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Spearhunting The Real Coral Killers

Aug 2010

Coral bleaching is NOT caused by human impact and pollution. It is caused by weather phenomenons. So why has the authorities announced dive site closures to revive the bleached corals?

Coral bleaching is the whitening of corals due to the expulsion of algae – the food manufacturing processors that reside in corals by way of photosynthesis. This can be caused by a number of weather phenomenon triggers, most commonly a rise in water temperatures. Bleached corals are not yet dead.

The rise of surface temperatures in the water is caused why the El Nino weather patterns. El Nino is only one part of the Southern Oscillation. The counterpart to this coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon is La Nina, usually expected from November to January, often has reverse effects to El Nino. La Nina conditions would see a drop in ocean temperatures by several degrees, causing algae to return to corals.

I’ve witnessed a similar occurrence in 1997 and was diving in pleasantly warm waters until 1999 when La Nina brought the cold fronts of about 21 – 23 degrees Celsius back to our waters and giving the algae the much desired environment to thrive in. We had 95% recovery and I believe, we will have a recovery as soon as the water temperatures in the region begin to drop.

El Nino has been around for centuries and has nothing to do with global warming – it can enhance the effects of El Nino but it is not the cause. This is something that divers have known since encountering it during its last occurrence. Global warming is an atmospheric condition whereas El Nino occurs when the gush of warm waters spreads from the west Pacific and the Indian Ocean to the east Pacific.

What has it got to do with divers diving near coral reefs? If we were grazing corals or mowing them, then perhaps the closure is apt but divers hover way above the corals to avoid collision and injury to animal and man. Whether there are divers present or not, the coral will remain bleached until the cold waters (fronts/currents) are brought in by La Nina, which might or might not revive the bleached reef in time. These factors are not related to the impact of divers.
bleached coral

healthy corals

So what will the dive sites closure achieve? You would think that the authorities would do some research on coral bleaching before making such a drastic move that causes livelihoods to suffer. The Maldives, Thailand, Philippines and Indonesia are experiencing the same but they are not jeopardising the tourism trade because of a weather phenomenon.

The efforts of the authorities to close dive sites will bring about dire consequences to the trade depending on dive tourism. Travel agents will stop selling/pushing the sales of dive resorts and packages for fear of getting flak from irked divers. This being said, agents who are not divers, will think it’s probably a blanket closure, not knowing where in the map is Chebeh, Labas, Tulai, Washing Machine, Fish Bowl and whatnots are at (dive sites’ names). They will err on the safe side by NOT selling dive packages.

This effect caused by the announcement has also reverberated to overseas travel agents (who also have no idea where Chebeh, Labas, Tulai, Washing Machine, Fish Bowl are) and they will be less inclined to sell diving and worse of all – they are removing a source of civilian detection of “crime” at seas.

Let me give you an example of what goes on in the islands. Illegal spearhunters will plunder our dive sites and take those resident fishes that have grown accustomed to divers’ presence in the water leaving dive instructors like us with no attractions to show our students when visiting our reefs. When something like this happens, divers from different dive operators who witness the incident, would take photos and warn them to get off the site.

One such incident occurred and divers collaborated to chase the spearhunters’ boat off their territory. Several years ago, it was well-known that Kevin Hiew, the former Head of Marine Parks, detained a spearhunter in Redang waters who was also the owner of one of the resorts in Redang itself. He was prosecuted and fined for spearhunting in marine parks.

If you hold a speargun without a gun license, you are liable to be prosecuted under the Firearms Act 1971. The police have stopped the issuance of these licenses in 1985, with the minimum age set at 21 years to qualify to apply for one then. What age would you have to be now, if you are to be even seen as a legal owner? Make no mistake about this as we are not against spearhunting but against “spearhunting using SCUBA” in the vicinity of marine parks. We shall not go into the specifics of this now as spearhunting is a subject that’s been debated for years.

The presence of dive boats will also deter the encroachment of illegal and legal fishing boats from fishing too close to the marine parks demarcated sites. Regardless of whether they hold the “A” or “C” class fishing license, these fishing boats will anchor in the vicinity, causing untold damage to corals beneath. The Marine Parks and the Fisheries Department do not have sufficient manpower, boats to survey and enforce laws thus, are very much dependent upon dive operators to report and confirm sightings of spearhunters/illegal fishing boat in the area.

clown fish bleached corals

Lighthouse at Tokong Timur, Tenggol

A 100 metre well was dug in Tenggol bay, followed by a lighthouse built on Tokong Timur. What kind of crowd are they expecting to accommodate from this source of fresh water? Word has it that a jetty is being planned – which means a flurry of boats would be making their way inwards to the bay where there’s a thriving house reef and divers learn to dive. They have constructed a jetty on Pulau Bidung already, much to the ire of divers and conservationist of Pulau Bidung. The island is not opened to the public, so what is the jetty built for?

Jetties alter the current flow that brings vital nutrients and sunlight to the reefs. Seabeds are dug deep and corals are killed in the process.

Is the construction of any structure legal in marine parks? Or does it fall within the jurisdiction of district councils and land offices?

Wouldn’t you want to know if this is just a way of removing the crowd so that no one can protest after such structures are built?

bleached corals

bleached corals 2

This article is also published in LoyarBurok.com

Category: Issues, Must Read, SCUBA 2 Comments

Malaysia in 24Hrs – Underwater Sceneries

Mar 2010

By pummkin

Founded by Stephen Ronee Lau in 2008, this project was initially doubted & scorned by skeptics. The participation fee of RM50 was deemed too much by cynics who cast off this initiative as a scam. Stephen is the brainchild behind the branding of Aquaria KLCC’s programs and their first coffee-table book. His concepts in events and mind-map training have earned him a reputation of being a trendsetter. When he approached me to ask for my participation in submitting 20 underwater images for the digital album DVD, I didn’t hesitate. Though the deadline had been extended several times due to insufficient number of images, that didn’t deter Stephen and the rest of us in believing what he could do with it.

On 6 March 2010, this event was launched at the National Art Gallery by the Deputy Minister of Natural Resource & Environment with an exhibit ion of 42 participants’ work, one of each selected from the portfolio submitted for this program. We were given a certificate of appreciation for our work as each one was called to the stage to receive it from the Minister. Even the participants themselves couldn’t believe that such opportunities existed in a simple submission of their photos. It was to be displayed for a month but the Minister announced that it be made a permanent exhibit as Stephen presented all 42 pieces, bound & framed, to the National Art Gallery. I was told a month prior to this launch to be present and being the first of its kind in Malaysia and for the dive industry, I told Stephen that I would not miss it for the world. I even told a dear friend who is no longer here, that it would mean so much to me if I could share the moment but who am I to warrant the time of bigwigs with their heroic deeds? I am just a small fry in the ocean looking out for other small fries not wanting to be eaten before our time.

Well, my little moment of recognition came with the presence of my dear friends who made it in their finest attire to grace and celebrate the event with me since my family could not. Thank you, Heanna, Er-Win, Jia Li, Wong & friend. Your support had been tremendously uplifting.

Picture courtesy of Bahaman Hashim.

I can finally say I’m exhibited in the National Art Gallery!!!

Category: Event, Must Read, SCUBA Leave a Comment

Travel Safe, Travel Wisely

Feb 2010

By pummkin

This article was published in the Virtual Malaysia magazine that’s distributed to all of Tourism Malaysia’s offices worldwide & is a culmination of my travel experiences to stay safe as a female, sometimes solo traveller. Hope it can help you plan a safer trip wherever you may be going!

As much as we would like to have a safe and fuss-free travel, not every situation is preventable no matter how careful you are. So prevention is always better than cure. What this guide was designed to do is to give you a precautionary measure before and during your travel. You may think that misfortune only happens to somebody else; but to others, you are somebody else!

Before Travel

• Scan all credit cards, airline tickets, passports and important documents, front and back and inside front cover and stored online in your email for easy retrieval should you lose them and need to produce verification.

• Jewellery and luggage and all valuables should be photographed prior to trip. If you don’t need them, it is better to NOT bring them.

• Get your cash from the ATM and change your currencies a day earlier and as you wouldn’t want to be a target on the move.

