August Rush

Shui came into the computer room the other evening, and asked me to watch this movie that she had in her computer. I put it on, and was immediately mesmerized by the sounds and voices of the movie.

It was like listening to the music talking. You could hear the music telling stories of love, hope and faith. Young Evan Taylor never gave up believing that his parents were dead, and set out on a journey to find them, all the while believing that they were all bonded by music.

Music has always been a second language to me. What I cannot speak with my words, I speak with my music, and the music that I listen to. Words are decorated, but music speaks the raw feeling of the soul. All that you have to do, is listen.

Music is everywhere.
All you have to do, is listen.

Monks in Coffee Bean

This was in the Kuching International Airport, when I was sitting idly waiting to board my flight. MAS was delaying my flight, and I was rewarded with another two hours of boredom.

I saw two monks walking in my direction and into Coffee Bean.

They have clean and well-shaved head, and spoke Mandarin in an accent which indicated that they were not local.

The waitress serving their customers.

They ordered in English spoken in words and phrases, and their voices were loud and clear. It made me smile, for only those with a bright and open heart would speak with voices like that.

The monk with a white cap was tall and humble. The short monk was a female (forgive me for not knowing how to address a female monk). She was the bold one. :) I knew that from the manner of their speech.

What Is New In LCCT, Kuala Lumpur?

In LCCT, KL, you get to...

Rest and Relax...

In the new Plaza Premium Lounge

with the welcome and services of a star VIP

At a charge of RM80.00 for three hours per pax.

Hey, you get free food and internet services in there. They even provide you with massage chairs.

Oh, and I think you can get a discount of RM 20.00, if your flight was scheduled at less than three hours away.

Money Changer in LCCT, Kuala Lumpur

Friends and I were wondering the other day if they had any money changers in the LCCT (Low Cost Cargo Terminal) for Air Asia in Kuala Lumpur.

Apparently, they do, under the operation of Hong Leong bank.

Money Changer in the LCCT, Kuala Lumpur

Chocolates!!!

I was bored while having to wait for my flight. Cadbury chocolate arranged in a systemic manner caught my attention. The varieties showed, and I took pictures.

They didn't have the one that I liked most though, I love the "Old Jamaican's Rum 'n' Raisins" the best!!!

Where I Went Today

I went to that blue building today!!!

Manta! Manta!

Manta Ray Near Talang Besar, Sematan, Sarawak, Borneo.

13 April 2008, Sunday

We saw a pair of manta rays, otherwise known as the devil rays, in Talang Besar!!!

It was near the end of the trip out, and I just got out of my third and last dive. Disassembling my gear, Mui Ling was laughing and dripping with water when she told me that she and CS had just saw a Manta while snorkeling out there.

I jumped at that moment, grabbed my mask and fins and jumped into the water swimming towards the patch of water that they pointed me.

Never was I so eager to see another sea creature as I did a Manta.

It took a few rounds of snorkeling before Edward finally spotted the Manta. I was about to give up looking for the Manta, and had actually started thinking that the Manta might have been scared off by the snorkellers. I was already at the side of the boat when ML asked me if I had seen it. I said no. Then she said to me that the group had just found it!!!!

I clambered out of the water, ML knew that I had no snorkel on, and passed me her mask and snorkel. Almost cursing, I flopped to the other side of the boat and jumped into the water. ML and Kim were both laughing at me.

I finned as hard as I could out there, and when I reached them, they told me that the Manta had gone. But I did not give up, no way was I to give up since I was this close to see the Manta!!!

And then, I saw it. As magnificent as I had always imagined it. A graceful, gliding Manta.

I could not help but felt the rush of happiness running through my veins. I dared not blink for one moment, afraid that at the next moment, it would be lost from my sight again.

And then, I saw them. Two of them!!! One bigger than the other, gliding towards each other at an angle. I was so happy that my heart could burst right there and then.

Following the smaller Manta, I saw it glide slowly towards a school of fish, and swooped in for food. It moved so fast, that for one second it was only a blur.

Slowly, it moved away, gliding as gracefully as nature had made it, and disappeared into the depth.

I have never been so happy to see another sea creature in my life. I just hope that my friend would be able to be there to see it too.

Derailment at Padas River, Borneo

There was an incident of train derailment in Sabah, Borneo. Two people were killed and 39 injured after the locomotive came off the tracks and plunged into the Padas river.

