Monday, December 07, 2009

things you can do on a monday...

ok....one post before i go to sleep. really need my sleep.

the trip to da vinci the genius exhibition at the national science centre at mt kiara was ok. well, sorry if i am not as enthusiastic anymore. there was simply too much reading to do ok. so they have the prototype of his drafts of machines built up for you to see, but many of them have the 'do not touch' sign. they exhibited his works on arts, mechanics, arms, music, etc. you just go from one mini hall to the other admiring the prototype and the mechanics that go behind each of them. well, i am dumb at physics and was trying as hard as i could to connect his creations which were to become the basis of many of today's inventions (well, not that dumb as i could see them). that guy was really a genius and multi-talented in all fields. he was such a forward thinker too and nothing seemed to be impossible. well, maybe the word impossible is not in his vocabulary. i like one of his quotes- art is never finished, it is only abandoned. i guess he applied this to all of his works. salute.

it would be good if i had my physics teacher there explaining each and every prototype, well except for the creation of mona lisa of course. schools should organise trips for their science students and make sure the physics teachers go. i am sure the students will be more interested in the subject after that, or at least learn who da vinci is. there was a big group of international pupils there. these are only like 10-year-olds and they are already soo inquisitive. and each of them had few pieces of paper to fill up regarding the exhibition. i glimpsed and saw 2 of the questions- design a brochure about the exhibition to attract year 5 students to visit and draw the machine that fascinates you most from the exhibition. it was great seeing those pupils taking such keen interest in the exhibition. but sigh...i can't help lamenting the state of our own government schools. what would teachers say when all pupils chatter at the same time to ask questions? 'QUIET or SHUT UP' would most probably be the answers. blame the education system or blame the educators? i have learnt from the exhibition and the visitors.

one structure that intriques me is da vinci's safety bridge. it is meant to be a quick bridge built for the convenience of soldiers during war. you only need 15 wooden bars (no nails or whatsoever) to complete the project. this is one i would like to try....with match sticks haha.
click here for the picture.

we (3 kids and i) spent about 3 hours there. the exhibition hall was brrr....soo cold. the other exhibits in the science centre are free but they are kinda lousy. some of the machines are not functioning and you only go from one to another, press the button, see some lights flash, the listen to explanations, that's it. a trip to petrosains in klcc is more fun. oh, no photos allowed in da vinci's halls.

we went to 1 utama then and it tooks ages to find a parking lot. finally found one on level 5, rooftop. luckily it was a cloudy day. only had lunch at 2p.m. the kids then decided to go watch 2012 and i went jalan-jalan. it was quite a torture spending 3 hours on my own. first, i was looking at nothing in particular, second, my legs and feet were sooo tired and starting to ache. sob sob! tried looking for facial, but thalgo had moved out and sk-2's beautician was not around. so walk. went to check britain's high stree fashion stores because i saw some nice items from one of the magazines. went into miss selfridge, warehouse, dorothy perkins and topshop. love those dresses they have...and i got one from miss selfridge. not something glitzy... something which can be casual and maybe vamped with a pair of heels. i love dresses...because i am lazy to wash 2 clothing items haha...i wish i can wear dresses to work everyday. really....the androgynous me wearing dresses everyday. try to imagine that.

so i walked, and sat at benches when i saw empty one. then walked and sat again. oh, i also found a book to read in chiang mai. it is 'Little Altars Everywhere' by Rebecca wells. and the best things is, it is free. just go to pick up a book ppl dropped at book crossing's cabinet near one of the escalators on level 1 i think. after you have read the book, logged into bookcrossing's website and record it. then you can leave the book at a place that you think ppl will pick it up, and the journey of the book continues. this book is definitely better than the enchantress of florence.

well, i got to go. whether i will be able to sleep or not...that is another question. been losing sleep 2 nights in a row. blame myself lah for staying in front of computer till past midnight. sleep will come in chiang mai.

have a happy week.

No comments: