Great Timing?

I have finally let it gotten to me. Tiredness + jet lag + weather I am officially a sick cat. 

I've been sleeping a lot since I got back. For what's it worth, I guess the timing is just right I suppose. There is so much I wanna write but now everything just went blank. I guess it just gotta wait. But hey, I found this awesome pic and thought I should share it. Here you go. 

Will be back up soon. Happy lunar year everyone. 

Happy Birthday Dumdum

I know leaving the states at the wrong-est time. But still, happy birthday to you. It will be a great 32! 

Lost Angels Of Los Angeles

Being in Santa Monica just reminds me so much go our time in Bali late last year. For all it's worth, it does brings me back to the place where I wanted to be. In just less than 24 hours, I will be leaving the states and all I can think of right now is ways for me to miss my flight.. AGAIN! 12:28am and he is soundly asleep aside me. I am just wondering if this would last.

I guess somehow it is just a place you feel you could just be. A home, a safe haven. Yes, no doubt there are so much more that is for me in Malaysia. Even though this will be a relatively short trip back. I'll be coming back to LA late March or early April for work. Being here again really reminds me of where I wanna be or I should say where I wanna see myself living. But well, family comes first. It is another culture that I do think it doesn't really matter to me. No matter when or where, family will always be there, and it is what is more important to me is how much we wanna put in that effort to make that happen. It doesn't have to be just a particular period of time. 

Somehow manage to tap into the place I needed to be to write my songs again. Well, sometimes the more you wanna prevent yourself being in that particular place, there more the direction will point you there. Yes no doubt that I didn't really wanna write my music due to that course but I just have to give it in. Cow has been really helpful with the lyrics, and I must say, she is just brilliant in writing! I didn't know what else to say when I saw the first draft. 

I wanted this to stay on, but I know it is just not the way things will be. The more you feel right, the more it will be complicated. I can't get it out of my head when we were just sitting on the beach enjoying the sunset, you just turned and tell me things would be so different if we were living in a different life right now. 

Somehow for the first time I realize that I really do agree with him. If the circumstances were much simpler, I guess happiness is just inevitable. I really wished that the kiss would just last forever. Staying on and it didn't even bother me we were in he public either. For once, we both felt the world is ours to live in.

For once, feeling lost in the city of angels felt so right. Two heavy hearts, two different path, two different worlds, but beating in sync for what is worth. Just one day, for just one day it will only be just us. Doesn't matter what the world will say, doesn't matter what the label will say, doesn't matter what people see. It is just us. 

Malaysia Airlines To Cut Last American Route

The national carrier, which is expected to post a significant full-year loss for 2013, said it would undertake another “route rationalisation exercise” this year, in an effort to stem the losses. This will see MAS cease to operate its direct Kuala-Lumpur-LAX flights from 30 April 2014.

“Whilst Malaysia Airlines has a long history in Los Angeles, this route is no longer economically viable,” said MAS group CEO, Ahmad Jauhari Yahya.

“The factors contributing to this negative situation today include over-capacity and competition resulting in lower yields, high cost of operating the B777 aircraft and pressure from continued increases in fuel costs. These are adding further pressure to the expenses of Malaysia Airlines group, which we are continuously evaluating,” he added.

The end of the KL-LAX route follows Singapore Airlines’ recent decision to cut its flights to LAX and New York, as rising costs hinder the ability of airlines to operate ultra-long-haul services profitably.

MAS’ latest route rationalisation plan comes just two years after the airline slashed its long-haul services to Rome, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Buenos Aires, as part of its first major cost-cutting plan.

This strategy initially appeared to be paying off for MAS, but rising costs and a weakening Malaysian ringgit have hurt the airline in 2013. For the first nine months of last year, MAS registered a net loss of MYR830 million (US$249m).

Despite losing its only route to North America, MAS said it would leverage its recent membership of the oneworld alliance to continue serving the continent. Codeshare agreements with JAL and American Airlines will give passengers access to a series of destinations in the US and Canada, via hubs in Europe and Japan.

India Lifts A380 Ban

The country imposed the ban on the world’s largest passenger jet amid concerns that it would hurt the performance of national carrier, Air India.

But according to a statement released by India’s Civil Aviation Ministry, India will permit airline to fly the A380 to the four Indian airports – Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad – that have the infrastructure to handle the double-decker jet.

