Wednesday, September 24, 2008

More Photos Taken While I Was in Moscow in April 2001

The following are more photos that I took while I was in Moscow, Russia in April 2001:


Red Square
Exhibit in one of the museum near the Red Square. You have to get (buy) a pass to take photos or video inside the museum (in addition to the entrance fee).
The Moscow State University on Vorobievy Hill
A view from the hill where Moscow State University is located: The sports complex which include the stadium
 Russian dolls are for sale
A view from my father-in-law's apartment
A war memorial park, The Great Patriotic War 1941-1945 memorial on Poklonnaya Hill (according to Moscow 850 Years Volume 2 Book)
A mosque near the war memorial
 The House of the Government of Russia - The White House
A view of New Arbat
 A Hummer H1 parks at the parking area of the Radisson Slavjanskaya Hotel, where Brunei Embassy is located. And, Mitsubishi Evo is also on displayed.
 A view of Old Arbat
Another view of Old Arbat
MacDonald at Old Arbat
The entrance to Gorky Park
 Yuri Gagarin Statue
Buying fish at a wet market in Moscow


My related posting:

(Photos: Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir. Taken on April 2001)

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Photos of Mini Kampung Ayer at Yayasan Complex Taken on the Afternoon of 24th September 2008

The following photos show Mini Kampung Ayer model that is built at the fountain of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Complex, in conjunction with the coming Hari Raya Aidilfitri 1429 celebration. 1st Syawal in Brunei Darussalam will be either 1st October or 2nd October 2008, which is to be decided by the sighting of the moon on the 30th September 2008.

Photo 1

Photo 2
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Photo 5
 Photo 6
 Photo 7
Photo 8
Photo 9

(Photos: Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir. Taken on 24th September 2008)

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Turtle Wax ICE For My Suzuki Swift

This afternoon I went to Hua Ho Yayasan to buy something for my Suzuki Swift. I bought a Turtle Wax ICE™ Car Wash and Turtle Wax ICE™ Synthetic Polish. The car wash costs me BND11.04 (after 20% discount from BND13.80 usual price) per 1.89L bottle, while the car polish costs me BND7.52 (after 20% discount from BND9.40 usual price) per 118ML bottle packaging which included a sponge applicator and a microfiber cloth.

I bought these two Turtle Wax products because I want to give them a try. Previously, I used Armorall Car Wash and Kit Wax.


TURTLE WAX ICE CAR WASH

Front label

A closer look at the front label

Back label


According to Turtle Wax ICE Car Wash’s label, it will give “super clean, high gloss shine” and it “will not leave water spots”. At the back, the label says “ICE CAR WASH LEAVES A SPARKLING CLEAN SHINE: ICE Car Wash contains an innovative blend of surfactants and special paint conditioners that gently wash away dirt, road grime and dust for an incredible sparkling clean shine. Paint conditioners revitalize your paint and enhance the color while the pH balanced formula won’t strip existing wax and polish protection and shine”.

In addition, the back label also says “FINALLY, A CAR WASH THAT WON’T LEAVE SWIRL MARKS: ICE Car Wash is formulated with a special blend of lubricating agents that create a rich, lubricating foam that surrounds dirt and dust particles and rinses them away without creating scratches and swirl marks on your car’s surface. The result is super clean, mirror-like finish.”

But, what I am going to do with the existing scratches and swirls. I do not know much about car care and maintenance. That is one of the reason my previous car is ‘teruk berabis’ (in a very sorry state). When I look carefully at the label (and my reading at Turtle Wax ICE products website), the solution is to use the Turtle Wax ICE Liduid Clay Bar. It is to be applied before applying the wax or polish. The functions are “to remove minor scratches and swirls and give your car a smooth as glass finish.”. I will buy the clay bar sometimes in the future.

How I Am Going To Use the TURTLE WAX ICE CAR WASH?

According to the label at the back, the directions are like this: “Rinse off any loose dirt with cold water prior to use. Use 1 oz. of ICE Car Wash per gallon of water. Fill bucket with a strong stream of water. Using a sponge or wash mitt, wash one section of vehicle at a time starting at the top of the vehicle and work your way down. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft towel or chamois.”

Don’t forget the label also put a note: “Do not use if surface of vehicle is hot to touch. Always use a clean bucket and sponge”.

TURTLE WAX ICE SYNTHETIC LIQUID POLISH

According to the label, Turtle Wax Ice Synthetic Liquid Polish will give “brilliant, high gloss shine” with “no white residue on plastic surfaces and trim”. Then, the label says: “ICE Liquid Polish is based on a revolutionary new formula that will provide the most incredible high gloss shine you have seen on a car’s finish.Use ICE on all plastic and plastic and rubber trim. ICE will leaves a rich shine on rubber moldings, plastic trim, door handles and headlight & taillight lenses without leaving any white residue. ICE can even be applies in direct sunlight or on hot surfaces. Safe for all clearcoat and conventional paint finishes”.

