Pak Idrus's Blog...

Of Trees and Birds in the Park...

2013-05-17T16:01:00.002+08:00

It was a beautiful morning. The sky was blue with white patches of clouds all over, a good day to wander at the park. I drove the Honda to the Taman Tasik Hilir Park and after parking my car went to wander along the walking path just to enjoy the fresh air and perhaps do a little bit of photography. The activities at the public park are never the same. At time there would be many people jogging or just sitting around to while their time away. Sometime one see flowers blooming and at time one would see birds chirping from tree enjoying its morning meals. Anyway it a good place to wonder along especially in the early part of the morning or evening before the sun set. The air is fresh and the atmosphere is cool. There is a large lake there with glittering water where one could see the reflection of the city skyline making it a great place to take picture of the city of Kuala Lumpur. I find the park peaceful and with my camera at hand always comeback with some great scene of the happening in the park.

That day while sitting on the bench under the canopy tree I saw birds chirping from branch to branch. From a distance I managed to capture the scene of three birds helping itself to the many fruits from the tree there.

As I was taking a lazy walk along the path I saw a lone tortoise perch on a rock near the bank of the lake. I took my camera and managed to get a good short of it enjoying the morning breeze. It is not always that one get to see the tortoise on dry-land like that. Most of the time it just disappeared into the water once alert by the sound of person approaching. This time using the telescopic lens I need not be near it thus I had managed to take a picture without disturbing it.

As I had said earlier it never the same when one wander in the park. At time there are nothing unusual happens but if one is patient enough the reward in photography would be worth the wait. If we care to take our time and look of what nature had to offer we would be surprised to see thing that we did not expect like the canopy trees that I had snap from the place I was taking a rest. It such beautiful scenes that one would not have notice if one do not really look up. That day I did look up and awe with the wonder of this tall canopy tree giving shades to the smaller tree below it and at the same time allowing birds and insects to enjoy itself high above undisturbed.

Have a nice day.

The Bottle-Brush flower...

2013-05-13T21:54:00.001+08:00

I had just bought a new Telescopic lens with could be converted into a Micro Lens with just a switch for doing Macro Photography. I did not know that it is possible to do macro photography with a telescopic lens not until a friend show me of how he managed to get a close-up of objects that is at a distance with his telescopic lens. I had been doing macro photography with my micro lens and the result always looks amazing. Using the Micro Lens one had to be close to the object. It is all right when taking the image of just the flowers but if one want to get the activities of insects with the flower it would not be that easy as the insect would normally fly away when one get close to it. With this new lens I could do Macro Photography from a distance. A few days ago I tried my new lens and shot some flowers from far away using the micro lens mode of the Telescopic lens and the result is as amazing. Above is an image of the Bottle-Brush flower that I had taken from a distance of some five metres away. The image shows the flower at close range with the insects enjoying it morning meal sucking nectar of the flower.

Have a nice day.

Xplorer the Blogger...

2013-05-11T20:42:00.001+08:00

Yes folks this Blogger name is xplorer and he blog here SUKA JALAN-JALAN; an active blogger indeed. He is indeed an explorer of sorts. He would take his family on an exploration trips all over the country and share the adventure in his Blog. He is an avid photographer and takes picture of his trip and shares that too. I have been following his Blog from the time I saw his first comment on my blog. Then I put a link on my blog so that I do not miss any of his posting. He is from the generation of my kids and writes well indeed. After reading his blog for years as usual with me I wanted to see the person in real life. I have done that even with stranger bloggers from the other part of the world too and met a few in real life when overseas. So I wrote to him for a meeting and he give me a quick respond to my request. With that we met on Saturday May 4, 2013 a day before the 13th General Election. After a few exchange of email we decided that we could meet at the KL Sentral mall where both of us could get to with ease using the LRT. So on that day at 10.30AM we met. I had just arrived at the Sentral Station and went to the reception counter to ask where Starbucks is. And just as I was about to walk to it a stranger spoke to me saying he is the xplorer Blogger and that his name is Wan Hazizi. We shake hand and move to our destination the Starbucks. There ordered our coffee and found a nice table to sit and get acquaintance. This is the first time I know his name. All the time he is known as the xplorer to me. Since we both have time to while away we chat on many subjects that comes to minds. Among it I wanted to know of his trip to neighbouring Thailand where he took the train to places as far as Bangkok. He say that he had travelled to many places in Thailand using the Thai Railway which start its service from Penang in Malaysia. He says it is a good train to travel and the service is great as well. That it is safe to travel alone or with family using the Thai Railway. I had planned to do the same so this information became valuable so that whenever I do that trip I would be at ease and could enjoy that train ride. As usual with blogger we talk and talk as we move on while enjoying our coffee. Then we ask a youth who was sitting nearby to take a picture of both of us. Above is the image of our meeting at the Sentral Station that fine day.

Have a nice day.

Of Cobbler Amirul from Penang...

2013-05-04T07:55:00.003+08:00

For the last three days last week I kept going back to the GE Mall at Jalan Ampang to see the on-going Art and Craft Sale and Exhibition there. On arrival I notice the foyer of the mall was full of stalls selling all kind of handicraft from the one made by the OA [Aborigine] to the latest technique in Batik making, Ceramic jewellery, leather works and other crafts handmade by artisan from all over the country.