“Now, flights of A380 to India will be allowed to airports which are equipped to handle them,” the ministry’s statement said. “The operations of A380 aircraft would be subject to overall traffic entitlements within the bilateral air service agreements with different countries.”

The lifting of the ban on A380 services will allow carriers including Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Lufthansa to operate the double-decker aircraft to the country. Lufthansa is believed to be especially keen – the German national carrier already operates its second-largest aircraft, the Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental, on routes to India.

Other potential future operators could include Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Malaysia Airlines, British Airways and Qantas.
According to the ministry statement, the decision to allow A380 flights was made after consultations with national carrier Air India.

A total of 122 A380s are currently in service with 10 airlines around the world, including 44 with Emirates and 19 with SIA. Kingfisher Airlines was the only Indian airline to have ordered the world’s largest passenger aircraft, but its order was cancelled earlier this month – more than a year after the airline grounded all its flights.

The A380 typically seats around 500 passengers.

Grammys 2014 Full Winner List

The biggest celebration in the music industry! The 2014 Grammy Awards. There are so much talented artists this year. Beyonce and Jay Z opening the show is just crazy sick! Macklemore & Ryan Lewis grabbing the best new artist wasn't a surprise! This year's grammy is gonna just be crazily good.

My top picks for this year performance has to go to Pink and Taylor Swift. I have to say, I wasn't really a Swifty fan few years back, but her work really won me over. I salute you for your artistry value. Keep the good works coming!

Pink, I have no words to describe. Last year, she already killed it! And this year, it gets even better. I am so proud of you! You should be a bench mark to all artists out there! A great performer, a great singer and a great performance. (Well, it would be a 10 out of 10 if Nate Russ didn't sang with her. But still it is a hell of a performance!

And also the "Same Love" performance! Macklemore, Queen Latifah, and Madonna voicing out love equality. Queen Latifah marrying 34 couples (Straight and gay) on stage. A celebration of love! And on top of the icing, Madonna did "Open Your Heart" just made it perfect! Read more here.

Best quote of the night goes to Jay Z!
"Daddy got a gold sippy cup for you! "

Here is the full list of winners this year.

And the Grammys goes to.....

Record of the year
"Get Lucky" -- Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers
"Radioactive" -- Imagine Dragons
"Royals" -- Lorde -- WINNER
"Locked out of Heaven" -- Bruno Mars
"Blurred Lines" -- Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell

Album of the year
"The Blessed Unrest" -- Sara Bareilles
"Random Access Memories" -- Daft Punk -- WINNER
"Good Kid, M.A.A.D City" -- Kendrick Lamar
"The Heist" -- Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
"Red" -- Taylor Swift

Song of the year
"Just Give Me a Reason" -- P!nk featuring Nate Ruess
"Locked Out of Heaven" -- Bruno Mars
"Roar" -- Katy Perry
"Royals" -- Lorde -- WINNER
"Same Love" -- Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Best new artist
James Blake
Kendrick Lamar
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis -- WINNER
Kacey Musgraves
Ed Sheeran

Best pop solo performance
Sara Bareilles -- "Brave"
Lorde -- "Royals" -- WINNER
Bruno Mars -- "When I Was Your Man"
Katy Perry -- "Roar"
Justin Timberlake -- "Mirrors"

Best pop duo/group performance

Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers -- "Get Lucky" -- WINNER
P!nk featuring Nate Ruess -- "Just Give Me a Reason"
Rihanna featuring Mikky Ekko -- "Stay"
Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell -- "Blurred Lines"
Justin Timberlake and Jay Z -- "Suit & Tie"

Best pop instrumental album
Herb Alpert -- "Steppin' Out" -- WINNER
Boney James -- "The Beat"
Earl Klugh -- "Handpicked"
Dave Koz, Gerald Albright, Mindi Abair and Richard Elliot -- "Summer Horns"
Jeff Lorber Fusion -- "Hacienda"

Best pop vocal album
Lana Del Rey -- "Paradise"
Lorde -- "Pure Heroine"
Bruno Mars -- "Unorthodox Jukebox" -- WINNER
Robin Thicke -- "Blurred Lines"
Justin Timberlake -- "The 20/20 Experience -- The Complete Experience"

