Swim Venue: Kompleks Kolam Renang Awam Pusat Sukan Air Presint 6 Putrajaya

Swim Venue: Kompleks Kolam Renang Awam Pusat Sukan Air Presint 6 Putrajaya (Public Swimming Pool, Putrajaya Swimming Complex, Precint 6, Putrajaya)

Address: Presint 6, 62000 Putrajaya, Malaysia. (Next to Pullman Putrajaya Lakeside Hotel. Follow the signs to Pullman along the highway and you'll get there, directions may be a bit confusing for first-timers.)


Open Hours:

Tuesdays to Sundays
9:00 - 11:00 am
1:00 - 3:00 pm
5:00 - 7:00 pm
8:00 - 10:00 pm

Notes:

5:00 - 7:00 pm slot is "Women Only" on Tuesdays and Thursdays
1:00 - 3:00 pm slot is closed on Fridays


Entry Fees:
Adult Pool: RM2:00 per person for all ages
Children's Pool: RM2:00 per person for all ages from Tuesdays to Fridays, RM2.00 per adult on Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays, RM1:00 per child (11 years and below) on Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays

Please note that children using the Adult Pool will be charged the Adult fee of RM2.00 per person.


Other Details:

Pool Length: 50 metres
Pool Depth: 1.2 to 2.0 metres
Pool Setting: Outdoor (Very nice holiday resort feel and ambience)

Swim Venue: Kompleks Sukan Negara Bukit Jalil

Swim Venue: Kompleks Sukan Negara Bukit Jalil

Address: Pusat Akuatik Nasional (National Aquatic Centre), Kompleks Sukan Negara, Bukit Jalil, Seri Petaling, 57700 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.


Open Hours:

Mondays to Thursdays
2:00 - 4:30 pm
5:00 - 7:30 pm
8:00 - 10:30 pm

Fridays
8:00 - 9:30 am (Free)
10:00 am - 11:30 am (Free)
3:00 - 4:30 pm (Free)
5:00 - 7:30 pm
8:00 - 10:30 pm

Saturdays & Public Holidays
8:00 - 10:30 am
11:00 am - 1:30 pm
2:00 - 4:30 pm
5:00 - 7:30 pm
8:00 - 10:30 pm

Sundays
8:00 - 10:30 am
11:30 am - 2:00 pm
3:00 - 5:30 pm
6:30 - 9:00 pm


Entry Fees:
Children (4 years and below): Free
Children (5 to 12 years): Mondays to Fridays RM2.00, Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays RM3.00
Adults (13 to 54 years): Mondays to Fridays RM4.00, Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays RM5.00
Persons With Disabilities: Mondays to Fridays RM3.00, Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays RM4.00
Senior Citizens (55 years and above): Mondays to Fridays RM3.00, Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays RM4.00


Other Details:

Pool Length: 50 metres
Pool Depth: 1.2 to 1.8 metres
Pool Setting: Indoor (Covered by tent-shaped structure)

Swim Venue: Kompleks Kemudahan Kemasyarakatan (3K), Subang Jaya

Swim Venue: Kompleks Kemudahan Kemasyarakatan (3K), Subang Jaya

Address: Jalan SS 13/1 off Persiaran Kewajipan, SS13, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.


Open Hours:

Daily
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
2:00 - 5:00 pm
6:00 - 9:00 pm

Entry Fees:

Adults:
Weekdays
Day Sessions RM2.00, Night Sessions RM3.00
Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays
Day Sessions RM3.00, Night Sessions RM4.00


Other Details:

Pool Length: 50 metres
Pool Depth: 1.2 to 2.2 metres
Pool Setting: Indoor

Swim Venue: Pusat Akuatik Darul Ehsan, Shah Alam

Swim Venue: Pusat Akuatik Darul Ehsan, Shah Alam

Address: Jalan Aerobik 13/43, Section 13, 40100 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.


Open Hours:

Tuesdays to Sundays
9:00 - 11:15 am
12:00 - 2:00 pm
3:00 - 5:15 pm
6:00 - 8:15 pm
Ticket counter closes half an hour before the end of each session.


Entry Fees:

Adults: Tuesdays to Fridays RM3.00, Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays RM3.50


Other Details:

Pool Length: 50 metres
Pool Depth: 2.2 to 3.0 metres
Pool Setting: Indoor

Swim Venue: Kompleks Sukan Negara Panasonic Sports Complex Shah Alam

Swim Venue: Kompleks Sukan Negara Panasonic Sports Complex Shah Alam

Address: Lot No. 4, Persiaran Perkilangan, Section 21, 40300 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.


Open Hours:

Tuesdays to Fridays
5:00 - 7:30 pm
8:00 - 10:30 pm

Saturdays & Public Holidays
8:00 - 10:30 am
11:00 am - 1:30 pm
2:00 - 4:30 pm
5:00 - 7:30 pm
8:00 - 10:30 pm

Sundays
8:00 - 10:30 am
11:30 am - 2:00 pm
3:00 - 5:30 pm
6:30 - 9:00 pm


Entry Fees:
Children (4 years and below): Free
Children (5 to 12 years): Tuesdays to Fridays RM2.00, Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays RM3.00
Adults (13 to 54 years): Tuesdays to Fridays RM3.00, Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays RM4.00
Persons With Disabilities: Tuesdays to Fridays RM2.50, Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays RM3.50
Senior Citizens (55 years and above): Tuesdays to Fridays RM2.50, Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays RM3.50


Other Details:

Pool Length: 50 metres
Pool Depth: 1.2 to 2.0 metres
Pool Setting: Outdoor

Translation Exercise: Politics Article

Homework from the General Translation Course (Intensive) done in 2005. Revisited this one and made a change to some of the words I originally used. The revised translation is as follows:

Homework
Kerja rumah

Translation exercise
Latihan terjemahan

Politik/Rencana
Politics/Article

Major confrontation between governments and religious fundamentalists are increasingly prevalent in modern societies.
 Perbalahan antara pemerintah dan golongan fundamentalis agama semakin kerap dalam masyarakat moden.

Some states are opposing Islam as a 'power play'. I do not believe this strategy of outlawing religious movements and persecuting citizens on the basis of their religious convictions is effective.
 Sesetengah negara menentang Islam atas alasan 'permainan kuasa'. Saya tidak percaya strategi mengharamkan gerakan agama dan menindas rakyat atas pegangan agama adalah berkesan.

Indeed, fanning the flames of passion in relation to the issues of religion, in this way, is bound to result in a backlash by the religious sections of society.
 Sememangnya, mengipas api semangat berkaitan isu agama dengan cara ini pasti mencetuskan serangan balik daripada golongan masyarakat yang kuat pegangan agama.

One does not want 'to throw the baby out with the bath water'. I think it is absurd and senseless to pursue a tough policy on religion, on Islam, because of the fear of extremism and aggressive fundamentalism.
 Usahlah kita 'marahkan nyamuk bakar kelambu'. Pada pendapat saya, tidak wajar dan tidak masuk akal untuk mengamalkan polisi ketat terhadap agama Islam kerana takut akan ekstremisme dan fundamentalisme ganas.

It is worth noting that contemporary history provides a number of good examples where religion and secular authority not only co-exist but also blend harmoniously the canons of Islam with secular statehood in the management of the country.
 Harus diketahui bahawa sejarah semasa mempunyai beberapa contoh baik di mana pihak berkuasa agama dan sekular bukan sahaja wujud bersama-sama tetapi juga gabungkan dengan harmoni kanun Islam dengan prinsip negara sekular dalam pengurusan negara.

(Excerpt from The Critical Decade - Nursultan Nazarbayev (2003) - Chapter 2, pg. 56-57)

Rediscover The Missing Spark

I just looked at some articles I wrote for publication years ago. Comparing them to more recent works, they seem to express a mood that has since gone missing. I need to rediscover the spark that makes them tick.

It's the cheer, optimism, and spirit that I need to rediscover. The flame snuffed out by a series of unfortunate events awaits rekindling. What could be the key? A new environment? A new beginning? A new way of thinking?

Chatted with a good old friend of mine who gave me some words of advice. Sometimes, it's not about going for what we love to do but unable to handle due to one reason or another. It may help to do something that we may not like at first but are able to handle, then see how things go from there.

Makes sense. I tell myself to find out as much as possible about the setting, environment, expectations, requirements and so on. Then take a step back and evaluate carefully. As I was advised to by someone close to my heart, "be more selective with..." Yes, it rings true.

