Interactive video by SAMSUNG Microsite

Have you ever try the Interactive video from SAMSUNG site? (http://bit.ly/pa8JrF). It's fun! Click on the link provided and take note the "Click Here" button on the page, then fill in the empty box on the left bottom corner...yes! Any words you like, and see how's the video react! Haha!

The Samsung Microsite

Beside this fun interactive video, you can also submit your interesting video taken by SAMSUNG Galaxy SII, and who know your video might be the One who use for SAMSUNG next campaign! Do it now by click on the link : http://bit.ly/pa8JrF

Have you take any video by this phone before? It will be appreciate if you can share it.

Key-in any word you like to see how's the video react. (The Red arrow)

I did some video shooting on my GALAXY S and it's be able to produce a decent video clip...and I confident with the SAMSUNG GALAXY SII can even provide much better clip because of the Full HD feature. SAMSUNG Galaxy SII equipped with 8mb camera and be able to take FULL HD movie (1080p@30fps), that really produce nice and excellent video clips whenever you go! 

Just imagine that you carry a Full HD Video camera with you everyday - 24 hours that you Won't miss out any Precious moment around you, Great! :) Try it to Believe it!

I will try to shoot some videos by using the SAMSUNG Galaxy SII and will be post on this blog next week, do visit it and give some comments. Thanks.

Shana Tova!

Synagogue ceiling, Siret, Romania. Photo (c) Ruth Ellen Gruber

Shana Tova to all my readers! Thanks for your attention and comments!

May you have a sweet, satisfying and scintillating New Year -- and beyond!

I LOVE SAMSUNG GALAXY SII - The Sexy and Powerful Smartphone!

In the dilemma on selecting the Smartphone? Yes...I had the same situation before. There are too many brands and models in the market, sometimes it makes us really difficult to choose a phone for ourselves.

But all is over now! The new Samsung Galaxy SII is one of the nice and best performance Smartphone in the market for the moment. I had been attracted by the Sexy look for the first sight! It has a solid finishing outlook and equipped with the Dual-core 1.2Ghz ARM Cortex -A9 powerful CPU to handle all Hardcore App in the market. Click here for Full Specification.

Photo from : http://www.techdigest.tv/2011/05/review_samsung_12.html

The Samsung Galaxy S already became my Best Companion when I travel. I share my travel photos & videos along the way to Facebook and Twitter. Check my email anytime and do some browsing on the internet. Beside that...the phone also provide my exact location where am I, I use it as A Navigator. It's really Help! I believe the Samsung Galaxy SII can do much more better than this!

Hey! Do I mention about video? Please click the URL (http://bit.ly/pa8JrF) where you can enjoy the videos shared from the owners of Samsung Galaxy SII. Take note of the word - "Clcik Here!".

Well, I like the Sexy phone very much! Do you?

I Receive High Honor from Poland

By Ruth Ellen Gruber

I'm honored and delighted to report that at a ceremony at the Polish Consulate in New York last night I received the Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit  -- one of Poland's highest honors awarded to foreigners. Poland's President Komorowski presented the awards -- alas, I was not able to be in New York, but my friend who stood in for me took a video of the moment when my name was read out:

Given my history with Poland, going back more than 30 years, it is quite an honor! As my old friend and colleague Doug Stanglin reported in USA Today, this award comes 28 years after Poland's the-Communist regime arrested me, threw me in jail, interrogated me and expelled me on trumpted up "espionage" charges.

At Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, 1983

What a difference a few years and the fall of the Berlin Wall makes.

In 1983, at the height of martial law and the Solidarity worker's movement, Poland's communist-led government detained American reporter Ruth Ellen Gruber on suspicions of "crimes against the state."

The then-bureau chief for United Press International was hauled in for questioning by police, then expelled from the country.

Thursday, the Polish government was at it again, with a new proclamation aimed at Gruber.

This time, it bestowed on her the Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit, one of the highest honors awarded to foreigners.

.Read full story HERE

Here's another story, by Polish Radio's English service:

Ruth Ellen Gruber, who remains an active commentator on Central European affairs, was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit by President Bronislaw Komorowski on Thursday at a ceremony at the Polish Consulate in New York.

