Location: Petronas Twin Towers - a view from Malaysia

Location: Petronas Twin Towers - a view from Malaysia

The glass looking towers illuminated at night

Kuala Lumpur, the vibrant and colorful capital of Malaysia, is the home of the world famous Petronas Towers, double skyscrapers that holds the title of the tallest twin towers in the world. The towers are 88 stores high and 452 meters above sea level. Although they were completed in 1998, after seven years of construction, they were officially inaugurated on August 31, 1999.

The Sky bridge gives tourists a great view of the city

The building is spectacularly beautiful and at night, it resembles pointed spires of a giant glass castle. The lights are usually turned off around midnight. It is breathtaking to take a peak at the city from the towers, and visitors can go to the observatory platform on the 41st floor, half way through to the top, where a sky bridge unites both towers. Besides being an observatory deck, the sky bridge also serves as an escape route in case of emergency. The ride used to be free, and you had to spend a considerable amount of time in line waiting for a chance to get a ticket. For that, you had to go to the underground level of the Suria KLCC shopping mall, a high class shopping mall at the foot of the towers, the biggest in Malaysia, where you find the booth that distributes the daily tickets. Lines used to form as early as 6 am on the weekends, as the tickets were distributed on a first came, first served basis to 1,000 tourists per day.

Interior of the Suria KLCC Shopping Mall, located at the foot of Petronas Towers

The 20 elevator trips to the sky bridge are still distributed to the maximum capacity of 20 visitors per ride, with the last ride being around 4 or 5 pm. If you are traveling by yourself, you have a higher chance to fill one of the earliest rides. For example, when I got there around 8 am, the line was already curving around the corner of the room, and by 10:45 am, although the next available slot was not until 3:15pm, I was able to score one at 1:45 pm, because I was by myself and they needed one more person to fill the elevator to its maximum capacity. For the last two years, the tickets are now being sold to the public, however the touristic demand to go to this architectural masterpiece is high and queues are still an issue. 

It's advisable to stay around the area waiting for your ride,so don't go wandering around too far. If you get there late for your elevator slot, you won't be able to take your tour and will have to try again the following day. You can enjoy your time walking around the shopping mall, browsing through the hundreds of specialty shops or finding a place to eat and have a fresh fruit smoothie while you wait.

Another beautiful view of the magnificent skyscrapers

The ride is fast and non stop. Once at the sky ride observatory, you get the chance to walk around and take breathtaking pictures of the city down below, which is well worth the wait. No trip to Kuala Lumpur would be complete without visiting the towers. It's a must see in the Malaysia capital, and probably the most famous attraction, since the towers symbolize the city and the country.

Read More

Books: New Indie authors - get to know some indie writers: Karatsioris, Mudgett and Vandiver

 The Book of the Forsaken (The Game, #1) by Yannis Karatsioris

"An ancient being, our storyteller, traps three characters in his web in order to get hold of a special book. Daniel, Cassidy and Igor are three unique individuals, considered outcasts for different reasons. They are about to meet and stick together, as coincidences and forced situations lead them to a journey all around Europe. As everyone is after the Book of the Forsaken, the coming Game is about to take place on the dark side of the moon. But there is a cost to that knowledge. Let alone to the wish to partake."

This book is creative and fast paced, and Yannis has devised an intriguing plot, a fresh take on fantasy with weird characters reminiscent of X-men mutants who can, among other things, read minds and teleport. The narrator, a puppet master of sorts, seems to manipulate the characters' actions and in a funny and sarcastic tone. Although I thought the characters acted naive when they had the coveted book they had to kill for, and trustingly entered the manor of an unknown figure who didn't seem to know who had sent them there and willingly delivered the book to him, the story is nonetheless amusing and a page turner. I'm looking forward to reading the trilogy and finding out the final outcome of this fantasy!

Serpents Unwound by Paul Mudgett

"A data breach at a local hospital has cost a patient his life but is just the beginning of an intricate scheme that stands to unravel the future of electronic medical records. Computer forensics expert, Ethan Deye, is thrust into an investigation that leaves his reputation and the life of a young, naïve hacker precariously intertwined. The unlikely duo must find a way to outsmart the most determined and sinister foe Ethan has ever faced before catastrophe strikes the entire regional health care system."

Serpents Unwound is an action/adventure story that captures the reader's attention from the beginning. It has interesting characters and the plot thickens as you keep reading to find out what is going to happen at the end. At times it can be predictable, though, but it is a quick read and maintains a fast pace throughout.

It needs some editing for punctuation and spelling, but those are not the kind that makes you put the book down at all. The story is well developed and the sequence of events makes sense. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this debut story by Paul Mudgett and would recommend it for those who like a nice action story. Well done!


