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so mixmag have started doing this thing whereby a dj/producer of their choice curates ten pages of the mag and mixes the cover cd. the first time they did it was february 2012, with minus boss richie hawtin the man put in charge. he wanted to interview sonny moore aka skrillex as part of it, and i got to moderate. this is a transcript of the conversation.
richie: hi, sonny…
sonny: dude, what's up?
not much, how you doing?
good, we're in the mountains a couple of hours north of denver, colorado in a cabin/lodge thing. the balcony overlooks the slopes so we're looking at boarders and skiers right now. it's beautiful; i came out here to do this private party. it was super cool with all the pro skate boarders and athletes out like tony hawk, the jackass guys. i've been board shopping, hanging out; it's been really cool.
didn't you just get off a boat?
yeah it was called holy ship. this guy puts on a hard festival but rented a cruise liner and put on some edm.
was it a good or bad thing to be trapped on-board?
it was a blast. it was just enough for three days. it wasn't a relaxing trip – it was hectic and crazy. we hit a sand trap and got stuck! i actually heard behind the scenes they were going to evacuate – this was only the first trip out, coming into the first island. the start of the second day coming to bahamas from florida. they mentioned evacuating and i was like "oh no' show's over". we had 5 giant tugboats pulling us, scuba divers using chisels to break rocks under the boat. we finally got moving though!
i was wondering, how do you do so many dates and stay sane? you seem 200% the whole time.
i have been touring since i was 16, so i'm coming up on 8 years of touring. not many people know that. people think i just stumbled on some bandwagon, but i've slept on floors for years, made no money for years with my best friends. i never thought id' get to this place now, even making electronic music. no one cared what skrillex was doing. dubstep wasn't popular when i first started to make it; it was still very underground.
you know, we were doing 'dubstep patios' once a month with 40 of our friends, with a shitty pa, on the smoking patio of a bar. it was the best time, constantly making music and having people around you… i still have my same crew from when i slept on couches and floors [with the rock band].
That's what i like about edm – the direct connection to the people and promoters. there's no in between – its pure and really fun like you say. was it different in the band, or in the rock venues? is there a big difference?
the rock scene is a lot more egotistical. it's a lot more competitive, people want to out-do each other and be the star, whereas in edm i've noticed everybody from all genres is really supportive and cool. everyone remixes each other and plays each other's records. there's more camaraderie.
looking at the us charts, you have a lot of guest vocalists now – tiesto with buster rhymes, diplo with someone else. on one side i think that's great, but is that why everything is so big – the cross-pollination with other genres? is that good, bad – how do you feel about it?
you have to do something that's honest. tiesto will always be tiesto and make the record he makes. he's been doing it a long time – i guess it makes sense for him to work with busta rhymes. for me it wouldn't make sense. i wouldn't do it for the sake of doing it. mainstream doesn't have to be bad. adele is mainstream but i think she is the most incredible singer-songwriter out there.
for me, no matter what i do, my choices revolve around what's honest for me. aside from ellie goulding on my recent release, all the collabs are underground artists. even in the states she's indie. i wanna work with the people i have connections with, with people who it makes sense at the time to work with.
how do you feel being the poster boy for a new generation of electronic music? do you feel part of heritage or is it a new thing you're doing in your own direction?
well check this out: before this [interview] i was out with some label people talking about servicing my new ep and doing a radio campaign. i said the only people i ever want to service my records to are the actual djs that are real tastemakers, people who can still decide what gets played on the radio. in the us it's all politics and programming. i don't wanna be a part of that. to do certain things – like get played on so many radio stations or whatever – you have to play their events and all these other politics are involved. i'd rather get no radio play than be involved in all that.
for me, like, when people call me the poster boy of this edm crossover to mainstream… ah, man, when i was making "scary monsters and nice sprites" we didn't spend any money, we did it on a laptop, there were no songwriters, no plans, we just made the song and at the time that was not a pop song. it's not 3 and half minutes, it's not verse-chorus, verse-chorus, it's definitely not easy listening. it's just an online fruit – there were no plans, no radio campaigns.
i'm not defending myself but that's the truth – if you look at that positively, music that was underground can now be popular, just not in pop format. it's successful, and that opens doors for other people to make non-pop music. "scary monsters…" has sold in the us, canada, england, australia and it's not a pop song.
"scary monsters…" has now created a new definition of pop song. does that scare you? are you being pulled to pop? is that ok? is that what you wanted?
i don't wanna be famous. i don't wanna be a famous singer in the rock star sense. i'm not trying to do that. i feel strange walking outside my house and in local coffee shops being recognised. it's scary. i appreciate it, but sometimes it's scary. but i'd still be making this music even if no one was listening.
you're on the road all the time which brings me to your unseen schooling – 8 years on the road plugging away. this exposure now, which seems to some people like it's happened quickly, has taken a long time and a lot of hard work and dedication…
absolutely. you know man; there are times when you're travelling alone. just the other day i had a crazy travel schedule, i was alone, i had midi controllers to carry, a million phone calls to do… it's hard work, but so rewarding.
i think people get jaded when they make deals for money, then it becomes a job. what we've done is so organic, we've done what we wanted to do, that's why it's so rewarding.
you mention your team. how big is your team that help you get through the days and weeks and nights of this?
my manger has been together with me since i was 16. we've been through everything and seen highs and lows together. i mean, i'm not trying to toot my own horn, but we walked away from million dollar deals with the band, we didn't care, it wasn't the music i wanted to make. these people [around me] are the unsung heroes who look out for me.
sure. so i'm gunna take it back a bit. how old were you in 1993?
i was born in '88 so just a couple years old, man.
that was the first big surge of interest in electronic music – moby, prodigy, these big parties in san francisco and la. do you remember that?
i did know it was happening at the time but i know about it from people talking about it now.
it was an exciting time for a lot of us back then because we thought this music was really going to break in america. and it did for maybe moby and prodigy and a couple of other people, but for a lot of bands, promoters and fans it exploded then suddenly imploded and was wiped away by typical rock 'n' roll and nirvana. is this another disco moment, another rave in '93 or do the kids get it enough that they're going to sustain it? is this their sound track now?
even electronic music, like, i mean, i was sneaking into nightclubs at 16 years old during my band days. i was listening to edm and idm but i think that scene wasn't as artist driven before. the songs you were dancing to – those artists never came out, or would tour europe – the scene was happening somewhere else.
it's not just about partying any more, it's about artists, touring, records. i think it's the first time you're seeing loads of artists putting on incredible live shows. it's not just a guy playing records. it's a show now. but who knows – i always say to my team "if it ends tomorrow, i'd have a smile on my face". we worked hard. we had the best time. we did what we wanted to do. i do believe in this thing though – we all do.
you make a good point about showmanship. when i started to hear about you and saw your shows – 20 years ago if we'd have seen one person on stage with a laptop (not just at a rave but a concert) we would have been like 'what the FCUK?' it took 20 years to get that. the production, lighting – all that has finally figured out a way to work with these shows for the people. it's not just about the music, it's about the scene growing up in a way more people can understand.
sure – you're putting your heart into more things than just the studio now. shit, we've been behind tables for years and now this thing is getting bigger so, FCUK, let's put some money back into something we enjoy. we're doing this motion capture thing – it was like the first apollo mission to the moon. it took us years of trial and error to perfect but it's so fun.
for me i have plastikman, so when it's all working it's great, but it takes a lot of energy to get going. sometimes it's good to just turn up and dj. is that the same for you? do you have different levels of live show?
absolutely, i totally agree. the skrillex show is not the biggest but with the motion capture and image mapping it takes a lot of effort but, when it works, those shows are so FCUKing good. the smaller ones are less stressful – the super underground parties you roll up with laptop, no tour manager, no crew, you can just jump on an aeroplane. i still like clubs for the intimacy; you get a different kick and high off the different levels of shows.
is there room for electronic musicians and djs to becomes stars without all this content behind them – flashing lights, videos?
absolutely, man. at the end of the day a good song will speak louder than anything. think about burial, no one even knows what he looks like, he doesn't play shows, but people still love him. he doesn't want to be a rock star. even aphex twin – he doesn't put out many releases or do marketing but he can still turn up and rock it. if people can connect with the music – that will always speak louder than anything. i've tried to put my songs first not the marketing.
[line goes bad]
so from my generation, what do the cities new york, chicago and detroit mean to you? anything?
[line goes bad]
new york house meant most to me. robyn s i know from childhood – i grew up with that. what it really means to me, is [the fact that] it's crazy that back then detroit guys had to go to new york to hear what new york djs were playing, you had to find the records and bring them back to detroit to play them.
there was no internet; you had to travel these scenes. it was hustle and bustle, man, you guys were travelling, not blogging on hype machine, but traveling for inspiration.
[laughs] yeah, that was the only way to do it back then.
yeah it wasn't like "here's a usb with a FCUKing catalogue of my last 3 years' work on it" – you had to travel. that's what that means to me i think.
so where do we go from here? electronic music has steered clear of being too big and mainstream so it can always innovate and change. will success hold it back?
all i know is i'm gunna continue to do what i do. do what's right for me. i don't do a lot of press and i don't wanna be a poster boy. if some guy comes along with even heavier dubstep and 20 producers and singers and eye liner and dancers on stage, if he takes my thunder, i'm always gunna do what i do best, hang out with friends and make songs that i love. i'll never do anything outside my honest zone. i'm transparent, what you see is what you get. i've been in a situation before with the band where we did things for money not everyone was happy with. it's not right; you have to do you own thing.
it's been a great chat, so thanks for doing this.
dari sisi orang yang tidak nyambung dengan musik yang diusung skrillex, gw jadi lumayan tahu lah bagaimana skrillex menyikapi anggapan sinis orang-orang kepada dia. dan hebatnya richie, dia bisa nanyain hal tersebut tanpa "menyinggung/menyerang" sisi personalnya si sonny....
nice interview


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Vintage 1949 Chevrolet Fire Truck
Price: - Item location: Los Angeles, California, United States
- Condition: Used
- Make: Chevrolet
- Model: Fire Support Truck
- Year: 1949
- Mileage: 23,000
- Color: Yellow
- Engine size: 6 cylinder 235 stove bolt
- Number of cylinders: 6
- Fuel: Gasoline
- Transmission: Automatic
- Interior color: Black
- Vehicle Title: Clear Want to buy? Contact seller!
