New 7 Wonders of the World

1. The Christ Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Christ the Redeemer (Portuguese: Cristo Redentor), is a statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The statue stands 39.6 metres (130 feet) tall, weighs 700 tons and is located at the peak of the 700-m (2296-foot) Corcovado mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park overlooking the city.

A symbol of Christianity, the statue has become an icon of Rio and Brazil.

Here in Melaka, Malaysia we do have a statue, which is also man-made, at the St. Paul's Hill, overlooking the Straits of Malacca, the Statue of St. Francis Xavier.

Across the seas, you'll find the Statue of Liberty in the US....so, Rio de Janeiro, NOTHING TO SHOUT ABOUT OKAY!!!!

2. Great Wall of China

This newly elected world wonder was built along China's northern border over many centuries to keep out invading Mongol tribes.

Constructed between the fifth century B.C. and the 16th century, the Great Wall is the world's longest human-made structure, stretching some 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers). The best known section was built around 200 B.C. by the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang Di.

This wall is just soooo loooonnggg......RESPECT MAN.....

3. The Colosseum, Rome, Italy

The only finalist from Europe to make it into the top seven—the Colosseum in Rome, Italy—once held up to 50,000 spectators who came to watch gory games involving gladiators, wild animals, and prisoners.

Construction began around A.D. 70 under Emperor Vespasian. Modern sports stadiums still resemble the Colosseum's famous design.

Hats off to the Italianos.....

4. Petra, Jordan

Perched on the edge of the Arabian Desert, Petra was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom of King Aretas IV (9 B.C. to A.D. 40).

Petra is famous for its many stone structures such as a 138-foot-tall (42-meter-tall) temple carved with classical facades into rose-colored rock. The ancient city also included tunnels, water chambers, and an amphitheater, which held 4,000 people.

The desert site wasn't known to the West until Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt came across it in 1812.

I haven't really heard of this place until it was announced! But anyway, beware of the Talibans!

5. Machu Picchu, Peru

One of three successful candidates from Latin America, Machu Picchu is a 15th-century mountain settlement in the Amazon region of Peru.

The ruined city is among the best known remnants of the Inca civilization, which flourished in the Andes region of western South America. The city is thought to have been abandoned following an outbreak of deadly smallpox, a disease introduced in the 1500s by invading Spanish forces.

Looks like City of The Gods to me....Heaven, perhaps?

6. Chichén Itzá, Mexico


Chichén Itzá is possibly the most famous temple city of the Mayas, a pre-Columbian civilization that lived in present day Central America. It was the political and religious center of Maya civilization during the period from A.D. 750 to 1200.

At the city's heart lies the Temple of Kukulkan (pictured)—which rises to a height of 79 feet (24 meters). Each of its four sides has 91 steps—one step for each day of the year, with the 365th day represented by the platform on the top.

Not so impressive to me....but it's easy to remember.....think of Chicken Pizza, and you'll remember the name.

7. Taj Mahal, India

The Taj Mahal, in Agra, India, is the spectacular mausoleum built by Muslim Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to honor the memory of his beloved late wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

Construction began in 1632 and took about 15 years to complete. The opulent, domed mausoleum, which stands in formal walled gardens, is generally regarded as finest example of Mughal art and architecture. It includes four minarets, each more than 13 stories tall.

Back here in our own country, we do have another structure, also a mosque near KLCC which resembles the Taj Mahal. This is the Asy-Syakirin Mosque. See the similarity?

Although the votes has been casted and the new 7 Wonders has been chosen, there are still a few icons which dropped out of the list, which I would say, are Incredible and Unbelievable. Among them are the Angkor Wat, Stonehenge, Acropolis, Kremlin/St. Basil's, Neuschwanstein Castle, Statues of Easter Island, and many more. As time passes by, hopefully these Wonders will still be around for many many years to come.