Best dance recording
"Need U (100%)" -- Duke Dumont featuring A*M*E & MNEK
"Sweet Nothing" -- Calvin Harris featuring Florence Welch
"Atmosphere" -- Kaskade
"The is What it Feels Like" -- Armin Van Buuren featuring Trevor Guthrie
"Clarity" -- Zedd featuring Foxes -- WINNER

Best dance/electronica album
"Random Access Memories" -- Daft Punk -- WINNER
"Settle" -- Disclosure
"18 Months" -- Calvin Harris
"Atmosphere" -- Kaskade
"A Color Map of the Sun" -- Pretty Lights

Best traditional pop vocal album
"Viva Duets" -- Tony Bennett and various artists
"To Be Loved" -- Michael Bublé -- WINNER
"The Standards" -- Gloria Estefan
"Cee Lo's Magic Moment" -- Cee Lo Green
"Now" -- Dionne Warwick

Best rock performance
Alabama Shakes -- "Always Alright"
David Bowie -- "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)"
Imagine Dragons -- "Radioactive" -- WINNER
Led Zeppelin -- "Kashmir"
Queens of the Stone Age -- "My God is the Sun"
Jack White -- "I'm Shakin' "

Best metal performances
Anthrax -- "T.N.T."
Black Sabbath -- "God is Dead?" -- WINNER
Dream Theater -- "The Enemy Inside"
Killswitch Engage -- "In Due Time"
Volbeat featuring King Diamond -- "Room 24"

Best rock song
"Ain't Messin' 'Round" -- Gary Clark Jr.
"Cut Me Some Slack" -- Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, Pat Smear -- WINNER
"Doom and Gloom" -- The Rolling Stones
"God Is Dead?" -- Black Sabbath
"Panic Station" -- Muse

Best rock album
Black Sabbath -- "13"
David Bowie -- "The Next Day"
Kings of Leon -- "Mechanical Bull"
Led Zeppelin -- "Celebration Day" -- WINNER
Queens of the Stone Age -- "... Like Clockwork"
Neil Young with Crazy Horse -- "Psychedelic Pill"

Best alternative music album
Neko Case -- "The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You"
The National -- "Trouble Will Find Me"
Nine Inch Nails -- "Hesitation Marks"
Tame Impala -- "Lonerism"
Vampire Weekend -- "Modern Vampires of the City" -- WINNER

Best R&B performance
Tamar Braxton -- "Love and War"
Anthony Hamilton -- "Best of Me"
Hiatus Kaiytoe featuring Q-Tip -- "Nakamarra"
Miguel featuring Kendrick Lamar -- "How Many Drinks?"
Snarky Puppy with Lala Hathaway -- "Something" -- WINNER

Best traditional R&B performance
Gary Clark Jr. -- "Please Come Home" -- WINNER
Fantasia -- "Get It Right"
Maysa -- "Quiet Fire"
Gregory Porter -- "Hey Laura"
Ryan Shaw -- "Yesterday"

Best R&B song
"Best of Me" -- Anthony Hamilton
"Love and War" -- Tamar Braxton
"Only One" -- PJ Morton featuring Stevie Wonder
"Pusher Love Girl" -- Justin Timberlake -- WINNER
"Without Me" -- Fantasia featuring Kelly Rowland and Missy Elliott

Best urban contemporary album
Tamar Braxton -- "Love and War"
Fantasia -- "Side Effects of You"
Salaam Remi -- "One: In the Chamber"
Rihanna -- "Unapologetic" -- WINNER
Mack Wilds -- "New York: A Love Story"

Best R&B album
Faith Evans -- "R&B Divas"
Alicia Keys -- "Girl on Fire" -- WINNER
John Legend -- "Love in the Future"
Chrisette Michele -- "Better"
TGT -- "Three Kings"

Best rap performance
Drake -- "Started From the Bottom"
Eminem -- "Berserk"
Jay Z -- "Tom Ford"
Kendrick Lamar -- "Swimming Pools (Drank)"
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz -- "Thrift Shop" -- WINNER

Best rap/sung collaboration
J. Cole featuring Miguel -- "Power Trip"
Jay Z featuring Beyoncé -- "Part II (On the Run)"
Jay Z featuring Justin Timberlake -- "Holy Grail" -- WINNER
Kendrick Lamar featuring Mary J. Blige -- "Now or Never"
Wiz Khalifa featuring the Weeknd -- "Remember You"

