The Internet & the World Wide Web

I still remember when letters had to be sent via the post, with the correct postage. Letters sent overseas which did not have sufficient postage, would be sent by seamail instead of by air and they could take forever to reach their destinations. You could positively die waiting for the much-longed for letter to arrive. Those were the days of snail mail. But today?

In the blink of an eye your letter goes via email and the other party receives it within minutes of your hitting the "send" button. Business letters are also via email these days and the laptop or notebook is everywhere, slung on the shoulders of the new generation as they hurry to work. In trains and buses, you can see people holding blackberries and reading whatever is on their screens.

The internet has made it possible to access information from different parts of the world. Old and young, they can be seen at computer stations, sourcing for materials, or just simply surfing the net. Google has made it possible for anyone to search for information about just anything. You can even find friends whom you've lost touch with and with social networks like Facebook, Friendster, etc. you can quickly make new friends. Best of all, you can see photographs of friends and family. Then there's the chatrooms, where anonymity lends freedom of expression. My experience of entering a chatroom was a good one.

I used a pseudonym and when I posed a question, I had immediate responses. One of my questions was why I couldn't hit the golf ball as far as I wanted to. Within the next few moments I had different people giving me their views and suggestions. That was great!!

I was also amazed to find that Google earth could give me the location of my house! I could see clearly the road leading to my house and also my neighbours' houses!! Where I come from, such a thing was unimaginable a decade ago.

Then there are blogs and websites which you can visit and read. Some are political and they discuss the politics of the day. Malaysian politics make interesting reading and in one of the forums I found lots of differing views. Some contributors were very supportive of a writer who has drawn the ire of the powers that be because he spoke without fear or favor. Others reviled the political figures that have made a mockery of democracy. All in all it makes for very interesting reading and before you know it, hours have flown by.

Reading emails can also take up a lot of time if you have many friends who keep sending you mail and you forward those mail to other friends because they are enlightening or humorous, or they have attachments of beautiful slides of breathtaking scenery accompanied by lovely music.

However on the downside, there are adult websites that should not be viewed by young people. Pornography impacts the pysche negatively. Then there are those who abuse the internet by posting lewd pictures to bring about the downfall of prominent figures in society. This is a cowardly act befitting a scumbag. There are also paedophiles lurking in the cyberworld, stalking children and youngsters, as well as predators that prowl the web looking for victims, both male and female.

Despite the abuses, the internet is a wonderful tool when used properly. Just as we can't live without the mobile phone, we can't do without the internet. Honestly I do get withdrawal symptoms if I don't go online for a day and I feel so lost if I forget to bring my mobile phone with me when I leave the house. However did I survive without these things a decade and a half ago???

Travelling is fun

Travelling is fun except..........

Yeh, travelling is fun 'cos of the anticipation of arriving at one's destination. Even though I've travelled a fair bit, I can't help but get excited at the prospect of packing and going somewhere everytime there's a trip. Even a short trip like flying between Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur or between Kota Kinabalu and Singapore.

The only downside is the waiting at the airport before your flight as you have to be there well ahead of your flight time. Checking in can be a tedious affair if there are long queues and large crowds. Once on board, settling down to a book or newspaper really makes me contented provided there isn't a hyperkid sitting behind and kicking my seat. Collecting one's bag at the end of the flight is not a problem if you can identify your bag easily from the heaps of identical black bags. I've taken to putting multi-colored ribbons and rosettes on my bag. Thank goodness my bag isn't black but brown so it's easier to spot than my spouse's. His also has ribbons of different colors because many other bags have red ribbons.

My latest trip that took me beyond our neighbouring countries was to Russia. We went with my sister and spouse. They joined us in Kuala Lumpur, making their way from Melbourne. Before the trip I pored through the atlas, trying to locate Tashkent for that was where we would land before flying on to St Petersburg. The excitement built up as our tour date drew closer.

My daughter and I purchased a warmer coat for my spouse as we were told that it could be very cold in Russia. It was great fun trying out the winter clothing and getting someone the same size as my other half to try on the coat for size. Hubby was not in KL when I went shopping.