• Keep your cash in separate places, in your wallet for easy access and in a travel sling wallet on your neck or a secret compartment in your belt.

• Pack medical prescription plus first aid in a kit & some in your hand carry luggage. You’ll never know when you may need an antacid, paracetamol or anti-histamines.

• Carry a small LED torch with you. These are super bright and battery lasts for much longer on a set of batteries than those with conventional bulb. Can be handy when there is a blackout or when you get stuck in a lift or end up in somewhere dark. Anything that has 150 lumens (brightness) and above will be good. Sometimes you may want to check out if there are stalkers around the corner while you do a short surveillance with the long range torch.

• Have a GPS with you and learn how to use it prior to travel. Purchase maps of the country/place you are visiting and install them before you leave. It would give you an idea how far you are from your intended destination.

• Get a directory of breakdown service, in case your car breaks down.

During Travel

• At the airport, have your laptop bag placed on your lap and not in between your feet. If you have to, loop the strap around your leg. Syndicates work to distract you then steal.

• Make sure the person in front of you has cleared the detector before you put anything on the conveyor belt. You must delay putting your luggage and laptop on the conveyor belt until you’re sure you’ll be the next person through the metal detector. And, as you move through the detector, keep your eyes on the conveyor belt and watch for your luggage and laptop to come through at the other end, while keeping a your eye on what those in front of you are picking up.

• Always bargain the price of a taxi before entering it, even if it has a meter. Always use taxis that are recommended and referred by the hotel you are staying. Be wary of taxis you hail on the street. If you are in the airport, always use the appointed Airport transfer counter to get one with a list of fixed rates such as the Airport Limo (M) Sdn Bhd at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport to avoid being fleeced by touts. See the table in the following page.

• Establish with your hotel to give you the name of the person in charge to pick you up. Do not get into any vehicle if the name of the person is different from the intended person. You could be charged with a hefty sum by unscrupulous cheats.

• You may take the KLIA Ekspres, a high speed train instead from KLIA directly to KL city centre (or vice versa) in only 28 minutes and from there, a taxi to your desired location.

• Stay close to your valuables when passing through airport security.

• If you are a single woman on the move, never admit that you are travelling alone. Always say you are meeting your spouse on the flight or at the destination you are going to. Even as you check into hotels, it would be defensive to check in as Mr. and Mrs. to deter unwanted advances.

• If you have important documents or papers, carry them with you; NEVER check in anything that you simply cannot afford to lose. Photocopy your passport, driver’s license and credit cards.

• Look for a parking lot that is well lit and secure. Find out if there’s valet parking and if it will be available when you need it. Use it, even if it costs a little bit more.

• There should be privacy for guests checking in: no one should be able to overhear a name, room number, or other personal information.

• Room numbers should be written on the key envelope, not mentioned aloud or inscribed on the key–this way, anyone finding your key won’t have access to your room.

• Never hesitate to have a hotel personnel escort you to your room.

• Couples travelling together should pack half of their belongings in each other’s bag. In case of missing luggage, both your clothes are still accessible in the remaining bag.

• Upon checking into your room, familiarise yourself with the fire escape plan usually stuck on the door. It pays to know where the nearest fire exits are.

• Leaving the ‘Please Make Up My Room’ sign at the door is an indication of an empty room. The do not disturb sign can make the room seem occupied (especially handy if you leave expensive items inside).

• Check the bills and write the total amount before you sign and return the slip. Phantom amounts has been known to be included in the ‘tips’ section above the total.

• When walking into a lift alone and someone suspicious unexpectedly comes in with you, press any floor other than the floor you are staying on. This decoy method is to prevent anyone from knowing which room you are staying in. Press the alarm if needed. If in doubt, get out before the door closes.

• If you place your carry-on bag on the floor when sitting in a restaurant or other public area, put your foot through the strap; don’t leave it loose.

• In a taxi, pay the driver while you are still inside to get your rightful change. If travelling with your partner, make sure the male is the first to get in and last to get out. Have the driver leave his driver’s seat to remove your luggage from the boot before you get out of the car.

• Use a security cable to lock your laptop to a fixed object in the hotel. If you wouldn’t leave your wallet exposed in the room, why would you leave RM5,000 unlocked?

These are only guidelines to a safer travel. There are no guarantees that you will not be a possible target when you are a tourist anywhere in the world but the more you prepare defensively, the less likely you will suffer the effects of crime. What you apply to prevent being fleeced as a tourist will be useful in your preparation for your future trips.

Category: Adventure, Must Read Leave a Comment

Mythical Monsters….

Jun 2009

By pummkin

Monsters called Trolls

In Internet language, a troll is someone who posts controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum or chat room, with the primary intent of provoking other users into an emotional response or to generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion.

What is a Flamebait then?

Flamebait is a message posted to a public Internet discussion group, such as a forum, newsgroup or mailing list, with the intent of provoking an angry response (a flame) or argument over a topic the troll often has no real interest in.??The most popular motive is the desire for attention and for entertainment derived at the expense of others. Posted flamebait can provide the poster with a controlled trigger-and-response setting in which to anonymously engage in conflicts and indulge in aggressive behavior without facing the consequences that such behavior might bring in a face-to-face encounter. In other instances, flamebait may be used to reduce a forums use by angering the forum users.

A concern troll is a false flag pseudonym created by a user whose actual point of view is opposed to the one that the users sockpuppet claims to hold. The concern troll posts in web forums devoted to its declared point of view and attempts to sway the groups actions or opinions while claiming to share their goals, but with professed concerns. The goal is to sow fear, uncertainty and doubt within the group.

What about Sockpuppets?

A sockpuppet is an online identity used for purposes of deception within an online community. In its earliest usage, a sockpuppet was a false identity through which a member of an Internet community speaks with or about himself or herself, pretending to be a different person, like a ventriloquist manipulating a hand puppet.??In current usage, the perception of the term has been extended beyond second identities of people who already post in a forum to include other uses of misleading online identities. For example, a NY Times article claims that sock-puppeting is defined as the act of creating a fake online identity to praise, defend or create the illusion of support for one’s self, allies or company.

A sockpuppet usually appears with one or two posts within a thread to ask questions or throw a flame on the topic out of nowhere. Such action would be recognised immediately and would be moderated if postings are defamatory in nature.

The contemporary use of the term is alleged to have first appeared on the internet in the late 1980s, but the earliest known example is from 1991. It is thought to be a truncation of the phrase trolling for suckers, itself derived from the fishing technique of slowly dragging a bait through water, known as trolling. The word also evokes the trolls portrayed in Scandinavian folklore and childrens tales as they are often obnoxious creatures bent on mischief and wickedness. The verb troll originates from Old French troller, a hunting term. The noun troll, however, is an unrelated Old Norse word for a giant or demon.

Application of the term troll is highly subjective. Some readers may characterise a post as trolling, while others may regard the same post as a legitimate contribution to the discussion, even if controversial. The term is often used as an ad hominem strategy to discredit an opposing position by attacking its proponent.??Often, calling someone a troll makes assumptions about a writers motives. Regardless of the circumstances, controversial posts may attract a particularly strong response from those unfamiliar with the robust dialogue found in some online, rather than physical, communities. Experienced participants in online forums know that the most effective way to discourage a troll is usually to ignore him or her, because responding tends to encourage trolls to continue disruptive posts — hence the often-seen warning: Please do not feed the trolls.

How credible is a forum?

Properly run forums are well-moderated by a panel of experienced, level-headed professionals in their field to maintain the forums integrity and credibility, especially when it has a business interest encompassing the objective. Members of a forum usually go through a verification process in real life to be accepted as part of the forums real community of users. Sometimes, a minimum number of posts is required and a physical meet-up session with the intention of verifying the identity of the individual with accompanying papers for registration to a club or association.

Integrity of forumers

Forumers (members of a forum) with a website, a link to an identity and verified public personas connected to real persons are often more admissable than those without any trace whatsoever.

A properly-managed forum would exercise the duty of care to moderate postings unbefitting of the topic. Any topic left to proliferate with slanderous material centred on malicious intent would subject the forum administrator as well as the website owner to be held legally responsible.