Poland’s head of state is currently attending the UN General Assembly in New York, where he gave an address calling for solidarity among nations.

Gruber, who covered the Solidarity surge in Poland as a bureau-chief of United Press International, was deported from the country for “crimes against the state.”

As it was, Mr Komorowski was himself arrested by the Polish authorities during that period. As a Solidarity activist, he was interned after the declaration of Martial Law in December 1981.

Gruber was granted the award both for her coverage of the Polish bid for democracy, as well as her more recent work furthering Polish-Jewish understanding.

Letters from Europe (and Elsewhere), a collection of her articles, was recently published, as well as her work on the so-called Jewish revival in Poland – Virtually Jewish: Reinventing Jewish Culture in Central Europe. (nh/jb)

Read full story HERE

Modern Revelations Restaurant at Taman Molek, Johor Bahru.

Modern Revelations Restaurant (N1.52985 E103.79364) is located at Jalan Molek 2/3, Taman Molek - Johor Bahru.

Modern Revelations Restaurant at Taman Molek, Johor Bahru.

Visited the restaurant for Japanese BBQ dinner on one of the Saturday night, and it was crowded with customers!
The decoration is nice and every table provided with a chimney which suck out all the BBQ smoke.

Cozy and smokeless environment

They have many type of different foods and package and we decided for the Japanese Seafood BBQ package. The foods served on our table fast and the staffs provide good service!

The squids, fish and abalone.

We only chose the chicken and pork, didn't take any beef or mutton package...

The pork and the chicken

Salads

The special sauce

After all the foods served, the waitress put one unique and small BBQ pit on the table. That was really cute! :)

The BBQ seafood and others were Nice & Delicious! Especially the sauce! We were satisfied with the foods and the service here! I like the pork, it was tender and juicy! Yummy! All of us enjoy the BBQ session that night!
The Damage : MYR150.00 for 4 adults and 2 children included drinks. Well, it was reasonable and cheaper than the Korean BBQ Restaurant we visited before but there are totally different on the foods and the taste.

They have total of 3 restaurants at Johor Bahru located at 3 different places. Another 2 restaurant are located at Taman Sentosa and Taman Sutera Utama.

Modern Revelation Restaurant

44, Jalan Molek 2/3, 

Taman Molek,

Johor Bahru.

Tel : +607-3521803

http://www.modernrestaurant.com.my

Location map of Modern Revelations Restaurant at Taman Molek, Johor Bahru.

View Larger Map

Chinese Lion dance Competition on July 2011 at Jalan Hiok Nee, Johor Bahru.

Jalan Tan Hiok Nee (N1 27.385 E103 45.814) was having the Chinese Lion Dance Competition (High Poles) on the street for the first time in the month of July 2011.

There were total of 8 teams from other states of Malaysia participated in the competition. We were there slight late because we missed the first Lion from Malacca...

The whole area was packed with peoples! Luckily I found a nice spot just beside the poles.

Every participants were seriously performed in the competition, and that was really a nice show for the night at Jalan Tan Hiok Nee!
It also an eye opener for me because I'm never be so close to the competition area!

The jumping Lion!

It was Tough for me to take the photo that evening because of shooting fast moving object in low light situation. Most of my photos turn out blurred!

 

 The judges of the night

The organizers had warning those photographers that 'Please Don't Use Your Flash Light!'...but seems like none of them got the message! Everyone still Flash like nobody business!

The Lions came out one-by-one and they did the Best they can on the Poles, but unfortunately...some of them fall down! (cause by their skill or the flash?! I'm not sure...)

Too bad I had to watched the exciting show through the lens that night...

I really admired their fantastic skill (all the 8 teams), and they did well through all the difficulties on it! One of the amazing moment was when the lion bend down... (below)

The lion bend down, not falling!

The fall of the Lion

Total of 5 Lion's teams had fall from the poles that night, and most of them fall down at the highest pole at the back...

The Lion before it jump on the poles...

The Result : 2nd runner up belong to the Lion's team from Kelapa Sawit, Johor. 1st runner up was grabbed by the Kuala Lumpur team and the Champion belong to the Team from 'Kuan Sen Kong' Temple - Muar, they are also the World Champion for the past few years.