1949 Chevrolet Fire Support Truck1949 Chevrolet Fire Support Truck
235 stove bolt 6 cylinder engine.
Runs great!Large water storage tank in back and PTO water pump in front.
Perfect for vintage or antique car and truck collectors, advertising, motion picture rental, camper conversion, or use your imagination.Pick up in Los Angeles 90018 (near downtown, close to 10 Freeway)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
This translation is incomplete. Please help translate this article from English
Support for extensions using XUL/XPCOM or the Add-on SDK was removed in Firefox 57, released November 2017. As there is no supported version of Firefox enabling these technologies, this page will be removed by December 2020.
Add-ons using the techniques described in this document are considered a legacy technology in Firefox. Don't use these techniques to develop new add-ons. Use WebExtensions instead. If you maintain an add-on which uses the techniques described here, consider migrating it to use WebExtensions.
Starting from Firefox 53, no new legacy add-ons will be accepted on addons.mozilla.org (AMO) for desktop Firefox and Firefox for Android.
Starting from Firefox 57, only extensions developed using WebExtensions APIs will be supported on Desktop Firefox and Firefox for Android.
Even before Firefox 57, changes coming up in the Firefox platform will break many legacy extensions. These changes include multiprocess Firefox (e10s), sandboxing, and multiple content processes. Legacy extensions that are affected by these changes should migrate to use WebExtensions APIs if they can. See the "Compatibility Milestones" document for more information.
A wiki page containing resources, migration paths, office hours, and more, is available to help developers transition to the new technologies.
What's a Firefox Extension?
Extensions add new functionality to Mozilla applications such as Firefox and Thunderbird. They can add anything from a toolbar button to a completely new feature. They allow the application to be customized to fit the personal needs of each user if they need additional features, while keeping the applications small to download.
Taken from the Extensions page.
As described in the quoted text, an extension is a small application that adds something new to one or more Mozilla applications. This tutorial focuses on extensions for Firefox, but the same (or very similar) principles apply to creating extensions for other applications such as Thunderbird, Seamonkey, and Flock.
It is also worth noting that there are differences between the definition of extension and add-on. All extensions are add-ons, but add-ons can also be themes, plugins, or language packs. This tutorial is about extension development, but themes and language packs are developed in a very similar way. Plugins are entirely different, and they will not be covered on this tutorial. You can read more about plugins and their development in the Plugins page.
Firefox provides a very rich and flexible architecture that allows extension developers to add advanced features, customize the user's experience, and completely replace and remove parts of the browser. The Mozilla Add-ons repository (AMO) holds an extensive number of extensions with a wide variety of functions: content filtering (AdBlock Plus, NoScript), web application interaction (Delicious Bookmarks, eBay Companion), web development (DOM Inspector, Firebug), and child protection (Glubble For Families). These are very advanced and complex extensions, and you'll learn most of what it takes to create extensions like these (Glaxstar actually worked on 3 of those listed).
We'll begin by looking into a very simple extension.
The Hello World Extension
Our sample extensions and this tutorial in general are meant for Firefox version 3 and above, but most of it works on previous versions of Firefox as well. We'll try to make it clear when we're discussing a feature that only works on some versions of Firefox.
We'll now begin with a basic "Hello World" extension. Let's start by installing the extension. Click on the link below.
This will either trigger an install or a file download, depending on the Content-type the webserver is using to serve the file. The appropriate content type to trigger an install is application/x-xpinstall. In this case a file download should occur.
If the content type is set correctly, you will probably get notified that the site is not allowed to install add-ons on Firefox. This is a security measure that prevents sites from installing extensions without user consent. This is necessary because malicious extensions can do the same level of harm as any malicious program: stealing data, erasing or replacing files, and causing unwanted behavior in general. AMO is the only pre-allowed site because all published add-ons on AMO have gone through a review process that includes security checks.
After downloading the file, you can drag and drop it into the Firefox content area, and the installation should begin.
You'll see a window telling you that you're about to install an extension, with some additional information such as the name of the author. You'll see a message saying that the author cannot be verified. Only extensions signed with a digital certificate can verify authorship. Signed extensions are rare, but we'll cover how to sign them later on.
Click on the Install Now button. After the extension is installed, you'll be asked to restart Firefox. Installing, uninstalling, enabling and disabling add-ons (except plugins) require a restart to complete, and there's no easy way to work around it. This is an important point to keep in mind if you're building an extension that manipulates other extensions or themes. There's a very old bug that tracks this issue.
Now, after restarting the browser, you'll see the Add-ons Manager window, showing the extension name, version, and a brief description.
Close the Add-ons window. Look at the main Firefox window and see if you notice anything different.
Did you see it? There's a new menu on the main menu bar, labeled "Hello World!". If you open the menu and then the menu item below, you'll see a nice alert message (for some definitions of 'nice'). Click on the OK button to close it.
That's all the extension does. Now let's take a closer look at it.
Extension Contents
You may have noticed that the extension file you installed is named xulschoolhello1.xpi. XPI (pronounced "zippy") stands for Cross-Platform Installer, because the same installer file can work on all major platforms, and this is the case for most extension XPIs. XPIs are simply compressed ZIP files, but Firefox recognizes the XPI extension and triggers the installation process when an XPI link is clicked.
To look into the XPI file you need to download it first, not install it. If the server triggers an install when clicking on a link or button, what you need to do is right click on the install link, and choose the Save Link As... option.
Next, we'll decompress the XPI file. One way to do this is to rename the file so that it uses the zip extension instead of the xpi. Another way is to open the file using a ZIP tool. Most operating systems ship with a ZIP compression utility, and there are more advanced tools available online. Make your pick, and decompress the file in a convenient location. You should see a directory structure similar to this one:
- xulschoolhello1
- chrome.manifest
- install.rdf
- chrome
- xulschoolhello.jar
The JAR file contains most of the code, so we'll need to extract the contents of that file as well. Just like XPIs, all you need is a ZIP utility to decompress the file. After doing that, you'll have something like this:
- xulschoolhello1
- chrome.manifest
- install.rdf
- chrome
- xulschoolhello.jar
- xulschoolhello
- content
- browserOverlay.xul
- browserOverlay.js
- locale
- en-US
- browserOverlay.dtd
- browserOverlay.properties
- en-US
- skin
- browserOverlay.css
- content
That's a lot of files for something so simple! Well, don't worry, we'll shortly see the purpose of all of these files and realize this is quite simple. In the next section we'll inspect these files and see what they do.
This tutorial was kindly donated to Mozilla by Appcoast.


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Halloween. When it comes to pathetic, nothing brings it out of the woodwork like Halloween. And I'm talking "adults." You see, Halloween isn't a national holiday with religious or patriotic overtones. It's vestigial and allows adult babies the chance to channel their inner freak. What's more important is the subliminal trollop who lets it all hang out, who uses the allegedly sexy costume as camouflage, allowing her the cover to claim that she's merely enjoying the festivities of the event when in fact she's really telling you this is how she sees herself. Remember, we live in the era of fishlip selfies and social media narcissism. As for the men, look for the juvenile dork who talks about Halloween for weeks or even months in advance. Who details daily the travails of finding the best costume and who will bore the living shite out of you with his excruciating excitement over this annual nonevent. Herein I explain.
Breastfeeding. It's beautiful! And when I read stories like this, I want to scream. If this looks seductive or sexy or scabrous to you, you're beyond demented and need immediate psychiatric help. The human breast was never designed by nature to give some puerile punk a stiffy or to be filleted and packed with saline and silicone or to have mamillae pierced thus compromising breastfeeding. No, this is a pure example of natural beauty and we can't handle it. We're demented. Herein I explain.
Habituation to privacy loss. The dead horse is beaten again, but I repeat. Have you no sense of privacy? Will you ever stand up and complain and rail and voice any concerns as though you care? We've crops of Millennials who've never appreciated the warnings of Mr. Blair via 1984 and whose parents are none the better. It's not inevitable, privacy loss, that is. Herein I explain.
Ebola ramifications. Beyond our pay grade. The issues are far more fascinating than that which is discussed in the media. Quarantine, incarceration, government exploitation of distress, mandatory vaccines, inter alia. Not to mention privacy and constitutional issues of grave magnitude. This is big stuff, Sparky. Herein I explain.
Information entertainment sucks. The perennial question. What happened to talk radio? Where are the numbers of yore? If you ask the question, you've apparently never listened to the dreck that passes for current and/or have no idea of modern electronic delivery systems. Herein I explain.


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food + cooking
Gourmet Gardening
We're watching our gardens grow, visiting ornamental and edible English gardens, and tracking the battle between small farmers and GMO giant Monsanto
- Keywords
- gardening,
- farming,
- Gourmet Live
food + cooking
Extreme Frugality: Who Would Have Thunk It?
When a lifestyle takes on a life of its own, getting into the groove is a beautiful thing.
- Keywords
- extreme frugality,
- culinary culture,
- gardens,
- w. hodding carter


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Opened to the public in 1999, the Petronas Twin Towers rise high above the city of Kuala Lumpur at an imposing height of 452 meters. Built with an intention to express Malaysia's rich cultural heritage while proclaiming its modernisation, the structure exhibits Islamic design by featuring stunning Islamic arabesques together with shapes and figures that are characteristic of Muslim architecture. After seven years of construction, the towers were declared the tallest buildings in the world at one point - between the years of 1998 to 2004. The towers are considered by many to be an icon of Kuala Lumpur as it embraces Malaysia's past and future, in both build and design. ...more
Opened to the public in 1999, the Petronas Twin Towers rise high above the city of Kuala Lumpur at an imposing height of 452 meters. Built with an intention to express Malaysia's rich cultural heritage while proclaiming its modernisation, the structure exhibits Islamic design by featuring stunning Islamic arabesques together with shapes and figures that are characteristic of Muslim architecture. After seven years of construction, the towers were declared the tallest buildings in the world at one point - between the years of 1998 to 2004. The towers are considered by many to be an icon of Kuala Lumpur as it embraces Malaysia's past and future, in both build and design.
