Friday, November 6, 2009

Lonely Planet: The top 10 countries for 2010 (MALAYSIA)






Welcome to Malaysia
Selamat Datang" means the warmest welcome in Bahasa Malaysia.

Covering an area of 127,316 square miles (336,700 sq. km), Malaysia consists of two regions; Peninsular Malaysia (States of Federation of Malaya) extending south-south-east from the border of Thailand and the states of Sabah and Sarawak located on the northwestern coastal region of the island of Borneo. The natural vegetation of Malaysia is tropical rain forest which, on the plains, has been replaced by 4 million acres of rubber plantations, palm oil, paddy fields and, of course, modern cities. In the highlands there is considerable variation in flora.

The annual average temperature is between 77°F (25°C), and 83°F (28°C) in the lowlands, the mean minimum temperature seldom falls below 72°F(22°C). At hill resorts: uniform temperature is lower. Days are generally sunny and warm, humidity averaging 85%-90%. Nights are usually cool and comfortable.

Malaysia is a multiracial country with a population of approximately 24.4 million. This consists of the main racial groups of Malays, Chinese and Indians and a very diverse group of indigenous people in Sabah and Sarawak.

For years, our tourism authirities have been trying to get the country mentioned in some manner in international travel magazines, to get a leg up on neighbouring countries. Afterr all. we are all selling the same thing - sun, sea, beaches, culture, food and, of course, value for money.

This week, the Tourism Ministry has hit pay dirt when the ever popular travel guide Lonely Planet listed country as one af top 10 countries to visit when famed hitchhiker's guide released its Best in Travel 2010 on Monday.

Although Lonely Planet started out life as a cheapskate guide to travel the world, it has since grown to be more than that.

This year's report is the fifth in its annual collection of the best palaces to go and best things to do in year ahead.

Malaysia, according to Lonely Planet report, "is a clever choice for travellers on the lookout for a bargain."

Last year, we welcomed 22 million tourists who spent RM49.5billion.


Lonely Planet: The top 10 countries for 2010

Want a sneak peek into the future?

1. El Salvador
El Salvador sneaks up on you: in lefty lounge bars in San Salvador, at sobering war memorials and museums, and along lush cloud-forest trails; it’s a place of remarkable warmth and intelligence, made all the more appealing for being so unexpected. Travellers tend to skip El Salvador, wooed by marquee destinations such as Guatemala and Costa Rica, and unnerved by stories of civil war and gang violence. But the war ended almost 20 years ago, and crime, while serious, is almost exclusively played out between rival gangs; tourists are virtually never involved. And though El Salvador has fewer protected areas than its neighbours, you get them practically to yourself – including pristine forests, active volcanoes and alpine lakes.
2. Germany
Some countries are simply allowed to be, but Germany has had to reinvent itself more times than Madonna. And it has done so again since 1990, when reunification brought an end to nearly three decades of division. In year 20 after its latest rebirth, Germany is still a country where you can witness history in the making. Head to Hamburg, where an entire new quarter is being wrested from the detritus of a 19th-century harbour. Or to Dresden, where the domed Frauenkirche church is once again the diamond in the shining tiara that is the city’s famous skyline. And, of course, to Berlin, whose climate of openness spawns more creative experimentation than a Petri dish on Viagra.
3. Greece
Seldom does a travel destination satisfy the blurbs that shout ‘has something for everyone’ - but Greece truly does. Whether you’re there to poke around ancient ruins, soak in the sun on idyllic beaches, or party till you drop, Greece will leave you clambering for more. It’s guilt-free travel – a slice of history served alongside a healthy slice of hedonism – and everyone seems happy. You get to marvel at the dazzling clarity of the light and the waters, the floral aromas that permeate the air, the pervading sense of spirit – and then sit down to contemplate it all while consuming that great Greek combination of ouzo and octopus!
4. Malaysia
Malaysia often gets criticised as being mild in comparison with its grittier neighbours, Thailand and Indonesia. It’s true, natural disasters and coups only seem to happen across its borders, the roads don’t have too many potholes, buses and trains have air-con and plush seats, and hotels are of international standard. While troubles are few, visiting Malaysia lets you leap into the jaws of one of the most interesting parts of Southeast Asia’s roaring cultural smorgasbord – and not be too worried about it. Cheap connections to Europe and great exchange rates mean that you won’t get eaten up by your wallet either.
5. Morocco
‘Hello, bonjour, salaam alaykum, labes?’ Street greetings sum up everything you need to know about Morocco in a word: it’s Berber and Arab, Muslim and secular, Mediterranean and African, worldly wise and welcoming. Morocco sees how the Middle East is portrayed via satellite news and the internet, and is as concerned with violent threats and abuses of power as anyone else in the modern world. But as you’ll see, most Moroccans are plenty busy working to get by, get their kids through school and greet the king’s planned 10 million visitors by 2010 with the utmost hospitality. Every visitor helps Moroccans realise these goals by creating new economic opportunities, and can make a Moroccan’s day by returning the greeting: ‘Hello, good day, may peace be upon you, are you happy?’
6. Nepal
But for the Himalaya, Nepal would probably be stuck in the shadow of India – but it’s hard to cast a shadow on a country that includes the highest point on earth, the summit of Mt Everest. Over the last decade, Nepal has seen its share of troubles, but 2008 was a watershed year – the rebels became the government, the kingdom became a republic and the king became a civilian. With the fall of the monarchy, the sound of temple bells has replaced the stomp of army boots and peace has returned to Shangri-La.
7. New Zealand
Recommending New Zealand’s too obvious, right? You’re looking for something a bit edgier, under the radar or further off the beaten track. But there’s wisdom in the old saying, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fi x it’, and last time we checked the land of Maori and hobbits certainly didn’t need repairing. NZ’s checklist of essential experiences remains as strong as ever. Spectacular landscapes abound, from sea-level rainforests to plunging glaciers, geothermal springs and barren volcanic plains. Add a hearty pinch of lens-friendly wildlife, proud Maori culture, and fine food and drink, and it’s easy to see why the natives are so chilled.
8. Portugal
Skirting along the southwestern edge of the Iberian Peninsula, the once-great seafaring nation of Portugal today straddles two very different worlds. For purists, this is a land of great tradition, of saints-day festivals where ox-drawn carts still lumber through flower-strewn streets, and ancient vineyards bring sleepy medieval villages to life during the annual harvest. Meanwhile, in other parts of the country, something decidedly more modern is transpiring. Old city centres, long ago abandoned by the young and upwardly mobile in favour of the suburbs, are slowly being revitalised. A new wave of boutiques, art galleries and cafes are finding new homes in once crumbling old buildings, and locals are beginning to rediscover the allure of vibrant downtown areas.
9. Suriname
South America’s smallest country, both in area and population, is easily one of its most diverse. Some three quarters of Suriname’s people are descended from Chinese, Javanese and Indian labourers that arrived in the 18th century, and West African slaves in the 17th. Add indigenous Amerindians and Lebanese, Jewish and Dutch settlers, and you have the makings for a lot of ethnic tension, right? Fortunately, wrong. Suriname is known for its peacefully coexisting cultures, most emblematically represented by the country’s biggest mosque and synagogue situated side by side in the capital Paramaribo. With everyone speaking different languages, celebrating different holidays and worshipping in different temples, visiting Suriname is really like hitting several countries at once.
10. USA
Suddenly the USA is cool again! Be it from Barack Obama, Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday last year, or just tightened budgets during the recession, but more Americans (even hipsters) are looking backwards – and foreigners too – and taking in traditional American historical sites, beginning with Washington DC’s freebie zone of museums and heroic monuments
M A L A Y S I A 2010
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Palestine and Israel Conflict: Part 1





