Rumah Diperbuat Daripada Buluh

Rumah buluh sejuk di waktu siang

Oleh NOOR FAZRINA KAMAL

mohd. ramadhan Abdul Hamid (duduk) dan Mior Shariman Moksin (berdiri paling kiri) bersama rakan-rakan yang mengusahakan Istana Bambu sdn. bhd.

TIADA kata secantik bahasa...Cuma itu yang saya dapat katakan apabila pertama kali memasuki kediaman daripada buluh ini sedikit masa lalu.

"Bukan setakat binaan rumah, perabot dan hiasan dalaman lain juga diperbuat daripada buluh. Berada di dalamnya walaupun hanya seketika cukup untuk membuatkan hati saya begitu tenteram dan nyaman."

Demikian luahan Ketua Pengawai Operasi Istana Bambu Sdn. Bhd., Mior Shariman Moksin, 37, ketika bercerita mengenai pengalaman kali pertamanya memasuki kediaman buluh atau lebih terkenal dengan jolokan Istana Bambu milik Mohd. Ramadhan Abdul Hamid yang bertempat di Hulu Langat tidak lama dulu.

Bertitik tolak dari situ, Mior Shariman nekad untuk mendalami tentang buluh dengan mempelajari tentang sifat-sifat tumbuhan tersebut sehingga sanggup mencari ilmu di luar negara.

Malah projek pembangunan dan penyelidikan (R&D) buluh yang diusahakan atas inisiatifnya sendiri mengambil masa selama dua tahun untuk disiapkan.

Berbekalkan pendidikan yang diperoleh dari Institut Teknologi Mara (kini UiTM) dan pengalaman menguruskan resort kepunyaannya sendiri sebelum ini, beliau mengorak langkah menerajui satu industri baru di Malaysia dengan menubuhkan syarikat Istana Bambu Sdn. Bhd. pada awal tahun lalu.

Malah tidak keterlaluan jika dikatakan Mior Shariman adalah antara individu yang bertanggungjawab membawa nafas baru kepada produk berasaskan buluh apabila dia dan beberapa rakannya yang mempunyai impiang sama berusaha merealisasikan impian meneraju industri baru di Malaysia.

Istana Bambu yang indah dan nyaman

Demi memenuhi undangan pihak Istana Bambu Sdn. Bhd., penulis dan jurugambar dijemput ke 'istana' Mohd. Ramadhan bagi merasai sendiri pengalaman ketika berada dalam rumah buluh tersebut.

Sebaik melangkah masuk ke 'istana' milik bekas kakitangan perbankan ini, hawa sejuk dan nyaman menyapa kami.

"Walaupun panas terik di luar tapi di dalam rumah ini rasa sejuk," getus penulis pada jurugambar sambil kaki terus melangkah menerokai setiap ruang kediaman dua tingkat yang dibina di satu sudut di atas tanah berkeluasan dua ekar di Hulu Langat, Selangor itu.

Sesekali perhiasan gantung yang diperbuat daripada buluh berbunyi merdu kala ditiup angin.

Benarlah kata pepatah Melayu, tak kenal maka tak cinta, melihat kepada binaan istana buluh tersebut penulis dapat merasakan bahawa kediaman yang diperbuat daripada buluh memang mempunyai keistimewaan dan nilai estetika yang tersendiri.

Kehidupan di bandar menyebabkan penulis hanya melihat kegunaan buluh ketika membuat lemang, namun setelah meninjau segenap ruang kediaman Mohd. Ramadhan persepsi terhadap buluh berubah.

Buluh mampu menghasilkan perabot yang indah, sofa, kerusi, meja malah katil juga kelihatan anggun menawan dengan tumbuhan ini.

"Jika malam, memang penghuni rumah buluh akan merasa kehangatan malam, tidak terlalu panas tetapi tidak perlu memakai selimut ketika tidur," celah Mohd Ramadhan yang sedari tadi hanya membiarkan kami menikmati keindahan 'istana' yang dihuninya seorang diri.

Jelas beliau, buluh memerangkap haba panas ketika di waktu siang dan melepaskannya pada waktu malam.