A rough estimation of the ticket prices have been listed below: - Adults: RM80 - Children: RM30
Tuesday to Sunday (closed on Mondays), from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (closed on Fridays from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
The complete Petronas Twin Towers tour will take around 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Adults, Families, Senior Guests, Young Adults
Sky Bridge, the lift system and the Suria KLCC - one of the largest shopping malls in Malaysia located at the feet of the Petronas Towers.
Prayer rooms are available within the premises.
Several eating options are available within the towers, as well as a number of restaurants in the vicinity that serve Halal food.
KLCC Level 2, 147, Jalan Ampang, 55000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
KLCC, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Signature Food Court (Suria KLCC), 50088 Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur, WP Kuala Lumpur 50088
Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur, WP Kuala Lumpur 50088
Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
KLCC Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
2 Jalan Puncak, Kuala Lumpur, 50250
Jalan Parlimen, Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur-Selangor border, Malaysia
KLCC, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
KLCC Level 2, 147, Jalan Ampang, 55000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Signature Food Court (Suria KLCC), 50088 Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Level U1 200, Jalan Bukit Bintang 50450 Kuala Lumpur Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Pavilion Kuala Lumpur (1.29.03, Level 1), 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Jalan Ampang Kuala Lumpur City Centre 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
199, Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Jalan Datuk Keramat Kampung Datuk Keramat 54000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Lorong Masjid India 4, City Centre, 50100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, Selangor Malaysia
Malaysia's Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) Image Credit: Ishan @seefromthesky on Unsplash Arguably one of the biggest news this week has to be the implementation of the CMCO or Conditional Movement Control Order in Malaysia. After experiencing an upsurge of Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, Malaysia has decided to curb the new wave with the implementation of this CMCO. Similar to the past CMCO, this CMCO will limit the movement of the residents in the affected states. The CMCO is in effect for the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Selangor state. It began earlier this week on Wednesday, 14 October, and is currently set to last till 27 October this year. Under the CMCO most industries can continue their operations under the condition that they practice the health precautions in place. Meanwhile, schools and places of worship have been closed along with the ban on sporting events in the country. This decision might have been influenced by the interstate travel ban enforced in Sabah last week, which was also due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases there. Together, the CMCO is said to affect around 11 million or 30% of the country's population. For more information on the CMCO and travel advisories, please check with the respective authorities. Hong Kong and Singapore Travel Bubble Image Credit: Dan Freeman on Unsplash Announced on Thursday, 15 October, Hong Kong, and Singapore has decided to set up a travel bubble between the two cities. With the low incidence of COVID-19 cases in the two cities, the decision was made in order to re-establish overseas travel and lift complications such as quarantine or stay-home notices for visiting travelers. In this new travel bubble, there will be no travel purpose restrictions and controlled itinerary but, travelers will still need to test negative on the COVID-19 test and travel on dedicated flights for those traveling under this new bubble. Currently, there are no set dates for the launch of this new travel bubble. The launch date and implementation details will be announced in due course, according to the ministry. New Zealand and Australia Travel Bubble Started Today (Trans-Tasman) Image Credit: John Kappa ツ on Unsplash Some more welcoming news in the travel world. Today, 16 October, the Trans-Tasman travel bubble is in effect. This travel bubble between New Zealand and Australia, with the first passengers arriving in Sydney, Australia earlier today. The travelers arriving in Australia from New Zealand are not required to quarantine themselves upon arrival. This is in line with Australia's tentative reopening to international tourism. However, the arrangement is not reciprocal between the two countries. Travelers from Australia traveling to New Zealand will still be required to undergo the 14-day quarantine amongst other requirements. Travelers from the no-quarantine flights might still need to be quarantined depending on the Australian state or territory they are planning to enter. Please refer to the respective authorities for more details on the travel advisories and safety measures in place. Reciprocal Green Lane between Singapore and Indonesia are in the works Image Credit:Swapnil Bapat on Unsplash The prospect of traveling between Singapore and Indonesia looks to be promising. Similar to the other reciprocal green lanes between Singapore and some other countries which are already in effect, Indonesia looks to be the next addition to that list. Indonesia and Singapore have agreed on implementing a reciprocal green lane which will allow for essential business and official travel between the two countries. Applications for travel under this reciprocal green lane will begin on 26 Oct. The application is only open for Singapore and Indonesian residents as well as permanent residents of the two countries. The requirements are similar to the other reciprocal green lane arrangements with the need for sponsors for travel, SafeTravel Pass / Visas, Pre-departure and Post-arrival COVID-19 tests. Points of entry and exits have also been designated. For air travel, Changi Airport and Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport has been designated. For Sea Travel, Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal and Batam Centre Ferry Terminal has been chosen as the points of entry and exit. This point of entry and exit is a measure to reduce the possibility of infectious patients slipping into the communities. To read more about the Reciprocal Green Lane Arrangements, check out our blog "Everything you need to know about Singapore's Green Lanes Travel Arrangement". Please refer to the respective authorities for more details on the travel advisories and safety measures in place....
COVID-19 continues to be a significant impact on our lives, with the number of cases on the rise again recently. With many out there already traveling to their workplaces to pull through these tough times, public transport commuting is still the top mode of transport to commute to and from our destinations, whether it is work, school. In addition to that, due to the travel restrictions imposed, there might be more traveling by buses and trains now as people might also use public transport to travel to the various domestic recreation sites to cure their holiday blues, especially in dense cities like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and London. To help you get that extra peace of mind, here are some tips for you to stay as safe as much as you can while traveling on Public Transport in this COVID-19 pandemic. Alternative modes of transport Image Source: Photo by Angelo Pantazis on Unsplash Choosing a different mode of transport where you will be less likely to come into close proximity with others is a great way to start. This will not only benefit you, but it will also lessen the pressure and the number of people taking public transport. The lesser contact, the better. Walk or Cycle Think about walking or cycling to your destinations if you can or when they are closeby. Remember to keep a distance between you and others around you at all times. Car-Sharing If you want to get somewhere fast, Car rentals and Car-sharing are a viable option as they are now more accessible than ever. Always sanitize the car before and after you use it and make sure the cabin is well ventilated during your journey to minimize the risks. You could argue that taxis, Grab, uber, or gojek do the same but, by renting and driving the cars yourself, you are staying in your own safety bubble, sparing you and the cab drivers with more risks. Travel Off-peak Image Source: Photo by JOSHUA COLEMAN on Unsplash Peak hours in Public Transportation means more people, which also means that you will come into contact with many people in packed trains and buses, making their way to and from work or school. Choose to travel during off-peak hours whenever you can, leave your house earlier in the morning, or make your way home later in the evening. A bonus to doing this is that if you do choose to travel during the off-peak hours, your journey will not only be that little bit safer, but it will also be a bit more peaceful as well. Plan your Journey Image Source: Photo by Jeremy Downes on Unsplash Before actually setting out to your destinations, plan ahead, and choose your routes carefully. Take the most direct routes that lead to your destination to minimize the time you spend outside. Avoid going to and through places where you know are generally busy, you can alight a stop before your intended station if you know there are more people there. Another thing to consider when planning your journey is that you could walk for more parts of your trip. Contactless Technology Image Source: Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash Minimize your contact with everything when you are out and about. Go contactless with your purchases by using contactless payments such as ApplePay, GooglePay, or any contactless cards available. Where possible, use your mobile phones when topping-up or purchasing tickets by doing the transactions through the respective mobile apps. Personal Protection Image Source: Photo by Anshu A on Unsplash It has to go without saying that you should always follow the standard safety measures such as wearing a mask at all times and maintaining a safe distance between you and the next person. Safe distancing might be a hard thing to do when traveling on a packed bus or train, but whenever possible, always try to distance yourself from the next person. Bring a hand sanitizer with you when using public transport. Clean your hands after alighting as you may have used the handrails or touched some other parts of the vehicle. Due to the nature of the virus spreading through droplets, try not to speak during the commute (even if you're already wearing a mask). If you are traveling overseas, check out our past blog "Planning To Travel Soon? Here Are 10 Travel Safety Tips For You To Know" for travel specific tips. Safety Checklist Image Source: Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash In summary here is a checklist of what you should ask yourself whenever you plan to go out on Public Transport: When is the best time for me to make my way there? Can I walk or cycle there? Am I taking the most direct and fastest route? Are there a lot of people on my route? / Is it busy? Are there any alternative routes with lesser people? Can I take any other alternative modes of transportation? COVID-19 is a complex virus that we are all still trying to understand. These traveling tips are just precautionary measures to help you minimize the risks as much as you can whenever you are traveling around domestically. Of course, staying at home as much as possible is still the best, we understand that sometimes we really have to get out of the house to attend to something. Stay Safe!...
