L6 Sociology Debate (30 Aug 2008)

Instead of giving essays after essays to L6 Sociology class, students are given topics from A Level Sociology past year papers to debate. After 2 weeks of in class debate, 2 teams are left to compete with each other on Saturday 30 August 2008

Motion: Women have now achieved equality with men in the modern industrial societies

Proposition Team: Speakers - Mei Ling, Azizul, Sally (Standbys- Aliff Safwan, Nuraqilah)

Opposition Team: Speakers - Aaron, Asytrianni, Firdaus (Stanbys- Haziq, Dina)

Winner: Proposition Team

Click here for more photos

Audience: L6 Sociology and some U6 students

From Beijing to the Multi-culturalism of London

I watched the Beijing Olympic Closing Ceremony last night. I was looking very much forward to see the London 2012 show. It showed the artistic sides of London, with punk-haired dancers, grafitti art. Of course, the double-decker bus, red bus-stop and the red phone booth all represented London.

As a 'Londoner' (for 5 years only), it was nostalgic to watch it. I miss London so much.

The people who appeared on the London show are:

David Beckham - born in Leytonstone, a native Londoner. needless to introduce more.

Leona Lewis - from Hackney, a suburb of London. Afro-Caribbean and Welsh parentage. Winner of X Factor 2006.

Jimmy Page - from Heston, West London. Co-founder of Led Zeppelin.

A 10 year-old girl was given a ball and was passed to Beckham, before he kicked it away. The young girl was a viewer choice from Blue Peter, who is a British Asian from East London.

It is fantastic to show the world how multi-cultural London is, with its various ethnic minorities. Since UK is in the EU, and many new joined EU countries may have NO idea about multi-culturalism of UK, France and Germany.

Those newly joined countries were in the Communist rule for more than 40 to 50 years. For them, they only see one race - the white race. It is funny how a friend told me that, a Black guy from London was stopped when he went home from Slovakia. The Slovakian airport authority wanted to see his ticket out of the UK, when this guy was basically born and bred in London. So, should we call that being ignorant, or racist?

Anyhow, the London show actually shows them that London is so multicultural, with immigrants from all over the world, especially from the Commonwealth countries. So, for those EU countries who have never seen a non-white person before, it is time to wake up

Another blog published

I have created another blog for SMSO Career Dept. Some of the features are not completed, especially details on scholarships. Anyway, check this out:

SMSO Blog

Dining in the Toilet

Today I was talking about a themed restaurant in Taiwan - Modern Toilet. My friends who went to Taiwan in June told me all about it. Basically, they laughed their way throughout the dining experience. So, what would you order from the menu? Below are some pics I copied from other' blogs. If you want more. here is the website: http://www.moderntoilet.com.tw/en/index.asp

BON APETITE!

Delighted by Turkey

Finally ... I have bought my air ticket for Dec 2008. I am going to Istanbul, Turkey. I bought the ticket today so there will be no chance of me keep changing my mind.

I will be travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Istanbul, via Dubai with Emirates (fly Emirates!!!!). I still yet to apply my Turkish visa at the embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

So I am gonna do lots of things in Istanbul:

- Cross the Bosphorus by ferry to Asia from Europe. Yes, Istanbul is the only city situated in both Asia and Europe, separated by Bosphorus strait.

- Try lots of Turkish food.

- Sightseeing in this ancient city, and more

I will be coming back from London on the 24th December. I will be spending my Christmas this year on the plane. It is a bit like last year that I spent my New Year on the plane as well. Flying past different time zones means I am losing out time.

Oh well, Looing forward to Winter. Winter... I love the cold winter

Snow-flecked Brownies

Recipe from Nigella Lawson's FEAST

375g butter

375g semi-sweet or bitter sweet chocolate

6 eggs

0.5 cup sugar

1 Tablespoon Vanilla extract

1.5 cups + 2 Tablespoons flour

1 teaspoon salt

250g white chocolate buttons

2 teasppons icing sugar (for dusting)

1. Melt butter and dark chocloate in a panover low heat

2. Beat eggs, sugar and vanilla extract together.

3. Allow the chocolate mixture cool a little before adding to the egg mixture and beat well.

4. Fold in flour and salt. Then stir in white chocolate.

5. Line 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan with aluminium foil

6. Pour the brownie mixture into the pan and bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees Farenheit (190 degrees Celsius)

7. After cutting into bite sized pieces, sprinkle with icing sugar to give the 'snow-flecked' effect.

FEEDBACK:

The brownies are quite sweet. Therefore I cut down the sugar to half a cup. It is because the dark and white chocolates are already quite sweet. Even after 25 minutes, the mixture may still be 'woobly'. But once it is cool down, the brownies will set and be hardened.