"Sebab itu jika kita letak telinga pada batang buluh ini kita akan mendengar bunyi seakan menderu, itu bermaksud haba sedang menyerap ke dalam bahagian dalam buluh. Bila malam, buluh melepaskan haba tersebut sekali gus memberi kehangatan kepada penghuni rumah," katanya.

Mohd. Ramadhan turut mengaitkan peristiwa gempa bumi di Indonesia baru-baru ini dengan kediaman yang diperbuat daripada buluh.

"Walaupun roboh, rumah ini tidak akan menghempap penghuni di dalamnya kerana struktur binaan yang selamat untuk keadaan bencana alam tersebut," ujarnya.

Tanah dua ekar milik Mohd Ramadhan ini tidak hanya menempatkan kediamannya sahaja.

Malah di lokasi yang sama juga dibina surau kecil, rumah tetamu, anjung rehat dan yang semuanya dibina daripada buluh.

Tambah menarik, tanah tersebut juga dihiasi dengan landskap, air terjun yang mengalir mengikut graviti dan batu-batu besar yang dibina untuk menambah keindahan pemandangan keseluruhan kawasan tersebut.

"Ini belum siap sepenuhnya, akan datang saya akan menghasilkan sawah padi di kawasan ini," katanya yang kemudian memberikan kami menyambung perbualan bersama Mior Shariman..

Industri buluh

Sementara itu menurut Mior Shariman, bukan satu tugas mudah untuk memulakan industri baru di Malaysia kerana banyak yang perlu dipelajari, masa yang dikorbankan dan wang ringgit yang perlu dilabur.

Semua itu bagi memastikan industri buluh menjadi antara penyumbang kepada sumber pendapatan kepada rakyat dan negara.

Kegigihan Mior Shariman nyata terserlah apabila beliau terpaksa ke beberapa negara Asia untuk mempelajari dan menjalin kerjasama.

Hasilnya beliau telah menguasai teknologi pengawetan dan kemahiran pembuatan produk buluh.

"Negara-negara jiran telah mempunyai industrinya sendiri dan telah melayani pasaran Eropah, Amerika syarikat, negara-negara Arab dan lain-lain.

"Melihatkan pasaran yang terbentang luas saya ingin mengajak masyarakat Malaysia untuk bersama-sama membangunkan industri ini," ujar Mior penuh bersemangat.

Dengan mengambil kira saiz pasaran yang besar dan potensi produk yang luas beliau mensasarkan perolehan RM12 juta untuk tahun 2010.

"Pemuliharaan, produksi dan pengkomersialan, adalah kata kunci ini merujuk kepada aktiviti yang dijalankan oleh Istana Bambu Sdn. Bhd.," ujarnya.

Beliau yakin pembangunan industri harus bermula dengan bahan mentah yang mencukupi. Buluh adalah pilihan material masa hadapan memandangkan tempoh matang buluh mengambil masa antara empat hingga lima tahun untuk matang.

"Buluh tidak sama seperti pokok kayu lain yang mengambil puluhan tahun untuk matang, tambahan lagi buluh akan tumbuh dari rumpun dan dapat ditebang berulang-ulang kali.

"Buluh juga telah memasuki fasa baru dalam proses pembuatan contohnya ia telah dijadikan papan lapis selain daripada kegunaan kebiasaannya yang berbentuk silinder.

"Untuk itu syarikat telah mengenalpasti kawasan-kawasan buluh di Malaysia yang mempunyai potensi untuk penanaman dan pemuliharaan.

"Bagi produksi pula syarikat mempelawa mana-mana masyarakat yang mahu mempelajari kemahiran pembuatan untuk memasuki sekolah kemahiran buluh yang ditawarkan," jelasnya.

Selain kilang yang didirikan bagi memenuhi keperluan pasaran dalam dan luar negara, pihak Istana Bambu Sdn. Bhd. telah pun menembusi pasaran dalam dan luar negara.

Kejayaan terbaru syarikat ini telah menandatangani perjanjian persefahaman dengan syarikat di Perancis untuk mengeksport produk berasaskan buluh ke negara tersebut.

Ketahanan

"Antara produk yang dikeluarkan syarikat kami ialah buluh yang telah diawet, bangunan terdiri dari rumah kediaman serta restoran dan resort, hiasan dalaman, perabut, kelengkapan landskap dan juga barangan untuk industri.