This is good because my previous car wax do leave white residue in a few places of my car. A bit difficult to remove.

The packaging

The contents

The label
Turtle Wax ICE Polish, Sponge Applicator and Microfiber Cloth

From the Turtle Wax ICE website, I have found that the ICE Liquid Polish can last for 3 to 4 months under normal weathering conditions i.e about 12 to 16 wash if you wash your car once a week. Ordinary wax can last about 4-6 wash i.e 1 month if you wash your car once a week. It is, therefore, going to save my time and money (I hope).

How I Am Going To Use the TURTLE WAX ICE LIQUID POLISH?

According to the label, the directions are like this: “ Wash & dry vehicle. Shake well. Pour product onto sponge applicator. Spread a thin even coat over entire vehicle. Allow product to dry to a haze (about 3-5 minutes). Fold the microfiber cloth*, using one side to remove excess polish from the car’s finish. Turn cloth over and lightly buff to a high gloss shine”.

*My 4.8 years old daughter know more about this than her father, after observing her uncle waxing his car. She is even shows her father how to fold the cloth.

The label also put a note: “If streaking occurs, wipe with a damp cloth before removing with microfiber towel. If surface is oxidized, preclean with Turtle Wax Scratch & Swirl Remover. Do not use on glass.”

MY COMMENTS

I have thinking buying Turtle Wax ICE products for two months i.e to buy or not to buy. At last, I buy at the right price (even though not at the “right time”) at Hua Ho Yayasan. I have to understand the directions of use and put it into practical.

Since I have a new car a few months ago, I felt how hard it is to take “good care” of my car, especially when my parking area is near to the dusty roads and some birds’ and lizards’ dropping always fall on my car. I am talking about taking care a car that cost me less than BND20K. How I am going to take care the car that costs BND30K,BND 40K, BND50K, and so on? (in terms of cleanliness and others)

p/s: I will begin using the Turtle Wax ICE products in a few days. May be I will write my testimonials about the products after a month of using them.

(Photos: Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir. Taken on 24 September 2008)

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Tuesday, September 23, 2008

I Have Been To…MOSCOW, Russia

I have been to Moscow, Russia from the 8 April 2001 to 18 April 2001, together with my wife and my brother-in-law. At that time, one adult return ticket to Moscow costed less than BND2000 when using the Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa. We had to transit at Singapore for about 6-8 hours and in Frankfurt, Germany for a few hours, either to Moscow or from Moscow.

We stayed for 10 days in Moscow at my father-in-law’s apartment. My father-in-law was the 3rd Sectretary at the Brunei Embassy (now retired). At that time, Brunei Embassy’s office was at Radisson Slavjanskaya Hotel where CNN’s office was also located. According to 15th Edition Borneo Bulletin Brunei Yearbook 2008, the embassy is still there.

In April 2001, it was the time for the ice to break up. So, I only had the opportunity to see little ice on the road and on the river. However, it was still very cold that I had to wear jacket and gloves.

In Moscow, I visited the famous places in Moscow such areas outside the Kremlin Wall, Red Square, GUM, Lenin’s Mousoleum, Blue Mosque,Old Arbat, New Arbat, Metropolitan Railways, and many more which included a number of museums and parks. I do not remember some of their names.


The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The tomb is located outside the Kremlin Wall, near to the Museum of the Kremlin.

The Red Square Lenin's Mousoleum at the Red Square and just outside the Kremlin Wall.
Another photo of Lenin's Mousoleum. I had the opportunity to enter the mousoleum and see Lenin was still there. No photography is allowed inside the mousoleum.
Someone tries to sell a Russian doll. In the background is the GUM - State Department Store.
 The Cathedral of the Intercession of the Mother of God ( St. Basil's Cathedral) at the Red Square.
A closer look at the cathedral

The GUM-State Department Store
A wide view of the Red Square: (Right) GUM, (Middle) the Cathedral, and (Left) Lenin's Mousoleum and the Kremlin Wall/Kremlin.
An open space near the GUM
Kremlin Wall and Moscow River

Inside the GUM One of the supermarket in Moscow
The Blue Mosque


P/s: Too bad, at that time, I had no DSLR or any digital compact camera. I only had the Canon APS film camera. Therefore, I cannot take take a lot of photos due to film, developing, and printing cost. I wish I can go Moscow again sometime in the future ( with a digital camera, of course).


(Photos: Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir. Taken on April 2001)


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