Appropriately plucked from various sources online:- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll

Footnote – Being an administrator and moderator of many websites and forums, I have seen flamebaits thrown around to further the agenda of trolls, sockpuppets and the puppeteer. Any forum that violates any code of conduct in participation with lack of self-regulation is not worthy of participation nor anything that contains therein be credible or plausible. In this day & age where Twitter is the preferred micro-blogging site & a social media networking platform, many have misunderstood the usage & does not apply self-censorship. This article is to give you a better understanding of how to handle trolls in both forum & social media platforms.

Category: Issues, Must Read 6 Comments

Mae’s Words

Jun 2009

By pummkin

Three dogs sleeping with trishaw peddlar

Every now and then, I get words of encouragement which I truly appreciate and today, I received an uplifting piece of comment from Mae, someone I have never met but has given Sabrina and myself a much needed moral support to continue doing what we have been doing.

Today we got a visit from Jabatan Haiwan (Department of Veterinary Services) at the farm, acting on a call of complaint alleging that ‘many dogs died in our care’ and that ‘we don’t feed them’ (which of course, were baseless) and they proceeded to ask many questions to all who were at the farm, the contractors building the shed, the volunteers tending to the dogs, cooking the rice & even asked who the landlord was. They wanted to know where the water supply for the dogs were coming from, why wasn’t the ground where the Pulau Ketam’s dogs were, cemented and why there’s rubbish (don’t we all have rubbish in our houses too???).

Sabrina told them the truth, no dogs has died yet except for one which had to be put down due to illness. We don’t save all these strays just to have them die on us otherwise, what’s all the effort for? It may happen in other ORGs but not with Furry Friends Farm….

You do remember me telling you that there were more ‘pressing’ matters to attend to beside the rescue mission right? Well, I had seen this coming & they couldn’t find any fault with the happy mutts we have, some of which were fat & chubby, looking more contented than some fat bottoms sitting in an office somewhere trying to cook up a storm with some conspiracy.

I felt the need to publish Mae’s words of encouragement. When we are swamped with challenges, all I need to do is read this to know that the world will be rallying behind us. Thank you & bless you, Mae.

Pam,

You and Sabrina are a beacon of hope for many of us who deeply questioned the existence of God when there are so much cruelties are taking place. Looks like our questions were answered. It is not a dead end for humanity. There’s a bit of ‘Sabrina’ in all of us.

Those who deals with rescuing wounded and broken strays are compelled to despair at times; when we cannot save the ones we tried so hard to save. But then again those who had seen the miracle happens when the wounded and broken healed, happy and healthy…is like feeling the presence of God in all Its’ glory. I suspect you feel the same when you sit next to the once you rescued from the swamp in the boat on the journey to land.

Thank you for your praise. There are so many faceless, nameless independent rescuers out there. Not for money or gain or fame. Truth is; we are tired of being passive by-standers to the plights innocent defenseless strays. The pain that pricked our hearts and consciences when we see pets being abandoned at highways, carpark, foodcourts, back alleys, drains, dustbins,jungle, abandoned houses, …we can’t ignore it. We have to be pro-active. There is no system available to protect defenseless strays.

Pam, you are bestowed with a wonderful gift; when all this is over, as this phase too shall come to pass… You should write, anything a book a novel or commission a film. (Though making into a film what took place this past month will likely be a deranged espionage movie). We are your biggest fan and supporters; we come to love and admire you.

"The ball is in your court" our dearest Pam.

No matter what names they call you; devil, satan. We know once in a while God sent angels to walk amongst us; to me to are an angel. Been touched by an angel before and it changed my life completely. Became a stray rescuers because of my wonderful vet; she made it all possible. You are an angel the way to stand up for Sabrina when most people would choose to walk away rather than get involve as the stakes are high.

Signing off with an Irish blessing when ‘real suffering is where the contradictions within us harmonize, where they give us to new streams of life or beauty. As the Zen monk said: ‘When one flowers blooms, it is spring everywhere.’

"May you be blessed in the holy names of those who carry our pain up the mountain of transfiguration.

May you know tender shelter and healing blessing when you are called to stand in place of pain.

May the places of darkness within you be surprised by light.

May you be granted the wisdom to avoid false resistance and when suffering knocks on the door of your life, may you be able to glimpse its hidden gift.

May you be able to see the fruits of your suffering.

May memory bless and shelter you with the hard-earned light of past travail, may this give you confidence and trust.

May a window of light always surprise you.
May the grace of transfiguration heal your wounds.
May you know that even the storm might rage not a hair of your head will be harmed."

Pam, we will keep you close in our hearts and prayers always. – End

If the trishaw peddlar has such peace with his ‘friends,’ let it be so for those who care for the strays, the neglected and the banished.

Category: Issues, Must Read, Rescue 4 Comments

The Noah In You

Jun 2009

By pummkin

Photo by Joanne Lee

The dog that got away. Looking lost but hopeful, we know that the return of the dog to the feeding station is a sign that it is beginning to trust us, the food is forthcoming. The barks from a distant signify more dogs in the vicinity and only time will tell.

Photo by Joanne Lee

With all the prayers and blessings we have received, there should be no reason why all of them cannot be saved. Our God is a great God, making provisions for everything, from the time He thought man was too sinful to be left to their own devices, He preserved two of each kind in the animal kingdom when He instructed Noah to build his ark to accommodate them. Today, Noah comes in the form of you, your effort to spread the word, your concern for their welfare and your upkeep of the banished ones.

Just when we thought about a plan to have continuous fundraising activities, those relentless simpletons will not stop at anything to reach Mrs. Kam to stop her from helping us with her concerts. To think that some people would go all out to deter others to help FFF in trying to upkeep the 100+ dogs with a No-Kill Policy just goes to show what prevention of cruelty is all about in Selangor. Well, let me give you an idea of how much I spend on Rufus (and he’s only ONE dog, mind you) each month.

Rufus biscuits – Blackwood 1000 7.5kg = RM85

Rufus loves canned Nature’s Gift 700gm = RM7.90 x 6 cans = RM47.40

Total = RM132.40 per month x 12 months = RM1,588.80 per year.

This is for one dog, which has the capability of living up to 15 years of age. Let’s just say the canned food is not necessary. We’ll use the figure of RM85 per month to feed one dog, which means that would come up to RM8,500 per month to feed 100 dogs without counting the vet bills, vaccination, spaying/neutering and what nots. In a year, Sabrina would have had to look for RM102,000 conservatively to feed & care for them. What about 15 years??? Why don’t we all do the math??? Or are the simpletons too caught up in their simple minds to mind the affairs of others instead?

Alright, maybe she wouldn’t have to use Blackwood, even Pedigree or Alpo would have been fine but how much savings that would come up to, would be ploughed back into the maintenance, upkeep and administration of the farm. And the simpletons cannot even see the challenges let alone talk about the perceived surplus funds collected in aid of the rescue mission. What an amazing revelation this mission had been to me!!! The people who talk about animal welfare the most, are the ones trying to shut down other animal welfare groups, independent rescuers while leading their army of simpletons to spread poison amongst those who give a helping hand! Wow!

In one month, we achieved more milestones from bringing strangers together to fend off big bullies and simpletons slandering the sleuths who ferretted the captive. Even the man who had regretfully donated his Mercedes Benz to the wrong ORG had come to us in full support of truth, righteousness and against the surreptitious wickedness. Just how far they would go to destroy another human being is beyond anybody’s guess but I proclaim the promises that God will vindicate and deliver His judgment upon those who mistreat the orphans and widows.

Please contact Sabrina directly if you want to continue your support at yeapwen@yahoo.com.

The video has been stripped off the music that it contained and I will re-upload it once I can.

Category: Issues, Must Read, Rescue 15 Comments

Simple Minds Beget Simpletons

Jun 2009

By pummkin

Isn’t it strange that people can get so caught up in their support for an organisation that they believe in and forget to ask questions that would yield hidden answers? Isn’t it strange that they can issue me threats & call me names over an issue which they haven’t determined the credibility of those concerned??? Isn’t it strange for a society with committee members act as if it’s a sole proprietor yet a sole proprietor acts with the blessing of rest of the society???