Photos by the New Straits Times Press

It happened at 3.15p.m. today, and for three hours, rescue divers from the fire department tried to salvage the wreckage for any survivors.

The train operates daily, taking villagers and produces down from the inland of Padas River to the town of Beaufort, and sends white-water-rafters up to their entry point in the upstream.

Outlook of the derailed locomotive in Sabah, Borneo.

A section of the locomotive

The Padas River

The railway runs alongside the river bank.

The train at the end of the railway, near the upstream of the Padas river

Another view of the railway and the river

To think that I was rafting down that very river, and taking the very train more than a year ago.

You can read more about the news here.

Pictures are grabbed from the following sites:

1. Borneo Trekker
2. Matt Wegener

闷

今天的我，心里面突然一阵郁闷。 我知道，是我， 也有一点责任。

说了一些话，然一个人把他的心给关了起来。

是我，让情况变得有些隔膜。

其实我也没做错什么。也许我们唯一的错，就是我并不是他一个可以推心置腹的朋友。

不知道为什么， 心里会为这件事闷闷的。

Stanley Getting Married

6 March 2008, Thursday

The day that Stanley got married. In the typical Chinese way.

I woke up late at four in the morning. Stanley said that he would be leaving for the bride's place at five.

I was still groggy and sleepy when I reached his place, which was packed with his family and friends. Even at the wee hour of the morning, the house was bustling with people getting ready to welcome the bride.

I had some breakfast at Stan's place before departing. Stan's mother gave some milo, and I added Nescafe powder to it. That would keep me up for a few more hours later. ;P

There were five cars forming the bride-receiving procession. We rode in a line, and it was quite a scene on the quiet morning road.

We finally reached the bride's place, and the whole lot of us packed the door to the bride's family flat.

Stan looking extremely please and happy on his big day :)

The day had not broken when we were at the bride's door.
Stan had to wait until the family of the bride allowed him to enter the house for the bride.

The "Brothers"

The band of "Brothers" was supposed to be there to support the groom in winning his bride over from the bride's family.

Stan, and his bride, after going through the "Sister's" obstacle

Stan got through the door without much difficulty.
The only thing was that his brothers would have to suffer on his behalf in order to get him into the door. ;P

Stan escorting his bride from her place

When the bride was ready, Stan took Ling's hand and walked her out of her house. Ling bowed to her parents before leaving the house, a sign of respect and gratitute from the child to the parents for all the years and effort in raising her up and caring for her.

Finally, at Stan's place

Stan had brought his bride home.

Stan wrote this calligraphy.
It meant, "Chi Ling and Phoenix reside here"
Chi Ling is a Chinese lucky mascot that represented the male or husband, and Phoenix was the lucky mascot that represented the female or wife.

The new room

The Wedding Lamps

Two red wedding lamps that represented the well wishing of "Forever One Heart".
The lamp was supposed to be light the whole day, or for a couple of days, depending on which culture.

Stan and Ling, Husband and Wife.

Congratulations, Stan. :)

Yau Yau's Wedding Dinner

Yau Yau and her husband
28 March 2008

Yau Yau came back to organized a wedding dinner for her family and friends at home. She had done one previously in Kuala Lumpur, where she was residing, before coming back here to celebrate it with her family and friends.

I was honored to be invited to her occasion, and had the grace to help her in inviting many others.

The wedding was at the BDC Grand Hall, on the PTPL College. The whole occasion took up the whole school hall, and I was wondering if there might be nearly 600 people to attend her dinner.

Yau Yau talking casually with her friends after the dinner.

It must have been hectic for her, having to entertain the people from both places. But then again, you would want to share it with all your good friends and family, won't you?

Congratulations, YY!!! I just can't believe that you are finally getting married. It feels like yesterday since we last spent our school days together in one class.

Best wishes to you, my friend, and may your days with laced with the grace of God. :)

Friends I Have Not Seen In Eleven Years

Ee Chia and Lee Na @ the Food Court, The Spring

I never gave much thought about this, but friends of mine from High School just met up last night to have dinner and drinks together at the Food Court in The Spring.

Both Ee Chia and Lee Na I had not seen since I graduated high school. Heck! I had not seen them even before graduation, after we were seperated into different classes after junior high.

