An autobiography - The story of my experiments with truth.
This is Mahatma Gandhi’s story covering the period(1869-1921)before his life was made public. In his journey seeking the truth in life he discovered freedom and justice. He later devoted his life as freedom fighter which eventually led him to free India from the colonial masters. After reading law in England, Gandhi served the Indian community in South Africa where he saw the Indians there being discriminated. He succeeded in getting better treatment for them. Based on the experienced gained, he eventually brought his trade mark of non-violent movement to India, to gain India’s independence.
The book tells us the qualities that make a good leader.

Rotary Club of Kampung Baharu Installation Dinner, Saturday 21.06.2008.

Appointment of new office bearers in any Rotary Club take place on an annual basis. This is unique to Rotary movement where a person do not cling to his post forever. In a simple dinner function rotarians of Kampung Baharu met last Saturday to formalised the new office bearers. They are known as Board of Directors. I had been appointed as the treasurer for the 08/09 session which commence from 1st July 08 to 30th June 09. Approximately 60 people attended the function which was held at Maju Palace Restaurant, Maju Junction, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.

KOLOKIUM KECEMERLANGAN PELAJAR PROJEK KHAS 'SBP'.
Kementrian Pelajaran Malaysia dengan kerjasama Alumni Sekolah-Sekolah Berasrama Penuh telah menganjurkan kolokium ini dengan tujuan memberi bimbingan kepada pelajar pelajar yang datang dari keluarga kurang kemampuan dari segi kewangan. Seramai 216 pelajar dari 54 SBP telah dikumpulkan di Tiara Beach Resort, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan dari 15 hingga 17 June 2008.
Saya berpeluang memberi sumbangan, membantu pelajar tersebut dengan memberi bantuan kounseling dan berkongsi pengalaman semasa berstatus pelajar pada suatu masa dahulu. Apa yang saya dapati ia lah mereka terdiri dari pelajar yang cerdik dam mempunyai cita cita dan kemahuan yang tinggi. Mereka sentiasa berterima kaseh kepada peluang yang diberi. Rata rata mereka ingin menyahut cabaran supaya dapat membela keluarga dan memberi kehidupan yang lebih selesa buat diri dan famili mereka dimasa hadapan. Kebanyakan mereka juga datang dari famili yang mempunyai ahli yang besar, ia itu enam hingga tujuh orang. Ini menyukarkan lagi buat ibu bapa mereka untuk memberi tumpuan kepada mereka.
Ini adalah kali pertama program seperti ini diadakan. Saya berpendapat program seperti ini elok terus diadakan pada masa hadapan. Pelajar yang mengambil bahagian juga elok di dedahkan dengan melawat tempat terkenal supaya fikiran mereka lebih terbuka.

ARC DE TRIOMPHE.
Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 to commemorate his fine victory at Austerlitz. France was master of Europe then. It was completed in 1836. The arch is located in a middle of a large round about known as Palace Charles de Gaulle. As many as eight major roads congregate at this point making it a traffic nightmare as far as I can see, but the Parisian seemed to manage it some how with the assistance of blaring horn of course.
The inner wall of the arc was decorated with 558 names of generals who had served under napoleon. Beneath the arch lies the tomb of the unknown soldier from the world war one. We spent one hour exploring the monument.

MEETING FORMER SCHOOL MATE.

Wan Hassan called me around 3pm and told me he was transiting at main terminal building waiting to go back to Kuala Terengganu.
Time to catch up with an old friend from Kuala Trengganu who I have not met for several years now. He looked just like before even after having seven children. We talked, mainly about our families what is our retirement plan.
I learned that he had written three books and one them had been published recently. The book is about town planning. He is getting few ringgit royalty for the book but what is more important to him is that he is able to contribute to the younger generation. His other book is on travel.
I am very proud of you Wan for achieving that. Lets hope we meet again soon.
Note: Wan Hassan was staying at Rumah Shahbandar, room 5 while I was staying in the house but in room 2.