"Buluh yang digunakan untuk produk-produk ini telah diawet dan mempunyai ketahanan jauh lebih lama daripada kebiasaannya.

"Jaminan diberikan antara enam bulan sehingga satu tahun bagi produk-produk yang dihasilkan oleh syarikat kami," tambahnya.

Pihak Istana Bambu Sdn. Bhd. juga sedang membina perkampungan buluh terletak lot 841 - 844 Jalan Ulu Kelang, 68000 Ampang, Selangor. Buat masa ini perabot contoh boleh di lihat di alamat tersebut.

Antara binaan yang terdapat di perkampungan tersebut adalah surau, pusat pameran, rumah contoh, galeri jualan, restoran, pusat pengawetan, pusat pembuatan, spa, chalet, pusat pembenihan anak pokok buluh , pusat latihan dan pusat pengembangan teknologi buluh.

"Tujuan pembinaan perkampungan ini adalah untuk menyediakan pusat rujukan dan keperluan industri.

"Antara peluang yang di tawarkan adalah wakil jualan, pembelajaran dan latihan, pemilikan syarikat, penggunaan tanah di Perkampungan buluh dan pihak syarikat juga mengalu-alukan cadangan yang boleh menguntungkan kedua belah pihak. Lebih ramai yang terlibat dengan industri ini lebih bagus," katanya.

Untuk mengetahui lebih lanjut mengenai produk atau industri ini sila layari laman web www.istanabambu.com atau hubungi 019 338 1858.

Rujukan: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=200....

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Formula merawat buluh

Perabot daripada buluh seperti katil, meja solek dan set meja makan semakin mendapat tempat di kalangan pengguna.

SEBAIKNYA negara yang beriklim khatulistiwa seperti Malaysia ini memanfaatkan perabot yang diperbuat daripada buluh kerana sifatnya yang menyejukkan kediaman.

"Buluh dikatakan sejuk kerana sifat semula jadi kayunya yang mempunyai liang serta berbentuk tabung serta berongga.

"Ciri ini membolehkan udara dingin yang disimpan pada malam hari dibebaskan menjelang siang sekali gus mengubah suasana kediaman menjadi sejuk dan nyaman.

"Sebaliknya, pada malam hari, kediaman tidak akan terlalu sejuk kerana hawa panas yang disimpan sejak siang dibebaskan," katanya Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Istana Buluh Sdn. Bhd., Mior Shariman Mohsin yang tidak jemu-jemu membuat kajian terhadap tumbuhan dari jenis sayur-sayuran ini.

Menerusi kajian yang dilakukan, Mior Shariman menemukan formula bagi mendapatkan buluh yang berkualiti.

"Sebelum buluh dibuat perabot, ia perlu diawet terlebih dulu bagi menghindari masalah bubuk, kulat dan cendawan. Tiga langkah pengawetan dikenal pasti termasuk merendam kayu itu selama sebulan dalam air biasa sebelum disambung dua minggu lagi di dalam lumpur lalu dijemur hingga kering.

"Itu cara tradisional, manakala kaedah moden pula menuntut penggunaan bahan kimia tertentu. Tempoh selama sebulan diperlukan sebelum buluh sesuai dibentuk sebagai perabot.

"Bahan kimia boraks menghasilkan perabot buluh berwarna gelap manakala borik menjadikannya berwarna putih," jelasnya.

Kesesuaian buluh sebagai perabot terserlah menerusi aspek ketahanannya yang berciri tahan lasak berbanding kayu getah dan jati, lebih-lebih lagi jika usia perabot berkenaan melangkaui 50 tahun.

Bagaimanapun kata Mior Shariman, tidak semua buluh boleh dijadikan perabot, sebaliknya ia perlu menjalani proses pemilihan dan saringan ketat.

"Buluh bermutu dijadikan perabot berusia dalam lingkungan empat hingga lima tahun. Empat tahun dikira matang dan layak ditebang. Jangan tunggu sehingga lima tahun untuk membentuk perabot kerana yang dihasilkan mudah pecah dan merekah.

"Bagi berusia bawah empat tahun, buluh boleh mengecut dan tidak sesuai dibuat perabot," jelasnya lagi.

