) written respectively in the Han and Ming Dynasties, there are detailed descriptions of the Lingzhi effects. Contemporary studies further proved its medicinal effects, and confirmed that Lingzhi polysaccharide is the key ingredient to maintain physiological balance and prolong life. Today, Lingzhi has been formally recognized as a medicine listed in the China state pharmacopoeia. At the same time, Lingzhi has been sanctified by the State as a new food resource, and it is proven to be safe without any toxicity. Lingzhi can be served both as food and medicine.
Scientific studies find that Lingzhi is rich in effective pharmaceutical ingredients. They can be divided into 10 categories: Lingzhi polysaccharide, polypeptides, 16 types of amino acids (7 of which are indispensable to human), protein, steriod, triterpene, mannitol, coumarin, alkaloids, organic acids (mainly fumarate), and micro-elements, such as Ge, P, Fe, Ca, Mn, Zn, etc. Lingzhi can help to maintain the balance within the body. It cures diseases related to cardiac and brain vessels, digestive system, neural system, endocrine system, respiratory system, and locomotory system. Its effect is particular prominent to tumor, hepatic diseases, and preventing aging.

Lingzhi Key Effects
Lingzhi is used very widely. According to the concept of Chinese medicine, Ganoderma lucidum can penetrate into and work on the five key human organs, so it can be served for impairment of the heart, lung, liver, pancreas, and kidney. Ganoderma lucidum can cure the sickness of various human systems including respiratory, circulatory, digestive, neural, endocrine, locomotory, etc, involving medical, surgical, gynecological, paediatric, and ENT. All these are because of its fundamental effect of "supporting the vital essence and securing the root", thus to improve the immune system. It differs from any other medicines that are used to cure specific disease, or supplementary nutrients that only address particular body requirements. Ganoderma lucidum helps regulate entire body mechanism and metabolism to ensure that all organs function properly. Some specific effects of Ganoderma lucidum are as following:

1. Effect on Tumor
Main cause to the development of tumor is the disorder of or poor performing immune system. Ganoderma lucidum can best regulate and activate the immune system. It prominently enhances the body immune function and increase self defense capability against tumor. Ganoderma lucidum enhances the function of monocytic macrophage via activating synthesis of interleukin H. It also enhances blood synthesis capacity, particularly white blood cells level. Combining with the inhibitory effect on cancer cells provided by certain ingredients in Ganoderma lucidum, it becomes one of the most effective medicines for anti-tumor, prevent cancer, and supplement to cancer treatment. Ganoderma lucidum possesses hardly any toxic to human body. This unique feature of enhancing immunity without toxigenicity is the definite advantage of Ganoderma lucidum over any other immune system intensifier.

2. Liver Protection & Detoxification
Ganoderma lucidum is able to protect the liver from damaged by various physiological and biological factors. Moreover, effect can be obtained either pre-or post-damage. Ganoderma lucidum speeds up metabolism of both medicine and toxic substances in liver, leading to curing of toxicated hepatitis. Ganoderma lucidum is also suitable for treating chronic hepatitis, effectively eliminating the related symptoms as dizzy, fatigue, and so on. Ganoderma lucidum can be used to treat chronic toxicosis, the various kinds of chronic hepatitis, and other hepatic diseases.

3. Effect on Cardiovascular
Clinical studies and experiments with animals confirm that Ganoderma lucidum can effectively dilate coronary artery, increase coronary vessel blood flow, and improve circulation in cardiac muscle capillaries, thus increase the supply of oxygen and energy to cardiac muscle. Therefore Ganoderma lucidum helps to protect the heart from shortage of blood supply, and it is ideal for both curing and preventing heart diseases like nausea. Ganoderma lucidum can obviously reduce the level of blood cholesterol, liporotein and triglycerides in hypertensive patienst. It prevents the formation of arterial atheromatous patches. If patches are already formed, Ganoderma lucidum will reduce cholesterol in arterial wall and soften the blood vessel to avoid further damage. It also partially improves blood circulation, and inhibits platelet aggregation. All these effects contribute to preventing various kinds of stroke.