At the same time there will be a lot of conflicting messages bombarding me from various sources. The way to sift through them relies on one's ability to discern what is truth and what is propaganda. May I see through deception and inaccuracy yet be able to accept the truth and work around it.

Spring Equinox 2012

Today, 20 March 2012 is the Spring Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, and Autumn Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere. The sun rises exactly in the East at 90° and sets exactly in the West at 270°. Where I am in Kuala Lumpur, the sun will be near zenith at 1:21 pm at 87° above the southern horizon.

The direction of the shadows at sunrise shall indicate the East-West direction. So from what I see in the garden, my front gate is not exactly facing East, it's a couple of degrees towards East by South.

Note that due to the earth's axial tilt, there are only 2 days in a year where the sun rises precisely due east and sets precisely due west.

Funeral: Deja Vu & The Feeling Of Having To Be There

On Tuesday, 6 March 2012, I went to a place I last visited in March 2010: Xiao En Centre 孝恩馆. A salsera had passed away in tragic circumstances. She sustained severe head injuries in a car accident. I do not have any other details about the accident, but it definitely had a great negative impact. And she's only 25, so young with a lifetime ahead to look forward to. It will take time for the family members to heal from the grief.

She was a protege of a friend of mine in the salsa scene who has since moved away from KL. Yet I never had the chance to speak with her or dance with her. We went to different dance schools, mixed with different groups, frequented different venues so never got to meet. Now I shall never get to dance with her anymore.

So I can't say I know her. Not even a hi-bye acquaintance. Yet when news spread of her funeral, I felt I had to attend. I just had to be there. Something like lending a hand to support a cause in need. Can't really describe the feeling. Perhaps it's just me and my nature, as I can be moved in ways not common to other people. But of course I won't tell just anyone, because in this world many people will use what they know about you against you. That's the harsh reality of this world which I don't think I'll ever be on concilliatory terms with.

That evening after work, I headed home and had dinner. Followed my brother in his car, managed to get a basement parking spot. Walked up to the very place where Gung Gung's 公公 wake took place, almost two years to the day he passed away. It felt hauntingly familiar. Of all the memories, one that stands out was bumping into Architect Lee Chor Wah by chance as he was attending a funeral there. Ah, those were the days of another magazine. Time to get back on track.

A sombre mood filled the atmosphere. Teary eyes. Sobs. Hushed voices. I estimated 150-200 people at the time I arrived. So many people came to pay their last respects. Since it was a Christian funeral, it felt different from a Taoist or Buddhist funeral mainly due to the absence of joss sticks and "da jaai 打斋".

My brother and I walked to the coffin and spent some moments in contemplation and respect for the deceased. Flowers were everywhere - she liked flowers. Make-up set and some other items were on the coffin too. Must be things that belonged to her or she liked very much. These brought back memories of Porpor's 婆婆 cremation, we cremated some of her study books together with her since she really wanted to study despite her age and circumstances.

I did go up to the viewing portal, taking one last look at her in her state of eternal rest. Her face seemed a bit swollen, most likely caused by the injuries, and the upper left of her skull appeared caved in. I felt sad, imagining the severity of her wounds, and thought the impact must have been real hard. Otherwise she looked peaceful, nicely made up, and sleeping. Memories of Gung Gung 公公 came back.

Next we queued up for the "pak kam" 白金 offering and guestbook signing. No doubt money can't buy back life, but it's a gesture from the visitors' side to help defray the cost of the funeral. And then received the customary small red packet with a sweet inside.

We met some salsa acquaintances there, mostly from her salsa school and those who knew her for some time. Chatted briefly with some of them, and a common thread of thought was, such an unexpected incident and she's gone. I could see the tears in some of their eyes. The feeling of sadness is very real. Who else came - relatives, cell group members, friends from various times in her life, and so on.

All in all the occasion felt gloomy and subdued with an underlying current of deep sorrow. Yet it evoked something in me, and made me go out to take action towards closure. Yes, to end one thing and move on to another.

Leap Day 2012

Quickie entrie for this special day. Good appetite after a refreshing gym session. Dropped by Popular and MPH bookstores unplanned. Skipped the massive traffic jam by anticipating it and taking alternative routes home. Phew :) Goodbye, Leap Day, and see you again 4 years from now.