a fleeting stay ...

This image of Yani, Shah, Arni and Zu was taken by Jehan Mohd at a recent Ramadan gathering organised by Learning Curve, New Straits Times. Why do you think they look so satisfied? Email (surveypeopleplaces@gmail.com) me the answer to win a Kinokuniya voucher worth RM50. The deadline for submissions is Oct 31, 2009. The entry with the most creative answer will be declared the winner. Yani, Shah Arni and Zu are forbidden to take part in this contest.

This picture of the Malacca River Cruise was taken by photographer Ham with my camera. We were on the eighth floor of the Renaissance Hotel recently and the view of the Malacca River was quite stunning from where we were standing. There was no time for a cruise, which is highly recommended, by the way. We were on an overnight business trip to the historical city. I remember Sumita Martin raving about it when she was reporting for the New Straits Times from Malacca a few years ago. The river itself has an interesting history. According to Melaka Malaysia Travel "throughout its history, the Malacca River slowly modified its role as a busy and productive port along the import trade route of spices to a popular tourism attraction". It was called the Venice of The East by European colonialists who were looking for new areas to acquire and keeping them dependent. A voyage by sea, stopping at various places and savouring local cultures ala Slow Boats To China has been my dream for ...

Ramadan, the fasting month for Muslims, is here once again. Muslims in Malaysia began observing Ramadan on Saturday (Aug 22, 2009) and will do so for a month until the dawn of festivities known as Hari Raya here. Ramadan is special for many reasons: savouring dates (as in the picture above) and traditional food, strengthening family ties and initiating gloomy and not-so-gloomy rounds of introspection. The last activity is particularly important because examining my own thoughts, feelings and motives will motivate me to improve myself when I understand my obligations as a human being on Earth. Prayers are important throughout the year but there is something about Ramadan that makes prayers even more meaningful. Performing specific additional prayers that aim to bring the faithful closer to God is highly encouraged. Selamat Berpuasa!

Journalist Jehan Mohd is 30 today. I thought she would like a mer? original handbag so I invited Ice to design one that would suit her charming and vivacious personality. Ice did not disappoint and I am very happy with her creation. I think Jehan likes the stylish tote ( see picture ) too. Happy Birthday Jehan and enjoy the bag!

This post is prompted by a remark made by my good friend Wei Lin. She saw me reading a card I had received from a friend recently and said: "Traditional cards are so old-fashioned." I wondered if that was true and decided to probe into the issue. A Google search revealed numerous articles on the debate between traditional paper-based cards and e-cards. Tracey Grady's examination of the pros and cons of each type is informative. In my opinion, e-cards are not substitutes for the real (traditional) ones and they shouldn't be. I treat e-card e-mails with suspicion because spammers could be using them to download viruses and software onto my computer. I have never sent anyone an e-card and I don't plan to; I dislike the cold impersonality of conveying greetings electronically. I have always liked sending and receiving cards the traditional way. The ritual of going to a bookshop, browsing at the card section, picking a suitable one for the recipient and then walking to...

Wouldn't it be nice to take a slow boat to nowhere? The picture of these small boats with flat bottoms, used along the coasts and rivers of Southeast Asia was taken at the Jetty Complex, Sungai Merbok in Kedah, Malaysia. These boats or sampans remind me of Gavin Young's Slow Boats to China (1981) and Slow Boats Home (1985) which detail his "ship-hopping adventures". These books are standing in the bookcase in my living room, beckoning to me to read them again. And I will do that soon.

Nature trails such as the one pictured above make me want to go for long walks. It is a joy to take a path through countryside, along which interesting plants, animals, among others can be seen. When was the last time you got out of the city to enjoy the countryside? When was the last time you reflected on the state of the environment? Do you even care what happens to our green areas? There is nothing better than treading a new path with congenial company and savouring the sense of freedom that it gives us. Equally important, the activity allows us to assess the extent of damage we have inflicted on our natural world, which biologist E.O. Wilson says "is in deep trouble". "Scientists estimate that if habitat conversion and other destructive human activities continue at their present rates, half the species of plants and animals on Earth could be either gone or at least fated for early extinction by the end of the century." For more read The Creation by E.O. ...

Close your eyes and imagine that you are sinking your teeth into the creamy, custardy yellow flesh of premium durians. The company is good and the conversation is light and amusing. You roar with laughter at all the funny bits. You scoop another piece of durian from its shell and put it into your mouth as you sit back to enjoy the view from the terrace of a modern farmhouse which overlooks durian trees and the mountain. If that is your idea of bliss, then an afternoon at Bao Sheng Durian Farm in Penang is just the thing for you. The seven-acre spread is situated in Balik Pulau and is becoming increasingly popular with serious durian lovers especially those from Penang and Kuala Lumpur. I was there with my siblings recently and it was an afternoon that would be hard to forget. For starters, the durians here are of the highest quality. Bao Sheng has 180 durian trees and they belong to the kampung (village) varieties with curious names such as Red Prawn, Horlor (Hokkien for melo...

These are some of the varieties of durian that you will find at the Bao Sheng Durian Farm in Balik Pulau, Penang. Many Malaysians can't get enough of it yet there are also those who can't stand it. It is that overpowering smell, they say. Yes, it is a complex relationship. Find out more about the Bao Sheng Durian Farm tomorrow.