4. Aging Prevention
The polysaccharides and polypeptides found in Ganoderma lucidum can effectively delay aging by the following mechanisms.
1. To enhance and regulate immune function. Such enhancement and regulation can effectively delay aging in adult and aged people. For the youngster, the immune system will be optimized to ensure healthy growth.
2. To regulate metabolism and enhance synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins. Research works have shown that Ganoderma lucidum enhances synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins in blood plasma, liver, and bone marrow, hence effectively prevent aging. It is observed that the use of Ganoderma lucidum to prevent aging benefits not only the aged, but also the young, since growth and development process will ultimately lead to aging.
3. Effect on Free Radicals. One cause of aging is the reduction of self-originated antioxidant or antioxidant-like material (such as SOD)in the body. These antioxidants are essential for encountering damage to the body by free radicals. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides possess the properties that are very similar to SOD which can remove the free radicals and prevent its damage to the body by stopping over-oxidation of lipid. Such action protects the cells and delays their aging.
4. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides prominently enhance DNA synthesis in cell nucleus, and increase the number of cell divisions, which results in delayed aging.

5. Effect on Neurasthenia
In Chinese medication, Ganoderma lucidum has been used to treat neurasthenia and insomnia since it works on the central nervous system. Extract from Ganoderma lucidum can inhibit and reduce the level of body activity. This inhibitory effect is quantitative and is helpful for resuming the order of activity level. The fact that Ganoderma lucidum can delay the death as the result of over-dosage of a central stimulant such as caffeine demonstrates shows that Ganoderma lucidum works on the central nervous system by applying an inhibitory effect.
In ancient Chinese medical publications, Ganoderma lucidum can serve to "stabilize emotion", "increase wisdom", and "enhance memory power". Recently, it is reported that Ganoderma lucidum has prominent effect on insomnia caused by neurasthenia: Effectiveness is 87.14% to 100%.In general, effect becomes obvious after a period of 10 to 15 days, when sleep improved, appetite increased, and body weight gained. Related headache and dizzy will be reduced or stopped. Ganoderma lucidum has a relatively strong effect on the central nervous system that makes Ganoderma lucidum an effective substance for treatment of neurasthenia and insomnia. Ganoderma lucidum is becoming more and more indispensable to the sufferers of neurasthenia and insomnia. To date, the effect of Ganoderma lucidum on neurasthenia and insomnia has been clearly described and stated in the China State pharmacopoeia.

6. Effect on Hypertension
Ganoderma lucidum can effectively reduce blood pressure of an anesthetized rabbit: systolic and diastolic pressure lowered by 15% and 25% respectively. Related neural activity is also inhibited: inhibition is 20% and 40% respectively. According to a report of a hospital, there had been 18 cases of high blood pressure successfully cured by Ganoderma lucidum extract, effectiveness up to 88.9%. It was stated that the effect of reducing blood pressure by Ganoderma lucidum was mainly the result of inhibition to the sympathetic nervous system. From another report, among 30 cases using Ganoderma lucidum products to cure high blood pressure, effectiveness was 88.3%. Moreover, it was found that Ganoderma lucidum also extends and stabilizes the effect of reducing blood pressure of other medicine.

7. Treament of Diabetes
The constitutes in Ganoderma lucidum that reduce blood glucose are Ganoderma B and C. The principle is by enhancing utilization of blood glucose by body tossues. Ganoderma lucidum serves as a substitute to insulin to inhibit release of fatty acids. It thus improves symptoms in high blood glucose and high urine glucose patients. Blood glucose will be reduced from 173 to 116, cholesterol from 233 to 179, beat-protein from 580 to 465. Water-solubility polysaccharides in Ganoderma lucidum suppresse insulin-independent diabetes. The health food products manufactured by Japan Numata Kenji, has been widely used for the treatment of diabetes.