You must have heard that Malaysia is slowly easing its traveling restriction. Even though international travel has yet to be permitted, domestic traveling is possible. Thus, we can take this opportunity to discover the hidden gems in Malaysia. Who says that you need to go far for a honeymoon gateway? And if you think that Malaysia is not an ideal location for a honeymoon destination, you might want to reconsider that! via GIPHY Check out these 9 romantic honeymoon destinations in Malaysia! 1. Rawa Island Image Credit: Rawa Island Resort Skip the more popular islands like Tioman Island and Perhentian Island and head straight to Rawa Island to discover the pristine beauty of this island. This small island is located in the vicinity of Johor Bahru, despite its small size, there are plenty of activities to do here!In Pulau Rawa, you can book one out of the two resorts that are available here; Alang's Rawa Resort and Rawa Island Resort. Both would give you some of the best views of the vast sea and amazing packages for various water activities. If you're bringing kids, let them have fun at the water slides! Apart from water activities that you can do in Pulau Rawa, you can hike The Hilltop Walk, which only takes around 40 minutes. It's worth the effort and time once you reach the top because the panoramic view of Rawa Island is something you and your spouse shouldn't miss. 2. The Banjaran Hotsprings, Ipoh Image Credit:The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, Ipoh on Facebook Ipoh is a city full of cultural trails and historical monuments. You and your spouse may choose to explore Ipoh because of its heritage, but what I want to highlight here is The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat. The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat will give you a one in a lifetime experience and a perfect choice for your luxurious honeymoon getaway. The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat is Malaysia's first natural Hotsprings wellness. You can relax and enjoy nature here while being surrounded by limestone hills, rainforest, natural caves, and waterfalls. Explore the caves, visit the library, or take a dip in the geothermal hot spring. With the resort having about 45 villas available and no kids below 12 are allowed to stay, The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat will guarantee you an intimate time with your spouse. Do take note that alcohol is served throughout the resort. 3. Mabul Island Image Credit: Tourmab Mabul Island is located in Sabah and is a popular destination for divers. But this doesn't mean Mabul Island is not for you! The aqua ocean and beautiful reefs will reel you in. If you and your spouse enjoy snorkeling and kayaking, then you should check out this island. Isn't it nice to be kayaking on a Molokini, a transparent kayak, and witness the underwater marine life? Definitely, a good alternative if you can't dive or snorkel. Once you have experienced the water activities, go ahead and watch the sunset with your spouse. Mabul Island offers you a great view of both sunrise and sunset. Another activity that you should do here is stargazing. With low light pollution, you can witness the Milky Way galaxy at night. What a way to end the day with your loved ones! 4. Bentong Image Credit: Ryan Chu on Unsplash If you are considering Genting Highlands as your honeymoon destination, you might want to check out Bentong instead. Located on the western side of Pahang, you can escape the hectic city life and enjoy what nature has to offer you here. Of course, the things that you should be looking forward to will be exploring nature. Known for its mountainous terrains, you may see yourself surrounded in greeneries. Enjoy the fresh air with your spouse at the Japanese Garden or picnic by Lentang Recreational Forest. When planning for a place to stay at, you should check out these Muslim-friendly resorts in Janda Baik; Chengal Hill Retreat and Fifty4Ferns. They only served Halal food and no alcohol allowed on their premises. 5. Serendah Another foresty destination you may want to consider is Serendah. This destination is best if you and your spouse are an outdoor person. Discover the beauty of Waterfall Forest Park Kanching. Be ready to hike through the 7 levels of Kanching Waterfall as the difficulty varies at each level. If you want to skip the hiking and head for adrenaline activities, there's dirt biking that you can try at Moto Maniac. Also, it is worth checking out Sekeping Serendah Retreats. Providing an eco-tourism accommodation, you can spend quality time with your significant others away from the bustling city life. Think about the greeneries and the meal shared under the stars, it will definitely leave great memories for both of you! 6. Kuching Image Credit: Farizal Resat on Unsplash Experience the beauty of what Kuching has to offer by renting a Sampan down the Sarawak River. Kuching is not only about the stunning waterfront, but also a city full of cultural and historical aspects. Go on a museum hop with your significant others like the Sarawak Museum. Discover places to shop at and dine in at the Waterfront after taking a relaxing walk. Also, don't forget to view the Kuching Mosque and marvel at its incredible architecture. As Kuching means "cat" in Malay, you should not miss out on the Cat Museum. To add up a little bit of adventure to your honeymoon getaway, how about hunting down the cat statues around the city? But let me break it to you that the city's name might not be derived from the Malay word. Then again, it is worth discovering all these cat elements around the city. 7. Malacca Image Credit: Tammy on Unsplash Being one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Malacca has so many to offer to everyone. Considering Malacca as your honeymoon destination won't be a disappointment. Explore the historical landmark with your spouse and discover various museums that you can visit. After a long day walking around the town, hopping from one museum to another, it's time to hunt down for food. And isn't it fun to hunt down food with your loved ones? Malacca has arrays of food stalls ranging from local, Westerns, Chinese to fusions. Beat the heat by getting your sweet tooth fix at Klebang Original Coconut Shake or Cendol Kampung Hulu. No matter how long you are planning to stay in Malacca, the choices of Halal or Muslim-friendly food are endless! 8. Lake Kenyir Image Credit: MOHD HAFIZ YAHYA on Unsplash Believe it or not, Lake Kenyir is a man-made lake, said to be the largest in Malaysia. Located in Hulu Terengganu, this destination is set for couples who love outdoor, and definitely those who are not scared of water. Fishing is one of the popular activities here as river fish has adapted to its ecology. You can also go for jungle trekking and caving and experience the nature around. Lake Kenyir offers a once in a lifetime experience to spend a night on a houseboat. There are some other resorts and chalets that you can choose from, but why not go for something different and create special experiences with your significant other. 9. Kuala Lumpur Image Credit: Izuddin Helmi Adnan on Unsplash Lastly, in this list, let's not forget about the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. This metropolis city has so much to offer. There are endless options to shop, various food stalls to eat at, and so many things to discover. Of course, one of the touristy things to do is to witness the Petronas Twin Tower. If you are craving some local street food and want to experience the feel of a night market, there is Tapak Street for you to check out. You can also take a walk at the KL Forest Eco Park, suitable for anyone as it is not as rugged as any hiking trails. Kuala Lumpur might be deemed as an overrated city to visit, but if you look at every nook of what this city has to offer, it is worthwhile. After all, you are visiting with the love of your life, so there is nothing that can beat that! Do you believe it now that Malaysia owns some of the best honeymoon destinations? These 9 destinations might not seem romantic at first glance, but now that you know they are, isn't it time to start planning? And once it is safe to travel, set off with your significant others for an incredible journey together. via GIPHY...
In Genting Highlands, you will never run out of attractions to visit and fun activities to do. Situated an hour away from Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, Genting Highlands is a must-visit for all travelers for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Also Read: Discover KL In 3 Days Like A True Local With Fatin Days Sitting atop a mountain almost 2000 meters above sea level, the cooling weather in Genting Highlands is a favorite destination among Malaysians and Singaporeans who are seeking to escape the sweltering heat and humidity of their environment. Genting Highlands is a family-friendly holiday destination with plenty of entertainment and things to do for people of all ages from an indoor theme park to natural attractions. Here are 9 fun things to do in Genting Highlands that you should add to your itinerary to have a blast! via GIPHY 1. Have mind-blowing fun at Skytropolis Image Credit: Resorts World Genting Known as one of the top attractions in Genting Highlands, the Skytropolis is an indoor theme park that features over 20 spectacular rides for both children and adults. You heard that right. This is an indoor theme park. Isn't that just mind-blowing? You'll find the Skytropolis in the First World Plaza, also home to other theme parks with different themes, you will never run out of things to do within these walls. Come rain or shine, you can ride a suspended roller-coaster, a 2-story-high drop tower, and more in this 40,000 square feet indoor park! A whole day in this fun land is sure to bring you a whole lot of laughter, fun, and thrills! Soar on a Viking ship or have a romantic time on the Ferris wheel located conveniently in one of the best shopping malls in Genting Highlands! Operating hours: 10am to 10pm DailyAddress: Level 1, First World Plaza 2. Get your game on at Vision City Video Games Park Image Credit: Resorts World Genting Situated within Genting Grand, an upscale hotel in a larger resort complex, Vision City Video Games Park is an indoor arcade center where you can get your game on with over 400 kinds of entertainment! From interactive and skill-based games, such as basketball or whack-a-mole games, to kiddie rides such as miniature carousels, this park provides a spectacular day of fun for visitors of all ages. With around 300 arcade machines from countries such as Japan and Taiwan, you are sure to find cutting-edge games here from popular brands such as Transformers Human Alliance by Sega and Star Wars Battle Pods. Shoot basketballs into the hoops or try your luck at the wheel of fortune. If you perform well, you will get rewarded with tickets that you can use to redeem prizes such as soft toys and other fun merchandise! Parents will be happy to know that there are toddler-friendly attractions such as animal-themed rides that are sure to bring joy to the young ones. Operating Hours: 10am to 12am (Monday to Thursday) | 9am to 1am (Friday to Sunday)Address: Genting Grand, Genting Highlands 3. Experience cutting-edge VR at The Void Image Credit: The VOID on Facebook When in Genting Highlands, you have to experience the first and biggest Virtual Reality (VR) center in Asia at The Void. With its cutting-edge VR technology and world-class entertainment, get ready to be blown away with one of the best VR experience located in First World Plaza. Star Wars fan, rejoice! Marvel as the Star Wars universe comes to life at The Void and experience being disguised as a stormtrooper. For horror fans, get your heart pumping with the multi-sensory horror experience in Nicodemus: Demon of Evanishment. For the faint-hearted, have no fear as there are plenty of other VR experiences for you to get your hands on such as Ralph Breaks VR and Ghostbusters. Don't miss out on one of the best sensory experiences right here in Genting Highlands! Operating Hours: 10am to 10pm