Best rap song
"F***in' Problems" -- A$AP Rocky featuring Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar
"Holy Grail" -- Jay Z featuring Justin Timberlake
"New Slaves" -- Kanye West
"Started From the Bottom" -- Drake
"Thrift Shop" -- Macklemore & Ryan Lewis -- WINNER

Best rap album
Drake -- "Nothing Was the Same"
Jay Z -- "Magna Carta ... Holy Grail"
Kendrick Lamar -- "Good Kid, M.A.A.D City"
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis -- "The Heist" -- WINNER
Kanye West -- "Yeezus"

Best country solo performance
Lee Brice -- "I Drive Your Truck"
Hunter Hayes -- "I Want Crazy"
Miranda Lambert -- "Mama's Broken Heart"
Darius Rucker -- "Wagon Wheel" -- WINNER
Blake Shelton -- "Mine Would Be You"

Best country duo/group performance
The Civil Wars -- "From This Valley" -- WINNER
Kelly Clarkson featuring Vince Gill -- "Don't Rush"
Little Big Town -- "Your Side of the Bed"
Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban -- "Highway Don't Care"
Kenny Rogers With Dolly Parton -- "You Can't Make Old Friends"

Best country song
"Begin Again" -- Taylor Swift
"I Drive Your Truck" -- Lee Brice
"Mama's Broken Heart" -- Miranda Lambert
"Merry Go 'Round" -- Kacey Musgraves -- WINNER
"Mine Would Be You" -- Blake Shelton

Best country album
Jason Aldean -- "Night Train"
Tim McGraw -- "Two Lanes of Freedom"
Kacey Musgraves -- "Same Trailer Different Park" -- WINNER
Blake Shelton -- "Based on a True Story"
Taylor Swift -- "Red"

Producer of the year, nonclassical
Rob Cavallo
Dr. Luke
Ariel Rechtshaid
Jeff Tweedy
Pharrell Williams -- WINNER

Best compilation soundtrack for visual media
"Django Unchained"
"The Great Gatsby" (deluxe edition)
"Les Miserables" (deluxe edition
"Muscle Shoals"
"Sound City: Real to Reel" -- WINNER

Best score soundtrack for visual media
"Argo"
"The Great Gatsby"
"Life of Pi"
"Lincoln"
"Skyfall" -- WINNER
"Zero Dark Thirty"

Best song written for visual media
Coldplay -- "Atlas" -- "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"
Jessie J -- "Silver Lining" -- "Silver Linings Playbook"
Adele -- "Skyfall" -- "Skyfall" -- WINNER
Colbie Caillat featuring Gavin DeGraw -- "We Both Know" -- "Safe Haven"
Lana Del Rey -- "Young and Beautiful" -- "The Great Gatsby" (deluxe edition)
Regina Spektor -- "You've Got Time" -- "Orange is the New Black"

Best music video
Captial Cities -- "Safe and Sound"
Jay Z -- "Picasso Baby: A Performance Art Film"
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton -- "Can't Hold Us"
Justin Timberlake featuring Jay Z -- "Suit & Tie" -- WINNER
Jack White -- "I'm Shakin'"

Best music film
Coldplay -- "Live 2012"
Green Day -- "¡Cuatro!"
Ben Harper With Charlie Musselwhite -- "I'm in I'm Out and I'm Gone: The Making of Get Up!"
Paul McCartney -- "Live Kisses" -- WINNER
Mumford & Sons -- "The Road to Red Rocks"

Same Love

“Same Love” substituted for the traditional wedding march at the 2014 Grammys, where Macklemore and Ryan Lewis sang their paean to marriage equality and Queen Latifah married 34 couples, gay and straight.

The news of the mass wedding only broke this weekend, as did word that Madonna would be joining the Best New Artist winners in “Same Love.”

Earlier, Lewis said it “will be, in our minds, the ultimate statement of equality, that all the couples are entitled to the same exact thing.” His sister was among those who got hitched at the show.

“This is a love song, not for some of us but for all of us,” declared Latifah, who made no announcement about her own sexuality. After Latifah read the vows to the couples, who lined the aisles, Madonna stepped out to sing “Open Your Heart.” She then finished “Same Love” with original vocalist Mary Lambert.

