31 Mar 2012

U S Mega Millions lottery numbers are  2,  4,  23,  38,  46  with a Mega Ball of 23.......


A winning ticket for the record-breaking $640 million Mega Millions jackpot was sold in Baltimore County, the Maryland Lottery said Saturday.
Lottery officials are waiting for information on potential jackpot winners from other Mega Millions states.
The winning numbers in the Mega Millions lottery Friday night were 2, 4, 23, 38, 46 with a Mega Ball of 23.
California Lottery Commission spokesman Alex Traverso said 29 tickets sold in that state matched five of the six winning numbers. He said the payout will be about $125,000 to $130,000.
The multistate jackpot caused long lines at convenience stores, with many dreaming of creative ways to quit their jobs if they get the lucky numbers.
With the line stretching around the block, hundreds of people waited for over two hours to buy lottery tickets at Bluebird liquor store on Thursday in Hawthorne, California. With the line stretching around the block, hundreds of people waited for over two hours to buy lottery tickets at Bluebird liquor store on Thursday in Hawthorne, California.
 
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Read more  :  http://edition.cnn.com/2012/03/31/us/mega-millions/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

 What would you do if you are one of the winners? Some of those interviewed say they will go for a holiday ,shopping , buy property.....but you wont be able to use much of the cash doing those things.As for me , I will only think about it when it happens ! Happy Easter everyone !

30 Mar 2012

  A hard-boiled egg cooked in boys’ urine...anyone ?

In China, basins and buckets of boys’ urine are collected from primary school toilets. It is the key ingredient in “virgin boy eggs”, a local tradition of soaking and cooking eggs in the urine of young boys, preferably below the age of 10.
 If you eat this, you will not get heat stroke. These eggs cooked in urine are fragrant,” said Ge Yaohua, 51, who owns one of the more popular “virgin boy eggs” stalls.

They are good for your health. Our family has them for every meal. In Dongyang, every family likes eating them.”
It takes nearly an entire day to make these unique eggs, starting off by soaking and then boiling raw eggs in a pot of urine. After that, the shells of the hard-boiled eggs are cracked and they continue to simmer in urine for hours.
Vendors have to keep pouring urine into the pot and controlling the fire to keep the eggs from being overheated and overcooked.

 Vendor Ge Yaohua eats a hard-boiled egg cooked in boys’ urine at his stall

Many Dongyang residents, young and old, said they believed in the tradition passed on by their ancestors that the eggs decrease body heat, promote better blood circulation and just generally reinvigorate the body.
 “By eating these eggs, we will not have any pain in our waists, legs and joints. Also, you will have more energy when you work,” said Li Yangzhen, 59, who bought 20 eggs from Ge.

Read more  :http://themalaysianinsider.com/features/article/urine-soaked-eggs-a-tasty-treat-in-china-city/

See video http://www.stuff.co.nz/oddstuff/6666411/Urine-soaked-eggs-a-spring-taste-treat

                

27 Mar 2012

FREEDOMFLASK.com

Beer from your 'Freedom Flask'.....The underwear flask that dispenses beer... from your fly...
 
 An American company has invented what it calls the 'Freedom Flask' - an underwear pouch that turns your crotch into a beer dispenser.
Strapped over your underwear, the heavy duty vinyl bag is large enough to carry a fifth of alcohol.

Apparently it's also dishwasher safe.For just $24.95 you can 'Take it anywhere!' the website boasts, including 'concerts and festivals, bars and clubs, events with a cash bar, the golf course, movie theatre, the ski sopes' - and of course - 'a boring day at the office'.

Freedom Flask
Boozer: The 'Freedom Flask' is an underwear pouch that turns your crotch into a beer dispenser


Freedom Flask
Easy to use: In three simple steps, you can drink with the best of 'em.




19 Mar 2012

China's Forbidden City theft...

 BEIJING (Reuters) - A Beijing court on Monday sentenced a Chinese farmer to 13 years in jail for the audacious theft last year of several imperial treasures from the Forbidden City, state media said, in a case which highlighted lax security at China's most famous museum.

Curators at the Palace Museum, housed in the former home of China's last emperors, were left red faced after several items on loan from a Hong Kong museum were stolen in May.
Shi Baikui, from the eastern province of Shandong, broke into the museum and stole nine art works made of gold and jewels, but in his haste to escape left five of the pieces inside the museum compound, Xinhua news agency reported.
"Failing to immediately sell the treasures, he threw the other four pieces away the next day," it said, citing a court statement.
Three pieces have yet to be recovered, Xinhua added.
Two days after the theft, police arrested Shi in an Internet cafe in southern Beijing.
Shi, who called it a "spur-of-the-moment" crime, explained that he had been able to disrupt the alarm system, Xinhua said, adding that the Palace Museum is updating its alarms to prevent a repeat occurrence.

16 Mar 2012

Tips for gourmet sex

Sex therapist and author of Sex Tips for Busy People, Jacqueline Hellyer gives tips on how to sauce up your sex life.

Jacqueline Hellyer 

"If we want fast food - we get McDonalds, but if we want a beautiful meal, we take time pouring over cookbooks, buying ingredients, creating a nice atmosphere and preparing. The same goes for having great sex."
That sex should "just happen" is one of the myths Hellyer is intent on dispelling. We need to create "the conditions that enable desire," she says. "People are trying to eat meals with nothing in the kitchen."
This, Hellyer believes, is why so many relationships lose their sexual sparkle. But it's possible to regain it, she says, if we take the time to refill our pantries of love, so to speak.

* Keep your bedroom beautiful. "It should be a sanctuary dedicated to leaving the world behind."
* Commune with your partner. "Hang out together, have a glass of wine or a cup of tea and chat - not [necessarily] the logistics of love, just chat about stuff."
* Set aside time for intimacy. "It's not unromantic [to schedule time]. It's necessary."
* Start going to bed earlier. "The focus doesn't have to be on having sex, but viewing each other in a sensual way."
* Be nice. "It's a radical concept, but be nice to each other, just like you were in the beginning."
* Understand that you have to make the effort. "People want a fabulous sex life. They tell me they want it to be spontaneous like it was in the beginning. But it was never spontaneous. In the beginning, people plan - they shave, they put on nice underwear. Half the excitement is the anticipation of what they know is coming."
* Treat your partner like your lover. "In the beginning it's exciting because we're doing stuff that brings out the best in each other. Slobbing around in scungies picking your nose and scratching your balls [doesn't create an environment conducive to sex]."

 Read more  :  http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/love-sex/6586503/How-to-have-gourmet-sex


14 Mar 2012

Swiss Tunnel Crash..

22 children and six adults killed plus dozens injured after their 'speeding' bus crashes in Swiss tunnel returning from ski trip

  • 28, including the 22 children, killed after bus 'veered and hit a kerb, then rammed into a concrete wall in the tunnel'
  • Coach was one of three carrying Belgian schoolchildren home from skiing holiday
  • Most of the children killed were aged just 12 years old
  • Police: 'Tragedy is worst road traffic accident in Swiss history'
A catastrophic coach crash that killed at least 22 children and six adults - after the vehicle veered, hit a kerb and then rammed into a concrete wall in a Swiss tunnel - could have been caused by speeding.
Police said the vehicle, in which the 12-year-old schoolchildren were travelling, was going 'considerably faster' than the 63mph speed limit as it careered into an underpass wall on the A9 highway, near Sierre, Valais, close to the border with Italy.
Swiss crash scene investigators told Belgium's Le Soir newspaper: 'The coach was travelling at very high speed. It was going considerably faster than the speed limit on a stretch of road where the speed is limited to 100kmh.'
Dozens more were injured in the smash, which came as a school party of 52 returned from an Alpine skiing holiday to the villages of Lommel and Heverlee in the Flemish region of Belgium. 
Photographs showed the bus rammed up against the side of the tunnel, the front ripped open, broken glass and debris strewn on the road and rescue workers climbing in through side windows.

