Am now in a cyber kafe... real krepek one and still using Windows 98...
The last time we came here, my wife got a shock upon seeing a real sickening pornographic picture popping up the screen...
And the kids... soooo noisy playing the computer games...
Took my mum to the Alor Star General Hospital this morning...
Was overwhelmed by the big crowds of people waiting for the doctors...
Took about two hours to finally see the doctor...
Got me wondering why Malaysia is not putting more efforts and funds into building more hospitals for the citizens...
And also on why the Alor Star General Hospital is not being moved to the outskirts...
The young doctor recommended her to go for some blood infusion.
She would need to be hospitalized for about two or three nights...
Accompanied her to the ward...
There were about 30 beds almost all filled up... no partition, just curtains in between beds of two each...
Mother had been through this a few times before, so she had actually prepared herself for the nightstop at the hospital... clothes, plates, cups, spoon, hot flask, etc...
I asked her about the schedule and meals...
They apparently 'feed' the patients four times per day...
Just then, a nurse came by announcing the arrival of afternoon refreshments...
Immediately, mother asked me to dish out a plate and ask for a kind of sweet porridge and tea...
Was quite embarassed as mother just checked in...
Wouldn't it seem obvious that she knew the schedule?
I asked her how it tasted...
'Good', she said...
First time for me to experience taking mother to the hospital...
Am planning to leave Alor Star in two days, so hope she will be ok...
Gardening, photography, food, fishing, traveling, scuba diving, life in Japan, plus of course, news and views of being away from home...
Monday, December 26, 2005
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
NOBODY WOULD HAVE BELIEVED THE POLICE?
Encouraging... simply encouraging...
For all the mess and mistrust that the police have been stirring up ever since, the mother of all comments that put another big fat nail on the coffin comes from none other than the mouth of the prime minister...
Nobody would’ve believed police then... he says...
I say...
He is right on the spot, man...
Now my question is... and please correct me if I am wrong here...
How in the world can a man who is in charge of the police force say such a thing?
Are citizens to interpret this as, 'he is doing such a lousy job that we cannot even believe the police?'
How about issuing some regrets on that matter, followed by a sincere promise to buck things up?
Mr. Prime Minister?
For all the mess and mistrust that the police have been stirring up ever since, the mother of all comments that put another big fat nail on the coffin comes from none other than the mouth of the prime minister...
Nobody would’ve believed police then... he says...
I say...
He is right on the spot, man...
Now my question is... and please correct me if I am wrong here...
How in the world can a man who is in charge of the police force say such a thing?
Are citizens to interpret this as, 'he is doing such a lousy job that we cannot even believe the police?'
How about issuing some regrets on that matter, followed by a sincere promise to buck things up?
Mr. Prime Minister?
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
MY MUM'S SON...
Wooh... this weather suddenly 'decided to punish me' by getting colder...
The temperature's been zooming into the single-digit lows, although not quite reaching zero as yet...
There was even a tinge of snow falling this morning...
Been driving to work for the last few days due to not so much the cold...
It's more of the winds that gush in from the sea front...
While cycling, I sometimes felt like I was going to lift-off and fly away...
Will be having a party hosted by the University President tonight...
It is exciting for me because I get to meet most of the foreign students in the university...
The other notable development is that yours truly is set to head back to Bolehland for a short break...
It will be a combination of 'business and pleasure'... so to say...
Shall be shooting back on 22nd December, returning to Japan on 4th January...
This is the first time ever, for me to return home in the year-end, year-beginning period...
Been avoiding this period because the airports are usually super-crowded with Japanese tourists heading to places like Hawaii and Guam...
But what to do...
In my present capacity, I can no longer do my usual 'escape' during the spring holidays of February and March...
I now need to be around to handle things; otherwise, I shall be putting too much burden on my colleagues...
Anyway, one main purpose of my balik-kampong is to see my mum...
She is about 83 and weakening... no energy to cook anymore...
Mum was however, never known to be a good cook although she is a nyonya from Pulau Pinang...
Still, it seems that I have reached the point of having the privilege to enjoy mum's home cooked food taken away...
Kind of sad...
About 10 years ago, I was out on an Aichi-Foreign-Student-Association-organized ski-trip to Shin-hodaka Mountains in Gifu prefecture...
There, my friends enjoyed skiing, as I repeatedly fell over and over again...
I was utterly hopeless in skiing...
It was then that my dad had passed away while I bled in my nose from those clumsy falls...
Till today, I cursed myself to no end for not being able to be by his side...
Apparently, Chinese 'tradition' deemed that we had to crawl on fours around my dad's coffin a few times, asking for forgiveness...
As for my mum, I am more mentally prepared...
She has asked me to be by her side when we return this time...
But here I am, still dreaming of hitting the blue ocean when we return...
The temperature's been zooming into the single-digit lows, although not quite reaching zero as yet...
There was even a tinge of snow falling this morning...
Been driving to work for the last few days due to not so much the cold...
It's more of the winds that gush in from the sea front...
While cycling, I sometimes felt like I was going to lift-off and fly away...
Will be having a party hosted by the University President tonight...
It is exciting for me because I get to meet most of the foreign students in the university...
The other notable development is that yours truly is set to head back to Bolehland for a short break...
It will be a combination of 'business and pleasure'... so to say...
Shall be shooting back on 22nd December, returning to Japan on 4th January...
This is the first time ever, for me to return home in the year-end, year-beginning period...
Been avoiding this period because the airports are usually super-crowded with Japanese tourists heading to places like Hawaii and Guam...
But what to do...
In my present capacity, I can no longer do my usual 'escape' during the spring holidays of February and March...
I now need to be around to handle things; otherwise, I shall be putting too much burden on my colleagues...
Anyway, one main purpose of my balik-kampong is to see my mum...
She is about 83 and weakening... no energy to cook anymore...
Mum was however, never known to be a good cook although she is a nyonya from Pulau Pinang...
Still, it seems that I have reached the point of having the privilege to enjoy mum's home cooked food taken away...
Kind of sad...
About 10 years ago, I was out on an Aichi-Foreign-Student-Association-organized ski-trip to Shin-hodaka Mountains in Gifu prefecture...
There, my friends enjoyed skiing, as I repeatedly fell over and over again...
I was utterly hopeless in skiing...
It was then that my dad had passed away while I bled in my nose from those clumsy falls...
Till today, I cursed myself to no end for not being able to be by his side...
Apparently, Chinese 'tradition' deemed that we had to crawl on fours around my dad's coffin a few times, asking for forgiveness...
As for my mum, I am more mentally prepared...
She has asked me to be by her side when we return this time...
But here I am, still dreaming of hitting the blue ocean when we return...
Monday, December 12, 2005
SHIBUYA... CENTRAL STREET
Shibuya... the part of Tokyo I am most familiar with...
Here, I stood at one corner... gazing at the river of people flowing...
The street on the right side is called 'Senta-gai'...
Literally, Central Street...
It is a street infested with the youth of Tokyo...
It is also known as the place where many fashions are born...
That huge poster of a good looking lady...
I think she is a singer who just cut an album...
I had a bowl of ramen (noodles) there...
At a neat, no-smoking place...
The taste? so-so...
Friday, December 09, 2005
OOH, MY STOOOOMACK...
Somewhat out of the blue, Lilian threw me a line…
Grinning widely, she said,
‘Lrong - Here is something frivolous for you to ponder. Childhood food.
No obligation, ok? *Lilian holding Lrong’s neck at knife point…*
The way it works - write about 5 foods from your childhood that you missed.
Pass the baton to another three person after that.’
Ok lah.. here are the last five terror hungry ghosts…
1. Masak-Masak
2. Babe in the City
3. Samm
4. JoeC
5. Malaysia best
And, haaaa… now, what did I miss during my childhood days?
Maybe, mee goreng sold by the Indian man on the roadside outside my primary school, Sultan Abdul Halim Primary School? My family was not rich; I did not have much pocket money. So, while waiting for my father to pick me up after school in his 50cc Honda motorbike, I starred at the people chomping on the mee… saliva dripping... stoomack drumming... can you imagine it was sold in portions of 5 cents and 10 cents?
And second… kon loh mee… as sold by a vendor on tricycle with the tok-tok-tok sound… usually this guy came in the afternoon at about 4:00 pm, just when my stooomack was growling… but sadly again, no money to buy…
Third, grass jelly or chin chow? Funny, the seller also came in a bicycle… he sold the grass jelly in blocks of four or five inches in breath and about three inches in width… very cheap... me and my brothers would slice them up… and put lots of sugar… and ice… and we would be slurping the concoction for the rest of the day… haaaa…
The fourth food item might be the soup made from wild birds that we caught from the rice fields… don’t know their names but they are a little bigger than pigeons and they have very little fat… we boiled them with Chinese herbs for hours, so the meat and bones were soft and sweet…their taste was out of this world… these days, no more wild birds in the rice fields because no more karibaus there…
And tada !!! durians… bought in gunny sacks… don’t know why but my dad used to buy them in mountains… and we would just eat them with coconut-milk-treated glutinous rice… woooohh... my youngest brother ate a little too much… since then, he finds durians repelling… but KMiJ is still gorging at them after all these years… heheheee… paradise...
Sorry lah, Lilian… no fotos to show…
And the next three hungry ghosts are… tada !!!
1. keatix… a high-flying architect of a man… let’s see what his taste buds were like…
2. mmulibra… super researcher in search of an advance degree in Japan… can he recall the ‘lost’ foods?
3. dracolshian…artist extraordinaire in pursuit of a fine arts degree… now, what ‘tongue’ did she have?
Grinning widely, she said,
‘Lrong - Here is something frivolous for you to ponder. Childhood food.
No obligation, ok? *Lilian holding Lrong’s neck at knife point…*
The way it works - write about 5 foods from your childhood that you missed.
Pass the baton to another three person after that.’
Ok lah.. here are the last five terror hungry ghosts…
1. Masak-Masak
2. Babe in the City
3. Samm
4. JoeC
5. Malaysia best
And, haaaa… now, what did I miss during my childhood days?
Maybe, mee goreng sold by the Indian man on the roadside outside my primary school, Sultan Abdul Halim Primary School? My family was not rich; I did not have much pocket money. So, while waiting for my father to pick me up after school in his 50cc Honda motorbike, I starred at the people chomping on the mee… saliva dripping... stoomack drumming... can you imagine it was sold in portions of 5 cents and 10 cents?
And second… kon loh mee… as sold by a vendor on tricycle with the tok-tok-tok sound… usually this guy came in the afternoon at about 4:00 pm, just when my stooomack was growling… but sadly again, no money to buy…
Third, grass jelly or chin chow? Funny, the seller also came in a bicycle… he sold the grass jelly in blocks of four or five inches in breath and about three inches in width… very cheap... me and my brothers would slice them up… and put lots of sugar… and ice… and we would be slurping the concoction for the rest of the day… haaaa…
The fourth food item might be the soup made from wild birds that we caught from the rice fields… don’t know their names but they are a little bigger than pigeons and they have very little fat… we boiled them with Chinese herbs for hours, so the meat and bones were soft and sweet…their taste was out of this world… these days, no more wild birds in the rice fields because no more karibaus there…
And tada !!! durians… bought in gunny sacks… don’t know why but my dad used to buy them in mountains… and we would just eat them with coconut-milk-treated glutinous rice… woooohh... my youngest brother ate a little too much… since then, he finds durians repelling… but KMiJ is still gorging at them after all these years… heheheee… paradise...
Sorry lah, Lilian… no fotos to show…
And the next three hungry ghosts are… tada !!!
1. keatix… a high-flying architect of a man… let’s see what his taste buds were like…
2. mmulibra… super researcher in search of an advance degree in Japan… can he recall the ‘lost’ foods?
3. dracolshian…artist extraordinaire in pursuit of a fine arts degree… now, what ‘tongue’ did she have?
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
CHOTTO MATTE KUDASAI
Just returned from a five-day Tokyo trip...
Man, to me, that place is fit for rats...
Many thanks for the comments left by you guys...
Am quite amused at some though...
But, will have to read through them again before I can respond...
For the time being, the symposium at Waseda University was most educational and inspirational...
Am 'fully charged' now to engage in research on international education...
Was really lucky to meet with several distinguished individuals...
Most prominent among them was of course, Dr. Mahathir, who graciously accepted my request for a two-shot photo...
Stay tuned for the photo upload and related story...
Meanwhile, let me crawl through this mountain of work...
Heeeeeeeeaaaaiiiiiiii...
Adddoooiiii...
Man, to me, that place is fit for rats...
Many thanks for the comments left by you guys...
Am quite amused at some though...
But, will have to read through them again before I can respond...
For the time being, the symposium at Waseda University was most educational and inspirational...
Am 'fully charged' now to engage in research on international education...
Was really lucky to meet with several distinguished individuals...
Most prominent among them was of course, Dr. Mahathir, who graciously accepted my request for a two-shot photo...
Stay tuned for the photo upload and related story...
Meanwhile, let me crawl through this mountain of work...
Heeeeeeeeaaaaiiiiiiii...
Adddoooiiii...
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
A MATTER OF THE HEART
While a kampong boy, I used to ronda around Alok Setak town with my buddies.
Several of our schoolmates were Christians and of course, the non-Christians in us were targeted by them to come to church.
Occasionally, we did.
The hymns were a joy to listen to although I catch no ball on what they meant...
And what more; the girls were irresistibly cute...
See, I was but a green seventeen then...
The one time that I truly enjoyed going to church was when there were parties...
Makan parties, I mean, usually held at year-end...
Lots of good food and charming company...
These days, whenever I return to Malaysia, some old pals of mine would give me bibles with extremely minute fonts, plus CDs and DVDs on Christianity...
I am almost always lost as to how to respond to their noble offers...
Most of the time, I 'accepted' their offer politely but left them at another good friend's house for his perusal...
* If you are reading this, my sincerest apologies, guys... *
But come Christmas time, I take delight in listening to Christmas songs...
And my favorites are Kenny G's and Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas albums...
I don't seem to get tired of them, no matter how many repetitions I hear...
As for my dear friends' efforts, I once mustered up my courage to make a stand...
But like a wimp, no doubt, I beat around the bush...
Whispering... almost to myself...
'I think religion is very much a matter of the individual heart...'
Duh! So much making my stand...
Meanwhile, yours truly is heading to Tokyo tomorrow to attend a symposium at Waseda University...
The main aim is to listen to the presentations on cross-border higher education policies...
Incidentally, Waseda University is conferring an Honorary Doctorate on Dr. Mahathir for all he did or did not do for Malaysia...