On the first day I went to just have a look without any intention of buying. Did a round of the exhibition and eventually stop at a stall manned by a young cobbler. It was interesting to see the young artisan doing his job on cowhide. He sells sandals and belts made of real cowhide which he had crafted himself. I ask him where he gets his supply of hide. He says that he got it from Pakistan and Medan in Indonesia. The next day I went there again and took along my branded leather belt which I had it cut and shorten a few years ago when I lost weight. I had since regain my normal weight and found that I could hardly use that belt; one of my favourite leather belt. I ask the cobbler Amirul as to whether he could find a way to lengthen it back to the original length. He said that he could but at that time did not have any extra material to do the extension. I ask him to try and left the belt with him while I went to have coffee at the Starbucks nearby. I whilst my time surfing the Net there and enjoy my coffee. I soon forgot about the belt and take my time in cyberspace. After an hour I decided to see whether the cobbler had found a solution to my belt. I was surprised that he did and it’s done. With his expertise on leather and ingenuity he had extended my belt to the original length. He has done a creative job with it including polishing the whole belt giving it a new look just like a new one. I took a look and like it. Indeed very happy with the workmanship. I then paid him and went home happy.

At home I thought of doing an article on the activities of craftsman like him for my Blog and at the same time was thinking of asking the cobbler to take a look at my old leather sandals, a favourite shoe of mine to see whether he could replace the worn-out parts with a new layer of soft leader. So wearing those sandals I again went to the Mall. On arrival at the ground floor of the mall I spend the first few hours taking picture of the exhibition for my article and then went to see the cobbler again. I sat on one of the chair and showed him my sandals while asking him whether he could repair or replaced the worn-out leather. He said that he could and that it would take more than two hours to get the job done. I told him it would all right with me but I did not bring a spare sandal to wear while he repairs mine. He said not to worry while handing me a spare sandal to wear while he repair mine. I then hand him both my sandals.

Wearing the spare sandal went to have coffee at the Starbucks nearby. I got myself an end table sandwiched between three youth. I soon found that the one in front of me is a young doctor and the other two both students. Soon we got into talking on various subjects that comes to our minds. As usual when we are on a chat times passes by fast indeed. I look at my watch and found that I had been there more than an hour already. I decided to just go and have a look at what has happen to my sandals. I notice that one is ready and the cobbler is dong the other pair. I tried and found it well done and felt the comfort. I then move on to continue my coffee at another place at Starbucks and surfing the Net as well, without realising that I am wearing one of my own sandals on one foot and the borrowed one on the other. After a while I went back to see whether my sandals are ready and saw him polishing one of it. He told me that I am wearing different sandals on both feet. I was surprised that I did that and just laugh it off. He says he wanted to have the other sandal to polish it as well. I sat there and watch him put a finishing touch to both my sandals. When all are done my old sandals now look new and it does make me happy. I then paid him for a job well done and move on wearing my 'new' pair of sandals. Indeed an interesting and productive week at the mall.

Have a nice day.

[Please click on the image to enlarged]

The Magnificent Sun and the Moon...

2013-05-01T15:13:00.000+08:00

I left Kuala Lumpur yesterday for a short break in my hometown of Kuantan. I had planned to go and watch the rising sun today while there. At just past 6.30AM this morning drove to the Teluk Cempedak beach and waited for the sun to rise. There are already may people there waiting for the sunrise and enjoying themselves in the cool morning. I was rather surprise to see many people especially the young already there. The last time I was at this beach there were not that many people at this early hours of the morning. The sun was expected to rise at the horizon at just past seven. Soon we saw the glow of amber as the sun makes its entrance announcing the beginning of another day, May 1, 2013. It was a magnificent sight to watch and wonder as it slowly rises above the horizon. This time using a telephoto lens I took many shots as it continues to rise; mesmerizing indeed. And then I look up and saw the moon too was there shinning bright in the morning sun, a rare opportunity indeed to be able to watch the rising sun and the moon at the same time. It was a blue sky thus I could see a clear three quarter moon up above. I took aim at it using the telephoto lens and got a few great picture of it before it disappeared as the sun rises. Above are the image of the sunrise and the moon as seen at just past seven this morning. Enjoy it folks much as I had enjoyed taking that photos.

Have a nice day.

My little abode....

2013-04-23T17:43:00.000+08:00

I love the Malay kampong house; completely made of wood are never two alike. In the days of my growing up period in the early twentieth century most Malay houses in the kampong [village] are so designed as to get the best use of space. It is raised above ground. The floor been made of thick wooden planks arranged with a slight spacing in between allows cool air from the ground to get into the house which cool the house. In most houses there is no ceiling. The extra space provides enough space for the air to circulation. The wall made of thinner planks is build high up, where the top one eighth part of it is always left with hole opening as a ventilation to allows hot air to circulate and get out of the building, thus cooling the whole area of the house. Because the house is raised and with lots of ventilation there was no necessity of having fan in the house. The house is always cool even on a hot and humid day. At night with the outside temperature down the inside became cooler making it a great place to get a good night sleep all night long. Kampong houses is actually friendly to the ecosystem for not much energy is required to allows one to live comfortably in such house. Because it is airy there is no need for fan let alone air-conditioning. Most of the parts are made of hardwood thus last longer than brick houses. So when I bought a house in Ulu Kelang which like all houses now are construct of brick and cements I tried to give it a Kampong atmosphere the best I could. Over times I had installed laminated wooden flooring, build a serambi or patio, a loft and whatever little addition that could give me that Kampong look and comfort. Above is an addition I had added from the garage as a stairway to go up the house via the serambi or patio above. It does give this little abode of mine that Kampong look and the elegances that comes with it.

Have a nice day.

