local events

  • local events

    Peugeot 308 VTi!!!

    Alhamdulillah!!!!! I won the Grand Prize for BLOG4FT contest!! Really, I did not expect to win as the competitors are all very strong! When I arrived at KLIA this morning and switched on my mobile phone, I saw two messages; one from my husband and one from Bain. As I read them, I was jumping to joy and Linda Tan who was walking with me curiously asked why I was jumping. I told her the good news and she jumped along!

    Congrats to all winners!

    PUBLIC

    First
    Peugeot 308 VTi
    Nor Emila Mohd Yusof
    Entry: KL: A to Z Fun Things To Do & Places To Visit With Kids

    Second
    Naza Prisma + 1 Dell Studio Hybrid + 1 MacBook
    Nigel Sia Ling Wei
    Entry: Thankful

    Third
    1 Dell Studio Hybrid + 1 BlackBerry Bold + RM500 Bubba Gump voucher
    Loke Seng Hon
    Entry: History, Heritage & Architecture – All in KL & Putrajaya

    Fourth
    Tan Keat Eng
    Entry: Spread Your Wings – reaching out – KL Bird Park

    Fifth
    Khairunisa bt Abdullah
    Entry: Aku dan P. Ramlee

    MEDIA

    First
    Kia Optima Novus

    Cheong Peck Beng
    Entry: My Bangsar

    Second
    Naza Prisma + 1 Dell Studio Hybrid + 1 MacBook + Piala
    Sonny Ikmal Bin Ahmad Kamil
    Entry: Pasar Chow Kit, Pasar Satu Malaysia

    Third
    Dell Studio Hybrid + 1 BlackBerry Bold + RM500 Bubba Gump voucher
    Azizul Fahmi Ahmad Zabidi
    Entry: Cerita kemasyhuran Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad

    INTERNATIONAL

    First
    Flight tickets for 2 to Kuala Lumpur  + Hotel Stay (5 stars) for 3 nights + Air Asia flight ticket to Penang + Hotel Stay at Naza Hotel in Penang for 2 nights + 1 Dell Studio Hybrid + Certificate
    Barbara Mckay (Australia)
    Entry: The Magic Hour Show @ Annexe Gallery

    Second
    Flight tickets for 2 to Kuala Lumpur  + Hotel Stay (5 stars) for 3 nights + Air Asia flight ticket to Penang + Hotel Stay at Naza Hotel in Penang for 2 nights + Certificate
    Keith Jenkins (Holland)
    Entry: Ten things to do in Kuala Lumpur

    Third
    Flight tickets for 2 to Kuala Lumpur  + Hotel Stay (5 stars) for 3 nights + Certificate
    Dhanya Parthasarathy (India)
    Entry: rock solid on the precarious edge

    JUNIOR

    First

    1 Dell Studio Hybrid + 1 Sony PlayStation 3 + 1 Sony PSP + 1 iPod Touch
    Yeow Minyi
    Entry: 350! 350! I say 350!

    Second
    1 Dell Studio Hybrid + 1 iPod Touch + 1 Sony PSP

    Gloson Teh
    Entry: My Most Enjoyable Holiday in KL in Dec 09

    Third

    1 Dell Studio Hybrid + 1 iPod Touch
    Sharifah Hani Yasmin binti Syed Abdullah
    Entry: Kuala Lumpur: The Lost Art of The “Serunai Burung”

    The prize-giving ceremony was yesterday 28th March 2010 but since I was on a flight back to KL from Italy, I missed it. But I did send my two handsome guys to represent me.

    A BIG THANK YOU to the organiser of BLOG4FT, Kementerian Wilayah Persekutuan especially the minister himself, Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, BLOG4FT team members especially Hakim, Syahriman, Nazim and Sheila, the public as well as professional judges, namely Tan Sri Datuk Sri Elyas Omar, Tan Sri Dato Dr Lim Kok Wing, Dato’ Tony Fernandes, Dato Seri Wong Chun Wai and Datuk Ahiruddin Attan (Rocky) who have made it possible for me to be the Grand Prize Winner!

    A VERY BIG THANK YOU to the sponsor as well; NAZA Group of Companies for the great prize!

    A VERY VERY VERY BIG THANK YOU to all who voted for me for the post!!

    Here’s Yassin posing with his dad and uncle Bain!

    Update:

    Toot has posted a link in The Malay Mail in my blog comment: http://www.mmail.com.my/content/31641-graphic-illustrator-wins-ft-competition. Thanks toot!

