It's tech talk time! (Try saying that 10 times over as fast as you can). If you're like me who's constantly online (except when I'm socialising with other people cuz that'd be rude) you'll know about the small little voice behind your head that constantly warns you "internet quota - how much do I have left this month - can I play this video without exceeding my quota - can I visit this page without getting a bill shock at the end of the month" and of course the relief of WiFi connection. 

Maxis has recently launched a new product named MaxisONE Plan - aiming to provide customers the freedom to connect and communicate the way we want to. We all know that calls and sms are a thing of the past with the emergence of smartphones and mobile data connection. Sure, in selected cases (mostly parents) calls are still frequently used, while among peers, friends, even business communications, instant messaging are preferred so as not to incur any extra charges. While in years before postpaid users worry about bill-shocks due to excess calls and sms as the end of the month, these days we worry more about being excessively charged for mobile data. 

So Maxis spearheaded a breakthrough - paraphrasing Dusyan Vaithiayanathan, the Head of Consumer Business "we as service provides has benefited from charging calls and sms rates, and now mobile data rates to the users. It is time for us to give back". And honestly, I could not agree more. With MaxisONE, one does not need to worry about how much calls and sms they use at the end of a bill cycle - it's free! 

Wait, what? Free Calls and SMS? 

Yes, free calls and sms. MaxisONE offers a simple plan that focuses more on what our generation use - data. With a special interest of providing not only high-speed LTE coverage on top of wide 3G network but also providing reliable connection wherever there is coverage! Cheers to that! Just as much as we hate dropped calls and undelivered sms, we also hate having to reload a website or replay a video because we were abruptly disconnected from the data network. 

So yes, free calls, free sms - not just between Maxis to Maxis, but to ALL network! This is great news for those who pay for both calls and sms with a data plan every month! It really saves up on your bills! With both calls and sms free and unlimited, what you only need to choose is how much data you need! 

Facebook? Youtube? Instagram? Whatsapp? How much data do I need?

In the race to provide specific group of consumers with what they specifically need, network service providers tend to confuse their customers. Honestly, I am just as uncertain about my plan as the dude next to me! But Maxis has made it easy by giving you a choice of 1GB, 2GB and 3GB quota a month. Additionally, it's a flat rate of RM30 for every extra 1GB you need a month, or if you just need a slight boost, it's RM10 for 200MB, and RM20 for 500MB. 

So what's the difference? I'm still bound by quota! 

Hold your yappin, I'm not finished yet! MaxisONE offers something thy call an Always ON internet experience - which means that even though you've used up all your internet quota for that billing cycle, you're still connected, albeit at lower speed. 

Okay.. sounds reasonable.. What else is there?

Together with MaxisONE, new devices are also available such as HTC Desire 310, Hwawei Y530 and Samsung Galaxy Ace 3. These are FREE when you sign up for the plan. Other higher performance devices are also available. 

If you're also a frequent flier especially overseas, you'll rest assures that Maxis roams in 106 countries at a flat rate of RM38 per day. With that in mind, you won't have to worry about pay-per-use data and bill shocks ever again! 

Great! Where do I sign up?

The simplest most effective way to sign up is to visit any Maxis center near you or any Maxis Exclusive Partner store nationwide. You can also visit Maxis Online Store here and read more information on the MaxisONE plan here. 

And as usual, a gallery of shots! >.<

Photo Gallery by QuickGallery.com

The weather was hot and humid, with mild wind blowing every now and then, but the crowd was building steadily. Set in the backdrop of the rainforest, two stages were set up - aptly called the Jungle stage and the smaller Tree stage. This has been the way it was - like tradition - since years of its organization. That was the Rainforest World Music Festival. The afternoon adventure I had earlier culminates to the evening concerts where the performers can truly play their tunes. 

Some of the performers

As the evening cools down with the absence of the sun, I heard the warrior's call native to the Land of the Hornbills bellows out accompanied by the iconic tunes of the sape'. Drawn the the callings, the crowd steadily made way to the stages to see up-close the warrior and a closer experience to one of the most popular sounds of Sarawak. 