Your man here shall probably be sitting incognito in the auditorium to witness the ceremony...
Several of our schoolmates were Christians and of course, the non-Christians in us were targeted by them to come to church.
Occasionally, we did.
The hymns were a joy to listen to although I catch no ball on what they meant...
And what more; the girls were irresistibly cute...
See, I was but a green seventeen then...
The one time that I truly enjoyed going to church was when there were parties...
Makan parties, I mean, usually held at year-end...
Lots of good food and charming company...
These days, whenever I return to Malaysia, some old pals of mine would give me bibles with extremely minute fonts, plus CDs and DVDs on Christianity...
I am almost always lost as to how to respond to their noble offers...
Most of the time, I 'accepted' their offer politely but left them at another good friend's house for his perusal...
* If you are reading this, my sincerest apologies, guys... *
But come Christmas time, I take delight in listening to Christmas songs...
And my favorites are Kenny G's and Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas albums...
I don't seem to get tired of them, no matter how many repetitions I hear...
As for my dear friends' efforts, I once mustered up my courage to make a stand...
But like a wimp, no doubt, I beat around the bush...
Whispering... almost to myself...
'I think religion is very much a matter of the individual heart...'
Duh! So much making my stand...
Meanwhile, yours truly is heading to Tokyo tomorrow to attend a symposium at Waseda University...
The main aim is to listen to the presentations on cross-border higher education policies...
Incidentally, Waseda University is conferring an Honorary Doctorate on Dr. Mahathir for all he did or did not do for Malaysia...
Your man here shall probably be sitting incognito in the auditorium to witness the ceremony...
Monday, November 28, 2005
BLUE DRAGON
This pretty nudibranch specimen is about three centimeters long.
I have seen them in Perhentian and Sipadan but have never been able to take a good shot of them because of the currents.
Location: Che Isa, Redang
Sunday, November 27, 2005
MAN LEFT HANGING IN MIDAIR
Just sent my missus off at the airport…
She’s heading to her mum’s place four days earlier than I do, to assist in the preparations for the third anniversary ceremonies of her dad’s demise…
Man, suddenly feel so lonely here…
For the next four long days, will be returning to a ‘cold’ house…
Eating dinner all by myself…
(Menu for tonight: last night’s leftover fish head curry)
Meanwhile, will have to re-learn how to turn on that washing machine…
And, I have to search for that electric cooker switch, too…
Used to do quite a bit of cooking and chores while a single man…
Even after marriage, still could whip up a dish or two…
But after almost 20 years of marriage (and pampered life?)…
I became quite ‘lame’ and ‘hopeless’ with domestic utensils…
Four long days to the ‘reunion’…
I can’t wait…
She’s heading to her mum’s place four days earlier than I do, to assist in the preparations for the third anniversary ceremonies of her dad’s demise…
Man, suddenly feel so lonely here…
For the next four long days, will be returning to a ‘cold’ house…
Eating dinner all by myself…
(Menu for tonight: last night’s leftover fish head curry)
Meanwhile, will have to re-learn how to turn on that washing machine…
And, I have to search for that electric cooker switch, too…
Used to do quite a bit of cooking and chores while a single man…
Even after marriage, still could whip up a dish or two…
But after almost 20 years of marriage (and pampered life?)…
I became quite ‘lame’ and ‘hopeless’ with domestic utensils…
Four long days to the ‘reunion’…
I can’t wait…
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
APPLE SEEDLINGS
Went shopping for apple seedlings last weekend at the local DIY...
Saw some palm trees for sale...
Eyes almost shot out of their sockets upon seeing the prices...
Almost US$150.00 for one palm tree...
Oh man... to think that I had just lopped off three of those palm trees in my garden some weeks ago...
Rugi again...
Bought two apple tree seedlings...
One Fuji and the other, Tsugaru...
They are supposed to bear fruits in about five years' time...
Meanwhile, see some fruits from my garden...
Saw some palm trees for sale...
Eyes almost shot out of their sockets upon seeing the prices...
Almost US$150.00 for one palm tree...
Oh man... to think that I had just lopped off three of those palm trees in my garden some weeks ago...
Rugi again...
Bought two apple tree seedlings...
One Fuji and the other, Tsugaru...
They are supposed to bear fruits in about five years' time...
Meanwhile, see some fruits from my garden...
Monday, November 14, 2005
VEGETABLES, HOMEGROWN...
Pulled out two turnips from the garden patch yesterday evening to put in the miso soup...
The feeling of sinking my teeth into the fresh, sturdy, turnip flesh was... ummmmpphh...
Jane was a bit curious about how my vegetable plot looks like...
Well, here it is...
There are four types of vegetables in the picture...
Readers may know the turnips as having jagged edges on the leaves...
Tasai is a very pretty Chinese vegetable...
Dark green leaves that remind me of the shape of spoons...
When the cold creeps in, the Tasai spreads out sideways like a large flower...
The taste is very crunchy...
Chingensai is also another Chinese vegetable...
Its 'bottom' is a quite stubby ... kind of like oversize for its leaves...
So, rather than eating the leaves, connoisseurs go for the chunky 'stem'...
Mamba is obviously not a dance here...
The purplish veins on the leaves characterizes the vegetable...
Easy to grow and a joy to eat...
We pluck off the large mature leaves to cook with tofu and sometimes, with ikan bilis...
I never get sick of this stuff...
Next post... more on my veggies...
The feeling of sinking my teeth into the fresh, sturdy, turnip flesh was... ummmmpphh...
Jane was a bit curious about how my vegetable plot looks like...
Well, here it is...
There are four types of vegetables in the picture...
Readers may know the turnips as having jagged edges on the leaves...
Tasai is a very pretty Chinese vegetable...
Dark green leaves that remind me of the shape of spoons...
When the cold creeps in, the Tasai spreads out sideways like a large flower...
The taste is very crunchy...
Chingensai is also another Chinese vegetable...
Its 'bottom' is a quite stubby ... kind of like oversize for its leaves...
So, rather than eating the leaves, connoisseurs go for the chunky 'stem'...
Mamba is obviously not a dance here...
The purplish veins on the leaves characterizes the vegetable...
Easy to grow and a joy to eat...
We pluck off the large mature leaves to cook with tofu and sometimes, with ikan bilis...
I never get sick of this stuff...
Next post... more on my veggies...
Monday, November 07, 2005
THE NOODLES WILL BECOME FAT
In my personal and professional capacities, I have the privilege to do some air travel.
As a poor student, I flew Malaysia Airlines often (on student discount, that is).
Switched to All Nippon Airways in the early part of my professional career.
And then, to Singapore Airlines before reverting to Malaysia Airlines...
The other day, I got a big shock upon discovering that a major chunk of our frequent miles with Singapore Airlines had expired.
Kaput, as in 'evaporated'...
Could have traveled for free to as far as Africa...
Dei !!!
Have a 'corporate-man' buddy who has accumulated gazillions of miles from frequent business trips.
For him, expiring miles are nothing because he does not have the time to use them...
But for a small-time kuchiku player like yours truly...
Adoooi... rugi maximum...
Another life-lesson that, there is a time for everything...
And that, nothing lasts forever...
So, better eat those noodles before they get too soaked up...
Adoooi... it hurts... *slaps forehead repeatedly*
PS: This post could have been titled, 'IT'S THE TIMING, STUPID!'
No?
As a poor student, I flew Malaysia Airlines often (on student discount, that is).
Switched to All Nippon Airways in the early part of my professional career.
And then, to Singapore Airlines before reverting to Malaysia Airlines...
The other day, I got a big shock upon discovering that a major chunk of our frequent miles with Singapore Airlines had expired.
Kaput, as in 'evaporated'...
Could have traveled for free to as far as Africa...
Dei !!!
Have a 'corporate-man' buddy who has accumulated gazillions of miles from frequent business trips.
For him, expiring miles are nothing because he does not have the time to use them...
But for a small-time kuchiku player like yours truly...
Adoooi... rugi maximum...
Another life-lesson that, there is a time for everything...
And that, nothing lasts forever...
So, better eat those noodles before they get too soaked up...
Adoooi... it hurts... *slaps forehead repeatedly*
PS: This post could have been titled, 'IT'S THE TIMING, STUPID!'
No?
Monday, October 31, 2005
DRY NOSE, CHICKEN SOUP, & PRETTY SCENERY
Last weekend...
Nose began to feel dry...
Nighttime, as I snuggled into my futon
Nose felt super-dry...
Oh oh, I was going to catch a cold...
Normally, the cold starts with the throat...
But the nose?
Slept with the face mask on...
Next morning...
Condition worsened...
Yeeeeiii...
Nose juice started to ooze...
Non-stop it was...
Have too much to do next few days...
Can't afford to be down with cold...
Went to the hospital...
Waited for one long hour...
The doctor saw me for less than two minutes...
Rested all weekend long...
In between slurping hot chicken soup
Watched and re-watched my favorite Japanese movie...
Was able to cycle slowly to work this Monday morning...
The weather... so pleasant & cool...
The scenery... so pretty & calm... *see photo here*
I will overcome...
Hopefully, that is...
Nose began to feel dry...
Nighttime, as I snuggled into my futon
Nose felt super-dry...
Oh oh, I was going to catch a cold...
Normally, the cold starts with the throat...
But the nose?
Slept with the face mask on...
Next morning...
Condition worsened...
Yeeeeiii...
Nose juice started to ooze...
Non-stop it was...
Have too much to do next few days...
Can't afford to be down with cold...
Went to the hospital...
Waited for one long hour...
The doctor saw me for less than two minutes...
Rested all weekend long...
In between slurping hot chicken soup
Watched and re-watched my favorite Japanese movie...
Was able to cycle slowly to work this Monday morning...
The weather... so pleasant & cool...
The scenery... so pretty & calm... *see photo here*
I will overcome...
Hopefully, that is...
RICE HAIR ISLAND
The Japan Inland Sea as it is...
Usually calm unlike the fiery Pacific coasts down south
The uninhabited island with the lighthouse is called Inagejima
Literally, 'Rice Hair Island'
I cherish these sceneries on my way to work...
See related story here...
Friday, October 28, 2005
FISH TRAPPED IN JELLYFISH
Not sure of the specifics of this specimen...
Like this baby, this jellyfish had no long tentacles...
As in this other specimen...
It was just like a big, harmelss, ball of jelly...
Bobbling in mid water aimlessly...
What attracted me to it was its skin texture...
And the entrapped creatures...
Most of the creatures were tiny fishes...
Except for the crab at the bottom of the picture...
Size... almost a meter in diameter...
Location: Tiger Rock, Tioman
Thursday, October 27, 2005
ONE-YEAR OLD BABY
Ah, Ros' new arrival... *so cute...*
Blog turned one today... (27th, that is...)
Imagine, the first post was on Seeking Death...
No terror speeches as in Lilian's Fireworks & Wine Celebration...
Only a simple thousand thanks to all who kindly visited...
I am but humbled by your grace...
Intend to maintain 'straight & level' for long...
Woaaahh...
Blog turned one today... (27th, that is...)
Imagine, the first post was on Seeking Death...
No terror speeches as in Lilian's Fireworks & Wine Celebration...
Only a simple thousand thanks to all who kindly visited...
I am but humbled by your grace...
Intend to maintain 'straight & level' for long...
Woaaahh...
Monday, October 24, 2005
POND SITE
Started digging the pond in my garden...
(Picture is not so nice, but you get the idea... )
Still have lots to do...
Least of all, the electric fixtures and all...
Plan to have it operating by next summer...
I see water lilies and lotuses gently swaying...
And comet goldfishes gracefully a-swimming...
(See related story here)
HOWLING WINDS, DIPPING TEMPERATURES, & SHOOTING STARS
Last Saturday, the winds howled as the temperatures dipped...
Cold it was...
For the first time this season, I put on my long johns...
Brrrrrrr...
Still, managed to handle quite a few tasks over the weekend...
Tasks, such as...
1. Oiling the hinges of all doors (no big deal...)
2. Attaching the 'Cockerel Bell' at the gate (nice...)
3. Replacing the brakes for my mountain bike (first experience...)
4. Digging out and replanting twenty shrubs (pooh, tough...)
5. Pruning about a dozen trees (the cut leaves smelled pleasant...)
6. Shopping for a clay cooker for steamboat-ing in the garden (I am ready to eat now...)
7. Making a second, tough broom from the bamboo sticks (100% handmade...)
8. Planting a pot of hibiscus and a bunch of gazanias at the slopes (no sweat...)
9. Planting some cabbage and broccoli seedlings (a breeze...)
10. Setting up a place to make compost from dried leaves (earthworms, where are you?)
11. Digging a pond (long way from completion...) *see picture here*
I surprised myself doing the bike brakes for the first time...
And, quite thrilled to see the 'Cockerel Bell' being nicely fixed at the gate pillar...
But most of all, I feel particularly pleased with what I am doing with the pond...
Come next year, there will be cruising comet goldfishes...
Quaint water lilies and pink lotus flowers blooming...
I can't wait...
Was working even after nightfall on Sunday...
*The sun sets before 6:00 pm these days*
Tired, I laid my body on a large rock...
Facing upwards, gazing at the beautiful sky...
Suddenly...
A shooting star flashed by...
Brightly...
I let out a shriek...
My wife instantly opened the window and hollered...
'What???'
I immediately wished for the two of us...
Everlasting love...
Good health...
And a long life...
Cold it was...
For the first time this season, I put on my long johns...
Brrrrrrr...
Still, managed to handle quite a few tasks over the weekend...
Tasks, such as...
1. Oiling the hinges of all doors (no big deal...)
2. Attaching the 'Cockerel Bell' at the gate (nice...)
3. Replacing the brakes for my mountain bike (first experience...)
4. Digging out and replanting twenty shrubs (pooh, tough...)
5. Pruning about a dozen trees (the cut leaves smelled pleasant...)
6. Shopping for a clay cooker for steamboat-ing in the garden (I am ready to eat now...)
7. Making a second, tough broom from the bamboo sticks (100% handmade...)
8. Planting a pot of hibiscus and a bunch of gazanias at the slopes (no sweat...)
9. Planting some cabbage and broccoli seedlings (a breeze...)
10. Setting up a place to make compost from dried leaves (earthworms, where are you?)
11. Digging a pond (long way from completion...) *see picture here*
I surprised myself doing the bike brakes for the first time...
And, quite thrilled to see the 'Cockerel Bell' being nicely fixed at the gate pillar...
But most of all, I feel particularly pleased with what I am doing with the pond...