    Here’s the article, I copy-paste for my record:

    Graphic illustrator wins FT competition

    Mum blogs her creations and is awarded a Peugeot 308 VTi car

    Shahrim Tamrin
    Monday, March 29th, 2010 10:23:00

    A pleasant surprise this morning at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport when she met her husband, Mohd Za’im Mohd Tahet, 47, and son Mohd Yassin, 7, upon her arrival from Italy.
    From them, she learned that her blog entry KL: A to Z Fun Things To Do & Places to Visit with Kids was declared the best by judges of the “Blog for FT” competition and had been awarded the grand prize of a Peugeot 308 VTi car. (
    Picture caption — CREATIVITY: (From left) Za’im with his son, Raja Nong Chik and S.M. Faizal Nasimudin of Naza at the prize-giving ceremony. Pic by ASHRAF SHAMSUL AZLAN)

    Her husband told The Malay Mail last night: “The organisers told Emila to attend the awards ceremony tonight as her entry was listed in the top three.”

    However, she was not able to do so as she was in Italy for the Bologna’s World Children’s Book Fair.

    It was only when Emila was on a flight back that the announcement was made. On her behalf, Za’im said:

    “This is definitely  one of the highlights of Emila’s life. “She decided to quit the corporate scene three years ago to spend more time with our only son. She also wanted less restrictions on how to express herself as an artist  and writer.

    “I think her creative style to include illustrations in her write-up on KL’s positive lifestyle and environment garnered the attention of the judges.

    “She is very creative and likes to blog about almost anything. Emila’s knack for writing as well as her love for illustration and graphics was expressed well in her blog emilayusof.com.”

    The inaugural competition was mooted last year by FT and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin after an informal discussion with a group of bloggers.

    Since its launch in October, the competition had attracted 4,278 entries with 300,000 page views recorded during the six-month time frame of the competition.

    “I can say this was a success,” Raja Nong Chik said at the ceremony last night. “I am happy with the quality  and scale of responses from the blogging community as well as the international participation which reached as far as Australia, Belize, Tanzania, Kazakhstan, Netherlands and India.”

    The competition had four categories — general, teens, international and media. The teen winner was Yeow Minyi, Australian Barbara McKay topped the international entries while Cheong Peck Beng bagged the media prize.

    Raja Nong Chik said he wanted to capitalise on the impact of new media and create a positive Internet buzz among bloggers about the Federal Territory as well as promote it at the same time.

    “Blog for FT is one way to reach out to the public. I also actively interact with my Facebook friends to listen to their suggestions, comments or complaints about the Federal Territory.”

    Credit: The Malay Mail

  • local events

    Hear ye! Hear ye! Art for Grabs!

    My publisher, Linda Tan, and I will be at the Art for Grabs!! We’ll be selling books, prints, notecards, notepads, calendars and many more!!!

    Please come and rock our booth:

    Dates: Sat 6 & Sun 7, March 2010
    Time: 12.00 noon to 8.00 pm
    Venue: The Annexe Gallery, Central Market Annexe, Kuala Lumpur.

  • crafts,  local events

    National Crafts Day

    Went to visit the National Crafts Day (Hari Kraf Negara) today at Kompleks Kraf, Jalan  Conlay, Kuala Lumpur. Made appointment earlier to meet with Rizal (RestNRileks), my blogger buddy, who is happen to be a Craft Lecturer/Instructor with Institut Kraf Negara. Rizal accompanied me to visit the whole exhibition and it was fun discussing about the latest trend of local crafts while looking at some new craft designs.

    These are some of my favourites:

    And my top favourite is:

    Rattan orca lamp!

    I am very sure this will be Yassin’s favourite too!!! Yassin couldn’t make it as he has to attend school but maybe I’ll bring him during the weekend.

    Rizal has contributed a lot of effort in bringing his team to work on this Rattan Orca Lamp design. You can read the detailed process at Rizal’s blog.

    It was really a great festival and if you happen to be in Kuala Lumpur, do drop by and see our many beautiful local handcrafted items.