The opening act from the Bisayah Gong orchestra was just as mesmerizing. Their music was part of their way of life since their ancestral times, commonly played to celebrate a good harvest, to heal the wounded and sick and as part of their war ritual as both battle cry as well as to warn their villagers of dangers. It is also common for the modern Bisayah families to keep at least a piece of Gong at home, if not a full set of them. 

The Bisayah Gong Orchestra

The Kalakan Trio

From the familiar tunes of my own homeland, I was whisked to the Tree stage to the autonomous community of Basque Country - a group of trio that calls themselves Kalakan. Armed with harmonic repertoires of Basque traditional songs (it sounds a little like Spanish) along with simple percussions, the trios bet on simplicity, elegance and a communication with their crowd generating and carrying emotions. Truly, listening to them in Spotify cannot compare with listening to them playing live! I really cannot tell if I'm ever going to have a change to hear them play live again, I completely immersed myself in their music. 

Son Yambu follows Kalakan, and my my as if the rainforest air was not hot and humid enough!! Fuuuhhh!! A Latin Salsa tune can turn the temperature from hot to oohhhhh mama that caused a whole lot of booty jiggling! Lucky me I packed a fan! As I've warned before, surviving the Rainforest World Music Festival requires a careful and meticulous preparation less it will ruin your experience. Did you follow my guide here? Let me know in the comments! 

It was always said to save the best of last, and no other words can describe the last performance of the first evening show. From the Basque country's traditional tunes to Cuban Latin Salsa, to Europe right in the heart of London! But no, this group is truly something else. The group that was most anticipated by my fellow blogger Lindy (read Lindy's blog here)  and Garner (read Garner's blog here), the group that was (probably) inspired by Captn' Jack Sparrow himself, the Blackbeard's Tea Party (yeah I can tell the group's performance gonna be epic!) 

The Blackbeard's Tea Party

There were percussion, guitar, violin, accordion, awesome voice (and melt-in-my-ear English accent) and a whole lotta dancing with these guys. Genuinely joyful, a little bit of cheeky and all around fun as they played songs after song and sing lyrics after lyrics playing the crowd all along. Although in all honestly their music is not my cup of tea, but considering it is a Balckbeard's Tea Party all along, what fool who did not enjoy it deserves a walk down the plank!

In the mean time, do enjoy the gallery below. It will be updated from time to time as there are tons of pictures to upload and credit so do return back for another visit! Ciao! 

Photo Gallery by QuickGallery.com

PS: I cannot say for certain where Blackbeard's Tea Party got their inspiration from. The connection between the group and Captn' Jack Sparrow or the whole Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is purely to the fictional imagination of the author. However, if you'd like to agree or to disagree, let me know in the comments.  

Honestly, when I got invited yet to cover the Rainforest World Music Festival this year for the second time, I told myself I was gonna cover it like a proper journalist would. A week prior to the festival, I drew plans in my head and on paper on how to collect as much information as I can, on the structure of my writing, on the photos and angles I was gonna take. Y'know, make it worthwhile for the readers. However, the moment I stepped into the festival ground, they were all but thoughts and words on pieces of paper. And that's not necessarily a bad thing! 

Before running my thoughts through, I'd like to extend my thanks to Sarawak Tourism Board for the opportunity and invitation, to Gustino and Hisyam (I hope that's the right way to spell his name) for taking care of us, to the rest of the Sarawak Bloggers team for the help, tips and pointer, to the volunteers at the media center, Damai Beach Resort for being such good sport and putting up with us and to those attending the festival! Y'all are awesome!!

So as I said earlier, I had just about everything planned out. Then I thought, if y'all my beloved readers want to know who's performing, where they come from and their musical career and stuffs like that, you can always ask Mr. Google, no? Or just use Mr. Wikipedia there on your left. I am a blogger, not a journalist (with all do respect). I write to tell stories of what I felt (occasionally I do write about facts though >.<)

I do get asked around what is Rainforest World Music Festival (or RWMF for short) quite a number of times, and my answers falls along the lines of "it's a chance to get to know, learn and immerse yourself in another culture, while at the same time teaching and showcasing your own culture". Many did not understand this - many thought that it was just an expensive rowdy, muddy concert where people dance and consume alcohol excessively. 

