HEART SCREENING AT INSTITUT JANTUNG NEGARA

"Every adult should have a health screening examination done especially if they are above 30-35 years old male and 35-40 years for female" ~ Institut Jantung Negara.

Sometimes I wonder if men are generally born with inferior quality than women.. Women seemed to have better quality that it attract potential risk 5 years later than their male companion. Statistically, women too lives way longer than men.

Heeding my friend's advice whom conveniently fix an appointment for me today, 27 June 2014 at IJN, I arrived at 7:45am. Traffic was smooth, parking was easy and I was greeted by a friendly and smiley receptionist at the ESP Executive Screening Centre located at Block A, National Heart Institute. My stomach grumbles having been without any breakfast awaiting for the blood sample to be taken. Registration took barely 10 minutes, I picked the 'Elite Health Screening', paid and shortly later, I was called in for a blood sample. After the blood sample, I was directed into a room for an ECG and Vascular Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) which took approximately 15 minutes. I was buried under a string of cables that was short of being glued to my chest. When Anny took a picture of me, I thought I almost look like sick Robocop.

Then I was led into a private room where we had breakfast. The health screening package which cost me almost RM1,400 came with a RM4.00 tuna sandwhich. For the fee paid, I think there should be more on-the-house food varieties, maybe a buffet breakfast. I think the breakfast box cost more than the sandwich. 

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH SHUHID ZR

One of the most eligible bachelorette at the Chief's Original Bootcamp (COBC) is Siti Shuhidah Zainal Rashid. Shuhid as she is fondly known as, joined the COBC in November 2012 with the intention to learn a thing or two in the military-inspired training program for her to train on her own being a self-motivated and a very active women since school. She gave it a try through the Groupon promotion when she first heard about it from Aida Munirah; a cancer survivor and a loyal dedicated recruit at COBC. From a mere thought of wanting to join for only a month, Shuhid is still constant and is consistently training at COBC for 19 months now and in her own word, "I am not afraid to say I will do Bootcamp for life!".

Prior to joining COBC, Shuhid whom was already a runner, clocked 21km run in 3hrs 17 mins. After she joined COBC,  Shuhid's best timing improved significantly to 2 hrs 37 mins and Shuhid is still improving. Her instructors were all praises at the commitment and passion portrayed by Shuhid.

Born in 1985 Shuhid possesses a colourful and interesting background which I am proud to share and had only learn. At COBC, we rarely know each other's background. Each and every individual stands out in their own way at the Bootcamp and we know each other through their true personality, energy, spirit and passion. I am amazed to learn and write about this amazing lady.

For a start when Shuhid was an undergraduate, she never failed to get into the Dean's list at every semester and was entitled and awarded the Vice-Chancellor award. She graduated with a second class upper from the University Technology Mara in Accountancy and then continued her study in ACCA (One last final paper). In September this year, she will be leaving to the University of Sheffield in United Kingdom to pursue her Masters in Business Administration (MBA) post graduate degree.
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LES MILLS BODYJAM 69: BORN TO RAGE

Les Mills Bodyjam 69 hit most clubs over the weekend on 14 June 2014, earlier than the usual quarterly releases. The 69th release since its first debut, 8 years ago in Quarter 2, 1997 was launched at the Paradigm Mall by Fitness First and at Kenanga International Building by Truefitness. We missed the launching on Saturday being stucked with work errands but made all effort to try out the new release on Sunday which we did. So this will be my first review on a dance class.

I have to say, my stint period with BodyJam classes had drew me passionately involved with the program. I am a sucker for good programs and Gandalf Archer, the program director is what Chief Brabon is to Bootcamp. Awesome beyond description. While Chief's bootcamp ignite and awakes every muscle in your body, Les Mills Body Jam triggered every senses your body can accustom. It is not just about moving the body to the beat but it initiated our brain senses to music. It changes your mood almost instantly no matter how lousy your day was.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH HARUN OSMAN

The best way to stay focus, motivated and be realistic and pragmatic with fitness, health and fat lost is to read and relate to the success stories of others whom was once in the same boat as us. Some are lucky to befriend such people and get inspired by them but most of the time, we sabotaged ourselves by giving up thinking these strong people were born being fit and healthy. While some were born an athlete but most are not! Me included, was never born fit nor healthy. From spending most of my teens in hospital, I became a health freak and so are thousand of others at the Chief's Original Bootcamp. We have seen alot of couch potatoes, unhealthy & fluffy white collar executives from lawyers to auditors, turned into an avid runners and sportsmen.