Ancient 7 Wonders of the World

The New 7 Wonders of the World have been announced during the Official Declaration ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal on Saturday, July 7, 2007 - 07.07.07.....that's my 29th birthday...

I do not know how they choose these new 7 Wonders, but definitely there has been unhappiness among nations whereby their historical monuments are not chosen. Well, let's first look at the Ancient 7 wonders.

1. The Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt

The Egyptian pharaoh Khufu built the Great Pyramid in about 2560 B.C. to serve as his tomb. The pyramid is the oldest structure on the original list of the seven wonders of the ancient world, which was compiled by Greek scholars about 2,200 years ago. It is also the only remaining survivor from the original list.

The Great Pyramid is the largest of three Pyramids at Giza, bordering modern-day Cairo. Although weathering has caused the structure to stand a few feet shorter today, the pyramid was about 480 feet (145 meters) high when it was first built. It is thought to have been the planet's tallest human-made structure for more than four millennia. Initially the Giza Pyramids were top contenders in the Internet and phone ballot to make a new list of world wonders. But leading Egyptian officials were outraged by the contest, saying the pyramids shouldn't be put to a vote.

"This contest will not detract from the value of the Pyramids, which is the only real wonder of the world," Egypt's antiquities chief Zahi Hawass told the AFP news agency. Instead competition organizers withdrew the Pyramids from the competition in April and granted them "honorary wonder" status.

2. The Colossus of Rhodes, Greece

In contrast to the pyramids, the colossus was the shortest lived of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Completed in 282 B.C. after taking 12 years to build, the Colossus of Rhodes was felled by an earthquake that snapped the statue off at the knees a mere 56 years later.

The towering figure—made of stone and iron with an outer skin of bronze—represented the Greek sun god Helios, the island's patron god. It looked out from Mandráki Harbor on the Mediterranean island of Ródos (Rhodes), although it is no longer believed to have straddled the harbor entrance as often shown in illustrations.

The Colossus stood about 110 feet (33 meters) tall, making it the tallest known statue of the ancient world. It was erected to celebrate the unification of the island's three city-states, which successfully resisted a long siege by the Antigonids of Macedonia.

3. The Lighthouse of Alexandra, Egypt

The lighthouse was the only ancient wonder that had a practical use, serving as a beacon for ships in the dangerous waters off the Egyptian port city of Alexandria, now called El Iskandarîya. Constructed on the small island of Pharos between 285 and 247 B.C., the building was the world's tallest for many centuries. Its estimated height was 384 feet (117 meters)—equivalent to a modern 40-story building—though some people believe it was significantly taller.
The lighthouse was operated using fire at night and polished bronze mirrors that reflected the sun during the day. It's said the light could be seen for more than 35 miles (50 kilometers) out to sea.

The huge structure towered over the Mediterranean coast for more than 1,500 years before being seriously damaged by earthquakes in A.D. 1303 and 1323.

4. The Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Greece

The massive gold statue of the king of the Greek gods was built in honor of the original Olympic games, which began in the ancient city of Olympia.

The statue, completed by the classical sculptor Phidias around 432 B.C., sat on a jewel-encrusted wooden throne inside a temple overlooking the city. The 40-foot-tall (12-meter-tall) figure held a scepter in one hand and a small statue of the goddess of victory, Nike, in the other—both made from ivory and precious metals.

The temple was closed when the Olympics were banned as a pagan practice in A.D. 391, after Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire.
The statue was eventually destroyed, although historians debate whether it perished with the temple or was moved to Constantinople (now Istanbul) in Turkey and burned in a fire.

5. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Iraq

The hanging gardens are said to have stood on the banks of the Euphrates River in modern-day Iraq, although there's some doubt as to whether they ever really existed.

The Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II supposedly created the terraced gardens around 600 B.C. at his royal palace in the Mesopotamian desert. It is said the gardens were made to please the king's wife, who missed the lush greenery of her homeland in the Medes, in what is now northern Iran.

