THE BEAUTIFUL AZRINAZ MAZHAR HAKIM
AZRINAZ MAZHAR HAKIM
Saturday, 9 February 2013
E-SHED MARKET FREMANTLE
From this Alfresco terrace you can watch the boats and ships passing from/to the Fremantle Harbour
DAY 2 - 14.12.12
We stopped at the E-Shed Markets for about 1 hour. E-Shed Markets is situated on Victoria Quay in the Fremantle Harbour. E-Shed Markets is the only waterfront market in Western Australia
There were local handicrafts, antiques and collectables, fashion both vintage and new, fresh organic fruit and vegetables.We did not take many photos here as we have to rush at everything.
One of the store at the markets, selling souvenirs and crafts
That one hour shopping was quite chaotic especially when we happened to discover Aussin Gifts & Souvenirs and we all flocked into it, shouting for helps from the very few sales girls there.
Aussin is the biggest shop in the E-Shed Market and known as the one stop shop for Australian Souvenirs for the past 15 years.
You can get almost everything here, from tshirts, jackets, rainjackets, soft toys, clocks, bags, glasses, pottery & wooden Australian Crafts with Aboriginal Arts, wallets, kitchenware, Real Kangaroo skin/claws/"balls", and many more at unbelievable prices.
On the way out, I managed to grab nougats and chocolates, I almost forgot about it!
MONUMENT HILL - THE FREMANTLE WAR MEMORIAL, WA
DAY 2 - 14.12.12
From the Dragon Seafood Chinese Restaurant, we proceeded to the Monument Hill Memorial Park. We strolled the site and took few photos. The panoramic view and the gentle breeze made the 35 minutes seem to end so fast.
The Monument Hill Memorial Reserve has been designated a Class-A reserve under the Land Administration Act 1997. The site was originally established by the Fremantle Town Council in 1928 to commemorate the losses of the First World War, having previously been used as a public reserve since the early 19th century.
The Monument Hill Memorial Reserve was listed on the Register of Historic Places on 28 August 2001, with the Register Listing noting: "the complete panorama afforded from the place, its urban parkland containing mature trees and open spaces, and the open character and almost constant breeze at its summit are all aesthetic characteristics of the place that continue to attract visitors and locals alike and contribute to the community's sense of place".
A 360 views of Fremantle, Rottnest Island and as far as the Darling Ranges in the east
The 11-acres (4.45 hectare) Monument Hill Memorial Reserve, comprises a large obelisk, the Fallen Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial and surrounding by eight smaller memorials.
Friday, 8 February 2013
20 POOREST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD
1. Democratic Republic of the Congo
Do not be mistaken with the sister, the Republic of Congo. In 2010 the Democratic Republic of the Congo (known as Zaire until 1997) has become the poorest country in the world. The Second Congo War in 1998 and its aftermath in 2008, that involves at least 7 foreign armies, had killed 5.4 million people and devastated the country. The war is the deadliest conflict in the world since World War II.
2. Liberia
Liberia is recovering from the effects of the civil war that killed hundred of thousands after the president of Liberia being overthrown in 1980. About 85% of the population lives below $1 a day. A peace deal in 2003 led to democratic elections in 2005. Liberia was founded and colonized by freed slaves from America that made up the elite of the country and established a government that closely resembled that of the United States of America.
3. Zimbabwe
The life expectancy of Zimbabwe is the lowest in the world – 37 years for men and just 34 for women. One of the problems for the early deaths are the 20.1% of the population with HIV and AIDS beside the economic problems. The health issues aren’t seeing any improvement.
4. Burundi
Approximately 80% of Burundians live in poverty and according to the World Food Programme 57% of children under 5 years suffer from chronic malnutrition. The epidemic of HIV/AID has grown rapidly since diagnosed in 1983, making it one of the major causes of mortality in the country. Burundi is also known for its tribal and civil wars and have never really had any peaceful time.
5. Eritrea
In ancient times, Eritrea was known as the "Land of the Gods". For some time it was part of Ethiopia. Eritrea became an independent country in 1993.
Eritrea is affected by the Italian colonizers of the 19th century. Eritrea’s advantage of controlling the sea route through the Suez Canal made the italians to colonized it just a year after the opening of the canal in 1869 and same reason the British conquered it in 1941. The present Eritrea’s economic conditions have not improved.
6. Central African Republic
Extreme poverty and armed conflict make the the diamond-rich CAR (Central African Republic) remains one of the poorest countries in the world.
7. Niger
Blood Flows With Oil in Poor Nigerian Villages. Africa is expected to provide the United States with a quarter of its oil supply in the next decade, compared with about 15 percent now, and much of it will come from the Gulf of Guinea, where the once quiet Niger Delta sits. Now hundreds roiled this potentially vast field of crude oil. But much of that oil will come from places like Obioku, and with it a tangled and often bloody web of conflict marked by poverty and a near abdication of responsibility by government.