I tell my friends, the concert at night is the selling point for the whole festival, but what you're paying is the workshops in the afternoons. "There's a workshop??!!" Nope, not 'a' workshop, 27 workshops, to be exact. 9 each day for you to pick and choose which to learn and take home from. I definitely did. 

Having thrown my plans in the trash and decided to follow the rhythm of the jungle, I arrived at the festival grounds to the sounds of battle drums. It was the Big and Round workshop which frames drums from all over the world - there were those you hit with your hands, your palms, your fingers, and those you hit with a stick or baton. There were those that makes low, bass sounds, and those that makes sharp clapping sound. Some with jingles, some with snares. If you were there, you'll be sure to let me know how you felt attending the workshop in the comment below, no? 

Different performers with their own percussions

The Big and Round workshop featured bendirs, tamburello, pandeiretta, rebana, hadrah and tambourines. Mediated by members from 6 different group of performers, they each play a sample of how each percussion instrument is played in their culture, and at the end (my favorite part) they would all play together! Imagine these artists whom may have never met each other or heard each other play before, jamming together spontaneously! There is a gamble here - sometimes, it works, sometimes it does not! and that's ok, because from there we learn how similar, or different we are with each other, and give respect to one another, and that's how bonds are formed. 

Straight after Big and Round, as if being called by some strange, mystical force, I made my way to the Theater Hall where instead of a workshop, a third stage, the first year of RWMF that features 3 stages, Horomona Horo (wiki) was performing the ancient rituals of the Maori. Accompanied by his arrays of Taonga Pūoro his performance is truly resonating with the Land of the Hornbills. It was mesmerizing indeed (plus the theater hall has air-conditioning >.<) 

Horomona Horo and one of the Taonga pūoro

The performance itself loosely resembles that of the Sarawak natives, and it was indeed intimate and personal, as it was meant to showcase chamber concerts and performance. No flash photography was allowed, phones were set on silent or vibrate mode, even conversations amongst the audience was kept at minimum or in whispers. This third stage opened up a new dimension of performances and a different set of repertoire in this year's Rainforest World Music Festival. A note though: some of the performances showcased in the Theater Hall may not be performed in the evening concerts, so you may want to re-consider what you're missing out on! If you see yourself in the photos do comment and let me know which one is you! 

So after exiting the hall, I felt a sketchy sense of being creeped out, like something crawling under my skin! Or was it over my skin!! Like, SPIDERS!! So I headed back to Dewan Lagenda for a Bite of the Spider workshop! Sylvia Perrone of the Canzoniere Grecanico Salentiono (you MUST read it in an Italian accent Can-zo-niiiee-re Gre-ca-niiii-co Sa-len-tiiooo-no to have a glimpse of how AWESOME! this band is!) was teaching everyone on the floor how to do the tarantella. Owwhhh!! My skin crawls with goosebumps!!

Fuh! What a day - and that was only in the afternoon!!! Let me catch my breath for a minute and walk you through the evening concert in another post. If you'd saw me running around but didn't get to say hi, please write me a comment below. I'll definitely write you back. (^_^)/ 

Ps: Do enjoy the gallery below! 

Photo Gallery by QuickGallery.com

Hoooooyyeeaaahhhh!! 5 more days for that time of the year again where flocks of different folks come together for one of the most anticipated event of the year - the RAINFOREST WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL 2014. This is it's 17th year, voted for the 5th consecutive year as one of the 25 best International Festivals by renowned world music magazine, Songlines. 

With management experience and worldwide recognition, you can rest assure that the event is as safe as any festival event as can be. Teams of staffs and volunteers alike line up to ensure the event flows according to plan with contingency and action plans accounted for any unplanned events. 

That being said, you, as festival goer, should not neglect your own safety nor the safety of other festival goers.  Remember, have fun responsibly!