What I say here does not constitute the feelings of everyone involved in the rescue but myself. It’s my space and I’m sure I’m making some sense, otherwise, I wouldn’t be receiving over a thousand hits per day.

Fact – There were only two rescue teams for Pulau Selat Kering. One being FFF & the other, the big ORG. Whichever NGOs that appear to be assisting would assist either one of these parties.

Fact – I was an independent pet rescuer (IPR) before the rescue mission but I chose to support FFF in their endeavours. Anybody can call themselves IPRs. If you have rescued/saved/helped/assisted/treated a domestic pet in danger in the past, you are an IPR. If I’m doing something on behalf of some organisation which doesn’t make them look good, I would revert to calling myself an IPR.

Fact – Kuning is friendly to everybody. He is healthy, well-fed & doesn’t look a tad bit starved. How he can be ‘rescued’ is beyond me.

Fact – I don’t know if Shahrul is pregnant or not. I’m sorry if she bled. I’m sorry the reporters couldn’t get hold of her in the hospital to see how she is faring because she had checked out already.

Fact – Caring & expecting parents-to-be would not allow the expecting wife/mother to prance & hop around in a mangrove swamp, jump into the water, climb in & out of boats/kelongs knowing full well that a rescue mission has risks. Especially for someone who had a miscarriage a few months before.

Fact – Pregnant/expecting mothers should live in hygienic conditions. That includes living in a place NOT filled with animals caged up, filled with pee & poo or animals that might carry diseases or viruses, especially in rescued dogs. You choose which one is more important, the animals or your baby.

Fact – Employees would resort to please employers if they think losing their jobs is worse than losing their integrity. PR Managers included.

Fact – If I know for SURE that I have not engaged in any wrongdoings, I shouldn’t be afraid to stand up for it. In this case, silence is NOT golden.

Fact – Death threats received on my blog had been submitted to the police for investigation including everything that threatens my operation, my team (including Kuning & Hitam), my reputation & my well-being.

Fact – When posters of Kuning were posted, I had received leads from many people. Those who had him couldn’t hide him any longer.

I’ve presented the facts so whatever you think is a fallacy, you are free to do so. There are evidence that I would not hesitate to use if a legal action arises. If I have to call for public support, I will. Many are in possession of the evidence & should they be released, the organisation would be shut down. We are thinking for the animals that you have, not for the acts that you have committed so don’t push us.

It’s a mistake to try to silence people with death threats. God said, “Those who bless you, I will bless, those who curse you, I will curse.”

I’m not rich & I have to work to put food on the table, to set aside something for when I grow old. I have nothing to lose nor do I have anything to gain by cooking up a chicken & cow story. If someone in the big ORG wants to come after me for making them uncomfortable, then let it be on their conscience how such a reputable society had to be reduced to this. Don’t tell me what I am qualified to comment & what I am not. I was helping the big ORG from Dr. George’s days. I donated money, time & effort to make the area a better living place for the animals. I adopted dogs from that place. I was a member but now I’m not. I don’t know who took me off the membership list. I’m not bothered to ask. A society that picks its members is not a society that I want to be associated with. I am a donor & I have the right to voice my opinion.

When I sat for the Corporate Governance of NGOs course years ago, I was made to understand that a registered society can only act with the entire committee’s consensus. Every office bearer has the duty to operate within the outlines stated in the constitution. They are also accountable for everything that goes wrong & any misappropriation is the responsibility of all.

Some of my friends asked me is this all worth it for some dogs that I’m trying to save, so I replied to them, “It’s not just about the dogs, it’s about the lives of the people involved. There are injustices that needed to be addressed just as the dogs of Pulau Ketam were ill-treated, Sabrina was too. I think the people who were too indifferent to speak up then, will not be much different now. As an organisation, things were allowed to happen. Those fence-sitters are like the possums in New Zealand.

Sabrina dedicated her youth & her life to care for those which can’t care for themselves.. Look at how many people she has impacted by setting an example? What’s wrong if I speak up & speak out at her detractors??? The poison pen letters that have circulating are all about how she is a ‘private company,’ how one shouldn’t be duped & suckered into donating & how she was sacked from the big ORG. They were sent to who’s who in society. I’m nobody but I know many who’s who, who forwarded these despicable things that has been said to me. Shame on you. If anyone of those you had sent to, spoke up against you, you would land yourself in hot soup. Perpetuating lies when you know those who were present as she handed in her resignation then. Shouting is very stressful, my dear and you have done a lot of that. I’m glad Sabrina left because she showed the world what one person can do despite the odds.

I have to be accountable for everything in front of the Almighty on Judgment Day. I don’t want to have to answer to, “Pam, what did you NOT do when you know all these things happened to My people? Where did you decide to be when I placed you in the thick of things?” if I have done nothing about it.

To all you supporters of the big ORG, my word to you is, think carefully of your actions in risking yourself for something you know nothing about. Stop issuing me death threats just because I’m speaking up on my blog about what certain people have been doing behind the scenes. Make good with what you can do while you are in a position to.

To the big ORG, we have never put a spanner in your works so stop putting your spanner in ours.

Category: Issues, Must Read, Rescue 16 Comments

Happy Mutts at Furry Friends Farm

May 2009

By pummkin

Category: Issues, Must Read, Rescue 6 Comments

Message from Sabrina of Furry Friends Farm

May 2009

By pummkin

FFF will continue the rescue mission after the consent of the kind Kelong owner.

FFF is a private company, solely owned by Sabrina. Its clearly stated in FFF blog.

Its up to the members of the public to contribute. We will never reject. FFF is already in the process of becoming a Charity Organisation even before the rescue mission started in May 1st. (There is no shareholders in FFF as quoted in the Chinese newspapers today 17 May 2009. There is no such thing that we monopolise the kelong and stop other parties to rescue. We are only following the instructions after discussing with the Kelong owner. The reason is we respect the private property owner.)

FFF is supported by members of the public. Therefore we only will work with members of the public. They can be :
1) IPR
2) Government Officials
3) Villagers ( in this case )
4) Mass media
5) Corporate businessmen
6) All private vets in Malaysia
FFF will also help the abandoned dogs on Pulau ketam and Pulau Sungai Lima after the consent of the villagers.
i) We will be removing the abandoned animals in batches with the help of the villagers.
ii) We will be working with all private vets to neuter and vaccinate the stray dogs delivered to FFF from Pulau ketam and Pulau Sungai Lima
iii) We will be working with all IPRs to rehab and rehome the stray animals.
iv) We will be working with all Animal Sanctuaries in Malaysia and perhaps overseas animal sanctuaries to rehome the stray animals and the rescued animals.

Please respect FFF where members of the public support us with full confidence and great support.
The rescued animals lives are the testimonial to our Animal Welfare mission. We do not euthanise animals provided it is medically proven that it is a terminal case

To those people who trespassed on FFF, investigations will be carried out by the police and legal action will be taken.

All visitations to the farm is restricted on Sundays from 12pm to 6pm with the consent of the management of FFF.

Category: Issues, Must Read, Rescue 15 Comments

How To Be A Friend

Sep 2008

By pummkin

The most frightening thing a writer can experience in the course of churning up a piece is having no inspiration to write. In my case, I feel that I’m in a desperate need to visit a new place and possibly experience a different culture to revive my state of impediment. I am staring at my beautiful screen (I’ve put colours of the sea as wallpaper) and have no inclination where my next glimmer of words would be. There was a time when I could spew out letters to state issues that plague anything but today, I have to think if I have any issues to address. Its actually a good thing, considering that issues are very absorbing and can rob you of energy, passion and time, of which I have very little of at this moment.

About 6 years ago, I thought long and hard about the person I wanted to be and I listed down the reasons why friends would want to spend time with me which would make me be a better friend to them. I thought about my closest friends first, then about friends in my circle of influence who are not so personal but are there when you want to have tea and a good laugh. I also combined personality traits and characteristics that I could grow into.

