Thursday, February 28, 2008

Sentimental Value

Where from: Subang Parade, Selangor, Malaysia
When: 2006
Who: Self
Where now: Office
Number: 136
Probably an exception from the general rule, this Arch magnet of the Prime Minister's Office was puchased in Subang Parade. The reason behind this purchase was sentimental; as I was involved in resolving some post contract issues with respect of the building.

Fine City

Izwan bought this magnet during his stop over in Singapore; on the way to Seattle. Just the many ways to interpret the word "fine" ;-P
Where from: Singapore
When: 2008
Who: Izwan
Where now: Office
Number: 135

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Bottle Opener

This botthe opener is imported all the way from Seattle a couple of months back. I treasure it and had quickly decided it was going to be mine when Izwan forst showed it to me when he came back from Seattle. There are some awesome pics Izwan had taken during his trip. This picture of Mount Rainier, for instance. The sea, the mountain and the sky; with the clouds covering the mountain top. Breathtaking. Where from: Seattle, Washington, USA
When: 2008
Who: Izwan
Where now: Home
Number: 134

Hey Cowboy

Izwan's brother in law went to Texas for training and gave us these 2 magnets as souvenirs. Cool!! The hat and the boot are actually sparkling (lke with gold dust or something) but you can't really see it in the pictures. As of 2000, six incorporated places in Texas had populations greater than 500,000, of which two are global cities: Houston and Dallas. Texas has a total of 25 metropolitan areas, with four having populations over 1 million and two over 5 million.
Texas has the most cities in the US, three, with populations exceeding 1 million: Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas; which are also among the 10 largest cities of the USA.
Where from: Texas, USA
When: 2006
Who: Shahrul Mazli
Where now: Home
Number: 132 & 133

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Pretty, Huge & Smelly

Where from: Sabah, Malaysia
When: 2005
Who: Self
Where now: Home
Number: 131

I bought this during a family trip to Sabah - the entire family with my nephew & niece (Faris & Farah), my parents in law and my bro-in-law Adif. Wikipedia told me that the plant has no stems, leaves or true roots. It is an endoparasiteof vines in the genus 'Tetrastigma" , spreading its root-like haustoria inside the tissue of the vine. The only part of the plant that can be seen outside the host vine is the five-petaled flower.
And it's huge. I have never seen it in real life but they say the flower may be over 100 cm in diameter, and weigh up to 10 kg. Even the smallest species, R. manillana, has 20 cm diameter flowers.

But I really don't mind not seeing it as it looks and smells like rotting meat, hence its local names which translate to "corpse flower" or "meat flower" (think of the smelly so-called 'fresh chicken' I bought in Carrefour a couple of months back. Even the girl at the counter wanted to puke).

But hey, now we all have learnt something about the gigantic flower, eh?

Aquaria @ KLCC

In March 2006, we went to Aquaria at KLCC. Quite impressed with what they have, especially the fact that the nearest beach is miles away!
Where from: Aquaria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur
When: 2006
Who: Self
Where now: Home
Number: 129 & 130

Friday, February 22, 2008

Day & Night

Where from: Seattle, Washington, USA
Where now: Home
Who: Izwan Ismail.
Number: 128

This magnet brought home all the way from Seattle is really special. I'm not sure what it is called but the picture changes as you move it; from panoramic daytime view to romantic view of the night.

Awesome, right? Yeah, it's the same space needle featured in Men In Black, that hilarious movie that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Let me tell you something: The Space Needle is a tower in Seattle, Washington (Not to be mistaken with Wasington DC, y'all) . It is a major landmark and the symbol of Seattle. It was built for the 1962 World's Fair, during which time nearly 20,000 people a day used the elevators, with over 2.3 million visitors in all for the World Fair. The Space Needle is 184 m high and 42 m wide at its widest point. It is built to withstand winds of up to 320 km/h Whoaaaa!!) and earthquakes up to 9.5 magnitude. It also has 25 lightning rods!

Space Needle

Where from: Seattle, Washington, USA
Where now: Home
Who: Izwan
Number: 127
This is the space needle I wanted quite badly. Izwan bought three types; and several of one of the types- which I have none in my possession now since I have given them away. And here's a pic of Izwan with the Seatlle Space Needle in the background. Isn't he a handsome one?

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Sleepless In Seattle



Izwan left for Seattle on 15th January 2008; and I was in Bintulu. I had emailed him to buy one Seattle Space Needle fridge magnet and I wrote about it in my other blog, under the title 'Sleepless in Seattle'. Yes that movie starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks.

He came home around ten days later, and bought so many of them fridge magnets; including magnets with food stuff motives!

