My Tale to Tell

Closing time.

2009-07-09T18:10:00.007+08:00

Give another 9 days and this blog would have seen a 1 month break from the blogging world. 1 month is rather a shameful amount of time for a blog to be left idle, and because right now I just cannot find enough time to keep one blog updated (let alone two!) I think it's high time I put this blog to (what I hope is going to be temporary) rest.

Issues that used to interest me once upon a time no longer do so, sadly, but on a more cheerful note, I will be keeping my other blog alive.

So if any of you are still interested in my (travel-related) developments, feel free to bookmark charlenedianetravels.blogspot.com instead, as that, as of this instant, is going to be my primary blog from now on.

This blog will be set to private viewing only in a few days as I do not have the heart to delete it just yet.

Cheers for dropping by folks. It's been a real pleasure.

Catching 'The' Armin van Buuren spin live in Perth was epic!

2009-06-18T08:39:00.004+08:00

Will be uploading photos & videos from the night soonish.

Armin van Buuren feat Jaren - Unforgivable
You used to light up the dark
With your unrelenting spark
It always put a fire in me

You used to say I'm the one
The only ray of sun you could touch
Without a fear of burning

Well you used to try to please me
Yeah you used to try to please me
Never said this would be easy
Never said this would be easy

What are you telling her now
While you hold her in you arms
Are you pretending she's me?

And just how long will you go on
Before you realize you know she's
The one but you're gonna lose her anyway?

You just got there now you're leaving
You just got there now you're leaving
Your sweet nothings are deceiving
Your sweet nothings are deceiving

Well it ain't over till it's over
And my world shuts down
But this comes close, I'll have you know
It's just a matter of time

But it ain't over till it's over
But I won't be made a fool
Cuz leaving me the way you did was just so
Unforgivable(Unforgivable) x7

Well it ain't over till it's over
And my world shuts down
But this comes close, I'll have you know
It's just a matter of time

But it ain't over till it's over
But I won't be made a fool
Cuz leaving me the way you did was just so
Unforgivable x8

HIATUS

2009-05-23T06:17:00.002+08:00

Temporarily on hiatus for the next 2 weeks. Updates (if any) will be at my other blog at charlenedianetravels.blogspot.com

Here's hoping to clear journeys devoid of any possible (H1N1 virus-related) hiccups along the way.

Back.

2009-05-19T07:20:00.005+08:00

..and burned.

I am now back home in Kota Kinabalu after a wonderful, crazy week in Mabul. It's been fantastic just living it on the island + excellent diving at the famous Sipadan Island. I will be writing about my trip on my other blog just as soon as I can get everything sorted out at the office. I only got another 3 more days to complete any outstanding work stuff before going on a 2 week leave for another holiday.

Yes I know after all the 'hard work' this week, I totally deserve another luxurious holiday. Hah.

I leave you with a photo of Mantabuan Island, where I skipped Sipadan to dive at on my last dive day with Borneo Divers.

More photos & videos will be up soon on charlenedianetravels.blogspot.com

Scuba diving: What you don't know can hurt you.

2009-05-13T09:33:00.011+08:00

Excerpted from ACTION DIVER Dive Holiday Planner 2008/2009

"Have you seen any sharks?"
"Aren't you scared of being attacked?"
"I could never go diving because I'd be too scared of sharks!"

How many times have you heard similar comments when you say you're a diver? One great fear preventing many people from diving is the fear of a shark attack. But as most divers know, shark attacks on divers are in reality very rare.

There are other much greater dangers in the water. It's the areas that you haven't thought about that are most likely to hurt you.

****

Being a scuba diver myself, the opening lines of this article really caught my attention. There were 3 main points that were highlighted:

#1 Watch out for boats!
#2 Are you prepared for an accident?
#3 Beware of stings (in Thailand)

Because the majority of people who read my blog are non divers, I am not going to bore you with detailed elaborations of the points above, but I believe if you are a diver you would know what it means.

For those who are thinking of taking up diving but still have doubts, do a Discover Scuba course first, a program that will allow you to get a taste of what scuba diving is all about. If you think you like it, then you can proceed with the Open Water Course and get a "license" upon completion.