The Venue
If you've been to the festival in the previous years or are already familiar with the Sarawak Cultural Village grounds, the same general rules still apply since past years. If this is your first time, here's an aerial view of the Sarawak Cultural Village (courtesy of Sarawak CUltural VIllage and rwmf.net)

The Programme
It's worth noting that some visitors to the Rainforest World Music Festival come for the highlight of the whole festival - the evening performance from participating bands from all around the world and spend the day sight-seeing around Kuching Town. The festival has loads and loads to offer, especially for the musical enthusiast looking for exposure and experience. Plan your timing, try to arrive early for the best spots and do join the afternoon workshops or shop for souvenirs at the arts and crafts or memorabilia booths set all over the festival venue. There are also plenty of food stalls if you feel like tasting the local delicacies. You can print out the daily festival program here:

• Day One | Friday (June 20th, 2014)
• Day Two | Saturday (June 21st, 2014)
• Day Three | Sunday (June 22nd, 2014)

The Dress Code
Kuching, in general, has good whether. However, it can be unpredictable. Dress for comfort. I have seen festival goers particularly ladies wearing high heels to the festival. This is highly discouraged as one, the festival ground spans over a large area and a whole lot of walking is expected; two, the walkways are made up of woodplanks (to reflect the traditional way back when) and there are gaps between the planks; three, the front-stage or 'mosh-pit' is earth, not paved, not woodplanks. 

I recommend t-shirt or tank tops, especially those made with jersey or quick dry material, shorts, and flip-flops. 

Accessories
I cannot stress this enough. Last year was my second time going to the festival, and my first as a media representative - on which I made a couple of small but costly errors. The first being not having a power bank for my devices. I almost used up all my phone battery by the first hour of the evening performance. So yeah, bring along a power bank or extra battery for whatever you may need. There are power points in Dewan Lagenda (I cannot confirm if these can be used) but you don't want to be grounded with all the happenings around you, do you? 

The second was my memory stick - I barely have enough memory to store all those photos I took with my DLSR! Dang! By all mean I'm no pro, but like many I want to capture the moment in photos! 

So to help you out, here's a checklist of items that you might want to consider bringing along with you.

1. Powerbank for your devices.
2. Chargers, again for your devices. I'm adding a power extension cord here. Sharing is caring, no? Plus, it's a good way to make friends!
3. A spare change of clothes, kept in a plastic bag to keep dry. 
4. Toiletries - this is really up to you how much you want to / can stuff into your backpack. Wet-wipes, tissue and toilet rolls, hand sanitisers are basic. Keep them in a sealed bag or plastic bag to keep them from getting wet in case it rains. 
5. Raincoat / poncho / umbrella - unless if you don't mind getting wet in case it rains.
6. A small torchlight - you never know if and when it becomes handy.
7. A whistle - to attract attention if you found yourself in a predicament. 
8. A backpack to keep all these in. 

Things NOT to bring to the concert! They WILL be confiscated!

1. DRUGS! Just say no to them. There are other ways to have fun, like, uhh.. I dunno - just enjoy the music and the crowd?
2. Dangerous objects / objects that can cause harm - knives, scissors, sharp objects etc. Simply, if the items were not allowed in an aeroplane, they will not be allowed to be brought into the event grounds. 
3. Food and drinks - yeah this is quite unfortunate. Even bottled water were confiscated last year. They do sell them inside at a price, so do bring cash with you. 

Additionally, for those who plan to drive to the festival,

1. Unless you have the official car sticker, you won't be able to drive into the festival ground. Ensure your car is safely parked and locked. DO NOT leave any valuables in your car (This is a general rule, festival or not >.<)
2. Wrap your seat with old newspaper or plastic. If it rains, it will be muddy and you'll want your car interior to still be clean. 
3. Bring a few bottles of water, both for drinking and to wash up after the event. 
4. If you want to skip 2 and 3 above altogether, just keep a spare change of clothes in the bonnet and change before you drive home. 

Keeping safe
Always be aware of your surroundings, especially if you're going to the festival by yourself (in which case you can also contact me! I'll most probably meet my friends there, you're always welcomed to tag along). 

If you're travelling in a group, set up a MEETING POINT in the festival grounds. You'll most probably see other groups of festival goers carrying banners and signs like these. It's also a good idea to wear an identifier i.e bracelets, sash, cap etc. in case you need to quickly locate a missing member by announcing from the PA system. 

