AZ Vaccine - The first dose...

“Your life requires your mindful presence in order to live it. Be here now...” - Akiroq Brost

The AstraZeneca vaccine has been making headlines.

Because of public concern on the effectiveness of AZ and its side-effects, the Malaysian Government decided to pull it out of the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme, offering it only to Malaysians on a voluntary basis. One has to willingly sign up to receive it specifically.

Despite the amount of public skepticism, when the first batch of AZ vaccines was opened up for registrations all vaccination slots were snapped up in just three hours. We did not register as we had already registered in My Sejahtera.

The second round of registration for the AstraZeneca vaccine was opened on May 23, with priority given to senior citizens above the age of 60 in the red area zone states in Klang Valley, Johor, Penang, and Sarawak. This time we do not want to miss the opportunity.

We registered and got our slots on 7 June 2021 at PWTC.

Salam Eidil-Fitri...

"May Allah open the doors of happiness and prosperity for us on this auspicious occasion of Eidil-Fitri..."

(At our Bidara House)

For the second year in a row, we braced ourselves for another sombre Hari Raya at home, just the two of us.

Recently, Malaysia announced another nationwide Movement Control Order from May 12 until Jun 7, a drastic move to prevent the country from slipping into a severe health catastrophe. Under the MCO, all forms of social gatherings including weddings, house visits and banquets are prohibited.

Amid nationwide lockdown, we made do with having video calls with the kids and grandkids. I missed the grandkids so much but at times like this we need to be vigilant and stay safe.

(Sara's family in Nong Chik Heights in JB)

(Iwan's family in Mandy Villa in KL)

Lunch meet at Kak Sar's...

“The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart...” - Elisabeth Foley

(The seniors and juniors at Sidah's garden)

Today the hostelite sisters had a lunch meet at Kak Sar's house in Shah Alam.

Datin Sri Dah came with Datin Jon and Bee. YB Ubai and I drove separately. Sidah and Datin Ma, who were around the area came and joined us too. Although it was supposed to be pot-luck style, Kak Sar has cooked some mouth-watering Kelantanese dishes for us. After lunch we had a guided tour of Kak Sar's beautiful neat garden. Later on the way home we made a brief stop at Sidah's house which is situated around the corner from Kak Sar's.

It was quite a while since we met. It was nice to touch base and happiness can be found with friends even in the darkest of times during this MCO period.

(A spread of delicious home-cooked food)

(The SMKB girls at Kak Sar's garden)

Regalia Street Art Lane in USJ1...

"If people only knew how hard I work to gain my mastery. It wouldn't seem so wonderful at all..." -Michelangelo

(An evening at the beach)

GPS: 3.055653, 101.605424

03 03'20.35"N, 101 36'19.53"E

(The alley is filled with vibrant murals)

(A walk in the garden of roses)

(A visit to the fishing village during sunset)

From Laman Seni 7 we drove to Regalia Business Centre in USJ1 to look for Regalia Street Art Lane. It was lunch time and there was quite a lot of vehicles on the road. The restaurants were crowded with people having their meals but there were ample parking area around the area. Our only problem was to get hold of a parking coupon. All of the coupon agents only sold the coupon by booklet and refused to sell individual pieces. Not having a parking coupon and to avoid being summoned, we parked our car in the housing area and walked a short distance under the sun.

(A cheerful neighbourhood)

(A timely proposal of a happy couple)

(A visit to the beach)

(The sun is setting fast) 

Regalia Business Centre is famous for its eateries especially for the Chinese. It has also beautified its back lane environment with colorful attractive street art murals. The art mural project in collaboration with INTI Center of Art & Design was carried out in several phases. 

(A coffee break at a Kopitiam shop)

(Mischievous elves in the kitchen) 

The mural projects have changed the back lane landscape to be cleaner and more orderly. It has also turned back lanes into a safer place and cheerful environment for the public to utilize and an attraction to tourists.

(The fish in the ocean)

(Please look at me)

(A train-load of cash)

(Baby monkeys in the flower garden)

(A clean decorated back street)

Laman Seni 7 in Shah Alam...

“Few people go to art exhibitions. The power of Street Art is that it goes to people’s daily life to be seen...” - Ino

(A collections of colorful murals)

3.068113, 101.489336

03 04'05.21"N, 101 29'21.61"E

The last time we came here was on a Saturday and the place was unusually congested. Today the area was not as busy and we had a leisure stroll along the back lane admiring the street arts of Laman Seni 7.

  

(Broken glasses and melting cones)

(All eyes are on you)

(A photographer capturing the scenes)

(Airplanes in distress)

(Variation on textures and colors)

Laman Seni 7 is located at the back alley of Jalan Plumbum R7/R, Section 7 in Shah Alam. It is a collaborated project organized by Shah Alam City Council and KHZNH Studio to transform the back lane into a street art haven. Laman Seni 7 features a total of 44 artworks, both murals and 3D art installations by independent local artists and students. 

(Creative and colorful)

(A mosque and a factory)

(Plant a tree and save the environment)

(Wildlife and their habitats)

(Each mural has a story to tell)

The project redefines the back lane into a useable space for the community and prevent unhealthy activities. This back lane would be a useable and beneficial space for the public especially the youth to express their creativity and directly creating a new space for events.

(Keeping yourself busy)

(Melting cones and a crack in the wall)

(Black and white wall murals)

(Brightly colored street)