Reminising - Respecting the Sea...

2013-04-18T21:48:00.000+08:00

Above is the scene of the beach at Teluk Cempedak in Kuantan in the early hours of the morning. Images in this posting was taken while I was waiting for the sun to rise on a visit to the place some years ago. The weather was cool and the beach was almost empty of people but already heavy with activities of the little crabs digging holes all over the sandy beach. Small birds seen picking food on the shore careless of the bashing of the waves.

When I was growing up in the forties the beach was pristine with golden sand, a crystal clear river, lush jungle of greens all over making it a great place to whilst the day away and enjoy nature at its best. Then it was considered far from the town since there was no road leading to it. To get there one had to hike using a narrow path flank by dense jungle on both sides. One could see birds, small animals and creature like monkey and iguana or large lizard running loose here and there. There was no man-made structure around except a well that had been dug up by someone for the source of clean drinking water. It was an ideal place to go camping on weekend and enjoy a good swim in the crystal clear water of the sea. On most weekends we would hike there and camp for the two nights before returning home on Sunday evening.

The first time I went there to swim was I believe when I was just seven years old then. Together with my classmate we would hike there and enjoy swimming in the sea of crystal clear water. It was sort of my introduction to the sea. Henceforth the sea around Kuantan became my many playgrounds. As I grow up Teluk Cempedak soon became our regular camping ground on weekend. We would hike there along path starting at what was the Tok Sira area at that time. In those days the land around Tok Sira was flat with shrub of wild berries. As one approach the sea the land became hilly and dense with greens of various shades. We had to climb a small hill and follow a narrow path that had been carved out in between bushes by folks who try to get to the beach the other side of the small hill leading to the bay. On both sides of the path are dense green mostly inhabit by monkey and other small animal. As kids we were never afraid of animal that lurk in those bushes. We would enjoy the hike until we could see the sea up front. It was always nice to hear the wave bashing the shore as we get nearer to the sea as well get to smell the saltiness of the atmosphere. On a hot and humid day we would be sweating before we arrived at the cool place under the shade of huge trees near the beach. We would normally pitch our camp near the river or at the far end of the bay near those rocks where we could get fresh water. When the weather was good we would just sleep on the sandy beach under the glittering star up above. We would build camp-fire throughout the night to scare animal coming near to our place of sleeping. It was always fun to camp and enjoy the camp-fire in the evening where we would cook our food over open fire. One morning we woke up and found all our utensils were missing. We were indeed surprised as to how all the items were not around where we had left before we goes to sleep. We search and search and eventually found most of it dented. Obviously the high tide in the night had cause all the utensil to float and as the wave bash the shore all those items float with it were bashed and scattered all over all the night long until the tide subside. We collected what remains of our utensil and that experience taught us not to store anything too close the beach. We can never tell how high the tide would be from time to time. With that happening we learnt not to take thing for granted when camping beside the sea. As we get older we learnt many new things about the sea. As member of the Boy Scout moment we soon got training on first-aid and jungle survival which later became useful when we went hiking and camping in jungle, thus wiser whenever we go camping whether in the jungle or the beach. We go with enough information of the area and never would take things for granted. In one instance we saw a person drowning. We acted fast as a group and save that person's life. It was a memorable event that I could still vividly remember till these days. We learnt that every flora and fauna has it purpose in the scheme of thing and must be respected as well. We only take what we want and use only and leave the rest in peace and undisturbed. We always see to it that no fire or amber is left at fireplace whenever we left a place after camping or a picnic. We would clean the beach of debris and always kept it clean before leaving it. It soon became the norm of our group to see that things are left as it were whenever we leave the place.

We learnt too that never to take the sea for granted. Always make sure that one knows the depth of the sea whenever one go swimming. The sea at Teluk Cempedak been a bay have strong undercurrent and in some places very deep. One must be very careful when swimming there. We can only enjoy the sea if we respect it as a great force that could be calm or wild in just mere minutes. So understanding it is very important for us to enjoy it for our benefit. It is here at an early age that I learnt to respect the sea. I kept going back to this enclave whenever I am in Kuantan. Even in my golden age I would still wander there in the early morning and wonder at the mystic of the rising sun. Except for the instruction of buildings and the polluted river the beach is still the same. It golden sand and the crystal clear water is still the beach of my childhood that always brings back memories of joy of those wonderful years of my childhood. The call of the sea is always close to my heart and Teluk Cempedak is mine forever.

Have a nice day.

Your One Vote [Malaysia 13th Election]...

2013-04-10T15:26:00.000+08:00

The 13th General Election for Malaysia would be held on May, 5, 2013.

Folks, in a democracy it is the vote that put a person in charge of the country. Anyone who gets a majority, even with one vote would be elected to be a Member of Parliament or the Member of the State Assembly. So it is important that we as citizen of this country Malaysia understand that the one vote of ours does made the difference. So in an election, be it the by-election or now the General Election that happen once in four or five years we must take our vote seriously and vote with wisdom.

In the March 8, 2008 the citizen of Malaysia showed that they do understand that their votes does made the differences. In that election they voted for change. As can be seen at that election and the other by-election your votes do made the difference. Folks we are going through a changing time and as usual some people like change and some does not want at all. It is the same in a democracy. What we want is a democracy not a dynasty where leadership is pass down from one person to another but a person that is elected by the people. Only in a true democracy that we get to see the person whom we elect became the leader.

