It is learnt that the decision for a postponement was made solely by the artiste “and has nothing to do with other external reasons,” the press release stated.

In 2007, Beyonce cancelled her show in KL and went to Indonesia instead.

Read more in NST Online

Artists such as Avril Lavigne and Gwen Stefani have performed in Malaysia under similar protest threats by conservative Muslims.

Beyonce has decided to make Malaysia part of her ‘I am.’ World Tour and she will be performing on October 25, 2009 in Bukit Jalil National Stadium where tickets are selling from MYR 93 to a whopping MYR 583.

Below are some pictures I have taken around Kuala Lumpur shopping malls:

Pink blossoms at Pavilion KL

The Largest Golden Bull at Pavilion KL

"Blooming of Cherry Blossom" Dance at The Gardens

Dance performance at The Gardens

Chinese New Year at The Gardens

"Blooming of Cherry Blossom" Dance at The Gardens

Happy Chinese New Year! Have a prosperous new year.

Tickets are selling at MYR 68, MYR 88, MYR 138, MYR 168, MYR 208 and MYR 258 at Ticket Axcess website.

The only other Asian countries in the list are India at 9th, Thailand (Phuket), 15th, The Philippines (Boracay) at 26th and Bhutan at 36th. However, Penang is listed at 22nd according to "Times Recommendations" while Beirut remains at number one.

Penang is a great destination — beautiful beaches, great and cheap food, full of history and is even declared as one of UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Sunset at Batu Ferringhi beach in Penang Island (Photo credit: Meilyn)

Penang’s famous Char Kuey Teow (Photo credit: Suanie)

The full list of The 44 Places To Go in 2009

The Largest Golden Bull at Pavilion KL, outside the Bukit Bintang entrance

The Largest Golden Bull

The poster says:

The Largest Golden Bull

Our iconic Golden Bull sculpture reflects the Year of the Bull this Lunar Year, charging forward to achieve the ‘Peak of Fortune’ and bringing us to greater heights and success.

We invite you to touch the Golden Bull’s head for good luck and prosperity this Lunar New Year.

We wish all our guests a bullish year filled with peace, prosperity and happiness.

On the other side of Bukit Bintang, Sungei Wang Plaza has a smaller golden bull for display just outside the main entrance.

The smaller Golden Bull outside Sungei Wang Plaza

Rihanna is famous for her songs "Umbrella", "Don’t Stop the Music", "Take a Bow", and "Disturbia" was discovered by Jay-Z.

Rihanna Live in Kuala Lumpur 2009 is part of "The Good Girl Gone Bad Tour". Concert tickets are available from January 5, 2009 at all Axcess Ticket Outlets. Or you can call the ticket hotline at +603-7711 5000 or visit www.axcess.com.my. Tickets are priced at RM128, RM158, RM198, RM288 & RM328.

Sungei Wang’s center stage is beautifully decorated with Christmas theme

Just right in the facade of Sungei Wang, Maxis has built these beautiful Christmas trees

Beautiful Christmas lights just outside Sungei Wang Plaza

Giant Christmas tree in the Bukit Bintang entrance in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur

Giant Christmas tree in Suria KLCC

Christmas 2008 at Suria KLCC

The decoration for Christmas 2008 at Suria KLCC is different this time around

Pinnacle of the Christmas tree at Suria KLCC

Santa Claus and his reindeers on the Christmas tree at Suria KLCC

Gigantic Christmas presents hanging all over Suria KLCC

Stalls at Christmas 2008 at Suria KLCC are all decorated with Christmas decorations

Happy Christmas shopping!

Although, there was uncertainty and even a TV commercial which showed the concert date as a day earlier, finally the organizer can confirm the show will go on as scheduled, August 29, 2008 at 8pm in Stadium Merdeka.

Well, that’s the best damn thing to hear all week. Get your tickets from Axcess Tickets.

Avril Lavigne’s concert in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was initially scheduled for August 29, 2008 but the concert was bound to be canceled because it was set to take place two days before Malaysia’s independence day.

Now, it’s back and it will be held a day earlier, which is August 28, 2008 at 8pm in the same venue (Stadium Merdeka). The organizer even aired a TV Commercial for Avril Lavigne’s concert on 8TV, stating the date as August 28 instead of August 29 during the prime time hours. However, the online ticket purchasing is still temporarily closed.

For more details, call the organizer, Galaxy Hotline at +603- 2282 2020.

So, what difference does a day make?

Update (Aug 22, 2008): I have made a call to Galaxy Group and they confirmed they have indeed put up the TV commercial, however, the date for the concert is not confirmed. At least, the concert is still on. Alright!