 

I am enthusiastic to write about these people as a source of motivation because they inspires me too and kept me focus with reaching my goal in fitness. I crave to learn and get to know more and more people and have blogged so many recruits whom I personally saw their transformation. Then time and endless business schedules took the best of me and I took a back seat from blogging these great personalities but instead followed-up on their achievements on Facebook for some daily injections of good spirit. When Afiza Abdul Halin prompted and requested for an "Up Close and Personal" blog at the Chief's Original Bootcamp Facebook Group page at HERE, it was akin of a wake up spanking call and countless of personalities quickly came to mind. The first is this one gentlemen that I befriended when he first enrolled as a recruit at the bootcamp 16 months ago in February 2013 by the name of Harun Osman. He was first noticed when he dance crazily during the recording of COBC Harlem Shake. See below for an unedited version of the COBC Harlem Shake at the COBC Retro party last year.

GIRL GUIDES ASSOCIATION MALAYSIA "IMAGINE MORE - GIRLS IN THE LEAD"

The Girl Guides Association Malaysia took the lead to drive teenagers, in particular its members towards a healthier lifestyle. The drive saw the first gathering of hundred girls aged from 10 to 17 years old at its Girl Guides' Wilayah head office in Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad, Kuala Lumpur. The program was the initiative of the National Commissioner for Junior Girl Guides at the National Headquarters of Girl Guides Association Malaysia, Chempaka Emalin Pahamin in a creative workshop with the theme, "Imagine More - Girls in the Lead". 

"We want to emphasize the importance of keeping our girls fit and healthy", said Chempaka Emalin Pahamin who has been planning the program for the past few months. "There will be four Girl Guides proficiency badges (Ranger and Brownie) to be awarded to Girl Guides who attended and passed the program", she added. The badges are as follows:

Proficiency Badge No. 45 Kecergasan (Pandu Puteri Remaja/Renjer PPPM)

OUR PRO-BONO FOR ALL NATIONAL ATHLETES IN ANY CATEGORY

If health can be measured as a utility such as money, what should we do when we are a millionaire? I mean, we work hard because we want to be wealthy and when we are, we want to be debt-free, we want to buy a new bungalow as a home, a brand new Aston Martin as a mean of transportation and/or maybe we want to go for a long holiday etc... but have we ever thought, what we want to do when with a good bill of health?!! Maybe you do but most people do not until they lost or almost lost their health.

Luxury is something we do not appreciate until we lose it. If we were never accustomed to luxury, we can live without any maid, driver, a house with swimming pool, without a big cars etc..  but once we have lived with all that and suddenly, for some reason we lost our job, our income and we have to do everything ourselves, we may just jump off the building or struggle to get by etc. Similarly, we will not feel the lost of a good health until we are diagnosed with some terminal cancer.

On that pre-text, if health can be measured in term of money, everyone now is already a millionaire because almost everyone are just so healthy and perfect (measured without any cancer which in a monetary term is similar to a bankrupt). Some people can still live being a bankrupt and some live a slow death.

So being a millionaire in health term.. what do you want to do? Honestly, this is one question only you can answer. Me..? I have done everything from being bed-ridden sicken with cancer to running marathons, cycling, dualthons, triathlon, mountain hiking, mountain climbing, open water swim, getting married (twice), being a father, work at bank, became a property developer, manufacturer for automotive parts, vendor in automotive and airlines, involved in oil concessions, advisors to listed co, automotive dealerships, work with government, elected into various NGOs etc etc etc... Time is too precious to be wasted with a good bill of health.
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WEEKEND BODYJAMMING

I recently had an overdue cup of coffee with a former high school friend whom was also my university mate at the Buckingham University, UK and updated each other with our long lost years. We used to share school bus together when we first started high school in BBBSS. He was a year older and was actually quite active in sports during youth and I was what people call 'kaki bangku' being very inactive having had to go in and out of hospital for CML. Now, he said he can barely pass level 3 stress test and I am a bootcamper.

To get him excited with abit of exercise since he felt Bootcamp is abit too strenuous, I invited him and his wife to join us at BODYJAM class this weekend. BODYJAM is actually Anny's passion and I was sucked in to have an activity with her which I do not mind at all. Being abit rusty having retired from clubbing  nightlife for almost a decade, I managed to follow the choreographed moves after a few months. BODYJAM now became my weekend activity. Of course, in addition to the Chief's Original Bootcamp!! Bootcamp gives me the energy to dance. Bodyjam allow me to feel the emotional express and self expression.