Our founding father found this country as a secular democracy and it has work so far. It does brought prosperity to the rakyaat but since it is the rakyaat money that are been use to develop this country surely we want accountability and transparency in it uses. To get that we must elect the right person to provides the leadership. A person of integrity to the nation leadership; whether it is at the state level or the federal level. In this coming election it is for both the federal level as well the state level. Only a person with integrity would provide us with good leadership. So this time you go to the poll do use your vote wisely. Remember that one vote of yours does made the difference.Your vote and my vote make two votes and that goes on and on until the polling is closed.

So come this May 5, 2013 do go and vote wisely.

Have a nice day.

The Kitten....

2013-04-07T21:35:00.000+08:00

We love cat. Since we start a family way back in the early sixties of the twentieth century we always had cats running around in the house. It was always sort of a family member that brings cheer to the kids and a good therapy for us. In those days we just fed the cats with food that we ate and it would do it things outside the house so there was no real budget when keeping cat at that time except the occasionally Veterinary service. Everywhere we went and live we always have cat. At time we kept more than one cats and it always bring happiness to the family. Even when working in Sarawak we had two cats. It was a stray that we pick up. When I got transferred back to the mainland state of Pahang we decided to bring along the two Sarawak's cats. To take it along we had to get documents since it is illegal to take animals and plants from the Borneo state to Peninsular Malaysia. We took the then Ferry Malaysia to go back to the mainland. The journey to Kuantan in Peninsular Malaysia start from Kuching, Sarawak; with stops at Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and the port of Singapore before proceeding to Kuantan. On the way to Singapore we ran short of sands for the litter box and had to rush to the city of Singapore to get it. We got it and managed to catch the ship just hours before it left for Kuantan. We arrived in Kuantan and took the two cats in our car to a cousin's house at Batu Hitam. It was indeed a historic journey for us where we brought along our cats all the way from Kuching, Sarawak to Kuantan, Pahang. For the first few months we stayed at our cousin's house in Batu Hitam where the cat spends their first few months in Peninsular Malaysia. Later on we rented a house at Alor Akar and live there until I decided to retired from the Government service. While living at that house in Kuantan where there was a large compound and jungle nearby both the cat die mysteriously one by one, probably cause by the stings by insects or beaten by poisonous creature. We did not know what really happened. It was a really a sad occasion for me. Actually I cried when both the cat died; sad indeed. A neighbour gives us a little mixed Persian kitten. It soon became the charm of the family. When we move back to Kuala Lumpur in 1990 after I retired optionally from the government service we took the cat along. It adept very well to our own home in Ampang Jaya and its surrounding. We call it Tina and as we move on over the years she too grow old and died after two week when we left to live in the United State in 1998. From that henceforth we decided no more cats for us but cats have always been in our heart.

Some months ago a stray kitten with collar attached to her neck came around and because it was raining we took it into the house and give it shelter. She was so charming and adorable. We thought that it belongs to someone who love cat so we start looking for its owner through Facebook, asking around and even put posters of it on lamp-pole around the neighbourhood. After weeks without any respond we decided to just keep it for a while. We did fell in love with that kitten but as yet to decide whether to keep her or not. As time goes by we heard of a young couple, a friend of our daughter Lin was looking for a kitten for their two kids. So we decided to part with it. We were actually sad to let it go but then we found it was happy to be in a new home with kids around. So we are now had gone back to square one without a cat in the house. But lives go on as usual. There are two cats in our daughter Lin house nearby so whenever we go there we would play with the cats.

Just before her mom's birthday our eldest daughter calls and told me that she wanted to get her mom a kitten as a birthday gift. I told her that it was OK but remind her that it would not be easy of taking care of cat. There is the daily chore to be done, the food to be bought and the litter bin had to be clean and of course the expenses of the Veterinary services. The next day she took her mom out and came back with a little Persian kitten as seem in the image above. So folks here we are with this addition to the family. We named the adorable kitten as Mei Mei. With this kitten it looks like we have gone full circle. Now we have a cat in the family. Well folks, life is like that.

Have a nice day.

Reminising - Cultural shock...

2013-03-30T22:12:00.000+08:00

Today is the last Saturday of March 2013. It is a beautiful day. I decided to clean the patio and my little garden. After that had breakfast and then surf the Internet and start blogging; Nothing much just reminiscing these thoughts of mine.... In April 1971 I was send to Australia to attend a course under the Colombo Plan. It was the first time I had ever gone overseas and this trip excites me. At that time not many Malaysian goes overseas thus we were delighted to have been selected to go overseas; Australia. I was in my early thirty working in Malacca with two small kids. My spouse at that time was working at the Telecom Department there. It was difficult to leave the young kids and their mother but attending the course is very important to my career. I had no choice but to go for the three month course in Australia. So with heavy heart I went. Three of us young officers arrived at the Perth Airport in the early dark morning. The weather was cold and the smell of the atmosphere was different. We are indeed in a strange place that personally I had never dream of been but here am I in Australia, a white man land. While waiting for the local representative to take us to the hotel we sat to have coffee. I look at the board at the back of the counter and saw they have Black Coffee and White Coffee. Not sure what a White Coffee is we decided to be on the safe-side by ordering Black Coffee. I notice that all the shopkeepers are white man and more white man are seen sweeping the floor, collecting trash and one even open the door for us. I was shock to see the white man doing all these things since back home during the colonial era they were the Tuan [Boss] and this is the first time I saw the white doing any manual works. I was shock to see the white or MatSaleh were doing works just like us back home. Four hundred years of colonialism did that to our mindset; thinking that all white-man are Boss or Tuan. That was the first time I went overseas thus my reaction to that happening at the Airport. Anyway after spending three months in Australia I learned that we are after all are the same except of the knowledge we have. So it teaches me a very important lesson that knowledge is very important for us to stay independent and progress likes those in the west. At the course I learn as much as I could of how the Australian handle their rural youth. And of course while there I saw the developed country with modern amenities at close range and that I learn too. On my return I use that knowledge I learned to introduce new Youth programme for the benefit of our young in the rural area. During the period of the course we were taken to almost all the cities in Australia. The image on the left show us on a street in Melbourne, Australia.