Photographer’s Note


Jerusalem , Yerushaláyim is the capital of Israel and its largest city in both population and area, with a population of 747,600 residents over an area of 125.1 square kilometres (48.3 sq mi) if disputed East Jerusalem is included. Located in the Judean Mountains, between the Mediterranean Sea and the northern tip of the Dead Sea, modern Jerusalem has grown far beyond the boundaries of the Old City.The city has a history that goes back to the 4th millennium BCE, making it one of the oldest cities in the world. Jerusalem is the holiest city in Judaism and the spiritual center of the Jewish people, contains a number of significant ancient Christian sites, and is considered the third-holiest city in Islam. Despite having an area of only 0.9 square kilometer (0.35 square mile), the Old City is home to sites of key religious importance, among them the Temple Mount, the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque. The old walled city, a World Heritage site, has been traditionally divided into four quarters, although the names used today—the Armenian, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim Quarters—were introduced in the early 19th century. The Old City was nominated for inclusion on the List of World Heritage Sites in danger by Jordan in 1982. In the course of its history, Jerusalem has been destroyed twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, and captured and recaptured 44 times.Today, the status of Jerusalem remains one of the core issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem has been repeatedly condemned by the United Nations and related bodies, and Palestinians foresee East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state. In the wake of United Nations Security Council Resolution 478 (passed in 1980), most foreign embassies moved out of Jerusalem, although some countries, such as the United States, still own land in the city and pledge to return their embassies once political agreements warrant the move.(from Wikipedia, edited by serp2000)


Palestine and Israel Conflict: Part 1


Every human being want to live in peace. But not all people get a chance to live in a peaceful world . Today i like to write about conflict between Israel and Palestine. I would like to invite all of you to try to understand the history of the beginning of this conflict until the present.


One question that I want to ask you is why all these bad things continue to happen?

Whether people have lost all the effort to achieve peace?

Where is our humanity ?

Do we want to see another human suffering throughout their life?


Since I was born in this world (1966), relationship between Palestine and Israel never peaceful.

In my opinion, we are able to live peaceful if we are willing to compromise and ready to achieve mutual understanding between each other.


Until this time my dream is that Israel and Palestine conflict ended immediately. As a Malaysian, I want to proudly proclaim that peace is a commodity that we have and we can teach others how to achieve it.

In order to understand this conflict, it's good for us to understand the historical relationship between two parties involved.

Let see what happen in Palestine and Israel......

































































































































3'RD MILLENNIUM BC


3'rd millennium BC : The Canaanites were the earliest known inhabitants of Palestine. They became urbanized and lived in city-states, one of which was Jericho . They developed an alphabet. Palestine's location at the center of routes linking three continents made it the meeting place for religious and cultural influences from Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Asia Minor. It was also the natural battleground for the great powers of the region and subject to domination by adjacent empires, beginning with Egypt in the 3d millennium BC.



