It was a busy weekend for me, with ching ming (Chinese All Soul's Day), kendo, paintball, church, family, my Pengetua's daughter's 21st birthday kenduri in UKM all having some part of my life. So when i eventually got a window opportunity for a break on that Sunday afternoon, i jumped on the chance to to visit the 29th International Book Fair at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), KL.
It's my FIRST time visiting the book fair, actually. I went with high expectations. Like really high. REALLY REALLY HIGH EXPECTATIONS.
Not only did reality miss my expectations, what i saw confused me even more.
There were so many people there (which is a given, since its the last day) and most of them were Malays. Please you guys, don't take this the wrong way, but there were very few other races around, hardly any of them in sight, save for the book publishers.
Now, why is that so? This was what spun my mind.
Of all the 3 floors of exhibitions, the two lower ones were full of Malay reading material -- books, magazines, exercise books -- you name it, they got it lah! So confusion #1. is that why does it have so many Malay/local reading material when it's called an INTERNATIONAL Book Fair?
Perhaps the majority of Malaysia is 60% Malays.
Even so, as i entered PWTC from Pan Pacific side, the small rooms along the corridors were made into small bazaar like stalls, where Bumi (more) and non-Bumi entrepreneurs are seen selling thing totally UNRELATED to books or reading!
Cookies. Tudungs (women's head scarfs). Womens accessories. Arts and crafts. Indie made Tshirts going for RM10. Even tables were set up to register for "Bagaimana hendak membina laman web sendiri dan menjadi kaya: Tips daripada usahawan Web" workshops. @_@
The only one thing that seems in place, although unrelated to reading (like, seriously), is the foot massage booth set up by the Malaysian Assoc. for the Blind (MAB) where foot-weary visitors can get a superb foot massage by visually impaired masseurs for a decent price. It generates awareness for the MAB too. So thumbs up to that!
But the rest... [dots]. Duno hey can even make money to cover the rent onot. Sigh.
After passing through the corridors of horror, i came to 1st hall of dread. Ushers cooed visitors into the hall and i got caught in the crowd. Kinda like in PC fairs. T.T
When i saw KARANGKRAF everywhere: the entrance, the wall, the booths, even hanging form the ceiling, i terus U-Turn get out the entrance, which was a no exit btw. But who cares? I wasn't gonna wade thru the crowd JUST TO GET OUT THE OTHER SIDE. T__T
Went up the escalator, i made my way to the main layout. Horror. All local publications. Then i decided to give up reading the Map of Horror and enter into the hall of dread No2. In here, more horror. Almost all booths selling how-to-study-better books for toddler. Those study modules with CDs for smarter learning. As if with CD, everyone will become smarter. SIGH.
Quickly browsed through every booth; i made a systematic sweep anti clock wise from where i entered and spiraled inward when i made a full turn around the hall. This is brisk walking and fast skimming all in one. Ideal for when in halls of horror like this.
I got lucky when i came upon this. I HAD to take a mission impossible shot at it. Look:
Local authors and publishers, publishing HOW TO books like HOW TO USE FACEBOOK, HOW TO DOWNLOAD STUFF, and HOW TO BLOG. Like ohemmmgeeeeeeeeeee. What is happening?! This is a pure rip off to the their target audience. Guess who? (no prizes for right answers =] )
It was so appallingly funny, i couldn't help myself from taking this photo. Then walk away, LOL-ing to myself. EPIC la.
Anyway, i finally found what i was looking for. Up another escalator to the 4th floor! International publishers with ENGLISH books!! My eyes like almost glistening with tears of joy...
*anime eyes*
But as if a kite just pushed up into the sky suddenly crashing into the ground, my hopes were dashed as soon as i picked up the first book from the shelf. It had no price tag. And even if it had, it was so the insanely expensive wan! That's the discounted price samo. If the real price, i can stonned there for 10 secs. T__T
So that was pretty much my 1st time experience in a nutshell. Some books nice, some books horror. Some have price tag, but the price so unbelievable. Others no price tag, but the booth attend face so grumpy, so dowan to enquire price. So, like that lor. =/
...
But all wasn't lost. On my way out, i realize i passed my favorite booth on the way in!
Aaaaaah.... the lelong booth! Don't you just love the RM5 and 3 for RM10 signs?! LOL
In all seriousness, this was the only booth which i found stuff for my money's worth, and stuff that's worth my money too. =D
So after diligently going throughumpteen many rows of backdated magz, i finally contended with three of the below:
It's my FIRST time visiting the book fair, actually. I went with high expectations. Like really high. REALLY REALLY HIGH EXPECTATIONS.