Grammys producer Ken Ehrlich, whose daughter is a lesbian, pitched the idea of an on-stage wedding to Mac and Ryan, who were eager to participate. Erlich says the event reflected his own personal beliefs, “but I would not want to make a broad statement that it represents the views of the academy or the CBS television network.”

Grammy executives are prepared for some negative backlash: “I expect that people with all kinds of opinions might voice them,” says National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences president Neil Portnow. “and that’s healthy.”

Vanity

                                          

As shallow as this sound, vanity is somewhat still plays a big part of every human life. As much as I didn't wanna admit that it matters to me, but it does. Till this very day, even I may have come to peace with my condition, but it still bothers me very much as time goes by. 

After reading two of my favorites blogs by these two amazing young chap today, the feeling of going back to Malaysia is just kinda unbearable. I know I have the most amazing love ones, friends and family to be there for me. But the thought of blending in is just too overwhelming to me. They got one thing right, they have a certain group of people they wanted to be in. The superiority and the cass system that has been created. I do feel out of place most of the time. 

Everyone wanted to be in some way they wanted to be. It isn't wrong at all. And I know all of them worked hard towards it and I applaud them for their hard work. But the thing for me now that it isn't about aging gracefully, but how to not evolve into that person I wouldn't even dare look at in the mirror. I know Leo realize that. He did FaceTime with me almost every day. And I know he just kept doing his best for making me not feeling that way. Even the lighting excuses does work sometimes. 

But even no matter how hard you tried, you will still fear for that day to come. This is something inevitable towards all CA patient out there. The fear of how others will see you, the fear that we take in when we look at ourselves. How can I go through this gracefully? I know Zombie & Dumdum always says I under appreciate myself. I haven't love myself enough. But what is there to love when you look in the mirror and you don't see yourself anymore? 

I kept a smile for all those years but I'm so sick of finding my tears. This is for every time I let it go, all of the nights I spent alone. It's been too hard to hold back the pain. I'm just tired. 

                                           

Chicago Love

From New York City to the City on the edge of the Michigan Lake, Chicago. One thing in life I am obsessed with besides music is snow. I love winter so much that I wished that winter was a 12 month a year thingy when I was younger. The thing about winter everything seems so pure yet harsh. It is just how life is. An irony of the wonders in life.

Bright side is I won't be out of a job for the next 6 years. Renewed my contract with my label. Nothing new beside the priority collaborations that I've had my terms with. The little things that does really matters to me in my career that I wanted. But the thing now is, where is the direction of my course would be? I seriously have to consider to write more songs that are singles worthy. But well, that is another story to tell.

I'll be heading to LA to meet up with my God daughter. That little bitch that I adores so so much! The down side, this will be my last few hours having snow around me. Sometimes I really do wish that I could have a longer period being back here in the States. But nothing will be valid until I get my citizenship. My meds are running low and the thought of having them bought here is just crazy! No matter how bad things are, it is still free in Malaysia.

But you gotta give to get something right? Oh well, it's gonna be tough but it isn't a choice for me anymore.

There are so much going on around me. The little things that I wanted, the way of life I wanna lead. But sometimes, there are so much blocks in front of you and all you wanted is just leave it as it is. For some reasons, I do find that it is pathetic of me to just let it be because things seems easier.

I wanted something to hold on to, I wanted something that is so surreal that you know it will always be there. But when all the logic comes into the picture, all seems like it would just be best to leave it that way. There is so much I wanted, but I know if it was me, I didn't wanna anyone to change me for who I am either. I remembered you told me something in the past that really grows in me.

You will know a person loves you when he loves you for everything you hate about in yourself.

As beautiful as it sounds, it is just hard to really take it all in. Baby J was the first that made me feel that way. And after that, I thought that I never will ever feel that way again, but I was wrong. It happens not only once, but twice after. And both of them are all that matters in my life right now.

Why am I still wanting that part that makes everything feels right? Part of my job? I know that it is something that I really wanted to make it feels right. All the surge of emotions, that expressive part of being impermanence, and all that fear and anger. I really can't help it. I look at myself everyday, realizing that what has change in the way I look. I wanted vanity to be there a little longer for me. I didn't wanted to look like the way I was to become. The second fingers clicks on, and every minute just reminded me of the path I am walking towards. I lived a full life I can say that out loud. But am I ready? I don't think I am. I just needed to find a way.

