Wednesday 10 June 2015

What happened in the last 4 years 2012 - 2015

Wow, i by accident bump into my blog, and the last entry was in 2011! Those were the blogging days i guess... What happened to me in the last 4 years? Had my ups and downs and but there have been joyous moments and i would say 1 very bad one. just to summarize what i have gone through from 2012 to early year 2015:

2012:
- Gave birth to an adorable wonderful baby boy! More surprise to come? :P

2013
- Did my first ever Half Marathon (21 KM). Actually did two half marathons in 2013. my first was in Kuching and second was in KK
- the worst moment was losing my Great Wonderful Dad but i know he is in a happy place right now. Till we meet again daddy...

2014
- Did my first ever Full Marathon (42 KM)
- Found out i was actually pregnant when i was running the full marathon
- started going into online business

2015
- in January gave birth to a cute cuddly baby girl, and now i have three great children (2 girls and 1 boy)
- Still learning this online business thingy but getting better with more sales :)

So that summarized everything. short and simple :)

Till my next post

DG


Wednesday 27 July 2011

New Design for coins!


The new coin design as announced by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) will be out next year and this the third design series.

BNM Gorvernor said the design of 5 cent/10 cent/20 cent/ 50 cent coin was inspired from unique characteristics that design the country's culture and  rich heritage. The design motive display the beauty of Malaysia's nature, flora & fauna and its traditional art of handicraft.

The gold and silver colored coins are made using latest advanced technology with better security features to avoid forgery.

This new coin series is smaller and lighter and have different edge side to facilitate public and those who are visually disabled to distinguish each coin.

more info, check Malaysia Kini (News in Malay) ---> http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/171035

I Support my Sabah Tour Guide Friends!

Tour guides boxed in by restrictive zoning


by Nancy Lai. Borneo Post Posted on July 27, 2011, Wednesday
KOTA KINABALU: A new zoning policy implemented by the Federal Tourism Ministry has caused dire impact on the livelihood of blue badge or seasoned tourist guides in Sabah.

According to Sabah Tourist Guides Association (STGA) honorary disciplinary officer Lillian Agama, tourist guides issued with the Blue Badge were previously free to guide anywhere in Malaysia, but are now limited to picking up tourists to and from the airports and hotels as well as conducting city tours.

They are no longer allowed to take the guests out of the city and this has caused the 300 odd blue badge guides to consider surrendering their badges in protest at the new policy which they deem to be highly restrictive and impractical in Sabah.

In the past, licensed tourist guides, after completing their course, were issued with a yellow badge for a two-year probationary period, after which they will be required to undergo a confirmation examination to qualify for the blue badge.

A tourist guide with a blue badge could conduct tours all over the state even in Peninsular Malaysia then.
However, a few years ago, the Tourism Ministry introduced the green badge which is meant to legalise mountain guides or those who take tourists on nature tours.
This was accepted with a pinch of salt as some of these people were indeed well versed with the nature and areas they guided in.

However, of late, a new policy pertaining to zoning according to the colour of the badges was implemented and this has caused much confusion among the tourist guides in Sabah.

It has also caused much inconvenience as there have been instances of action being taken against blue badge guides because they were transferring their guests to Kinabalu Park.

Lillian said the issue is all about the badge and zoning policies that were formulated in the peninsula without prior consideration of the situation in Sabah.

“It may work well there but in Sabah it does not,” she said after a dialogue between about 100 tour guides and Tourism Malaysia officers over the issue here yesterday.

For example, she said one of the complications due to the new ruling is that only blue badge guides could pick up guests from the airports and send them to the hotels, but blue badge guides could not take the guests out from the city.

Green badge guides are allowed to take the guests to a place of interest, say Kinabalu Park highlands but not beyond that due to the zoning restrictions, thus another tour guide is needed to bring the tourists beyond that point as a replacement.

“Such ruling requires a change of guide, maybe three or four times and this is not good for our source of income and it also affects the guide-guest relationship,” Lillian said.

“We are pushed into a corner. What we want is just one colour badge and if we can’t get that we might just hand in our licences altogether,” she said.

Their grouses have not fallen on deaf ears as state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun is backing the STGA on their request.

“They have approached me for assistance and we have asked the Federal Tourism Director of Sabah to sort it out with her bosses in Kuala Lumpur. In fact the issue has been outstanding for some time and the Tourism Ministry, being the licensing authority, is aware of it.

“I understand their problem and fully support their request. The problem arose because the licensing authority insists on its ‘one-fits-all’ policy. It does not work in Sabah and it is my sincere hope that the federal Ministry of Tourism will review its policy on this particular issue in Sabah,” he said.

Tuesday 12 July 2011

6th Sabah International Folklore Festival 2011


Sabah Cultural Board is organizing its 6th Sabah International Folklore Festival starting from 19th to 24th of July with folkart exhibition and the local & international folkdance competition which will be held at the Sabah Cultural Centre, Penampang. There will also be pocket show at Centre Point and 1Borneo during this festival. check the schedule here for the dates and time of the folkart exhibition and pocket show----> Sabah International Folklore Festival

If you are interested to watch the competition, tickets are sold to public and you can get them from Sabah Cultural Board Office or Sabah Cultural Centre, Penampang.

For the local folkdance competition on 20 & 21 July, tickets are sold at RM10.00 for Adult and RM5.00 for children under 17 years old.

For the International folkdance competition on 23 & 24 July, ticket price are RM50.00 for premier class, RM30.00 for adult and RM10.00 for children under 17 years old.

Culture enthusiasts, don't miss this out!

Thursday 30 June 2011

Sabah Adventure Challenge! anyone?


Anyone up for a more challenging race? Sabah Adventure Challenge is back again with 25K/50K/100K category - a race deep through the crocker range mountains and village trails with scenic views along the way. Not sure about the route for this year's challenge but possibly from Ranau to Kota Belud based on the SAC's website. So are you up for the challenge? more information here --> Sabah Adventure Challenge 

I am still thinking to participate or not...hmmm...still thinking...still thinking...