DailyAddress: Level 1, First World Plaza Also Read: Go Hotel-Hopping In Kuala Lumpur At These 7 Amazing Hotels 4. Zip your way to BigTop Video Games Park Image Credit: Resorts World Genting Once you have had your fill of the Skytropolis, take the Eagle Landing Zipline on the fourth level of Sky Avenue and zip your way to BigTop Video Games Park which will take a minute or two. Make a boring walk across the mall exciting with this 200-meters zipline - one of the longest zipline located in Malaysia's shopping malls. At the end of the line, you will find yourself in the east wing of the mall where the circus-themed arcade is located at. Big Top Video Games Park features old school arcade and carnival-themed games that will surely provide hours of entertainment for both adults and children alike! BigTop Video Games Park Operating Hours: 10am to 10pm (Sunday to Thursday) | 10am to 11pm (Friday and Saturday)Address: Level 2, Skytropolis Indoor Theme Park Eagle Landing Zipline Address: Level 4, SkyAvenue, Resorts World Genting 4. Glide above the ancient forest with Awana SkyWay Image Credit: Resorts World Genting Get onboard the Awana Skyway and glide your way above a 130-million-year-old rainforest in Genting from Awana Station to SkyAvenue station. Taking the Awana Skyway Gondolas is one of the most scenic ways of reaching the peak of Genting Highlands and you can even take a short stop at Chin Swee Cave Temple at the midway point of the journey. Make the 10-minute gondola ride even more breath-taking by opting for the glass-floor gondolas where you can see yourself soaring above these dense treetops. Breathe in the fresh air while enjoying a jaw-dropping, bird's eye view of the highlands in this state-of-the-art cable car. When you arrive at SkyAvenue station, you will find plenty of shopping and entertainment options at your fingertips including the SkyAvenue shopping mall that is directly connected to the station. Operating Hours: 7am to 12am DailyAddress: Level 2, Awana SkyWay building, Genting Highlands 6. Enthrall your mind at Ripley's Believe It or Not! Adventureland Image Credit: Ripley Entertainment Inc. Once you have reached SkyAvenue, engross yourself in Ripley's Believe It or Not! Adventureland that features the Odditorium, a 4D Trick Art Museum, a Jurassic Research Centre and a Zombie Outbreak! Attraction. All four attractions in one place! You will surely find one that will take you by surprise! At the Odditorium, you will find an assortment of all things bizarre and odd in the world with over 300 interactive exhibits that are sure to get the whole group engaged. For all dinosaur lovers, you will have a blast at the Jurassic Research Centre where you will be enthralled with life-sized animatronic dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals that you can interact and take memorable pictures with. Have an immersive experience at the 4D Trick Art Museum and take creative shots with their art exhibits. If that is not enough, get your adrenaline pumping at Zombie Outbreak! where you will need to run away from scare actors dressed as zombies! Operating hours: 10am to 10pm (Sunday to Thursday) | 10am to 11pm (Friday and Saturday)Address: Level 4, SkyAvenue 7. Enjoy panoramic views at Genting Skyway Aside from Awana Skyway, Genting Skyway is another of the two cable car systems in Genting Highlands. This 3.4km cable car ride from Gohtong Raya will provide you with panoramic views of the highlands where you can have fun spotting landmarks such as the SkyAvenue Shopping Mall and the Chin Swee Caves Temple. You will then disembark at the peak of the highlands where you will find well-known hotels, restaurants, and attractions such as SkyCasino and Casino de Genting. Operating Hours: 7am to 12am DailyAddress: Gohtong Jaya, Genting Highlands 8. Pick strawberries at Genting Strawberry Leisure Farm Image Credit: Genting Highlands Fancy a leisurely afternoon of strawberry picking? You can do so right here at Genting Strawberry Leisure Farm. Situated in Bandar Gohtong Raya, it is 6-minutes away from Awana Skyway station and Genting Premium Outlets by car. You can spend the whole afternoon exploring and picking strawberry from its massive fruit farms and flower gardens. This family-friendly farm is recognized as the largest strawberry farm in Malaysia and it offers organically grown vegetables, flowers, and mushrooms that are exported to various parts of the country. You can take an Insta-worthy selfie at its picturesque Lavender Garden where you will be surrounded by blooming lavender flowers and beautiful fountains. You can even dine-in at their strawberry-themed restaurant and bring back organic treats as souvenirs. Unwind and relax at Genting Strawberry Leisure Farm! Operating Hours: 9am to 6.30pm DailyAddress: 1, Lot 3707, Jalan Jati 2, Bandar Gohtong Jaya, Pahang 9. Explore the Chin Swee Caves Temple Image Credit: Sung Shin on Unsplash A classic attraction in Genting Highlands has to be the Chin Swee Caves Temple. Located atop a 28-acre land, this Taoist temple is frequented by locals who would pray and meditate in its many prayer halls. Visitors are welcome to visit the temple to admire the nine-story Pagoda that is beautifully decorated with images and giant statues of Buddha and Kuan Yin, blessing lamps and elaborate sculptures of animals. You can explore the artistic depiction of the 10 Chambers of Hell or just admire the view of the pagoda against the panoramic backdrop of the mountain. Operating Hours: 7am to 7pm DailyAddress: Genting Highlands, Pahang At Genting Highlands, you will find countless activities that cater to people of all ages, making it a perfect retreat for families! From exciting theme parks to recreational leisure activities available at your doorstep, you will find yourself spoilt for choices! Indulge yourself with these 9 fun things to do in Genting Highland. Don't forget to download the HalalTrip App for more information on Halal food, Qibla Direction, Duas, and many more here! Also Read: Bunk In At KL's Most Chic Hostels For As Low As $13! via GIPHY...
Planning a family trip where everyone can enjoy themselves can be exciting but stressful as well. After Covid-19, it is expected that domestic travel will recover first. Why not use this time to plan for a road trip in Malaysia? Going on a road trip is a great way to bond and spend quality time with your family! Whether you are planning for a short weekend getaway or a vacation, Malaysia has so much to offer! Malaysia is ideal for family road trips as there are so many destinations that you can explore and enjoy with your family. Here are 10 best family road trips in Malaysia! via GIPHYAlso Read: Here Is What Travel Will Look Like After Covid-19 1. Kota Tinggi to Desaru Image Credit: Kota Tinggi Waterfalls Resort It will take approximately 50 mins to drive down from Kota Tinggi to Desaru, hence making it an ideal short weekend getaway to enjoy with your family. Bring your family for a picnic and take a dip in the Kota Tinggi Waterfall. This spectacular view offers serenity, allowing us to relax and unwind. If you have more time to spare in Kota Tinggi, you can also visit the Kota Tinggi Firefly Park. Participate in outdoor studies with your family and get close to nature. This can be a fun yet enriching experience for the family! Image Credit: Desaru Fruit Farm More family-fun activities await you in Desaru. Drive down to Desaru Fruit Farm and learn how to grow various kinds of fruits. On top of that, you can even do a taste testing of the fruits you have picked. You can also bring the kids to feed the ostriches at the Desaru Ostrich Farm. My best pick will be the Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark, which can be enjoyed by people of all ages - adults and kids alike. 2. Port Dickson to Malacca Image Credit: Lexis Hibiscus Port Dickson This trip is another ideal short getaway that you can consider. Stay for a night in Port Dickson and the following day, you can drive down to Malacca in less than 1.5 hours. Port Dickson is the best place to relax and rewind. Book one of the water chalets available like Lexis Hibiscus and enjoy a night stay. Nothing can go wrong with spending quality with the family in a private pool. Image Credit: St. Paul's Church on Lonely Planet The following day, you can take a drive to Malacca. There are many historical sites that you can visit in Malacca, which is known for its rich history. Head down to A Famosa and walk up the small hill to reach St. Paul's Church. Image Credit: Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum There are also plenty of museums around the area that you can visit too, like Flora de la Mar Maritime Museum and the Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum. If you happened to be in Klebang area, you must not miss the Klebang Original Coconut Shake! Nothing can beat teatime with some traditional Malay kuih (delicious!) and a cup of coconut shake topped with vanilla ice cream (yummy!). 3. Kuala Lumpur to Penang Image Credit: Wayne Chew on Unsplash No matter how long you are planning to stay in Kuala Lumpur, there are always things to see and do. It has become mandatory to take a trip to PETRONAS tower whenever one is in Kuala Lumpur. There are various things to see and do around the area like exploring Aquaria KLCC, visiting the aquarium, or shop at Suria KLCC. After spending some time sightseeing and shopping at Kuala Lumpur, continue your journey down the road for about 4 hours to reach a UNESCO heritage town, George Town in Penang. Image Credit: Dark Mansion More fun-filled activities await you in Penang. Visit Dark Mansion, a 3D trick art museum unlike the normal, because they glow in the dark! Your kids will definitely enjoy this, we promise! Image Credit: Penang Hill on Facebook One of my best take in Penang will be Penang Hill. Ride up the funicular ride to enjoy breathtaking views, learn heritage and culture, and enjoy mother nature. Make sure to feast on their local delights like Char Kuay Teow and Assam Laksa. Penang houses some affordable cafes too so be sure to check that out with your family! 4. Ipoh to Cameron Highlands Image Credit: Old Town Ipoh on Lonely Planet If you are looking for a lush greenery view on a trip, this road trip is made for you. The drive from Ipoh to Cameron Highlands takes about 2 hours. Firstly, wander down Old Town in Ipoh and discover the street arts and cute streets. You can also visit the city's gem such as Kellie's Castle and Birch Memorial Clock Tower. Once you're done exploring Ipoh's beautiful landmark and art, take a trip to Cameron Highlands. Image Credit: Strawberry Farms on visitmalaysia.info Meanwhile, at Cameron Highlands, you can bring your family out for some outdoor activities. Don't miss out on fun activities like strawberry picking in the strawberry farm, visiting the butterfly farm, and exploring the lavender garden. At the end of the day, spend some quality family time over steamboat in Cameron Highlands. 