Back to work, and a quick movie review

I have just finished a three-week so called "Induction Programme" specifically for civil servants waiting for confirmation of their current position. Overall it was a fun programme. Despite the intense lectures and talks on the systems adopted by the university, we were also expected to know how the country is managed. More so on the governance part. To make it more interesting, we have to sit for an exam (which is going to be in few days time, wish me luck!), which if we did not pass, we have to re-sit for the three-week programme again O_O'!

Well it was not too bad after all. I made some new friends from different faculties and departments, had the chance to do aerobics, a cycling session with the uni top managements (love this!), and also the chance to show the creative part of us. But most importantly, it makes me one better employee. But it depends on how the exam goes, which I will write about it after that.

Other than that, not too long time ago, I had the chance to see a local movie called "Bunohan". They said it is the name of a village in Kelantan (my hometown!) near the Thai border. But I have to admit I have never heard of the village until they made the movie. It was widely touted as a "local movie with a different twist". So I decided to give it a go, other than being "talked" into it by somebody ;)

Though not comparable to movies from the West, it really has something to ponder upon. The whole movie was shot in or around the village, and everyone speaks the local dialect (which I really enjoyed) though some actors obviously worked hard to get the feel of the accent. They can be commended on that. And you don't really see many girls in it, except for one main actress that does not talk a lot. Anyway the whole movie was about a village boy-turned boxer in Thailand ran away from a match, and his elder brother was sent to assassinate him. So in the quest to look for his younger brother, you could see all the village life, family feud, the hunger for money that turned a son into a murderer and many more. Though the plot is not too difficult to be understood, I did fail to connect a few parts with the whole story. Maybe because the movie is more of an 'artsy' movie and I am not very much so :) But I love arts. Overall it was a good watch, quite a different genre to what I am used to. See below for trailer.

Showering with yeast!

I just found out that my favourite shower gel contains the products of yeast fermentation. Sounds gross! It is specifically Zink/Saccharomyces ferment and also Magnesium/Saccharomyces ferment. I reckon it is the fermentation products of the yeast Saccharomyces in the presence of those compounds.

I have never seen them in any products that I used before. But surprisingly Google says it is widely-used in cosmetic products. And furthermore it says they absorb into the skin. Probably helping with the moisturising and retaining skin moisture (?). But I noticed that the shower gel also produces more lather (bubbles) than others.

No side effects so far to me, but I would like to know more of which species of Saccharomyces that they used for that purpose. Hopefully not the cerevisiae one...

Sunday's Agenda

Finally after being hampered by bad weather for several Sundays, I managed to gather all the strength needed and went jogging this morning, given the lovely sunny weather. My stamina has been going from bad to worse lately, and I know that I must do something to get back on track.

As early as 8 am, I drove to the nearest park, which is the Hutan Bandar Mutiara Rini (Mutiara Rini Urban Forest) about 5-10 minutes drive from home. Once there, I was surprised to see so many people jogging, light walking, picnicking with family members. It was good to know that Malaysians, especially JB/Skudai residents are so health conscious. They even wake up that early just to do that. Looking at the public preference for such an open space, I can't help but thinking that the authorities should provide more of such parks. We in this country is not yet short of empty spaces. The Hutan Bandar itself is almost at its full capacity. Perhaps a proper, well-maintained park for each new housing development is not a bad idea. Other than for public health and aesthetic reasons, I could also boost local economy and increase liveability of the surrounding area. There's nothing to lose to have more parks and gardens built.

As for my stamina, it's building up at a very, very slow pace...

 

Saturday's Agenda

It's weekend again!
What's your weekend activities? Well, mine include a quick jog in the morning (weather and mood permit),  a whole-week laundry, an afternoon nap (though I have been trying to cut this down lately, maybe with a help of a cup of Kenco), and a good meal in the evening. The difference between the last one, and the regular evening meal during weekdays is that I don't have to rush to eat my meal on my home from work. So more time to savour the foods.