Sabah Hails Reinstatement of 3 Direct Flights From KK to Tokyo

The State Government has welcomed the reinstatement of the three direct flights from Kota Kinabalu to Tokyo that augur well for Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2014.

Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun also hoped that Malaysia Airlines (MAS) would also reinstate the Osaka-Kota Kinabalu route.

For VMY 2014, Malaysia targeted 28 million arrivals, 600,000 of them from Japan, he said at the Malaysia Appreciation and Visit Malaysia Year 2014 Cocktail Reception and dinner at Peninsula Hotel here last Wednesday.

"We seek and need your help and continuous support in order to achieve the 600,000 Japanese tourist arrivals; of which I wish to request to please bring seven per cent or 40,000 to visit Sabah," he told the Japanese tourism industry players.

Also present were Datuk Shaharuddin Md Som, the Ambassador of Malaysia to Japan, Noor Azlan, Director of Tourism Malaysia in Tokyo and Datuk Irene Benggon Charuruks, General Manager of Sabah Tourism Board.

"Japanese arrivals to Sabah in 2012 decreased by 17.6 per cent from 31,554 in 2011 to only 26,000 in 2012. The decline was due to Malaysia Airlines cancellations of the Tokyo and Osaka direct flights to Kota Kinabalu.

"Last year (January to November 2013), Japanese arrivals increased by 27.6 per cent to 27, 992," he said, adding that for example H.I.S Travel increased their sales to Sabah by 64 per cent with a total arrival of 12,800 tourists. To make this possible, H.I.S Travel brought five chartered flights to Sabah from Fukuoka (two), Nagoya (two) and Osaka (one).

JTB Travel contributed 18 per cent of Japanese arrivals increasing by 47.2 per cent to deliver 5,024 tourists in 2012 and other agents combined contributed 36.6 per cent arrivals, he added.

Masidi said that over the years, Japan-Malaysia relations and friendship have grown strong and steady.

Japan established its Embassy in Malaysia in 1957 and this year is the 57th Anniversary of Japan-Malaysia Friendship, coinciding with Visit Malaysia Year 2014.

"Over the years, many Japanese have visited Malaysia, including the Emperor of Japan, in 2006 after the visit of the King of Malaysia, in 2005. In 2012, Japanese arrivals to Malaysia increased by 21.5 per cent to 470,000.

"In the first nine months of 2013 (last year), Japanese tourist arrivals to Malaysia increased by eight per cent to 371,009," he said. Malaysia, especially Sabah, he said was a country renowned for its travel-friendly destination with an inexhaustible list of fascinating destinations and experiences.

"As a truly value-for-money holiday destination, Sabah promises a perfect escape for tourists," he said.

Meanwhile, Shaharuddin said the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 was the latest and biggest tourism campaign by the Malaysia Government which will be held throughout the year ranging from dazzling parades, colourful cultural shows, fabulous food festivals, exciting sports, music and art festival to shopping extravaganza.

"The success of the VMY 2014 is dependent among others, on the continuous support and cooperation that we receive from the travel trade fraternity including the media and airline and in this regard, we are fortunate to have such an excellent working relationship with the travel trade fraternity in Japan," said Shaharuddin.

During his four-day official visit to Japan, Masidi also met with the top guns of two biggest travel agencies in Japan namely Akira Hirabayshi, President of H.I.S Travel and Hiromi Tagawa, President of JTB Travel.

He also met with Roslan Ismail, Regional Vice President (North Asia & America) of Malaysia Airlines.

Thai Airways Set To Launch Sky Connect Inflight Internet Service

Thai Airways is gearing up to launch its Sky Connect satellite Internet service in the coming months, which will no doubt result in a surge of mile-high Twitter updates and Instagram snaps of inflight meals.

Sky Connect "is planned to be introduced in the near future", a Thai Airways spokeswoman confirmed to Australian Business Traveller, across the airline's Airbus A380 and A330-300 fleet. This will include selected regional flights around Asia as well as Thai's long-distance international routes.