 In the Beginningby Abby Vandiver

"In 1997, Biblical Archaeologist Justin Dickerson is unhappy with her life in general and has decided to run away from her problems. Intervening, her mentor asks that she go with him to the Fifty Year Jubilee commemorating the finding of the Dead Sea Scrolls in Jerusalem. There she finds that in 1949 Jerusalem some of the 2,000 year old manuscripts, hidden in clay pots in the caves of Qumran, may have been destroyed.

Justin, obsessed with this revelation, is determined to get to the bottom of the deceit. Uncontrollable emotion takes hold of her, and family and faith help guide her as she unfolds the truth of Earth's ancient mysteries discovering what really happened In the Beginning . . . "

 
This review may contain spoilers!

A very interesting story, mixing sci-fi with archaeology, which captures the attention of the reader from the first chapters. It makes you want to read it to find out what is going to be revealed at the end. It's a well thought plot, going back and forth from the present to the past to show how the scroll came to be found and "lost", to it being rediscovered again and interpreted by Justin, the main character, a biblical archaeologist.

The story line is captivating and current (news of probable life beginning in Mars are just in!); however, the dialogue between depressed Justin and her family, especially her sister Claire, got to be dull and redundant at times. There are also some editing needed, with proper punctuation and grammar, which could at times distract from enjoying the intriguing plot.

Overall, a very good and thought provoking read, which can fall into the categories of Dan Brown, James Rollins and Steve Berry books! 

Read More

Location: Xunantunich - an adventure in Belize

Location: Xunantunich - an adventure in Belize

Few might know that Belize was known as British Honduras... in Central America. It's the only country in C.A. where English is spoken. Belize is known for its luscious tropical jungle, spectacular coral reef (second only to Australia's) and old Mayan civilization. One of the most amazing Mayan cities discovered within the jungle is Xunantunich, which is located about 2 hours by bus from the port of Belize City. The drive is almost boring with no interesting landscapes, except for the far away glance at a mountain range called the Mayan Mountains, which resembles a sleeping giant. The rest of the way is cut across the outskirts of Belmopan, the capital, and other smaller villages, where you can see the underdeveloped infrastructure of the small country.

The Mayan Mountains resemble a sleeping giant

To get into Xunantunich Mayan city, we need to cross the Mopan river, near the border with Guatemala, by a hand cranked ferryboat- this crossing is no longer than 5 minutes. Once on the other side of the river, it takes about a mile uphill to the site (yes, you can hike, but you can also go by horse back or van...). There are still many temples and edifices buried within the jungle. The main structure is El Castillo, the main temple, a spectacular pyramid that rises 130 feet above the ground and it's one of the very few pyramids that you can climb if you dare. The climb is steep and challenging; descent is worse... so be careful when adventuring yourself on these steps. However, the view from the top is significantly worth it. You can just imagine the powerful priest addressing the population down below and performing sacrifices to their gods. It's a bewildering image and not to be forgotten - a magnificent jungle all the way down the horizon and the remnants of the Mayan city down below... bringing us a sensation of the peace and beauty our world has to offer, which we all should embrace. 

Beautiful Mopan river

Note on local cuisine: On our way out of Xunantunich, we stopped at a local restaurant (Benny's) to savor the delicious Caribbean cuisine, consisting of rice and red beans cooked in coconut milk, fried plantains, and a coleslaw type salad. (For non vegetarians, there was also chicken!). The restaurant was clean and well kept and it's owned by a local family, and it seems to be a favorite tourist stop for most tours coming in and out of Xunantunich, in the town of San Ignacio.

El Castillo - you can climb to the top

http://mayanruins.info/belize/xunantunich-belize/

Read More

Location: Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Let's celebrate one of the most popular and world known beaches in Rio de Janeiro: Copacabana, also lovingly nicknamed "little princess of the seas" by cariocas, Rio´s inhabitants. The spectacular landscape pictures Sugar Loaf Mountain in the background, making it unique in natural beauty. Copacabana has been a favorite spot for many Brazilians and visitors alike, including Brazilian's famous poet and writer Carlos Drummond de Andrade. Although not a carioca, Carlos Drummond de Andrade, born in 1902 in Minas Gerais state, lived in Rio for most of his life and considered Copacabana Beach one of his favorite places. He used to stroll by the beach, then sit and contemplate life in all its colors and splendor in a privileged area next to the fortress of Copacabana. Drummond died in 1987 and is considered one of Brazil´s greatest poets.