This week there's an addition to the activities, i.e. morning/midday BBQ. This is my first morning/midday BBQ, by the lake in the campus. Not the big one by the main entrance, this is the other one far inside next to the Health Centre. It is quite a nice area tbh. Even though I drive passed the area sometimes, I never stop by to admire it before. But swimming is prohibited!

I just saw a trailer for an upcoming movie, another masterpiece by Studio Ghibli, dubbed by Disney. I knew that it was Ghibli looking at the animation style. The trailer link is down there. I would love to see it, if they show it here. Anyway I have been a big fan of Spirited Away and Totoro. The new movie is called The Secret World of Arrietty. It seems like Ghibli is never short of 'quirky' ideas. Watch the trailer and you'll see what I mean. Have a nice weekend!

MOHE Scholarship

Latest scholarship opportunity from the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education for pure science grads (Phys, Chem, Bio, Math). A commendable effort by the Ministry to boost the number of scientists in the country. I think this is the right trend towards being a developed country, by increasing the number of experts in the basic science areas. Deadline 15 February 2012.
Link to application portal

Malaysian Tigers, very appropriate

I just read off NatGeo December 2011 today that Malaysia has the second largest population of wild tiger (Panthera tigris) in the world, after India. Thus it is undoubtedly appropriate for our national football team to use the nickname 'Malayan Tigers'. Despite the dwindling number of the cats in the wild, I hope the converse is true for the spirit of our football team. Keep the 'roar' loud and proud Malayan Tigers!

But the struggle to find a way to avoid further clashes between wild tigers and human is still on-going. With more and more virgin forests cleared to give way to plantations, we are limiting the resources for the animal. This is probably why at one time news on tiger attack on humans made multiple headlines in the country. It is not so much of a problem lately (from the absence of latest news pertaining), but that does not mean the tigers have stopped the attacks. Either they have been hunted down out of revenge, or being forced out of the current habitat to other tiny patches of undisturbed land, only the tigers know...

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/12/tigers/alexander-text

Movie Overload!

In conjunction with Keputeraan Tuanku Sultan Johor (The Sultan of Johor Birthday) recently, we had a 'broken' long weekend. A weekend, then working Monday, and holiday again. But that's not too bad at all isn't it? Nothing much to do other than studying for lectures, I decided to dedicate the three days for, moviesss!! I haven't had a chance to see many movies lately, so this is the opportunity for me, and a housemate.

So the first movie in the series, on Saturday we saw The Immortals starring Henry Cavill and Freida Pinto. I remember Henry from the British epic drama The Tudors, as King Henry VIII's 'sidekick'. In The Immortals, Henry is the hero and Freida is the oracle. Well, nothing much to say about this movie really, apart of the quite impressive CGIs. The storyline is also very well known, adapted from Greek mythology. Is there a sequel? (anxiously waiting...)

The second one on Sunday, is Mr PIB aka Puss in Boot! Long a fan of Puss from Shrek, I just could not wait to see this movie that I had been watching lots of videos, trailers and teasers on YouTube. The cat even has his own channel! An enjoyable movie as many would expect, but maybe too many teasers spoiled the movie for me. Few surprises because many of the jokes I had seen on YT. So lesson learnt, do not watch too many teasers before watching the real movie... But I still love the part where the animals dance to Lady Gaga's Americano (this is not considered another spoiler, as it is available on YT ;)

 And the final one in the series, on Monday, is watching the penguins, penguin-turned puffin, sea elephants, krill and icebergs. No it is not National Geographic, it's Happy Feet 2! Who would have thought that Happy Feet has a sequel? At least not me. I think the most enjoyable one out of three, maybe because I had no single idea of what the movie is all about. Amazing graphics too, even in 2D. I guess the 3D version must be brilliant, with lots of eye-popping scenes. Five of my stars for the penguins! But, is the puffin Scandinavian??

My recommendation? Go and see all three.