Imelda Marcos turns 80 on July 2, 2009 and told the Associated Press in an interview that “she is nearly broke”. “Here I am, at 80, still struggling to look presentable,” the widow of former Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos told the news agency in “her swank two-storey penthouse in Manila, wearing a dark red dress over matching pants and red slippers”. Imelda, whose shoe collection became a worldwide symbol of extravagance, and Ferdinand fled the Philippines in 1986 following the “people power” uprising, which installed Mrs Corazon Aquino as the next president. According to a 1990 news report, she left behind 508 gowns, 427 dresses, 71 pairs of sunglasses and 1,060 pairs of shoes. Nicknamed the “Iron Butterfly” during her 20 years as First Lady, Imelda was at one time known as the “Muse of Manila”. The way she had earned the title gave a fascinating glimpse into her philosophy of life: take EVERY opportunity that presents itself! She had entered the Miss Manila contest at the age o...

When my eldest brother was in his forties some 25 years ago he threw the following question to his younger siblings: "how do you live your life when you are very old?" He was referring to people in the above 70 category. My brother had some issues about growing old at the time and was questioning his own ability to age gracefully. Naturally, none of us knew the answer to the question but it did stick in my mind for a while. The announcement of Tomoji Tanabe's death who was named as the world's oldest man in June 2007 at age 111 took my mind back to the question. Tanabe was 113 when he died in his sleep at his home in southern Japan on Friday (June 19, 2009). A statement from a city official in Miyakonojo on Japan's southern island of Kyushu revealed that Tanabe, who was born on Sept 18, 1895, had eight children — five sons and three daughters. He lived with his fifth son and daughter-in-law. He also had 25 grandchildren, 53 great-grandchildren and six great-great...

Sultry females and bold batik prints make a lethal combination as this photo of Indonesian student Cynthia Chaerunissa shows. She is wearing a sexy, one-shoulder dress which is fashioned from zebra striped batik by student designer Stacia Andani, also from Indonesia. Chaerunissa modelled the outfit at a fashion show organised by students at LimKokWing University of Creative Technology , Cyberjaya campus. Both Chaerunissa (mass communications) and Andani are students at the institution. The snazzy presentation howled Animal Print as 49 designers -- fourth and fifth semester students from Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, Botswana, Indonesia -- revealed their creations. The grey and black toga-style robe looks great on the model: she reminds me of Indonesian singer/songwriter Anggun . Batik is terrific for many reasons: you can style it casual or glamorous, among others. Women and men in Malaysia have been wearing batik for a very long time and, yes, I am a fan! See the YOU section of the N...

Malaysian artist Jeganathan Ramachandram will be exhibiting his paintings in Singapore if a deal with a company to display Human Watching: A Visual Poetry on the Science of Human Watching in the island republic is successful. The intuitive artist told Survey that the move is still under negotiation. Human watching made its debut at Galeri Petronas in March, 2009 and was well received by both art critics and art lovers. Fourteen portraits representing females and males born on each of the seven days in a week were put on view. The depictions (acrylic on canvas) were based on his observations of human behaviour for the past 14 years. Images of seven females and seven males inform viewers through symbols of their strengths and weaknesses and their relationships with other people. Those who have seen Human Watching identified with their profiles almost immediately. Admit it: you are curious about yourself! Males, who were born on Sunday ( bottom picture ), were pleasantly surprised to dis...

June is a significant month for fathers and those who have acted as father figures: stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers, big brothers, teachers and mentors. It is the month when some countries including Malaysia celebrate Father's Day. As American poet Anne Sexton put it: "It doesn't matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was." My own father, who was a major influence in my life when I was growing up in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia, passed away a long time ago. Since then there has been one major father figure in my life: my mentor, who is also my uncle, and he has helped me through difficult times. Fathers teach by example. You learn important values from them and you acquire some of their tastes for things. It could be anything: a love for English literature, words and books, among others. Sometimes you did not agree with their viewpoints but realised later that they were right about many things. As a child, growing up in a hometown known for its laid-back wa...

Mer? has announced the winner of her Giveaway Game. Find out the name of the lucky lady who will now own a striking mer? original handbag.

Tomorrow (June 12, 2009 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) mer? will announce the winner of her Giveaway Game! There's a feeling of excitement in the air! I wonder who will go home with a gorgeous bag (as shown in the photos above) -- the coveted prize of the game -- made by mer? herself. I am certain the winner will enjoy the bag because mer?'s bags have the capacity to make their owners feel special. That is how I feel when I use mer?'s creations. Do take a walk through mer?land . Thank you mer? for allowing me to use your photos.

This image seems hauntingly surreal, yet it is based on a photograph of an actual place. It is a computer graphic of an area which takes visitors to Dr Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum at the Zhong Mountain Scenic Area in the east suburb of Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province. The mausoleum of Dr Sun, widely known as the father of the Republic of China, is considered the Holy Land of both local and overseas Chinese. Don't miss it when you are in Nanjing. The CG was created by Japanese creativity teacher Shunya Susuki in November, last year. Susuki, who is also an architect and urban planner, creates and innovates during his spare time.