Not my intention to scare, but remember that scuba diving can be a dangerous sport. Risks are involved as with all other sports. Diving is serious, yet it can be enjoyed. Take your theory classes seriously. There is a reason we want you to know what decompression sickness, nitrogen narcosis, and oxygen toxicity are all about.

And always always always practice safe diving wherever you are. Accidents can happen to anyone, even to an experienced diver who has thousands of dives under his belt.

Remember what happened to Yuri Lipski, the diver who died under "mysterious circumstances" during his dive at the Blue Hole in Egypt?

Youtube him.

That's a scuba diver's worst nightmare.

Taken.

2009-05-12T11:40:00.005+08:00

"Now's not the time for dick measuring, Stuart!"

LOL one of the best lines from the movie Taken.

Go watch.

Travel blog.

2009-05-10T09:42:00.003+08:00

So I've decided to create a new "travel blog" to feature all the travels that I have planned for in the next couple of months, and years, if I may boldly say so.

As if running one blog is not time-consuming enough! Heh.

This is going to be my main blog, still, even though this has somewhat turned into a melting pot of sorts with a little bit of everything thrown haphazardly into it. My personal life has been reduced to a sorry bore that I no longer have anything to tell you (a more subtle way of telling you that my personal life *more specifically, my personal life where relationships are concerned* is off limits as per today). But as a means of entertainment, you can still find out what I am up to when I am not on the computer planning for someone else's travels instead!

Ah yes, the birth of My Travel to Tell .

Sorry, I'm not very creative with titles :-)

Chill pill

2009-05-09T11:06:00.005+08:00

Current want: Swimming with dolphins

It's a really beautiful day to go out to sea today.

Just 5 more days until Sipadan! It's amazing how May is passing by so quickly. After Sipadan, I go on a 2 week leave. Leave from work, leave from unnecessary emails, leave from monotony, from boredom, from stress.

And then it's time to LIVE.

Ah, thoughts of well-deserved holidays always put me in such a jolly good mood :-)

Dogs starving to death on mangrove island - Urgent Alert!

2009-05-08T20:15:00.009+08:00

About 300 stray dogs were rounded up by Pulau Ketam residents and deported to an isolated island to fend for themselves. Over half of them are already dead and the remaining ones may not live long. A rescue mission is being mounted and your help is needed. Please read the full story here.

The residents of Pulau Ketam sent some 300 stray dogs to exile on a remote island where the harsh conditions almost certainly guarantee a horrible death. Of the 300 dogs sent there, more than three-quarters are presumed to be already dead. I traveled to the island with Sabrina Yeap of Furry Friends Farm and managed to save only one dog on this reconnaissance trip. We did see several other starving and dying dogs along the mangrove shore.

I am mounting an urgent rescue mission to capture and transport the remaining survivors back to Sabrina's Furry Friends Farm animal shelter. But time is running out and there might be only skeletons and carcasses left to collect on our next trip. Boat hire is expensive there. It is a tourist area and it has already cost me a few hundred ringgit for boat hire alone, so far. The rescued dogs cannot be transported on the regular ferries.

Almost nobody will lift a finger to help without a fee. This is understandable. The locals are already shaking their heads in disbelief that there are outsiders who want to save the animals they so casually discarded. Instead of pointing fingers and antagonising them, we need their co-operation to help save the unfortunate creatures. In the process, we also hope to educate the islanders on better treatment of animals. It would be an impossible mission if we didn't win their hearts.

If you are unable to help directly, please help by forwarding this appeal to other compassionate folks who you feel might be able to make some monetary contributions.

Apart from boat hire, we need money to buy cages, to pay people to help catch them, to hire land transport to send the rescued animals to veterinary clinics, pay for vet fees, send the recovered ones to the shelter and to feed and house them for life. I can go on!

Kind folks are asking how they can donate. Funds can be banked in or transferred to: Furry Friends Farm account CIMB 1457-000-1182-05-6. You can also transfer via PayPal to tvsmith@gmail.com

Fellow bloggers, you can also help by publicizing the desperate plight of these hapless canines. Embed a poster from here and link to http://www.mycen.com.my/rescue

We are aware it is a monumental task and appreciate all forms of support, assistance, suggestions, encouragement and your prayers.

Thank you and don't forget to view the pictures of the dogs in order to appreciate their plight.