It is like the Western version of Kek Batik without the biscuits.

Icelandic Mannerism

Do you know what the capital of Iceland is? Reykjavik

I read a blog about Icelandic Mannerism from http://blog.icelandexpress.com/

I find the way the blogger described is quite amusing. So wanna share it here.

Want to avoid feeling out-of-place in Reykjavik? Never mind eating sheep testicles in an attempt to fit in — here are the important everyday customs you’ll really need to become a true Friend of Iceland.

• Whatever you do, don’t say hello to anybody Never say “hi” to anybody you recognise. Not even if they spent the whole of last night propping up the bar with you, relaying their life-story. People don’t greet each other here until after they’ve had at least two beers — then you’re free to hug / laugh / cry / get married, whatever.

• Don’t be a push-over Don’t feel offended if you get shoved to the floor in bars. It’s not that Icelanders are rude, it’s just that you’re in their way. We advise you to smile brightly and push right back. You might make a friend that won’t say “hi” later.

• Get naked Icelanders are notoriously hygienic. You must shower naked before you swim, paying special attention to your special areas.

• You seem to have right-of-way Don’t be surprised when cars slow down to let you cross in front of them; even if you never wanted to cross in the first place. It just gives everybody a chance to get a better look at you.

Greenland or Iceland?

Iceland huh... Yes, I plan to go to Iceland one day...maybe next year. So what's so special about Iceland? Iceland is not full of ice. ACtually, there are plenty of thermal pools, volcanoes, geysers, waterfall in Iceland.

If you are thinking of a country that is full of ice, maybe you mean "Greenland". Again, Greenland is not full of green grasses, there are plenty of snow there. Confused??? Me too.

So, the pic below that has plenty of ICE is "Greenland"; and the pic that shows a lot of GREEN is "Iceland". Get it???

Tips to make travelling easier

I just found these travel tips from the http://www.hostelworld.com/ website. As a travel addict, I wanna see how many of the followings I have/havent done:

1. Learn about the culture of the country before you visit it, and try not to look too much like a tourist. Always! as I have bought lots of guide books and do lots of research prior to travel

2. When you travel somewhere forget your map and all the guide books for a while. Sometimes it's better to stroll along the streets and discover things that aren't listed anywhere in the guides but are nonetheless great and interesting and more fun. Never! I feel I will be like a lost sheep without the guide book or map.

3. Visit local restaurants and bars. They are much cheaper and you can try the traditional specialities and even meet the locals. Always! Food is my No. 1 passion

4. Bring a pillow with you for those long bus journeys. Not yet! I should try that sometimes

5. Do not plan too much. You are on holiday! Also, try to have just your essential luggage, not a heavy suitcase. I think I plan too much. But I do travel light.

6. Get one of those thin money belts that fit inside your clothes. That way you can carry your passport and money with you at all times. Yeap, always. Mine is tied around my leg.

7. Be open to everything which may happen to you. There is always something new to learn. Hmmm, sometimes only.

Fresh Look

I have decided to change the template for my blog. The previous dark blue can sometimes look depressing. So I have decided to change this blog into a much brighter and fresher look.

Enjoy!!!

Help! Travel bugs are everywhere!

Without denying, I am a travel addict. I will take any opportunities just to travel. It is not I am trying to show off my travels. It is that I believe, as a citizen of the Earth, it is my priviledge to explore every corner of this planet (I sound like as if I am an alien or something lol).

So, when did the travel bug bite me? It actually bit me after I finished my A Levels. I didnt want to come back to Brunei at that time because I was worried that my grades did not meet the requirements, and I might have to wait for Clearing. So I wanted to be physically in the UK when the results were out. That means I had nothing to do in July and August.

One of my family friends suggested that I could travel. Travel? Alone? Are you crazy!!!!

Then she said if I was worried, I could try out the UK first. So hesistantly I bought an 8-day couch pass. 1st stop - Nottingham as I like the legend of Robin Hood. Then I was homesick after 1 day. Went back to London again, then took a night coach to Edinburgh, Scotland. Due to the Military Tatoo in Edinburgh, all accommodation was fully booked, so I had to stay in a hostel and shared with other travellers in the same room. After that, I was hooked!

My future travel plans are as follows:

September 2008 - Paris, Luxembourg, Germany, Qatar and Dubai

Decemebr 2008 - KL, UK (Prague, Tunisia - unconfirmed)

March 2009 - KL and Hanoi (Vietnam)

June 2009 unconfirmed - Copenhagen (Denmark), Iceland, Greenland