So what is BODYJAM? BODYJAM is a +Les Mills 55 minutes cardio workout program. It is an addictive fusion of the latest dance styles and hottest new sounds that emphasize as much on having fun as on breaking a sweat. New BODYJAM class is produced every three months with new music and choreography. Each new class is with a different dance experience base on the latest trend and style. The latest is BODYJAM 68. When a new release is launched it will be repeated for 1 month and this is useful for beginners like me to start and follow the choreographed moves. After the first month of repeating the same release, the instructors are allowed to mix the releases to his or the member's liking. 

There are 12 tracks in a class and the remix usually comprised of 3 isolation songs, the next block of 3 songs are mixtures of Salsa, Zumba, Trance, hip hop, house music etc. Then there is a short water break and the class continues with the second block of a faster hip hop, house or trance music with a higher intensity workout. 

NO MORE CODENAMES BUT 'TIME-OF-THE-DAY'

The Chief's Original Bootcamp, Malaysia intake for May to August is now open for registration with some improvements, namely the time-of-the-day instead of a codename for training time & day. This is to make it easier for recruits to relate and understand as well as avoid confusions.

Current codename for training time and days:

5:45am-6:45am : Alpha (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) MC12
5:45am-6:45am : Sierra (Monday, Wednesday) MC8
5:30am-6:30am : Charlie (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) MC12
5:45am-6:45am : Tango (Monday, Wednesday) MC8
7:00am-8:00am : Bravo (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) MC12
7:00am-8:00am : Oscar (Monday, Wednesday) MC8
7:00am-8:00am : Echo (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) MC12
7:00am-8:00am : Foxtrot (Monday, Wednesday)

6:45pm-7:45pm : Zulu (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) MC12
6:45pm-7:45pm : Victor (Monday, Wednesday) MC8
8:30pm-9:30pm : Dusks (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) MC12
8:30pm-9:30pm : Quebec (Monday, Wednesday) MC8

TIPS TO COMBAT (DENGUE) WITH PAPAYA LEAVES JUICE

Petua Daun Pokok Betik (Tips using Papaya leaves).

They say Papaya leaves juice is the best remedy for Dengue and me being me, after being almost certain that Aaraf has dengue with his fever above 40 degrees, sore with infected throat, diarrhea and nauseate; I immediately started Aaraf on the papaya leaves juice even though its only his second day since the high fever.

We brought Aaraf to the Damansara Specialist Hospital immediately on the first day he had fever but was told Dengue can only be detected on day 4 to day 5 after the first symptom- high fever.

I was skeptic of this petua but I could not bear looking at my son crying in high fever above 40 degrees, face & eyes so red, screaming in the middle of the night with nightmares and sleep walking etc..

How do we prepare the Papaya Leaves extract? First you will need to get the papaya leaves (of course!!).  Luckily there was a wild papaya tree at my house. Second, you will need to have Anny.. Kidding. Anny is mine. You will need to get your own Anny to assist. Take 2 of the leaves (an average age leaves that is neither too young or too old) and remove all the leave bones (urat daun) and keep only the leaves (see picture below). The next step is as per the step by step picture below.

BIG BREAKFAST

Eat breakfast like a King they say but who knows what King actually eat for breakfast. What I do know, my breakfast can be a bit elaborated... okay, maybe alot. Today I changed the ingredient of my regular breakfast.. from a skimmed Cow milk to Goats Milk... Yucksss.. I know that is everyone's first thought and that was mine too for the whole of my life until Jaya Grocer, Damansara Perdana completely ran out of Cow skim milk (yesterday).

Let us rewind it abit.. I've been on this breakfast schedule (except the Goats Milk) for years in my quest for a healthier life. My breakfast starts at  5am.

5:00am - 25 Ounce (740ml) of water mixed with 1MR pre-workout drink (For energy) and two raw (yes raw!! straight from the shell) ayam kampung eggs mixed with Honey (for energy and manthingy- they say its good for men)... Sometimes, with a wholemeal bread or Banana and sometimes without anything else before a workout at the Bootcamp at 545am.

7:00am, after Bootcamp -  25 ounce of Skim Milk (today- GOAT Milk), mixed with Protein drink & 2 table spoon of Lecithin (For muscle).