Visit also Furry Friends Farm's Blog / Website

Source: http://www.mycen.com.my/rescue/

The top 5 things on my I-WANT list at this moment

2009-05-07T22:07:00.013+08:00

1. The Panasonic DMW-MCFS5 underwater casing

I'd been contemplating on getting a nice, savvy underwater camera for quite sometime now, but figure I could save a couple of bucks by just getting an underwater casing for my very trusty FS3 instead. A nice alternative at this point as there are just too many things that I need to buy/get/pay for it would do me a whole lot of good to just make do with what I already have.

2. A 3mm dive "long john" wetsuit

It is most unfortunate that I am one of those people who are prone to body heat lose in the water even during a short period of time. The very reason why I refuse to do more than 2 dives during a typical 3-dive day. The last time I went diving, I got so miserably cold (during the 3rd dive) that I almost wanted to make an emergency ascend after only 10 minutes underwater!

*Most dive centres only offer 3mm shorties to divers without their own wetsuits

3. A new laptop. Any laptop. Because I really need a new one. Seriously.

Come to think of it, I can't think of anything else that I really want badly enough to warrant a place on this list.

Except maybe a ticket to ~~Scotland~~ Tahiti or something like that.....

I got mail!

2009-05-06T18:11:00.006+08:00

I finally received my parcel today (despite having to drive down to the Post Office collection centre no thanks to our very "efficient" Malaysian postal service!). The contents of said parcel is a little ahem, incriminating, so I shall have to be a little discreet about it and play mysterious until I get the other two remaining parcels (tentatively expected to arrive end of next week).

Mmmmm I love this, I get a kick whenever I know I have managed to tickle someone else's curiosity successfully.

Top 10: Couples destinations

2009-05-06T08:03:00.003+08:00

Soufriere, St Lucia
Santorini, Greece
Florence, Italy
Napa Valley, USA
Koh Samui, Thailand
Negril, Jamaica
Paris, France
Cumbria, England
Seville, Spain
Aeolian Islands, Italy

Where would you want to head to first, given the time and money?

Whatever it takes

2009-05-06T07:52:00.001+08:00

The best song by Lifehouse yet.

A strangled smile fell from your face
What kills me that I hurt you this way
The worst part is that I didn't even know
Now there's a million reasons for you to go
But if you can find a reason to stay

I'll do whatever it takes
To turn this around
I know what's at stake
I know that I've let you down
And if you give me a chance
Believe that I can change
I'll keep us together whatever it takes

She said "If we're gonna make this work
You gotta let me inside even though it hurts
Don't hide the broken parts that I need to see"
She said "Like it or not it's the way it's gotta be
You gotta love yourself if you can ever love me"

I'll do whatever it takes
To turn this around
I know what's at stake
I know that I've let you down
And if you give me a chance
And give me a break
I'll keep us together, I know you deserve much better

But remember the time I told you the way that I felt
That I'd be lost without you and never find myself
Let's hold onto each other above everything else
Start over, start over

I'll do whatever it takes
To turn this around
I know what's at stake
I know I've let you down
And if you give me a chance
and believe that I can change
I'll keep us together whatever it takes

Vote for Sipadan Island!

2009-05-03T17:50:00.011+08:00

Not sure how many of you out there know this already, but our very own Sipadan Island is one of the many nominees that is hoping to make it as one of the new 7 Wonders of Nature this year.

To stay in the race, we need to be at least on the top 11 spots (we are currently #15) by July 11. To achieve this, we need as many people as we can to cast their votes for this gem of an island to be in the running for the title coveted by many.

For the benefit of those who have never been to Sipadan before, Sipadan Island is the only oceanic island in Malaysia which rises 600 meters from the seabed. It is formed by living corals engulfing an extinct volcano cone which took centuries to develop. More on Sipadan here: http://www.sipadan.com.my/ and here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sipadan

Sipadan Island has one of the world’s richest marine biodiversity in its ecosystem.

Do you know what that means?

It means that this is one of the only few places in the world where you can find marine life so diverse like what you find in Sipadan, all in one place! Turtles, reef sharks, bumphead parrotfish, batfish, barracudas, trevallies, Napolean wrasse, whale sharks, manta rays... more than 3,000 species of fishes and other marine life have been classified in this ecosystem! And that is A LOT to be proud of!