Have a nice day.

The Young Greens...

2013-03-24T08:06:00.002+08:00

Above are some images of young shoots and greens from my little garden. It is the beginning of the process of growing. Indeed a wonderful moment to watch and wonder nature at its best. There are so many wonderful happening in nature to watch and enjoy if only one care to look. Remember without these green there would be no life on planet earth. It is only the plants that could convert the sun energy into food so that other species on planet earth could consume as food and obtain that sun's energy to enable all to enjoy living. Without that energy all lives on planet earth would perished. Be thankful to the plants for that. So think about it folks and do give due respect to these humble specie; the plants.

Have a nice day.

Rambling 3.1...

2013-03-21T11:04:00.000+08:00

Good Morning folks, it is a beautiful day in March. The sun is shining bright with white clouds scattered up above. I thought for today I just ramble whatever I am thinking now. One of it is about about paying bills. Yes the bill that we pay every month to keep our home running. It cost me not less than RM800.00 a month to pay all my bills. Yesterday I went to the TM Point at Ampang Point and paid it all. Just imagine for my house alone it cost that amount. Without that kind of money my house would be dark without electricity, no running water, no Astro[Paid TV], no Unifi[Broadband], no Phone, no Cellphone and life would be just unbearable; what with the weather now. It is always hot and humid and air conditioning looks like has become a norm rather than a luxury likes before. In the forties of the twentieth century when I was growing up in a Kampong [village] in Kuantan there was no bills at all to pay. Water was from the well, we did not have electricity, no running water, and telephone was a luxury that no one could afford. Life was simple and folks get on with their lives as usual without thinking about paying utilities bills. Money was only for buying foods and clothing but now it looks like the money we need is more for paying bills other that for foods and clothing. I walk to school to and fro everyday so it is free too. If it rain we would cut the huge leaves of the Yam plant and use it as umbrella since we just could not afford to buy one but it was all right and looking back it was fun too. I had only one pair of shoe and that was used for schooling only; once back home we would either use a clog or just barefooted. Computer, Radio or TV was unheard of and for game we invented out kind of games like Hide and Seek, Playing Marble and whatever that we could play around. An old bicycle wheel without the tire would be a toy to play around the house. What is needed is a long stick and it kept the wheel running. It was fun. Come the monsoon we would enjoy the rain. At weekend as we get older we would go camping in the bush or near the beach. Telok Cempedak a beautiful bay beside the sea which was still jungle then was one of our favourite camping grounds. We all had fun and most of the time money was not part of the equation. Folk’s life was like that and looking back it was indeed an enjoyable time of our growing up period.

Have a nice day.

Bauhinia Kockiana the brilliant flowers...

2013-03-12T12:45:00.000+08:00

Above is the flowers in front of my house where I had planted varieties of greens and flowering creeper plants. The bright and brilliant flower in the image is call Bauhinia kockiana and it bloom all throughout the years. I hope to plant creeper plant with blue flowers, adding more colours to that area of my house. At present I have the Yellow Allemande, a bright yellow flower and many colours of Bougainvillea as well the Kenanga flower.

When all these plants bloom at the same time it turns the front of my house into a riot of colours in all the shades of greens and the colours of the rainbow.

Have a nice day.

Raptor watch @ Tanjung Tuan...

2013-03-08T20:16:00.001+08:00

Raptor the migratory birds from North Asia, North-eastern Asia, Eastern Siberia, Kamchatka, North-eastern China, the Korean Peninsula and Japan where they breed are here now in big numbers. Every year at this time of the years these migratory birds would fly to Tanjung Tuan [ Cape Rachado] on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and would stay there for about two months before going back to their natural habitat in the northern atmosphere. When the weather is hot it would fly in groups above Tanjung Tuan sky taking advantage of the thermal column of rising air where it could fly easily with little energy needed. It is a yearly happening at this part of the world from March to the end of April. For the purpose of highlighting this happening NGO in Malaysia have organised a Raptor Watch activity. This year it would be on March 9 - 10 at the vicinity of the Ilham resort at Tanjung Tuan. Read this.

I had wanted to go and watch it for myself so last Saturday March 2, 2013 with my spouse I drove all the way to Tanjung Tuan to see for ourselves the Raptor there. On arrival we got out of the car and saw many birds circling above flying in formation against the blue sky of the midday sun. It just looks like flying dots against the blue sky. I snap as many images with my Nikon using a telescopic lens. Had it not been for that telescopic lens I would not be able to see the colour of that bird. Above is an image of one of a Raptor that I spot flying above the Ilham Hotel compound at Tanjung Tuan; an amazing sight indeed.

Have a nice day.

The Vegetables..fresh source of Energy....