Archaeologists have yet to agree on the likely site of the hanging gardens, but findings in the region that could be its remains include the foundations of a palace and a nearby vaulted building with an irrigation well.

The most detailed descriptions of the gardens come from Greek historians. There is no mention of them in ancient Babylonian records.

6. The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, Turkey

The famous tomb at Halicarnassus—now the city of Bodrum—was built between 370 and 350 B.C. for King Mausolus of Caria, a region in the southwest of modern Turkey. Legend says that the king's grieving wife Artemisia II had the tomb constructed as a memorial to their love.
Mausolus was a satrap, or governor, in the Persian Empire, and his fabled tomb is the source of the word "mausoleum." The structure measured 120 feet (40 meters) long and 140 feet (45 meters) tall.

The tomb was most admired for its architectural beauty and splendor. The central burial chamber was decorated in gold, while the exterior was adorned with ornate stone friezes and sculptures created by four Greek artists.

The mausoleum stood intact until the early 15th century, when Christian Crusaders dismantled it for building material for a new castle. Some of the sculptures and frieze sections survived and can be seen today at the British Museum in London, England.

7. The Temple of Artemis, Turkey

The great marble temple dedicated to the Greek goddess Artemis was completed around 550 B.C. at Ephesus, near the modern-day town of Selçuk in Turkey.

In addition to its 120 columns, each standing 60 feet (20 meters) high, the temple was said to have held many exquisite artworks, including bronze statues of the Amazons, a mythical race of female warriors.

A man named Herostratus reportedly burned down the temple in 356 B.C. in an attempt to immortalize his name. After being restored, the temple was destroyed by the Goths in A.D. 262 and again by the Christians in A.D. 401 on the orders of Saint John Chrysostom, then archbishop of Constantinople (Istanbul).

Today the temple's foundations have been excavated and some of its columns re-erected.

Burj Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Artist Impression

Site Location & Foundation

Design based on shape of flower

Flower: Hymenocallis

Comparison of heights

The Burj Dubai (Arabic: برج دبي "Dubai Tower") is a supertall skyscraper currently under construction in the "New Downtown" of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. When it is completed in late 2008, it will be the tallest man-made structure in the world. Scheduled for occupancy in 2009, the building is part of a 2 km² (1.54 mi²) development located at the "First Interchange" (aka "Defence roundabout") along Sheikh Zayed Road at Doha Street. The total budget for this project is about 4 billion US dollars.

Factfile:
Construction start : 21 Sept 2004
Target completion : 31 Dec 2008
Project type : Mall, residential and retail facilities and world's tallest skyscraper
Location : Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Estimated investment : Dh800 million (mall, residential and retail facilities); Dh3..9 billion (tower)
Height : 808 m (2651 ft) - (suggested figure, not actual)
No of Floors : 162 (suggested figure, not actual)
Floor area : 344,000 sq metre
Retail space : 5 million square ft² Shops >1,000
Car parking : 16,000 spaces
Key Players : EMAAR Properties PJSC
Lead contractors, designers, architects and engineers : DC Architects PTE Limited, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, Bauer Spezialtiefbau, Middle East Foundations, Turner Construction Corporation, Grocon, Lerch, Bates and Associates Incorporated

Actual figures on the height and no. of floors are only an estimation as actual figure are being kept secret due to competition purposes. As at 27th July 2007, the construction of the Burj Dubai is as below:

Human Foosball - Field Report - Sunday 29th July 2007

Managed to go to Cineleisure last Sunday to catch a view of human foosball. Basically, it's a small 'field'. 6 vs 6. You could actually score by chipping the ball over the defenders. I saw a fullback did it a few times.

Malaysia Hari Ini... sad but true....

Lately, there has been many many happenings in our country, be it natural disaster, crime, social issues, political issue, religion issue, etc. As a true 'Rakyat Malaysia' born here and grow up here, it's a sad but hard fact to accept. I guess all true 'Rakyat Malaysia' will agree to the cartoons below. Enjoy...