Update (Aug 23, 2008): The online ticket purchase is now back! The concert is still set for Aug 29, 2008. Visit Axcess Tickets to get your tickets now!

Have you heard of Cuprocking? What is Cuprocking exactly? From the display panel, it says:

Cuprocking is the brain child of Sydney based artist, Andy Uprock. By mapping out large areas of cyclone fencing and sticking plastic cups into existing diamond shape holes, Andy transforms streets and public areas into floating walk-by galleries. Andy typically uses around 2,500 individual cups for each piece and recycles them between each project.

The Cup Rocking display outside Pavilion Kuala Lumpur is dazzling

Cup Rocking

It is surely dazzling. Only if the cup can glow in the dark during the night.

Petronas Twin Towers, once the world’s tallest building before being surpassed by the Taipei 101 even has a LEGO version. The picture above shows Petronas Twin Towers in LEGO and is taken from Toys “R” Us, Suria KLCC in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It took 1 month for 4 builders from Thai LEGO User Groups (T-LUG) and 300,000 pieces of LEGO to build. Impressive!

A closer look at the Petronas Twin Towers in LEGO

Petronas Twin Towers in LEGO

The tickets are priced at MYR 98, MYR 138, MYR 168, MYR 188, MYR 268 and MYR 338. Hurry up, the tickets started on sale a few days ago and are selling like hotcakes!

To buy online or for more information, visit Axcess Tickets.

John Woo was at GSC, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur for the premiere of Red Cliff last Friday, July 11, 2008, together with actors Chang Chen, Lin Chi-Ling and Zhang Fengyi.

“We were devastated by the incident, but at the same time we were also very touched by the help offered by the doctors, nurses, the army and the public who saved thousands of lives,” said Woo at a press conference here.

Red Cliff, which is based on the famous Romance of the Three Kingdoms, will come in two parts — the first part will open in cinemas on July 17 and the second part in early 2009. However, countries outside Asia will get a single, two-and-a-half-hour version.

Check out the Red Cliff trailer below, if you haven’t seen it.

Avril Lavigne is all set to rock Malaysia this August, as part of her “The Best Damn Tour: world tour”.

According to organiser, this will be her only concert in South-East Asia.

The 23-year-old Grammy Award-nominated rock singer and actress released her debut album Let Go in 2002. Over 16 million copies were sold worldwide.

Her second and third albums Under My Skin (2004) and The Best Damn Thing (2007) both received overwhelming response with millions of copies being sold.

Just less than a week after the news of Daughtry’s concert in Kuala Lumpur, Avril Lavigne’s concert in Malaysia is set to make it a double treat for Malaysians!

The venue and ticketing details will be announced soon. Stay tune for updates!

Formed by former American Idol finalist Chris Daughtry, the band will also be performing in Jakarta and Singapore next month as part of the Sony Ericsson Traffic Jam street party tour.

Daughtry’s self-titled debut album was released in November 2006 and reached the No. 1 spot for two non-consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200. The band’s debut has sold more than four million copies in the United States and was named the No.1 selling album of last year by Billboard.

The first single from the album, "It’s Not Over", was the eighth-most played song across all formats on US radio last year, while the band’s second single from the album, "Home", was the 10th-most played song in the United States last year.

Converse uses Volkswagen T1 van to mark its 100th year

Converse slogan on the Volkswagen is titled "Welcome to the Converse Century"

Converse uses 3 Volkswagen T1 vans to promote its centennial year

The other two Volkswagen T1

Converse and Volkswagen, the perfect marketing recipe

Converse Volkswagen T1 from the back

Don’t you think this is a creative marketing strategy to create branding awareness?

Paris Hilton store in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur

Paris Hilton store in KL

Paris Hilton store

Kung Fu Panda was in Mid Valley Megamall on May 23, 2008

Kids love to take photographs with Po, the Kung Fu Panda

Po, the panda in the movie Kung Fu Panda

Kung Fu Panda opens on June 6, 2008. If you haven’t view the trailer, check out Kung Fu Panda trailer here.

Thanks to my friend, Sheryne for sending me these lovely photographs.

A BMW 7 Series with the “WCIT 2008″ car plate is spotted in KL, on its way to Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The BMW bears the “Official Car” sticker at the side door.

WCIT 2008 which runs from May 18 – 22, 2008 in Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre is one of the biggest ICT events in Malaysia. WCIT or World Congress on Information Technology is a premier global ICT forum that brings together global leaders in business, government and academia. Over 2,500 delegates from over 80 countries will be here.

The keynote speakers include:

• Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister, United Kingdom
• Mikhail Gorbachev, former President, USSR
• Chen Shui-bian, President, Taiwan
• Colin Powell, former, Secretary of State, United States
• Robert Young, Chairman and Co-founder, Red Hat
• Dr. Dietrich Botsch, Former President, Siemens AG
• Kurt Hellstrom, President and CEO, Ericsson

and many others.