Demi menambah elemen menarik dan praktikal pada perabot buluh rekaan syarikatnya, Mior Shariman menambah bahan tambahan seperti besi, kaca semuanya untuk menambah seri dan kesesuaian fungsi perabot keluarannya.

Mior Shariman berbangga kerana pasaran luar negara seperti Perancis telah membuka mata dan berminat untuk mengembangkan pasaran perabot buluh.

"Kami kini sedang melakukan penanaman spesies buluh hitam dan berkualiti yang biasa ditemui di Myanmar untuk diusahakan di sini. Pada masa sama, syarikat juga berminat mengelolakan bengkel membuat perabot berkenaan bagi usahawan berpotensi selain membuka peluang serta khidmat nasihat pelaburan bagi peniaga yang berminat menceburi industri ini," katanya.

Rujukan: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2009&....

Out of Energy?

See nine things that zap your vitality and how to get it back

It's 3 p.m.--do you know where your energy's gone? You probably expect to feel that late-afternoon drag, but you don't always have to. Turns out, some of your regular habits may be sneakily zapping your zip. Fix some or all of these energy stealers, and you just may be feeling brighter this afternoon.

Energy Zapper #1: Being Addicted to E-mail
Isn't being wired to the hilt--e-mail, voice mail, IM, BlackBerry--supposed to boost productivity, freeing up your energy? More often, the opposite is true. If you continually halt what you're doing to answer e-mail, check voice mail, and attend to a thousand other beeps and blips, your attention becomes diluted, which leaves you feeling depleted.

There are two things going on here, says John Salerno, MD, a New York City family physician and director of the Salerno Center for Complementary Medicine. "The brain needs a lot of physical and mental energy to multitask, which gets drained," he says. And continually redirecting your attention from the BlackBerry to other stimuli siphons more energy and distracts your brain further.

Energy Fix
Switch off electronic gadgets during your most productive work hours, which for most people tend to be in the morning, says Laura Stack, author of The Exhaustion Cure. As for e-mail, try to limit yourself to checking it once every hour, instead of hopping to whenever it beeps. (Hint: Turn off the beep sound.) If something pops into your mind that you need to remember--call back your mom, e-mail the soccer coach about the snack schedule--write it down and take care of it later.

Energy Zapper #2: Visual Clutter
We may be used to living in enclosed spaces with lots of stuff--a refrigerator door packed with artwork, a countertop laden with mail, a desk that's little more than a shifting pile of folders and paper--but it's not how we're meant to live, says Dr. Salerno. "Clutter signals disorder, which makes us anxious. Our brains sense that anxiety."

Energy Fix
Do your best to clear visual clutter, so when you look around, your eyes can "rest" rather than dart from mess to mess, says Janice Ash, organization expert and owner of I Declutter!. Instead of layering papers on a bulletin board, leave a small border of space around them. Clear the front of the fridge of all but the most current kids' artwork, and make a habit of leaving the kitchen counter stuff-free before bed each night.

Energy Zapper #3: Being Bored
Ever sat around for an hour or more not tackling a chore or work because it's just so darned monotonous? Mental foot-dragging, boredom and lack of motivation are draining, says Dr. Salerno. "Put simply, we like to see results, and getting things done gives us a mental energy boost." So avoiding tasks deprives you of that high.

Energy Fix
Find a partner for encouragement--a friend, a coworker--and call or e-mail to enlist her in a time challenge. "Say, ‘I'll check back in with you in an hour, and we'll see if we've gotten these reports/ organizing chores done.'" Or promise yourself motivational rewards for completing the task at hand, suggests Dr. Salerno.

Energy Zapper #4: Poor Posture
You already know that not sitting or standing straight is bad for your body. But all that hunching over a computer screen or cradling a phone on your shoulder wreaks havoc on your energy level, too, says Pia Martin, a San Diego health and wellness chiropractor. "When you sit for long periods, you tend to slump forward, leading to rounded shoulders and a tilted lower spine. Your muscles contract, and blood flow is impaired," which limits the amount of oxygen to your brain.

Energy Fix
Sit up straight! Your legs should be at right angles to the floor, your arms at right angles to your keyboard. Be conscious of keeping your shoulders down, not up near your ears. Adjust your computer screen so your eyes gaze at the middle of it. And don't just sit there--if you have to, set a timer to go off hourly to remind you to get up, stretch and get a drink of water. When you get back to your desk, do a quick posture check: Shoulders down! (Reboot your posture with these tips.)

