Read here whereby today the Penang state government launched “Penang Free WiFi” - the first step in making Penang the country’s first WiFi state.
1st Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj
Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! Each year the shouts of independence echo from every nook and corner of the country on August 31 to mark Merdeka Day or Independence Day. 
This year, the nation celebrates its 51st year of independence. It was on August 30, 1957 that then Chief Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj opened Stadium Merdeka. The next day, history was made as the Union Jack was lowered and the Malaysian flag rose, with Tunku Abdul Rahman making the famous rallying cries "Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!" as the first Prime Minister of the Federation of Malaya. 
The Penang National Park is located at the North-East corner of Penang and fronts the Straits of Malacca. The main entrance to the park is located in Teluk Bahang. Visitors should register themselves and obtain entry permits at the Penang National Park counter in Teluk Bahang.
Penang National Park, a natural forest is also called "Bay of Glowing Amber" due to its scenic and spectacular sunset. The natural attractions of Penang National Park include the Hill Dipterocarp Forests, Mangrove Forest areas. Sandy Beach habitats, the unique seasonal meromictic lake and the open coastal seas.
Turtles
The beaches at the Penang National Park are among the turtle landing sites in the peninsular. The turtle species that nest on these beaches include the Green (Chelonia mydas) and the Olive-Ridley (Lepidochelys olicacea) turtle species. Among the beaches that are locations for turtle landings are Pantai Kerachut and Pantai Teluk Kampi.
Undisturbed, unspoilt & tranquility is what best to describe Pantai Kerachut. Located at the north-east of Penang Island along the Muka Head cape, it is one of six beaches in Penang National Park.This relatively unknown place is normally frequent by locals who went there to explore the lush greenery of Penang National Park & to camp at the designated campsite near the beach. Lately, more & more foreign tourist starts to give this fantastic place, a stop over.
There are a number of ways to reach Pantai Kerachut. This trail is the shortest. Use the common trail from Teluk Bahang to Pasir Pandak, and branch off from the coast at the first suspension bridge heading for Pantai Kerachut. This path could take about two hours. You will cross a stream and pass a track that leads down towards Sungai Tukun. The last part of the trail makes a steep descent into Pantai Kerachut valley. You have to wade across a stream to reach the beach but there is now a hanging bridge that could take you across the meromictic lake and onto Kerachut beach.
Pantai Kerachut has a beautiful stretch of white sandy beach, popular for picnics and camping. The meromictic lake is also located in Pantai Kerachut. 
The memorictic lake is the greatest attraction here. Warm saline water below and fresh water on top. Crab, rare fishes and large prawns are quite common. The fishery department has built a turtle sanctuary.
This sandy stretch is also the nesting place of the Green Turtles from April to August, and the Olive-Ridley from September to February. The turtle hatchery was set up in Pantai Kerachut in 1995. Take care not to disturb the turtle nesting grounds. Let's save the turtles. 
The historical Straits Settlement cities of George Town and Malacca have just been classified as Unesco World Heritage sites.
The two towns constitute a unique architectural and cultural townscape without parallel anywhere in East and Southeast Asia,” said the citation on the Unesco Heritage list website. Malaysia had been bidding for the prestigious listing since 2004.
We all, Exellers are indeed very proud of such listing by UNESCO World Heritage Site for Georgetown and Congratulations to all who make such a rare listing by UNESCO a SUCCESS !!! SYABAS to ALL.... 
So to all fellow Exellers & Friends, let's celebrate and "LET THE PARTY BEGINS"
27 July 2008
H'ng & family was the 1st to arrive at the view point at 1230hrs waiting for the rest followed by Jaya & family. This view point was a good meeting place and from here you could get a good view of South Eastern part of Penang. Pulau Kendi was easily seen from this point and the whole forest terrain was a awesome sight with many durians tree sighted.
The last to arrive was NK & family and thus with about 20 of us, we proceed to the durian farm in Balik Pulau. Roll call of Exellers participating this year durian party were : Vivian,Shirley,Rebecca,Low,Siew-Siew & hubby,Jaya & family,NK & family, CS Ang & family,H'ng & family and Gary & friends later joined all of us at the orchard farm. Many durians of branded varieties were served ang heh, bak u, hor lor, D112, D64 and the old actress "Lin Fong Chiao".