    Location:
    Kompleks Kraf Kuala Lumpur
    Seksyen 63, Jalan Conlay
    50450 Kuala Lumpur
    Telephone: 03-2162 7459
    Fax: 03-2161 2622

    The National Crafts Day will be until March 8, 2010 but the overall Malaysia Crafts Festival will be until March 24, 2010 at selected locations as below:

    Shopping Complexes
    – AEON Alpha Angle
    -Great Eastern Mall, Kuala Lumpur
    -Central Market, Kuala Lumpur

    Hotels
    – JW Marriott, Kuala Lumpur
    – Prince & Residence, Kuala Lumpur
    – Istana, Kuala Lumpur
    – Hilton, Petaling jaya
    – Royale Chulan
    – Grand Season
    – Best Western Premier Seri Pacific

    Amongst activities currently going on at Kompleks Kraf are:
    – Craft sales
    – New Design Exhibits
    – Exclusive Souvenirs
    – Traditional Musical instruments Craft
    – Crafts Technology Exhibits
    – Buyers Meeting
    – Design Workshops
    – Craft Demonstrations
    – Interactive Activities
    – Entrepreneur Advice Counter
    – Cultural Shows
    – Tradtional Games

    Before we leave, Rizal and I exchanged goodies. I only gave Rizal few small things but Rizal on the other hand, gave me beautiful goodies! Thank you so much Rizal!!

    And before I end this post, I would like to promote craft books published by Institut Kraf Negara that I already have in my hands! Yippee!!! Been looking for these type of books for quite sometimes already! Thanks to Rizal for telling me about it, I own 6 of them!

    If you are looking for elementary reference about our local crafts, do look for these books:

    Books included in this series are:
    – Seni Kraf Logam (Motif & Teknik)
    – Seni Kraf Kayu (Motif & Teknik)
    – Seni Kraf Batik (Motif & Teknik)
    – Seni Kraf Batik ( Pewarnaan Asli)
    – Seni Kraf Tenunan )Motif & Teknik)
    – Seni Kraf Seramik (Motif & Teknik)
    – Seni Kraf Rotan (Motif & Teknik)

    All books are in Malay Language. The hardcover is RM80 each, while softcover RM39.90.

    For enquiries/order please call:

    Institut Kraf Negara
    No 1, KM 20, Jalan Ipoh Rawang
    Taman Rekreasi Templer
    48000 Rawang
    Selangor.

    Tel: 03-60915322 ext 103/151
    Fax: 03-60926072
    E-mail: faridah@ikn.gov.my/shamsheila@ikn.gov.my

    Oh, I almost forgot, here’s a picture of Rizal and me!

  • local events,  yassin

    Yassin’s first movie

    Although a teacher has been complaining about him walking around in class and not wanting to write, Yassin has been a very good boy the first two weeks at school. We rewarded him with a visit to Petrosains. After the visit, Yassin for the very first time, requested to see a movie. We fulfilled his request and took him to see the 3D version of Avatar show at the TGV.

    Yassin and his dad enjoyed the movie so much as they both are big fans of science fiction. I, on the other hand, is the opposite. I don’t really like sci-fi (given exception to Spielberg’s Taken miniseries and ET) and as for Avatar, I don’t like the storyline but I must salute the CGI special effect team (Industrial Light & Magic, Weta Digital and James Cameron the director himself)  for a job well done. ILM and Weta worked from extremely detailed templates given to them by Cameron.

  • local events

    It’s Only Words?

    Writing A Picture Book Workshop

    The term “picture book” might give one the impression that the pictures are the most important part of such a piece of work, but words tell the story in a picture book as much as the pictures do.

    So what makes good picture book text?

    In this workshop, Daphne Lee explores and discusses the qualities of good picture book writing by drawing on reviews and criticism and by examining classic and contemporary picture book texts. Participants may email in one manuscript each to be evaluated during the workshop.

    Suitable for aspiring children’s authors.

    Date: 30 Jan 2010

    Time: 10.00 a.m.-4.00 p.m. (1 hr break for lunch)

    Venue: Learning Works @ 74, Jln BU 11/6, Petaling Jaya

    Fee: RM199 per participant

    Registration: RM20

    Call Daphne at 016-328 1513 or Eileen at 012-207 2845 or email mylearningworks AT gmail DOT com for more information or to reserve your space.

  • local events

    Our children. Our hope. Our future.