Ee Chia just gave birth to a beautiful daughter a month ago, and Lee Na is expecting in another two months' time. Two mothers from my year, and I am still walking around single. :)

Both looked the same as they had a decade ago. Time had not age them, but life had put them into different catogories now. I wish them well in keeping their families. :) I am always happy to see my friends having good things in their life. :)

Anna @ Rain

Anna was from my class too in junior high. She had been quiet in her younger days, and spent her time doing God-knows-what, for she and I had beed seated a distance away, almost a room across. But I had always this memory of me teasing her rather "sad" look, and she would always tolerate me in a big-sisterly way.

Now, eleven years later, she came back from the city, and could nail me back whenever I started teasing her. But at the end of the day, I was the one with the oppotunity of having the last say. Haha!!! I might be a little older than our times in school, but my cheekiness had never failed to strike home. And as we were when we were young, she would tolerate me in her big-sisterly way, with a smile.

It was great to have our friends home.

Get Out of Your Life and Look Around!!!

A spoilt brat just sat and drank with me two nights ago.

There are times when I tend to forget how naive and self-centered a person can be.

Life is a bitch, and shits around. We are bound to be at the receiving end of all and any sorts of crap to be thrown at us. But that does not mean that we should pick them all up and stink ourselves silly.

When shit happens, just take water and wash them away.

And one should never be angry with life shitting in our pot holes. It just happens, like rain falling onto the roof. Hey, you don't see the roof complaining about a rainy day.

I understand the anger of being unfairly treated, and the feeling of suffocation when one is under the pressure of being responsible for others. You may lashed out at me, with an acid tongue and even ill demeanor, but never forget that you still have yourself and your friends and family around you.

Know the persons who are truly good to you, and take them with you on your journey down. You might need to rest for a while, so rest on the shoulders of your friends. They are strong, and care for you more than you think they do. Trust them to help you, but never expect a particular kind of return, for that would only do more harm to your already tired and torn soul.

Please, take a step back and look around yourself. There are many others who are under the same kind of pressure, yet chose to be strong in the face of trials. Be like them, and you will be happy in the end.

We will all be happy for you.

Open Season Dive, 2008

It has finally come to the time where the waters in Kuching are suitable for diving!!!

30 March 2008, Sunday.

I was up before the day broke into light. Grandpa sent me over to CS's place, and I was kicking myself behind because I had forgotten that it was the darkest hour and Grandpa was having problems with his vision at night. But he got on safely in his little Honda City. I was relieved.

CS came to let me into his place, all the while grumbling about the early hour to depart. It was, by means of the PADI students who could not do their Open Water Examination the year before, arranged that early so they could satisfy their urge to be submerged. I agreed with him half-heartedly, knowing full well that one hour could make a big difference in outing time, or none at all.

We reached the Sematan jetty a little past 8.30a.m., loaded our tanks and equipments, and was out towards the Talang-Talang islands just before 9.00 a.m. It was a sunny morning, and we were on Adi's new boat. Gotta love it for the space and speed. Though none the faster than a speedboat, it was faster than his previous little boat.

We did our first dive out beside Talang Besar. Ed had ten students to go that day, and I was the assistant that was assigned to be in the water with him. The students were divided up into three groups, all doing different levels of skills, since some of them had done part of it the year before. For two hours, I was in the water with strong currents, fly-away students, and a visibility of 2 to 3 metres.

I did four dives in that two hours, with no surface intervals in between. I knew that that was not ideal, but I had seen Ed doing it before. I wanted to try myself out, so I had asked earlier to follow him in all his dives. He had agreed to it, and that was what I did.

Little did I know that my body was worn out after that four dives. After a surface interval of forty minutes, at my fifth dive, I started to feel the sense of vomitting while herding the students towards Ed.

After that, I asked if Ed had still wanted me in the water, and he said he could handle it on his own, and asked me to abandon dive. I gladly took his advice, and climbed out of the water.

It took me only a while to disassemble my gear, throw them all into my basket, and crawl pathetically onto the tanks lined at the front. There, I lay like a kicked-in-the-belly kitten.

Kim was laughing at me good naturedly about how I was knocked out after five dives.

I was not strong enough yet, but I did my best. That was my best on that day, and I knew, that I would be stronger than that after that Sunday.