Let's not make a big hoohah out of issues beyond our control, but look at ourselves first. We Malaysians are known to have valuable asian values but it seems that it's gone these days. How many of us are willing to make donations to people asking for donation on the streets? How many of us are willing to stop and help when there's an accident (all we do is look, and cause long traffic jam, and of course copy the car plate no and buy 4D). How many parents still think that getting 90/100 in exams is considered good?

Well, this is the fact of life these days....this is the Malaysia of today!

Visit Malaysia Year 2007

Opened my gmail this morning and I found this! What a way to describe Malaysia in 2007... Well, actually it's not only for 2007. Almost every year we are facing the same problems. I believe there are more, but in every country there is good and bad. We are just lucky that we do not have to starve and beg for food and also to live in fear where everyone on the street carries an M16.

Dra-quitoe

I took this pic last week, in my hostel toilet. It has the shape of a mosquitoe, just that the wings and body colour resemble one of a dragon's. I even checked on the web,
bug guide, etc, but I can't find any info on this insect. Anyone seen this before? Do let me know k......

Jalan Puki Mak U lah


Taxi Driver : Helo, selamat petang cik...
Cik : Selamat petang pakcik...
Taxi Driver : Nampak rupa, cik macam bukan orang KL la
Cik : Oh ya, saya baru sampai kat KL, sekarang tinggal kat rumah kawan
Taxi Driver : Oh begitu ya, kalo begitu, mana rumah kawan tu?
Cik : Jalan Puki Mak U lah....
Taxi Driver : Hak-illah-hak-illah-wah.....Orang muda sekarang, takda 'manners' betul la....

Human Foosball Challenge, 21st-29th July 2007




I've heard of 'human cannonball' but this is the 1st time I hear of 'human foosball'. For those who are interested, get a team of 6 people, fill up the registration form at the Info Counter at Cineleisure Damansara. Fee is RM10 per person. Check out their website http://www.cineleisure.com.my/

My Birthday 07.07.07

Hoollaa....Today is my 29th birthday. Of all days, today is 07.07.07. I did not throw a party like I did last year. I'm getting married this year, so it's just a dinner with my future wife.

For many people, today is such a memorable day I supposed. Many people got married as they believe today is an auspicious day. For those who is bad in remembering dates, it's just the numbers, as it's easy to remember.

Thanks to those who sent me greetings; my bro CHK, Tang, James, Tammy, Ah Lam, John, Elpha, TBT, Khiam, WeeYC, Shona, and a few others, but most of all, to my Dad. It's such a surprise to receive an sms from him in the morning. Dads are usually hard spoken but soft in the heart. I wonder if I'm able to do this 30 years down the road...."I really appreciate it. Thanks Dad."

"Pos Malaysia" Boleh

I came across this article in the papers some months ago. It was indeed true, when I managed to log into their website a few days ago. You can get your photos printed onto a Malaysian stamp. They have 2 categories, Personal Corporate Stamps and Personal Individual Stamps. Below are the samples. For those who are interested, check out the website here

Personalised Corporate Stamps

Personalised Individual Stamps

There are 3 packages to choose from, and each package starts from RM500:

1. Emerald : 30sen stamps x 34 sheets

2. Diamond : 30sen stamps x 12 sheets + 50sen stamps x 13 sheets

3. Ruby : 50sen stamps x 20 sheets

*there are 20 stamps per sheet

*additional stamps available at RM13 (30 sen stamps) & RM22 (50 sen stamps) per sheet

*for enquiries, you can also call 03-22741122 (ext 6838) or email filateli@pos.com.my

Satisfaction perhaps?

Being in the construction industry in this country isn't a good thing....