Energy Zapper #5: Toxic Indoor Air
Humming copy machines. Cleaning products. Dry-cleaning chemicals. Synthetic carpeting. Even the desks in your office may be contributing to the load of toxins you breathe each day, because all of them release chemicals into the air. "No one knows for sure how much harm these cause to our bodies, but they do build up over time, and can drain your energy by potentially interfering with thyroid function and overloading the body's detox system," says Frank Lipman, MD, a New York City physician and author of Spent: End Exhaustion and Feel Great Again. (Reduce your exposure to chemical toxins.)

Energy Fix
Get outside. If you're feeling tired, go out for 10 minutes to breathe fresh air. Indoors, cultivate houseplants, which are remarkably good at absorbing toxins. And don't wear shoes inside the house--you're dragging not just dirt indoors on your soles, but pesticides and other harmful chemicals too.

Energy Zapper #6: Eating Too Much at Once
Consuming a big meal is always something that will cause a dip in energy later, but that effect is most noticeable in the afternoon because the slump happens at that reach-for-coffee-or-sugar hour: 3 p.m. Here's what happens: You fill up on a carb- and calorie-rich lunch and, as nutrients are absorbed by your body, excess glucose is dumped into your bloodstream, and your body releases insulin to process all that sugar. "A better idea is to spread out what and how you eat throughout the day to keep energy levels steady," says Gloria Tsang, RD, founder of the nutrition website HealthCastle.com.

Energy Fix
Eat every four hours, instead of the usual six. To reform lunch, "try to brownbag more often than eating out," says Tsang. It's a fact that if you buy takeout or dine in a restaurant, you're likely to eat more. Four hours after lunch, have a snack. If you're going to eat dinner a couple of hours later, keep the snack small, such as half a turkey sandwich, or a yogurt and some crackers. Other ideas: Drink liquids (water, tea) all day. "Dehydration makes you tired, too," says Tsang. If you usually have coffee right after lunch, try it a little later in the afternoon and make it a latte. The caffeine's an obvious pick-me-up, but the little bit of fat and protein in the milk gives you a snack-like boost. (Increase your energy with a smarter lunch.)

Energy Zapper #7: Living in Artificial Light
Our natural body rhythms are keyed to the rising and setting of the sun, says Carol Ash, DO, medical director of Sleep for Life, a sleep-disorder clinic in Somerset, New Jersey. When you open your eyes in the morning and get your first glimpse of sunlight, your brain receives a signal that helps it set its sleep-wake clock for the day. Similarly, seeing sunlight during the day gives your brain a boost. So if you are awake before the sun, and/or don't see much sun all day, your body is experiencing something a lot like jet lag.

Energy Fix
Instead of hitting the coffee cart when you're flagging, hit the sidewalk--the combination of physical exercise and a shot of sunlight will energize you. You don't need much: "A 10- to 20-minute walk in the sunshine will give you a boost," says Dr. Ash.

Energy Zapper #8: Listening to Negative Nellies
You may be upbeat, but it can be exhausting to listen to complainers all day long, whether it's the fellow mom who calls to trash-talk the neighbors or the coworker who never has a positive word to say. It's not your imagination: A 2006 study at Chicago's Northwestern University found that people forced to listen to "high-maintenance" colleagues became frustrated and unfocused, and suffered a decline in the quality of their work.

Energy Fix
Insulate yourself as best you can. If a coworker loves to enumerate her complaints, cut her off with a firm but polite "I really have to get this finished," then smile and get to work. She'll get the message. If it's your own negative thoughts that drag you down, train yourself to banish them by listing, daily, the things you're grateful for, so you can pull out that list when the negative stuff intrudes.

Energy Zapper #9: Holding a Grudge
It takes a surprising amount of energy to remember whom you have a grudge against, and to continually update the faults, missteps and things you're mad about. "Resentment is a huge drain physically as well as mentally," says Dr. Lipman. "Anger, resentment, grudges--all of these emotions are toxic, and we hang on to them in our bodies especially in tense, tired muscles."