Smashed: The wreckage of the bus

Devastated: Rescuers next to the wreckage of the bus which crashed into the tunnel wall

Belgium 
Belgium
Carnage: Bloodstains can be seen down the side of the wrecked vehicle as it is towed away

Tragedy: Police were today describing the road traffic accident as the worst ever in Swiss history

Head-on collision: As the coach is dragged away by a tow truck, the wall it careered into can be clearly seen

Bus crash


Relatives of victims of a bus crash react in front of school Saint Lambertus in Heverlee, Belgium today
Relatives of victims of a bus crash react in front of school Saint Lambertus in Heverlee, Belgium today

 Tearful: Relatives of the victims of the bus crash wait outside the Saint Lambert School in Heverlee today
Stricken: Tearful parents of children killed in the bus crash gathered outside Stekske School in Lomme today
Stricken: Tearful parents of children killed in the bus crash gathered outside Stekske School in Lomme today.

A general view of the entrance to the school, 't Stekske in Lommel
Flowers lie at the gate of the Sint Lambertus School in Heverlee, Belgium
Victims: The sign of Stekske School in Lommell (left) as flowers lie at the gate of the Sint Lambertus School in Heverlee.

Wreckage: A police officer looks at the mangled remains of the bus
Wreckage: A police officer looks at the mangled remains of the bus.

Injured: Rescuers carry a stretcher to an emergency helicopter at the entrance of the tunnel. At least 24 are thought to be injured
Injured: Rescuers carry a stretcher to an emergency helicopter at the entrance of the tunnel.

Rescue efforts: A rescue helicopter is airborne as rescue worker stand in front of the entrance to the tunnel the bus crashed in Sierre early this morning
Rescue efforts: A rescue helicopter is airborne as rescue worker stand in front of the tunnel.
                                             See Video.....


12 Mar 2012

  AirAsia X  suspends  Kuala Lumpur to Christchurch flights from 1/6/ 2012.
Just received this email from AirAsia X ..Malaysia's world famous low cost airline....my daughter has a flight on 3rd June. So no more cheap airfares to New Zealand. Must try JetStar.....

 "Please be informed that effective from 1st June 2012, AirAsia X will be suspending our flights to/from Christchurch.
We will be sending individual notifications to all guests affected by this suspension, in stages, based on your respective flight dates, via email and SMS.
The email notices will also outline the various service recovery options offered which are:
i.                     cancel your reservation and opt for Full Refund/Credit Shell; or
ii.                   move to any of our other operating flights from/to Christchurch, before the 1st June 2012*; or
iii.                  reroute your flights from/to Christchurch to/from an AirAsia X port in Australia (Sydney, Gold Coast or Melbourne) to Kuala Lumpur# or any other AirAsia X destinations.
Please take note alternative arrangements has to be made on your own for the trans-Tasman travel.
*at no cost, subject to availability
# at no cost
In order to avoid undue congestion and delays in replying to your queries, we request that you contact us in relation to any queries you may have, only after you have received your individual notice.
For further explanation on the reasons for our flight suspensions, please refer to our Press Release on 12th March 2012."

 AAX in a statement said :
The suspension of Christchurch, New Zealand is a move made subsequent to the airline’s suspension of its European and Indian routes early this year to improve operating cost efficiencies and concentrate capacity in AirAsia X core markets of Australia, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Iran.
Azran Osman-Rani, CEO of AirAsia X said “The decision to withdraw from Christchurch was a difficult one, but was made taking into account our strategic focus in consolidating our network on markets where we have built up stable, profitable routes. We have, since the suspension of our flights to Europe and India, increased flight frequencies to Tokyo, and opened up a new route to Sydney, Australia. AirAsia X will continue to further expand in its core markets and add frequencies on existing routes.”
“Our Kuala Lumpur – Christchurch route has performed strongly in terms of demand since our launch in April 2011, recording close to 80% loads in 2011. However, the Christchurch route has been impacted by the spiraling cost of jet fuel. Since the launch of the route, jet fuel prices have increased in excess of 30%, and are currently still at very high levels. The high cost of fuel has compromised our ability to offer our renowned low fares.”
“We have been very grateful for the huge support rendered by Christchurch Airport, Christchurch City Council and Tourism New Zealand, and would like to put on record our appreciation for all the cooperation that has been given to us,” concluded Azran.