VIBRAM FIVE FINGERS USA CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT

I read with interest various comments made on Facebook and the cyber pertaining to the class action suit made against Vibram Five Fingers in USA (read HERE) and there seemed to be alot of misconception and misunderstanding.

The class action suit took place in USA alleging that Vibram USA engaged in false and deceptive advertising. An advertising that claimed the footwear could reduce foot injuries and strengthen foot muscles, without basing those advertisement on any scientific merit. It did not state that those health claim is not true but unsubstantiated. “Vibram USA expressly denied and continues to deny any wrongdoing alleged in the Actions, and neither admits nor concedes any actual or potential fault, wrongdoing or liability,” read the court brief. 

I am a hardcore Vibram Five Finger user and have ran 2 full marathons in a Vibram Five Fingers shoes (and countless of shorter distances) and would not use any other shoes for running but a Vibram Five Fingers. If you are my blog follower then you would have read how I suffered from bad knees as a result from perhaps, an excessive  running and was advice to go for corrective surgery on both knees. 

I did not go for the advised surgery but instead, invested in a pair of Vibram Five Fingers. After a few months of training in the Vibram Five Fingers (esp in a better form of running), I ran two full marathons and countless shorter distance run without any knee pain or knee injury. Infact, my PB running time had  improved and my knees/legs are much stronger.
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HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY IBU

Happy Mother's Day.

I can only imagine what it feels like to be a mother. To carry a child in me for 9 months, breast-feed, cook, feed, raise,  giving birth, shower them, cleanup their pee & poo, guide, bear all their cries tantrums, educate, nursing during sickness and an endless list of errands. I will never know what my mother had to go through raising us 6 children.. and a son whom was terminally-sick and rebellious. No one can ever describe a mother's undivided love and care.

I had a short stint of single parenthood after my divorce and MasyaAllah, I now understand the sacrifices, commitment and dedication of a mother and I am sure my understanding of what mothers do, is really a tiny small fraction of the actual reality. I can speak with experience from that short stint, that it would really take a person to be called a mother. It is seriously not an easy responsibility and is very challenging. 

That short stint made me appreciate my mother even more. I have one handsome and macho son (at the moment) and my mother have 6 stubborn, hard-headed, temperamental and emotional (but handsome and pretty) children. All with a mix of different characters and all are abit on the extreme (whether good or bad) but she loves her children equally and unconditionally. Her world, was only the children (and of course Dad). 

So Ibu, Happy Mother's Day:

Ibu, 

Throughout my journey in life...

I know I have disappointed you, 

I know I have broken your heart,

I know I have failed you so many times, 

I know you have shred so much tears for me

and I know, at times I was not there for you..

... I am sorry & regretted for all the past mistakes.

Ibu, 

Thank you for always giving me face;

Thank you for never turning your face away;

Thank you for never giving up on me;

Thank you for always & still being there for me;

Thank you for always giving me hope and all the aspiration in life;

Ibu,

I cherish all the upbringing moments and remembers all the celebrations we had on my every birthdays and treasures every seconds when you were by my bed while I was bedridden for months in hospital in London. 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY ANNY

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY Anny, 

On your first Mother's Day celebration, Anny this message is for you...

For someone who had never given birth nor have or raise any child... You are a fantastic Mother. 

I can only imagine how hard it is for you to adjust yourself into being an instant mother and a wife at the same time. I see and feel all the effort made.

You are from a completely different upbringing, a different lifestyle and from a different culture but you adapt well into our way of life, our home and our values, away from your own family.

Both Aaraf and I appreciate your patience and time to learn and understand us especially with our differences in culture, preference for food and bedtime. 

You have been an inspiration and a motivation in our daily life. You always cheer us up and bring smiles into our daily routine.

I love how you would even skipped 1000 skips a day to motivate Aaraf in his quest to lose weight and even went jogging just for Aaraf; although you hate running. We love how you would share many stories, games and magic trick just to entertained and keep Aaraf occupied. Thank you for all the food, care and love you have given us. Thank you for accepting Aaraf as your own son.

TIPS TO UNBLOCK ARTERIES WITH GINGER, GARLIC, LEMON & APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

Anny read this tips to unblock arteries and started me on this today. Day 1. I should do a blood test first to know its effectiveness but nonetheless, my Day 1 (6th MAY 2014).