8. Sierra Leone
A West African country with English as its official language, Sierra Leone has relied on mining, especially diamonds, for its economic base and home to the third largest natural harbour in the world where shipping from all over the globe berth at Freetown’s famous Queen Elizabeth II Quay. It is among the top diamond producing nations in the world, and mineral exports remain the main foreign currency earner and also among the largest producers of titanium and bauxite, and a major producer of gold. Despite this natural wealth, 70% of its people live in poverty. If you have seen the movie Blood Diamond you should know that it is based on Sierra Leone.
9. Malawi
Malawi has been in the news recently since Madonna (the pop icon) has adopted a child from the country and pledged money to help build an orphanage for AIDS victims. Malawi is riddled with poverty and disease. Malawi has one of the lowest per capita incomes in the world, with 53% (2004) living under the poverty line.
Togo is a very poor country and even the capital Lome is visably very poor with the majority of roads being unpaved. This small, sub-Saharan economy suffers from anemic economic growth and approximately one half of the population lives below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day.
11. Madagascar
One of the poorest countries in the world, Madagascar is very rich in minerals and metals. Approximately 69% of the population lives below the national poverty line threshold of one dollar per day.
12. Afghanistan
Afghanistan is probably the only poorest country in the world that doesn’t need any introduction. Due to the decades of war and nearly complete lack of foreign investment, the nation’sGDP per capita stands at $956. Its unemployment rate is 35% and 42 % of the population live on less than $1 a day. As tribal warfare and internecine feuding has been one of their chief occupations since time immemorial. History has never seen Afghanistan lose a war. They might be one of the poorest but they know how to fight. Instead of a traditional army they simply resist with small counter attacks that eventually tire out the enemy.
13. Guinea
Guinea also has diamonds, gold, and other metals. The country has great potential for hydroelectric power. Guinea’s poorly developed infrastructure and rampant corruption continue to present obstacles to large-scale investment projects. From independence until the presidential election of 2010, Guinea was governed by a number of autocratic rulers, which has contributed to making Guinea one of the poorest countries in the world.
14. Mozambique
One of the poorest and most underdeveloped country in the world, 75% of the population engages in small-scale agriculture, which still suffers from inadequate infrastructure, commercial networks, and investment. The minimum legal salary is around US$60 per month.
15. Ethiopia
Ethiopia is known as the 'Horn of Africa', at crossroads between Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Ethiopia suffers from poverty, and poor sanitation. In the capital city of Addis Ababa, 55% of the population lives in slums. Despite its fast growth in recent years, GDP per capita is one of the lowest in the world, and the economy faces a number of serious structural problems.
16. Mali
With 50% of the population living below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day, Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world. Some of its natural resources are gold, uranium, livestock, and salt. Mali remains dependent on foreign aid. Economic activity is largely confined to the riverine area irrigated by the Niger River and about 65% of its land area is desert or semidesert.
Guinea-Bissau’s legal economy depends mainly on farming and fishing, but trafficking in narcotics is probably the most lucrative trade. With 60% of the population living below the poverty line, drug traffickers based in Latin America use Guinea-Bissau, along with several neighboring West African nations, as a transshipment point to Europe for cocaine. The government and the military did almost nothing to stop this business.
The Union of Comoros Islands once played a major role in a thriving world economy of the western Indian Ocean. The archipelago arose from the seabed of the western Indian Ocean as a result of volcanic activity. The four major islands are Ngazidjia (Grande Comore), Mwali (Moheli), Ndzwani (Anjouan) and Maore (Mayotte). As of 2008 about 50% of the population lives below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day, due to numerous coups d’etat since independence in 1975.
A woman in Fort Dimanche laying out biscuits to dry, biscuits made of butter, salt, water and dirt.
19. Haiti
Poverty, corruption, and poor access to education for much of the population are among Haiti’s most serious disadvantages. Haiti’s economy suffered a severe setback in January 2010 when a 7.0 magnitude earthquake destroyed much of its capital city, Port-au-Prince, and neighboring areas. Already the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with 80% of the population living under the poverty line and 54% in abject poverty, the earthquake inflicted $7.8 billion in damages. Seven out of ten Haitians live on less than US$2 a day, according to the International Red Cross.
20. Uganda
Uganda is one of the poorest nations in the world, with 37.7 percent of the population living on less than $1.25 a day. Poverty remains deep-rooted in the country’s rural areas, which are home to more than 85 per cent of Ugandans.
Giorgio Armani’s Superyacht, Main
The signature staircase aft and open deck spaces are keynote features of the exterior
What kind of toys do people have when their net worth is estimated to be in excess of 5 billion?
Giorgio Armani's superyacht, Main
A view through the wraparound windows of a dining room aboard Main
Giorgio Armani's megatoy, Main, spans 65 meters long. The superyacht, Main, is named after his mother. Maìn - "Maria" in the Piacentino dialect. Giorgio Armani's former yacht Mariù, also named after his mother, has now been sold.
The Main was custom built in 2008 by Codecasa. The suit-guru decked her out in furniture and accessories from the home furnishings division of his own design empire.