8. Effect on Chronic Bronchitis & Bronchus Asthma
Ganoderma lucidum can stop coughing, clear sputum, and suppress asthma. It also relieves the symptoms of the related illnesses. Since Ganoderma lucidum can activate the immune system, it can prevent from flu, and thus above syndromes. Ganoderma lucidum is particularly suitable for the treatment of the patients categorized as "cold and wet" by Chinese medicine, while for the "hot and dry" patients would be relatively less effective. The average effectiveness is 80%.

9. Effect on Hyper Susceptibility
When the body is invaded by an antigen that ellicits an immunological reactions and results the various abnormality and immuno-pathological symptoms, Ganoderma lucidum can be used to suppress the reactions and resume the body order. The experiment shows that Ganoderma lucidum can stop the release of hyper susceptible factors and prevent the development of allergic reactions. Therefore, Ganoderma lucidum is relatively more effective over other current medicines when treating the illnesses caused by abnormal hyper-reactivity or autoimmunity such as allergic asthma, erythematous lupus vulgaris, rheumatoic arthritis, rheumatoic heart diseases, allergic rhinitis, skin diseases, etc. Ganoderma lucidum can also help to cure the toxification patients as the result of pro-longed usage of hormones.

10. Effect on Beauty Care
Ganoderma lucidum has been named the "Medicine of Eternal Life". It is mainly contributed to the effect on skin protection, and delaying aging. Ganoderma lucidum can retain and regulate the water in skin and thus can keep the skin elasticity, hydrated and smooth. It also inhibits the formation and deposition of melanin in skin. Today, the beauty care products made from Ganoderma lucidum are becoming the new stars in the industry. Taking Ganoderma lucidum food products will obtain synergistic effect. To add Ganoderma lucidum into the bath will not only keep the skin smooth and lustrous, but also prevent it from bacterial infection.


In addition to the above effects, Ganoderma lucidum stimulates blood synthesis in bone marrow and increase WBC level, which make it suitable for the treatment of low WBC symptom caused by over dosage of radiation and blood diseases, etc. By enhancing the body immune system, Ganoderma lucidum can defend the body from viral infections like AIDS virus. Ganoderma lucidum also promotes tolerance of the body to adverse environment. It suppresses over contraction of smooth muscle in uterus to remedy the functional uterine bleeding. Ganoderma lucidum is also effective for the pigment denaturation in retina, the underdeveloped brain, as well as abnormal muscular development. Ganoderma lucidum is also an effective pain reliever for headache, neural pain, cancer pain, etc.

Reaction After Serving Lingzhi
Serving Lingzhi should follow the concept of Chinese food treatment: "No dizzy, no recovery". At the beginning, some people may feel dizzy, pelvic fatigue, itching, thirsty, or even the increase of defaecation and urination. However, these reactions demonstrate the effectiveness of Lingzhi to the body. The toxicity is dissolved, mobilized, and excreted. Therefore, these reactions are normal.



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You may also want to do some research on Misai Kucing herb that complement well with Lingzhi to boost the goodness effect on our body.

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Small World Indeed

Picture taken during the launching of the new Malaysia Hall and Malaysia Student Department in Queensborough Terrace, Bayswater, London, August 2004:






Thanks Kamarul for the photo. I pon tak hengat that someone took a picture of me and Kak Puteri Zakiah and it was you, kamarul! Small world indeed. We have actually met in london and yet we didnt speak to each other except to pose with your nenek saudara that u fondly call her "Opah Chu".

Isnt she a pretty lady or what? This I mean Kak Puteri laaa , but feel free to think that I looked like a hot babe there, sexaaayyyyy. Behind us, the man with the blue collar, is the infamous Pak Syed. He's been working at Malaysia hall since 1960s and he is still healthy well into his golden age (70 something). He was also known as "Yoda" by the undergraduate students across London and the UK itself.

