Cheap place to relax

I did mention before that I went to the beach to relax. Well, actually I didn't. I just went to a hotel NEAR the beach. I went there just for a while to visit my sisters and cousins who were passing their time there so I went swimming in the pool instead. I did plan to go to the beach but I didn't have much time.

As you can see from the pictures, it's not a grand 5-star hotel but it was quite nice. It's not as tall as other buildings but the view is kinda pretty. The last picture (the bottom one) shows the buildings that situated next to the hotel. It's a very nice place to live if you ask me. I didn't remember what the residential area is called though.

For those who don't know, Copthorne Orchid hotel is located in Penang island of Malaysia. So if you're traveling here and want to find a (kinda) cheap place to stay and with a nice view, I think this one should suit you.

Shayne Ward ~ Breathless

I know this album has already been out for awhile now, but it's never too late to review a nice pop album right.

Breathless is Shayne Ward 2nd album. It's a nice pop album so if you're not really into pop, you better steer away from this one. It contains 13 tracks including the singles If That's OK with You, No U Hang Up and Breathless.

I was kinda impressed when I heard and saw the video for If That's OK with You (he dance!) but the song that made me bought this album is Breathless. I was so amazed with that song, I decided I have to own this album without even thinking that maybe the other tracks will suck.
Lucky for me, I like pop songs and this album is kinda nice. Some of my favourite tracks are Breathless (of course!), If That's OK with You, Stand by Your Side, Melt the Snow and Tell Him.

At first spin, the songs sound kinda similar to each other, except for Melt the Snow and Tell Him which I think are brilliant songs. But on 2nd spin and onwards, you will enjoy more of each tracks as you get familiar with them.

So, we will see if he can make a better album next time. If he can, then surely I will rush to the music store to get them.

WANTED! Hot assassins!

Wanted and Wall E will open in cinemas this weekend. Well, actually that is for the US release. Wall E will premiere here in Malaysia a little bit late, in July I think, but fortunately Wanted will be released the same week in Malaysia as in the US. Thank God. Not so sure about the other Asian countries.

Wanted starring the hot and sexy Angelina Jolie and our 'Mr. Tumnus', James McAvoy is based on a comic book with the same name by Mark Millar. I didn't know there was a comic. Well, never mind that. It tells a story about a regular guy who was trained to become an assassin by another (hot) assassin to get revenge for his father's murder, who was also an assassin. A lot of assassins there. So expect to see mind-blowing stunts and actions in this movie. Based on the trailer, it's sure gonna be a fun ride. Other casts include Morgan Freeman, Thomas Kretschmann and Konstantin Khabensky.

Oh, by the way, I watched The Incredible Hulk last Wednesday night. It was a fun movie. I will post a review about it next week okay.

Thanx Yahoo! for the poster. ;-)

Britney Spears Celebrates Courtroom Success

Fresh off of a courtroom victory, Britney Spears was spotted out on a trip to West Hollywood’s Fred Segal for a little afternoon shopping on Tuesday (June 24).

Earlier in the day, the “Gimme More” singer attended a hearing with ex-husband Kevin Federline - during which Britney was reportedly granted overnight visitation with her two sons, Jayden James and Sean Preston.

“There was a change in visitation status that was ordered by Commissioner Gordon this morning,” Los Angeles Superior Court spokesperson Alan Parachini told press.

And though Parachini wasn’t at liberty to offer details, a source has since confirmed to press that Ms Spears indeed will be getting sleepovers with the kiddies.

Asked by Us magazine if she was happy with the court outcome, Britney smiled and said, “Yes.” Meanwhile, the next status hearing is set for July 15th.

Solange Knowles Celebrates 22nd Birthday

Everything is bigger and better when you’re a celebrity. So when it came time to plan Solange Knowles’ 22nd birthday party, the guest list included some pretty big names.

Knowles’ sister Beyonce, as well as rapper Ludacris, Lindsay Lohan, Samantha Ronson, and singer JoJo all showed up to wish her a happy b-day.

Clad in a bright orange strapless dress, Solange mingled around the Los Angeles party, held at a private residence, stopping to pose with her older sis and mother.

Her new album Sol Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams hits stores this August. And she recently told press that having a famous older sister has its blessings as well as its curses.

“People think that my family association helps me, but in a lot of senses it hinders me. When reaching out to these producers, they don’t know if I’m a real musician or if I’m just someone’s annoying little sister.”

Shia LaBeouf: Hard at Work on “Transformers” Sequel

Getting an early start to the day, Shia LaBeouf was hard at work on the set of “Transformers 2”, which is currently shooting on the campus of Princeton University.

In the scene being shot, the 22-year-old NYC native’s character of Sam Witwicky fumbled around with some school books while chatting on the phone.


In related news, Shia currently finds himself in the gossip fodder for a report claiming that he “received a stern warning for lighting up at a Washington, D.C. museum” just months after having an unlawful smoking charge dismissed in Burbank, California.

Tabloid insiders tell: “LaBeouf was at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., filming “Transformers 2”, when he lit up a cigarette in the bathroom. He was reprimanded by officials at the museum for the incident - being told that he could be kicked off the property if he lit up again.”

A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story

Last week, I saw this amazing and sad film about a young man who was murdered because he's a transgender. From what I read in the internet, the made-for-TV film premiered in the US in 2006. Maybe it just reach this part of the world in 2008. I don't remember on which channel I watched it. Maybe HBO (Channel 411 Astro Malaysia) or Star Movies (Channel 413 Astro Malaysia).

The film tells the story of Gwen Araujo (born Edward Araujo), a transgender who was murdered after his acquaintances discovered that he has male genitalia. He had been living as a female so most of his acquaintances didn't know he was actually a male. When some of them found out, they killed him. I'm not sure whether they killed him because of discrimination and hate (as in hate crime) or because of gay panic (as what the defendants claimed).

I'm not so sure what a gay panic defense is that the defendants had been using in the trials so I've checked Wiki for the meaning. Apparently, gay panic defense is when a defendant claims that they have been the object of romantic or sexual advances by the victim, and the propositions so offensive and frightening that it brought on a psychotic state characterized by unusual violence.

Okay, so I understand they were shocked when they found out but to murder the person??? C'mon, that is just cruel. I mean, a punch or a slap is different, but Gwen had been reported to be beaten for 5 hours! That was not 'shocked', that was 'hate'. But of course that is from my point of view. The jury apparently didn't think so since none of them had been committed with hate crime.

Anyway, it's a very touching and sad story. If you ever stumbled upon this film, please watch it. It's really good.