The first know people in the lands of Palestine were the Canaanites how are Arab from Arab peninsula, they have their own language and culture.Palestine was the land of Palestinian Arab at all ages, Hebrew came to Palestine from Egypt during the third millennium before century, and established a kingdom for a limited number of years then other nations ended there kingdom and ruled the area. Hebrew presence in Palestine was ended since about 130 years after Jesus birth. Arab ruled the area from 638 AD and were always there until today, there introduce Islam, some Arab from deferent countries came and lived in Palestine from the early years to learn and educate the Palestinians. Some of the locals Palestinian converted to Islam and the Islamic rulers give a wide option to every body to keep his religion therefore, there is considerable number of Christian in Palestine but all has adopted the Islamic culture and Arabic language.All the Arab countries know today was under one Islamic empire rule, and it was consider as an emirate or state linked to the capital of the Islamic empire.



2'ND MILLENNIUM BC


2'rd millennium BC : Egyptian hegemony and Canaanite autonomy were constantly challenged by such ethnically diverse invaders as the Amorites, Hittites, and Hurrians. These invaders, however, were defeated by the Egyptians and absorbed by the Canaanites, who at that time may have numbered about 200000.



14th century BC : Egyptian power began to weaken, new invaders appeared: the Hebrews, a group of Semitic tribes from Mesopotamia, and the Philistines (after whom the country was later named), an Aegean people of Indo-European stock.


1230 BC : Joshua conquered parts of Palestine. The conquerors settled in the hill country, but they were unable to conquer all of Palestine.



1125 BC : The Israelites, a confederation of Hebrew tribes, finally defeated the Canaanites but found the struggle with the Philistines more difficult . Philistines had established an independent state on the southern coast of Palestine and controlled the Canaanite town of Jerusalem.



1050 BC : Philistines with there superior in military organization and using iron weapons, they severely defeated the Israelites about 1050 BC .


1'ST MILLENNIUM BC


1000 BC : David, Israel's great king, finally defeated the Philistines, and they eventually assimilated with the Canaanites . The unity of Israel and the feebleness of adjacent empires enabled David to establish a large independent state, with its capital at Jerusalem.


922 BC : Under David's son and successor, Solomon, Israel enjoyed peace and prosperity , but at his death in 922 BC the kingdom was divided into Israel in the north and Judah in the south .



722-721 BC : When nearby empires resumed their expansion, the divided Israelites could no longer maintain their independence . Israel fell to Assyria.586 BC : Judah was conquered by Babylonia, which destroyed Jerusalem and exiled most of the Jews living there. Nebuchadnezzar entered Jerusalem. The Temple was sacked and set fire to, and razed to the ground. The Royal Palace and all the great houses were destroyed, the population carried off in chains to Babylon. And they lamented on their long march into exile.



539 BC : Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylonia and he permitted the Jews to return to Judea, a district of Palestine. Under Persian rule the Jews were allowed considerable autonomy. They rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem and codified the Mosaic law, the Torah, which became the code of social life and religious observance. The Jews were bound to a universal God.



333 BC : Persian domination of Palestine was replaced by Greek rule when Alexander the Great of Macedonia took the region. Alexander's successors, the Ptolemies of Egypt and the Seleucids of Syria , continued to rule the country . The Seleucids tried to impose Hellenistic (Greek) culture and religion on the population.



141-63 BC : Jews revolted under the Maccabees and set up an independent state.



132-35 BC : Jews revolts erupted, numerous Jews were killed, many were sold into slavery, and the rest were not allowed to visit Jerusalem. Judea was renamed Syria Palaistina.



63 BC : Jerusalem was overrun by Rome. Herod was appointed King of Judea. He slaughtered the last of the Hasmoneans and ordered a lavish restoration and extension of the Second Temple. A period of great civil disorder followed with strife between pacifists and Zealots, and riots against the Roman authorities.



37-4 BC : During the rule of King Herod the Great Jesus of Nazareth, peace be upon him was born. And years after, he began his teaching mission. His attempts to call people back to the pure teachings of Abraham and Moses were judged subversive by the authorities. He was tried and sentenced to death; "yet they did not slay him but only a likeness that was shown to them."


1-999 AD


70 AD : Titus of Rome laid siege to Jerusalem. The fiercely defended Temple eventually fell, and with it the whole city. Seeking a complete and enduring victory, Titus ordered the total destruction of the Herodian Temple. A new city named Aelia was built by the Romans on the ruins of Jerusalem, and a temple dedicated to Jupitor raised up.



313 AD : Palestine received special attention when the Roman emperor Constantine I legalized Christianity. His mother, Helena, visited Jerusalem, and Palestine, as the Holy Land, became a focus of Christian pilgrimage. A golden age of prosperity, security, and culture followed. Most of the population became Hellenized and Christianized .



324 AD : Constantine of Byzantium marched on Aelia. He rebuilt the city walls and commissioned the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and opened the city for Christian pilgrimage.



29-614 AD : Byzantine (Roman) rule was interrupted , however , by a brief Persian occupation and ended altogether when Muslim Arab armies invaded Palestine and captured Jerusalem in AD 638 .



638 AD : The Arab conquest began 1300 years of Muslim presence in what then became known as Filastin. Eager to be rid of their Byzantine overlords and aware of their shared heritage with the Arabs, the descendants of Ishmael, as well as the Muslims reputation for mercy and compassion in victory, the people of Jerusalem handed over the city after a brief siege. They made only one condition, That the terms of their surrender be negotiated directly with the Khalif 'Umar in person. 'Umar entered Jerusalem on foot. There was no bloodshed. There were no massacres. Those who wanted to leave were allowed to, with all their goods. Those who wanted to stay were guarantee protection for their lives, their property and places of worship.Palestine was holy to Muslims because the Prophet Muhammad had designated Jerusalem as the first qibla (the direction Muslims face when praying) and because he was believed to have ascended on a night journey to heaven from the the old city of Jerusalem (al-Aqsa Mosque today) , where the Dome of the Rock was later built. Jerusalem became the third holiest city of Islam. The Muslim rulers did not force their religion on the Palestinians, and more than a century passed before the majority converted to Islam. The remaining Christians and Jews were considered People of the Book. They were allowed autonomous control in their communities and guaranteed security and freedom of worship. Such tolerance was rare in the history of religion . Most Palestinians also adopted Arabic and Islamic culture. Palestine benefited from the empires trade and from its religious significance during the first Muslim dynasty, the Umayyads of Damascus.