What the hell is Tech .Ed SEA?

According to Tech .Ed SEA site:

Tech·Ed is Microsoft’s premier gathering for Developers and IT Professionals worldwide, providing each group with technical education, community and product evaluation resources. In fact, it is the year’s best opportunity to meet the largest number of people within the technology industry, all in a single place.

Who should attend?

IT Professionals and Developers — Database Administrators, Network Administrators, Software Architects, IT Managers and Directors, Web Developers and more.

Why should you attend?

Besides to expand your knowledge about new and current technologies, there are many other reasons why you should attend. Oh, you’ll also get a chance to win a trip to Tech .Ed Europe!

When is Tech .Ed SEA 2008?

August 11 – 14 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

How much?

Originally MYR 1,299 (USD 419) but now only MYR 699 (USD 227) until April 30, 2008 only!
Register now! What are you waiting for?

Oh, yeah, if you feel bored, go to poke the guys at Tech .Ed SEA on Facebook!

The Click Five, a five-member boy band from Boston, Massachusetts will be performing live at The Arena of Stars, Genting Highland this June 7, 2008. The Click Five is popular with the songs Jenny and Happy Birthday from their second album, Modern Minds and Pastimes in this particular South East Asia region.

Ticket price starts from MYR 60, MYR 120 and MYR 180 and are only available through AXCESS outline, 603-7711 5000 and from AXCESS outlets — Axcess PJ, 1 Utama, Rock Corner Midvalley, Tower Records KLCC and Tower Records Lot 10. Tickets are not available online at the moment.

The Canadian diva was due to perform two concerts in Sydney tonight and tomorrow night at the Entertainment Centre, but announced at midday today she would not be well enough to go through with them. Dion was treated today by a prominent Sydney specialist who advised she needs 48 hours of treatment and rest to make a complete recovery before she can resume performing at her best.

Since the performances in Sydney and Perth had been postponed to April 5 & 6, it is necessary to reschedule the concert in Malaysia as well. The Malaysia concert will now be performed on Sunday April 13, 8 pm at Stadium Merdeka.

All tickets purchased for the original dates in all cities are valid for the same seats on the new performance date without any need for exchange.

About 20 people who had bought tickets for the weekend show (March 22-23) protested Monday outside the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, which issued the order to cancel the Divine Performing Arts troupe performance.

The ministry revoked the show’s permit because the Chinese Embassy complained that the organizers — U.S.-based New Tang Dynasty Television station — were supporters of Falun Gong, a spiritual movement that Beijing bans as a dangerous cult, said a ministry official.

“We have to take care of our relationship with China. It’s very important,” an official, who declined to be named

The Chinese Spectacular show which was originally scheduled to run from April 7 to April 30, 2008 is also canceled. The cancellation for the March 22-23 show cost organizers about $31,800 as at least 2,000 tickets were sold. The organizers is refunding the tickets, but people from Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan and Singapore, who had already booked their flights, had still traveled to Kuala Lumpur.

What’s your say on Malaysia’s bowing down to China?

After a three-year hiatus, the world tour will be the first for the 39-year-old singer, Celine Dion. Apart from Malaysia, Dion will also perform in Australia, China, Japan, Europe, South Africa and the United States.

Tickets can only be obtained by Tele-Booking and Internet Booking at this moment.

Updates: Celine Dion’s Malaysian Tour is now postponed to April 13.

You can now buy Celine Dion concert tickets online or call 603-7711 5000.

Some of the future employers you may want to meet include Sime Darby, Motorola, Western Digital, Maybank, Sunway City, Accenture, NEC, Panasonic, Infineon, Petrofac, British American Tobacco, Hitachi and more. Check out JobsDB.com Career Fair 2008 page.

Backstreet Boys comprising of Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell and AJ McLean is back again! This time their “Unbreakable Tour” will be held at Sunway Surf Beach, Sunway Lagoon Theme Park on February 27, 2008 at 8pm. Tickets are priced at MYR 88 and can be purchased from Axcess Tickets or at selected Tower Records, Music Valley and Rock Corner outlets.

Chinese New Year decoration in One Utama Shopping Centre

Cobra king appears at the wrong time

One thing that amuses me is that why the hell is the Cobra king out to entertain the crowd? Ain’t it the Year of the Rat? And Cobra belongs to the Snake family — Rat’s biggest enemy! ROFLMAO!

Many people love the lion dance

Close-up shot of the lion

Wishing all who celebrate Lunar New Year a very Happy Chinese New Year 2008!