In order to have friends, I need to be a friend to them.
Apart from good company, I need to be there even when they are not so good company i.e. when they are having a bad day.
I must be empathetic, not sympathetic….I need to listen and not act unless Im asked.
I must learn to keep in touch and not distant myself when the going gets tough. My friends chose to be friends in all times of need and by alienating them when I’m down, its like telling them they are useless as friends. I must learn to let go of friends who choose to have their privacy for whatsoever reason.
I must learn not to expect from a friendship. Friendship with expectations is a conditional one.
Acknowledge that not all friends are friends, and accept that some of them are just not interested in you or being a friend to you, and that some of them will always upset you. I think this has a lot to do with chemistry.
Just as there are friends who bring out the best in you, there are people who would bring out the worst in you. The kind who would make your blood boil and your stomach simmer. When you recognise this group of people, its best to just keep a distance. All the fighting in the world would not make them see your point so why bother? Losing hair and sleep over something trivial is not the best way to live. You need to deal with this on your own or with a counsellor if you are the one who have issues. All the bitching in the world would not affect them in the least bit so why bother. I am glad I was counseled professionally then, to be able to give counsel to those in need.
I can change my approach towards annoying people instead of trying to change annoying people.
Silence between friends is golden, especially when they can let you be in their personal space and be totally at peace. Treasure that. I did and I love my friends for it.
Laughter among friends is even better. It bonds the emotions and seals the friendship. To be able to laugh heartily without a care is to explode with sentiment. Laughter releases endorphins, the feel-good hormones. I needed to laugh much more.
When God created the world, He spoke and it came into being. He spoke, and the stars, planet, sun and moon were blasted into the orbit. If we are made in His image, don’t you think our words carry a lot of weight in which you can bless or curse others? I chose to bless.
I don’t need to use foul language to get my point across. Finesse is in spoken words and being verbally incontinent displays a lack of discipline. Being in control and being able to articulate your words will let your friends see that you have it in you.
If you don’t like people to talk bad about you or with malice, then stop giving people a reason to. Keep your private life private. There is a select few who really know whats going on in my life and I’d like to keep it that way. I have no interest to pry into the lives of others if they don’t want to share with me.
I will tell the truth. Even if it hurts.
I will be genuine with my feelings, if I don’t like you, I will not pretend I do. It would have to be a moral and ethical issue if I don’t like someone. Each person has his/her own set of values and may not necessarily be in line with mine. And I would give them a chance to make good with whatever wrongdoings (such as when they hurt you/your friend or cheat on their spouse/partner) but if they do not heed, I will not go out of my way for the friendship. Genuine friends will not allow you to be reckless in your actions and will tell you if you are conducting your life in a hasty, irresponsible and thoughtless manner. Neither would they want you to be hurt.
The time given by your friend to be out with you is precious. Keep all phone calls to a maximum of 3 minutes and respect your friends time accorded to you. If you don’t want to feel left out, don’t leave people out.
In life, there must be accountability. Theres no use justifying your actions if you get caught for any wrongdoing. Just admit it, apologise and change if you have to. If not, be prepared to lose a friend.
It takes a moment to destroy what people take a lifetime to build. It’s called trust. Don’t break it for others. What is not yours belongs to somebody else. I don’t have to be vivid in painting this picture and I’m sure my friends would not paint this picture for me.
No one is a lesser person. No one is stupid. No one is greater than the other except the one who came and died for you and me. There are only opportunities. You may have had a better education, access to your fathers wealth and property to have a head-start in life but if you don’t have love and compassion for the less fortunate who never had the opportunities, you are as good as the other person on the street. It’s not what I can get out of being friends to the poor, the old, they dying, the homeless, the desolate, the abused, the orphans and the sick but what I can give of myself to make a little difference to the world they live in.
Living is about touching lives. Not exploit or manipulate people to get what you want. Life is too short to live for meaningless goals. Make someone happy today.

And when I finished with the note then, I felt the burden lifted off from my shoulders. I went for my Emergency First Response Instructor qualification and then Disaster Relief Training with CREST to prepare myself and to train others to go on missions. I know one day, these skills will come in handy. I attended a Handling Children and Child Psychology course to learn how to work with children and abused children. It made me feel so fortunate to have had a great childhood and great friends who would support me in my work with the less fortunate. And with this list as my guideline to be a friend, I know I will have much to give back to the community and the less privileged. Even with friends who never regarded you as one before. Issues abound when friends cant see eye to eye or accept each others differences. Forget issues and start living. I think my inspiration returned after I revamped my blog. Happy holidays…..

Category: Issues, Must Read, Relationships 12 Comments Tags: friends expectation company circle personality characteristics love genuine

What A Load of Crap…

Mar 2008

By pummkin

The recent Chinese New Year celebration left me 2kgs heavier & a little richer from the Ang Pows that I have been graciously given. Of the number of events that I had attended, an all-girl reunion lunch was held & I had the opportunity to enjoy great company in the likes of 8 fantastic women who are mothers & gym goers too! They were really hot & no one would have guessed their age or occupation. Apart from the great food & even better company, I had been having long walks in Stony Park with Rufus each morning, sometimes beginning at 6:30am. The trade-off is even better, I get to have fellowship & quiet time with God when he carts off examining the shrubs. Sometimes, I bump into my neighbours & their dogs & Rufus would go wild, forgetting that I’m around. He gets put in his place when he doesn’t know how to behave (he still demonstrates puppy behaviour) by the older dogs but generally they all get along fine. They even taught him to dip in the stream. So far, I’ve seen a Nightjar, two storks, plenty of bee-eaters, munias, waterhen & a Jungle Fowl on my rounds. Demonstrating more Labrador-tendencies, he hunted a squirrel for me one morning……..the shrieks did not let up until he let go.

Rufus had a remarkable recovery & his bone is completely sealed by the calcium growth in the fracture. He had his metal pin removed surgically last weekend. He now can walk on all fours!!! Yay! To our disappointment, the entrance to Stony Park had been fenced off, denying us of our field time at the stream & hills. Thanks to the management. Rufus now feels shortchanged for not having his run & romp with his friends. I feel shortchanged for not having my prayer walk! Oh, we’ll probably have to dig a hole or cut the fence or something……

And so it was, that Richard & his wife (my neighbours)has the key to the little gate by the sewage pump house entrance, a bit off from the open but we managed to squeeze four humans & 8 dogs (you read right, it’s 8 dogs) through the narrow opening between the pump house & the fence to get to the edge of Stony Park. Trudging through rubbish, rotting trees & broken glass, we barely made it without twisting an ankle or prodded by stray branches. Needless to say, after our power walk, we had to squeeze back into the narrow opening to get to our compound. Lo, and behold, before I can leash Rufus, he fell into the sewage pond & got covered in shit from head to toe!!! SHIT! In plucking him out, I got shit all over me too! SHIT! No, serious shit! This is not swearing, from a brown dog, he became black, almost irrecognisable & truly implorable. And he knew it too. Oh, we stank to high heavens & I was livid. $(*#Â£%)%~*@%$#!!! Rufus! You are grounded! No hugs for you! I had to shampoo him four times over before we lost the shit & I had to scrub my bathroom with ammonia! Double stench! I got into work 2 hours late. Crap!

All my travels have been halted by my deadlines. I now have to produce two magazines as our writers/editors left the company for travel & other positions elsewhere. We are now down to a workforce of two, the editor & her writer. I haven’t the time nor the energy to write anything soulful because all my time has been devoted to writing professionally(and with Rufus sticking his head into shit, I am terribly tied up tending to him!). Once the magazine goes into print, I would be able to breathe easy for two weeks before the pressure is on again for the dive publication. My new writers come in next week so that’s a big relief.

Till then, think about me when you are buying perfume yah???

Category: Must Read 3 Comments

Hawkers Delight

Jun 2007

By pummkin

I have patronised this hawker stalls food for more than 12 years. Run by two brothers, I have seen Ben single, attached, hitched & hatched not one but four beautiful offsprings. My routine of going for breakfast at his stall on the same road as the shop I sent my films for developing, accounted for the interesting & light-hearted conversations we engaged in. They were extremely excited in seeing the photographs of the places Ive dived, people Ive made friends with & the environment that I work in. They were particularly interested in the guy I was seeing, to hear about how the relationship began & the sadness in their eyes to see that it ended. Even ordinary male friends whom were present with me, were not spared from the question of whether they were going to be THE one. They have often regarded me as the girl who never grew up let alone grow older.