Brand New Friend.
This is a hilarious funny novel about a young couple, Rob and Ashley who is about to settle down after staying together for several years. Both wanted to maintain their platonic relationships to their best friend after marriage. The problem is Rob best friend is a girl, Joe and Ashley best friend is a man, Neil. It became very complicated when Joe realized she was actually in love with Rob. Her sacrifice in letting Rob marrying Ashley gave the story a happy ending.
The book give us an insight of the promiscuous life style practiced by western society to day where marriage institution is no longer relevant.

Where is Mona Lisa?
You are now my Queen!

The Louvre Museum.

The original building dated as far back as 1200AD. Initially it was meant to store royal archive as treasurer but on and off was also used at royal residence. The present appearance was the result of Napoleon III desire to complete the louvre in 1852. Apart from the thousands painting and sculptures of various ages, the louvre is well known as the residence of the famous master piece Mona Lisa. The complex is so huge that one day is insufficient to cover all the ground.

It is a place where you can stare at all the nude painting without feeling guilty or ashame of yourself. After all it is work of art and I am sure the painter wants you to appreciate their work. The painting depicting coronation of Napoleon I was painted on an enormous canvas measuring 580 square foot. It was three years work of Jacques-Louise David. A visit to Paris is considered not complete if one skip the Louvre.

MONA LISA

Judging by the throng of visitors she received daily, it will not do justice not to have a separate account to describe this famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci. The model is a young Florentine women, who in 1495 was married to Francesco del Giocondo. Thus the work is also known as La Gioconda. It was one of Leornardo favorite painting. It was mentioned that he carried it with him every where. Eventually it was sold to Francis 1. It was considered prototype of renaissance painting. It really became famous in 1911 when it was stolen from the Louvre. It was missing for almost two years and rediscovered in a hotel in Florence. Why it is considered a master piece, only the real artist can appreciate it. It is said the slight smile of Mona Lisa is the attraction. The painter used a special technique of continuous interaction between light and shade which made the painting looked difference with the time of the day. All signage at louvre lead to the painting, so it was not difficult to find it on the first floor. You will be greeted by large crowd, all inching their way to have a closer look at the painting. It is a small painting compared to those gigantic painting elsewhere in the building. Barrier was erected in front it as not to allow visitors to get too close to it. In addition the painting is housed behind a thick glass wall. As many as 6 security guards could be seen around the painting at any one time. The satisfaction of seeing the painting could not be described here but I think it is worth the 9 Euro entrance fees charged. Leonardo, despite being jack of all trade, engineer, inventor,philosopher, poet is famous for creating this master piece. He is truly somebody who live few hundred years ahead of his time.

Fatin and Aina

EIFFEL TOWER

Designed by famous French architect Gustave Eiffel, suppose to be a temporary structure as part of World’s Fair 1889, celebrating 100th year of French revolution. Initially the steel structure was considered ugly by the Parisians however it was very popular with the visitor so it remained as landmark and icon of Paris till to day. It received more than 6.5 million visitors annually. It stand at 324M, not veryhigh compared to other modern tower such as KL tower which standat 421m. It was built in record time of 2 years, 2 months and 5 days.To say that it is beautiful is an understatement. It looked more like a vertical steel bridge to me, however I am attracted by the practical aspect of steel lattice work which we learned during school days being put to good use. The tower still has practical use as transmission tower in the modern era.It open to visitors 7 days a week. Other works associated with Mr.Eiffel is Statue of Liberty and Panama canal.

Mahatma Gandhi wrote in his autobiography about the tower. He was studying in England at that time.

'A particular attraction of the exhibition was the Eiffel tower , constructed entirely of iron and nearly 1000ft high. There were of course many other thing of interest, but the tower was the chief one, inasmuch it had been supposed till then that a structure of that height could not safely stand. Tolstoy mentioned that it was a monument of human folly.'