I have personally been to Sipadan about 10 times since 2000. Back then, we were still able to stay on the island itself. However the Island was declared a Marine Park late 2004 by the government and ordered all on-site dive and resort operators of Sipadan to move their structures out of the island by 31 December 2004 in a bid to conserve the area.

If you are an avid diver like me and have never been to Sipadan before, I would totally recommend you to dive Sipadan if you get the opportunity to. You would be BLOWN AWAY with what you will see. The first time I dived into her warm blue waters, I thought I had died and gone to turtle heaven :-)

Sipadan Island is on many of diver's top list of places to dive, so I am ever so glad and grateful that I have dreamplaces like Sipadan and Layang Layang Island on my doorstep!

Let's all help Sipadan make it to where it rightfully deserves to be.

I now have a widget on the right hand side of my blog where you can click on to vote for Sipadan. Voting is a piece of cake, and is well explained here: http://www.votesipadan.com/

You can vote for Sipadan online (it costs nothing!) by clicking here!

Do your bit and help spread the word around!

Underwater photos courtesy of Alistair Watters

What's in a name?

2009-05-03T12:59:00.020+08:00

I got a little upset when the World Health Organization decided on 30 April to rename Swine Flu to Influenza A (H1N1).

While I understand that this decision was made to "save the pork industry", I do not understand why they needed to change a name that had been used and referred to since the 1970's.

You may not get the flu from eating pork, but remember this: one obvious way of transmission is through contact with pigs. So that means that whoever is in the pig-farming industry is susceptible to hosting this virus and further transmitting it to other human beings.

We need to shed some light on the real issue here: where this virus orginated from, what causes it, how it can be prevented -- and IMHO the term "Swine Flu" pretty much explains that.

What's more interesting (and over the top hilarious, if I may add) is that Israel had wanted the virus be called "Mexican flu" instead, as the term "swine" is offensive to the Muslim & Jewish communities.

And I suppose renaming it after an entire race would address the issue. Rightttt....

Clearly, Mexicans did not invent the flu, nor are only Mexicans susceptible to it. I don't even know why I bother to state what is so blatantly obvious!

A dozen of countries have even purposely banned the import of pork meat from the countries that have been affected by the virus (a very wise move I must say!) yet these jokers say that there is no "scientific rationale" behind the move. Bloody unbelievable. When would there be a rationale to justify their actions then? When there are more than enough dead bodies to deal with?

This isn't a scientific journal for God's sake. Why not just use the term "Swine Flu" as it is, a term that is used by the general population, instead of some meaningless string of numbers and letters to create further confusion. I am not sure if they care more about the pork industry or creating awareness among the people, but obviously it is the former rather than the latter!

The media have been emphasizing repeatedly that pork is safe to eat. I am sure the public is smart enough to make their own decisions whether to consume or not to consume pork during these times.

The first outbreak started in Mexico, but it could have easily been anywhere in the world where pigs are reared.

Swine flu is swine flu. In Malaysia, we have been lucky, NOT IMMUNE.

Bird flu back?

2009-05-02T20:43:00.001+08:00

Dead pigeon confirmed positive for H5N1 virus

HONG KONG: A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of Hong Kong said today that a dead feral pigeon found in Tuen Mun was confirmed to be H5N1 positive, China's Xinhua news agency reported.

The feral pigeon carcass was collected on April 27 at Leung Tak Street, Tuen Mun and found positive for the virus after a series of laboratory tests.

The H5N1 virus is also known as the avian flu.

The spokesman called for the public not to feed feral pigeons and prevent congregation of feral pigeons causing environmental hygiene problems.

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department would continue to take stringent enforcement action against feral bird feeders making public areas and parks dirty, he added. - Bernama

Source: www.thestar.com.my

Swine flu makes its way to Asia

2009-05-02T07:04:00.004+08:00

About 300 people at a Hong Kong hotel have been placed under quarantine after a guest there became China's first confirmed swine flu case.

The 25-year-old man, who is now in hospital after testing positive for the virus, had travelled from Mexico via Shanghai, Hong Kong's leader said.

Local TV footage showed police wearing masks guarding the hotel exits.

Meanwhile, the UK joined Canada, Spain, Germany and the US in reporting person-to-person transmission of the virus.

Mexico, where the outbreak began, has started a five-day shutdown of parts of its economy in a bid to curb the virus's progress.