Come next year, there will be cruising comet goldfishes...
Quaint water lilies and pink lotus flowers blooming...
I can't wait...
Was working even after nightfall on Sunday...
*The sun sets before 6:00 pm these days*
Tired, I laid my body on a large rock...
Facing upwards, gazing at the beautiful sky...
Suddenly...
A shooting star flashed by...
Brightly...
I let out a shriek...
My wife instantly opened the window and hollered...
'What???'
I immediately wished for the two of us...
Everlasting love...
Good health...
And a long life...
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
ROUTINE... ROUTINE...
Ever since we moved, my 'lifestyle' has changed quite a bit...
First, instead of cycling 14 kilometers to work, I am now doing 40 kilometers...
Daily... or, almost...
This morning, the body refused to rise from the bed...
Feeling fatigued... a bit groggy...
Too much bicycling?
My better half often springs up just before the alarm goes off...
She immediately prepares the usual, full breakfast...
I do my own thingy like gargling...
Washing my eyes...
Nose drink to flush out the goo...
Gulp in 500 cc of plain water...
Following which, almost without fail, I 'bombard' the toilet...
I then do a few more inconsequential things...
Like watching the sun rise...
Listen to the birds chirp...
Open a window or two...
We do the 'Radio Exercise' routine...
Synchronized...
Followed by a series of floor exercises...
Stretching...
Sit-ups and 'finger' push-ups...
All these lead us to past 6:00 am...
It is breakfast time...
I shoot to the university at about 7:15 am...
Work... yeap, work, all day...
Cycle home, reaching at about 7:30 pm...
Have dinner in the quiet...
Shower...
Go upstairs to observe the ferries and boats pass by...
Star gaze...
Listen to the radio...
* We have (almost) done away with the idiot box... *
At about 9:00 pm, my eyelids say 'close shop'...
I try to fight the urge...
Futile...
I hit the sack...
Snore alreadea...
First, instead of cycling 14 kilometers to work, I am now doing 40 kilometers...
Daily... or, almost...
This morning, the body refused to rise from the bed...
Feeling fatigued... a bit groggy...
Too much bicycling?
My better half often springs up just before the alarm goes off...
She immediately prepares the usual, full breakfast...
I do my own thingy like gargling...
Washing my eyes...
Nose drink to flush out the goo...
Gulp in 500 cc of plain water...
Following which, almost without fail, I 'bombard' the toilet...
I then do a few more inconsequential things...
Like watching the sun rise...
Listen to the birds chirp...
Open a window or two...
We do the 'Radio Exercise' routine...
Synchronized...
Followed by a series of floor exercises...
Stretching...
Sit-ups and 'finger' push-ups...
All these lead us to past 6:00 am...
It is breakfast time...
I shoot to the university at about 7:15 am...
Work... yeap, work, all day...
Cycle home, reaching at about 7:30 pm...
Have dinner in the quiet...
Shower...
Go upstairs to observe the ferries and boats pass by...
Star gaze...
Listen to the radio...
* We have (almost) done away with the idiot box... *
At about 9:00 pm, my eyelids say 'close shop'...
I try to fight the urge...
Futile...
I hit the sack...
Snore alreadea...
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
GOBIES WITH PRAWN
Some gobies symbiotically live in a single sand burrow with one or more species of blind or almost blind prawns.
The prawns maintain the burrows while the gobies act as lookouts for them.
When a diver approaches, the prawn feels the goby retracting and it promptly withdraws into the burrow...
It is not unusual for adult gobies to live in pairs.
Location: Panuba House Reef, Tioman
Thursday, October 13, 2005
YELLOW PRAWN GOBY
Among the many gobies I saw was a pretty rare yellow goby...
But prawn goby?
Where is the prawn?
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
BROKEN PIPE, COW DUNG, & SMELLY BODY
Had quite a handful to do in the garden over the weekend...
Counted the trees that need pruning...
Big trees of up to three meters... about 40...
Smaller trees of about one meter... about 30...
But that can wait a while...
In front of the terrace is a sizeable tract of azaleas...
My better half wants to make a Herb Garden out of it...
So the honor fell on the shoulders of yours truly to dig out all the azaleas, about fifty of them...
One by one... manually...
Thought of just 'killing' them off...
But, decided to transfer them to the slopes on the eastern side of the garden.
The rains came...
Working indoors, I cleared up the stuff in the storeroom...
Even got time to repair the puncture of my sweetheart's bicycle...
When the rains stopped, I resume the work at the garden...
Was trying to remove one rather huge azalea stump...
Had to use all my might to plunge the hoe into its base...
When suddenly, I hit something...
Next thing we saw was gushing water...
Oh oh... the water pipe...
Had to quit immediately and head for the hardware shop...
Got the pipe fixed before the sun set on me...
First experience to DIY a pipe leak...
But we could not open the main pipe for 12 hours...
Hence, no shower for the day...
Imagine, I was sweating like a doggo the whole day...
And of course, no water for cooking too...
We bought sushi from the supermarket...
After dinner, asked for two pails of water from a neighbor for brushing teeth, washing face, and wiping the body...
The following day, I managed to dig out all the azaleas...
Cleared the bamboo grass, lalang roots and other debris...
Thought I would not see the persistent lalang anymore after I left my kampong decades ago...
Could not find any use for it although I heard from my brother that its hardy roots are sold as 'Chinese traditional medicine'...
But bamboo grass... I translated them into a broom for outdoor usage...
Then, mixed some natural fertilizer (fermented cow dung, that is) into the plot...
Got it ready for herb-planting...
Scored quite a few points as my better half was pretty impressed by my efforts over the weekend...
Meanwhile, over at the vegetable plot, the seedlings are growing well...
Heheheheeee...
Counted the trees that need pruning...
Big trees of up to three meters... about 40...
Smaller trees of about one meter... about 30...
But that can wait a while...
In front of the terrace is a sizeable tract of azaleas...
My better half wants to make a Herb Garden out of it...
So the honor fell on the shoulders of yours truly to dig out all the azaleas, about fifty of them...
One by one... manually...
Thought of just 'killing' them off...
But, decided to transfer them to the slopes on the eastern side of the garden.
The rains came...
Working indoors, I cleared up the stuff in the storeroom...
Even got time to repair the puncture of my sweetheart's bicycle...
When the rains stopped, I resume the work at the garden...
Was trying to remove one rather huge azalea stump...
Had to use all my might to plunge the hoe into its base...
When suddenly, I hit something...
Next thing we saw was gushing water...
Oh oh... the water pipe...
Had to quit immediately and head for the hardware shop...
Got the pipe fixed before the sun set on me...
First experience to DIY a pipe leak...
But we could not open the main pipe for 12 hours...
Hence, no shower for the day...
Imagine, I was sweating like a doggo the whole day...
And of course, no water for cooking too...
We bought sushi from the supermarket...
After dinner, asked for two pails of water from a neighbor for brushing teeth, washing face, and wiping the body...
The following day, I managed to dig out all the azaleas...
Cleared the bamboo grass, lalang roots and other debris...
Thought I would not see the persistent lalang anymore after I left my kampong decades ago...
Could not find any use for it although I heard from my brother that its hardy roots are sold as 'Chinese traditional medicine'...
But bamboo grass... I translated them into a broom for outdoor usage...
Then, mixed some natural fertilizer (fermented cow dung, that is) into the plot...
Got it ready for herb-planting...
Scored quite a few points as my better half was pretty impressed by my efforts over the weekend...
Meanwhile, over at the vegetable plot, the seedlings are growing well...
Heheheheeee...
Thursday, October 06, 2005
GOBY
Gobies form the largest family of marine fishes with about 500 Indo-Pacific species.
Their characteristics include small, elongated but blunt heads, large mouths, and conical teeth.
Bottom dwellers they are and they feed on small invertebrates...
They are very shy and will retract instantly into their burrows as divers approach.
Needs quite a bit of patience to photograph them...
Specimen size was about 4 centimeters...
Location: Panuba House Reef, Tioman
HAPPY IS THE WORD
Been having dry weather for some weeks...
Till yesterday...
When the heavens poured all day...
Had sowed some vegetable seeds three days ago...
Now... thrilled is the word...
When seeds are germinating...
Heheheee...
Back at Bolehland...
The Red Round Object Show continues to nauseate Bolehlanders to no end...
And, AI has finally decided to invite MM to court for tea...
The seeds are sowed...
I am braced for more action...
Heheheeee...
Till yesterday...
When the heavens poured all day...
Had sowed some vegetable seeds three days ago...
Now... thrilled is the word...
When seeds are germinating...
Heheheee...
Back at Bolehland...
The Red Round Object Show continues to nauseate Bolehlanders to no end...
And, AI has finally decided to invite MM to court for tea...
The seeds are sowed...
I am braced for more action...
Heheheeee...
Monday, October 03, 2005
MAKING PEACE WITH THE SPIRITS
Just chatted with my buddies the other day on Bali being a possible destination for our reunion next year.
Why not... with her bountiful above and under water attractions...
If the report on the suicide bombers is true, those wretched fellows are probably on their way to seventh heaven where a hundred virgins await them...
I pray...
May the spirits of the inopportune victims rest in peace...
*** *** ***
Could not sleep well last night...
We had hit the sack at about 9:00 pm...
Woke up intermittently in the pitch of the night...
Sat by the window and gazed at the lights from the passing ferries and boats...
Twinkling... twinkling...
Still have to find the flow of living in the new place...
I need to make peace with the chi...
That unseen energy...
Of the unseen spirits...
Of the tangible rocks...
The trees...
The air...
The winds...
Why not... with her bountiful above and under water attractions...
If the report on the suicide bombers is true, those wretched fellows are probably on their way to seventh heaven where a hundred virgins await them...
I pray...
May the spirits of the inopportune victims rest in peace...
*** *** ***
Could not sleep well last night...
We had hit the sack at about 9:00 pm...
Woke up intermittently in the pitch of the night...
Sat by the window and gazed at the lights from the passing ferries and boats...
Twinkling... twinkling...
Still have to find the flow of living in the new place...
I need to make peace with the chi...
That unseen energy...
Of the unseen spirits...
Of the tangible rocks...
The trees...
The air...
The winds...
SQUIRRELFISH, MR. AND MRS...
Checking up information on marine life while not diving is a joy...
Some specimens can be quite confusing...
As in squirrelfish and soldierfish...
What's the differentiating feature between them?
I think we have a pair of squirrelfish...
They seemed to be nesting in a fallen barrel sponge among some corals...
Normally they prefer to rest in schools underneath shady coral heads in the day...
They come alive at nightfall, for feeding...
Size was about 30 centimeters...
Location: Blue Coral House Reef, Lang Tengah...
Thursday, September 29, 2005
GIMME MAAANEY
I am quite a fan of Malaysiakini's Letters Column...
Today, there are two diagonally opposite views from readers on the housing discounts for bumis...
'Jan' says that 'most middle-income earners like myself cannot even afford the house prices here even with the five percent discount!'.
And he prods...
'Part of being Malaysian is to not only think of oneself but also to think of the fate of others.'
On the other hand, 'Non-bumi Average Joe' says that he wouldn't be so upset if this is a scheme to help the lower-income group.
But he finds it 'revolting' that it is applied based on ethnicity... the 'colors of our skin'...
Hmmm...
Hmmmmm...
How... like that?
*** *** ***
PS: Shall be bringing a big busload of foreign students for a two-day one-night Kyoto trip tomorrow.
What else, but to go for the standard touristy spots like Kinkakuji, Ryoanji, and Kiyomizudera.
Also visiting the Asahi Shinbum (Newspaper) Osaka Head Office and Suntory Yamazaki Distillery.
Heheheee... might just get high on one tiny glass of whiskey at the Distillery...
Today, there are two diagonally opposite views from readers on the housing discounts for bumis...
'Jan' says that 'most middle-income earners like myself cannot even afford the house prices here even with the five percent discount!'.
And he prods...
'Part of being Malaysian is to not only think of oneself but also to think of the fate of others.'
On the other hand, 'Non-bumi Average Joe' says that he wouldn't be so upset if this is a scheme to help the lower-income group.
But he finds it 'revolting' that it is applied based on ethnicity... the 'colors of our skin'...
Hmmm...
Hmmmmm...
How... like that?
*** *** ***
PS: Shall be bringing a big busload of foreign students for a two-day one-night Kyoto trip tomorrow.
What else, but to go for the standard touristy spots like Kinkakuji, Ryoanji, and Kiyomizudera.
Also visiting the Asahi Shinbum (Newspaper) Osaka Head Office and Suntory Yamazaki Distillery.
Heheheee... might just get high on one tiny glass of whiskey at the Distillery...
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
BLACK SPOTTED MORAY
Before every dive holiday, can't wait to hit the ocean...
And, immediately after checking in, almost always want to just jump in...
This time, was rewarded with a beautiful view of a black spotted moray eel...
Got to about less than a meter for this close-range shot...
Returned to the same spot for two more dives...
But in its place were two huge sea cucumbers...
The cave was too small for three, apparently...
Size: about that of a man's wrist...
Length: estimated to be one and half to two meters...
Location: Panuba Inn House Reef, Tioman
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
MUSHROOM CORAL FEEDING
I enjoy diving the house reef of Blue Coral Island Resort at Pulau Lang Tengah...
Entry is pretty easy and I can do long dives without having to look out for the guide...
There is a huge blue coral that starts at about 5 meters, sloping towards 10 to 12 meters deep...
I often see a turtle there...
A huge moray eel resides there too...
And, nearby is a patch of mushroom coral garden...
This specimen has its feelers out and I believe it is feeding...
Size of a small plate...
BICYCLING, ONE AUTUMN MORNING
Finally moved all our stuff to the 'new' house.
So quiet and peaceful, this place...
Could hear the sound of the waves although we are quite a distance from the shores of Sea...
The air, so cool and refreshing...
But the mosquitoes, so fierce...
They pierce through the socks and the cotton shirts...
Eeeeiiii... no joke...
Made a trial run cycling from our house to the university this morning...
All my friends and acquaintances and friends had laughed at my suggestion...
My sweetheart hahahaa-ed at me to no end...
So, I woke up at 5:00 this morning...
I washed up and returned to the second floor to watch the sun rise over the Japan Inland Sea...
The neighborhood is called Gokenzan (literally, Five Swords Mountain)...
True enough, I had to scale five sets of ups-and-downs on the 18-kilometer stretch to the university...
Took me almost 1 hour 30 minutes to touch base...
I had wondered if I should get an off-road Honda motorbike...
