VMY 2007 - Hello World, Eye am Malaysia
Technorati tags: Tourism, Malaysia, Eye On Malaysia, Visit Malaysia Year 2007, VMY 2007, AAB
Walski's ultra-cynical note: The cynical part of Walski almost named this post Hello World, Ayam Malaysia. But that would've been too punny.
Related post: The Eye
Last night marked the official opening of the tourism floodgates into the country - the official opening of Visit Malaysia Year 2007, officiated with lots of kaboom-flash fireworks, and the official launch of the Eye on Malaysia, the one-year limited-time-only tourist attraction.
And making an appearance was one individual whom has been missing in action for the past month or so... but more on that later. For now, the center of attention:
Hello world... a rousing welcome to the rest of the planet
(Photo credit: h0oiTM - check out her blog for lots more great pix)
And although Walski wasn't there personally, reports indicate that the event was a success, albeit some VIPs were fashionably late, as usual - this is Malaysia, after all. Most importantly, the Eye didn't launch itself into space... Speaking of, Malaysia's astronauts in waiting also atended the event (via NST).
Howsy, despite being a gazillion miles away, spotted the presence of someone we haven't seen in a long time...
(Mr. MIA, and more, in the full post)
Mr. MIA - elegantly graced the event
(photo credit: chenws - taken from lensamalaysia.com)
Yes, our esteemed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi finally returns from his year-end vaction, and makes (Walski thinks) his first public appearance for 2007. The sea air seems to have done good for the man...
Despite some negative press from the BBC (based on true horror stories), and reports of tourist drownings off the coast of Sabah, it appears that VMY 2007 got off to a good start last night. Malaysia has many more positives, in the bigger picture - but only if that's how we want our visitors to remember our nation.
At the end of the day (week, month or even year), Malaysia will best be remembered for her people - congenial, friendly, helpful... except occasionally towards other Malaysians...
