I am an ostrich
Its not often you get to see the word “Malaysia” get mentioned on MSN homepage. So rare, that people prolly think we’re still living on trees.
And when it does, MAYBE its time we bury our heads in shame and change our nationality in our Facebook for a while.
Malaysia’s Islamists want Lavigne concert canceledAug. 18, 2008, 5:52 AM ESTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s Islamic opposition party has urged the government to cancel a concert by Avril Lavigne, saying the Canadian singer’s on-stage moves are “too sexy,” an official said Monday.
Lavigne, a Grammy-nominated rock singer who burst to fame with her 2002 debut album “Let’s Go,” plans to start her monthlong Asia tour with a performance in Kuala Lumpur on Aug. 29.
The youth wing of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party said Lavigne’s concert would promote wrong values ahead of Malaysia’s Aug. 31 independence day.
“It is considered too sexy for us. … It’s not good for viewers in Malaysia,” said Kamarulzaman Mohamed, a party official. “We don’t want our people, our teenagers, influenced by their performance. We want clean artists, artists that are good role models.”
Kamarulzaman said he sent a protest letter to the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry and the Kuala Lumpur mayor last week, calling for the concert to be canceled.
An official from the Culture Ministry’s department that vets all foreign artists said the government has not given permission for the concert yet. The department is to meet Tuesday to decide on the organizer’s application, which was received last week.
The official declined to be named because she is not authorized to make public statements.
A spokesman for the concert’s organizer, Galaxy Group, denied that Lavigne’s show had any “negative elements.”
The spokesman, who declined to be named citing protocol, said his company was confident of receiving the permit as feedback from authorities so far had been “very positive.”
Malaysia requires all performers to wear clothes without obscene or drug-related images and be covered from chest to knees. They must also refrain from jumping, shouting, hugging and kissing on stage.
Still, members of PAS and other conservative Muslims often protest Western and even Malaysian music shows that they deem to be inappropriate.
Last year, pop singer Gwen Stefani made what she called “a major sacrifice” by donning clothes that revealed little skin at a performance here.
Also last year, Christina Aguilera skipped Malaysia during an Asian tour that included neighboring Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, while R&B superstar Beyonce scratched a planned concert here, moving it to Indonesia.
A Pussycat Dolls concert in 2006 was fined 10,000 ringgit (US$2,857) after the U.S. girl group was accused of flouting decency regulations.
By ‘Malaysia’ standard of what’s considered ‘too sexy’ … Sex goddess roam the streets, porn stars are found everywhere, we’re pretty much walking around naked everyday… By Malaysia standard.
Short flashes of life
1. Tiring week. Work flood. Long day. Insufficient rest.
2. Bought Sheryl Crow, Aerosmith and Matchbox20 from The Rock Corner.
3. Planning for my genting trip with Will, Aaron+XJ, and Calvin+mysterious guest. Also planned to strap Calvin in for integoration.
4. Suggested Carls Junior *grins* for our quarterly departmental lunch. Awaiting team’s decision.
5. Damn sleepy and work’s about to start.
Sg Chilling
uhh… I couldn’t remember exectly when, but we went to Sg Chilling a couple of weeks ago. The journey there took us about an hour, with only afew wrong turnings.
It was semi-dangerous for amateur jungle trekkers like me, so I must apologize first hand for the lack of pictures taken. Seriously, as much as I’m trying to sound macho here… it is a dangerous climb.
**
We were all packed and ready. Bottles of water and packable food in our bags, and we’re up after our breakfast at the mamak’s.
Don’t be deceived by the picture. That… my friend, is just a little teaser.
After about 5 minutes of what i call the-teaser-walk, we reached the starting point – The Bridge. We had to log in our name in the ranger’s booth, just in case we ended up “as one” with the jungle.
River view from the first crossing – The bridge
Okay… first crossing, down. 4 more to go.
These tracks aren’t … well … too ‘user friendly’. Some part were muddy, some wet and slippery, and some, just plain difficult. Well, its best you wear long pants if you can’t take overgrown leaves, roots and sticks slapping on your skin.
There was a LARGE slab of rock halfway before reaching crossings number 2.
“just imagine, a mansion right there!”
Actually, we got a LITTLE bit lost before reaching our 2nd crossing. *chuckle*
“Told you to ask the Tiger for directions!”
Floras were aplenty there.
I named it – curly
And so are Faunas.
gelifying
“heeeeere fishie fishie fishie….”
Some of the crossings are knee deep. Some, butt deep, some waist deep. I had to wrapped my very-much-not-water-proof-camera in plastic bags whenever we’re crossing … Good thing I did. Because Will (my bag carrier) landed on his butt in the middle of a crossing. It was slippery, and the current were strong.
BUT, no worries, he’s fine.
some of the easier crossings
Finally, we passed crossing number 4. Now we had a choice to take the road less traveled or cross river number 5.
And you’ve guessed it. We took the road less travelled.
I skipped taking a pix of the perilous climb up a steep heel and not forgetting, the narrow path along the edge for safety reasons.
But I’ve found something else similar on the internet:
Imagine the chains made of roots and the path, of soil. That’s how it looks like.
The reward, were amazing. THIS, is the most MAG-NI-FI-CENT waterfall I’ve seen in my 23 years of life! (not counting those I’ve seen on TV).
Not wanting to miss THIS one, I did a little slow balancing, took out my camera, and snapped a few rounds before keeping back the camera to free my hands for the rest of the climb.
So magnificent, I need a wide angle lens if I were to capture it from top to bottom from where I stood.
Finally, we came to … the-waterfall-above-the-majestic-waterfall. I realised I’ve only bring bread … without the sausages. We all ate bread with water that afternoon. Still … we cleared it all.
Heh… I wasn’t sure what’s that s’pose to mean.
Oh ya, i forgot I’ve got a picture of the steep climb. But still no picture of that narrow path.
“lay your eyes off the butt, you perv!”
It was fun… really.
Next time … I won’t forget to bring the sausages too.