750 AD : The power shifted to Baghdad with the Abbasids, Palestine became neglected. It suffered unrest and successive domination by Seljuks, Fatimids, and European Crusaders. It shared, however, in the glory of Muslim civilization, when the Muslim world enjoyed a golden age of science, art, philosophy, and literature. Muslims preserved Greek learning and broke new ground in several fields, all of which later contributed to the Renaissance in Europe. Like the rest of the empire, however, Palestine under the Mamelukes gradually stagnated and declined.



1000-1899 AD


1517 AD : The Ottoman Turks of Asia Minor defeated the Mamelukes, with few interruptions, ruled Palestine until the winter of 1917-18. The country was divided into several districts (sanjaks), such as that of Jerusalem. The administration of the districts was placed largely in the hands of Arab Palestinians, who were descendants of the Canaanites. The Christian and Jewish communities, however, were allowed a large measure of autonomy. Palestine shared in the glory of the Ottoman Empire during the 16th century, but declined again when the empire began to decline in the 17th century.


1831-1840 AD : Muhammad Ali, the modernizing viceroy of Egypt, expanded his rule to Palestine . His policies modified the feudal order, increased agriculture, and improved education.


1840 The Ottoman Empire reasserted its authority, instituting its own reforms . 1845 Jewish in Palestine were 12,000 increased to 85,000 by 1914. All people in Palestine were Arabic Muslims and Christians.


1897 the first Zionist Congress held Basle, Switzerland, issued the Basle programme on the colonization of Palestine.


1900-1946


1904 the Fourth Zionist Congress decided to establish a national home for Jews in Argentina


.1906 the Zionist congress decided the Jewish homeland should be Palestine.


1914 With the outbreak of World War I, Britain promised the independence of Arab lands under Ottoman rule, including Palestine, in return for Arab support against Turkey which had entered the war on the side of Germany.


1916 Britain and France signed the Sykes-Picot Agreement, which divided the Arab region into zones of influence. Lebanon and Syria were assigned to France, Jordan and Iraq to Britain and Palestine was to be internationalized.


1917 The British government issued the Balfour Declaration on November 2, in the form of a letter to a British Zionist leader from the foreign secretary Arthur J. Balfour prmissing him the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine.


1917-1918 Aided by the Arabs, the British captured Palestine from the Ottoman Turks. The Arabs revolted against the Turks because the British had promised them, in correspondence with Shareef Husein ibn Ali of Mecca, the independence of their countries after the war. Britain, however, also made other, conflicting commitments in the secret Sykes-Picot agreement with France and Russia (1916), it promised to divide and rule the region with its allies. In a third agreement, the Balfour Declaration of 1917, Britain promised the Jews a Jewish "national home" in Palestine .


1918 After WW I ended, Jews began to migrate to Palestine, which was set a side as a British mandate with the approval of the League of Nations in 1922. Large-scale Jewish settlement and extensive Zionist agricultural and industrial enterprises in Palestine began during the British mandatory period, which lasted until 1948.



1919 The Palestinians convened their first National Conference and expressed their opposition to the Balfour Declaration.


1920 The San Remo Conference granted Britain a mandate over Palestine. and two years later Palestine was effectively under British administration. Sir Herbert Samuel, a declared Zionist, was sent as Britain's first High Commissioner to Palestine.


1922 The Council of the League of Nations issued a Mandate for Palestine.



1929 Large-scale attacks on Jews by Arabs rocked Jerusalem. Palestinians killed 133 Jews and suffered 116 deaths. Sparked by a dispute over use of the Western Wall of Al-Aqsa Mosque ( this site is sacred to Muslims, but Jews claimed it is the remaining of jews temple all studies shows clearly that the wall is from the Islamic ages and it is part of al-Aqsa Mosque). But the roots of the conflict lay deeper in Arab fears of the Zionist movement which aimed to make at least part of British-administered Palestine a Jewish state.



1936 The Palestinians held a six-month General Strike to protest against the confiscation of land and Jewish immigration.



1937 Peel Commission, headed by Lord Robert Peel, issued a report. Basically, the commission concluded, the mandate in Palestine was unworkable There was no hope of any cooperative national entity there that included both Arabs and Jews. The commission went on to recommend the partition of Palestine into a Jewish state, an Arab state, and a neutral sacred-site state to be administered by Britain.



1939 The British government published a White Paper restricting Jewish immigration and offering independence for Palestine within ten years. This was rejected by the Zionists, who then organized terrorist groups and launched a bloody campaign against the British and the Palestinians.


1947-1966


1947 Great Britain decided to leave Palestine and called on the United Nations (UN) to make recommendations. In response, the UN convened its first special session and on November 29, 1947, it adopted a plan calling for partition of Palestine into Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem as an international zone under UN jurisdiction.