Not only did reality miss my expectations, what i saw confused me even more.
There were so many people there (which is a given, since its the last day) and most of them were Malays. Please you guys, don't take this the wrong way, but there were very few other races around, hardly any of them in sight, save for the book publishers.
Now, why is that so? This was what spun my mind.
Of all the 3 floors of exhibitions, the two lower ones were full of Malay reading material -- books, magazines, exercise books -- you name it, they got it lah! So confusion #1. is that why does it have so many Malay/local reading material when it's called an INTERNATIONAL Book Fair?
Perhaps the majority of Malaysia is 60% Malays.
Even so, as i entered PWTC from Pan Pacific side, the small rooms along the corridors were made into small bazaar like stalls, where Bumi (more) and non-Bumi entrepreneurs are seen selling thing totally UNRELATED to books or reading!
Cookies. Tudungs (women's head scarfs). Womens accessories. Arts and crafts. Indie made Tshirts going for RM10. Even tables were set up to register for "Bagaimana hendak membina laman web sendiri dan menjadi kaya: Tips daripada usahawan Web" workshops. @_@
The only one thing that seems in place, although unrelated to reading (like, seriously), is the foot massage booth set up by the Malaysian Assoc. for the Blind (MAB) where foot-weary visitors can get a superb foot massage by visually impaired masseurs for a decent price. It generates awareness for the MAB too. So thumbs up to that!
But the rest... [dots]. Duno hey can even make money to cover the rent onot. Sigh.
After passing through the corridors of horror, i came to 1st hall of dread. Ushers cooed visitors into the hall and i got caught in the crowd. Kinda like in PC fairs. T.T
When i saw KARANGKRAF everywhere: the entrance, the wall, the booths, even hanging form the ceiling, i terus U-Turn get out the entrance, which was a no exit btw. But who cares? I wasn't gonna wade thru the crowd JUST TO GET OUT THE OTHER SIDE. T__T
Went up the escalator, i made my way to the main layout. Horror. All local publications. Then i decided to give up reading the Map of Horror and enter into the hall of dread No2. In here, more horror. Almost all booths selling how-to-study-better books for toddler. Those study modules with CDs for smarter learning. As if with CD, everyone will become smarter. SIGH.
Quickly browsed through every booth; i made a systematic sweep anti clock wise from where i entered and spiraled inward when i made a full turn around the hall. This is brisk walking and fast skimming all in one. Ideal for when in halls of horror like this.
I got lucky when i came upon this. I HAD to take a mission impossible shot at it. Look:
Local authors and publishers, publishing HOW TO books like HOW TO USE FACEBOOK, HOW TO DOWNLOAD STUFF, and HOW TO BLOG. Like ohemmmgeeeeeeeeeee. What is happening?! This is a pure rip off to the their target audience. Guess who? (no prizes for right answers =] )
It was so appallingly funny, i couldn't help myself from taking this photo. Then walk away, LOL-ing to myself. EPIC la.
Anyway, i finally found what i was looking for. Up another escalator to the 4th floor! International publishers with ENGLISH books!! My eyes like almost glistening with tears of joy...
*anime eyes*
But as if a kite just pushed up into the sky suddenly crashing into the ground, my hopes were dashed as soon as i picked up the first book from the shelf. It had no price tag. And even if it had, it was so the insanely expensive wan! That's the discounted price samo. If the real price, i can stonned there for 10 secs. T__T
So that was pretty much my 1st time experience in a nutshell. Some books nice, some books horror. Some have price tag, but the price so unbelievable. Others no price tag, but the booth attend face so grumpy, so dowan to enquire price. So, like that lor. =/
...
But all wasn't lost. On my way out, i realize i passed my favorite booth on the way in!
Aaaaaah.... the lelong booth! Don't you just love the RM5 and 3 for RM10 signs?! LOL
In all seriousness, this was the only booth which i found stuff for my money's worth, and stuff that's worth my money too. =D
So after diligently going through
Men's Health 09 and Good HouseKeeping 09. What a good combination, kan? LOL
Well, all in all, a good experience, but it won't be likely to catch me in one of them fairs like these in a looooooooooooong time.
Perhaps when they actually have more International ENGLISH books (with better prices), i may consider. :-P
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3 ppl said sth:
I love the Good Housekeeping mag too but so mahal :(
like wtf no english books one?? i wanna go but so farrrrrrrrrr..
ohhh so this was where u at when u have to get back in the rain! lol
Wow, I salute you for being able to cover so many places in a day. XD
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