Energy Fix
It takes practice, but try to forgive old mistakes. An easy way to start is to simply be aware of the times negative thoughts about others creep into your mind, says Dr. Lipman. "Think of others as flawed humans, which we all are," which makes it easier to forgive-and free up energy.

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A Halo Over Moscow

And you thought rainbows were cool. A few days ago, a mysterious cloud shaped like a halo appeared over Moscow, and the buzz has yet to break.

We're the first to admit that a photograph of the heavenly cloud appears to be photoshopped. It's just so...perfect. But meterologists have spoken up and said the cloud wasn't digitally altered. However, it wasn't exactly what it appeared to be, either.

When the cloud initially formed, some UFO enthusiasts declared it to be a "true mystery." Some even compared it to the giant spaceship hovering over Earth in the movie "Independence Day." Reality quickly dashed any predictions of an alien invasion. An article from the Daily Mail explains that the "luminous ring-shaped cloud" was simply an optical effect.

An official spokesperson for Moscow's weather department said, "Several fronts have been passing through Moscow recently, there was an intrusion of the Arctic air too, the sun was shining from the west — this is how the effect was produced."

The cloud loomed last week, but the searches are still soaring. Lookups on "halo cloud" and "moscow cloud" are both booming, and a video clip has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube. You can check it out for yourself below...

Follow Buzz Log on Twitter.

From: http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/93092?fp=1

Lelaki & minyak wangi

Tip pilih haruman sesuai

BIARPUN sekadar bau, pemilihan minyak wangi sesuai mampu menyerlahkan karektor empunya diri. Sama ada haruman daripada jenis Eau de Parfum (minyak) ataupun Eau de Toilette (semburan), lelaki harus memahami fungsi minyak wangi.

Jika dulu haruman dan wangian lebih dekat dengan wanita, lelaki zaman moden semakin menitik berat soal penjagaan diri termasuk menyembur haruman.

Sesuai dengan imej maskulin dan kelelakian, haruman untuk lelaki banyak berteraskan pati buah-buahan, rempah dan aroma kayu yang membangkit pesona dan tarikan maskulin.

Tidak seperti wanita yang lebih sinonim dengan unsur bunga-bungaan, haruman untuk lelaki lebih berunsur maskulin dan berbau sedikit kuat untuk menampakkan karektor sebenar lelaki.

Difahamkan, seni pembuatan minyak wangi bermula ketika zaman kuno masyarakat Mesir. Ia berkembang di kalangan masyarakat Rom dan Arab sebelum diperkenalkan di Eropah pada kurun ke-14. Perkataan perfume itu sendiri dipercayai berasal dari ungkapan Latin.

Pemilihan haruman yang sesuai mampu menonjolkan karektor diri, sama ada romantik, periang, tegas dan bercirikan individu.

XY - Stailo minggu ini memaparkan pelbagai koleksi terkini jenama minyak wangi khusus untuk lelaki. Haruman ini memfokuskan ciri-ciri individu dan karektor mereka. Tidak saja menarik dari segi rekaan botol, setiap jenama minyak wangi memiliki identiti tersendiri.

Sama ada haruman berteraskan unsur rempah atau buah-buahan sitrus, ada minyak wangi dicipta lebih istimewa dengan kombinasi pelbagai bahan.

Pengurus Pemasaran L'oreal Prestij Collection International (PCI) Asia, Casandra Teo berkata, lelaki pada dasarnya mahu minyak wangi dari jenis tahan lama selain mementingkan imej sofistikated jenama haruman yang berprestij.

Teo berkata, fungsi haruman lelaki merangkumi perbezaan siang dan malam di mana unsur segar dan lembut lebih sesuai digunakan waktu siang manakala haruman jenis berempah dan kasturi sesuai disembur pada waktu malam.

"Potensi pasaran untuk haruman lelaki semakin menggalakkan. Ini membuatkan banyak jenama meningkatkan kandungan selain mempelbagaikan haruman baru termasuk kandungan uniseks," katanya.

Pendapat sama turut dikongsi Eksekutif Kanan Pemasaran Aramis & Designer Fragrances, Ashley Wong yang menyimpulkan secara keseluruhan lelaki urban menggemari haruman bercirikan maskulin. Jejaka juga suka haruman yang dapat bertahan lama.