Mexican officials say the spread of swine flu - suspected in more than 160 deaths - is slowing, but international experts are more cautious.

On Friday, French Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot said two people were infected with swine flu, France's first confirmed cases.

The minister said a third person "very probably" had the virus. She said all three had recently been to Mexico.

The announcement takes to 15 the number of countries where swine flu has been confirmed.

'No panic'

In cases outside Mexico the effects of the virus do not appear to be severe, although one death of a Mexican child has been confirmed in the US.

CONFIRMED CASES

Mexico: 168 suspected deaths - 15 confirmed

US: One death, at least 109 confirmed cases

New Zealand: 4 confirmed, 12 probable cases

Canada: 35 confirmed cases

UK: 11 confirmed cases

Spain: 13 confirmed cases

Germany: 4 confirmed cases

France: 2 confirmed cases

Israel, Costa Rica: 2 confirmed cases each

The Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong: 1 confirmed case each

Countries with confirmed cases of secondary transmission

Canada

Spain

Germany

Mapping the outbreak

Mexico: First swine flu cases

Border town not slowing down

Price hikes in Mexico amid flu panic

The WHO has set its pandemic alert level at five - but says it has no immediate plans to move to the highest level of six.

In Hong Kong, the authorities have raised the alert level to emergency but urged residents to carry on life as normal.

"I assure you the Hong Kong government will try its best to conquer the virus," Chief Executive Donald Tsang said.

"I stress we don't need to panic."

The Mexican man is said to be in a stable condition in Hong Kong's Princess Margaret Hospital, after seeking treatment on Thursday night after becoming unwell.

The Metropark Hotel in Wanchai district where he briefly stayed will be sealed off for seven days, health officials said, and the antiviral drug Tamiflu given to about 200 guests and 100 staff there.

Medical staff wearing protective clothing were seen carrying boxes of equipment into the building.

Efforts are also under way to trace people who travelled on the same flights as the Mexican, and taxi drivers with whom he came into contact.

BBC China Editor Shirong Chen says confirmation that the man has tested positive for the virus has set alarm bells ringing beyond Hong Kong.

Chinese Health Minister Chen Zhu said the virus was very likely to enter mainland China and urged the country to prepare for an outbreak, as millions start travelling over the May Day long weekend.

Schools closed

Meanwhile, the authorities in Mexico hope a nationwide shut-down ordered from Friday, covering two public holidays and a weekend, will help curb the spread of the virus.

SYMPTOMS - WHAT TO DO

Swine flu symptoms are similar to those produced by ordinary seasonal flu - fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigue

If you have flu symptoms and recently visited affected areas of Mexico, you should seek medical advice

If you suspect you are infected, you should stay at home and take advice by telephone initially, in order to minimise the risk of infection

Q&A: What is swine flu?

Mexican economy squeezed by flu

In pictures: Flu concern grows

The quest for a swine flu vaccine

Some factories will stop production and schools are already closed. Residents have been urged to stay at home, but it is not clear how widely the shut-down order will be followed.

The number of confirmed cases of swine flu infection in Mexico now stands at more than 300, officials say.

Mexican Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova said on Friday that three more deaths from swine flu had been confirmed, bringing the toll to 15.

Announcing the figure, Mr Cordova said that new cases of the virus were levelling off.

But Dr Keiji Fukuda, acting assistant director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), said fluctuations were to be expected.

In other developments:

• The US announces that it will buy 13 million new courses of antiviral treatment and send 400,000 of them to Mexico

• A flight from Germany to Washington DC is diverted to Boston after a female passenger complains of flu-like symptoms

• An aide to US Energy Secretary Stephen Chu who helped arrange President Barack Obama's recent trip to Mexico is being tested for swine flu, although the aide is said not to have been in contact with the president

• The head of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is fine for people without flu symptoms to fly and use the subway, a day after Vice-President Joe Biden said he would advise his own family members against using public transport

• Denmark reports its first confirmed case of swine flu

• German authorities confirm that a nurse who treated a patient with swine flu also contracted the disease, in the first person-to-person transmission in the country

• Test results confirm the UK's first person-to-person transmission of swine flu, in a friend of a couple from Scotland who were first in the country to be diagnosed with the virus

Several countries have restricted travel to Mexico and many tour operators have cancelled holidays.