It is always good to service our arteries when living with high cholesterol for already more than 10 years. I am on 10mg Crestor (Rosuvastatine) and 145mg Lipanthyl (Fenofibrate) daily for Cholestrol.

We will never know how those oily food and excessive fat had build up inside the walls of our arteries and vein. This fat build up in our arteries and vein will lead to artery blockage that can cause a heart attack and no matter how much exercise we performed each day, this fat build-up in the artery can be fatal.

We should look good and healthy in the inside as much as we are good looking physically.

So what do we need to look good in the inside? 

1.  Lemon - 1 cup

2. Garlic - 1 cup

3. Ginger - 1 cup

4. Apple Cider Vinegar - 1 cup.

5. Honey - 2 table spoon

Garlic improves blood circulation, clearing arteries and flushing out toxic waste. There are alot more benefits of Garlic which you can just google.

2ND VISIT AT THE KL FERTILITY CENTRE

We left Dato Dr Prashant Nadkarni practice on 2 May 2014 with a high hope of having a baby without having to go through the IVF or ICSI. According to Dr Prashant, male fertility can either improved or worsens after a high doses of chemotherapy & radiotherapy (even after 25 years) and the only way to determine it, is via a semen test which was suppose to be done during the first visit but I could not DIY in the toilet. (Read: First-Visit HERE)

So we scheduled impatiently for the semen test to be done today, 5 May 2014 at the convenient and the comfort of our home. I woke up this morning feeling overwhelmed. Like any other fathers, I want a big family and the thought of a big family at the dinner table everynight and at gatherings during festive seasons was simply indescribable.

After err... ejaculating into the sterilized bottle, we quickly rushed to the KL Fertility Centre and waited for the result scheduled at the fix appointment 1:15pm. We left for Nandos half chicken breast and Steamboat at the Ikano during the 2 hours waiting and arrived back at the KL Fertility Center at 12:50pm.

After more than an hour of waiting, half asleep we were called in by the nurse to meet Dr Prashant. For a moment in-waiting, I was cursing the government hospital thinking, private hospitals had picked-up the non-punctuality and long waiting for patience during the compulsory 2 years requirement for all doctors to work at the government upon graduation. We would think, private practice would be more professional and punctual in patients booking time and management. Maybe they should have "customer management" as a module during medical undergraduate study. This non-punctual waiting time has to improved. In boredom, we capitalize the waiting-time with a selfie....

2ND SUPER DANCE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL COMPETITION, ST PETERSBURGH, RUSSIA

The Girl Guides Association Malaysia (GGAM) and SRK Damansara Heights Primary School represented Malaysia and competed in the 2nd International Superdance Festival, from Folklore to modern at St Petersburg, Russia from 29 April to 1 May 2014. A total of 42 teams from 5 countries competed in various categories with a total of 74 dances.

These dance teams were formed as a result of GGAM `Imagine More' Creative Workshop (Performing Arts - Dance) which was carried out in December 2013 under the leadership of National Girl Guides Commissioner Chempaka Emalin Pahamin.  

Chempaka Emalin Pahamin together with artistic directors Sabrina Saw and Zaridah Abdul Malik led the three GGAM teams namely Jemari, Mystique and Silversteppers and returned home from Russia to a hero's welcome after winning three 1st placing, one 2nd and also the Best Dress Award:

Modern Choreography (Jazz, modern, neoclassical dance, free plastique) category - (9 - 12 years):
1st Prize: Mystique (Girl Guides Assocation Malaysia)

1. Kasih Iris Leona Azhar
2. Raina Edlyn Jasmine Mohammad Rhiza
3. Raiqa Hanim Jasmine Mohammad Rhiza
4. Ellya Keesha Zatif Ahmed Zaharani
5. Khadra Mohd Azrul
6. Nelysa Khadija Mohamed Nazrin
7. Marsya Jehana Mohd Jehan
8. Harissa Adlin Halim
9. Kadija Kamarulzaman

VOTING FOR THE CHIEF'S SPIRIT OF BOOTCAMP

Spirit of Bootcamp Certificate is awarded to the most inspiring recruit voted by your own comrade 

The Spirit of Bootcamp

It is time to vote for the Spirit of Bootcamp for your platoon!!! What is the Spirit of Bootcamp? The Spirit of Bootcamp (SOB) is awarded to somebody in your platoon that does not just inspire you, but motivates you to push yourself that little bit harder, somebody that makes your sessions more enjoyable and someone that is aspiring to you. It doesn’t even have to be somebody you know (but it must be someone in your platoon). It can be somebody that you have never spoken too, but you noticed him/her as encouraging, humorous and/or helpful.