But I think I shall go for the Giant mountain bike now...
I just love to cycle...
All the way through the Five Swords...
Perhaps except in summer, when I will certainly melt...
So quiet and peaceful, this place...
Could hear the sound of the waves although we are quite a distance from the shores of Sea...
The air, so cool and refreshing...
But the mosquitoes, so fierce...
They pierce through the socks and the cotton shirts...
Eeeeiiii... no joke...
Made a trial run cycling from our house to the university this morning...
All my friends and acquaintances and friends had laughed at my suggestion...
My sweetheart hahahaa-ed at me to no end...
So, I woke up at 5:00 this morning...
I washed up and returned to the second floor to watch the sun rise over the Japan Inland Sea...
The neighborhood is called Gokenzan (literally, Five Swords Mountain)...
True enough, I had to scale five sets of ups-and-downs on the 18-kilometer stretch to the university...
Took me almost 1 hour 30 minutes to touch base...
I had wondered if I should get an off-road Honda motorbike...
But I think I shall go for the Giant mountain bike now...
I just love to cycle...
All the way through the Five Swords...
Perhaps except in summer, when I will certainly melt...
Thursday, September 22, 2005
RED-BANDED WRASSE
Taking pictures of fishes while they are swimming is no easy task.
Most often than not, we get fishes turning their tails as we take aim.
The red-banded wrasse is a beautiful fish.
It is commonly seen in locations of mixed corals, as in the photograph.
My reference says, that this specimen 'often follows divers to prey on invertebrates exposed by divers fins'.
Huh?
That's new to me...
Will try to observe them more diligently next time...
Size was about 30 centimeters.
Dive site: Pulau Soyak, Tioman
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
HOUSE-MOVING
Woooh, I love the cool autumn weather...
Spent almost all of last weekend moving our stuff to the new-old house...
Don't have much stuff, but ooohh... my muscles...
There were some surprising finds in the cabinets...
Souvenirs purchased years ago and hand-carried from faraway lands...
Packed and stored in boxes and never exhibited...
Boomerangs... coffee mugs... Egyptian papyrus paintings...
Ahhh... old photos...
Had a good laugh seeing the 'fashion' of times gone by...
That load of a hair I had...
And, ahem... who was that 'good looking' young man in the picture??
A most unanticipated find was my two wisdom teeth...
I had planned to turn them into earrings but never did...
Also spent time shopping for a solid dining table set for six...
Weed (past tense?), fertilized, and prepared the vegetable patch
Letting it go fallow for about a week or two before sowing the vegetable seeds...
House-moving to continue next weekend...
Spent almost all of last weekend moving our stuff to the new-old house...
Don't have much stuff, but ooohh... my muscles...
There were some surprising finds in the cabinets...
Souvenirs purchased years ago and hand-carried from faraway lands...
Packed and stored in boxes and never exhibited...
Boomerangs... coffee mugs... Egyptian papyrus paintings...
Ahhh... old photos...
Had a good laugh seeing the 'fashion' of times gone by...
That load of a hair I had...
And, ahem... who was that 'good looking' young man in the picture??
A most unanticipated find was my two wisdom teeth...
I had planned to turn them into earrings but never did...
Also spent time shopping for a solid dining table set for six...
Weed (past tense?), fertilized, and prepared the vegetable patch
Letting it go fallow for about a week or two before sowing the vegetable seeds...
House-moving to continue next weekend...
Friday, September 16, 2005
VICTORIA CITY, BC, CANADA
I like this night shot of the Legislative House.
As darkness falls, this segment of the city comes alive...
It is probably the most interesting area to hang around.
On the left, there are street musicians entertaining the mostly tourist crowd.
The boats parked in the bay are also a joy to gaze at...
Lovely place... this City of Victoria...
Thursday, September 15, 2005
GLOCAL MALAYS TALK BY DR. ASMA ABDULLAH
In 1998, Dr. Asma Abdullah gave me an autographed copy of her book 'Going Glocal: Cultural Dimensions in Malaysian Management'.
I see Asma as my elder sister as she hails from Baling, Kedah.
Through the years, we did some work together but I have veered away from studies in culture and management lately.
ISIS has invited her to give a talk on this subject.
You can read more about this event in Malaysiakini (September 14th) and also in Screenshots.
We keep in touch quite regularly and today she asked me for some opinions on the subject.
I take the liberty to post my response to her (CC-ed to several individuals, too) below...
...
Hello Asma, and to folks whom I have not met, 'hajime mashite' ('Nice to meet you' in Japanese).
It is an honor to be asked... and I hope my humble opinions can be of some use. Otherwise, please disregard them.
I presume we are talking about Malays as well as 'Bangsa Malaysia'.
I start with the Malays.
I think there is no secret recipe here.
If we want the Malays or anyone for that matter to be competitive, resilient, or self-supporting, we just have to create conditions that would allow, lead them to, or even 'compel' them to do just that.
My take is, with the way sweeteners (privileges and special rights) are being doled out, how in the world would anyone want to work hard.
There are some exceptions of course, such as Bakri and Asma, and of course folks like Din too, whom I have not met yet.
I respect these folks and do not wish to belittle anyone on this.
But we are talking about the motivation of 'masses' here.
Subsidies, quotas, and assistance are essential, but we have got to be very careful in monitoring their delivery, time span, and effectiveness.
Are we?
As it is, we have this polite term called 'leakages'.
Abuses, that is.
Why do we have them?
Which brings me to ask, are the so-called authorities sincere in this?
Do they really want to see Malays uplifting themselves?
Call me skeptical, but I sincerely doubt their sincerity.
Furthermore, we should not just talk of rewards.
There should also be some form of disincentives for failures when we use the sweeteners.
Next, Bangsa Malaysia.
I realize we are a complex society.
I would like to pose this question.
What is Bangsa Malaysia all about?
I see it as the Malaysian race... the Malaysian people...
We may be black, green, or white, but there must be some thread that holds us together, some thread that makes us identify with one another as Bangsa Malaysia.
Do we have this thread?
If we are serious about Bangsa Malaysia, we have got to come up with policies that are more inclusive, as opposed to exclusive, so that citizens from different backgrounds can feel a sense of belonging and togetherness.
Again, sadly I should say, the politicians are the only ones who can bring out this Bangsa Malaysia. (More of this later...)
Where do we start?
I suggest that they dump the race-based political system and go for issues based political parties.
Yes, I know I am asking for the moon.
*Throws in towel...*
I also agree with Bakri (in his writings) about the role of English.
I see this language as the prime unifier of the Malaysian people, a 'common thread' that all Malaysians can look to as a shared super-ordinate element.
We probably can't do it with food barring the lovely nasi lemak... certainly not with religion... so, the only option is language.
Imagine... Malaysian kids mingling with each other in English (Manglish if you wish...)
This will form the basis of friendships among our kids, which will hopefully continue on to their adult lives.
Back to the point on politicians being the only ones who can bring out this Bangsa Malaysia...
This is a most unfortunate setting.
Why is it like this?
Nation building is such a monumental endeavor and politicians certainly cannot do it alone.
We need all the skills from all the experts in all the areas we have to build our nation.
On this count again, I see the politicians hoarding all the authority for themselves.
Academicians, architects, and lawyers, among others... these are the people who can contribute just as much if not more than politicians, to the creation of Bangsa Malaysia.
But, in reality, are they permitted to do so?
(I feel this is a rather ridiculous notion because they shouldn't be asking for permission from anyone in the first place. But in our Malaysia, they have to.)
Ok, I shall stop here before I get carried too far away.
Good luck and please keep me posted on the talk.
Best wishes to all.
I see Asma as my elder sister as she hails from Baling, Kedah.
Through the years, we did some work together but I have veered away from studies in culture and management lately.
ISIS has invited her to give a talk on this subject.
You can read more about this event in Malaysiakini (September 14th) and also in Screenshots.
We keep in touch quite regularly and today she asked me for some opinions on the subject.
I take the liberty to post my response to her (CC-ed to several individuals, too) below...
...
Hello Asma, and to folks whom I have not met, 'hajime mashite' ('Nice to meet you' in Japanese).
It is an honor to be asked... and I hope my humble opinions can be of some use. Otherwise, please disregard them.
I presume we are talking about Malays as well as 'Bangsa Malaysia'.
I start with the Malays.
I think there is no secret recipe here.
If we want the Malays or anyone for that matter to be competitive, resilient, or self-supporting, we just have to create conditions that would allow, lead them to, or even 'compel' them to do just that.
My take is, with the way sweeteners (privileges and special rights) are being doled out, how in the world would anyone want to work hard.
There are some exceptions of course, such as Bakri and Asma, and of course folks like Din too, whom I have not met yet.
I respect these folks and do not wish to belittle anyone on this.
But we are talking about the motivation of 'masses' here.
Subsidies, quotas, and assistance are essential, but we have got to be very careful in monitoring their delivery, time span, and effectiveness.
Are we?
As it is, we have this polite term called 'leakages'.
Abuses, that is.
Why do we have them?
Which brings me to ask, are the so-called authorities sincere in this?
Do they really want to see Malays uplifting themselves?
Call me skeptical, but I sincerely doubt their sincerity.
Furthermore, we should not just talk of rewards.
There should also be some form of disincentives for failures when we use the sweeteners.
Next, Bangsa Malaysia.
I realize we are a complex society.
I would like to pose this question.
What is Bangsa Malaysia all about?
I see it as the Malaysian race... the Malaysian people...
We may be black, green, or white, but there must be some thread that holds us together, some thread that makes us identify with one another as Bangsa Malaysia.
Do we have this thread?
If we are serious about Bangsa Malaysia, we have got to come up with policies that are more inclusive, as opposed to exclusive, so that citizens from different backgrounds can feel a sense of belonging and togetherness.
Again, sadly I should say, the politicians are the only ones who can bring out this Bangsa Malaysia. (More of this later...)
Where do we start?
I suggest that they dump the race-based political system and go for issues based political parties.
Yes, I know I am asking for the moon.
*Throws in towel...*
I also agree with Bakri (in his writings) about the role of English.
I see this language as the prime unifier of the Malaysian people, a 'common thread' that all Malaysians can look to as a shared super-ordinate element.
We probably can't do it with food barring the lovely nasi lemak... certainly not with religion... so, the only option is language.
Imagine... Malaysian kids mingling with each other in English (Manglish if you wish...)
This will form the basis of friendships among our kids, which will hopefully continue on to their adult lives.
Back to the point on politicians being the only ones who can bring out this Bangsa Malaysia...
This is a most unfortunate setting.
Why is it like this?
Nation building is such a monumental endeavor and politicians certainly cannot do it alone.
We need all the skills from all the experts in all the areas we have to build our nation.
On this count again, I see the politicians hoarding all the authority for themselves.
Academicians, architects, and lawyers, among others... these are the people who can contribute just as much if not more than politicians, to the creation of Bangsa Malaysia.
But, in reality, are they permitted to do so?
(I feel this is a rather ridiculous notion because they shouldn't be asking for permission from anyone in the first place. But in our Malaysia, they have to.)
Ok, I shall stop here before I get carried too far away.
Good luck and please keep me posted on the talk.
Best wishes to all.
PHALLUS @ REDANG
It was our last dive at Redang.
The sea was very calm...
But much of the corals we saw were dead...
The marine life was pretty regular stuff...
And the dive was getting to be quite boring...
Then, woaaahhh...
The size?
Just about a 'regular' size of the human's...
Location: Stingray City at Pulau Kerengga, Redang
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
CONFESSION
Something must have happened during my last vacation back home.
I feel it, but I am unable to tell what exactly that is.
The reason is...
Yes... I have a confession to make.
That is, I don't feel like working.
I have lost the 'fire', the motivation to sweat it out...
Why?
I already have a house... quite pretty but a humble one at that...
Some savings... not much but perhaps sufficient to last a few days...
I am 47 and I want to relax for the rest of my life...
I don't need much nor do I have expensive desires...
I don't smoke...
I don't womanize... (I think...)
And I don't go to the races...
I don't crave for fancy clothes or designer wristwatches...
I get high on just one glass of beer...
I avoid pachinko or any form of gambling...
Except possibly the occasional stock investments...
Golf is certainly not my idea of fun...
And baseball turns me off like a switch...
All I want for the rest of my life is three modest but sumptuous meals a day...
A little land space to do vegetable and herb gardening for my sweetheart...
And, as I mentioned to Geauxpottery...
Four or five scuba diving holidays a year at top spec destinations???
Heheheeheeee...
Hmmmm...?
I am requesting for too much?
So I asked my better half...
Can I quit my job and start goofing off from today?
She let out an instant piercing shriek...
Komarimasu!! (We will be in trouble!!)
Oops, sorry!
So, I limped back to my office...
Tail neatly tucked in between my legs...
But... I still wonder...
Now, what was it that happened during my last vacation back home?
I feel it, but I am unable to tell what exactly that is.
The reason is...
Yes... I have a confession to make.
That is, I don't feel like working.
I have lost the 'fire', the motivation to sweat it out...
Why?
I already have a house... quite pretty but a humble one at that...
Some savings... not much but perhaps sufficient to last a few days...
I am 47 and I want to relax for the rest of my life...
I don't need much nor do I have expensive desires...
I don't smoke...
I don't womanize... (I think...)
And I don't go to the races...
I don't crave for fancy clothes or designer wristwatches...
I get high on just one glass of beer...
I avoid pachinko or any form of gambling...
Except possibly the occasional stock investments...
Golf is certainly not my idea of fun...
And baseball turns me off like a switch...
All I want for the rest of my life is three modest but sumptuous meals a day...
A little land space to do vegetable and herb gardening for my sweetheart...
And, as I mentioned to Geauxpottery...
Four or five scuba diving holidays a year at top spec destinations???
Heheheeheeee...
Hmmmm...?
I am requesting for too much?
So I asked my better half...
Can I quit my job and start goofing off from today?
She let out an instant piercing shriek...
Komarimasu!! (We will be in trouble!!)
Oops, sorry!
So, I limped back to my office...
Tail neatly tucked in between my legs...
But... I still wonder...
Now, what was it that happened during my last vacation back home?
THE SUN SETS OVER THE STRAITS
The sun sets...
A distant tanker glides by...
Gentle waves touch the shores...
In the Straits of Melaka...
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
BABY JELLYFISH
This little jellyfish looked so cute I wanted to bring it home...
It was wobbling in mid-water...
Floating aimlessly...
Size was like a ping-pong ball...
