Batik IndonesiaBatik has been the most discussed topic among Indonesians lately, although people are not really sure what the exact definition of Batik. Many people think that Batik is the fabric and the exotic pattern. Many similar patterns can be found in Southeast Asia, China, India, etc. Therefore there are many countries in this world claiming that Batik is originated from those places. But there is one other definition, that Batik is the technique of making those fabrics.

Batik originally is produced by drawing patterns on a piece of cloth using wax. The process is very long and complicated, but it is unique and very artistic. In the past, only people who lived in the palace that were allowed to wear Batik. Their positions in the palace were determined by the patterns they wore. But as time went by, common folks started wearing Batik in their daily lives. Handmade Batik still exists, but now most of it is printed, mass-produced to meet the market’s demand. On formal occasions, silk Batik can replace suit as formal dress for men. But now Batik has become an everyday wear for Indonesians, which is good to preserve and promote Batik.

Ethnics Profile: The Rungus

The Rungus is a sub-group of the Kadazandusun group found mainly in Kudat and Bengkoka peninsula in the northern part of Sabah. Rungus is well known for maintaining their ancient traditions as well as beadwork. Generally they are sedentary farmers as well as shifting cultivators. With their staple food being rice and maize, they are also skilled in producing homespun cloth made from cotton, locally known as kapok, for their costumes.

Rungus live in their traditional longhouse in which each family lives in a separate apartment with its own sleeping and working areas and kitchen. A gallery runs through the entire longhouse and allows all the residents to mingle and socialise. The Rungus tribe weave a fine tale literally and it’s believed that each time they weave a bead necklace using certain patterns, they are actually telling a story such as a man going spear-hunting for a riverine creature.

The design of Rungus costume is simple. A black cloth with little hand-stitched patterns worn from the chest to the waist becomes the blouse (banat tondu). The knee-length sarong (tapi rinugading) is made of the same material. Another length of black cloth, about 28-30 cm wide is then slipped over the head and it rests on the shoulder, draped over the arms like sleeves.

Little brass rings and antique beads looped through thin strands of stripped bark (togung) becomes a wide and colorful hipband called orot. The last string of beads (lobokom) is hung loosely from the coil. The orot is hand made by the Rungus men using a technique known only to them. Two shoulders bands (pinakol) about 6 to 8 cm wide are worn diagonally over each shoulder and cross over in front. Long antique bead necklaces (sandang) are also worn diagonally over the shoulders. These necklaces often include ivory-white discs obtained from shell of kima (tridachna gigas) as well as animal bones.

Then several necklaces of reddish-brown glass beads and the choker-like suldau with white kima as the centerpiece are then added to the costume. The large burambun and smaller giring are antique brass bells that sound with the slightest movement. The Rungus lady’s hair is combed into a bun and a multi-coloured floral head-piece (titimbok) is worn. A thin band of beads strung together (sisingal) is tied around the forehead and pieces of cloth sewn together in a row to form colourful pigtails (rampai) are then tied at the nape.

my favourite band (DEWA 19-INDONESIA BAND)

Beginnings
Dewa was first formed in 1986 by four students from a junior high school SMPN 6 in Surabaya. The name Dewa originated as an acronym of the founding members' names: D from Dhani (keyboard, vocals), E from Erwin Prasetya (bass guitar), W from Wawan Juniarso (drums) and A from Andra (guitar). Dewa is also an Indonesian word meaning 'god', or 'deity'. The band was initially based at Wawan's dorm in the Airlangga University complex.
Wanting to take a different direction, Wawan left the band in 1988 and formed Outsider with Ari Lasso. The name Dewa was changed to Down Beat which became a reasonably well-known name in East Java during that time.
When Slank became well-known, Wawan was asked to rejoin Dewa to rejuvenate the band and Ari Lasso was invited too. As the age of the bands members was 19 years at the time, Down Beat was changed to Dewa 19. Due to the lack of a studio that met their requirements in Surabaya, the band was forced to move to Jakarta where after a number of rejections by record companies, a Dewa 19 master was finally recorded by Team Records.
[edit] Mainstream success and line-up instability
The first album Dewa 19 was released in 1992. Exceeding expectations, the album received awards from BASF in the categories of Best Newcomer and Most Popular Album of 1993.
During the making of the second album Format Masa Depan which was released in 1994, Wawan left the band again due to incompatibility between the members. After their 1995 album Terbaik-Terbaik which enjoyed sales of more than half a million units was completed, Wong Aksan joined the band as drummer. Wong departed too after the following album Pandawa Lima was finished in 1997 and was replaced by Bimo Sulaksono, a former member of Netral. Not long thereafter Bimo left Dewa 19 and together with Bebi formed the band Romeo.