The WHO, meanwhile, says it will now call the virus influenza A (H1N1) rather than swine flu - which it says is misleading as pork meat is safe and the virus is being transmitted from human to human.

The Swiss got it good.

2009-05-01T19:44:00.006+08:00

" I want to see mountains again, mountains Gandalf!" - Bilbo Baggins LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring

Switzerland has got to be one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

Come what "May"

2009-04-29T19:59:00.018+08:00

Oh how I love it when I finally have time to sit down and just spend some time on my machine doing things that are NOT work-related in any way. It's been eons since I had the chance to write about anything in here; ideas they come and then they go, by the time I get a few minutes to myself the cerita is so basi you could smell the stink from the other side of the world.

A few more hours to go until we say byebye to April and welcome the fifth month of they year. Freaky how fast time flies by hey? I can still remember welcoming the new year at Supperclub KL (yawn) like it was yesterday.

Right, so how's the year coming along?

One word: GREAT.

Although I did get into a minor accident along Jalan Kelombong today (accidentally bumped into the car in front - my first ever mishap this year; and the FIRST accident I ever got into in my entire 11 years of driving experience). But... to hell with that. Shit unfortunately happens.

So what has May got installed for me? Plenty! Oh what a fun-packed month it's going to be. My trip to Mabul/Sipadan is only about 14 days away - plenty of time to get some new dive gear plus that cute pink bikini I saw online the other day :-)

Plus, my KL/Langkawi trip at the end of the month!!! Ooooo I'm so excited about this one, words cant even begin to describe the fierce anticipation I'm feeling right now. So much so that I get giddy even thinking about it (Marini, you know what I'm talking about).

You'd better believe how excited I am when I have a "things to pack list"!

After which I fly off to Perth for a short holiday + AvB's (that's Armin van Buuren for you dance music illiterates out there haha) Australian tour for the Queen's Birthday. We haven't even gotten tickets for this (they are completely sold out for the Perth leg of his tour) but we like to remain optimistic. If we don't get to see him in Perth then I'll be damned if I want to stay in and sulk. I'm flying to Brisbane even if it's 5 hours away. We don't have an adventurous itinerary for Perth (yet), mainly because it 's winter end of May/early June and if you don't know it already, I HATE COLD WEATHER. Cold weather makes me so miserable it makes me appreciate staying in Malaysia even with all the crazy 3-hour/daily power outages and all.

No lah, I was just bluffing about flying to Brisbane. I cannot afford an AUS$1,000 trip for just one night of passion cos I'm BROKE (seriously). Sigh. Being broke sucks monkey balls big time.

But but but Matt has PROMISED to take us out on the boat to watch dolphins and sea lions so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we at least get some lovely weather if only for a day. Spotting dolphins!!! I mean, how freaking awesome is that!

On another note, everything is coming along great work-wise. I love my job and I don't think I will ever get tired of saying that :-) Outside of work I've been doing a lot of basic cooking & housekeeping in lieu of the clubbing and partying that I was so fond of once upon a time (I still am a party girl, but a domesticated one at that heee!) so that's some positive news for you on the self-development side of my report.

And here is something I'm currently working on: a trip to Scotland. I realise it's a destination that's not on most people's radar but if any of you know the best and (cheapest) route to that side of the world, please drop me a line! It's not exactly the best choice in terms of currency exchange as well, but I just have to go dammit.

To cap this off on a positive note, (probably going to be the last "update post" before I once again drop off from the face of the earth) here are things I'm forever thankful of today:

1. Nice people who still have their good manners intact
2. Insurance
3. Skype!!!!

Enjoy the long weekend & Happy Labour Day for tomorrow. Finally a valid reason to be slack and get away with it (this doesn't apply to me though since I'm slack everyday hahahaha).

ASOT 400 DJ sets vids (audio only)

2009-04-27T07:26:00.010+08:00

As promised here are some of the DJ set recordings (audio-only) I found off youtube for those who missed Armin van Buuren's 400th episode of A State of Trance (ASOT).

The quality of these videos are amazing considering the fact that they were recorded on a live set (video was removed due to copyright infringement, or so they say). Here are some of my favourite sets from Day 1 of ASOT400 @ Club Butan, Wuppertal, Germany.