We transitted in Taskent for a couple of hours. Security was tight. Before we could board our flight for St Petersburg, we had to remove our shoes and socks and put on special bootees and go through security checks. The men had to remove their belts. There was a moment of humour when someone had to hang onto his pants! That was my first such experience. No one complained as it was for our own safety. Stringent checks are better than lax ones which could result in circumstances that are best avoided.

You know it was unbelievable! I never thought that Russia was such a beautiful country, with its elegant buildings ( built long ago ) and onion-shaped domes that turned out to be churches/cathedrals. There were statues of Peter the Great and Catherine the Great in St. Petersburg which is a lovely city. A cruise along the river (I've forgotten its name!! Senior's lapse and also the unforgivable error of depending on one's aging memory. Next time must make notes in a diary.) gave us a good view of the buildings in the city. The palaces and the museums contained a lot of history. The artefacts and paintings must be seen to enjoy their splendour.

Moscow was also a pleasant surprise. I had associated it with the KGB which I had read about and expected the city to be a grim and forbidding place. There were awesome cathedrals and a huge beautiful old building that housed chic boutiques and large departmental stores comparable to Covent Garden in London but much bigger. The women were elegant and slim, not the large stumpy-ankled matrons I was given to believe. The Moscow underground system is fantastic. It's very ornate and has huge paintings on the walls and antique chandaliers dangling along the subway passages. Certainly not like the London underground or the Singapore MRT.

The food was tolerable and I enjoyed the different types of salad. The vegetables were fresh. We didn't have much meat but that is to be expected when one is on a package tour. Souvenirs abound and the beautifully crafted Russian dolls and copies of delicate Faberge eggs were really a feast for the eyes. Russian chocolates are just as delicious as Swiss chocolates.

All too soon the tour came to an end but we had some very happy memories. I never thought I would be able to step into Russia. Thank goodness the Iron Curtain came down and allowed people to visit. This has brought benefits to both parties, the Russians and the tourists from other parts of the world. People get to know more about Russia and the Russians benefit from the tourist dollars. It is a place I would like to visit again, at a more leisurely pace.

Health is Wealth

Health is Wealth, really. When one is young, one never really thinks about wellness and most certainly didn't delibrately take steps to ensure that one is healthy because youth is careless of the issue. When young, you never feel for a moment that you will fall ill, unless you are caught in the rain and a cold results. So it was with me; I would lie down on the cold cement floor in my grandma's house because it was so cool while the weather was so hot. We never had any air-conditioning. And Grandma would go on nagging," Don't lie on the floor. You will regret it when you grow old. All the aches and pains will be upon you but it will be too late!" Of course she was venting to the air. No one took any notice of her.

Alas, how true her words are today. When the weather is turning, I can feel it in my bones. It begins with a slight ache and then grows in intensity with a vengeance. Quickly I resort to a small bottle of "viper" oil, purchased during one of my trips to China. It brings some relief, for a while.

Then a few days ago, I received an email from a friend detailing the usefulness of a paste of honey and cinnamon powder ( 1 part honey to 2 parts lukewarm water mixed with 1 tsp cinnamon powder). Massaging it on the offending limb will make the pain recede within 15 minutes.

Another tip based on research done in Copenhagan University was this. Drink one cup hot water mixed with 2 tbsp honey and 1 small tsp cinnamon powder daily and this will relieve your pain within one month.

Well I have yet to try this out as we have been having very hot weather lately.

On another note, I have also read that the common lemongrass which most Malaysians grow in their backyard and which we usually use in our cooking, especially in curries and laksa, has another use. Apparently, drinking lemongrass tea can help in someway to preclude cancer. How far this is true I do not know but I read of people making a beeline to a farm somewhere in Israel to look for lemongrass because of its properties in the battle agaist cancer.

I tried boiling a few stalks of lemongrass, locally known as "serai" and drank it as a tea. It tastes very pleasant actually. The fragrance is lovely. I know I boiled it together with ginger for my daughter to bathe in when she was in confinement after delivering her baby. It was very fragrant bathwater indeed. The idea was to get the "wind" out of her system after childbirth since we could not procure the actual herbs used normally, in the UK. Bathing in cold water after childbirth is a no-no as it will lead to aches and pains when one is old. Back to the arthritis again!