1947 Arab protests against partition erupted in violence, with attacks on Jewish settlements in retalation to the attacks of Jews terrorist groups to Arab Towns and villages and massacres in hundred against unarmed Palestinian in there homes.15 May 1948 British decided to leave on this day, leaders of the Yishuv decided (as they claim) to implement that part of the partition plan calling for establishment of a Jewish state. The same day, the armies of Egypt, Transjordan (now Jordan), Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq joined Palestinian and other Arab guerrillas in a full-scale war (first Arab-Israeli War). The Arabs failed to prevent establishment of a Jewish state, and the war ended with four UN-arranged armistice agreements between Israel and Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. The small Gaza Strip was left under Egyptian control, and the West Bank was controled by Jordan. Of the more than 800,000 Arabs who lived in Israeli-held territory before 1948, only about 170,000 remained. The rest became refugees in the surrounding Arab countries, ending the Arab majority in the Jewish state.



1956 Attckes incursions by refugee guerrilla bands and attacks by Arab military units were made, Egypt refused to permit Israeli ships to use the Suez Canal and blockaded the Straits of Tiran erupted in the second Arab-Israeli War.Great Britain and France joined the attack because of their dispute with Egypt's president Gamal Abdel Nasser, who had nationalized the Suez Canal. Seizing the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula within few days. The fighting was halted by the UN after a few days, and a UN Emergency Force (UNEF) was sent to supervise the cease-fire in the Canal zone. By the end of the year their forces withdrew from Egypt, but Israel refused to leave Gaza until early 1957.


1965 The Palestine Liberation Organization was established.


please give peace a chance..........









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Monday, November 2, 2009

Bobby 1973: Sweet memory of watching a hindi movie with my family.









Still fresh in my mind a happy moment when i was 7 years old. This attractive event occurred in school holidays season in year of 1973, but i still remember it until today. At that time all my family members went back to our village in Perlis. One day my mom took me to visit our relatives in Pauh. At the time we reached my cousin's home, they were preparing to go to the movies in the town of Kangar , a hindi movie entitle "Bobby". So after talked briefly and enjoy refreshment, without delaying time we leave for Kangar.

From my cousin house, we go to Kangar by bus. When we arrived in Kangar, my aunt's bring us to the Kapitol cinema to buy a ticket for us to watch films "Bobby" which will begin in 1.00 o'clock in the afternoon. My heart is quite excited because it is the first time in my life i had a chance to watch a movie in cinema.

At 12.30 p.m, we already were in cinema to watch films. They are many people in walking around the cinema's foyer that day. Before entering into the hall, my mother and my cousin buy some sweet for us to eat while watching movie. We managed to buy a pretty cheap third class tickets (probably the only affordable) . We were allowed entering the hall only after all first-class and second class ticket holders already in the hall.. On arrival point in the hall, the cinema assistant ask for our ticket and without saying a word and by using torchlight ..he show us the seats. The atmosphere is already dark and the sound of the broadcast ads are strong enough and the temperature in the hall is also quite cool ...
Let us watch together ... with the polar mint candy in my mouth, my eyes look at the large screen while my ears heard a strong and powerful sound system ...a little child at the age of 7 years old watching Hindustani film with his mother, his aunt and 2 of his cousins .....
Bobby is a love story of today. It is the story of an eighteen years old boy who had just passed his senior Cambridge examination. The only son of rich respectable parents who were too busy to bother about him, he found love, solace and comfort in the company of a sixteen years old school girl.

Out of their love for each other arose many problems. There was disparity of class, age, attitudes and generation gap. How could the two innocent teenagers face this problem when they felt that they were two youngsters on their own with the whole world against them?

The film is a story about the love between two Bombay teenagers of different classes - Raj Nath (Rishi Kapoor), son of a rich businessman Mr. Nath (played by Pran), and Bobby Braganza (Dimple Kapadia), daughter of a poor Christian fisherman Jack Braganza (played by Prem Nath).

The couple first sees each other during Raj's 18th birthday and meet when Raj goes to meet his old governess, Mrs. Braganza. There, he sees her grand daughter Bobby, and it is love at first sight for him.
As the story progresses, Raj realises that his relationship with the daughter of a poor fisherman is not taken kindly by his eccentric father. Upon Raj's insistence, Mr. Nath visits Jack to initiate talks of Raj and Bobby's wedding. But instead, Mr. Nath accuses Jack of using his daughter's beauty and charm to trap Raj for his money. He even offers him cash in exchange for Bobby. Jack feels highly humiliated by this accusation and reciprocates by insulting Mr. Nath. Their talk enters a deadlock and spells doom for Raj and Bobby's tender love.

Mr. Nath engages Raj to a rich but mentally challenged girl, Alka, played by Farida Jalal, in order to establish business ties with her father.
But Raj runs away from home, to unite with Bobby. They both run away together. Mr. Nath advertises a reward for anyone who can help find his son. Prem Chopra (Prem Chopra) decides that he wants the money, and he and his goons kidnap Raj and Bobby. When they try to escape, Prem starts beating Raj, and Jack tries to rescue him. Mr. Nath and the police come to help. Raj and Bobby run away and jump into the waterfall. Both Mr. Nath and Jack jump into the water.
Mr. Nath rescues Bobby, while Jack rescues Raj. They realize that they love their children very much and don't want to stand in their happiness. They accept each other's kids as their own and give their blessings to the union.
(the best part of the film...happy ending)