"Misalnya, lelaki Melayu lebih cenderung mengenakan minyak wangi yang mampu memberi kesan haruman lebih kuat serta tahan lebih lama.

"Dari segi jenama yang kami pasarkan, minyak wangi Sean John paling mencuri tumpuan kerana lebih bercirikan maskulin berbanding DKNY Men yang lebih kepada unsur buah-buahan," katanya.

Biar apapun pilihan haruman berdasarkan cita rasa dan identiti diri, pastikan minyak wangi yang digunakan sesuai dengan acara dihadiri. Elak menyembur minyak wangi beraroma kuat pada waktu siang serta usah menyimpan minyak wangi hingga tempoh tiga tahun dari jangka hayat penggunaannya.

Tip pilih minyak wangi ideal

• 1. Ketahui fungsi minyak wangi iaitu daripada jenis Eau de Parfum (minyak) atau Eau de Toilette (semburan).
• 2. Eau de Parfum lebih bertahan lama berbanding Eau de Toilette.
• 3. Bau haruman pada botol tidak semestinya sama selepas anda memakainya. Sebaiknya, sembur haruman pada kertas atau di pergelangan tangan untuk mendapat pengesahan.
• 4. Biarkan beberapa minit untuk mendapatkan bau sebenar meresap lalu dipastikan serasi atau tidak.
• 5. Sembur minyak wangi pada pergelangan tangan, bahagian nadi dan leher untuk memastikan haruman tahan lama dan merebak.
• 6. Tidak semestinya haruman yang dipakai orang lain sama kesannya dengan anda kerana faktor biologi dan hormon badan manusia.
• 7. Hidu biji kopi andai anda ingin segera menghilangkan bau haruman dan mencuba haruman lain.
• 8. Ada minyak wangi menjanjikan haruman berkekalan sehingga lapan jam apabila disembur. Secara purata kesan bau haruman mampu bertahan empat jam.
• 9. Usah terburu-buru membuat keputusan untuk membeli minyak wangi. Anda dibenarkan untuk menghidu pelbagai haruman mengikut cita rasa.
• 10. Akhir sekali, jangan malu mendapatkan bantuan jurujual untuk memperoleh lebih banyak maklumat mengenai sesuatu produk.

. Selamat mencuba!

Kategori haruman:

• Bunga-bungaan - Unsur bunga banyak berkait rapat dengan feminin dan elemen romantis.
• Buah - Campuran ekstrak buah pilihan sesuai untuk membangkitkan unsur segar dan hangat.
• Lautan - Elemen sintetik dan bau alam menjanjikan haruman tahan lebih lama.
• Kehijauan - Unsur segar yang memberi inspirasi haruman alam semula jadi.
• Oriental - Erotik dan seksi mengandungi bau-bauan seperti vanila, kasturi, rempah dan bunga-bungaan.
• Tumbuhan kayu - Inspirasi unsur alam - haruman ini kaya dengan bau kulit kayu dan tumbuhan tropika.

Rujukan: http://www.bharian.com.my/Current_News/BH.......

11 Reasons He Dumped You

I was flipping through a Women's Health recently (I admit it), and I noticed an interesting poll. Women cited the following as the most common breakup reasons:

• He changed
• We weren't compatible
• He cheated on me

When I was little, it drove me crazy when my parents supported "no" with "because I said so." I always wanted a reason. I'm not sure if knowing why always helps, but perhaps if you know common reasons guys break up with girls, you'll at least be able to see it coming. So, here are mine:

I Got Bored: I've read many different hypotheses on attention span, but my favorite is (Wikipedia):

"Continuous attention span, or the amount of time a human can focus on an object without any lapse at all, is very brief and may be as short as 8 seconds. After this amount of time, it is likely that an individual's eyes will shift focus, or that a stray thought will briefly enter consciousness."

My attention span (unless it's a football game or a song) may be worse. I know a relationship is not supposed to be exciting all the time, so getting through those flatline moments between the sparks is critical. If I start having more fun with other activities, the relationship is doomed.

One of Us Was Too Serious: This could be as simple as she wanted to see me three times a week, and I only wanted to see her once a week. If she's flirting with other guys, flighty, or not as into it as I am, then I'm too serious for her.