So at my age, I'm willing to try out tips that have been given in good faith and friendship to enjoy a better quality of life. Maybe someone has something to share as well. I remember sharing sometime ago that people with kidney problems should not eat starfruit because it could have disastrous consequences. I believe a few people suffered fatal consequences. So beware, good folks. No starfruit if you have kidney problems.

Valentine Day

Valentine Day has come and gone! The newspapers had pictures of couples tying the knot on Valentine Day which has become synonymous with Lovers' Day. The most common reason for getting married on this day is that it is easy to remember the anniversaries to come.

What happens on this day? As I walked along the street I saw people selling roses, single stalks or a posy. Florists had bouquets of different sizes to cater to customers who want to impress on their loved ones how much they are adored and loved. It goes without saying that on this day the price of the roses has been raised to take advantage of the occasion.

Some vendors have said that the demand for roses had dropped this year because of the global recession which has hit many people where it hurts most...... their pockets. Despite that I understand that the price of roses has increased. That being the case, it's not surprising that demand has dropped.

Well, is it really necessary to splash on roses just to show how much you love someone? A guy has been reported to say that the price does not matter because Valentine Day is only once a year. It's alright if one can afford it but what if one's budget is very tight? Red roses symbolise love. But if it is going to put you out of pocket, wouldn't a simple card do as well? Or, doing something for your loved one to show your love and appreciation? I'm sure the other party would appreciate it just as much if he or she is understanding. The effort of doing something special for your loved one would rate higher than pulling out the dollars to buy a rose. Besides, it's so stereotyped to do what most everyone is doing.

Valentine Day has become a fad that has been exploited for its commercial value. The hotels charge outrageous amounts for a dinner for two. Come on, under such trying times, surely it makes more sense to be more practical and celebrate the occasion by doing something different than blowing a good percentage of one's wages just for a dinner and roses?

One can be just as romantic, taking a stroll in the moonlight. It's what comes from the heart, saying what you feel which counts. No doubt it's nice to receive a gift but hey! Dollars and sense count too! Giving valentine cards is not confined to lovers only; friends can give valentine cards or tokens to one another, or to family members too.

I would take it to be also a day where you show appreciation of friendship between people, male or female. I sent e valentine cards to friends. Did you?

Time Flies

Almost 2 years have gone by since my last post!! Didn't realise it cos as usual, I had forgotten about posts and passwords.

Dearie me! Another two years older but no matter. Am still swinging and I don't mean swinging in the trees either!

Today I visited my niece who lives in Singapore. She has two young very adorable children. They are irrepressible and utterly charming. The elder has just started pre-kindy class and she is oh, so very articulate and cconfident. The younger is very friendly and takes to anyone, quite an independent little chap. Seeing them and being grandaunt to these two little ones does bring home the fact that time is passing by very fast as they have grown so much taller.

I come from the Land below the Wind, a Malaysian state that is a far cry from Singapore, the city republic with its teeming highrises. The Land below the Wind is so called, I guess, because we are not in the belt where typhoons blow but we do get the tailend of whichever typhoons are blowing in the South China Sea and that means strong winds and heavy rainfall. However these strong winds are nowhere near the velocity of typhoons, thank goodness.

We have beautiful beaches, and we can also boast of having the highest mountain in SE Asia, Mt Kinabalu. The Tip of Borneo is located in our state and it is a spot unblemished by commercial tourism. Our government is promoting eco-tourism to bring in the tourists and many have commented positively on the natural beauty of the places they have been to. Apart from that, we also have the orang utan sanctuary which is also a rehabilitation centre for these threatened species. We also have the annual race up Mt Kinabalu and the 4 wheel drive expedition cross country which tests not only your vehicle but your personal endurance in some of the toughest landscapes.

So that's a lot of swinging one can do in the Land below the Wind. Besides, there's the beautiful diving spot off Pulau Sipadan, one of the most touted diving areas in the world. Its sudden drop a few meters off the sparkling while beach and its underwater caves and surrounding waters teeming with oceanic life is an enormous draw and those who've been, return repeatedly.