Here's the first one:
Where from: Seattle, Wasington, USA
Where now: Home
Who: Izwan la, siapa lagi? The most reliable person when it comes to buying magnets for me :-)
Number: 126
Above, Izwan with Chief Sealth of Seattle red indian tribe.

Monday, February 18, 2008

Flamingo from Bintulu



This is the last of the Bintulu series. It is small basket carrying the word Bintulu and a pink flamingo. They say there are flamingos in Bintulu, but I didn't see any during the two trips I took. But there are these other whitish bird perhaps same family as flamingo.. this one is everywhere. For the life of me, I can't remember the name. I'll update when I do remember!
I adore the people I was with in Bintulu. we dubbed ourselves as the "18Bintulu team".

Where from: Bintulu Sarawak
Who: Self
When: 2008
Where now: Office
Count: No. 125

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Hollywood

In 2005 Izwan went to Pheonix Arizona for work. After that, he took a short break in Los Angeles, and bought this magnet alongside the Walk of Fame. He also took these other pics (and obviously a passerby had helped taking a picture of him!)
Traveling there isn't complete without showing proof that you've been to Beverly Blvd.
And the Guinness World of Records outlet at Walk of Fame.
And Rodeo Drive, a place that sells thing we can't really afford.
Where from: Hollywood, Los Angeles
Where now: Home
Who: Darling
Number: 124
When: 2005

Bought A Year Ago

All the above famous landmarks in Paris are incorporated with quite good details on the round magnet. Very pretty.
Where from: Paris, France
Where now: Home
Who: Izwan
When: 2007 (exactly one year ago today)
Number: 123


9/11

Izwan bought this magnet on his way to Orlando where there was a 'pit stop' at JFK Airport in New York. This magnet is to commemorate the brave men from the New York Fire Department vis-a-vis the 9/11 tragedy. Here is a pic of the JFK Airport:
The runway at JFK:
And these are of the 9/11 itself. Pic on the left is of the collapse of the South Tower.











Where from: New York
Where now: Home
Who: Izwan
When: 2006
No. 122

Finding Nemo

This is perhaps one of the best Australian magnets I have. An original Sydney Aquarium magnet, complete with mini Nemo & Dory plus Bruce in the background. Here are the pics of my children at that tourist attraction. Tasha with Bruce and both kids in front of the giant aquarium, watching the school of fish passing by, as if dancing to the instrumental classical songs played in background.
Where from: Sydney Aquarium, Sydney, Australia
Where now: Home
When: 2004
Who: Self
No. 121

Bintulu's Hornbill

This bamboo weaved miniature tray complete with a tiny hornbill and kayu manis was purchased during my trip to Bintulu last month.
Where from: Bintulu, Sarawak
Where now: Office
When: 2008 Jan
Who: Self
No. 120
Here are some pics I took:
From the top left clockwise: the hotel room, the people, view from Port Bintulu and my first taste of laksa sarawak.

Hongkie Skyline

Izwan went to Macau through Hong Kong in 2006. And of course, during the stop over, he managed to buy some HK magnets, although apparently in Macau, the shops do not seem to sell this as a souvenir.

This one shows the skyline of HL city centre and you can see the prominent landmarks: including the very prominent Bank of China Tower (right behind the alphabet "K") above. See smaller pic here.

We went to Hong Kong in March 2001, Tasha was only 6 months old. It was Hari Raya Haji. But Izwan was sent to work, and I grabbed the opportunity to tag along. We stayed at the posh Conrad International.

Where from: Hong Kong

Where now: Home

When: 2006

Who: Izwan

No 119

Dolphins from Florida


Florida is a state located in the southeastern region of USA. Most of the state is a large peninsula with the Gulf of Mexico on its west and the Atlantic Ocean on its east. Much of the state has a humid subtropical climate; southern Florida has a tropical climate.
Where from: Orlando, Florida
Where now: Home
When: 2005
Who: Izwan
No. 118

The Famous Route 66



Our tour bus did go on Route 66 on the way to Laughlin and from Laughlin to Grand Canyon and back again. Bought this one at one of the stops along the way, some R&R mart that sells drinks, chocolates and yes, fridge magnet too!

Here's a pic of the kids at Grand Canyon itself.
Where from: Arizona
Where now: Home
When: 2007
Who: Self
#117

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Meet More 'Floridans'

Izwan bought this two rubber magnets of Tigger & Pooh at the same place he bought Mickey & Minnie - the Florida Mall. Here's Pooh in his typical post: And Tigger in a cute pose:
And these are pictures of Florida Mall.

Where from: Orlando, Florida
Where now: Home, next to Mickey and Minnie of Florida.
Who: Izwan
When: 2006
Numbers: 115 & 116