Forever young, forever classic!, 16 August 2009

Author: Peter Young from Australia


Raj Kapoor's "Bobby" will never get old. It is a brilliantly made modern teenage romance. Raj Kapoor's direction and imagination are excellent, ditto for his realistic portrayal of the modern 1970s India. The romance is portrayed beautifully, injecting many youthful energies and using colourful and vernal landscapes, beautiful and romantic songs, comedy and drama, and two very charming and good-looking young actors.This is a love story of a pretty, smart and headstrong school-girl named Bobby, and a romantic, rich and well-mannered young man named Raj, who, unlike most of his contemporaries, prefers to sit at home and write poetry. He falls in love with her the first minute he meets her, and surprisingly enough, it does not look clichéd. The story shows how they start dating each other and how they later fight parental opposition. Interestingly, while Raj Kapoor made this film to launch his son on the big screen, he titled it after Dimple Kapadia, who impressed him very much and reminded him of his muse Nargis. In a documentary about the life and craft of Raj Kapoor, he said that Bobby's first meeting with Raj in the film was loosely inspired by Kapoor's first meeting with Nargis at her home. And I completely understand why the memory of meeting her stayed with him for the rest of his life when I see this scene. It is a magic moment.Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia make for a very good couple. This is according to me Rishi Kapoor's best performance along with his role in Mera Naam Joker. Maybe his dad was the one who could extract his talent to the fullest. He is likable, impressive and very convincing as Raj. Dimple Kapadia's is undoubtedly one of the greatest debuts in the history of Hindi cinema. She was natural, compelling, beautiful and acted with total aplomb. Her western outfits and sex-appeal are still very memorable. The rest of the cast is excellent, with Prem Nath standing out in a wonderful comic act as Bobby's loving father. Pran was also very convincing as Raj's witty, proud and dignified father, and Durga Khote and Aruna Irani provided fantastic support. Oh, and how can one forget Farida Jalal's Alka Sharma? A five-minute role which stays with you forever just like the film.The film's cinematography is fantastic, the editing is good as well. The characters are well-written, and most importantly - the music is simply outstanding. My favourite songs are "Main Shair To Nahin" (as is Aruna Irani's wonderful dance for the song) and "Chabi Kho Jaye (Hum Tum)". All in all, Bobby was a trend-setter, and it still remains an all-time sensational and fresh love story, which will never look dated.

According to stories from my parents, in the 1970s, many Malaysian were interested in hindi film. A great film like this ( Bobby) can run continuously for 3 months .. 3 months? oh really ?.Perhap one of the reason is the lack of entertainment at that time. The majority of Malaysians at that time was still in the poverty level, without modern facilities like we have today . It is common for that day peoples live without electricity at home and almost without a television set in the living room of each house.

Until today, I will still remember that beautiful moment. Although just occasional I had a chance to watch films in cinema, an experienced like this and many more during my childhood always makes me feel very grateful to my parents because the have educate and raise me perfectly despite the lack of proper facilities and wealth. Time have changed. My children who grow up in modern times will not fully understand my story ... this is the thing that distinguishes between past and present ....


B O B B Y 1973













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THE 2009: LEGATUM PROSPERITY INDEX (The different between Finland and Malaysia based on 9 aspects studied)






















The difference between Malaysia and Finland based on 9 aspects studied

Yesterday when I read on Legatum prosperity 's index of year 2009 which showed that most prosperous country in the world was Finland, I remember the information delivered before by my lecturer when I was studying in Universiti Sains Malaysia several years ago. According to my lecturer, Malaysia must produce many intellectuals with the hope that hoped at one later time it would bring Malaysian to a developed and peaceful level like Scandinavia 's countries. Today it is clear that all the information presented by him is true and accurate.Now, I would like to attract your attention to see the difference between findland with Malaysia in 9 aspects studied.

It is hoped that this comparison will be the basis for a developing country like Malaysia to strive to achieve developed nation status as Finland.

Finland 1

Fast Facts
Population
5.3 mn (2009 est.)
GDP (per capita)
$36,900 (2008 est.)
Inflation
2.5% (2007)
Life Expectancy
71 years (2003)
GDP (PPP)
$2,128.0 bn (2008 est.)
Unemployment
7% (2007)
Average Life Satisfaction
8/10 (2008)
GDP (growth)
0.9% (2008 est.)
Freedom House Rating
Free (2009)
Political System
Republic (2009)

Malaysia 39

Fast Facts

Population
25.7 mn (2009 est.)
GDP (per capita)
$15,200 (2008 est.)
Inflation
2% (2007)
Life Expectancy
63 years (2003)
GDP (PPP)
$384.3 bn (2008 est.)
Unemployment
4% (2007)
Average Life Satisfaction
6/10 (2008)
GDP (growth)
4.6% (2008 est.)
Freedom House Rating
Partly Free (2009)
Political System
Constitutional Monarchy (2009)

Economic Fundamentals - Ranked 10thFinland’s economy is sound but foreign direct investment is low relative to other top ranking economies
Finland performs well in economic fundamentals, with unemployment at 7% and a low inflation rate of 3%. Finnish workers have access to a large amount of physical capital, such as offices and machinery, placing the country at 16th on this variable. Domestic savings are at 27% of GDP and household expenditure at 25% of GDP. The banking sector is highly efficient, with 0.3% of loans in default and narrow lending and borrowing margins that rank Finland’s banking sector the second highest, internationally. The country’s level of foreign direct investment is average according to global standards. A strong ratio of export revenues to the cost of imports indicate good terms of trade and a low raw material concentration points toward a heavily industrialised nation, focused on high value-added products and services.

