The launch of National Geographic store in Malaysia

On a Monday, the 21st June 2010, I was invited to see the official launch of the National Geographic store in Lot 10, a mall in Kuala Lumpur. It was quite an exciting event and to show you how exciting it was, here is a video by dancers immediately after the speeches to officiate the launch of the store.

Some of the VIPs that day were 3 generations of YTL Corporation's founding family comprising of Tan Sri Dato' Sri Yeoh Tiong Lay (the founder); Tan Sri Dr. Francis Yeoh (the Managing Director) and Ruth Yeoh (Director of Investment); The Minister of Tourism, as always smartly dressed in her cheong-sam ensemble, YB Dato' Sri Ng Yen Yen; and Malaysian first astronaut, Dr. Sheikh Muzafar. There was also a representative from National Geographic from Washington in the form of Ms Alison Middleton to see the opening of only the 4th National Geographic store in the world.

Here are some pictures at the event and more can be seen at the Facebook link here.

Where the event was held

The VIPs at the front of the Nat Geo store

The press conference at the end of the event

World Foursquare Meetup Day at Tune Hotels Kota Damansara

Foursquare is one of my indulgence which has no reason or rhyme for it. I mean, why tell everyone where you are or what you are doing? No wonder it was one of Times 50 worse invention ever. Heard about the parody website 'Please Rob Me?'. Yes, there are too many pros and cons about FourSquare that it is the perfect media for some promotion like what Tune Hotels did.

On 16th June 2010, a few of the social media people were invited to the newest Tune Hotel in Kuala Lumpur at Kota Damansara. Located at Sunsuria Avenue, the Tune Hotel lobby is not on ground level but on the 5th floor of the mall. You have to wait for the elevator (like those who accompany me that day here and go to hotel's lobby on the higher floor)

Just follow the signage if you can't find it.

What do social media people do on FourSquare Day? We talk a bit of course but we also look down on our PDA and smartphone and tell our friends on Twitter, Facebook and of course, FourSquare, we are having fun meeting old and new friends.

This was not my first time in a Tune Hotel as I have stayed in their hotels in mid-town Kuala Lumpur when I had to catch an early bus at 7am due to a trip to Singapore and one time due to the need to catch an early flight to Thailand (there seem to be a trend here). Anyway, their hotels room are a bit cramp but what you can find for a good night sleep are all there.

They have a new hotel in London  at the Westminster area and as I am always following Tune Hotels on twitter, I have known this for quite some time and as I have a trip to London this September, I may just be one of the first to get a room there.

I really hope their promise to be a 5-star experience at a 1-star price will be extended to more countries so that people who just want to sleep in hotel rooms then explore the place they are vacationing can get an affordable accommodations.

To get news of good deals, follow them on Twitter and Facebook. 

Toy Story 3

Thanks to Advertlets, I was invited to the launching of the Toy Story 3 media conference which was held at Center Court, Midvalley Megamall. The media event happened at 4pm on 11th of June 2010. This is nearly 6 days ahead of its opening day in cinema worldwide. 

It was an exciting event, hosted by Azura of the Disney Channel and she kept the crowd (who mostly consist are adults acting like kids) excited with questions about Toy Story. One of the question that stumped the audience is "What is that alien which like to make this sound", she then went "Wooo....". Very much like that alien which actually is named as 'Little Green Men'. 

In this installation of Toy Story, the toys are left behind when their owner, Andy, left for college. They were then donated to Sunnyside Daycare where grubby little hands played with them. Hard.... There are new toys in the movie and they are as fun as the old toys. Together, they embody the tagline of the movie "The Great Escape" as seen on the poster held by the VIPs at the launch of the movie at Midvalley.

As with the other Toy Story 1 and 2, there is a short film at the start of Toy Story 3. It is called Night and Day (a tongue in cheek to Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz?) about day and night which learned to live with each other. And what is Toy Story without it's music. This time by Gypsy King. And as all movie nowadays you have to wait for end credits before you see secret scenes and such, wait till this one finishes too.

I really think that movie like Toy Story 3 brings out the child in you. Look at these bloggers like Sham Hardy and Leonard Chua being excited as they took pictures with Buzz Lightyear and Woody (on the left side out of frame) who was flown from Hong Kong Disneyland.

Go see the movie as it will bring back fond memories. It will be in cinema nationwide this June 17th.

Happiness

I am really at a stage where I think I already have everything I ever want. 

Of course, people say, you can never have too much money. Or friends. Or time. Or...(insert opinion). You will crave so many thing even if you are envied by everyone who ever met you.

I sold my car nearly a year ago. I thought I will last one of two month about it. My wife was kind of furious when I sold it as I used up the profit that we made on one of our first property investment to buy it, in the first place. She did say consider it as my birthday gift and you can read bout that car here.

It is actually nearly one year since I sold that car. We are currently still travelling around town in a car which I bought 5 years ago. It will reach its 200,000 km in a few weeks but it still in a good condition.

I did think of buying another car but for since we own this just one car, although I do find it difficult to move around at will, I find it nice to have the luxury of spending time together as my wife pick me up from work and not rushing too much to get home as we enjoy our evening.

That to me, is happiness...