I was ever so faithful in following them wherever they moved till I lost touch with them for three years when they moved the third time. Right up until two years ago, I found them in a hawker centre near my place & having a long lost friend found, I was elated. They were just as excited because it meant that we could catch up, swap stories & show pictures again. Ben asked me a month ago if I could help him choose his first digital camera so off we went a shopping together with his two eldest children. They are simple people making a simple living with simple pleasures in life. And I was the complicated girl, with a complicated life, having had complicated relationships, making fun of complicated stories about the complicated issues in my life that I cant solve & in between making the noodles, Ben would dash over to my table to hear them. Both Ben & his elder brother had never made any judgments about my life, my adventures & my testimonies of how I came to know God. In fact, they encouraged me even more although they were of a different faith.

Tonight I had to runaway from the office before I got called to another long & draggy meeting. I needed to pack & prepare for my trips ahead of me. Being occupied till mid August, I know I would have to sacrifice my noodle-therapy for some time so I headed down to Bens place to order my faithful bowl of noodle soup. Garnished with lots of spring onions & lean chicken shreds, I was about to tuck in when Bens brother made an astounding remark out of the blue, Pam, no matter what has happened, never close your doors on men who come your way. Dont turn away any possibilities even if you know they stand no chance with you, dont shut your doors on anyone because you would never know who will be the Mr. Right. Those who came & went did not deserve you as they didnt know how to appreciate you nor loved you the way you ought to be loved so dont discount the fact that you might have a partner soon. And dont think you are going to be single all your life. Ive been wanting to tell you this for the longest time but I just needed to tell you at the opportune time. They were never right for you but dont penalise yourself because of that. You deserve a lot more. I want to see you happy because thats when you look your best. I really hope that someone would find you soon. Just then, I sat there stunned because he had always been a man of few words & what he said struck more than a cord with me. It was the first time he had spoken with such a conviction & passion. I smiled, of course. I never thought that my life meant so much to him & Ben & after such a long time, I thought long & hard about being single. (OMG, I love being single!!!)

I love the quiet time I spend with God, I love it when I hear Him, I love it when I could express it in worship & I love the serenity singlehood brings. Who on earth am I to consider as the stud, stag or stallion that He wants me to ride & stay on & if its going to be the one who would sweep me off my feet forever? In a nutshell, that someone would have to tug hard at my heartstrings because love does not cause despair & depression when you work towards staying & being together. Love does not tear you down when you are building yourselves up. Love does not seek self gratification. Love does not keep record of wrongdoings.

Perhaps love has eluded me till today because I havent really understood the depths & the breadth of it all. Lord, let there be thunderbolts in my heart & flashes of light in my soul when you finally send THE one. Ive never been in a hurry & Im not going rush just because Im being pursued but let the stag, stud or stallion be someone who has a sense of humour & a heart of gold so that when we are old & gray, the thing that keeps us together would be the stuff that makes us laugh & the beat we have for the faith we have in You.

Category: Must Read, Personal, Relationships 11 Comments

Royal Flora Ratchaphruek, Chiang Mai

Nov 2006

By pummkin

The scale of the event is unbelievable & I had planned my trip months ahead to Bangkok with the intention to travel by train to Chiang Mai to catch the sunrise over the plains & the hillside. As Pek Ling(Evie) & I boarded the plane which was delayed, my excitement grew in anticipating my pick-up at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok to get us to the train station. As the plane took off, we heard a loud racketing sound below, possibly coming from the landing gears of the Airbus, spanking new craft of Air Asia. I thought it wasnt normal at all. About an hour after we flew, there was a sudden drop & the plane experienced about five minutes of turbulence. Shortly after that, the captain announced that we were experiencing a technical difficulty & will be returning to base – which means, LCCT back in KL!!! By then, those who understood or heard the announcement, were in angst & began to pray in different tongues. So technical difficulty actually meant engine problem……

Our lives were literally in the hands of God & when His hand guided the plane to land safely, I had the shakes(hypoglycaemic symptoms). Pek Ling fed me with a Fuji apple & a fruity bar for a quick fix. I informed the ground crew about missing our connections & upon them asking for our connecting tickets, I made several calls to Bangkok & had them faxed over. Within half an hour, Air Asia bumped us on the KL – Chiang Mai flight the next morning & fed us with McDonalds before sending the rest of the Bangkok-bound passengers on another plane to resume their journey! (Bummer, I missed my sunrise over the lanna….) Kudos to Air Asia for prompt & efficient customer service! And praise God for keeping us alive!!!

Next mornings flight to Chiang Mai after spending a night at KLIAs benches….taken with my new E500!!!

The huge umbrella at the entrance of Royal Flora Expo….

Looking at the map (& each other), we were bound for an entire days walk around the 7.2km route spanned over 80 hectares. This place is huge. Never before in history has a floral expo been planned & executed in such a grand scale, possibly the only kind in the century. You would be crazy to miss this if you are an orchid-lover, let alone a nature lover. We walked & walked & walked in this great expanse of beautiful vista…..

At the orchid competition, rare & hybridised species were being pilfered by covetous orchidophiles so they had to cordon off & put people to guard these magnificent varieties……

I had to use my zoom lens in the expo!!! Sorry, couldnt capture any of the rare kind to show here so let me give you my favourites instead, the phalaeonopsis, cattleyas, bulbophyllums & oncidiums in no particular order……

The procession walkway leading to the Royal Pavillion. Hah! I wasnt kidding when I told you 7.2km over 80 hectares…..we walked & walked & walked….

For more of the expo, please click on this album.
The Corporate Gardens are themed gardens by countries & establishments like Toyota, gas companies & such. Overall, we must have walked more than the stipulated 7.2km because we explored the gardens & what-nots in the hot sun. The sky was so blue, there wasnt a cloud in sight. I also wondered what in the world were the people thinking about when they come, clad in jackets, pullovers or long sleeve shirts when the sun is shining brightly……

Nearing dusk, the temperature dropped & we pulled our pashminas over ourselves. Within the next half hour or so, we had to put on our jackets & wrap the pashmina snuggly around our necks. It was getting cold. And I love it!

I had a grand time, feeling so good surrounded by flora in such a huge area. We were certainly bedazzled with the flowers! Our idea of fun? Being in a country where we dont speak their language & wildly gesticulate our wants & desires when we want to buy something…..

More of my trip in the next post.

Category: Adventure, Must Read 7 Comments

Leave A Light On For Me

Jun 2005

By pummkin

The day that was.

I switched off the lights for the last time. Sam was perplexed & said, you switching off lights tonight huh? I nodded & replied, uh huh. Deep down, its not just the act of turning off the lights which I never do because I retire earlier than my dive manager, Sam, who had the unfortunate task of taking care of the dive business AND the owner. And it never was right to begin with, that we had to share a room though we had huge single beds for ourselves. Friends who know me know Sam will be SAFE.

Peacocks On The Rocks

When I came here to start the business of running the dive operation, I had a heavy heart to relocate. I asked God many times, what I was doing & what He wanted me to do by replanting me within 3 days of moving apartments to another floor. Specific calls pointed me to go so without much fanfare of leaving my cellgroup & performing arts group, I went. With the many break-ins we had in our condominium, I thought about my exit. I knew I had to get passed the guard at 1st floor & get out to my car at the ground floor with the thousand & one things I had to make my stay at the island as homely as possible. I called my neighbour, who ended up having a great workout in full office attire, tie inclusive, even before gym time in the evening. What would I do without neighbours? I had to do this each time I returned to get more stuff. For security sake, I feared letting anyone see that I was going out of town because I would be leaving my apartment empty & vulnerable to burglars. I felt like a smuggler in my own home!