Do OBEY THE LAWS AND FESTIVAL RULES AND REGULATIONS. They are there for a reason. For one, it's you keep you and other festival goers safe. For another, it's to ensure that the festival management successfully organised the event for yet another year, keeping a good track record in hope that next year it will be held bigger and better!

STAY HYDRATED. Drink lots of water, and stay under the shade as much as possible to avoid dehydration and heat strokes. Generally, tap water in the festival venue is treated, but there may still be pathogenic microorganisms that can cause diarrhea or worse. Drink bottled water instead - or beer, whichever you prefer >.<

ENJOY!!
After all, that is the main reason why you'd come to a festival in the first place, no? 

P/s:  http://preciousmadphoto.wordpress.com also provides some really good RWMF survival tips here. 

 

Following up on my recent post on addressing the social stigma of HIV/AIDS, I would like to talk about syphilis - one of the lesser evils in the family of sexually transmitted diseases (STI). This, after coming along with a friend to a clinic to get a second dose injection for its treatment by which I was informed rather painful. 

Before I even begin to talk about syphilis, I'd like to emphasize on the awareness of STI in general, and how we should all play a part in dissolving the social stigma concerning STI. 

1. Wherever you go, you should not be judged by your sexual behaviour.
2. Give advice willingly, and you owe it to yourself to be informed.
3. Ask as many questions as you need to - do not assume. And make sure you get answers that you understand.

What is syphilis and what causes it?

Syphilis is an infectious disease classified under sexually transmitted disease. It is caused by a germ called Treponema pallidum. While the symptoms of a syphilis is difficult to diagnose, untreated for a long time it can cause complications to the brain, the cardiovascular system and even death. 

Syphilis can infect both men and women, and they both can pass it on. An interesting fact about syphilis is that it is known with another name: The Great Imitator. This, because it has so many symptoms, many of which look like symptoms for other diseases. (This was how I was told by this friend of mine: "I have the great imitator." I didn't know anything about syphilis back then so I just gave him a blank stare!)

Speaking of passing it on, how is it spread?

As mentioned earlier, syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease, therefore any man or women who leads an active sexual lifestyle is at risk. However, sex is not the only way syphilis is passed on. 

• It can be passed on unknowingly from the infected person as the symptoms are difficult to differentiate from other disease. An infected person may not know he/she is infected for years and continue to live a healthy life.
• Direct skin contact with the syphilis sore or syphilis rash can lead to infection. 
• Direct blood transfusion can also pass on the germ that causes syphilis. 
• It is also possible for a pregnant mother to pass on the disease to her unborn baby. 

You cannot catch syphilis from kissing, hugging, sharing baths or towels, swimming pools, toilet seats or from sharing cups, plates or cutlery. Just as the HIV virus, saliva and urine do contain the germ that causes syphilis, but not in enough number for it to become an infecting agent. 

What are the signs and symptoms?

As aforementioned, it is difficult to diagnose syphilis from symptom alone. My friend found out by chance doing an annual medical checkup in a specialist hospital. I was later informed - and this is important information - that there is no exact way to test how long has the infection been there. 

However, syphilis can develop in three stages:

1. the first stage: called primary syphilis
2. the second stage: called secondary syphilis
3. the third or latent stage: called tertiary syphilis.

Primary Syphilis

This is the earliest stage and generally occurs from 10 days to 3 months after infection. It typically causes a painless ulcer on the genitals.

Secondary Syphilis

This is the second stage of syphilis. Many different symptoms can occur (see later) but usually last several weeks. They can, however, come and go for up to two years.

Tertiary Syphilis

This is the final stage of syphilis. Untreated after many years, it may start to cause very serious damage to the heart, brain, eyes, other internal organs, bones and nervous system.

Arguably, there is another stage between secondary and tertiary syphilis called latent syphilis. Latent means 'hidden'. This occurs after the symptoms of secondary syphilis have cleared. With latent syphilis there are no symptoms. Latent syphilis can last for many many years. It is divided into two types:

• Early latent syphilis: This lasts for a year or so and the infected persons are still infectious - that is, they can pass syphilis on to other people.
• Late latent syphilis: About two years after secondary syphilis has cleared the infected person can become non-infectious and are no longer able to pass syphilis on to others.