Thailand's National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commissions (NBTC) has recently granted Thai a 'WiFi license' which is required to begin inflight service, the spokesperson said.

The required hardware has already been fitted into the aircraft by specialist provider OnAir, with passengers able to choose between the Internet OnAir and Mobile OnAir systems.

Internet OnAir 

Works like any pay-to-use WiFi hotspot you'd find in an airport or cafe: enter your credit card details and start surfing with your laptop, tablet or smartphone.

Mobile OnAir 

is more akin to global roaming on your phone for making and receiving text messages, email, mobile data – and, yes, phone calls. (So unless you want to return home to a hefty data bill, make sure your phone's roaming function is switched off before you step on that plane.)

Thai hasn't yet revealed how much you'll pay for a shot of sky-high surfing.

However, as a ballpark figure, Emirates' plans range from US$7.50 for 5MB to US$25 for 100MB; Singapore Airlines charges US$10 for 10MB of data and US$25 for 30MB; while Etihad's Wi-Fly service is billed according to time, with US$14 for one hour and US$25 for a 24-hour pass.

Qantas trialled inflight Internet on selected Airbus A380 routes for nine months in 2012 but decided against introducing the satellite-based service, citing a lacklustre response from travellers.

"Whilst customers who used the Wi-Fi service told us that they valued the option to connect in flight, overall the trial has demonstrated a lower than expected take-up of the service, particularly on overnight flights where sleep was their priority" a Qantas spokeswoman told Australian Business Traveller at the time, with average take-up during the trial sitting at "less than 5 per cent."

"Naturally, the costs associated with offering a reliable internet connection in-flight are significantly higher than on the ground, particularly when you are flying over vast expanses of ocean and can’t connect to ground towers."

New York on MAS' Radar

Malaysia Airlines plans to resume flights to several destinations this year, including New York, to boost its earnings, sources said

It is understood that MAS is studying several profitable routes, including flying to new destinations and increasing frequency of existing routes with high potential.

MAS flies direct to more than 60 destinations and a further 800 destinations in more than 150 countries via its oneworld partners.

For the flight to New York, MAS is expected to fly there via London using the A380 aircraft.

MAS had stopped all its New York flights in 2009.

From next month on, it will be flying to Krabi, Thailand, four times a week.

MAS will also fly to Vancouver, Canada, via Narita, Japan, this year through a code share agreement with Japan Airlines (JAL).

Sources said the national carrier is also evaluating existing loss-making routes in a bid to trim cost.

Speculation is rife that MAS may cut Los Angeles and Frankfurt from its network and work with its code-sharing partners to fly passengers there.

MAS has more than 25 code-share agreements with carriers like Garuda Airlines, Cathay Pacific and JAL.

Captured Love And Loss Beautifully

I saw this photos on the web and I thought why not sharing this with everyone. It is much more beautiful than it is sad. I really admire Angelo's courage and his capability to walk his wife through tough times. Every single picture really speaks for itself. The love, the support, the courage, the fear and the pain. I envied the love they both share and the power of being there for each other.

It is so surreal, every expressions were like talking to you through every photos. And also, some... some very familiar expressions as well.

They're images that would break anyone’s heart.

A husband’s poignant photo series documents the intimate moments of his wife’s fight with breast cancer — and her death.

The photos are personal — one shows a handful of hair that had fallen out, another is so magnified that Jennifer’s shedding eyelashes are visible.

A lot of what you see about cancer is glossing over what’s really happened. I think this would help people understand better how they could be there for a family member or friend. I guess so far, there isn't anything way more near to what reality is for all cancer patient out there. 

Angelo Merendino is a photographer whose wife Jennifer died of cancer a couple years ago. Throughout the process of her battle with the terrible disease, Angelo documented the beauty of their relationship, even through the extremely rough times. The series was recently released, and it pulls no punches. There are photos in this series that look as though Jennifer had no desire to shine as the subject, but the impacting nature of the whole would be lost without them. You might even feel wrong gazing this deeply into some of the private scenarios.

We have selected a handful of photos, but the waterworks will really flow if you take a second to scroll through the images from start to finish, in chronological order, here. It’s much more beautiful than it is sad.

The photos humanize the face of cancer and capture the difficulty, fear, and pain that they experienced during the difficult time. But as Angelo commented: “These photographs do not define us, but they are us.”