Discovering a new world

March was a month of travel for me. Started with a day trip to Tasik Bera at the beginning of the month, to Tioman then Bangkok and Redang. Of all those places, only Tasik Bera was new to me. Tioman, Bangkok and Redang were return visits but they were still special for I still have new things to see and learn at these places.

Tasik Bera

The initial plan was for me to be a tukang sibuk only but the friend who was supposed to drive us there fell sick the day before the trip so I had to fit into his shoes at the last minute and drove Rieta, the founder of Gerai OA to a few Orang Asli settlements at Fort Iskandar, Tasik Bera. The main reason of the trip was to collect craft products from the Semelai tribe of Tasik Bera in preparation for Hari Kraftangan Kebangsaan 2009. Gerai OA is a non-profit NGO who helps Orang Asli from all over the country to market their craft products directly to the consumers without having to go through a third party. Hence 100% of the profit goes back to them. They also conduct researches and training in order to preserve OA's heritage. Here are some photos:


Tok Wan is one of the oldest weavers and has produced very high quality products. She is 80+ years old and smokes strong tobacco!


Tok Wan's work in progress


Balai where the families meet up for daily tea and gossips


Gasing-time


Boat-making


How the Semelai boats look like


All packed and ready to leave

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Temuan tribe in Paya Rumput, Sepang was caught in quite a huge flood a couple of weeks ago and was asked to evacuate their homes and moved to one of the nearby community halls. A couple of friends and I followed Rieta to visit them one day to distribute clothes and some food and this is how it was:



It was already their third day staying in that hall and they were still using flattened boxes to rest and sleep. Some mats were distributed earlier on by Jabatan Kebajikan but insufficient (and you know how big OA's family can be right?). No pillows, no mattresses and definitely no supply of medications even for simple aches and pains. Sad isn't it?

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This is a photo I currently use as my desktop background.. it was taken during a night dive from my recent Redang trip and I found myself staring at it more and more each day... Can't wait to get back underwater!

Bahan bukti akhirnya dijumpai!

Ngeh ngeh :)

In an ideal world

I almost choked when I saw this kid begging solo on a sky bridge just opposite MBK in Bangkok a few nights ago. She wasn't even begging, she just hold out the cup with the face downward and stayed in that position the whole time I was observing her from afar. She must be really tired and sleepy... afterall, it was almost 10pm at the time already.

In an ideal world, she would be in a safe home, with her loving family, instead of on the street.

In an ideal world, she would be nicely tucked in her comfy bed, probably with fairy-tales read to her before she closes her eyes for the night.

In an ideal world, i would not just be observing... I would pick her up and bring her to someplace safe. And feed her too.

But this is a nasty world afterall... and I am just a weakling. Instead, I just quickly hurried away after this photo was snapped and rejoined the company of people I came with, into the shopping mall, although I didn't shop at all.

Yes, I am a weakling. And the image of that little girl is still haunting me.

Bunuh masa

I have atleast a couple of posts that I wanted to put up here .. one on my visit to Orang Asli settlements at Tasik Bera in the first week of March and another on my recent Tioman trip. But both (and other thoughts that I have jotted down in the draft tray) have to wait... in a few hours' time, I will be heading to the city where this photo was taken 6 years ago..



The above photo was taken with my then ever-so-bulky Sony Clie PDA... Ever since then, my interest shifted from tulips and daffodils to water lilies and I would take photos of these lovely flowers whenever I found them during my travels, locally or abroad. Here are some..


Bangkok 2006 (a return visit)


Vietnam 2007


Sabah 2008


Port Dickson 2008


Port Dickson 2008
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All packed up and another 1/2 hour to go before I shall hit the shower and get ready. My eyes are having a hard time to remain open but I wouldn't want to take any chances. Going back to bed again at this hour would risk me missing my flight!

Life is short

I saw a very fragile elderly lady at our usual INR clinic last week. She has multiple health problems and wheelchair-bound but was all smiley, very pleasant indeed. This was my second time seeing her in a month I think, and she was accompanied by her equally pleasant husband on both occasions. Pleasant but tired-looking I'd say. From our conversation, I got to know that the husband does everything for her... from taking her to all the clinic appointments and 3 times a week dialysis sessions to taking charge of her long-list medications including injecting 3 times daily insulin for her.

At the end of the consultation, I commented to the makcik that she is very lucky to have a very caring husband and wished I could find one for myself too one day. The pakcik replied instead with a full smile "Isteri pakcik ni datang dalam satu package.. dengan kencing manis, sakit jantung, sakit buah pinggang sekali!" while patting her shoulder gently.. The wife just smiled and I'm pretty sure I saw the exchange of loving stares between them at that moment. So sweet and touching!

That was, to me, the true meaning of "for better for worse"...

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I am sorry.

That is one sentence that I don't say that often but I have no qualm of saying if I know I am in the wrong.

I am still the ol' strong-headed girl. I can be sad, angry, bitter or just plain wrong at times ( I am only human afterall) but in the last few years, I have also learned to apologise more easily when I am in the wrong and to forgive and forget when I am wronged.