Copacabana Beach with Sugar Loaf in the background

In 2002, to commemorate the 100th year anniversary of Drummond´s birth, a statue was unveiled in Copacabana, in Drummond´s original size, as if he was sitting at one of the many benches he used to sit while taking a rest from his regular walks at the beach, watching as life manifested happily in front of his eyes. The lonely poet is never alone; since the statue was unveiled, it has attracted many tourists who are eager to capture a picture next to the great poet. The biggest challenge, however, is to keep Drummond´s glasses on! Even though a camera was installed in a nearby area to record the movement around the monument, vandalism unfortunately continues, and every once in a while the poet wakes up without his glasses, just to be replaced again... and again. It is amazing to note that his glasses have been stolen 8 times (the latest of 2012 - in mid-June, a new pair was attached once more).

The poster says "don't steal my glasses, read my books instead!"

Always in the news, never forgotten, forever immortalized not only by his poetic words but by his image in this amazing and symbolic monument, Carlos Drummond de Andrade becomes a natural part of the scene, vibrating and resonating with the colors, sights and legends of famous Copacabana Beach.

Read More

Genome Transcendence: The System (Skills)

How the skill system works.

This is an interesting one. I think fixed skills are stupid. There are an unlimited number of skills you could have in this world, and fixating them is too limiting and discourages good roleplaying. If I wanted to create fixed skills that encompassed our lives, it would be an encyclopedia in itself.

So, GT uses a flexible skill system. Basically, you are given "skill slots". You use these skill slots to put into any skill you can think of in the real world that you want. Below are some sample skills you might want your characters to have.

• Swimming
• Running
• Lock Picking
• Brawling
• AK47
• Anime Knowledge
• Spanish
• Sewing
• Heart Surgery
• PHP Programming
• Speed Reading
• Karate
• Chemistry
• Social Media
• Rock Climbing

As you can see, the sky is the limit. Anything you think might be useful, you can pretty much have. More importantly, it's important for your skills to match your character's background and personality.

Like in real life, you can attempt to do anything you don't have a skill in; it just means that your chance of success would be much lower than if you had the skill.

Some skills can be categorized into one large category. For example, "Military Training". This could include running, swimming, sneaking, basic weapons knowledge, and basic brawling. Any category of skills you decide to take would make you just a novice in it. If you wanted to be really good in a specific skill, you'd have to use one slot for it. So you could have "Military Training" and "Running" both as a skill, which would mean you're particularly good at running, even though it's also part of your military training.

You can also "specialize" in skills. This means that you spend 2 skill slots in the same skill, making you one of the best people alive who has that skill.

If you think about it, we really don't have that many skills we're really good at in real life. Most things we dabble in and don't ever really get deep into. Since a character in GT usually is an expert of some sort, you have more skills than an average person. Don't get overly ambitious with your skills though! Keep in character!

Task difficulty and bonuses.

The difficulty of a task is determined by the GM, usually rated from a 1 to 10 -- 1 being it's extremely easy, and 10 being that it's near impossible. If you don't have a specific skill to perform the task, the difficulty will be higher than if you did. Your success is also modified by your basic stat pertaining to that task. In some cases, the stat is the only thing you need to perform the task.

The degree of your success or failure also differs each time you perform a task. There are always random factors such as how well you concentrate that particular time or how strong the wind is when you're trying to climb up a ladder. This is represented by the number of successes you roll.

Let's take a look at an example.

Sergeant Gregory Levine wants to shoot an enemy 100 meters in front of him with his trusty Glock 19. The difficulty for this is usually a 5. If Gregory doesn't know how to use a Glock 19, the difficulty would go up to a 7. If Gregory doesn't know how to use any handguns at all, the difficulty would go up to a 9. Gregory, however, has a specialization in the Glock 19, making the difficulty drop to a 3.

The usage of a Glock 19 requires good DEX. Gregory has a 65 DEX, so he rolls 6D10 (the stat / 10 rounded down). Each D10 result that's above the difficulty is a success and each below is a failure. The "remaining" 5 points of DEX he has are called "adjusters" can be "burned" to raise one of rolls. Once you burn a point of stat for this purpose, it's gone for the entire session.

Each failed roll, with the exception of a natural roll of 1, are ignored. A natural roll of one is a critical fail and cancels out a successful roll, starting with the highest roll. Adjusters cannot be used to save critical fails, or "botches". Count the total number of successful rolls to determine the overall success of your task.

The more successes you have, the better the outcome.

Gregory rolls 6D10 with the result of 8, 2, 3, 5, 1, and 9. The 1 cancels out the 9 and Gregory ends up with 3 successes. For some reason, Gregory really wants to kill this guy and decides to burn an adjuster point to modify his roll of 2 to 3. His DEX goes down to 64 for the remainder of the session, and he gets 4 successes on his task.

The guy is shot in the head and dies instantly.

If you have more failures than successes, then you fail your task.

Prolonged tasks such as running 5 miles require multiple rolls, usually one roll for each mile or each minute or whatever the GM decides is suitable for the task.