(Flashback...) I remember in my uni days, my seniors used to tell me their seniors were like hot cakes coming out of the oven, even before they graduate. Everyone of them would have earned a good prospect job when they step out of the uni, into the real world. Their salary highest among the fresh grads, their benefits similar to higher rank managers of today, and their yearly bonus is beyond what you can imagine. Well, those were the days.....Ever since the economic downturn in 1997, construction industry in this country has never been the same. To be frank, we are the ones first to be hit, and last to recover. But why, I wonder....why am I still in construction after so many years?

I was doing construction since graduation. Some of my peers went into consultation, some went to site, some left for other industries. Consultation is boring, basically u use your brains more, which lead to grey hair at a young age. Site work is worse! You don't look like an old man, but you look like a burnt piece of old junk! Many has mistaken me for a malay / burmese / thai / sabahan / whoever that has a DARK complexion! No one who works at a construction site is fair...except for the Boss. He is fair in the sense of skin complexion, and also when it comes to judgement. That makes him the BOSS!!!

Anyway, when I joined this company in Sept 2006, the shoplot looked like this:

In December, it looked like this:



However, in July, this is how it looks like:

If you ask me, with all this hot sun, low pay, little bonus, lots of travelling, etc, etc...why am I still in the construction industry? Well perhaps, "SATISFACTION" is the key word here. Maybe one day I will be building Super Structures such as the Petronas Twin Towers, Beijing International Airport, Beijing's National Grand Theatre, Beijing's Olympic Stadium, Beijing's National Swimming Centre, Beijing's CCTV, and lots more. Who knows, maybe one day, I will be known to the world, to build one of the "7 Wonders of The Modern World". Maybe one day, I will....

Petronas Twin Towers, Malaysia (MALAYSIA BOLEH!!! Tapi Si Korea & Jepun yg bina... Walau bagaimanapun, RAKYAT MALAYSIA punya duitlah...)

Beijing International Airport

(Designed by Foster & Partners. Airport teminal covers >1 million sq metres, bigger than the Pentagon. Handles 43 million passengers a year)

National Grand Theatre, Beijing

(Architect : Paul Andreu. Located near Tiananmen Square. Made up of 490,485 sq ft glass-titanium. Seems to float above a man-made lake)

Olympic Stadium, Beijing

(Idea taken from Rome's Colliseum. 91,000 seats. Stadium's outer grid resembles a bird's nest)

Central Chinese Television (CCTV), Beijing
(Designed by Rem Koolhaas & Ole Schereen, Engineered by Ole Arup. Centre of gravity lies outside of this building)


National Swimming Centre, Beijing
(Nicknamed the Water Cube. Made from panels of lightweight form of Teflon that transfroms the building into an energy-efficient greenhouse-like environment)

Taman Impiana II, Teluk Intan



Ever wonder what the heck am I doing rushing up and down to Teluk Intan these days? Well, ever since Nov 2006, I've been located at Taman Impiana II, Teluk Intan. This is our new housing project, consists of 202 units of mixed development. There are shoplots, which are easily sold out upon launching, semi-d's (1 & 2 storeys) and terrace houses (1 & 2 storeys).

23 units 2 storeys shoplots. Price from RM330,000.00

4 units 3 storey shoplots. Price from RM498,000.00

12 units double storey semi-d. Price from RM293,000.00

28 units single storey semi-d. Price from RM188,100.00

49 units double storey terrace. Price from RM173,850.00

48 units single storey terrace(22' X 70'). Price from RM113,050.00
38 units single storey terrace(22' x 75'). Price from RM 126,350.00

Sales has been good, surprisingly, due to the fact that Teluk Intan is agricultural based, and oil palm price has been soaring like no one's business. The neighbouring town, Hutan Melintang is also one of the contributors to the figures as there are filthy rich fishermen who buy houses in cash....phew.... Anyway, we'll be completing this project soon. Looks like I'll be going further north soon. Where to? I'll just keep mum at the moment and let u guys guess....