The Champion of the night! Kuan Sen Kong's Lion.

We were really impressed by the skill when they 'Fly', 'Jump' and 'Dance' on the poles! 

The performance of the Champion!

We were totally enjoyed the 2 hours Lion dance show that night especially my daughter! She was very excited! Haha!
Hopefully they will organize this type of event every year!

Location map of Jalan Tan Hiok Nee at Johor Bahru.

View Larger Map

Nice photo web site on Eastern European Jewish traces

By Ruth Ellen Gruber

I've just come across the web site galiciantraces.com -- "a photographic documentation of Eastern European Judaica" by Charles Burns. It features a growing gallery of photographs and comments on Jewish heritage and heritage sites in Eastern Europe. It's worth a look.

He has arranged the photos by towns -- and there are dozens on the list. The are mainly in Ukraine and Poland -- but  he doesn't give the country or any other geographic location. I also wish he had included links to similar sites and other resources.

Italy -- Huge turnout for Jewish culture event in Rome

By Ruth Ellen Gruber

Organizers report a huge "unprecedented" turnout for a Jewish culture extravaganza held in Rome Saturday night -- the "Night of the Kabbalah".

I wasn't able to attend, as I'm in Prague... but the Rome Jewish community reports that at one point more than 3,000 people stood in line to get in to the Jewish Museum for events. There were readings concerts, discussions, interviews etc etc etc

The event was organized as part of the annual  International Jewish book festival in Rome, which is on this week.

Part of the crowd. Photo: Rome Jewish Community

Kim Chi & BBQ Korean Restaurant at Taman Pelangi, Johor Bahru.

Kim Chi & BBQ Korean Restaurant (N1.48170 E103.77479) is located along Jalan Perang of Taman Pelangi, Johor Bahru. The restaurant is crowded during weekend, but they have different levels dining area for customers.

The Smokeless Environment was great! We waited for about 10 minutes for our table....

The nice environment of the restaurant

It is a BBQ style Korean restaurant just like some of the Japan Restaurant around Johor Bahru area.

We oedered the package which was served with : Pork Spare Ribs with bone, Thick Sliced Pork Belly Special, Roasted Saury, Ginseng Chicken Soup and Kimchee Pancake. (stated for 2-3 person) And also with all the Korean small side dishes...

The Korean side dishes were served on the table...

The Kinchi

Follow by the package we ordered...

The Roasted Saury

Marinated Pork Spare Ribs

Thick Spiced Pork Belly Special

Special vegetables

The vegetables above was nice!
The waiter/waitress here were friendly and one of them lighted up the charcoal to prepared the BBQ pork for our table. Their service was good!

Before the pork ready, we already finish the Roasted Saury and some of side dishes. Well, the Nice aroma from the BBQ pork! Less than about 10 minutes, the both type of pork were ready on the table!

The BBQ Pork from Kim Chi & BBQ Korean Restaurant

Our table was full of Korean foods

After they completed the pork, the Ginseng Chicken Soup and the Kim Chi Pancake were served...perfect timing!

The Ginseng Chicken Soup

Kim chi pancake

We were satisfied all the foods served by the restaurant. The Ginseng Chicken Soup was Special! The Saury was tasty, BBQ Pork was Delicious! My wife and daughter like the Kim chi pancake very much! I like the BBQ Pork Belly very much!
But...the portion served was too much for small family like us! We really sorry about some wasted foods on the table. The package was just nice to serve 3-4 adults, but we were only 2 adults and 1 child.
The Damage : RM120.00 included drinks and white rice.

The boss - Mr Park Sang Jun was a very friendly guy and he provide the Yakult healthy drink for every children for Free!

Beside the package, they also serve Ala Carte foods. This was a nice experience for us to dine in the restaurant, especially with the nice & friendly staffs around!

We will definitely visit the restaurant again! Of course with more peoples...

Kim Chi & BBQ Korean Restaurant

24, Jalan Perang,

Taman Pelangi,

Johor Bahru.

Tel : +607-3331700 / 6700

Location map of Kim Chee & BBQ Korean Restaurant at Taman Pelangi, Johor Bahru.