I know that whenever I arrive at the port of call, I would be greeted by Supono or Molyati, sometimes both. They would help me unload the things from my car to the boat while making fun of whatever I was carrying. Mol lifted my Chinese cooking wok & asked, Apa ini, kak? Ini untuk Astro kah??? Heheheheh! (What is this, sis? Is this the satellite dish for Astro???) Or I would arrive too early only to be greeted by Supono sweeping the compound & eventually finding me sleeping in my car. The moment I pick up a call that disturbed my forty winks, Supono would yell at me through the closed window, Moi! Tidurlah! (Moi is a term used to call Chinese girls. Go back to sleep lah!) causing me to drop back into slumber position in obedience.

Travelling is not a chore. I am a venturer, with accidental adventures along the journey. Somehow I feel that God has put certain interests in every one of us to let it work for His glory. On my first few visits to what would be my place of operations, I had some weird encounters. A couple who was to run the dive operations turned out that the girl did not like the situation & was about to spit venom at me until the guy apologised profusely as he had been my good friend. I think she must have thought that I was after her guy. That fateful trip, I was stressed because we were not told of the late departure at 3pm when we arrived at noon & shortly after we departed, Omar, the boatman, had revved the engine of the boat a little too much & caused it to stall for 1 ½ hours in the rough sea. By the time I got to the island, I was green & my muscles were tensed. I was glad to see Alfrida(Frida) again. She arrived from Medan together with Amar & Khairani & was chauffeured to the island together with me on my previous visit. I requested for a massage service secretly as I did not want to use the supposedly-blind masseur operating at the island. When Frida sneaked into my room, she worked on my back. She began to pour her heart out as well. In the first two weeks of her arrival here, she got news that her 3 year old son had a sudden death. Her sole reason for living is gone. She was marginalised by some of the local staff. In short, she was bullied. I felt for her. Her boyfriend is a Christian from Meulaboh, in Acheh who survived the tsunami in December. She became a Christian as a result of the death of her son.

Subsequent trips & after my relocation, Frida had been a great friend. I had the rights to using the cooking facilities at the kitchen & she had been transferred to work in the kitchen from housekeeping department. The first thing I bought before I reached the island was a semi auto washing machine. I am not a MANUAL person if you know what I mean. Bernard, the sous chef, accepted Christ & began to join us in our little prayer & worship sessions. Having Bernard & Frida at the kitchen was a blessing because on the days where we were really busy diving, they would keep some food for us. For the first two weeks, Sam & I didnt know where to get chicken because they were not available at the supermarket in town. Strange, isnt it? I would pick up groceries on my way back from KL or Kuantan to last us about a week. We developed a living pattern whereby I would scramble into bed & get all comfy while Sam would get the lights & return to conquer the universe on his computer games. I would then scramble out of bed at six something in the morning to meet God at my bench of petition & watch the peacocks congregate. Then Sam would lead the leisure divers or I would lead the discovery divers & leave it to him to rinse & soak the equipment after the dive while I rush to prepare lunch for the both of us. Some days, we had more than 2 dives. Thats when things become a little chaotic. Sam had a Big Gulp canister that held ice & kept drinks cold for 24 hours. I had one space bottle that made my Ribena taste metallic! Wasn’t much of a comparison but beggars cant be chosers. Females do covet you know, but I had to be discreet in DRINKING from his canister or he will find out why his drink had been diminishing by the hour.

Big Gulp Canister *Heheheh!!*

Monday is always a washing day. We had a plunge tap in the bathroom & had to shove the unbefitting hose to it while the other hand plunges the tap for as long as it takes to fill the tub placed just outside the bathroom. From the wash tub, the clothes had to be transferred to the spin/rinse tub & then again to the wash tub for softener & finally spin dry. A real chore it was. Someone has got to do it. We realised there was nowhere in the room that could hang clothes so Sam suggested that he used his diving spool to create a clothes line. Suffice to say, the picture will paint a thousand words.

Sam in his working conditions!

On nights where the construction workers worked till late to rush for the completion of the refurbishment of the jetty, I would sometimes wander over to watch them & talk to them. The simple handling of a hammer can bring so much fun for these foreign workers who hail from different parts of Indonesia & Vietnam. The hammerhead flew off the handle & dropped into the sea to the amazement of the handler, Molyati uttered, Aduh! Kepala aku jatuh! Di mana kepala aku jatuh??? (Ow! My head fell off! Where did my head go???) I had fits after that as the rest of them made fun of his head. When a great friend of mine came for a visit, I spent a considerable amount of time with him on the beach & open seating area. When he left, these workers would sing to me, oblivious that this friend of mine, was proficient in the language too, Oh, aku kesepian…..!(Oh, how lonely I am…..) Aku kerinduan…! (How I miss you so…..) Cinta ku sudah pergi……(My love has gone……)” Then I retorted, Nanti aku pergi, kamu semua yang kesepian & kerinduan….!” (Wait till I leave, then you would be the lonely & forlorn one….!) & chuckles permeated the air. I would go to bed with the thought that these foreigners whom I see everyday, would form the part of a family that is missing in every one of us in a land faraway from their homes. The weekend fireworks are what we all look forward to & the cheering of the crowd would be very much dependent upon whatever celebration that is going on. They would switch all the lights off to stun the guests & when the fireworks start, everyone would be so enthralled. Our little weekend thrill of expecting the police to stopover too.

Fireworks

More Fireworks

Splendid Show

Of course fireworks are illegal. Which pleasurable substance is not? As I progressed, I began to discover things that I should not know about. Things about substance-abuse. Mismanagement. Criminal breach of trust. Negligence. Indifference. Denial of basic human rights. Things that I had been sent for. Taufik, one of the construction workers from Indonesia had a forklift land on him in a freak accident which broke his leg. He was all alone up in the jungle handling the machine. He shouldnt have been. It was getting dark.His mobile phone was all he got to summon help. Before he was sent back to his hometown after having steel rods inserted into his leg, I paid him a visit in a motel on the mainland. A little encouragement is all that is needed sometimes.

Taufik with his robotic rods in his broken leg.

Oppression is something that the powerful does to force the weak into submission. To not have a safety procedure in place where construction is being carried out is NEGLIGENCE. Not visiting a staff in despair is INHUMANE. Cutting wages & increasing hours of work is EXPLOITATION. Being fed with stale rice & stale leftovers is TORTURE. I kept asking God how He wanted me to deal with this situation. I cannot let something like this slide pass my conscience when the people here are suffering. The powerful that run the place were pushing substance & those who did not follow suit would be oppressed. I kept my paperwork in order. Christians are to stand in the gap of RIGHTEOUSNESS at all cost. Jesus did that for us. I said to God that the business is dedicated to HIM & that my concern here was for the people whom He had sent me for. I was not the least bit worried at the non-assistance rendered to us by the resort nor was I concerned about the future of my company which I know God will provide. I was concerned about the welfare of the people here.

It came to the final countdown. I was to leave this place for fear of retribution. That night, one by one, the workers called me on the phone to express sadness & support. They cried. I cried even harder. Mol said, Kami sayangkan Kak & mahu Kak tahu kami akan sentiasa merindukan Kak. Kami tidak akan lupa bagaimana Kak menolong kami & kemunculan Kak memberi kebahagian kepada kami. Mol rasa seperti Mol sudah hilang satu kawan yang baik. Selama ini belum pernah ada orang yang buat baik kepada kami seperti Kak. Terima kasih, Kak. Kak berhati-hati ya? (We love you & want you to know that we will always miss you. We will not forget your assistance & your existence that has made us all glad. I feel like as if Ive lost a good friend. All this time, no one has shown us any humanity apart from what you have done. Thank you, sis. Be careful ya?). Shortly after, Moahari called. Kak, saya nak pergi berjumpa dengan Kak tapi kalau mereka nampak, saya akan kena nanti. Saya sudah tahu apa yang sudah berlaku & saya berdoa supaya Kak dapat cari rezeki di mana-mana saja. Saya juga mahu mengucapkan selamat tinggal sekarang sebab esok mungkin tidak ada peluang. Kami akan berada di jeti untuk menghantar Kak. Biarlah Kak tahu dalam hati kami, kami akan sentiasa merindukan Kak & walaupun tidak boleh mengucap dengan mulut, tahu dalam hati kami, kami sangat sedih terhadap pergian Kak. Kami harap boleh berjumpa lagi. (Sis, I would like to meet you but if they see me with you, I will get my dues. I know what has happened & I pray that you will be able to survive wherever you go. I want to wish you farewell now because I might not be able to tomorrow. We will be at the jetty to see you off but do know that in our hearts, we will always miss you & though we cannot verbally say it, please know that we are very sad with your departure. We hope to meet you again.) There were numerous SMS. By then, even Sam could not control me. This must be my most heartwrenching mission that God has sent me for.

