Teresa Kok and Sin Chew reporter arrested under ISA

You can read about it here

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/12/nation/20080912221723&sec=nation


All in the name of democracy? :(

I am not THAT sentimental, I am just LAZY

A friend of mine told me the other day while I was giving her a ride home.

"You seem to be a sentimental sort of guy"

"Why do you say that?", I asked.

"Cause everytime I hop on your car, you seem to be playing the same CD over and over again"

"Me sentimental? Naaaah.... well maybe a little bit"

Anyways, the CD that I keep listening is a compilation of Olivia Ong's songs. Its really good and I do recommend to those of you that have not heard of her before.

To be honest, I think i am more lazy rather then sentimental. I am just not bothered changing the CD while I'm driving. More often then not its the passenger in my car that change the CD for me. However I do admit that I would change back to Olivia when I get bored of the rest. Her songs just seem to make my drive just a bit better for some reason. Maybe cause I have a soft spot for slow sentimental songs lah.

So here we go.... I am not THAT sentimental.... I am just LAZY :P

A journey 120km into the wilderness - Final Part

As we arrive at Pos Yum, I was greeted by the sight of 3 big canopy housing a relatively big crowd of orang asli waiting to have their health check. I was told that most of them are from surrounding settlements. Some may have walked for an hour or so just to come to this event, however JHEOA did provide transport for some of the settlements around as well.


The morning proceeded smoothly with the basic BMI (body mass index), blood pressure and blood glucose check. There was also an exhibition area on TB (tuberculosis) awareness. Our guide told us that one main problem with most of the orang asli settlements are TB and sporadic Malaria cases.

There was also an area in which random test were done on some orang asli for TB. We had 2 TB cases that day and of which one of them were a full blown case. However, attempts to contact the person was unsuccessful. The guy seem to have vanished straight after the blood sample was taken. Attempts to locate his family was also futile since no one seems to know who the guy is even though we knew his name.

After wrapping up with my own duties, I manage to take time off wandering around the village. I could not help but wonder that amidst the high rise buildings in KL and other major cities in Malaysia, we still have people living in bamboo huts and receiving help that we normal Malaysians take for granted. We keep getting highlights from the media showing poor living conditions in poverty stricken countries but yet we have the same problem at our own backyard (although food do not seem to be a problem here).

One of the few bamboo huts that still occupied by an orang asli family

A kid popping out from the hut wondering what the fuss is all about perhaps

First impression - a chicken coup, but a family actually stays there

a nice pose don't you think?

Before we left, we were graciously served with food that was prepared for us by the JHEOA. Our dining area is but a mere bamboo shack. Somehow it reminds me of my camping days.

our lunch area

A stream running just along side the village

As we were leaving Pos Yum, we were more or less swarmed by mostly kids that were waving and wishing us farewell. Although, we only manage to spend just 4 hours there, I did feel that we did something meaningful here and it made the 7 hours journey (going and coming back) worth while.

manage to take this picture just before i got on the 4WD. CUTE!

And to end the final part of this journey of mine. I saw this very interesting vehicle on our way back. This was just as we started to hit the trunk road from the gravel tracks. I bet you won't see this around much :P

With cars like this, who needs air conditioning? :D

Short Break

Its 3.47am,

Just finished packing.


I'll be off for a short vacation.


My pick up will be here in roughly 30-40 minutes time.


Shall be taking a slow drive to LCCT for my 9am flight.


Will be back Monday night.

A journey 120km into the wilderness - Part 2

After being informed by the locals about the blockade, our guide went ahead to investigate while most of us stayed back.

Around us was a few bamboo and wooden houses in what seem like a mini community. On the far side of the hill was a relatively big palm oil estate.

My self portrait

First thing that came to mind was the owner of the land in which the estate is situated in. I went on to ask one of the locals and this was how the conversation went (translated in English).


Me : The estate over there, whose land does that belong to?

Local : The land belongs to our ancestors

Me : So do the community manage the plantation on your own or you get outside help?

Local : The plantation is manage by FELCRA. We just work there as general workers

Me : Huh? Don't you get any share of the profits from the estate since its on your land?

Local : No, we just work there.

Me : So how much are you paid by your bosses?

Local : RM450


Bloody hell... this is like daylight robbery. The so called development institution uses their land to earn bucket loads of moolah and the locals gets nothing apart from being used as cheap labour. How hypocritical can that be? I finally truly understood why my civil rights lawyer friend told me that the orang asli is the riches community in Malaysia but they are ALSO the poorest.

Notice the "hat". I really liked the detail in the design. Apparently its used to ward off evil spirits

I was wondering how the boy got the scar on his nose

Noticed this family looking at us from on top of the hill. Had to use x18 telephoto to get this shot

The boy looking back at us as we started to head out again

After about 20 minutes, our guide finally came back and informed us that clearing is underway to remove the tree blocking our road. We then decided to push ahead and see how things are doing over there.

By the time we arrived, most of the clearing was almost done. There were 2 guys with chainsaw and about half a dozen locals helping out.

After another 15 minute or so, we were able to press.

The locals busy clearing the road for us

After driving for another one hour or so, we finally arrived at Pos Yum. Our 4 hours journey have finally come to an end.....

More to come in part 3

A journey 120km into the wilderness - Part 1

Our club have long planed on a project involving the Orang Asli since April. It was not until last month that we manage to get in contact with the people from the Health Department and Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli and plan something up together.