9 Mar 2012

     Queenstown, New Zealand.
 Christchurch is the starting point of your travels to the South Island of New Zealand.From here you travel south along one of NZ's most scenic routes to Queenstown.Along the way you visit Lake Tekapo, Mt Cook ,Cromwell ,and finally Queenstown (QT) the adventure capital of New Zealand. Queenstown and Southern Lakes has been named one of Lonely Planet's top 10 regions to visit in 2012.
 Southern Lakes among Lonely Planet's top regions for 2012.....http://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=10762823

QT has it all...bungy,water sports, shopping,and food.For those coming to QT for the first time,spend at least 3 nights here.1st day you will be arriving late at night and there will only be time to settle down and and go for dinner.Go to Milford Sound the next day and not on the last day.This is in case some problems come up for the trip and you can still go on the 3rd day.The following pics will show you what are the sights and sounds of QT!


 the Gondola..

 
watch where you are going.....!


 main entrance to the gondola.In Malaysia a very famous photo was taken from this angle. its known as the " correct, correct, correct " photo.




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The gondola ride consist of 2 parts........the ride and the luge.Go for both.The luge has 1, 2,or 3 rides.the 1 st ride is not so winding and of course not so thrilling.so go for at least 2 luge rides.
the view from the viewing gallery where the cafe and shop is located.and remember it may be a sunny day ,but up there it can be cold and windy. so bring some warm clothings just in case.

 
I just told you so..!

 
in the gondola
 

 
 midway up there is a bungy platform but I have never seen it been used.
 
the luge

 
at the top of the luge. note the 2 circuits on the left  of the pic.

 
not my hand !
 

 

 

 
 
the chairlift up to the luge. if you are not going for the luge ride you can also go for the ride up....  no need to wear the helmut .but you have to WALK down.....no problem...it took us 20 minutes with photo shoots along the way.

 
walking down from the top of the luge...

 
the cafe...

 QT medical centre.
 

 
a NICE GUY spotted in QT.

 
the QT wharf...
 
the historic TSS Earnslaw ship in Lake Wakatipu. QT is situated along the shores of Lake Wakatipu.
 
QT wharf....
 


 
along the water front...
 

 
pubs ,cafes and a casino along the water front in QT.

 

 
this is NOT me !  I am older !
 

 




THE best burgers in the whole of New Zealand. day and night there is a Q till the side of the road.
 

 

 
 

 
a smiling tourist from Malaysia.
 

 
we can only each eat half...


 
but most of the time we eat this.......we are backpackers you know !
 

 
Accommodation in QT is no problem. there are high class hotels and very comfortable backpackers.

Absoloot Value Accommodation....http://www.booking.com/hotel/nz/absoloot-value-accommodation.en.html?aid=311984;label=absoloot-value-accommodation-mmAJsWLGV0Rt7ZAv0Ua78QS6483618313;ws=&gclid=CNq735eg2a4CFQZ66wodCgjhdg    .....

this was the former Thomas Hotel and was renovated and renamed. at the water front. best value for money. very near to all the shops and other attractions.

 Southern Laughter.........comfortable......we have also stayed here before...


 



Haha...seen on a glass window in a shop......true ?
 


scenes around QT.  a Malaysian tourist admiring the view

 
Yes..... AWESOME NZ..!   
 

  sunset at QT..
 

 
the steps leading to the gondola..
 

 
remember at least 2 luge rides..!
 

 

around QT...
 
Arrowtown...

 
Arrowtown
 
Arrowtown is about 1.5 hours from QT.it is a former mining town. if you have extra time drop by for an ice cream. if not you can give it a miss..
 
QT
 
around QT

Is there a best time for visiting Queenstown ? In summer ,prices may be higher for all goods including car rentals, but there are more tourists and the shops stock up more goods.At the wharf during summer there are definitely more activities going on. Queenstown the place where anything can happen.......
                       Nudie stroll upsets Qtown punters....http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/new-zealand/6545166/Nudie-stroll-upsets-Qtown-punters


 
a sign we saw while on the road .......