Culture & Society - Festival & Celebrations
Hari Raya Puasa
Muslims celebrate the festival of Aidilfitri – popularly known as Hari Raya Puasa, or simply Hari Raya (Day of Celebration) in Malaysia – to mark the culmination of Ramadhan, the holy month of fasting.
It is a joyous occasion for Muslims, as it signifies a personal triumph, a victory of self-restraint and abstinence, symbolising purification and renewal.
Prayers at the National Mosque during Ramadan
Fasting during the month of Ramadhan is compulsory or wajib, whereby Muslims are required to abstain from satisfying their most basic needs and urges, daily, between sunrise and sunset. It is one of the five tenets of Islam; as is the paying of zakat (alms tax for the poor), which must be tithed by the end of Ramadhan.
In Malaysia, the period of fasting ends when the new moon is sighted on the evening of the last day of Ramadhan. The actual sighting is conducted by state appointed religious officials at various vantage points (usually at hilltops) throughout the country.
If the crescent is sighted, the following day is then declared the first day of Aidilfitri, which is also the beginning of the 10th month of the Muslim calendar Syawal.
A time to forgive and forget
Aidilfitri is celebrated for the whole month of Syawal, but in Malaysia, only the first two days are observed as public holidays. It is widely common however, to see Muslims taking the first week off from work.

LONDON MY DREAM COUNTRY

London

View of Westminster by Wenceslaus Hollar 1647. Parliament is housed in St Stephen's Chapel. Westminster Abbey is lacking its distinctive twin towers which were added by Hawksmoor in 1734 (completed in 1745 after his death).

Buckingham Palace, London, England. It is one of the capital's principal tourist attractions. Part of the palace is open to the public.

St Paul's Cathedral, London, England. Although immense damage was caused in the immediate vicinity, the building survived the second great fire of London in 1940, caused by a blitz of incendiary bombs during World War II.

St Paul's Cathedral survived German bombing raids during the Blitz of World War II, but its silhouette, which once dominated the London skyline, has become lost among towering high-rise office blocks of the late 1900s. The present building, designed by Christopher Wren, replaced an earlier Norman building, which was destroyed by fire in 1666.

The chancel of St Paul's Cathedral, London. The Cathedral has hosted many important national events, such as the funeral of the Duke of Wellington in 1852, Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee service in 1897, the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965, and the marriage of Charles, Prince of Wales, to Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. It celebrated its 300th anniversary in 1997.

Several English and British monarchs are buried in Westminster Abbey. Nowadays only ashes are allowed; permission has to be obtained from the Dean of Westminster for all burials and monuments. People who have served the Abbey in an official capacity, such as a dean, a canon, an organist, or a Surveyor of the Fabric may be buried here. Eminent Britons from various fields may also be considered. John Masefield was buried in the Abbey in l967 and the actor Laurence Olivier in l99l.

A view of the chancel ceiling in St Paul's Cathedral, London, England. Designed by Christopher Wren and built in the last quarter of the 17th century (finished 1711), this cathedral replaced an earlier one that burned down in 1666. The high altar and reredos of 1888 were severely damaged by bombing in 1940, and a new altar with a domed canopy (by S E Dykes Bower and Godfrey Allen, after existing drawings by Wren) was consecrated in 1958.

A view of London, England, from a manuscript of the poems of Charles, Duke of Orléans (1394–1465). The principal building is the White Tower in the Tower of London. Charles of Orléans was taken prisoner at the Battle of Agincourt and spent 25 years in England before being ransomed in 1440.