Location: Malang Rocks, Pulai Tulai, Tioman
KARIBAUS ARE FOREVER
Came back to Japan hoping to see a change in regime.
But I shouldn't be surprised by the landslide win of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Why not, when they are talking about more privatization, this time being the postal system.
This last election however, opened my eyes to one clear reason why Japan is a mature nation, quite like a mature human adult.
That is, there was not one single claim of election foul play, barring some local, minor 'bribery' cases.
This, in a nation of 125 million people, compared to the mere 25 million of one 'adult-wannabe' nation we know.
(You may wish to factor in the respective voting populations and the actual voting percentages.)
Meanwhile, we hear of Bolehland politikusians boasting about revamping the education system, and about bringing in foreign scientists.
Duh!
They are daydreaming, or worse, peddling falsehoods to themselves and the nation.
Yet a most hilarious prospect was Kedah, my home state, proclaiming that she wants to be a developed state by 2010!
Eeeeeiii... that's a mere five years from now, braddaaa...
Meanwhile, I see thick, black smoke gushing out from vehicles...
Vandalized public telephone boxes...
Phones that don't work but yet take your money.
(Yes, I do use the public phones when I am back.)
And open, stinking drains...
Infested with mosquitoes...
Ugly...
Revolting.
Selangor was a joke enough...
Penang was yet another comic...
What now with my beloved laidback Kedah?
I say...
Relak lah, bradaaa!!!
(Inspiration to write this post was received from Can Kedah reinvent itself in time? By Salleh Buang. NST, 10th September 2005, page 8, Property Times. He takes a polite yet skeptical view on the subject.)
But I shouldn't be surprised by the landslide win of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Why not, when they are talking about more privatization, this time being the postal system.
This last election however, opened my eyes to one clear reason why Japan is a mature nation, quite like a mature human adult.
That is, there was not one single claim of election foul play, barring some local, minor 'bribery' cases.
This, in a nation of 125 million people, compared to the mere 25 million of one 'adult-wannabe' nation we know.
(You may wish to factor in the respective voting populations and the actual voting percentages.)
Meanwhile, we hear of Bolehland politikusians boasting about revamping the education system, and about bringing in foreign scientists.
Duh!
They are daydreaming, or worse, peddling falsehoods to themselves and the nation.
Yet a most hilarious prospect was Kedah, my home state, proclaiming that she wants to be a developed state by 2010!
Eeeeeiii... that's a mere five years from now, braddaaa...
Meanwhile, I see thick, black smoke gushing out from vehicles...
Vandalized public telephone boxes...
Phones that don't work but yet take your money.
(Yes, I do use the public phones when I am back.)
And open, stinking drains...
Infested with mosquitoes...
Ugly...
Revolting.
Selangor was a joke enough...
Penang was yet another comic...
What now with my beloved laidback Kedah?
I say...
Relak lah, bradaaa!!!
(Inspiration to write this post was received from Can Kedah reinvent itself in time? By Salleh Buang. NST, 10th September 2005, page 8, Property Times. He takes a polite yet skeptical view on the subject.)
Monday, September 12, 2005
TUNICATE CRAB IN TIOMAN
I wonder why these are called Hermit Crabs.
Would have liked to call this guy, Tunicate Crab instead.
The only other time I saw such a crab was in Manado, also on a night dive.
This crab camouflages itself by carrying something on its shell, in this case, tunicates...
Pretty, pretty, little, light blue tunicates...
The one I saw in Manado carried a rather ugly beige colored sponge on its shell.
This one was on the move as our torches caught it...
I took this shot with my head positioned over my extended torso and limbs, shooting from below, upwards...
The magnitude of the tunicates was about the size of a human head, and the crab, the size of a clenched fist...
Location: Panuba Inn House Reef, Tioman, on a night dive
BACK IN ACTION
Just crawled back to my office...
Had to kick my own butt out of the house this morning, and literally dragged myself to the university...
Felt so groggy from the travel...
Must be the age catching up on the creaking bones...
Spent some precious moments with my 83 year-old mum...
Whacked three durians (heavenly!) and made a glutton of myself with other goodies...
Enjoyed 12 dives at Tioman, two of them night dives, and took some pretty decent underwater shots
Then, met up with some buddies at KayEL for more glutton-related activities... yaaak!
In other words, KPIs fully accomplished...
Back on the routine now... gaaah!
Lucky that there is not so much of a mountain of work waiting to pounce on me...
Phew!
Yet, that load of pre-travel, postponed and piled-up work do add up to quite a hill
And man, the hundreds of emails, mostly trash, that needed clearing...
Fortunately, sitting on top of the heap are some gems that brought hearty smiles to my wrinkling face...
Gems... also known as the many wonderful messages left by my pals (you folks, that is...) on the last post
Thank you, thank you...
I am back, in action...
Had to kick my own butt out of the house this morning, and literally dragged myself to the university...
Felt so groggy from the travel...
Must be the age catching up on the creaking bones...
Spent some precious moments with my 83 year-old mum...
Whacked three durians (heavenly!) and made a glutton of myself with other goodies...
Enjoyed 12 dives at Tioman, two of them night dives, and took some pretty decent underwater shots
Then, met up with some buddies at KayEL for more glutton-related activities... yaaak!
In other words, KPIs fully accomplished...
Back on the routine now... gaaah!
Lucky that there is not so much of a mountain of work waiting to pounce on me...
Phew!
Yet, that load of pre-travel, postponed and piled-up work do add up to quite a hill
And man, the hundreds of emails, mostly trash, that needed clearing...
Fortunately, sitting on top of the heap are some gems that brought hearty smiles to my wrinkling face...
Gems... also known as the many wonderful messages left by my pals (you folks, that is...) on the last post
Thank you, thank you...
I am back, in action...
Friday, August 26, 2005
HITTING THE ROAD
Yours truly shall be on the road again from 27th September.
Shall be shooting off to Bolehland, stopping by KLIA briefly to whacko the nasi before continuing the flight to my kampong in Kedah.
There, I shall blissfully snore through silent nights under starry skies...
And wake up to singing birds...
Will certainly make my pilgrimage to Mee Abu and Nasi Lemak Haji Ali in Alor Star...
Yeeeeiii... deeelicous!
Plus, not forgetting to attack the divine durians...
Then, it is time to skooobaaa at Pulau Tioman...
Can't wait to hit the blue ocean...
Shall be there for four nights, and planning to do at least ten dives...
Then, it is back to KayEl to catch up with my pals...
Will be back in Samurailand on 11th September...
Heheheeee...
PS: Probably no blog post from 27th August to 11th September...
Shall be shooting off to Bolehland, stopping by KLIA briefly to whacko the nasi before continuing the flight to my kampong in Kedah.
There, I shall blissfully snore through silent nights under starry skies...
And wake up to singing birds...
Will certainly make my pilgrimage to Mee Abu and Nasi Lemak Haji Ali in Alor Star...
Yeeeeiii... deeelicous!
Plus, not forgetting to attack the divine durians...
Then, it is time to skooobaaa at Pulau Tioman...
Can't wait to hit the blue ocean...
Shall be there for four nights, and planning to do at least ten dives...
Then, it is back to KayEl to catch up with my pals...
Will be back in Samurailand on 11th September...
Heheheeee...
PS: Probably no blog post from 27th August to 11th September...
Thursday, August 25, 2005
JELLYFISH AT THE PERHENTIANS
Never saw so many jellyfishes in my dives before.
Some of their tentacles were amazingly and frighteningly long...
Surely not a pretty sight if they got you under their skin...
I made sure I was at a safe distance as I grabbed this shot...
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
SIDE DISH OR MAIN COURSE?
Spent a couple of days in Vancouver (and Victoria).
The last time I was at Vancouver, it was our honeymoon and the World Expo was in town.
So it was really nice to revisit the place... except that this time, I was traveling alone.
That place impresses me as it did almost 20 years ago.
In 1986, we home-stayed with a family who migrated from East Europe.
I sometimes still wonder if I should have listened to our hosts who suggested that we migrate to Canada immediately at that time.
I recall bursting out then, laughing heartily at their kind proposition.
Fast-forward twenty years... (Ok, ok, nineteen...)
Perhaps I am being a bit superficial here but I could sense that the folks there are enjoying living among themselves in that beautiful city.
The Asians there seem to be full members of the society, contributing and working for the nation as equal partners, quite unlike you-know-which-nation I am referring to.
I watched a parliament debate on television, where an Asian-looking Health Minister gave an immaculate speech in perfect English.
And nobody screamed out the word 'racist' while he was delivering...
And, the city folks are friendly for sure.
Once I got into a bus to Simon Fraser University without having the exact change for the fare.
The lady bus driver made an announcement for assistance from passengers who could help me.
I had a five-dollar note and this South Indian looking guy came up front and gave me three two-dollar coins and smiled.
Yeeeii... can you imagine this happening in Bolehland?
Meanwhile, I was quite surprised at the number of homeless people on the east side of the city.
They scavenged the rubbish bins looking for empty cans while dragging their possessions on (stolen?) supermarket carts.
I am now back at my office, reading about Terrence Gomez telling us that his problem in Universiti Malaya was not race-related.
He reasons that he knows 'a number of well-qualified Malay lecturers in UM, many of them among our most dedicated staff, who have not been promoted or given senior academic positions because they have been vocal critics of university management or government policies'.
Certainly can't fight with the fact that there are among our more enlightened Malay brothers and sisters who have a clear conscience so as to fight the injustice.
Let's just say that we wish there are more of these folks around...
Until that time comes, these righteous folks are just 'side-dishes'...
With regards to the 'main-course', I would like to know since when was Malaysian affairs not conducted on race-related premises.
Would be most delighted if someone can enlighten me on this...
Also, while we are at it, any chances of us seeing the top position of Malaysia Airlines go to the candidate (whether brown, black, or yellow) with the best credentials?
Heheheheheeee...
Not race-related?
Let's see...
The last time I was at Vancouver, it was our honeymoon and the World Expo was in town.
So it was really nice to revisit the place... except that this time, I was traveling alone.
That place impresses me as it did almost 20 years ago.
In 1986, we home-stayed with a family who migrated from East Europe.
I sometimes still wonder if I should have listened to our hosts who suggested that we migrate to Canada immediately at that time.
I recall bursting out then, laughing heartily at their kind proposition.
Fast-forward twenty years... (Ok, ok, nineteen...)
Perhaps I am being a bit superficial here but I could sense that the folks there are enjoying living among themselves in that beautiful city.
The Asians there seem to be full members of the society, contributing and working for the nation as equal partners, quite unlike you-know-which-nation I am referring to.
I watched a parliament debate on television, where an Asian-looking Health Minister gave an immaculate speech in perfect English.
And nobody screamed out the word 'racist' while he was delivering...
And, the city folks are friendly for sure.
Once I got into a bus to Simon Fraser University without having the exact change for the fare.
The lady bus driver made an announcement for assistance from passengers who could help me.
I had a five-dollar note and this South Indian looking guy came up front and gave me three two-dollar coins and smiled.
Yeeeii... can you imagine this happening in Bolehland?
Meanwhile, I was quite surprised at the number of homeless people on the east side of the city.
They scavenged the rubbish bins looking for empty cans while dragging their possessions on (stolen?) supermarket carts.
I am now back at my office, reading about Terrence Gomez telling us that his problem in Universiti Malaya was not race-related.
He reasons that he knows 'a number of well-qualified Malay lecturers in UM, many of them among our most dedicated staff, who have not been promoted or given senior academic positions because they have been vocal critics of university management or government policies'.
Certainly can't fight with the fact that there are among our more enlightened Malay brothers and sisters who have a clear conscience so as to fight the injustice.
Let's just say that we wish there are more of these folks around...
Until that time comes, these righteous folks are just 'side-dishes'...
With regards to the 'main-course', I would like to know since when was Malaysian affairs not conducted on race-related premises.
Would be most delighted if someone can enlighten me on this...
Also, while we are at it, any chances of us seeing the top position of Malaysia Airlines go to the candidate (whether brown, black, or yellow) with the best credentials?
Heheheheheeee...
Not race-related?
Let's see...
Monday, August 22, 2005
BOATS AT BAY
Just returned from a week's trip to Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
The weather was cool and marvelous, with temperatures oscillating between the low to mid twenties, very much unlike the fiery high thirties we now have in Japan.
Spent some time touring the Oak Bay area of Victoria by bicycle...
The Oak Bay area is a 'most attractive residential community' with 'stately waterfront mansions that hug the rugged shorelines'...
The shot above was taken in the late afternoon...
The waters, so tranquil...
I sat on a bench, enjoying the moments...
..hearing only the gentle waves and the occasional seagulls calling...
Friday, August 12, 2005
NUDIBRANCH ON PINK CORALS
Another mouthful of a name... Nembrotha lineolata Bergh... duh!
Identified by its cream colored body filled with numerous, narrow brown lines and faint red and purple marking on the gills and rhinophores...
Meat-eater... feeds on tunicates and other microscopic, fleshy stuff...
Size was about three centimeters.
THE BRIDE DOES NOT WANT TO MEET YOU
This morning, as I climbed the stairs after my daily cuddling of the plants...
Ooooooh...
My right knee hurt...
It first happened during the descent on my second trip to Mt. Fuji.
Reason?
Silly me... I ran down the slopes trying to catch the bus.
It felt so good zooming down the sandy slopes...
It was almost like skiing without skis...
And at one point, a kid in the descending crowd shouted,
Kakko ii!!!... (Cool!!!)
My head swelled to no end...
But all I succeeded was to hurt my knee, forever.
Meanwhile that feisty bride of the hour...
Chubby-faced, densely made-up, and regally dressed in a red floral baju kurung...
Yes, that heavy-duty, plump, fleshy, plucky and gutsy bride stunned all by marching up a flight of stairs before disappearing into the bedroom... ignoring everyone...
The poor guests' jaws dropped... eyes popped... dumbfounded...
Silence...
Then, a little boy in the crowd meekly quivered... softly...
Hey MakCik! We thought you had an injured knee???
The Round Object peeked out the door slit... sneering...
Brrruuuuaaaat!!!
Ooooooh...
My right knee hurt...
It first happened during the descent on my second trip to Mt. Fuji.
Reason?
Silly me... I ran down the slopes trying to catch the bus.
It felt so good zooming down the sandy slopes...
It was almost like skiing without skis...
And at one point, a kid in the descending crowd shouted,
Kakko ii!!!... (Cool!!!)
My head swelled to no end...
But all I succeeded was to hurt my knee, forever.
Meanwhile that feisty bride of the hour...