5. Johor Bahru to Mersing Image Credit: Legoland Malaysia on Facebook Our trip down to Johor Bahru will always be about the food or groceries on the usual days. How about a short getaway, let's say a 2-days 1-night trip with a detour to Mersing? In less than 2 hours drive, you can get to Mersing from Johor Bahru. Over at Johor Bahru, you can visit Legoland, a popular theme park that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Spend a day with your family here; enjoy the rides and attractions it has to offer. Image Credit: Kishor on Unsplash After having some fun at Legoland, you can drive to Mersing. Mersing is all about the beautiful beaches and white sands. You can opt for snorkeling and island hopping in Mersing if your family is up for it. My best take in Mersing is to book a resort and enjoy a relaxing time at the beaches with your loved ones. 6. Sepang to Genting Highlands Image Credit: Sepang International Circuit If you think that Sepang is only home to Kuala Lumpur International Airport, you are wrong. There are some fun-filled activities that you can do with your family here. In less than a 2 hours drive, you can get to Genting Highlands and the fun continues. Sepang is known for its Formula One race circuit, but if you're not in Sepang to watch one, head down to Avani Gold Coast Resort. You may choose to stay a night here or visit the Extreme Park for some activities like Go-kart, archery, and ATV jungle trail. Image Credit: Resorts World Genting Next, take a 2-hour drive to Genting Highlands. Enjoy the rides and attractions at the outdoor theme park, which caters to both kids and adults. You might also want to check the indoor theme park and video game park. Hop on the Awana Skyway; you can enjoy the spectacular view from a distance together with your loved ones. 7. Kuantan to Kuala Terengganu Image Credit: The Sungai Pandan Waterfall on Hotel Grand Continental Kuantan For me, Kuantan is an underrated city. Not many tourists visit this beautiful destination. In less than a 3-hour drive from Kuantan, you can reach your destination, Kuala Terengganu. In Kuantan, you can find several beautiful waterfalls. In my opinion, Sungai Pandan Waterfall will be an ideal spot if you are on this road trip with young kids or the elderly. Make a trip to Kula Cakes to eat the local's favorite Mango Cheesecakes. This store should be in every cheesecake lovers' list as they serve other unique flavors as well. Image Credit: Terengganu State Museum on Malaysia.travel After all that fun, drive to Kuala Terengganu for a heritage tour. Visit the Terengganu State Museum to learn about the history and culture of this place. Don't forget to also visit Pantai Batu Burok to enjoy the scenic beach view. 8. Bukit Tinggi to Kuala Selangor Image Credit: Berjaya Hills on visitmalaysia.info Another two locations that are off the beaten track should be on your list if you want to have a unique experience. It takes a 1.5-hour drive to get you to Kuala Selangor from Bukit Tinggi. The Japanese Tea House in Bukit Tinggi, also known as Berjaya Hills, offers you a soulful retreat. Explore the French-themed Colmar Tropicale and the zen-inspired Japanese garden. The rabbit farm is a must-visit for families; you can play and feed the cute little furry friends. Image Credit: Mount Melawati on The Star Next, drive to Kuala Selangor which takes about 1.5 hours. You can hike up Mount Melawati with your family and learn more about the history behind this notable hill. Also, make time to visit the Kuala Selangor Nature Park and walk through the mangroves. You can spot various species of birds here too! You should also try the Cendol Bakar. The preparation of the gula Melaka in this cendol is different from those of the normal cendol out there. 9. Banting to Sekinchan Image Credit: Tadom Hill Resorts This trip is catered to you if you're bringing along pre-teen kids or older who are adventurous and love outdoor activities. It takes 2 hours to reach Sekinchan by car from Banting. First, enjoy various adrenaline attractions in Banting. Head down to Tadom Hill Resorts, where you can enjoy activities like ATV and water swings. If you want to try some paragliding, you can hike up Bukit Jugra. Otherwise, you can just enjoy the scenic view from the peak with your family. Next, take a 2-hour drive to Sekinchan. Expect to see the lush green field of paddy in Sekinchan as it is home to the Paddy Processing Factory. Don't forget to drop by any of the small businesses selling tropical fruits nearby. The juicy giant mangoes, soursops, and guavas can quench your thirst over the hot day (Yum!). 10. Kota Kinabalu to Kundasang Image Credit: Sosodikon Hill on Facebook Located in Sabah, both Kota Kinabalu and Kundasang offers you scenic locations with fresh mountain air. Just about a 2-hour drive, you can get from Kota Kinabalu to Kundasang. You don't always have to hike up Mount Kinabalu when you're in Kota Kinabalu. If you still want to enjoy some mountain views but don't want to break a sweat, visit Sosodikon Hill. Don't forget to visit the Asquare Kota Kinabalu, the first creative container night food market in Kota Kinabalu. You will be spoilt for choices with over 60 varieties of food to choose from different street vendors. Image Credit: Desa Dairy Farm on Facebook Next, take a 2-hour drive to Kundasang. You can visit Desa Dairy Farm in Kundasang with the kids and feed the calves and goats while enjoying some freshly made gelato. I'm sure your kids will enjoy this activity! Also Read: 10 Tips On How To Prepare For A Road Trip There you have it, the 10 best family road trips in Malaysia. So what are you waiting for? Start planning for your next road trip to Malaysia now! via GIPHY ...


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Tutor profile: Mckinsey P.
Subject: Writing
How can learning to write better actually help me in my life?
Let's say you are given a job opportunity and you are competing against other individuals just as qualified as you are. Almost every aspect of you is similar to every aspect of them. The only difference is that you were given better tools for writing a resume or cover letter. You learned early on how to write a great email, or how to properly write a thank you not. When it comes time to hire someone, they will choose you, because they see how effective your written communication skills are compared to the other applicants. Congrats on your new job!
Subject: Literature
Why does learning literature matter in today's society?
Literature is so important to the world we live in today. Like history, we can learn from literature in order to better society in the future. Literature is very special because unlike any other form of art or entertainment, we can place ourselves into stories and become changed by them. Literature makes us better citizens in the world we live in.
Subject: English
What do you believe is the most important aspect of English?
I believe that the most important aspect of learning English is the writing aspect. So frequently in your life, you will be required to communicate properly. In any field, emails and written documents are the main methods of communication. It is important for your future career to be well-versed in communicating effectively, and that all begins with learning how to write.
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Week after week, year after year, since 2007, Karen Eng has been entertaining the "troops" - the hundreds or thousands that have been her loyal YouTube fans. Many of them truly count her as a friend, and one thing is certain - Eng is loyal!
The fans matter
She enriches their life. She sings and mimics voices extraordinarily well, dances completely in rhythm, and is sweet and sexy - all rolled into one. She takes song suggestions from her fans, and will return comments that are polite but not from rippers or trolls. Eng is a big fan too, and watches others videos.
This multi talented woman has created colorful dynamic song videos that emulate Heart, Olivia Newton-John, Julie Andrews, Karen Carpenter, Linda Ronstadt, Barbra Streisand - and so many others. Often she'll use wigs, costumes and make-up to create that special excitement and the matching look. Many song renditions are nearly identical to the originals, where it's quite hard to discern the differences.
Eng's YouTube views have easily eclipsed one million, in total. A few of the songs have reached 170,000 alone.Credit: YouTube
Charisma and magnetic appeal
To view Karen Eng, is to watch someone that is never distant, but very warm and approachable, smiling her way thru - looking straight at you as she perpetually moves in accordance with each song's unique rhythm. Everything is natural. No expensive recording equipment is used to artificially enhance the voice. She never lip syncs, though for some reason gets accused of it.
The video "You Only Live twice" shows the credits and introduction into the well-known James Bond movie of long ago. The music is performed beautifully - with those touches of ever present eerieness - by The John Barry Orchestra. Swellmusik has also adroitly superimposed Karen Eng into this production.
Nancy Sinatra sang the original version without a visual of herself. Here you have the hourglass figure of Karen Eng swaying with verses that ooze dreamily, seeping into our senses - as palatable as the taste of your imported maple syrup.
The early years
Eng grew up in "Somewhere", Texas. (She likes to stay a little anonymous and keep some mystery.) This youngster was an active kid, climbing trees, being a good natural dancer and athlete - one of the boys, actually. She was a speedy swimmer and sprinter, and did some work in gymnastics too. Later, softball was embraced - and very successfully too.
As a teenager, this would be star liked to cloister herself off for hours at a time, and just sing everything by world class singers you see her cover now. As a native Texan, she surprisingly never had any type of accent. Karen spent some time in beauty school and eventually had singing lessons, in her 30's. A bit of classical was added to the mix too. (She now resides in "Somewhere Else", Texas.)
Eng displays a temper
For one moment in time, the pretty head is not smiling - it's filled with disgust. She is resigned to what this song is, but repulsed. There are no trademark kisses being blown to the viewer, by puckered lips.
She's living the song, becoming the song, lashing out in anger, while singing "do it in the name of heaven". Karen crinkles her nose, like never seen before, fists a-flying and green eyes flaming, as her verse says: "Go ahead and hate your neighbor, go ahead and cheat a friend". Those eyes flash at that show of total betrayal.
This isn't the world of Karen Eng, this one with too many aliens; one that unwaveringly and steadfastly murders for greed and fame. She fully grasps that it's not just a song.
The world that she decides to inhabit
This is Eng's stomping grounds - "What The World Needs Now", (Jackie DeShannon) the direct counterpoint to "One Tin Soldier"; Karen exhibiting those broad beaming smiles. She's up close, right in your face - but you fully gravitate to this radiating warmth, in another of her most popular videos. Eng sways her shoulders in perfect unison to end the song in pure happiness.
That show case song
If any doubts remain concerning Karen Eng's ability to sing, they should be dispelled after seeing and hearing this number. Karen claims to have been shy till about the age of 40. This tenure of timidity means that thoughts, feelings and imprints have all accumulated as she merely watched from the sideline...biding her time...wondering. It adds up to reservoirs of sensitivity just having to get out; enabling this rare individual to sing with such a resounding result.
Watch those big green eyes. Watch this face. Watch the head movement. Listen to this voice, yearning, craving and rummaging so deeply for something. But what is Karen seeking? What is really being sought, at what level of self awareness, as she serves us this bone chilling, soul searing masterpiece?
What her fans have to say
"Bravo! Better than any Susan Boyle version Karen. You have sung this superbly. It should have been YOU on that stage in front of Simon Cowell...Why could it not have been you?".
Kind regards, Gary Millar Xx
"Karen, your talent is the best "best kept secret" ever." - isuckaman
"Karen, Why haven't you gone professional! Your singing could make you a lot of money, think about it. I think u can do better than U tube! Just a thought." - Johntbear 1947
"OMG! YOU SHOULD BE MAKING MILLIONS!!! PLEASE SING THE WAY WE WERE!!! TERRIFFFFFICCC!!" - Romeo Saltoff
"Hi Karen, just watching a bunch of your videos....I'm just in awe of your talent, Karen...Someone mentioned musical theater, and I have to agree wholeheartedly you'd be awesome on stage. You can perform such a wide variety of styles it's amazing. You're amazing :) You're incredible." - ClearSkyDay
In 2011, and again in 2012, Karen Eng was missing from YouTube, for extended periods of time. The longer it went, the more that admirers were very concerned about their missing sweetheart. Was she sick, busy with school, having personal problems?
Eventually, both times, she reappeared, with the full warmth of the sun - and their world was once again completely on its axis.
The core of this woman
Karen Eng is now 50! (As of February, 2013) You read that right. She once had a goal of making CD'S and going where that would lead her. It's unclear what happened with that. Certainly, without doubt, you could have pictured her as the singing, dancing front woman for an exciting band in an exciting night club. Who wouldn't have enjoyed seeing that?
The Karen Eng blog, of April 2013, entitled: "Be Yourself", is compelling in its simplicity and wholesomeness. She has been studying to be a nurse. She'd previously taken care of two aging parents and saw how rewarding that was. Eng says: "I will be a good nurse, maybe a singing nurse", she reveals, laughingly. Yes, no doubt you can picture her being something like Julie Andrews, as the singing nanny, in "The Sound of Music". She has always said: "I want to make people feel good".Credit: ebaumsworld.com
In full expressiveness, Karen is imploring us. She's never used cue cards or read from a script - it's straight from the heart. As incredible (or crazy?) as it sounds, watching her is reminiscent of viewing "The Great Communicator" - Ronald Reagan himself, in one of his speeches; so simple, yet so very deep and impactful.
This wildly talented, amazing looking 50 year old (with a photographic memory) offers: "I'll lift you up. You lift me up! Think good thoughts about me. I'll think good thoughts about you". In print, it almost seems like comedy when Eng says: "I don't put down atheists...Satanists...witches...Buddhists...Catholics...Protestants..."
But it's not comedic. It's serious. The video shows total sincerety. Engs says: "I would never step on your toes. Please don't step on mine". It's spoken sweetly, with some wonderment. She just can't understand why anybody would ever subscribe to such behavior.
When Karen talked about positivity vs negativity and how we should be individuals, the atmospherics of that projection and connection were equal to professional speakers, that many of us have paid to see, at some moment in our lives. The difference is that none of this was rehearsed.
There were many bless her heart moments in this blog.
We never know as much as we think we know about politicians, actors, athletes, neighbors - and even friends. The painting is maddeningly incomplete. So we play the cards we're dealt.
Nonetheless, it's really not difficult to be proud of Karen Eng, like we would be with a mother, daughter, sister or wife - that we didn't know had all this in her.


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Corduroy is just one of the best fabrics. It's soft and strong with a warm and comfortable look. A great addition as the weather gets cooler.
To complement its rhythmic appearance, we added the Japanese pattern for waves under the visor. It represents resilience, strength, and surges of good fortune. The cap and top of visor are 100% organic cotton corduroy. Undervisor printed on 100% organic cotton.
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View the whole corduroy collection.
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Adults with very small heads or youth aged 5-12 years old
6 - 7
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6 1/2 - 7 1/2
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Average to larger heads or those who want a little more room
7 - 8
Note: For the more information on fit or to view the kids' size chart, view the fit guide.


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« Alabama Names Education Consultant to Serve as State Superintendent | Main | Arizona State Board Chair Resigns Amid Personality Clash With Schools Chief »
Plaintiffs Will Use Test Scores to Show Kansas School Funding Is Inadequate
The four districts that have led a fight to reform Kansas' school funding formula will argue next month that state and national test scores prove that school personnel don't have enough money to help its poor and minority students learn the state's own set of standards, according to a brief filed by their lawyers last week.
The state, on the other hand, will argue that they are spending record-breaking amounts of money on their public school system (more than $4 billion), that all of the districts are meeting its own accreditation standards and that the court meddling in how the legislature distributes state revenue would be a "flagrant violation of the separation of powers," according to the Associated Press.
The Gannon v. Kansas case has roiled the state for years after Gov. Sam Brownback, a Republican, passed through a series of income tax cuts in 2012 and 2013. Earlier this year, the state supreme court told the legislature that unless they make their funding formula more equitable and increase the amount of money they provide to its poorest districts, they will shut down all of the state's schools.
With the equity half of the case resolved, the state's supreme court is expected on Sept. 21 to begin deliberating on how to rule on the adequacy portion of the case. If the state loses the adequacy part of the case, the defendants' lawyers say the legislature will have to provide up to $400 million more to its entire school system.
Don't miss another State EdWatch post. Sign up here to get news alerts in your email inbox. And make sure to follow @StateEdWatch on Twitter for the latest news from state K-12 policy and politics.


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to our company
Who Are We?
Vmedia Solution is a company recently born but has acclaimed distinctive position among the competitive manufacturers who are engaged in manufacturing LED products. We are formed under the guidance of an immensely experienced technocrat 'Mr. Mayank Pandya', who with his techniques of production and strategies of marketing has led us to take a leap in the market towards our progression. We operate our business activities as a reliable Manufacturer and Exporter. We not only pay importance to serving unmatched quality but also emphasize on earning contentment of customers. Our variety of LED products encompasses LED Display Screen, LED Display Board, LED Display Panel, LED Sign Board, Single Color LED Display and many more. Apart from offering LED products, we have also earned reputation for offering LED Display Screen Maintenance Services to the customers.
- This is a led module that uses surface mounted technology in which, led chips are installed directly on printed circuit board
- Used for backlighting, home illumination, advertising billboards etc.
- It utilizes low voltage current in comparison to the other artificial light sources
- Dual color LED display board is a flat panel that uses light emitting diodes for displaying images or texts
- This display board can be used as a single display unit or the part of the large display
- The offered led board can display images & texts in dual color
- Available in Rectangle Shape
- Aluminum Material is used
- For Outdoor uses
- Minimum Order Quantity : 50 Square Feet
- Industrial LED display boards are used in various industrial premises to display & convey information visually
- These display panels use light emitting diodes to display images
- Information or messages can be updated in these display boards at regular intervals
- Technical - Shape :Rectangle,Body Material:Aluminum,Usage :Indoor
- MOQ : 50 Square Feet
- This display led board has pc based controller system that enables to display large message data in a scrolling way
- The offered led display board is widely used in retail outlets, stock markets, hospitals, petrol bunks etc.
- This led display board is highly durable and can be easily installed or mounted on the wall
- Pixel Pitch : 6 mm,Display Shape : Rectangle,Application : Advertising,Usage : Outdoor
Key Points
- Led Ticket display board is used in banks, hospitals, clinics, government offices etc. to show ticket no. in order to maintain queue and crowd
- It is mainly used for conveying message visually through light emitting diodes
- It is easy to install and provides high illumination
Technical Details
- Dimension : 12x8
- Shape : Square
- Application : Message display
- Body Material : Aluminum
- Pixel Pitch : 8 mm
- Operating Temperature Range : 0-60 degree C
- MOQ : 10 Square Feet
Our Infrastructure
is like the body of a company, in which there are several parts which
work together to execute one function. And we all know that each part of
this body is supposed to be equally strong as one wing can effect the
functioning of other. The aforesaid statement is understood by us and we
have not only equally segregated each department of our company but we
have paid special focus on backing varied departments with right
resources. We have installed top modern machines in the respective
departments which are brought to life by a team of qualified experts who
are highly eligible for working in those wings. We regularly upgrade
machines and provide training to the employees to enhance their skills.
Why Us?
We are a new company in this domain yet we have earned high recognition Owing to our business ethics and orientation towards customer satisfaction. By adopting customer focused policies, we have got hold of large clientele who are well satisfied by us. Below are some of the attributes which are appreciated by clients residing across the globe.
- Our dedication to serve high quality.
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- Promise to deliver to the doorsteps of the customers.
- Focus on the contentment of respected clients.
VMEDIA SOLUTION All Rights Reserved.(Terms of Use)
Developed and Managed by Infocom Network Ltd.


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Costa Rica Charrette & the Guanacaste House
In 2007-2008, during the second year of the World House Project, the IwB partnered with the Costa Rican Ministries of Culture and Housing to look at rural renewal in the developing Guanacaste region.
A major component of this project was to address the lack of viable and sustainable housing for local people, including families as well as migrant workers drawn to the region because of tourism. For the IwB, this was an opportunity to further explore its work and research on housing typologies and needs across the world.
In November 2007, the IwB, in collaboration with Building Magazine, put out an open call competition to students and professionals around the world with the challenge of designing a house for the Guanacaste region. Through an online charrette, the IwB received 45 different entries.
The results of the competition were further developed by the IwB students during their stay in Costa Rica, which included the a Community Charrette with the local inhabitants. Finally, the housing design for Guanacaste was further revised during the 4-day international charrette held at the IwB in February 2008.
The design process of the Guanacaste House is outlined in the World House Costa Rica book and in Building Magazine.
Project Goals:
The challenge was to design appropriate housing for Costa Rica's rural northwest province of Guanacaste, a region that suffers from water shortages and lack of adequate and affordable accommodation for its residents.
The design for the social housing prototype had to address the growing population in the region, accommodate the needs of local families and provide temporary accommodation for migrant workers.
The Costa Rica house must resonate with the natural conduct of the Guanacaste residents. Infusing the house with the local culture may be the biggest design challenge.
Costa Rica Charrette & the Guanacaste House
Accessibility and durability of housing in rural Costa Rica has been a long-term issue. Throughout the country's rural areas, there are many self-made houses that are left unfinished because local communities cannot afford established construction methods. What is need is construction that is small scale, affordable and responds to the life cycles of the rural areas and their people.
In 2007-2008, the Costa Rican Ministries of Housing and Culture made a financial commitment of $8,000 to support a four-person, 42- square-meter house with a commitment of $8,000 per unit. Based on these criteria and as part of its preparatory work, the IwB released an open call competition for design proposals for the Guanacaste House that would consider the following criteria:
- the $8000 USD budget to build a 42-square metres dwelling that includes two bedrooms, a kitchen and a washroom
- the potential addition of rental units of 10-15 square metres each including a one bedroom and one washroom
- the possibility of creating larger units, wrapping the 42-square metres and 15-square metres modules around patios to provide accommodation from 40 to 160 square metres
- the use of sustainable building techniques with special emphasis on water conservation and appropriate sanitation systems that would not harm the rural environment
- the inclusion of features made for aging in place and use by individuals with special needs
- the inclusion of features that reflect the regional identity and local special customs
- the inclusion of features that respond to the tropical climate
Through the online competition, the IwB received 45 entries from participants around the world. The winning entries were published and reviewed in Building Magazine.