Read More

Genome Transcendence: The System (Stats)

GT is based in the near future, around 2030 to 2040, depending on the specific campaign. The world is simply an imaginative version of what our future may be like, so has all the history that we know in real life. Anything that exists today could still be around in GT, such as corporations, people, and technology.

20 years ago, we never thought that everyone would have their own hand phones. Now we all have smartphones. In that sense, any amount of events could have occurred between now and the time of GT.

A little background.

Originally, I had created this game during my college days as an assignment with the goal of "stimulating creative thinking in people", so the mechanism and overall system is not very complicated. It relies heavily on the GM and players' imagination, as well as try to keep a sense of reality intact as much as possible.

While many paper & pen RPGs utilize fixed skills for characters to perform certain tasks, I think that's both restrictive and unrealistic. Anyone should be able to try tasks without specifically having that skill, although success is a complete different story.

I also believe that many of the traditional skills that allow for detection of oddities in others' emotions and actions are a hindrance to real roleplaying. If two players were conversing with each other in character, then the detection should be done in the conversation itself, and not through dice rolls.

Stats

As with most games, GT has stats -- physical and mental traits of your characters that show the pure natural aptitude they have for certain things.

PHYSICAL

Strength (STR)
How strong you are. Bending an iron bar would require STR. Note that this will determine your muscle mass, which means if you want to look small, you can't have a high STR and vice versa.

Dexterity (DEX)
How skillful you are in performing tasks that involve coordination, especially with your hands. Tasks like putting a thread through a needle requires dexterity.

Agility (AGI)
How graceful and nimble you move. How quick on your feet your are. Dodging behind a tree from an oncoming motorcycle would require AGI.

Stamina (STA)
The ability to sustain prolonged physical and mental effort. Note that mental stamina is also part of this stat. Running and studying for long periods of time both require STA.

Fortitude (FOR)
How much physical and mental pain and damage you can take. Enduring getting kicked in the gut and verbal abuse requires FOR.

Comeliness (COM)
How physically attractive you are. Useful for obvious reasons.


MENTAL

Intelligence (INT)
How well you acquire and apply knowledge and skills. Memory is also part of INT. How fast you can learn a language and how well you learn about a foreign culture requires INT.

Wisdom (WIS)
How much experience, knowledge, and good judgment you have. As opposed to INT being a stat for learning and understanding, WIS is the information you already have and how you utilize it. Deciding what to say to a foreigner to persuade him based on what you know of their culture requires WIS.

Perception (PER)
How alert, aware, and how well you notice things. PER is also a measure of your senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch). Seeing something move behind a tree out of the corner of your eye requires PER.

Charisma (CHA)
How attractive, charming, and inspiring you are. While a high COM does not have to accompany CHA, it usually works even better as a set. Persuading someone to take your suggestion requires CHA.

Willpower (WIL)
How determined and focused you are. Being able to finish 100 push-ups even though you want to give up requires WIL.

Psyche (PSY)
How much psychic energy you have. This is mostly mysterious but has to deal with certain mystical aspects of this world. It also determines how much cybernetic enhancement you can receive without losing your humanity.

Read More

Book: Mind Over Medicine by Lissa Rankin, M.D.

Book:  Mind Over Medicine by  Lissa Rankin, M.D. 


As soon as I glimpsed this book's title, I was interested in reading it. I've always been a believer that the power of the mind can make it possible to self heal. And it was with no surprise that I found this book actually reinforces my beliefs that we can, with the right mind set and the right environment, be a catalyst in developing our own good health.

This book brings in scientific studies to prove we hold the key to improve our health; at the same token, we can make ourselves sick by believing in sickness and nurturing hopelessness. By no means Lissa Rankin suggests for us to ditch the doctors and just think healthy thoughts, but together with positive thinking, the right therapy (alternative or otherwise) and the right environment, cure is possible.

Even the wrong medical provider can sabotage a good cure. It actually happened to me. In two separate occasions, when I didn't like the doctor I was seeing (not enough caring, no good rapport), my treatment didn't yield good results. When I had to seek for a second opinion and actually had a great interaction with the new doctor, the treatment was totally successful because I believed the doctor was capable enough to cure me, and I knew it was going to be alright. Lissa highlights several similar situations in her book, and also tells her own story.

Positive thinking can improve your health, and several factors in your life are also important for your health to thrive. Great examples of health nuts whose health was not OK because they were involved in bad relationships, or unsatisfying and stressful jobs, or something else that aggravated their health no matter what they did externally, illustrates the chapters. If, internally, you're not in peace with yourself and your world, you won't reap all the benefits you could from exercise, diet, etc. Doctors, teachers and parents should read this book and apply the advice given here. It should be mandatory reading!



FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from Hay House Publishing for this review. The opinion in this review is unbiased and reflects my honest judgment of the product.

Read More