The cost was shared among all the adults ( children eat for free) and is was only MYR20 per person with total amount of MYR300 worth of durians opened for our feast.
As some of us could still go for Balik Pulau Jalan Baru hokkien mee & laksa, we thus proceed to wipe up a bowl of this each and it was indeed a very hearty & full meal for the day.
It was indeed a well rewarded day spend together and this gathering is once in a rare occasion where ex-Exellers could come & gather to catch up on old times & rekindle with good fond memories during Exel era.
For those who could not make it for this year durian party, don't worry as we will have another Durain Party next year, and if possible make it a point to attend as after all this will take only 3 hours of your weekend precious time. . Never mind if you hate the smell of durians or dont't eat durians as it is the company and friends together that matters as all good things in life are best shared.
More about Bon Odori ........
This Buddhist dance festival is celebrated as a reminder of the gratefulness one should feel toward their ancestors. Bon Odori originates from the story of a Buddhist disciple who envisioned his deceased mother in the Realm of Hungry Ghosts where she was endulging in her own selfishness. Greatly disturbed, he went to Buddha and asked how he could release his mother from this realm. Buddha advised his disciple to perform some charitable act in memory of his mother. The disciple did this and, thus, saw his mother's release for the Realm of Hungry Ghosts. He also began to see the true nature of her past unselfishness and the many sacrifices that she had made for him. The disciple, happy because of his mother's release and grateful for his mother's kindness, danced with joy. From this dance of joy comes Bon Odori or Bon Dance, a time in which our ancestors and their sacrifices are remembered and appreciated.
Today the Bon Odori Festival participants continue this custom as they dance in traditional Japanese dress, including kimonos, yukata (cotton kimonos), and hopi coats (short coats styled like a kimono top). The dances may include the use of fans, castinets, straw hats or cotton towels and recall both daily life in Japan and rememberance of ancestors.
The festival in Penang will see many stall selling food, Japanese & local as well as promotion of Japanese products during this time.
So folks, make a date to be at this festival and Enjoys to celebrate another festival happening in Penang......
Visit "SMOKEY JOE BBQ" Delights at Penang Bon Odori...be there...have F U N
These logo should be familiar to those from MSAS McGregor Swire Air Services Ltd to MSAS Cargo International then to MSAS Global Logistics and to Exel Global Logistics era ... deja vu .. looking at these is a reflections during the time of MSAS and maybe recalling back to 1970's to 1990's.....some of you all were not even born yet... anyway these are the transformation logos' for your refelections & enjoyment for all ex-Exellers to know a little bit about our history
Stockholm, capital of the Scandinavian.... enjoys some of the photos. Pictures tell a thousand words.
This whole lamb is what was left after slaughtering it for our BBQ dinner which was marinated with 10 types of herbs for 6 hrs. The meat just melt in your mouth ( just like Kobe/Waygu beef) and with no smell at all. Gotland meat – lambs are active, quick to suckle and fast growing, reaching ideal slaughter at 5-7 months of age. The meat is mild, good flavored and close-grained
No words could just describe how it taste..... it's is only in Gotland that you could have this type of lamb!!!
The Gotlands received worldwide attention when the movie "Lord of the Rings" featured the Magic Elvin Cloaks made of Gotland wool.
And this is the finest lamb served...it's the best ever lamb tasted....go together with a bottle of red wine Shiroz 1997 ...and the rest of the whole BBQ lamb...gone in 2hrs..so much good food so little stomach.... so lamb lovers...go to Gotland
Seeing these pictures, it's just beautiful and wow wow and if you are just there...it's simply awesome & astonishing. So folks out there, wanna go to Stockholm & Gotland.......let's backpack there next summer and maybe to Copenhagen & Helsinki ( is just another 1 day overnite ferry ride from Stockholm) ..... watch out for the next MATTA fair discounted rates..unbelievable fares !!!