You determine who motivate you the most.. and you award them with the "The Spirit of Bootcamp" by voting online for him/her. This is our culture, this is the Spirit of Bootcamp!!

The recipient of the award will receive a certificate as per the sample above.

WHEN HARD WORK FAILED, WORK SMART AT THE KL FERTILITY CENTRE

After a few months of hardwork without success, we heed my sister Dr Teratai Edithy Pahamin's  recommendation to meet Dato Dr Prashant Nadkarni MBBS(Mal) FRCOG(UK) at the KL Fertility centre. Conventional means of hard work does not equate to having a baby for post bone marrow transplant patient (for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia) like me although it has been 25 years (this year). The chemotherapy and total body irradiation (TBI) had a lifelong effect in fertility. I am blessed miraculously to have survived the terminal cancer and to be blessed with a healthy and a great son, Aaraf Armin but given the opportunity I want children enough to form a football team... Okay, that may be abit too ambitious but I dream of having a few extra; maybe 4.

I called on 29 April 2014, made an appointment and met Dato Dr Prashant on 2 May 2014 at the KL Fertility Centre, Wisma Perintis 47 Jalan Dungun, Wisma Perintis, 50490 Kuala Lumpur. The registration being a first timer was quite simple and straight forward. Waiting time was approximately 40 minutes from the fix appointment time which was errr... okay for a desperate to be a father of a football team.

Anny and I entered the room and met Dr Prashant for the first time. In the room there were Dr Helena and a nurse. He was professional and explained what we needed to know. We were escorted into the examination room next door. Anny was not comfortable at first and almost requested for a female doctor but she was pleased when it was actually a female doctor and a nurse that examined her. Dr Prashant read and professionally interpreted the scan. The scan and examination shows Anny was healthy, ready and potentially able to produced 13 eggs...

SONGKRAN FESTIVAL

A few friends whispered on various occasions asking how does it feel to be married to a Thai. They said they have not seen me being so happy and all smiley. Actually, I have always been happy and living my life to the fullest (sometimes at the extreme) without any regrets. Every part of our life is a chapter in our life story and akin of a book, the story whichever way we want to write it, shall continues. If we do not write our life journey as how we wants it, our life may lead us to an unbeknown path that we may not like.

Having a Thai wife, I took almost every opportunity to learn more about Thai culture as another chapter in my book. The first being the Songkran festival. I have heard about the Songkran for many years but never had the interest to celebrate it. Last week, Aaraf and I did just that. Aaraf was on a two weeks school semester break holiday. We took a trip to Bangkok to learn and celebrate Thailand's most celebrated festival. Learning about other cultural has always been my interest. Contrary to my earlier understanding that Songkran was all about water fight and playing water, Songkran is actually to celebrated Thailand's new year. For those uninitiated like me, Thailand has its own solar calender and Songkran was the start of its calender year.

During the Songkran, Thais traditionally gathered with their family members to 'shower' the elders in practice, their parents. It is a humble celebration for Thais to remember their parents and family through the annual gathering. In the morning of the Songkran, they pour water on the elders' hand and shoulder to cool them down from the hot weather. The Songkran always fall during the hottest period of the year and showering the elders inculcates honour, respect, love and care towards their family members. Songkran was celebrated for 3 days although most offices and shops are closed for a week especially for the celebration. According to Anny, most Thai save their money for the whole year to be spent on the Songkran.

ART IN PARADISE, 3D MUSEUM BANGKOK

Amazing Bangkok! If you are visiting Bangkok with kids, a must visit place is the Art in Paradise; Bangkok Trickeye 3D Museum located at 4th Floor, Esplanade Shopping Mall, Ratchadapisek Road Din Daeng, Bangkok, Thailand 10400. The amazing artwork is open from 10am to 10pm and it only cost 300baht (approx RM30) for foreigner Adult and 200 Baht (RM20) for foreigner child. Local Khun Thai (or half Khun Thai like me), only pays 180 baht (RM18).

You will be amazed at the real life or bring to life art exhibit at the Museum. It is particularly exciting if you are camwhores like us. If you are an acute camwhores, do reserve at least half a day for unlimited poses and camwhoring.

Most of the pictures were drawn on either the floor or the wall. It look so real.