Chubby-faced, densely made-up, and regally dressed in a red floral baju kurung...
Yes, that heavy-duty, plump, fleshy, plucky and gutsy bride stunned all by marching up a flight of stairs before disappearing into the bedroom... ignoring everyone...
The poor guests' jaws dropped... eyes popped... dumbfounded...
Silence...
Then, a little boy in the crowd meekly quivered... softly...
Hey MakCik! We thought you had an injured knee???
The Round Object peeked out the door slit... sneering...
Brrruuuuaaaat!!!
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
LRONG LIM PHOTOS TO CRUISE ON
Had toyed with the idea of dropping Lrong Lim Photos...
But... why?
High maintenance cost, time-wise...
Then, was interviewed by Matakecil...
So, Lrong Lim Photos is set to cruise on...
But... why?
High maintenance cost, time-wise...
Then, was interviewed by Matakecil...
So, Lrong Lim Photos is set to cruise on...
HELMUT SHELLS GNAW ON EGGS
I adore staying motionless
Observing, and observing...
I once peeped low into a small cave...
And, weeeeeiii!
Was so surprised to find six Helmut shellfish... (one not in the picture)
Gnawing at a large nest of whitish eggs hanging from the cave ceiling...
The Helmut shellfish is really just that...
Helmet-shaped almost the size of real helmets...
I am still wondering about the eggs...
They are like, three to four centimeters long...
And, they look somewhat like the thin, flat 'chempedak' strips (as opposed to the fleshy meat) that we usually throw away...
I don't think the eggs belong to the squid or octopus...
Hmmm... hints, anyone?
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
GIANT CLAM
As in above water, it is a war down there...
Here, a giant clam fights for its space in a crack amongst the corals...
We can see the whole outer shell of these clams, if they are found in sandy bottoms where they are not restrained by corals.
But this guy is not even able to fully open its mouth for feeding.
I have seen giant clams in shades of light brown or pale green.
But they seem to be most radiant in blue...
They are usually found in shallow waters and are sensitive to light and water movement.
Swim near and over it on a sunny day and they will most often retract inside...
Some divers have their octopuses (spare oxygen unit) freely dangling down while diving, and if they are careless and/or unlucky, their octopuses may be inadvertently trapped in the mouth of the clam...
Then, it is ooh ooh oooh...
I have also observed clams that stretch about a meter and half long...
This guy was about 40 centimeters...
Monday, August 08, 2005
BE PATRIOTIC
Thanks to Mark for alerting me on that fine BBC article on how lost our Muslim brethrens are back home.
They are apparently quite torn between the present, the past, and the future...
The present being, how to be a ‘good’ Muslim...
The past being, the courage to confront and accept their historical Hindu roots...
And the future being, how to keep abreast with ‘modernity’...
I truly hope that they can strike a good balance between those three elements.
My take is...
I wish our Muslim brothers and sisters remained 'Malay' rather than turning 'Arabic'.
On a related front, I know of an Egyptian guy who sneered at a Bangladesh female student.
She wears the Bangladeshi sari often, revealing her mid-rift.
He says...
I don't like the way she dresses: it is not Islamic...
She says she is Muslim, but I don't believe she is Muslim...
Sounds familiar?
On another front, I was reading the comments on Screenshots while cleaning my teeth after lunch...
I grinned widely; observing Jeff's blood pressure shooting up again when he lamented that his blogging is getting futile...
Futile, because commentators once again hijacked his topic, turning it into the usual arguments on race...
Says Observer, a regular Screenshots undercover commentator...
Only when I am abroad am I a Malaysian!
Earlier, albeit on a different yet related subject, Paul Warren, a regular contributor to Malaysiakini's letter column, declares...
I am a Malaysian and I know that only too well when I go abroad and to make sure that I am not put together in the same basket as the Indians from India or Fiji or where ever.
My wife does the same to make sure she is not regarded as a Chinese from Mainland China, Hong Kong or Taiwan or anywhere else.
Hey brother, same-same here...
When I first came to Japan, I used my Chinese characters for my name.
The Mainland Chinese students came in hordes to celebrate their newfound comradeship with me in Mandarin, and I went belly up...
Thanks, but no, no, no...
As I mentioned somewhere before, I may not be the 'King of Cannot Speak Chinese' but I am pretty close...
So, since then, I dropped the use of the Chinese characters like that proverbial hot ubi kentang...
And then, keatix, a regular (?) commentator to my humble blog (thank you, thank you) had this to say...
Lrong, U can help out with the controlled unpegging of the RM.... be patriotic a bit mah... hee hee...
Be patriotic???
Ok, ok...
Must admit that I can't help much with the unpegging, but perhaps there is one small thing I can do...
See here for hint...
Patriotic enough or not?
Heehee heeeeh heeeheeheee...
Also, I am looking forward to sinking my teeth into that delicious kari ayam dengan ubi kentang my missus concocted for me tonight...
* Actually, it is last night's leftover lah... *
Patriotic, even to the extent of my taste buds...
Ok?
They are apparently quite torn between the present, the past, and the future...
The present being, how to be a ‘good’ Muslim...
The past being, the courage to confront and accept their historical Hindu roots...
And the future being, how to keep abreast with ‘modernity’...
I truly hope that they can strike a good balance between those three elements.
My take is...
I wish our Muslim brothers and sisters remained 'Malay' rather than turning 'Arabic'.
On a related front, I know of an Egyptian guy who sneered at a Bangladesh female student.
She wears the Bangladeshi sari often, revealing her mid-rift.
He says...
I don't like the way she dresses: it is not Islamic...
She says she is Muslim, but I don't believe she is Muslim...
Sounds familiar?
On another front, I was reading the comments on Screenshots while cleaning my teeth after lunch...
I grinned widely; observing Jeff's blood pressure shooting up again when he lamented that his blogging is getting futile...
Futile, because commentators once again hijacked his topic, turning it into the usual arguments on race...
Says Observer, a regular Screenshots undercover commentator...
Only when I am abroad am I a Malaysian!
Earlier, albeit on a different yet related subject, Paul Warren, a regular contributor to Malaysiakini's letter column, declares...
I am a Malaysian and I know that only too well when I go abroad and to make sure that I am not put together in the same basket as the Indians from India or Fiji or where ever.
My wife does the same to make sure she is not regarded as a Chinese from Mainland China, Hong Kong or Taiwan or anywhere else.
Hey brother, same-same here...
When I first came to Japan, I used my Chinese characters for my name.
The Mainland Chinese students came in hordes to celebrate their newfound comradeship with me in Mandarin, and I went belly up...
Thanks, but no, no, no...
As I mentioned somewhere before, I may not be the 'King of Cannot Speak Chinese' but I am pretty close...
So, since then, I dropped the use of the Chinese characters like that proverbial hot ubi kentang...
And then, keatix, a regular (?) commentator to my humble blog (thank you, thank you) had this to say...
Lrong, U can help out with the controlled unpegging of the RM.... be patriotic a bit mah... hee hee...
Be patriotic???
Ok, ok...
Must admit that I can't help much with the unpegging, but perhaps there is one small thing I can do...
See here for hint...
Patriotic enough or not?
Heehee heeeeh heeeheeheee...
Also, I am looking forward to sinking my teeth into that delicious kari ayam dengan ubi kentang my missus concocted for me tonight...
* Actually, it is last night's leftover lah... *
Patriotic, even to the extent of my taste buds...
Ok?
EMCEE FOR A KARAOKE CONTEST
Had a fun time playing Emcee the other weekend for a local Karaoke contest...
The costume... Malaysian enough?
See here for full story...
PS: The lovely ladies are from Argentina and China...
Saturday, August 06, 2005
RAINBOW WRASSE A-FLICKERING
Wrasses are one of the most common types of fishes we can observe in the ocean.
I caught this school of hungry rainbow wrasse on a feeding frenzy.
The target of their appetite was the eggs of the Lemon Damselfish.
Where I live in Japan, we sometimes manage to fish the rainbow wrasse.
They taste really good, especially when steamed with preserved plums, ginger, garlic, and some rice wine.
This shot was taken overhead the place of action.
I was almost in a vertical pose, with fins above...
Luckily, not much current to deter me...
Size of these guys was about 30 centimeters...
Thursday, August 04, 2005
SEA CUCUMBER
Heard on the radio this morning that the demand for sea cucumbers in China is skyrocketing.
The sea cucumber is considered one of the most sought after delicacies in Chinese cuisine besides the abalone.
And as usual, it is believed that the sea cucumber has medicinal properties that can even cure the avian disease...
But probably not this specie with a mouthful of a name...
Try pronouncing 'Bohadschia graeffei' and see if it makes sense to anyone...
Keeeeh!
According to my sources, this species radically changes it appearance from juvenile to adult, mimicking the looks of the nudibranch at the juvenile stage.
This is probably a survival strategy, as nudibranches are known to be distasteful or even poisonous to predators...
Adults are characterized by their beige color with black spots, warty skin, and short white tipped tubercles for movement...
This guy was about 50 centimeters long...
Picture taken in early evening while the guy was out feeding...
The 'model' in the background is my better half...
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
A LASTING LITTLE SMILE
Was walking down the staircase from my apartment this morning.
A familiar cute little girl of about four was playing by herself.
She is the daughter of our immediate next-door neighbor.
In a sweetest little voice, she greeted... 'Ohayo!'
Ohayo! (Good morning!)
She: 'O shigoto?' (Going to work?)
Hai, mai nichi desu yo... (Yes, every day lah...)
'Aruite?' (By foot?)
Iie, jitensha de da yo (No, by bicycle loh...)
Bye bye!
Bye bye!!
Hours later, I am still smiling...
A four year old, using the honorific ‘O’ as in O-shigoto...
Impressed, I am...
Will certainly be missing her and the folks at our pigeonhole apartment...
Last week, paid up the remaining fees for the house, and am now waiting to collect the title.
Then, spent a busy weekend planning and discussing about the kitchen and bathroom renovations.
Found out that there is a mature persimmon tree with fruits in the garden...
Hope to move there by the end of September after we return from our visit to Malaysia.
Woaaaahhh... will ripe persimmons be waiting for me?
Yes or yes?
A familiar cute little girl of about four was playing by herself.
She is the daughter of our immediate next-door neighbor.
In a sweetest little voice, she greeted... 'Ohayo!'
Ohayo! (Good morning!)
She: 'O shigoto?' (Going to work?)
Hai, mai nichi desu yo... (Yes, every day lah...)
'Aruite?' (By foot?)
Iie, jitensha de da yo (No, by bicycle loh...)
Bye bye!
Bye bye!!
Hours later, I am still smiling...
A four year old, using the honorific ‘O’ as in O-shigoto...
Impressed, I am...
Will certainly be missing her and the folks at our pigeonhole apartment...
Last week, paid up the remaining fees for the house, and am now waiting to collect the title.
Then, spent a busy weekend planning and discussing about the kitchen and bathroom renovations.
Found out that there is a mature persimmon tree with fruits in the garden...
Hope to move there by the end of September after we return from our visit to Malaysia.
Woaaaahhh... will ripe persimmons be waiting for me?
Yes or yes?
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
DROP OFF CAFÉ AT SIPADAN
The one and only café at the drop off point in Sipadan.
Service was very slow...
But the view and atmosphere was superb...
Probably no longer in existence because of the government decree to evacuate all business premises from Sipadan.
Friday, July 29, 2005
STARRY PUFFERFISH
Was down near the seabed at about 12 meters when I looked up to see this guy approaching.
Thought it was a dugong.
It had its mouth opened but I didn't see it eating anything.
This lethargic guy swimming was a delight to observe.
Size was about a meter; quite a lot of sashimi there.
(Never mind the white spots. They are reflections from the in-built strobe. Of course, would like to have an external strobe soon...)
Thursday, July 28, 2005
CLOWN FISH ON PURPLE ANEMONE
The clown fish is definitely one of my favorite photo subjects.
To begin with, they are such a joy to observe.
Their pretty colors and the way they rub their bodies against those anemone tentacles...
woooohhh...
Size was about 4 centimeters...
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
NAPOLEON WRASSE
Here's a shot of the Napoleon wrasse or humphead wrasse as per Boringest’s request.
The Napoleon is characterized by its hump on the head that resembles Napoleon's hat.
It grows up to about two meters and is the second largest coral fish after the gigantic grouper.
I first saw the graceful Napoleon in Bunaken, Manado... and that guy was huge.
*Eeeeiii.... no underwater housing at that time*
They are usually alone, unlike the 'herdy' buffalo fish.
The bump on the Napoleon's head is more 'squarish' while the ones on the buffaloes are more 'knobby'.
Furthermore, Napoleons are more colorful, albeit still rather dull when compared to other garish parrotfishes in the wrasse family.
The Napoleon is threatened to the brink of extinction because restaurants (Chinese again!!!) pay a premium price for them, as in 400 US dollars a kilogram.
The Napoleon normally do not take baits on hooks, so fishermen use cyanide bombs to stun them.
In the process, the cyanide bombings destroy the fragile corals.
This guy was photographed at Okinawa, not in the wonderful seas, but in the aquarium.
*Porgib me for cheating here!*
Still, am not too satisfied with this shot, and if not for the request, it would not be seeing light here...
Size was about half meter...
KIDOH II
That inspiring picture above...
It brings my mind back to that Malaysia Today article, 'Malay rights and privileges'
(I first blogged about this article here.)
Excerpts...
'The stupid Malays stand on stage in front of the rostrum at the Umno General Assembly year after year shouting and screaming about defending and protecting special Malay rights and privileges!
The stupid Malays stand on stage in front of the rostrum at the Umno General Assembly year after year shouting and screaming that only Umno can defend and protect the Malay's special rights and privileges!'
I say... Terima kasih very much, Malaysia Today...
P/S: See here for meaning of KIDOH
Monday, July 25, 2005
LEMON DAMSELFISH
Always a pleasure to observe fish in action...
Damselfishes are very territorial and you can actually tease them by poking your face near their nests and they will almost always confront you...
I found this lemon damselfish excitedly darting here and there, trying in vain to chase away the school of rainbow wrasses that were voraciously feeding on her eggs off the rock wall...
Normally her fins would be retracted, relaxed.
But notice her extended fins, her big wide eyes... and her opened mouth, as if she was reprimanding the intruders...
Saturday, July 23, 2005
KIDOH
Just let out a chuckle upon reading a comment in Screenshots...
Regarding glocal, reader 'groo' says, the politikusians 'are moving in a direction similar to SMS chat whereby short forms and acronyms are being used widely'.