2013-02-28T13:16:00.001+08:00

The above image is a bowl of assorted vegetable ready to eat with any sauce or just as a salad to accompany your grills or other foods. It contains all the nutrition that our body need to produce the energy that we need to enjoy life on planet earth. We cannot get that energy direct from the sun thus we eat vegetable and meat to get that energy. Plant is the only specie that could convert the sun energy into food that we could consume and get that energy. Without the ability of the plant to convert the sun energy into food all other species on planet earth could not survived. So why eat meat of animals and fish to get that energy from the sun when the animals get its energy from eating plants in the first instance. By eating meat the human specie is actually getting the energy from a third party when we could easily get it from the second party that is the plants. So our specie should be wise in getting our energy to live and not to be depended on animals which get it energy from the plant too. Do give a thought and give due respect to the plants. Without it all other species on this planet would be doomed and with that the planet too.

Have a nice day.

Should I really join Facebook - Priceless and so True...

2013-02-23T08:21:00.000+08:00

Folks, I got this in my email and since this is so relevant to the lives of folks in their golden age, I am sharing it here. Read on...

A good laugh for people in the over 50 group !!! Also for those who know people like us.

When I bought my Blackberry I thought about the 30-year business I ran with 1800 employees, all without a cell phone that plays music, takes videos, pictures and communicates with Facebook and Twitter. I signed up under duress for Twitter and Facebook, so my seven kids, their spouses, 13 grandkids and 2 great grand kids could communicate with me in the modern way. I figured I could handle something as simple as Twitter with only 140 characters of space..

That was before one of my grandkids hooked me up for Tweeter, Tweetree, Twhirl, Twitterfon, Tweetie and Twittererific Tweetdeck, Twitpix and something that sends every message to my cell phone and every other program within the texting world.

My phone was beeping every three minutes with the details of everything except the bowel movements of the entire next generation. I am not ready to live like this. I keep my cell phone in the garage in my golf bag.

The kids bought me a GPS for my last birthday because they say I get lost every now and then going over to the grocery store or library. I keep that in a box under my tool bench with the Blue Tooth [it's red] phone I am supposed to use when I drive. I wore it once and was standing in line at Barnes and Noble talking to my wife and everyone in the nearest 50 yards was glaring at me. I had to take my hearing aid out to use it,and I got a little loud.

I mean the GPS looked pretty smart on my dash board, but the lady inside that gadget was the most annoying, rudest person I had run into in a long time. Every 10 minutes, she would sarcastically say, "Re-calc-u-lating." You would think that she could be nicer. It was like she could barely tolerate me. She would let go with a deep sigh and then tell me to make a U-turn at the next light. Then if I made a right turn instead. Well, it was not a good relationship.

When I get really lost now, I call my wife and tell her the name of the cross streets and while she is starting to develop the same tone as Gypsy, the GPS lady, at least she loves me.

To be perfectly frank, I am still trying to learn how to use the cordless phones in our house. We have had them for 4 years, but I still haven't figured out how I can lose three phones all at once and have run around digging under chair cushions and checking bathrooms and the dirty laundry baskets when the phone rings.

The world is just getting too complex for me. They even mess me up every time I go to the grocery store. You would think they could settle on something themselves but this sudden "Paper or Plastic?" every time I check out just knocks me for a loop. I bought some of those cloth reusable bags to avoid looking confused, but I never remember to take them in with me.Now I toss it back to them. When they ask me, "Paper or Plastic?" I just say, "Doesn't matter to me. I am bi-sacksual." Then it's their turn to stare at me with a blank look.

I was recently asked if I tweet. I answered, No, but I do toot a lot."

P.S.I know some of you are not over 50. I sent it to you to allow you to forward it to those who are.

Have a nice day.

Note:This piece was posted earlier in my other blog.

A Gracious Flower...

2013-02-15T12:48:00.000+08:00

This plant just starts to bloom again. When I first grow it some years ago I did not know its name. I posted it in my Blog and then a friend who at that time lives in Bali wrote to me saying that the name of that plant is Awapuhi-ula-ula and it is a native of Hawaii. The flower would last for at least for four months and then it would fade slowly. After that the flower would not be as radiant at it first bloomed but would still be there until it is cut off. And during that time small shoots of its young would sprouts at the stem in between the leaves. I was told by a friend that just to cut it and plant in another pots. I did just that. Soon I began to get more and more of these plants. Water it regularly, adds some fertilizer from time to time and it would grow slowly and eventually would flower as seen in the image above. So starting from just one pot I now have many pots of these plants at various stage of growing.

One thing great about this plant is that it teaches oneself to be patience since it takes its time to flower. It does not show any bud but you would be delighted after all the waiting you began to see some indication of a flower coming your way. It always made me happy every time I watch the progress of blooming. True as the saying goes that plant is keeper of our joy; a joyous moment indeed.

Have a nice day.

Gong xi fa cai...

2013-02-05T10:21:00.000+08:00

Happy Chinese New year to all. May we continue to have peace and with that enjoy prosperity together.

Have a nice day.

Beautiful day and Beautiful happening...

2013-02-03T15:12:00.002+08:00

It was a beautiful Wednesday morning at the end of January 2013, I decided to lepak at KLCC. The weather was great with blue sky and patches of white clouds up above. I drove the Honda to the KLCC parking lot and look for a vacant lot to park my car. Now they have installed indicator of red and green light to indicate the availability of parking lot there. Red for no vacant lot and Green mean the lot is vacant. I look for the green light and found a parking lot and park my car there. With this system it is much easier to look for a vacant lot. Just drive to the green light and park the car there. In the past we have to drive all over the place to look for a vacant lot; now just look for the green light. I then took the escalator up the concourse and went to the ATM to get some cash before whiling myself in the mall. It was just past ten in the morning and the mall was beginning to get crowded with folks arriving to have their breakfast or brunch at the food-court or do early shopping. I went to the third floor to get a better reception of the WiFi so that I could surf the Net and do a posting on Facebook. After a while went back to the food-court and have a Teh Tarik and Mee Mamak. I found the Mee Mamak at the stall on the level two is not as good as the one at the Rasa food-court on level four.