Ooo...by the way, I first knew Kamarul, a Sapura Holdings engineer in person through a PDA-moleskin meeting organized by Pak Adib, the veteran blogger at KL Sentral 2 years ago. And apparently it was 2 years after our 1st unspoken meeting in london. He and his family live in BBBangi like myself but in the different section.


Yesterday, I met an old primary schoolmate who didnt recognize me 1st but she somehow knew me from somewhere. It took her quite a while to guess who I was, and she thought i was some Sharifah (a lady with arabic blood). Quite close enough, I thought. And when i told her my name, she could not quite put the name and myself together but of course she remembered the name very well. I think i am blessed having such a unique name like Manal as a Malaysian. Not many of us in Malaysia although that name "Manal" (pronounced as Ma-naal , sounds like Chanel) is very much common in Egypt, and many other Arab League countries.


And not long after that, I received an SMS from Kamarul telling me that he found an old picture of me with his Opah Chu.


Thursday, April 03, 2008

What do I really, really, really want?

Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the book "Eat, Pray, Love", shared her own enlightenment stories on one episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show and below are what caught me most:


Excerpt from Oprah Winfrey's website (click here for more stories):



You can take your own spiritual journey every, single day. Liz has three daily rituals that anyone can do anywhere.

  • Start a journal and answer this question every morning: What do I really, really, really want? "You have to say really, really, really three times or else you don't believe it. And answer it truthfully and do it again the next day and the next and the next," she says. "Because you can't set your journey if you don't know what you're for."

  • Write down the happiest moment of every day in a happiness journal. "It's a way of reminding myself what really makes me happy and what doesn't," she says, "and learn and study and look back and see what is it consistently."

  • Refine your mantra. "I say refine, not choose, because we all actually already have a mantra. We just might not realize that we do. Whatever you repeat constantly in your head is your mantra whether you know it or not, and that is leading you on your way," she says. "So if you're repeating, 'I'm a moron, I'm an idiot, I'm a failure, I'm a jerk, I'm a loser,' it's your mantra. So decide whether that's working for you. … Maybe it's not and then maybe you might want to choose a different thing to try to say whenever you remember that you're thinking what you're always doing."


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The third one: Refine Your Mantra, does strike a chord with me. In my own personal take on this, I would also add not just that "What do I really, really, really want" mantra, but even in Islam, any du'a (solemn prayers) repeated three times will add weight to the significance of our wishes and what we would ask from God. Once you have said your prayers and repeat the things you really, really, really want three times, you will then have to tawakkal (put the trust) to God. Somehow, the power of believing and keeping in faith could actually work in some sort of a cosmic way whichever religion one believes in. It's this natural bond to our Creator and He is Oft-forgiving and Most Merciful and Ever Knowing.


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I am working my way towards reaching my ideal weight based on the healthy Body Mass Index, BMI range of 18-24. Fat is easily linked to many diseases including cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, and etc and it strikes the overweight and obese person higher than those who are keeping themselves within the healthy BMI range. Not only that, excess fat can cause hormone imbalance that will lead to irregular menstruation cycle as what two O&G specialists informed me.


It's been the second week since i have begun to take gym and some aerobic lessons seriously and for ONCE, i did not experience "breathless" or short of breath after like 2 years. I have started eating a smaller portion of rice everyday since the end of last year, looked after my food consumption and all and yet, nothing beats the much accelerated effect of burning those fats by doing the aerobic exercises per week. And although i tried to do that on my own at home and did brisk walking down the local lake park since a year ago, it wasnt as fun as joining a group of ladies flexing our muscles and sweating together as we tried (even struggled) to follow our instructor's orders and steps. It combines both aerobic and resistance routines and amazingly, our body is literally our very own number one resistance and not those added weights/ dumb bells.


But then, after each session, my poor left knee begins making some cracking sound especially whenever i climb up the stairs. For that i had to resort to applying Minyak Kayu Putih (100% sans methyl salicylate, click here for more info) to remedy the patella joints.




Minyak Kayu Putih Cap Lang, bagus!!