Yeap... 'KIDOH (kita bodoh)'
Heheehe heeeeheeee...
Man, man... this is the type of humor I like...
On the de-pegging of the ringgit...
Can't say for sure, but the news and commentaries that I listen to here in Japan since yesterday...
There is not one single mention of it...
All of the news and commentaries talked of the yuan and its effects on Japanese trade with China.
So much for going glocal for Malaysia... *sad, sad*
Meanwhile, I envisage that we have not seen the last of that fat woman's stomach-churning face and her nauseating buaya tears...
Let's wait for her to come face to face with that recalcitrant old man...
If we are lucky, we might be entertained to a duet rendition of waaah... waaah... whaaaaa...
Regarding glocal, reader 'groo' says, the politikusians 'are moving in a direction similar to SMS chat whereby short forms and acronyms are being used widely'.
Yeap... 'KIDOH (kita bodoh)'
Heheehe heeeeheeee...
Man, man... this is the type of humor I like...
On the de-pegging of the ringgit...
Can't say for sure, but the news and commentaries that I listen to here in Japan since yesterday...
There is not one single mention of it...
All of the news and commentaries talked of the yuan and its effects on Japanese trade with China.
So much for going glocal for Malaysia... *sad, sad*
Meanwhile, I envisage that we have not seen the last of that fat woman's stomach-churning face and her nauseating buaya tears...
Let's wait for her to come face to face with that recalcitrant old man...
If we are lucky, we might be entertained to a duet rendition of waaah... waaah... whaaaaa...
BUMP HEAD PARROT FISH
The bump head parrot fish or buffalo fish is my favorite fish to watch, not to eat, mind you.
I first saw about 6 of them on a snorkeling trip at Coral Island, Tioman, and I was hooked.
That was before I became a diver.
The bump on the head gives it its name.
They usually move in herds.
This one was captured at Sipadan.
We had returned to the boat after a dive, and had removed our scuba gear when the guide saw the herd grazing in shallow waters.
Grazing as in buffaloes on land, hence its other name.
I immediately jumped into the sea with only my mask and camera, cursing myself for not bringing the snorkel.
Imagine my struggle to breath as I tried to keep up with the herd, snapping pictures all the way...
They have tough 'bugs bunny' teeth for biting off coral heads.
You can actually hear them grunting while biting off the corals.
They grind the corals to bits, absorb the nutrients, and pass out the coral bits as sand...
So, a substantial amount of sand we see on the beaches is actually the waste from these guys.
The bigger ones are about 1.5 meters...
Ah, the taste?
A dive guide once commented that the buffalo fish taste superb in asam soup.
And the most delicious part?
The thick lips, said he...
Friday, July 22, 2005
TRUMPET FISH IN YELLOW
Photographing ‘fish in flight’ is tricky business.
Patience, anticipation, and luck, plus loads of battery power and storage space are needed.
You shoot and shoot... if you are lucky you may get one satisfactory shot...
This shot could be better if not for the missing mouth...
Trumpet fish is often brown or green, and occasionally yellow.
They can change colors quickly and grow up to about one meter.
Trumpet fish prey on small fishes, plunging down vertically from above to suck the prey with its long snout.
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
BABY, BABY, BABY...
Awwww man...
What a disgraceful sight...
You are crying now?
For what's sake, may I ask?
Nothing to do with any AP holders?
Eh??
And you swear by God for that??
Heeeheheee... hehee... heehehee....
Man, if only God could yell...
By the way, did you know what a bl**dy mess you politikusians have made, and are continuing to make, purportedly FOR Malaysia?
And while we are at it, we have another smart politikusian prodding Malays to go 'glocal'...
Eh??
Glo... glo... glowhat???
I say...
Can afford ah???
Man, before you even dare to dream of running in the wild, please, for your own safety, learn how to walk first within your house compound!
But then again, heheeheh... heeehheee... it might be quite hilarious to watch the voracious lions in the wild tear up to pieces the 'unaided' sang kancil...
Poor baby...
What a disgraceful sight...
You are crying now?
For what's sake, may I ask?
Nothing to do with any AP holders?
Eh??
And you swear by God for that??
Heeeheheee... hehee... heehehee....
Man, if only God could yell...
By the way, did you know what a bl**dy mess you politikusians have made, and are continuing to make, purportedly FOR Malaysia?
And while we are at it, we have another smart politikusian prodding Malays to go 'glocal'...
Eh??
Glo... glo... glowhat???
I say...
Can afford ah???
Man, before you even dare to dream of running in the wild, please, for your own safety, learn how to walk first within your house compound!
But then again, heheeheh... heeehheee... it might be quite hilarious to watch the voracious lions in the wild tear up to pieces the 'unaided' sang kancil...
Poor baby...
OCEANIC BALLET DANCER
Was 'de-gassing' at about five meters
Thought I saw the initial letter of my sweetheart, Y...
But perhaps not, she said...
That's more like a figurine ballet dancer
Limps fully stretched...
Torso arched to the rim
flying, in midair...
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
DESCENDING INTO THE DEPTHS
Was one of the first to descend...
waited near the sea bed...
watching
and watching...
Fellow divers
cruising...
at Akajima, Okinawa
Sunday, July 17, 2005
AN EVENING AT THE OSAKA CHINESE GENERAL CONSULATE
Just returned from Osaka after an evening party at the Chinese General Consulate.
The invitees were university personnel working on foreign student issues.
As I see it, the Chinese General Consulate aimed to extend some goodwill to these personnel with regards to Chinese students studying at Japanese universities in West Japan.
Had reached Osaka early so as to visit the Dotonburi area, the place to cruise while in Osaka.
Was walking in the heat and my 'sepek' eyes almost shot out of their sockets upon seeing a high school uniformed student, sitting on a bench, baring her thighs to reveal her white-colored panties...
Heeeeeeeeeehhhhhhh...
Ordinarily, I would have howled... and howled...
But no no, not in 30 over degrees of mid summer heat... *puff... puff...*
Besides, Dotonburi is the place 'to go to see and be seen'...
And skeptical me... I suspected that she might just be fishing for some 'kind hearted goondoo uncle' to take her bait and 'supplement' her pocket money...
So, continue to walk, walk... see, see...
Then...
Was surprised to see the consulate heavily surrounded by policemen in bulletproof vests...
They asked for my identification...
Wooohh... no play play business ok...
Understandably, they were there to make sure that the ultra-rights behaved themselves while we feasted on the juicy dumplings and drank old Chinese wine...
I expected to be incognito at the party...
Out of the hundred over people, I knew only three...
One lady from Ryukoku University, one Chinese guy who was my junior at Nagoya University, and the chief administrator at Kagawa University...
The Consul took time and pain to explain the aching relationship between China and Japan.
Indirectly and diplomatically, he was urging the Japanese to apologize to China.
I took notes of his rather interesting 30-minute speech delivered in almost perfect, non-accented Japanese...
Impressed I was...
The Japanese professor from Kyoto University, who returned the speech, deftly evaded the issue.
I was bored to the core...
Well, we were there to enjoy the evening and to gorge at the delicious Peking delicacies, not to make an argument that does not seem to have immediate answers...
So, what better thing to do but to mingle around... ogle a bit... and pick on the morsels?
Of all the goodies, the mizu-gzoya (mini soup-dumplings?) was simply superb...
Had expected an uneventful episode but ended up spending a useful evening collecting a bunch of name cards while expanding my network of connections...
Next trip... Ehime University on 1st August
Next-next trip... University of British Vancouver, University of Victoria, and Simon Fraser University from 14th to 20th August...
Next-next-next trip... balik kampong probably from 23rd August to early September...
Heeeeeee...
The invitees were university personnel working on foreign student issues.
As I see it, the Chinese General Consulate aimed to extend some goodwill to these personnel with regards to Chinese students studying at Japanese universities in West Japan.
Had reached Osaka early so as to visit the Dotonburi area, the place to cruise while in Osaka.
Was walking in the heat and my 'sepek' eyes almost shot out of their sockets upon seeing a high school uniformed student, sitting on a bench, baring her thighs to reveal her white-colored panties...
Heeeeeeeeeehhhhhhh...
Ordinarily, I would have howled... and howled...
But no no, not in 30 over degrees of mid summer heat... *puff... puff...*
Besides, Dotonburi is the place 'to go to see and be seen'...
And skeptical me... I suspected that she might just be fishing for some 'kind hearted goondoo uncle' to take her bait and 'supplement' her pocket money...
So, continue to walk, walk... see, see...
Then...
Was surprised to see the consulate heavily surrounded by policemen in bulletproof vests...
They asked for my identification...
Wooohh... no play play business ok...
Understandably, they were there to make sure that the ultra-rights behaved themselves while we feasted on the juicy dumplings and drank old Chinese wine...
I expected to be incognito at the party...
Out of the hundred over people, I knew only three...
One lady from Ryukoku University, one Chinese guy who was my junior at Nagoya University, and the chief administrator at Kagawa University...
The Consul took time and pain to explain the aching relationship between China and Japan.
Indirectly and diplomatically, he was urging the Japanese to apologize to China.
I took notes of his rather interesting 30-minute speech delivered in almost perfect, non-accented Japanese...
Impressed I was...
The Japanese professor from Kyoto University, who returned the speech, deftly evaded the issue.
I was bored to the core...
Well, we were there to enjoy the evening and to gorge at the delicious Peking delicacies, not to make an argument that does not seem to have immediate answers...
So, what better thing to do but to mingle around... ogle a bit... and pick on the morsels?
Of all the goodies, the mizu-gzoya (mini soup-dumplings?) was simply superb...
Had expected an uneventful episode but ended up spending a useful evening collecting a bunch of name cards while expanding my network of connections...
Next trip... Ehime University on 1st August
Next-next trip... University of British Vancouver, University of Victoria, and Simon Fraser University from 14th to 20th August...
Next-next-next trip... balik kampong probably from 23rd August to early September...
Heeeeeee...
Saturday, July 16, 2005
FISH FOR DINNER
Went fishing the other day at our secret hideout
No need to buy bait as I could get them from the rocky outcrops...
Ended up with three kelpfish...
Twenty-five, twenty, and fifteen centimeters...
Cooked them with salted plum, sake, ginger and shoyu
Somewhat boney, but fresh and so delicious...
Friday, July 15, 2005
A DAY WITH MS. OHO
Been doing this for more than ten years now...
Once again, the same veteran doctor, albeit balding more than last year, but luckily not spewing bad breath as in last year...
He mumbled the usual gibberish to his assistant as he peeped through my fangs...
Ichi go da da da... San ni ichi da da... Ni ni yon ichii ichii...
He was done in about ten minutes.
'No problems with your teeth; the Oral Hygiene Officer (for brevity, shall I say OHO?) shall attend to you now'.
This is the part I like most...
The OHO is usually a young lady, sometimes good looking, and usually with no bad breath...
This time, the OHO was indeed a young lady, good looking, and yoh, no bad breath...
She invited me to take my shoes off and then to lie down on the horizontal bed.
Eeeeeiiii....
As always, the OHO was most gentle and professional.
I usually close my eyes, resting, and enjoying the tender attention...
She visually checked my teeth...
I was a bit worried about gingivitis...
Just then, Ms. OHO softly whispered into my right ear that she was going to check for gingivitis...
Eeeeeiiii....
I could feel some sharp instrument sliding into my gums...
As if on reflex, I arched my backbone upwards...
She then said she was going to clean my teeth with some kind of electric brush...
The 'weeeeee' sounds of the drill...
It's impossible not to go 'yeeeeeiiii...' upon hearing that drill...
I could occasionally feel her torso delicately pressing against my balding head as she reached for that molar...
The whole procedure took about 30 minutes...
I wished it took longer...
After gargling and washing my mouth, we sat at a different room.
She had two diagrams showing the stages of gingivitis.
Stage one is the 'best', and stage five is when the teeth start dropping off.
Mine is between stage one and two... yeeeaaah, thank god for that...
Paid 2410 yen (about 80 ringgit) for this service, which is 30% of the cost.
The rest is covered by insurance.
Can't wait for my next annual leh...
PS: Been busy like a doggo lately. Due to shoot to Osaka in a few hours time... Maybe drop by Dotonburi to fill up on my cholesterol quota...
Once again, the same veteran doctor, albeit balding more than last year, but luckily not spewing bad breath as in last year...
He mumbled the usual gibberish to his assistant as he peeped through my fangs...
Ichi go da da da... San ni ichi da da... Ni ni yon ichii ichii...
He was done in about ten minutes.
'No problems with your teeth; the Oral Hygiene Officer (for brevity, shall I say OHO?) shall attend to you now'.
This is the part I like most...
The OHO is usually a young lady, sometimes good looking, and usually with no bad breath...
This time, the OHO was indeed a young lady, good looking, and yoh, no bad breath...
She invited me to take my shoes off and then to lie down on the horizontal bed.
Eeeeeiiii....
As always, the OHO was most gentle and professional.
I usually close my eyes, resting, and enjoying the tender attention...
She visually checked my teeth...
I was a bit worried about gingivitis...
Just then, Ms. OHO softly whispered into my right ear that she was going to check for gingivitis...
Eeeeeiiii....
I could feel some sharp instrument sliding into my gums...
As if on reflex, I arched my backbone upwards...
She then said she was going to clean my teeth with some kind of electric brush...
The 'weeeeee' sounds of the drill...
It's impossible not to go 'yeeeeeiiii...' upon hearing that drill...
I could occasionally feel her torso delicately pressing against my balding head as she reached for that molar...
The whole procedure took about 30 minutes...
I wished it took longer...
After gargling and washing my mouth, we sat at a different room.
She had two diagrams showing the stages of gingivitis.
Stage one is the 'best', and stage five is when the teeth start dropping off.
Mine is between stage one and two... yeeeaaah, thank god for that...
Paid 2410 yen (about 80 ringgit) for this service, which is 30% of the cost.
The rest is covered by insurance.
Can't wait for my next annual leh...
PS: Been busy like a doggo lately. Due to shoot to Osaka in a few hours time... Maybe drop by Dotonburi to fill up on my cholesterol quota...
Monday, July 11, 2005
MALAYSIA TO HOST 2020 OLYMPICS
I am of course referring to that dazzling idea of Selangor...
Tomorrow it is Penang...
And limping by the day after is Kedah... * that forever slow kerbau *
On another front, there are people going around calling themselves princes and princesses (I suppose you know who...).
These people have no shame or what?
And on a related matter, the self conferment of feudalistic titles...
Heard of the joke about a Tan Sri who missed his flight in Bangkok?