    I was bidding adieu to both my original acrylic (right) and watercolor (left) paintings earlier yesterday at 11.30am at Bar Council, Lebuh Pasar Besar, Kuala Lumpur. No, I wasn’t having any legal trouble with the paintings, I was just giving them away for an auction which will be held during the Fundraising Dinner for Children Homes on the 10th December 2009 organised by Bar Council. The combined price is not that much but I am happy to be contributing to a good cause.

    emila and ruhil from bar council kl

    Ruhil Amal, a rep from Bar Council holding my watercolor “Best Buddies” while me holding acrylic “Teddy Bears”

    December  is declared as International Human Rights  Day by the United Nation to mark the birth of  the Universal Declaration  of Human Rights (UDHR)  1948. In keeping with its tradition and spirit, the Bar Councils Human Rights Committee (BCHRC) is hosting a fundraising dinner for seven selected children’ homes, in recognition of the children’s fundamental rights to food, shelter, healthcare, security, education and eventually gainful employment once they become adults.

    In previous years, the BCHRC had organised various events to celebrate Human Rights Day but none of them was specifically aimed at promoting the economic, social and cultural rights of children. Our Children. Our Hope. Our Future is a one of its kind initiative and to make this event more meaningful, some children from the homes will be participating in the dinner and performances.

    hope

    About the Homes*

    Desa Amal Jireh (Pusat Untuk Bantuan Dan Kebajikan)
    Semenyih, Selangor

    Home for 116 orphans and underprivileged children with an initial monthly budget of RM800. The centre is managed by Reverend Terrence and his wife, Kamala Sinnadurai. Their mission is to provide shelter, education, care and love for underprivileged children in the village.

    All Ethnic Group Refugee Children Education Centre
    outskirts of Kuala Lumpur

    Home for 30 refugee children. They are living in a rented 3-room shophouse flat and the living condition is inevitably poor. The centre is managed by Mr. Thein on a part time basis. The Centre doubles up as an education centre, catering to the children’s educational needs.  Some of the Centre’s most urgent needs are supplies of nutritious food, clothing and books.

    The Pure Life Society
    Jalan Puchong, Kuala Lumpur

    Home to 107 children and staff. Since its inception, a total of 2,000 children from different races and creeds have benefited from the Society’s care.The society is managed by Mother Mangalam. The home’s current needs are qualified tutors and volunteers to do gardening work, assist in the library, read to the children, teach musical instruments and tutor primary school students.

    Gurpuri Foundation (Foster Home for Children)
    Ampang, Selangor

    Home to 55 orphaned, abandoned, abused and underprivileged Sikh children. Although Gurpuri Foundation started out as a home for Sikh children, it welcomes children from all races and faiths. The home is managed by Mr Sukhdev Dingh. The home places great emphasis on the children’s education.

    Rumah Solehah
    Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur

    Home to 16 orphans or abandoned children who are living with HIV/AIDS. There are 4 other children staying with foster parents. The home is run by a caregiver, known affectionately as Kak Wan. There is an urgent need to employ more trained and qualified tutors to coach the children in order to help them excel in education. The home is also in need of funds to allow them to expand the home.

    An’Najjah (Persatuan Kebajikan Darul Najjah Kuala Lumpur dan Selangor)
    Jalan Kent 2, Off Jalan Maktab, Kuala Lumpur

    Home to 24 orphans, including orang asli children. An’Najjah is an orphanage for boys only. The cost of rental and maintenance of the home relies heavily on a fixed budget. Therefore, it is essential that the home continues to receive further funding from the public to improve the existing condition of the home. This orphanage is managed by Puan Hajjah Aminah Mat.

    Rumah Sayangan
    Taman Billion, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur

    Rumah Sayangan is a Christian-based home for orphaned, abandoned, abused and underprivileged children. The home welcomes visitors to provide companionship to the children. The children are generally shy at first but after spending some time with them, they begin to feel at ease with the visitors. The home needs more public contribution in terms of cash to pay for the children tuition fees and fares for school transportation. Donations are also needed to support the cost of medical treatment for the children. The home is managed by Miss Susan.

    If you are interested in donating, below is the information:

    • Tickets: RM200 per seat/RM2000 per table
    • Host:Bar Councils Human Rights Committee (BCHRC)
    • Time: Thursday, 10 December 2009, 18:30
    • Location: Sunway Resort Hotel & SpaPersiaran Lagoon, 46150 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
    • Contact:
      • Lim Ka Ea at 03-2031 7103, email: kaea@malaysianbar.org.my
      • Siti Kasim at 012-223 3371, email: sitikasim@gmail.com

    (*Source: Bar Council)

    Here’s the painting up-close:

    Teddy Bears by Emila Yusof

    bestbuddies

    I will be there too to attend the event.