After that I went to do some shopping and eventually end at the M and S store where I did some purchase of a Jean and two T Shirts. I went to the cashier to make payment and without realising it I am told that for the two T Shirts I get a coupon of RM50.00 and if I want I could use it for paying the next item that is the Jean. I told the cashier to do just that. With that I had only to pay less RM50.00 for the whole items. It was indeed a surprise since I did not expect any gift coupon. Happy with the purchase I left the store and continue to wander along window-shop.

After a while I decided to get home. I went down to the basement and drove the Honda to get out of the parking lot. I approached the gate and use my Touch and Go card to pay for the parking fee since I had use the card to get into the parking area. There was another car in front and the gate refused to open and he backed and I did the same. As soon as he went to the adjacent gate I move forward and touch my card to the reader but the gate did not open. I tried again and again but it is still the same. I then call the security guard who later came with a technician. He help me to get through using the Touch and Go card but still it does not work. He said that possibly there is a problem with the system and that he had to cancel whatever data in the card and that I had to buy a new entry ticket. He told me to pay RM3.00 for the ticket. I gave him the money and after a while he came back with a ticket and uses it. With that ticket the gate open and I was able to drive out of the parking lot. Here again I was surprise with the quick assistance from the technician and that I had only to pay RM3.00 for the parking which otherwise had I use the Touch and Go card would have cost me at least RM8.00.

It looks like today is indeed my day. Two surprises in a day! With these happening it does made my little adventure that day end with a happy note indeed. Well life is like that when you always think positive.

Have a nice day.

Udang Tumis with Belimbing Buloh....

2013-01-28T16:05:00.000+08:00

It was early morning. After cleaning the front part of our house, an early morning ritual of mine I went out to sweep the lawn in front of the gate. Across the road I had planted a Belembing Buloh tree. I went to have a closer look and found there are plenty of fruits hanging from the branches of the tree ready for harvesting. I went up the house and straight away walk to the kitchen and took a plastic container and then went down to pick up the fruits. I then put it on the kitchen table and went on to do my other unfinished work around the house and forgot about it altogether. Come lunch time I look at the dishes on the table and found that my spouse had use the Belimbing Buloh to cook the fruits together with the prawn; a dish we call Udang Tumis. Seeing that wet my appetite. I then sat to enjoy my lunch of steamy white rice with it. It was really delicious. I did enjoy my lunch with it. It is not always that we get to enjoy such dish, Prawn cook together with the fruits - Udang Tumis with Belimbing Buloh. Above is the image of the dish Udang Tumis with Belimbing Buloh. Have a nice day.

How the Kid see things...

2013-01-24T13:26:00.000+08:00

These two images was snap up by our youngest grandson Azib 10 + years. The top image he snap it using my Nikon DSLR camera and the one on the left he use my Nokia Lumia cellphone camera. Every time he takes photo the result always surprise me. I like the result of his little adventure with my camera. Indeed one can never tell of how the young mind works. They often have a different view of thing that we just take for granted. It a fascinating images indeed and I am sharing it here for all to enjoy it as well.

Have a nice day.

Of Personal Space...

2013-01-19T22:04:00.000+08:00

It was a beautiful Saturday. Asmah had to attend a lunch get together of friends at a Hotel in the city. So at just past 12 noon I drove the Honda taking Elevated Highway and send her to the Hotel at Jalan Raja Laut. Traffic was light except at the junction of getting into the Elevated Highway. I told her to take her time and enjoy herself there and call me when the event ends so that I could come and fetch her. So after dropping her at the Hotel I drove on to the KLCC and while my time there enjoying my own personal space. I love to just lepak and take my time to window shop or shop along at time on what I do not really need. I went to the Nokia store and bought a Window 8 Nokia, another toy to play around. I was playing with the Samsung s3 before and thought for a change to see how the Window 8 works on Cell Phone. It looks great. Asmah is still toying with her s3 with the Bling Bling as the cover of that toy of hers. Well at this age we have decided to buy what we want, enjoy whatever foods we like and buy clothing we like just to continue to enjoy life. The KLCC today is crowded with folks shopping and eating as though there is no tomorrow. I use the free WiFi at Nokia to surf the Net and communicate with my friends on Facebook and got lost of time enjoying myself in cyberspace. Then I went to have lunch of Nasi Padang at the Food Court below. At this time the Food Court were crowded too. Took my time to enjoy my lunch and after that went out to have a look at the happening outside near the pool. There is an exhibition of a Bicycle Fair there with clown drawing the crowd.

Inside at the main concourse Chinese Lion dance accompany with the blaring drum feel the air. It was loud as loud can be when the Chinese drum goes on and on accompany the lion dance. At every floor folks watch attentively enjoying themselves with this once a year affair; the Chinese New Year that would be celebrated next month. The decoration in the Mall is in the colour of the Chinese New year with decoration in all the shades of red turns that concourse into an atmosphere of pomp and splendour drawing crowds both local and tourists to it like ants drawn to sugar; a fascinating sight indeed.