Economic Fundamentals - Ranked 24thThe Malaysian economy is productive, driven by high levels of international trade
Unemployment is low at 4% and Malaysian workers have access to a high level of capital stock, including offices and productive machinery. Inflation is just 2%, the domestic savings rate is a high 42%, and household spending accounts for a quarter of GDP, suggesting a significant domestic market. The banking sector is competitive and efficient, as indicated by a very low spread between lending and borrowing margins, and a low number of non-performing loans. Malaysia avoids dependence upon raw materials, with a low proportion of primary products in its exports. Malaysia ranks best in the world for its export revenues relative to the cost of imported goods, indicating a strong capacity to earn foreign currency. Foreign direct investment is 5% of GDP.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation - Ranked 9thIn Finland, secure technology fosters a favourable domestic business environment
Businesses face few barriers to entry, with only three formal procedures to start a business, and this favourable environment has led to 10,424 new businesses registering in 2007. The internet infrastructure, as measured by secure internet servers and bandwidth, is relatively strong, ranking the country 12th in the former and 30th in the latter variable. On average, access to personal computers is high, at 50 per 100 capita, placing Finland in the top 20 on to this variable. ICT and high-tech exports account for a fifth of goods exported, and value added in services is also high ranking Finland just outside the top 30 on this variable. Finland enjoys a high level of royalty receipts, meaning the country is able to capitalise on its intellectual property. Investment in R&D is considerable, at 2.6% of GDP, placing Finland in the top 10.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation - Ranked 28thMalaysia’s high number of entrepreneurs could benefit from a stronger internet infrastructure
Malaysia has a limited communications infrastructure, with only 23 personal computers per 100 people, and only 17 secure internet servers per million people. Supporting this is a moderate level of internet infrastructure, as measured by bandwidth. Malaysia’s performance is, however, boosted by a flourishing high-tech industry. Levels of ICT exports are strong, and high-tech exports constitute over half of total exports. High levels of royalty receipts indicate that Malaysia is able to capitalise on its innovations. Value added in Malaysia’s service industry amounts to 41% of GDP, which is near the bottom of the rankings for this variable. R&D expenditure is just 0.6% of GDP, giving Malaysia a rank of 50th out of 104 for this measure. Nine procedures are required to start a business, and over 38,000 businesses were started in Malaysia in 2007, a high number boosting Malaysia to the 19th position in that category

Democratic Institutions - Ranked 9thFinnish citizens can participate freely in an open and democratic political system
Finland ranks first for political rights and civil liberties and this can be attributed to appropriate constraints on the power of the executive branch, well regulated and competitive elections, and significant checks and balances throughout the political system. Finland also ranks first in the Index in terms of open competition for both the executive and legislative branches of government, and in regulation of the electoral system. The judiciary is independent, and the political system as a whole is stable, the last fundamental change having occurred more than 60 years ago.

Democratic Institutions - Ranked 69thDespite an executive branch that has significant checks on its power, Malaysians’ civil rights and freedom to participate in politics are limited
Malaysia is categorised as a partial democracy, with limited levels of free and open political competition and sound regulation of political processes. Its citizens have only moderate freedom to participate in activities such as joining political parties or running for office, and there are limits on their civil rights, including freedom of expression, belief, and association. The processes for transferring executive power are not fully open and regulated. Political instability is a small factor in Malaysia, with the last change of regime occurring less than four decades ago. Elections to both the executive and legislative branches of government are competitive. There are also significant constraints upon the power of the executive, partly due to an independent judiciary.

Education - Ranked 3rdFinland invests significantly in education, producing a well qualified workforce
Education expenditure in Finland is one of the highest, globally, with over $12,000 spent per student in primary and secondary education. With a primary school enrolment rate of 97%, a top 10 ranking for secondary enrolment, and a 93% enrolment rate for tertiary education, Finland ranks among the highest on all enrolment variables. The Finnish labour force has an average of 5.5 years of secondary education, placing Finland in the top three, globally, and an extremely high average of 4.8 years of tertiary education. Investment in a highly skilled workforce begins early, with a high pupil to teacher ratio of 16 students to each teacher in primary schools, and parity across the sexes with regard to enrolments.

Education - Ranked 52ndDespite very low levels of educational expenditure, Malaysian students benefit from high quality primary schools
Primary school enrolment is gender equal and children benefit from a favourable ratio of one teacher for every 17 students. However, successful enrolment drops somewhat at secondary school level and even more in tertiary education, where only 69% and 29% of the population enrolled, respectively. However, the workforce is well educated, with an average 5.3 years of secondary education and four years of tertiary educationper worker. Malaysia achieves this success despite a very low annual expenditure of $2,950 per student.

Health - Ranked 7thDespite strong healthcare provision, Finnish citizens are only moderately satisfied with their health
Life expectancy in Finland is high at 71 years and the country has strong healthcare provision, with 26 doctors per 10,000 capita and seven hospital beds per 1,000 people. Finland obtains the highest possible score in terms of public access to sanitation facilities and 93% of the population expressed satisfaction with the quality of water.* Infant mortality rates are among the lowest in the world at only three instances per 1,000 births and just 3% of the population is undernourished.* Despite strong healthcare provision, Finnish citizens report low levels of health satisfaction: personal health satisfaction levels place Finland at 32 on this variable, approximately one in five people claim health problems, only 69% of respondents report feeling well rested, and 19% reported feeling consistent pain.*