The super yacht maintains eight cabins for the crew, six guest suites and ample lounging space
The yacht's two Caterpillar engines producing 2,482 hp propel this superyacht around the ocean.
The vessel’s exterior design, which took three years to complete, was a joint effort between Armani himself and Codecasa Yachts of Viareggio Tuscany .
When asked about his megayacht, Armani said "This boat is my dream, because I have designed from start to finish. I rented many yachts until I bought my previous boat, 'Mariu', which I could only create the interior. At the 'Main' I designed all the external structure"
Birch wood is used for the steps of the central spiral staircase and the handrail is integrated into the wall. The stairs are a feature that gives the yacht the feel of a private house.
The bathroom of the owner’s cabin is panelled in grey stone. The mirror with lighted frame was custom made.
A double guest cabin, panelled in fine silk with the repeated motif of crocodile print on the walls.
One of the twin guest cabins, featuring a custom-made dresser with a built-in desk top. The ‘Bean’ pouf and walnut ‘Butler’ armchair are from the Armani/Casa collection.
On Maìn’s sundeck, guests can follow the sun on revolving loungers.
Extra seating aft provides a great viewing spot. This is a yacht with plenty of choices for guests.
The central portion of the distinctive transom staircase lifts to reveal the tender garage.
In the main salon two custom-made sofas, finished in dark green lacquer, are separated by low stools-cum-tables in canaletto walnut. The fireplace creates a homely vibe. Big tables on each side move up and down for indoor dining for up to 12. Birch wood blinds cover the big windows.
A floor-level seating area is created with a silk rug, birch table and oversized cushions.
Aft on the main deck is the ‘veranda’ – a snug area and another homely touch. It features angular custom-made sofas, printed leather footrests, and a lamp from the Armani/Casa collection.
HIGH SUICIDE RATES IN SOUTH KOREA
In Seoul a bronze statue of a person comforting another is seen on the Mapo Bridge, 'Bridge of Life' (referred as Bridge of Death before) - as part of a campaign to reduce suicide rate on the bridge
Suicide is the leading cause of death in South Korea among teens and those in their 20s and 30. More than 15,000 South Koreans commit suicide every year - that's about 43 people taking their own life every day.
South Korea's suicide rate has been the highest among developed nations for the past 9 years. That may have something to do with the intense pressure on Koreans to succeed at school and on the job.
According to the director of the Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, Professor Paul Yip, the media should explain the issues surrounding mental illness to curb the rates of suicide.
Korean cultural expert Dr Roald Maliangkay, from the Australian National University, said TV soap operas often depict suicide in their storylines, thereby fostering romantic notions on the subject. Furthermore, it is the culture of Korea, Japan and China to discourage people from seeking help for psychological issues.
In the past eight years, more than 10 public figures have killed themselves (including professional footballers, Korean pop stars, movie actors and a former president).
The Late Choi Jin-Sil (1968-2008)
Adding to the tragedy is the large number of copycat suicides that follow public figures's cases. There was a 70 per cent spike in the number of suicides in the three months after South Korean popular actress, Choi Jin-Sil, took her life in 2008.
In 2010, the nation was shocked again when the late Ms Choi's brother, Choi Jin Young, took his own life. Choi was discovered hanging by police at his home in southern Seoul. He was rushed to the Gangnam Severance Hospital, but pronounced dead.
The late Choi Jin Young
On Sunday, 6th January 2013, the suicide of late Ms Choi's husband, Cho Sung-Min hit the headlines in South Korea. Cho Sung-Min was a famous South Korean baseball star. He was found dead with a belt around his neck in the bathroom at his girlfriend’s apartment. What makes the story a family tragedy is that this was the third suicide in the family.
The Late Cho Sung-Min
The experts wants South Koreans to change their mind-set and start talking about this issue openly because this is no longer someone's else problem, but something that could affect every household.
In the past 5 years, the Mapo Bridge in Seoul has witnessed more than 100 suicide attempts and about half of that have successfully taken their own lives by jumping off the bridge. Mapo Bridge is one of the 25 bridges spanning the Han river which divides Seoul.
Pictures of babies on the rail
At the center of the bridge is a bench with a brass statue of a stooped young man, being comforted with a pinch on the left cheek by a grandfatherly looking gentlemen.
They are also bridge signs messages. The inspirational slogans say things like, “how are you doing,” “Isn’t it nice to be walking on a bridge,” and “Did you eat anything yet?”
It’s a unique approach to suicide prevention in the country has one of the highest suicide rates in the world.
A message written on the guardrail of Seoul's Mapo Bridge asks "Do you have a secret?"
But not everyone is impressed by the Bridge of Life and its positive messages.
Dr. Kim Hyun-chung, a psychiatrist at the National Medical Center in Seoul, concedes that at least the government is trying to address Korea’s suicide problem. But she says depressed people need more help than just positive messages on light-up guardrails.
Kim says maybe suicide attempts at the Mapo Bridge will go down now, but if someone is really determined to jump to their death, there are plenty of other bridges across the Han River.
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