Visitors in a capsule on the London Eye look over the Houses of Parliament, London, England. The capsules take 30 minutes to rotate around the wheel, providing visitors with stunning views over the city. Opened in 1999, the London Eye has become one of London's main tourist attractions.

Derelict gasometers near St Pancras station, London, England. They are a clear indicator of the decline of industrial manufacturing in inner cities. In the background is the British Telecom (BT) tower (formerly the Post Office tower), a symbol of the service industries that now dominate the British economy.

Urban redevelopment at Canary Wharf in the Docklands, London, England. Docklands is a typical inner-city location. The traditional heavy industries, such as warehousing, storage, and distribution, were at their peak in the 19th century, but have been replaced by service-industry employers whose business is in sectors such as law and finance.

An urban river, the River Wandle, which flows through southwest London, England. In most developed countries natural rivers are now rare. Many lowland rivers have been significantly altered by engineering. Rivers have been straightened, widened, and deepened, and their banks have been built up. This is to protect urban residents and businesses from flooding. They do this by removing the water from the urban area as quickly as possible. Wider, deeper rivers can remove more water than small, narrow ones.

Trooping the Colour. This ceremonial parade dates back to around 1700, when the ‘colours’ or brightly coloured flags of a battalion had far more military significance. Nowadays, the Trooping the Colour ceremony is held every June on Horse Guards Parade, in London, to honour the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Oxo Wharf Tower on London's South Bank. Originally built in 1928, the tower had become derelict by the early 1970s, but was not demolished. Instead, it has been redeveloped and revitalized with a restaurant, bars, and shops.

The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London, England. One of the great lyric theatres, during its accomplished history the Royal Opera House has played host to some of the finest ballet companies, opera companies, and orchestras in the world.

London's Guildhall art gallery. Although the original building was burned down in an air raid in 1941, the Guildhall still houses many famous works of art. The new gallery displays about two hundred and fifty works at a time, and places great emphasis on temporary collections and the presentation of rare pictures usually kept in storage.

Canary Wharf has for many centuries been a major London dock. Having fallen into neglect, it was regenerated in the 1980s and 1990s and is now one of the most expensive and exclusive business and residential sites in London.

The Tate Modern art gallery at Bankside, London. Housed in the former Bankside power station, the Tate Modern houses one of the most important collections of modern art in the world. A major tourist attraction, the gallery attracts millions of visitors each year.

Competitors taking part in the London Marathon. The London Marathon was founded in 1981 by Chris Brasher. The first event was entered by 7,747 runners, and since then 471,000 people have completed the course. In 2001, 30,000 people raced in the marathon. Over the years, the London Marathon has raised an estimated £125 million for charity.

The London Eye, also known as the Millennium Wheel, is one of the largest observational wheels in the world. With unparalleled views of London, the Eye has proved a major tourist attraction, but it was a controversial addition to the city's skyline.

The White Tower, the oldest part of the Tower of London, on the banks of the Thames River, London. This tower was constructed from 1078, by the followers of William the Conqueror, and the remainder of the fortress was built around it by succeeding monarchs.
Capital of England and the United Kingdom, on the River Thames. Since 1965 its metropolitan area has been known as Greater London (see London, Greater), consisting of the City of London and 32 boroughs; total area 1,580 sq km/610 sq mi; combined population (2001) 7,172,100. London is the biggest city in Western Europe at the heart of the most populous region – 15.5 million people live in London and the South East. The City of London, known as the ‘square mile’, is the financial and commercial centre of the UK; area 2.7 sq km/1 sq mi. Over 21 million people visited London in 2001. Popular tourist attractions include the Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, and Westminster Abbey. The Millennium Dome at Greenwich was the centrepiece of Britain's millennium celebrations.
HistoryRoman Londinium was established soon after the Roman invasion in AD 43; in the 2nd century London became a walled city; by the 11th century it was the main city of England and gradually extended beyond the walls to link with the originally separate Westminster. Throughout the 19th century London had the largest city-based population in the world. (See London: history.)
FeaturesThe Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror on a Roman site, and now houses the crown jewels and the royal armouries; it is a World Heritage Site. Other features include the 15th-century Guildhall; the Monument, a column designed by Christopher Wren, which marks the site in Pudding Lane where the Fire of London began in 1666; Mansion House, the residence of the lord mayor; the Barbican arts and conference centre; the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben; the Old Bailey (Central Criminal Court); and the Inns of Court. Covent Garden, once a vegetable market, is now a tourist, shopping, and entertainment area.
Architecture