If the symptoms are difficult to diagnose, then how will I know if I am infected?

The only way to be certain is to be tested for syphilis. Most government hospitals and clinics do run these tests, and - get this - they don't mind running the tests for you even if you look and feel healthy as a bell! So go ahead, if:

• you, or a partner, think you might have symptoms
• you have recently had unprotected sex with a new partner
• you, or a partner, have had unprotected sex with other partners
• a sexual partner tells you they have a sexually transmitted infection
• you have another sexually transmitted infection
• you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy

go get tested. 

What happens during the test?

• The doctor or nurse will ask you to give a blood sample. 
• They will do a genital examination. 
• For women this may include an internal examination of the vagina and; 
• For men an examination of the penis, foreskin and urethral opening (where urine comes out). 
• Both men and women may have the anus examined internally and externally. 
• The doctor or nurse will also check the body generally for any rashes or warty growths. They may check the mouth and throat area. 
• They will use a swab to collect a sample of fluid from any sores. 

This only takes a few seconds and is not painful, though it may be uncomfortable for a moment. 

If I have syphilis, how will I be treated?

Just like another human being, generally speaking. Medically though, because syphilis is a germ infection, it can be readily treated with antibiotics. Antibiotic injections are the usual treatment. Benzylpenicillin is the antibiotic usually used. This kills the germs (bacteria) and prevents the disease from progressing any further. The injections are given intramuscularly (IM), usually into the buttock (this may explain why my friend adamantly asked me to drive >.<) . A single dose can be given for primary and secondary syphilis. Later stages may need a course of three injections, at weekly intervals. Neurosyphilis usually requires more frequent, daily doses for a couple of weeks.

What if I am allergic to penicillin?

Well, you're screwed. Or rather, mother nature screwed you. I'm kidding, of course. Other antibiotics are sometimes used if you are allergic to penicillin. Azithromycin is often used in this situation.

What if I am pregnant?

Well your husband must've screwed you up well, didn't he? OMG hahaha! I'm kidding again. If syphilis is found during your pregnancy, you can be given treatment safely. This can help prevent the baby from becoming infected and there is no risk of the treatment harming the baby. If the syphilis is untreated you may pass the infection to your baby in the uterus. This can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth, or the baby being born with syphilis.

Wrap up

Something to keep in mind if you have an active sexual lifestyle, especially with multiple partners, do keep safe. Abstinence from sex is the surest way to not contract any STIs, however in cases where sex just cannot be avoided use protections, and use them correctly. 

If you are diagnosed with syphilis or any other STIs, don't fret. It's not the end of the world yet. You just have to live it a little differently. And I'd like to keep thinking that the possibilities of sex is not completely and entirely shut - just take it to inform your engaging partner of your condition, and only go forth with mutual consent. Again, abstinence from sex is probably the best, but in situations where sex just can't be avoided and must be done, do use protection and use them correctly. 

Another note to be highlighted is that just because you were once cured of syphilis does not mean you cannot catch it again. Be safe, use protection. On a final note, I want to adopt a new slogan for anyone living with STD:

You're not sick, you just have a condition. 

Until next time, ciao!

Yesterday wasn't much of a productive day at the gym compared to the few days before. Only ran about 1 km, and that took 15 minutes already. Probably the 2% gradient on the treadmill made it all the more challenging, but I did not enjoy the run very much. Then again, as my former fitness partner said, a bad run is one where you didn't run at all. 

So after the run, I decided to walk around the facility, and ended up on the rooftop garden with another member. The view was quite amazing. I could see myself on a relax, on a breezy day, sitting on the patio reading my book. Lemme show you:

The Rooftop Garden on the first floor.

Stairs from the ground floor access.

A clear view of the Waterpark.

The setting sun. I love this picture most. It's an original, no edits..

More view of the Waterpark

The outdoor garden is also a nice place to sit and relax.

More views of the outdoor garden.

The garden extends to the badminton hall. 

Of course after distracting myself with the view, I went back to working on the weights. There's another landscape area near the badminton hall, but I'll save it for another adventure another day.