He was jumping mad, naturally...
How could they possibly do this to a Tan Sri, he fumed...
And he roared...
'Did they page for me before closing the aircraft doors?'
Yes, the airport staff replied, and played back the recording...
'Will Mr. Tan immediately board the aircraft on Gate 38 please?'
A friend accused me of pedaling a limp joke...
I replied, 'you are learning fast'...
Back to the self-proclamations...
Will Malaysia ever dare to pit herself against other contenders to host Olympic 2020?
With all these hoohaa about Vision 2020, why not?
If she can come through hosting that 2020 event, there's no need for her to self-proclaim anything...
Just let her actions speak...
But then again, those wretched fellows and their ilk... feeling so comfortable in their cocoon...
Flash that dirty word 'COMPETITION' and they freak out...
Developed WHAT???
My *SS, it is...
Tomorrow it is Penang...
And limping by the day after is Kedah... * that forever slow kerbau *
On another front, there are people going around calling themselves princes and princesses (I suppose you know who...).
These people have no shame or what?
And on a related matter, the self conferment of feudalistic titles...
Heard of the joke about a Tan Sri who missed his flight in Bangkok?
He was jumping mad, naturally...
How could they possibly do this to a Tan Sri, he fumed...
And he roared...
'Did they page for me before closing the aircraft doors?'
Yes, the airport staff replied, and played back the recording...
'Will Mr. Tan immediately board the aircraft on Gate 38 please?'
A friend accused me of pedaling a limp joke...
I replied, 'you are learning fast'...
Back to the self-proclamations...
Will Malaysia ever dare to pit herself against other contenders to host Olympic 2020?
With all these hoohaa about Vision 2020, why not?
If she can come through hosting that 2020 event, there's no need for her to self-proclaim anything...
Just let her actions speak...
But then again, those wretched fellows and their ilk... feeling so comfortable in their cocoon...
Flash that dirty word 'COMPETITION' and they freak out...
Developed WHAT???
My *SS, it is...
CATERPILLAR ON THE PROWL
Found tens of small greenish caterpillars one morning...
Tried to remove them all, but...
Presently, about 5 or 6 are chewing away the fennel stalks & seeds...
Wifey says, let's spare them...
and see what beautiful butterflies they evolve to be...
(Size about three to four centimeters)
Sunday, July 10, 2005
ARE YOU MAN ENOUGH TO WEEP?
Talking about job satisfaction...
Had just concluded our maiden two-week Japanese Language program for 17 students from two Korean universities.
Being the primary 'mover', most of the coordination and problem solving efforts throughout the program fell on my shoulders.
Not that I am complaining...
In fact, I am having a ball of a time, despite some continuous sleepless nights in the initial days, worrying if the Korean students could sleep in their 'new' homes...
Thank god, I had the full support of the university staff, in particular the Section chief who is really, really meticulous about his work...
During the final presentations yesterday, conducted in interview format, the student-presenters, the host families, and the general audience... could not hold back their sentiments...
Being the MC, I could not afford to be sobbing... no, no, not in front of the video camera... I am a man, you see...
Besides, I have work to do... but man, it was really hard to hold back, though...
The Korean students major in Japanese Language in their respective universities.
But their communicative skills are somewhat lacking.
With few exceptions, most of them could not really express themselves... coupled with their apprehensions of how they will be treated by their Japanese host families...
But after two weeks with us, they opened their hearts up and albeit some occasional hiccups with the language, they related their personal experiences particularly on the home stays... on getting a taste of the tatemae-honne stance of the Japanese... and of their unfortunate histories...
The emotions erupted in waves and waves...
Emotions of joy... of relief... of having broken not only the language barrier but more crucially the cultural, and the historical communication wall... of making friends despite their prickly political relationships...and of the tribulations of 'finding' a new mother and father...
During the sayonara lunch party that followed, I called upon the host families to relate their experiences as hosts to the Korean students...
Amidst tears, many a parent talked of the pains and joys of having 'found' a new daughter...
All of the families have experiences hosting foreigners before but never, Korean students...
They were weeping openly... and hugging the students...
Man... I never expected a language program to end with such powerful emotions...
It simply gets on to you...
This went on for almost an hour, with yours truly resolutely hanging on, composed and still hosting, and attempting to crack an occasional dry joke to invite a smile or two...
Now as I blog while reviewing the pictures, I can't believe I am shedding tears...
Tears of delight... no doubt...
I say, it must be that rain...
Had just concluded our maiden two-week Japanese Language program for 17 students from two Korean universities.
Being the primary 'mover', most of the coordination and problem solving efforts throughout the program fell on my shoulders.
Not that I am complaining...
In fact, I am having a ball of a time, despite some continuous sleepless nights in the initial days, worrying if the Korean students could sleep in their 'new' homes...
Thank god, I had the full support of the university staff, in particular the Section chief who is really, really meticulous about his work...
During the final presentations yesterday, conducted in interview format, the student-presenters, the host families, and the general audience... could not hold back their sentiments...
Being the MC, I could not afford to be sobbing... no, no, not in front of the video camera... I am a man, you see...
Besides, I have work to do... but man, it was really hard to hold back, though...
The Korean students major in Japanese Language in their respective universities.
But their communicative skills are somewhat lacking.
With few exceptions, most of them could not really express themselves... coupled with their apprehensions of how they will be treated by their Japanese host families...
But after two weeks with us, they opened their hearts up and albeit some occasional hiccups with the language, they related their personal experiences particularly on the home stays... on getting a taste of the tatemae-honne stance of the Japanese... and of their unfortunate histories...
The emotions erupted in waves and waves...
Emotions of joy... of relief... of having broken not only the language barrier but more crucially the cultural, and the historical communication wall... of making friends despite their prickly political relationships...and of the tribulations of 'finding' a new mother and father...
During the sayonara lunch party that followed, I called upon the host families to relate their experiences as hosts to the Korean students...
Amidst tears, many a parent talked of the pains and joys of having 'found' a new daughter...
All of the families have experiences hosting foreigners before but never, Korean students...
They were weeping openly... and hugging the students...
Man... I never expected a language program to end with such powerful emotions...
It simply gets on to you...
This went on for almost an hour, with yours truly resolutely hanging on, composed and still hosting, and attempting to crack an occasional dry joke to invite a smile or two...
Now as I blog while reviewing the pictures, I can't believe I am shedding tears...
Tears of delight... no doubt...
I say, it must be that rain...
Saturday, July 09, 2005
SONGS OF THE HEART
It is now past 9:00 pm on this eighth July day of Two-zero-zero-five...
Nothing significant really, thank god for that, except that yours truly had just turned forty seven and still rolling...
Update: Just received an email birthday wish from Fish Fish... San Kyu beree machi!!
Am now listening, repeatedly... to an oldie called リンゴ追分 (literally, Chasing the Apple?) by Misora Hibari while I recall receiving an email from a fellow Kedahan living in Melbourne...
He was fond of listening to 'old' Japanese songs...
'Chasing the Apple' belongs to a genre called 演歌 'enka', or Japanese popular (country) songs.
Throughout my years in Japan, I have grown to love this type of songs which I think represents very much, 'the heart of Japan', 日本の心 or 'Nihon no kokoro'.
Most enka songs are sad songs, focusing on perennial themes like unrequited love, separations, or heartbreaks, interspersed with generous references of sake, seagulls, tears, and lonely nights at the harbor...
Besides Misora Hibari, I am also a big fan of the Japanese grand old man of rock, Eikichi Yazawa.
He preaches about love and about having a good time while you can...
Lately, I have been enchanted by the counter tenor Yoshikazu Mera...
He has an operatic voice that is almost angelic... and he sings so gracefully and beautifully...
I don't listen much to English songs as much as I did before hitting the shores of Japan...
Except for that wonderful duet of Ella and Louis whose melodic voices are described as 'the mating of honey and molasses'...
But then, Earl Klugh has always been our all-time favorite...
How could he not, when we had only his music accompanying our wedding reception ages ago?
The Carpenters and Deep Purple helped me managed my teenage nights...
Lionel Richie and Queen, among others put me on track during my somewhat rowdy twenties...
The thirties saw me a pretty lost man, oscillating between J-pop and 'E-pop'...
Songs of the heart... I can't live without them...
Nothing significant really, thank god for that, except that yours truly had just turned forty seven and still rolling...
Update: Just received an email birthday wish from Fish Fish... San Kyu beree machi!!
Am now listening, repeatedly... to an oldie called リンゴ追分 (literally, Chasing the Apple?) by Misora Hibari while I recall receiving an email from a fellow Kedahan living in Melbourne...
He was fond of listening to 'old' Japanese songs...
'Chasing the Apple' belongs to a genre called 演歌 'enka', or Japanese popular (country) songs.
Throughout my years in Japan, I have grown to love this type of songs which I think represents very much, 'the heart of Japan', 日本の心 or 'Nihon no kokoro'.
Most enka songs are sad songs, focusing on perennial themes like unrequited love, separations, or heartbreaks, interspersed with generous references of sake, seagulls, tears, and lonely nights at the harbor...
Besides Misora Hibari, I am also a big fan of the Japanese grand old man of rock, Eikichi Yazawa.
He preaches about love and about having a good time while you can...
Lately, I have been enchanted by the counter tenor Yoshikazu Mera...
He has an operatic voice that is almost angelic... and he sings so gracefully and beautifully...
I don't listen much to English songs as much as I did before hitting the shores of Japan...
Except for that wonderful duet of Ella and Louis whose melodic voices are described as 'the mating of honey and molasses'...
But then, Earl Klugh has always been our all-time favorite...
How could he not, when we had only his music accompanying our wedding reception ages ago?
The Carpenters and Deep Purple helped me managed my teenage nights...
Lionel Richie and Queen, among others put me on track during my somewhat rowdy twenties...
The thirties saw me a pretty lost man, oscillating between J-pop and 'E-pop'...
Songs of the heart... I can't live without them...
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
HERMIT CRAB IN MABUL
Location: Paradise One, Mabul Island.
Time: early evening when I suppose this guy is getting hungry...
very shy guy... he retracted each time I got nearer
but with a little patience, he got used to my presence...
Monday, July 04, 2005
THE RAINS ALMOST MAKE ME WANT TO CRY
If there is one natural phenomenon that reminds me of home, it is the rain...
It is almost 5:00 pm on this early July Saturday as I pen this note, listening softly to the rhythmic koto renditions of Nihon no Uta (Japanese songs) like Sakura sakura, Hamabe no uta, and Kojo no tsuki.
The smell from the rain and the cool air however, gets the better of me...
I feel melancholic, even somewhat sad...
'Sad' as in almost wanting to shed a tear, for reasons quite unknown even to me...
After weeks of unusual dry weather, we were bombarded the day before with heavy thundershowers and strong gales.
As always, I was on my bicycle and I happily got wet on the way home from work.
Today, the thunderstorms and gales continued.
We had just brought the bunch of Korean students to a nearby temple to introduce them to the ceremonial art of enjoying Japanese tea.
The Lions club that has been supporting my efforts to bridge the foreign student and Japanese communities, once again hosted a superb event.
Over the years, I have had several opportunities to indulge in the tea ceremony and it is always a pleasure to observe ladies (usually) in pretty kimonos gently whipping up the frothy green tea and serving it on immaculately carved wooden trays to silently waiting guests.
Many a foreigner finds it a pain to go through the rather long process, which practically entails sitting on one's folded legs.
I have sort of like, gotten used to sitting in such a manner.
The Lions folks then treated us to an udon lunch.
This was followed by a tour of the shooting locations for the hit movie called 世界の中心で、愛をさけぶ 'Sekai no Chūshin de Ai wo Sakebu', shortened to セカチュー 'SekaChu'.
(English title: 'Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World', Chinese title: 在世界中心呼喊愛).
Many movie-going young tourists from all over Japan come by to visit the several shooting locations.
I have not even seen the movie... *shy, shy*
It is a tear-jerker love story about two young people who have to separate due to one partner being terminally ill.
Incidentally, the location of this hit movie is near the property we are purchasing.
While the whole troop was busying themselves with the shooting locations, I was uncontrollably drawn to the rain-soaked, rough-looking boats buoyed in the fishing port.
I think I am going to be busy shooting pictures after we move into the house...
Not of the movie locations, but of the delightful boats parked at the charming fishing ports of Aji town...
Meanwhile, the tsuyu rains continue to fall...
Tears of joy I should be crying...
It is almost 5:00 pm on this early July Saturday as I pen this note, listening softly to the rhythmic koto renditions of Nihon no Uta (Japanese songs) like Sakura sakura, Hamabe no uta, and Kojo no tsuki.
The smell from the rain and the cool air however, gets the better of me...
I feel melancholic, even somewhat sad...
'Sad' as in almost wanting to shed a tear, for reasons quite unknown even to me...
After weeks of unusual dry weather, we were bombarded the day before with heavy thundershowers and strong gales.
As always, I was on my bicycle and I happily got wet on the way home from work.
Today, the thunderstorms and gales continued.
We had just brought the bunch of Korean students to a nearby temple to introduce them to the ceremonial art of enjoying Japanese tea.
The Lions club that has been supporting my efforts to bridge the foreign student and Japanese communities, once again hosted a superb event.
Over the years, I have had several opportunities to indulge in the tea ceremony and it is always a pleasure to observe ladies (usually) in pretty kimonos gently whipping up the frothy green tea and serving it on immaculately carved wooden trays to silently waiting guests.
Many a foreigner finds it a pain to go through the rather long process, which practically entails sitting on one's folded legs.
I have sort of like, gotten used to sitting in such a manner.
The Lions folks then treated us to an udon lunch.
This was followed by a tour of the shooting locations for the hit movie called 世界の中心で、愛をさけぶ 'Sekai no Chūshin de Ai wo Sakebu', shortened to セカチュー 'SekaChu'.
(English title: 'Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World', Chinese title: 在世界中心呼喊愛).
Many movie-going young tourists from all over Japan come by to visit the several shooting locations.
I have not even seen the movie... *shy, shy*
It is a tear-jerker love story about two young people who have to separate due to one partner being terminally ill.
Incidentally, the location of this hit movie is near the property we are purchasing.
While the whole troop was busying themselves with the shooting locations, I was uncontrollably drawn to the rain-soaked, rough-looking boats buoyed in the fishing port.
I think I am going to be busy shooting pictures after we move into the house...
Not of the movie locations, but of the delightful boats parked at the charming fishing ports of Aji town...
Meanwhile, the tsuyu rains continue to fall...
Tears of joy I should be crying...
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