View Larger Map

Czech republic -- Ten Stars project

By Ruth Ellen Gruber

I spent two hours yesterday meeting with Jan Kindermann in Prague to discuss "Ten Stars"  -- the ambitious and very impressive EU-funded  Jewish heritage preservation project he is coordinating for the Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic. The project  involves complex renovation and exhibition projects at ten synagogue buildings dotted all around the country. The towns include Úštěk, Jičín, Brandýs nad Labem, Plzeň, Březnice, Nová Cerekev, Polná, Boskovice, Mikulov and Krnov.

Krnov synagogue. Photo: 10 Hvezd project

"10 Stars" is a creative and very well thought out strategy of development and promotion that is funded by the Culture Ministry and an approxmately €10 million grant from the European Union. All the sites are owned by the Jewish community, and there are local partners in each place.

There is a comprehensive web site associated with the project -- but it's a pity that it is only in Czech, which means that awareness outside the country remains limited.

Planning took place in the approximately two years since the EU funding came through -- Jan showed me stacks of detailed files. Actual construction will being in October.

The idea is to create a network of 10 sites that will all be open to the public. Each site will house a permanent exhibition, based on one theme. Linked together, all the sites will in effect constitute a comprehensive Jewish museum spread out over the entire country. The "10 Stars" will issue a sort of "passport" (such as those used for other heritage and museums) to encourage visitors to take in all the components. Each time you visit one of the sites, you will get a stamp in the passport -- if you get stamps for all of them, you can turn it is and get some sort of "prize."

Thematic exhibits will include Jewish education, Jewish life and practice, Architecture, Industry, the Rabbinical world, etc.

Some of the sites on the list of Stars include places where synagogues  already have been restored. (Polna, Ustek, Boskovice, Jicin, etc)

Boskovice. Photo (c) Ruth Ellen Gruber

In those places, the project will carry out much-needed maintenance (such as at the synagogue in Ustek, whose lower floor has suffered water damage) but will also restore a neighboring Jewish building for use as part of the exhibition complex -- in Ustek, this means the rabbi's house next to the synagogue. since the Ustek synagogue already includes a fine little reconstruction of the former school room, the permanent exhibition here will deal with Jewish education.

Ustek. Photo (c) Ruth Ellen Gruber

In Plzen, where the Great Synagogue has undergone at least a partial restoration, the 10 Stars project will restore the Old Synagogue. And since Plzen is the only town on the list where there is an active Jewish community, the permanent exhibit here will deal with Jewish life and practice.

Many other synagogues have been  restored and are used for cultural purposed in the Czech Republic -- quite a few of these are owned by municipalities, not the Jewish community. But all should complement each other, meaning that CZ remains the country where a strategic vision and plan regarding Jewish heritage has had the most success, thanks  to pragmatic visionaries within the Jewish community as well as to local activists and a political and cultural climate that supports and welcomes involvement in these initiatives.

Street Photos of Taichung, Taipei and Yehliu - Taiwan.

Let me share some interesting photos which I took along the way in my 6 days 5 nights Taiwan trip...

The building with Full of signage

Unique super narrow building, I wonder how to get up to the 1st level...

The old man with his dog...

I like her strawberry helmet and her groves...

Don't Drink And Drive!

The petrol price of Taiwan

The LED lighting in the mirror...

We are going to NeiHu Road...

The street at Yehliu, Taiwan

The Mini Eiffel Tower on the building...

Below are the interesting Betel nut girls (槟榔妹,Pin Lang Mei) which were spotted along our way to Yehliu. (The photos taken from our van...)

It was not like those pictures which published on the internet where the girls are wearing Bikini to sell the Betel nut...:)

And follow by our Party Van which traveled with us for this 6 days 5 nights in Taiwan! You can get the phone numbers from the photo below and the driver name is : My Yew.

The Van which toured us for the Taiwan's Trip

And this Van was Full of Gadgets! You can see it from the dashboard...

The Dashboard with full of gadgets

This is my Last post for our May, 2011 Taiwan's Trip.

Related post :-
*  My Taiwan Trip on May, 2011