Frida helped me pack. Next morning, we hugged & cried some more. I hugged Sam who was to leave the following day. I got onto the boat & as the boat started to sail away, Mol, Moahari & the rest of the 12 workers stood up one by one. They smiled. They nodded in understanding & waved. I put on my sunglasses & waved back as they stood there watching. The peacocks must be glad that this feather-chaser is finally going….with all their feathers dropped in evasion. Then God said to me that I will be back. And I will. When the evil ones go. My dear friends, leave a light on for me.

Category: Adventure, Issues, Must Read, Personal, Rescue, SCUBA Leave a Comment

Man Of My Dreams

Mar 2005

By pummkin

The Real Phantom!

The epitome of a true man! A womans man! And a mans man! Man, is Gerard Butler handsome or what?!? His depiction of phantom is so full of that L-factor that when our performing arts cast went to watch it, some of the expressive ones broke into song while I just sat there and swooned. He is one of the few who could melt me and make me malleable….wow! I thought I only get this feeling with Bollywood movie stars with the likes of Abishek Bachan, Sharukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan. What happened here??? Now where were we?

Days when Sarong Party Girls never got the light of day for their Mat Salleh-totting ways (Mat Salleh is a slang for Caucasians), the Boh-Sia (literally means no-sound) in the streets of KL caused a stir when they would have sex freely and for free. Friends back then would always say to Mat Salleh-totters, Are all Asian men dead or dying? to voice their displeasure and biasness towards Asian men. Let me stress that this is not a racial issue but merely to point out the men from the men. These men friends get so upset when they hear/know of cases of neglect and heartbreak on their Asian girl friends by their expatriate boyfriends. So its no surprise that when the books, SARONG PARTY GIRL, THE REVENGE OF THE SARONG PARTY GIRL, THE SPG RIDES AGAIN were published, they were well received. Expats have been known to have caused so much grievances to the hopefuls who think that they may be tickets out of the country. I know of some very loving Expat-Asian couples who have weathered storms and such but they are few and far between.

So who can be the man of my dreams, when I have to battle with differentiating the real guys from the fake guys, the macho singles from the married super-machos, the touchables from the untouchables. These will be explained in the following paragraph. Scientifically, looks and physical assessment has been found to be the determining factor for people to select their mates to produce good offsprings. Somehow, this biological programming in our bodies often deceives us when we are looking for a soul-mate. Harry-chest and whatever-turn-you-ons aside, how many guys actually take the time to woo the ladies and win her heart for life? Well, this question depends upon the values that one is holding about marriage and life. Take for example, the Hit and Runs, the Wham Bam Slams and the Meow-Meows.

First, we identify the FAKES. They dress to the nines to impress but they are all borrowed stuff. They make up fancy job titles. They try to be somebody they are not. They make you pay on dates. The Bible says that women are to experience the grace of life. Equality is something that the devil has put in the minds of females to liberalise themselves, so to speak, but in actual fact, it is a direct contravention of Gods teaching. We should seek equal opportunities, equal rights for an education, equal pay, equal benefits, equal views and equal respect but equality does not mean that we should be EQUAL TO MEN. An apple does not need to be equal to an orange because they each have their own attributes to make them unique and taste the way they do. When I want to eat an apple, I expect the apple to taste like one. Just like I only have oranges in juice form and no other way. So it would not be right to outdo men (though most times we do and can do far better but this is not a question of competition) or do what they rightfully should do when taking girls out. There wont be a second date if I have to pay.

In my course of work before, I often have to have dinners to elaborate on work and most often, I get taken out instead of the opposite, with the client. A brief insight to who goes to these dinners, there are the exceptionally gentlemen who would open doors, seat you at the table, order whatever you want and asks real questions to get to know you. Some of these genuine people have become friends for life. Prospect? None. They are married. They fall under the married super-machos category. They can afford anything, take you anywhere, (Chiang Mai for golf?) and offer a lot to please you. They are covetous. They want you all to themselves. The moment I know that they are married, I always insist on having others accompany these dinners. Then there are those who trust you so much that they would take you to meet their wives….then take you along to dinners to be with their mistresses so that they can use you as an ally when their wives raise suspicion. I guess there is some truth to married men being able to understand women better and know how to treat them well…….they want to treat every woman that way too. However, they are out of bounds and I am very familiar with their modus operandi. Doesnt turn me on one bit. I dont want to go to hell.

Then comes those whom you know, are single, unattached, very eligible and are great friends. You love them dearly. You think of them when you want to watch a silly movie, a cartoon or do anything for the weekend. I mean, really great friends where you can hang out together with no apprehension, inhibitions and what not. When you are down, they are readily available to cheer you up, to cook you a scrumptious meal, to assure you they are still there as your friend even though your boyfriend is not anymore. After 5 years of that, you begin to wonder why there hasnt been any love interest in their lives at all. You feel that you know them well but not enough to ask about their single status. You begin to wonder if they are GAY. You hope not. You cant ask because you dont want to ruin the friendship. You begin to feel for them. You begin to wonder why you had never thought of them romantically before. Have they become the UNTOUCHABLES?

From all the do and ditch (a better term for Hit and Run) testimonies in Cleo and other girly magazines, instances of those on the prowl will seek out easy targets for one-night stands. Those who stopover from other countries, in transit or in for short term visits will almost definitely be like a sailor on every portâ€¦..seeking out Susan. If they are polite and pay for services, they would be looking for the nearest red light districts, if more polished, at expatriate-frequented pubs in Bangsar and wait for the unsuspecting Mat Salleh-Seeker to make contact. Usually, these types of Wham-Bam-Slams are often the rejects themselves. If they are lucky, they might find one to settle down with, if not, they just have to settle it themselves.

That leaves us now with the Meow-Meows. What has cats got to do with this issue of finding that dream man? Well, surely you must have heard in your lifetime, a Tom cat meowing away when Tabbys on heat. Sensing the need to mate, the Tabby may or may not be receptive to the Tom who thinks hes so desirable. Then what does Tom do? He meows his heart out, pulling up every trick from his sleeve, whether in truth and sincerity or in falsehood and captivity, Toms objective is to get the pussy. No time spent in getting to know Tabby or to love Tabby, Tom just wants to be Tom.

In light of the many flaws in the process of finding the man in question, I have thought about what this man should be. This will then narrow down my selection criteria to weed out the Hit and Runs, Wham Bam Slams and Meow-Meows. It would be great if he would run to the pharmacy in the midst of his work to get you a bottle of ProBiotics when hes found out you had food poisoning the day before. If he would spent time learning about your interest and what matters most to you. If he would detect the slightest hint of trouble from your voice over the telephone. If he would not let you carry heavy stuff. If he would tell you stories to keep you interested. If he would take you back to his hometown and endure teasing from his family members for doing touristy stuff with you like picking rubber seeds in rubber estates and playing with chickens in the farm. If he would hike up to almost the peak of Gunung Ledang waterfalls to soak your troubles away with you in the cool rushing waterfalls. If he would call you when hes halfway across the world from you. If he would find an excuse to wine and dine you even if theres no occasion. If he would call you when he has a matter to think about. If he would wait patiently for you to browse the lingerie section while you try to decide which one. If he would forego business lunches to eat with you instead. If he would send you flowers because he thought of you. If he would write you long letters even though you live in the same city. If he would remember birthdays, anniversaries and important dates. If he would have a heart for the faith you have in you. If he would propose to you not because he thinks he can live with you but because he cant live without you. If…..so many ifs.

I figured this man can only be found in one other person besides God. And hes here.

Category: Issues, Must Read, Personal, Relationships 5 Comments

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