Opportunity came when we were informed that the Health Department was planning a 2 day health camp at a remote orang asli settlement at Pos Yum which is located about 120km from the small town of Sungai Siput.

We started our journey at Pejabat Kesihatan Kuala Kangsar.

One of the three 4 wheel drive that we used to travel into the village

Our second 4 wheel drive

Just before the journey (about 8.30am), I spotted this

A close up of the moon. A welcoming sight for the start of our journey don't you think?

We started our journey from Kuala Kangsar at about 8.30am. From there we drove towards Sungai Siput and then took the trunk road towards Felda Lasah. From there it was 120km of gravel road all the way to the orang asli settlement.

According to our driver, Pos Yum is actually located near the Perak/Kelantan border and is virtually surrounded by part jungle and part rubber/palm oil plantation. The settlement has a population of around 800 people.

This is the junction into the gravel road towards the settlement

As we enter the junction into the more "bumpy" part of the journey, we were greeted with 2 lorries carrying timber. Somehow a grave picture of deforestation came into my mind. This area is after all, well known with illegal logging.

The road seems ok in picture but we were virtually holding on to the side bars to prevent ourselves from falling off our seats!

I was wondering how my friend was coping in his Pajero when I took this picture. He insisted on driving even though, the authorities had enough transport to take us all in.

After an hour and a half into the journey, we were waved down by a group of orang asli folks. Not knowing what happened we stopped and asked them what the commotion was all about.

Apparently there was a mild landslide up ahead that resulted in a tree falling in the middle of the road. Without it being cleared first, we would have no way of proceeding towards our destination.

The Toyota Fortuner that I was in

I manage to take this opportunity to snap some pictures.

To be continued...............

7 Facts About Me

This is in respond to the tag I got from Hann a while back.

I am required to list down 7 facts about myself.

So here goes

1. I am a person that could forget about breakfast and lunch while working.

This is actually a bad habit of mine. When I work, I WORK. I tend to forget about other things except the task in hand and more often then not I am only reminded that I forgot lunch after feeling a bit light headed due to lack of food. (Trying to change this)


2. I hate liars.

This has always been something I hate most about people. One can have many bad habits and faults but telling lies are what I consider the worse of the lot. Once I know your lying, its very hard for me to trust you ever again.


3. I am an anime fan.

Ask me most of the classic anime series out there and most probably I would tell you that I've watched them. I would normally watch/follow up to 6 anime series at any one time.


4. Some friends say I have funny shopping habits.

I hardly go shopping much on my own but when I do go out and shop, I would normally buy things that would last me a while. Friends that normally accompany me shopping would normally be very happy going out with me since I am also a pretty fast shopper. I would normally go to G2000 to buy a few pair of shirt by trying out one shirt and if that size fits well, I would then just pick 3-4 different colour from the same design. Walla! Done.


5. I wish I could retire before the age of 50.

Working on it :P


6. I am a good listener, people tend to tell me their problem knowing full well they can confide with me.

I am sometimes not sure if this is good or bad to be honest. Friends somehow tend to shower me with their personal issues. In times like this its good to just shut up and let them spill out whatever that they have in their minds. When they have had enough, we just try what we can to nudge them forward.


7. I strongly believe that we are the master of our own fate.

It irks me sometimes when I hear people saying "leave it all to fate". No doubt some things in life are not within our control but I believe that we can control the direction that we are heading. Fate is just an excuse for some to avoid taking their life in control.


Finally.... that's 7 things about me that some may not know.

I am suppose to tag 7 people after completing this post but decided not to disturb the people I have in mind since I am sure the first thing that they would be putting in their "7 facts about me" would be something like "I hate getting tags" :)

Restoran Hai Tien Ti, Kampung Cina, Sitiawan

After my trip to Teluk Intan, we went to Kampung Cina, Sitiawan for lunch. We were looking for seafood and my friend from Sitiawan brought us to Restoran Hai Tien Ti. This restaurant is located opposite a big Anglican church (can't remember the name but I was told its the biggest Anglican church in Sitiawan).

In short, lunch was great and bountiful.

The front entrance of the Restaurant. Most of the Restaurants around here look the same

The first dish is always the hardest to snap since everyone starts "attacking" the dish the moment it lands on the table.

Buttered Cray Fish

Apparently a must have in Sitiawan, Sweet and Sour Soup (nothing to shout about to be honest)

"Or Chean" or Oyster Omelette

This dish is a first time for me. My first impression - Garden Snails!

Deep friend buttered prawns

Yet another clam dish

"Kum Hiong" Crab or Spicy Crab

I was trying to find the location of the restaurant on my GPS and this was what I get. So can't really give proper direction for this place. However, its directly opposite a big church in Kampung Cina, Sitiawan (I don't think there is many big churches in Sitiawan).

If your really interested in going, just ask for the location of the church and you should be able to get there.

Risk

Taking risk can be something that everyone do from time to time. For me, its a necessity in life if one wants to move forward. Of course I am not one that take risk unnecessarily. The bigger the risk the more you reap from it if it pays off (of course with bigger consequence if it didn't turn out the way you want it to be).

I feel lucky.

This year may turn out to be a good year after all.

Who says 2008 is not a good year for those born in the year of the horse? :P

The Leaning Tower

I was at Teluk Intan 2 weeks back and all I manage to take was this lame picture with my mobile phone since I forgot to bring my camera with me.

To put it simply, I was bloody annoyed with myself.