After that I went to have coffee at Starbucks on the third floor and while myself again surfing the Net while waiting for Asmah's call. She call while I was about to enjoy my coffee. Told her to just wait and I would call her as soon I am near the Hotel. After enjoying the brewed coffee on a takeaway cup I left Starbucks taking the lift to the concourse and then took another lift to the parking area. Placed the coffee in the coffee mug holder provided in most Honda and drove the Honda taking the Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman passing Sogo and then got into Jalan Raja Laut. The traffic was heavy and I just inch forward while enjoying my coffee. It was a good idea to take the coffee along. I take my time and call Asmah telling her that I would be there in a moment. With the Cellphone it is now easier to communicate making life as beautiful as ever. I arrived at the front of the Hotel, pick her up and drove back home ending an enjoyable personal space of our own our ways. Life is indeed beautiful.

Have a nice day.

Just rambling...

2013-01-15T21:44:00.000+08:00

We are now into the second week of January 2013. It was like yesterday that we welcome the year 2013 and now we have passed the first week already. It looks like things are moving fast indeed. It is now again the election year. It was five years ago on March 8, 2008 that the general election in Malaysia saw a big change when five state was won by the Pakatan Rayaat group and in Parliament the ruling party the BN for the first time in the country history did not get a two third majority. The five years period would soon end and an election must be held some time before the end of April 2013. I believe there are going to be more changes in this coming election. I too think that it is time for change in the management of the country at the federal level. Fifty years is too long for a political party to stay on managing the country. Because of that long period of time they became complacence and take thing for granted. So a change or reform would surely be good for the country. At least for one term so that the political party could take some time to reform itself and face the people again in the coming election.

On the economic front food prices have been going up and up and to me the value of the Ringgit has gone down too. Today an RM50.00 is just like the RM10.00 five years ago so the people have to be careful in their spending too in order to make end meet. When I start a family in the early sixties a salary of just RM100.00 a month was good enough to rent a house, buy food, a bicycle and have a family. Today fifty years later it could not even rent a room in a house let alone to raise a family. In Kuala Lumpur every time you want to make payment for food or anything you buy you have to give a RM50.00 instead you once just use RM10.00. So the moment you part with that RM50.00 it is gone and you are poorer by that at that moment in time. You need to fill you tank with at least RM50.00 to be comfortable driving in and out of the city. To use the road you need to pay the toll and then the parking fee and it all cost money. Just an example I live near the city of Kuala Lumpur and my utilities bills total at RM800 a month. So just to manage the house I need that amount every month. Just add the food bills, the monthly payment for the car, the patrol and toll fee, occasional eating out, clothing, maintenance of the house, cost of going outstation for holiday from time to time. It would add up to be lots of money. I am a retiree and have a monthly pension, so is my spouse. Both our pension is just enough for us to live a comfortable life. This is because our housing loan has been paid in full and we do not have debt. So to those of you who are going to retire do see to it that you have enough money in your Pension Scheme to continue to live a comfortable life after retirement.

Have a nice day.

Fine living...

2013-01-08T20:57:00.000+08:00

Above is our living area. For a healthy living environment we do not have any carpet in the house. The floor is of laminated wood and easy to keep it cleans all the time. We love interior decoration and try to make the best of the limited space we have to create a cosy living area that we love. All the furniture and fitting are collected over times. It is now a place that we call home; our own little abode tug away in Ulu Kelang, Selangor. In a place call Ampang Jaya.

Have a nice day.

The year 2013...

2013-01-01T21:42:00.000+08:00

It was a beautiful evening on December 31, 2012. I decided to follow the grand kids and their mom and dad to go and see the firework display at the KLCC. It is a normal occurrence every year where Malaysian from all walks of life would congregate at the front of the Petronas Twin Towers and the surrounding area to watch the countdown awaiting the arrival of the New Year. With my son in law driving I took it easy and enjoy the ride. It was just past eleven in the evening when we left the house. The traffic toward the KLCC from all sides of the city was already jammed with cars loaded with their family members to enjoy the ritual of ushering the New Year. As we drove on I could see the iconic Petronas Twin Towers closer as we move toward it but due to the heavy traffic already on the road we just inch forward and just enjoy the trip. Eventually as we approach the towers from Jalan Tun Razak the traffics became slower and then stop altogether as we get nearer to the towers.

Everyone got out of their cars and just move around looking at the clock on another building nearby ticking toward midnight. I too got out of the car follow by our eldest grandson. Then the rest of the family follow suit and we group for a photo take with the towers as our background. I then give my grandson my Nikon DSLR while I use the Cell phone camera to snap the happening around there.

The electronic clock shows ll:59PM and then Midnight struck. In a well coordinated timing the firework display start with a bang. Everyone roar to the excitement and with camera in every hand folks start taking picture of the colourful display of the firework. One after another the firework lightens up and colour the dark skyline in the colours of the rainbow; a magnificent sight indeed. For that moment in time the whole sky became sort of a fairyland in a magic kingdom.

We are now in the New Year 2013. The year 2012 has gone for good. Where it goes is anybody guesses. Perhaps it would turn into stardust like everything else on planet earth when lifespan ended. The display went on for almost ten minutes and folks roar again and again until the last of firework end it display with a big bang ending the glorious show of the evening.

Then like ants folks move in unison and got into their cars and move on. We too got into the car. Our son in law then drove the car taking a route that he is familiar with and got us home at just after one in the morning. Ending our wonderful little adventure that start in the year 2012 and end in the year 2013.

Scenes in this posting was snap up by our grandson.

Have a nice day.