Just make sure you have very good speakers for this yeah :-)

Arnej's set which was super super amazing!! Easily my favourite of the lot.

Roger Shah who was totally rockin it!

Duderstadt's set which was more progressive house than trance, but still very good.

And of course the man himself, Armin van Buuren!

I can't wait to catch AvB live in action in Perth.

Gonna be so sick.

Project A.W.A.R.E - Earth Day 2009

2009-04-26T05:26:00.003+08:00

Save Mother Earth.

Collect your rubbish.

Plant a tree.

Recycle your beer cans :-D

Clarice's bundle of joy!

2009-04-21T14:07:00.003+08:00

Presenting to the world, baby Yvette born April 21, 2009 @ 0247 hrs.

Sigh. I am now a (god)mother.

Cum babysitter.

EMD - All For Love

2009-04-20T22:11:00.003+08:00

I know there's some kind of negative stigma that oftentime surrounds boy bands (especially the cute ones!), but I happen to think that this is a pretty good rendition of Bryan Adam & Rod Steward's "All For Love".

What do you think?

Whenever I say your name.

2009-04-20T07:58:00.002+08:00

Taking a break from the world of trance to feature one of my favourite tracks by Sting.

Whenever I say your name, whenever I call to mind your face
Whatever bread's in my mouth, whatever the sweetest wine that I taste
Whenever your memory feeds my soul, whatever got broken becomes whole
Whenever I'm filled with doubts that we will be together

Wherever I lay me down, wherever I put my head to sleep
Whenever I hurt and cry, whenever I got to lie awake and weep
Whenever I kneel to pray, whenever I need to find a way
I'm calling out your name

Whenever those dark clouds hide the moon
Whenever this world has gotten so strange
I know that something's gonna change
Something's gonna change

Whenever I say your name, Whenever I say your name, I'm already praying, I'm already praying
I'm already filled with a joy that I can't explain
Wherever I lay me down, wherever I rest my weary head to sleep
Whenever I hurt and cry, whenever I got to lie awake and weep
Whenever I'm on the floor
Whatever it was that I believed before
Whenever I say your name, whenever I say it loud, I'm already praying

Whenever this world has got me down, whenever I shed a tear
Whenever the TV makes me mad, whenever I'm paralyzed with fear
Whenever those dark clouds fill the sky, whenever I lose the reason why
Whenever I'm filled with doubts that we will be together

Whenever the sun refuse to shine, whenever the skies are pouring rain
Whatever I lost I thought was mine whenever I close my eyes in pain
Whenever I kneel to pray, whenever I need to find a way
I'm calling out your name

Whenever this dark begins to fall
Whenever I'm vulnerable and small
Whenever I feel like I could die
Whenever I'm holding back the tears that I cry

Whenever I say your name, whenever I call to mind your face
I'm already praying
Whatever bread's in my mouth, whatever the sweetest wine that I taste
Wherever I lay me down, wherever I rest my weary head to sleep
Whenever I hurt and cry, whenever I'm forced to lie awake and have to weep
Whenever I'm on the floor
Whatever it was that I believed before
Whenever I say your name, whenever I say it loud, I'm already praying

Whenever I say your name,
No matter how long it takes,
One day we'll be together

Whenever I say your name,
let there be no mistake
that day will last forever

A State of Trance ASOT400 LIVE Day 3

2009-04-19T05:32:00.009+08:00

This is the third and final day of the ASOT400 celebration brought to you LIVE from Maasilo, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Roger Shah is on the decks as I type this. Am not sure why they are broadcasting Arena 2 instead of Arena 1, the main arena. But anyway, here is the timetable for tonight's show.

Arena 1 all times in CET
22:00 [04:00] Mr Sam
23:00 [05:00] Sied van Riel
00:00 [06:00] Gareth Emery
01:00 [07:00] Armin van Buuren
03:00 [09:00] Aly & Fila
04:00 [10:00] Daniel Kandi
05:00 [11:00] Simon Patterson

[ ] denotes local Malaysian times

Listen and watch live video streaming at: http://astateoftrance.dancefoundation.nl/

I will put up some videos of a few sets by various DJs here soonish so feel free to check them out in a day or two.

Armin van Buuren keep rockin it! ASOT totally kicks every radio show's ass!! :-D