Health - Ranked 40thDespite a weak health infrastructure, Malaysians are satisfied with their health and feel well rested
Malaysia’s health infrastructure has significant limitations: there are a low number of doctors and nurses per capita, and only 18 hospital beds per 10,000 people. However, on measures of health outcomes, Malaysia is much more successful. It ranks in the top 50 for health-adjusted life expectancy at 63 years. Only 3% of the population is undernourished, and infant mortality figures are low. More than nine out of 10 people have access to sanitary waste disposal facilities and 77% are satisfied with their water quality.* Malaysians seem broadly pleased with their personal health: 87% of Malaysians are satisfied with their general level of health, only a quarter of Malaysians indicated that they have significant health problems, and only 17% reported being in pain for a significant portion of the previous day.* Nearly eight in 10 Malaysians felt well rested, placing Malaysia in the top 10 countries on this variable.*

Safety and Security - Ranked 2ndFinnish citizens enjoy high levels of personal security and low crime levels
Finland faces few security challenges related to refugees, social groups with a history of discrimination or other grievance, or human flight from dangerous conditions. Incidences of state-sponsored violence or repression of citizens are the lowest in the world, and there were no casualties due to civil war in 2007. With 27 homicides per one million people, Finland performs only above the global average on this variable. Further, almost one in 10 report their property having been stolen over the past year.* Despite these estimates, civilians’ perceptions of their own safety are strong, with 81% feeling safe to walk alone at night, and only 2% having claimed to have been assaulted in 2007.*

Safety and Security - Ranked 48thMalaysia faces serious challenges related to refugees, but most citizens live in relative safety
Malaysia faces significant challenges related to the presence of refugees and internally displaced individuals, as well as from social groups with a history of discrimination or other grievances. There are also some problems with human flight, as individuals seek a better life abroad, and some alleged incidents of government-sponsored torture and political imprisonment. There were no casualties from civil war in 2007. Although only a low 56% of Malaysians reported feeling safe walking the streets alone at night, crime rates are lower than this might suggest.* Homicide rates are low at just over five per 100,000 persons, and only 16% of respondents had property stolen in the last six months.* Just 5% of people had been assaulted in 2008, a very low figure by international standards.*

Governance - Ranked 2ndFinnish citizens have high levels of confidence in their government
Finnish citizens have extremely high levels of trust in their political system. Approximately 94% have confidence in honesty of elections, and the system allows full political participation. Only 13% of people believe their government to be corrupt, while only 20% believe local businesses to be corrupt. These are the lowest rates of corruption perception worldwide. Public confidence in the military is high, with 93% showing confidence. Finland benefits from a very effective government, ranking the country seventh on this variable. A sophisticated judicial system, respect for property rights, and high quality enforcement of law place Finland in the top 10 with regard to rule of law and regulatory equality. The judicial system, in turn, has the approval of the public, with 80% declaring their confidence in the courts.

Governance - Ranked 37thThe Malaysian government is effective and generally upholds the rule of law
Malaysia is ranked 35th for the extent to which its government equitably enforces the rule of law and 38th for the quality of its regulation of investment and competition. Its bureaucracy implements policies in a highly effective manner. While Malaysians have the right to change their government and participate in politics, this is subject to some limitations. Although 62% of people have confidence that elections are carried out in a fair way, over four in five people believe that government and local businesses are corrupt, a relatively high figure, internationally.* However, confidence in courts and in the military is high, with 76% and 84% expressing confidence in those respective institutions.*

Personal Freedom - Ranked 7thFinnish citizens enjoy high levels of freedom of speech and religion and tolerance for diversity
Finnish citizens enjoy unconstrained levels of freedom of movement, religion, and speech, and 95% of respondents feel satisfied with their freedom to choose in their daily lives, placing Finland 3rd on this latter variable.* Tolerance of others is also high, with three-quarters of respondents believing Finland a good place for ethnic minorities, and 78% feeling that Finland provides immigrants with a good environment in which to settle.*

Personal Freedom - Ranked 83rdA very low percentage of Malaysians believe the country is welcoming to immigrants
Malaysia ranks relatively poorly on measures of freedom. Although 72% of citizens in this highly multiracial society think that Malaysia is a good place to live for ethnic minorities, just 19% believe that the country is welcoming to immigrants.* Freedom of movement, religion, and speech is also low, by international standards. However, over four out of five Malaysians are satisfied with their freedom to choose in life, a comparatively high figure internationally.*

Social Capital - Ranked 6thIn Finland, social trust is very high
Social capital is strong in Finland, with 59% of individuals believing other people can be trusted, and a very high number of respondents stating that friends are important to them, ranking the country in the top five on these variables.* Further, 96% of Finns believe they can rely on their family and friends.* High donation and volunteering rates place Finland amongst the top 30 nations, but helping strangers remains uncommon, with only 37% reporting they had helped a stranger in the past year, placing Finland 73rd on this latter variable.* Finnish citizens enjoy high levels of group membership: sports, arts, and environmental association memberships are all in the top 20, at 36%, 19%, and 10%, respectively.* Further, despite a low level of religiosity, 79% of the population claim, to be members of a religious institution.*

Social Capital - Ranked 52ndOnly one out of 10 Malaysians trust others, but more than eight out of 10 feel they can rely on family and friends during times of need
Just 9% of Malaysians believe others can be trusted, placing Malaysia below the global average for this variable.* Levels of membership in social groups are relatively low: 31% of Malaysians are members of a sports group, 22% are in an arts organisation, and just 10% are in an environmental group.* Levels of donations to charity, volunteering, and helping strangers are average by international standards.* Although nearly eight in 10 Malaysians consider themselves religious, just 34% are members of a religious organisation.* A high number of people think that friends are important to them, and 85% of Malaysians feel they have someone to rely upon in times of need.*

* Data taken from the Gallup World Poll














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