The competition was revisited during the IwB's international charrette, in February 2008. Over a 4-day period, the IwB, GBC Architecture Technology and French and Italian students (from visiting institutions) proposed further design concepts for the Guanacaste House.
Project Outcome:
Throughout 2007-2008, the IwB collected and developed different iterations of the Guanacaste House. All the proposals promoted scalability through modular systems and responsiveness to the climatic, economic and cultural context.
Importantly, the designs highlighted that it was possible to build houses within the government subsidy, making the houses affordable and accessible to locals. The final design is featured in the IwB's World House Costa Rica publication.
Making many versions of the Guanacaste House, by creating and open competition and through the Community and International charrettes, produced many excellent proposals, but also some unintended results.
Mike Dole, an industrial designer working with the IwB, suggested bringing the project to the Elizabeth Simcoe Junior Public School, where he was a parent volunteer. Dole proposed the IwB explore housing design for Costa Rica with the school's kids. The children reached to basic encyclopaedic knowledge and began studying the people of Costa Rica and the country's climate and geographic conditions. The kids researched and imagined a house that could withstand earthquakes and volcanoes. Ironically, their designs, unlike the 45 professional proposals, were the only ones to focus on housing that could withstand the full diversity of the Costa Rican climate.
The exercise underlined the IwB's core belief that diverse intelligences are critical to the design process. Too much cohesion in a group can produce the trap of similar solutions. By including expert and non expert perspectives in the design process, there is more likelihood of holistic design solutions.
Learn more about the Costa Rica House in the World House Costa Rica publication and in Building Magazine. Also read more about the Costa Rica project on the IwB project page.
Project Details:
Winning design, Open Competition
The first Place for the Guanacaste House design went to Team 10, who proposed a scalable pattern for the social environment of the house composed of four living units around a central square. Each of these homes is built close to the property line, with exterior walls of concrete. Inside, the interior walls are open and made of bamboo, a local, readily available material. The house features defined public, private and semi-private spaces.
Model of the Guanacaste House
The IwB continued its relationship with the Costa Rican Ministries of Culture and Housing into the 2008-2009 academic year. One of the results of the ongoing collaboration was a special model made by Sisley Leung of the proposal for the Guanacaste House.
The model was exhibited in Canada to showcase the IwB's work on the Costa Rica project. It features the single unit house design, but also the variations the house can take on a typical Guanacaste street. The street model shows how the house can grow with the family.
Project Credits:
IwB cohort, staff and faculty 2007-2008
Costa Rican Ministries of Culture and Housing
Building Magazine
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Reserva Conchal
Georgiana Penon
Photo Credits:
IwB cohort 2007-2008
Justin Aitcheson
Georgiana Penon
Sisley Leung
Project Tags:
Costa Rica, Guanacaste, World House, home, house, design charrette, Costa Rican Ministries of Culture and Housing, rural renewal, affordable housing
"The Costa Rica House model was built to illustrate the modular components of the structure. These features make it adaptable so that it can grow with the family over time."
– Sisley Leung, IwB Alumna, Designer & Architectural Technologist, Institute without Boundaries


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Rebecca Adlington's pregnancy diary: Week 32
Rebecca Adlington keeps a diary for M&B throughout her pregnancy. Read Week 32: The double Olympic gold medallist swimmer makes the final plans for her water birth
Harry and I went on a tour of the maternity hospital last week. The building's really old, but it's lovely inside. It's largely decorated in purple – my favourite colour – so that's a good start. And it's more like a spa than a hospital with dim lights and aromatherapy oils burning. We feel so much more prepared now we've seen where we're going to have our baby.
We've always wanted a water birth, and she told Harry he'd be able to get in the pool with me
The midwife who showed us round talked us through the labour process. We've always wanted a water birth, and she told Harry he'd be able to get in the pool with me. My reply was: "No chance babe – you're not going for a swim, it's all mine!" But there was a coffee machine and biscuits so that cheered him up. Harry also gets to stay over at the birth centre, which is such a relief. I was worrying what would happen if he had to go home.
We've got a rough birth plan but we're still in the process of finding stuff out. Do we really need to spend all this time researching all the possibilities? I think we've just got to trust the midwives and doctors and go with the flow.
I'd like to think I'm pretty tough
I'm not intending to have an epidural or pain relief other than gas and air, mainly because you can't have that and a water birth. I keep saying to myself that surely being an athlete, and pushing my body to the absolute limit every single day for so long, will help me in some small way. I'd like to think I'm pretty tough. And I'm already in awe of what the human body can do – I've worked mine so hard and it's incredible what it can tolerate. And I'm amazed how it's coped with being pregnant.
Because we found out I was pregnant early at five weeks, I feel like I've been pregnant for ever
Of course there may be complications, but I'm going in with the mindset that, though it's not going to be a walk in the park, we can push through it and get to the other end. And I can squeeze Harry's hand really hard and make him suffer too.
I'm so pleased we're nearly there. I'm so impatient to meet her. Because we found out I was pregnant early at five weeks, I feel like I've been pregnant for ever. We've been counting down the weeks and finally we're into single figures. It could happen any day! Not that we've packed the hospital bag yet… although I'm signed up to all those websites and apps that send you alerts, so I am being nagged to get on with it.
If I do backstroke my bump sticks out of the water, and if I do front crawl I feel like a hippopotamus
I'm struggling to bend over to put my shoes on now. I went for a swim the other night, got to the end of the pool and thought, 'Oh my God, I can't tumble turn!'. I've been swimming twice a week all through my pregnancy, although now if I do backstroke my bump sticks out of the water, and if I do front crawl I feel like a hippopotamus. The last time I did manage a tumble turn she went absolutely mad. I think she was doing tumble turns of her own!
When we went to our first antenatal class on Tuesday, the midwife kept saying to carry on doing gentle exercise. Though I sat there wondering if her gentle exercise was quite the same level as mine!
Watch Becky's video blog at rebeccaadlington.co.uk


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Remnant Youth: Alternative (Fridays)
Community Events
6:00 PM on Friday, November 13
Repeats the 2nd Friday of every month at 6:00 PM.
Remnant is the youth connection for kids and teens at Auburn Presbyterian Church (13025 Bel Air Drive, Auburn). They connect for fellowship and learning about God, his relationship with us, and how we can reveal that love to others. Join us on Friday Nights (at 6PM) for Fun activities, challenges, Bible lessons, and food. For more details, visit https://www.facebook.com/remnantapc/.
Auburn Presbyterian Church
13025 Bel Air Dr
Auburn, CA 95604
Google Map


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Woodbridge, NJ — James Law, founder of Mesothelioma Lawyers Advice, announced that he has launched a one-stop informational site and mesothelioma lawyers directory for those with mesothelioma and asbestos-related illness and disease.
"Mesothelioma Lawyers Advice provides the best legal advice and resources for the victims of mesothelioma," said Law.
Mesothelioma Lawyers Advice provides advice, information and services related to mesothelioma. Fully searchable, individuals can easily find the law firm and attorneys that are closest to their location. For individuals who have received a diagnosis of mesothelioma, an attorney is often the first step toward receiving the compensation they deserve and holding companies accountable.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that can be contracted through exposure to asbestos or materials and products containing asbestos. Mesothelioma lawyers may be the only recourse for justice and financial awards. It's one of the most aggressive cancers, typically affecting the lungs, but in rarer forms it can affect the tissues of the abdomen, heart and testicles.
The disease is especially insidious as it has a latency period, allowing it to strike up to 50 years after an individual has been exposed. Most asbestos exposure was through the workplace, but the cancer-causing material was used extensively in construction projects in shingles, roofing, floor tiles, soundproofing, plaster and paint, insulation, and fire retardants. Mesothelioma lawyers can help determine exposure and represent individuals in their fight for restitution.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber found in some types of rock and soil formation. Particles of asbestos can become airborne, thereby affecting others at a distance. Naturally occurring asbestos deposits were mined in locations throughout the U.S. fromAlaska and Arizona to California and the Appalachian Trail.
The launch of Mesothelioma Lawyers Advice provides individuals around the world with a comprehensive directory of attorneys that can help people diagnosed with mesothelioma obtain the compensation to which they're entitled. Mesothelioma cases can be highly complex and complicated. The experienced professionals at Mesothelioma Lawyers Advice can help simplify the process.
Media Contact
Mesothelioma Lawyers Advice
(732) 582 3966
James Law, Founder
[email protected]


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Migration, globalization and human rights emerged as central social, economic and political challenges reshaping the world since the turn of the century. The most immediate challenge facing many societies worldwide now is the appalling rise in violence against migrants and increasingly restrictive government measures that undermine the fundamental basic human rights of millions of migrants and their families. According to UN estimates, over 200 million people are now living permanently or … Read More
CSW Parallel Event
Join this MRI co-sponsored parallel event on March 12, 2015, organized by the Women & Global Migration Working Group. Since Beijing in 1995, the feminization of migrant labour has grown exponentially. Efforts to implement the Beijing Platform have been locked to a pro-growth economic model focused on exports (including the export of women's labour), privatization, deregulation, communication of nature, and free trade. This has led to growing income inequality, loss of land, precarious … [Read More...]
MRI Celebrates 20 years!
In the course of the past two decades, our members and partners have worked tirelessly to make the protection of migrants' rights a priority in international fora, including the UN Human Rights Council, the World Summit on Social Development (Copenhagen), the World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995), the Global Forum on Migration & Development, and many other spaces nationally and regionally. We have also worked to strengthen the migrants' rights movement, initiating and organizing 8 … [Read More...]
Step It Up: Dignity, Rights Development
MRI is excited to announce its support of a new campaign for the ratification of the Migrant Workers Convention: Step It Up: Dignity, Rights, Development. Step it Up is a global campaign, launched by Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA), MRI and affiliated civil society organizations, including trade union partners, the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, and the International Labour Organization. The campaign highlights the significance … [Read More...]