Burnout: I'm a big believer in pacing and rhythm in dating. A relationship can suffer burnout if certain milestones occur too fast: Being exclusive, sex, meeting parents. When that happens, I get that feeling the colonists must have gotten after they won the Revolutionary War: "Ok, we did it...so now what?"

I Was Tempted To Cheat: I do my best not to cheat, so when I have recurring urges to cheat on my girlfriend, I figure it's time to break up with her. I don't need to go through with cheating; the constant urge is enough for me to end things.

All My Friends Broke Up With Their Girlfriends: This is by far the most immature reason on this list. While my girlfriend and I are curled up on the couch watching "The Devil Wears Prada," my newly single guy friends are out shredding the karaoke waves with Journey's "Don't Stop Believin" and tearing up the town. That conflict gives me wanderlust. It's much easier when we are all in for a quiet Saturday night with the significant others.

Divergent Lives: If someone moves to another town, or work is taking over, or other life changes are driving you apart, sometimes it's best to end it.

Feeling Selfish: Dating is selfless because you're giving your time and yourself up to a relationship. "Me time" is necessary at some point to work on career/living situation, travel, or whatever. When I'm in a "selfish period," it's tough to participate in a relationship.

I "Misread" My Feelings: This is the most unfair of all the reasons. Both genders make this mistake—you get into a relationship and everything seems so great. Then, a few weeks later, you realize you got wrapped up in something for the wrong reason, dated for the sake of dating, or whatever, and you need to get out.

My Friends Or Family Didn't Like Her: I pay close attention to friend/family opinions because they know me best, and they've earned the right to have their say. Also, friends and family may be able to see things inside the relationship that I'm too blinded to see.

I Took Her For Granted: Great relationships should be easy, but there has to be some tension too—especially in the beginning. If it's too easy, there's a lack of challenge. If I feel like I could have her heart any time any place, sometimes I'll let her go. This almost always ends up coming back to haunt me later, though. I never learn.

She Was Too Negative: All too often, I end up with the brooding, depressed, uptight type who is constantly complaining. I don't expect someone to be happy all the time, but if she makes me unhappy every time I see her, why stay with her?

What reasons have guys used to break up with you, and which make you most angry? What reasons have caused you to break up with guys? Which reasons do you think are the most common cause of breakups- do they differ for guys and women?

Follow Me On Twitter: twitter.com/richravens

Posted by Rich





From: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel.....

Asia Pacific youths need to talk about sex - survey

SINGAPORE, Sept 30 - Young people in the Asia Pacific region need to get over taboos on talking about sex, with a survey showing most don't know much about contraception while a third do not discuss it with their partner.

The survey of more than 1,200 people teenagers and twenty-somethings in six countries across the region showed nearly two-thirds -- or 64 percent -- were unfamiliar with the types of contraception available, or confused by the choice, putting them at risk of unplanned pregnancies and diseases such as HIV.

This is higher than the global average, where only half of the respondents to the "Talking Sex and Contraception" survey, funded by pharmaceutical firm Bayer Schering Pharma , said they were unaware about their contraceptive choices.

"There's still a huge taboo factor in Asia when it comes to sex," Denise Keller, a TV presenter well known across Asia, told reporters during an event to promote safe sex.

"We have to understand that kids have raging hormones and you can't just say no, don't do it. We need to talk more about it, or else we'll have many more unwanted pregnancies and all sorts of diseases."

The survey, which involved 15- to 21-year-olds, showed that while the majority of youth felt their partner was the person they could talk to about contraception, nearly 40 percent didn't do so before having sex for the first time because if felt "awkward".

The average age youth in Asia Pacific were having sex was 17 years, and nearly half of those have already had unprotected sex, the survey showed, while over a third believed clinically unreliable contraceptive methods, such as withdrawal, were effective in protecting them.

"The results of the survey are alarming," said Ary Laufer, regional director of international reproductive health organisation Marie Stopes.

"Many young people are not talking about sex and contraception, and they lack the knowledge to make informed decisions. Breaking the silence is critical," he said, adding that Asia Pacific youth were more likely than their counterparts in other regions to have unprotected sex.

The online survey was conducted among 603 males and 606 females across Australia, China, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

From: http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/......