ABOUT ASIAN TOURISM INTERNASIONAL COLLEGE(ATIC)

Founded in 1996, Asian Tourism Institute or better known as ATI College was established as the only college specializing in hospitality, tourism and culinary studies in Sabah. We are one of the leading and dynamic centers for hospitality, tourism and culinary education in East Malaysia. Our doors are open to students of various nationalities who seek to enter a college that provides unrivalled quality education in hospitality, tourism and culinary.
As its motto "College for Excellence" suggests, the college strives to be excellent in every aspect concerned. Students are attracted to the college for its comprehensive and high quality programs, which allow a flexible approach to studying for a Certificate, Diploma or a Higher National Diploma. Through our internationally recognized programs and their focus on contemporary issues and needs, we are able to offer sound career prospects to aspiring graduates.
Since the first convocation in 1998, graduates of ATI College are constantly being sought after by the hospitality industry for their skills, efficiency, productivity, and creativity. After more than 8 years in operation, ATI has managed more than 7000 graduates who are now some of the prominent hoteliers, captains in the tourism industry, and renowned chefs in the local hospitality, tourism and culinary scene.


With the ever continuing commitment to produce high quality graduates who will be joining the ever colorful and vibrant service industry. The ever-increasing national and international contacts with businesses and industry ensure that ATI's education programs continue to stay firmly in-touch with the real world.
The continuous offering of new education programs tailored to meet the hospitality industry's needs makes ATI College your college of choice for a career with a difference.


Datuk Wong Khen ThauChief Executive Officer

TWILIGHT SYNOPSIS

When Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) reluctantly moved to the perpetually overcast town of Forks, WA, and set out to carve a niche for herself, she assumed it would be one similar to the low-profile social position she held back in Phoenix. First on the list of surprises was the unfamiliar attention from the male population of her new high school; second, the attention from one male in particular: Edward Cullen, Vampire (Robert Pattinson). Before long, the unlikely soul mates find themselves in a passionate relationship with a variety of significant setbacks, including Edward's special-needs diet (he doesn't eat humans, but Bella's scent inspires a nearly impossible to harness bloodlust) and the human girl's mortality. Though things proceed relatively smoothly at first (Edward even introduces Bella to his adoptive vampire family), a visiting vampire clan consisting of James (Cam Gigandet), Victoria (Rachelle Lefevre), and Laurent (Edi Gathegi) catches Bella's unique scent and threatens the young couple's budding, if dangerous, happiness. James, known for his powerful tracking ability, becomes obsessed with making Bella his next victim. Fearing for Bella's safety and that of her loved ones, the Cullens must combine their collective talents in order to stop the highly predatory James before his goal is accomplished. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide

About Roxy
When Quiksilver decided to start a women's line in 1990, it was a gutsy move. The surf market has always been a fickle one. And female surfers, despite their achievements in and out of the water, hadn't drummed up nearly the notoriety nor the community that guys had long enjoyed.
But great ideas always take some guts. And the company saw the untapped women's surf market as a huge opportunity. Turns out they were right.
Like all things Quiksilver, Roxy was born in the water; initially a swimwear line, it debuted in late summer 1990 to immediate success. By the next year, a Roxy sportswear line was introduced, and that too prospered, with sales of over $1 million. 1992 saw continued expansion of the brand with a new denim line and key snowwear pieces. The fact that Roxy was a women's line offered by an authentic surf brand made it intriguing for both retailers and girls alike. It was the first of its kind on the market, and soon after, the other surf brands followed.
By 1993, Roxy was on a serious roll. The ever-popular Roxy logo was born, a heart-shaped crest adapted from the recognizable Quiksilver logo. The brand's popularity was growing, as was its staff. And then one afternoon in Hawaii, as legend has it, the Roxy crew was sitting on a beach watching the surf when they came up with the idea of the women's board short. Offering fit and flexibility while still managing to be feminine, the women's boardshort was an innovation that forever changed the women's surf market. It was also the perfect example of what the Roxy brand had originally set out to be, in the words of Quiksilver's 1990 Annual Report: "Fun, Bold, Athletic, Daring and Classy". The boardshort became a huge trend. Roxy, and women's surfing along with it, was suddenly the next big thing.
1994 marks another major milestone for Roxy: Lisa Andersen, then the reigning ASP Female World Champion, became the first member of the Roxy team. Lisa went on to win three more world titles, and along with them, crossover mass-market fame. She is considered by many to be the most influential surfer in the history of women's surfing, and her contributions to the Roxy brand and the team continue to play a key role in Roxy's success. Under her guidance, the Boardrider's Team has grown into the most respected and accomplished pro team in women's surfing. Current team members include: Megan Abubo, Chelsea Georgeson, Veronica Kay, Kassia Meador, Kula Barbieto, 'tween surfing phenom Carissa Moore, and reigning world champ Sofia Mulanovich.
A Roxy-branded professional event was a natural progression from team sponsorship, and thus the first annual Quiksilver/Roxy Women's Pro Surfing event was born. It took place in winter 1995 on Sunset Beach, Oahu's North Shore. Ten years later, the Roxy Pro Hawaii remains one of the most prestigious and exciting ASP World Championship surf events of the year.

MALAYSIAN FOOD

Malaysian FoodRice is an integral element in most Malay meals. Other than rice, noodles are also accompaniments to most spicy gravies. Be it the Yee Meen (pre-fried noodles) or Tang Hoon (transparent noodles made from green beans), Malaysian food offers a few noodle and vermicelli varieties that make for the carbohydrate source. Seafood is popular as also beef and mutton. Pork never finds its way to most traditional Malay dishes due to religious reasons. Roti Jala is a malay pancake made of flour, coconut milk, eggs and butter. This lacy crepe goes well with rich curries and gravies. Prawns, shrimp, squid and fish are popular in Malay cuisine. Seafood is either grilled after seasoning and wrapping in banana leaves or stuffed with belachan.Traditional Malay food makes use of tantalizing herbs such as lemon grass, daun kemangi (a type of basil), nutmeg, bunga kantan(wild ginger buds) and pandan (screwpine) leaves. Dried spices such as star anise, fenugreek, coriander, cumin and fennel are frequently used to flavor Malayan dishes. Some of the unique spices used in Malaysian food lend different colors to rice. Fresh chili paste, onions and garlic find themselves in most Malaysian dishes. Fresh coconut milk is also an integral part. Typical Malayan gravy has fresh and dried ingredients ground into a paste called rempah. This is sautéed in oil to bring out the aroma. Coconut milk is used to add a creamy richness. Though soups are not usually a must-have in a Malay meal, the Sup Kambing (mutton soup) is a regional delicacy.
A key ingredient in Malay cuisine is belachan. It is pronounced as blah-chan. It makes for an interesting twist in any Malay meal. Belachan is used to make sauces and gravies and can lend richness to a dish. Made from baby shrimps, belachan is available as bricks or cakes. Roast a small lump and pound with fresh chilies and add limejuice... and you have belachan ready to be used. In fact it is used in Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian cuisine. There are subtle differences in the cooking styles in different regions of Malaysia. The Kelantanese cuisine is more like Thai food whereas cuisine from Kedah state tends to be influenced by Indian spices. Coconut milk, palm sugar and freshly grated coconut are essential ingredients in most Malaysian desserts. Pulut Hitam is a black sticky rice porridge made with coconut milk and sago. The Cendol is made with chilled coconut milk and coconut palm sugar and smooth rice. ABC or Air Batu Campur is a Malaysian dessert prepared with sweet corn, red beans, jelly grass and topped with colorful syrups and condensed milk and slathered with shaved ice. Enjoy an astonishing variety of exotic fruits in Malaysia - starfruit, lychees, mangosteens, pineapples, bananas, melons and durian. The durian is a Malaysian fruit that is encased in a heavy green shell that has spiky thorns. Its characteristic pungent smell doesn't appeal to many though.