Life is too short for negativity. So..I am saying it now: I am sorry.

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I have two songs stuck in my brain today: Aspalela (thanks to a friend's ringtone) and the song below:

Remember the dancing baby from Ally McBeal? Comel kan?

Macam-macam

Sms received at noon on monday: 'Update blog la weiiii!'

A couple of possibilities crossed my mind when I read it:

1. This particular friend must be having a bad monday blues for needing to read my blog on a monday!
2. This particular friend must be really free at the office for having the time to check out my blog AND sms me on a monday!

Buat kerja la weiiiii!
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I saw him at a local mamak place just a few days before I went to Sipadan. With him surrounded by his friends and me being with mine, we just acknowledged each other's presence with a raised eyebrow and a quick wave from afar. A day after I came back from Sipadan, I found myself driving my parents to Serdang Hospital, to visit him. Not just any other ordinary visit, but one to the ICU to see him in a comatose state with so many wires coming out of his fragile body.

I see ventilated and sedated patients on daily basis... it is part of my job. But seeing own relative especially a young one in that exact condition is not something that I could stomach easily still. It was a shock to us all. The rate his condition spiralled down was unbelievable, even to the doctors who are treating him. Especially that he is only 23 years old, healthy and fit just the day before..

For now... all we can do is to pray hard that his fighting spirit will strive on and he will soon be ready to come out of his sleep and recover fully so that more happy photos of the cousins like this can be taken in months and years to come.. Amin..


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There are so many different things in my mind right now... some are issues that I have been avoiding and delaying. Some others are those that I feel will never have good endings anyway but I just couldn't stop thinking about them. My brain is on its auto mode at the moment.. It has a brain of its own with little control from me (It doesn't make sense, does it?)

When I get days like this, all I'd do is stare at my holiday photos, wishing I am still there. So... here are some photos that I've been staring at for the past few days, taken on my recent second Sipadan trip:

Topside







Underwater










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Love doesn't mean that you will never feel pain
or live a life free from care
It doesn't mean that your life will be perfect
with every moment consumed by happiness
Love does mean that you will always have a companion
some to help you through the difficult times
and rejoice with you in your times of celebration
Love does mean that each argument is followed by a time of forgiveness
and each time of sorrow is far outweighed by all the tender moment
spent in each other's arms...

-Michelle Weber-

The above is taken from a poem book given by a friend a few days ago. Beautiful isn't it? Yup, I still have a soft spot for poems...I am a hopeless romantic afterall, right?

Anyway, the original version is much longer than this but am just too lazy to type it all..
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Last but not least, satu soalan cepumas:

Why do some people especially of the male species can just use the word sayang so loosely? How can one address a stranger the same way they address their loved ones?

Kenapa ya?

To me, sayang is a sacred word. It should only meant for that person you love, and that person only. Using it for any other will just downgrade the true meaning of the word.

Sorry sir, the answer is still no...

Who's the blardy terrorist now eh??

For god's sake... it's a school!!

(photo source: not me obviously!)

The young guns

It is really heart-warming to see more and more young guys and girls getting involve in charity work these days. I remember when I was at their age (early and mid twenties that is), all I thought of was just moi, moi, moi... and having fun!

Here are some of them in actions...

Malam Puisi Utusan - Demimu Palestin
Istana Budaya, 23rd January 2009









Konvoi Amal Dana Kemanusiaan Palestin (DAKAP) Kelab MyVi
Melaka, 24-26th January 2009











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Hey.. people are actually listening! (although taking action is another matter altogether). A good start guys... well done!

In The Star today:

Probe into whale and shark killings

KOTA KINABALU: The state has ordered the Fisheries Department to investigate claims that whales and sharks are being killed and processed at Mabul Island – which is next to the world-renowned diving paradise Sipidan Island.

That is the question state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjum wants answered quickly.

He is asking the state Fisheries Department and the Semporna district office to check out the alleged activities which he said would tarnish the state’s tourism industry.

Masidi said yesterday that Pulau Mabul, which also housed a number of resorts catering to tourists heading to Pulau Sipadan, was not within the jurisdiction of the Sabah Parks, an agency under his ministry.

“Nature lovers and global conservation community are fast becoming very influential lobbyists whose actions could hurt the state’s tourism industry in the long run if they decide a boycott Sabah to protest against activities perceived to be cruel to whales and sharks.”

He said: “Any small mistake or perceived inaction could have a major repercussion on the tourism industry.”

Masidi also called for more coordination among the various law enforcement agencies to curb illegal activities in Sabah waters such as fish bombing.

When the only way to go is up..

When you have days like this, it is a refreshing change to have a day like this:

I received a surprise visit from an old trainee one early morning last week. She dropped by my place to pass me a gift but it was the short note that came with the gift that made me smiled. It was simple yet meaningful, one that gave me the push to go on, especially on a mental-draining day..



But high standard? Not yet.. or not anymore maybe...

The good day was made complete when I saw some photos in my inbox later that night. Boy...I am so missing the underwater world!



See you again in 10 days' time Ms turtle!

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One of my current favourites. How ironic.