river of life

The water of Batang Lupar (Lupar River) flows melancholically from the mountains to the sea. It is a bit muddied after the rain but still can support the lives along the river. Batang Lupar was (and still famous) for the crocodiles that inhabited the river. Once in a while, there are sighting of this ‘predator’ at Batang Lupar.

I attended a funeral at one of the village at Sri Aman located at the riverbank of Batang Lupar River. At the time I arrived at the village, villagers, friends and families are in the midst of making preparations for the funeral the next day. The somber atmosphere can be felt the moment I enter the house.

The river is a reflection of our life in this world. It started flowing from the day we was born and ends when it reaches the sea. In our journey, we touches the lives that is connected to ours. We have a choice whether to benefit or to destroy the lives along our odyssey to the sea.
Perhaps, as we managing the sinuosity of our lives, we should not forget our duty as the ‘khalifah’ or God’s servants in this world. Are we only duty bound to make our own life better or we supposed to make this world a better place?

As they lowering down the coffin into the grave I had this question hammering my mind over and over again. I cannot even convince myself that I had done a good job as God’s servant. As I watched the river flow, I wonder how much time I have to discharge the duty given to me as servants before it ends.

City of entertainment

Welcome to Genting, city of entertainment!
This hotspot for entertainment is only 30 minutes drive from Kuala Lumpur. Located on top of a hill, the air is so chilled that I don’t need a mini bar to cool cans of soft drinks. This time, we decided to take the Genting Skyway, a cable car to the top. At RM10 you can enjoy 3.4 kilometer scenic view from the cable car which is the longest and the fastest in South East Asia operating from 7.30am to 11pm (12pm during weekend).
As usual, the theme park is packed with thousands of visitors. I do not know about others but I am here just to escape from Kuala Lumpur hot temperature. Fully ‘armed’ with my jacket, I ‘browse’ through the labyrinth of shops. Of course the price is slightly ‘inflated’. What do you expect?
Almost everything here is commercialized. However, you need to admire the vision and the set up of the theme park. Who can imagine that there is a ‘hotspot’ on top of a hill in the middle of nowhere? (perhaps the casinos had something to do with it…maybe…) Nevertheless, you can find almost everything here from roller coaster, video games, cinema, bar with live bands etc to keep up with the tag ‘city of entertainment’.
The temperature became cooler in the evening. I looked outside the window of my hotel room. The valley beneath my hotel is slowly become ‘invisible’ as the clouds slowly enveloped the valley. At 9pm, you can’t see anything but the clouds. I took a quick shower (believe me it is really quick as the water is darn cold) before I went out for dinner. Somehow, my appetite doubled in cold weather. Better check my weight tomorrow. I end the day watching the late night movie at the cinema theatre.
My mobile which doubled up as my alarm in the morning perform its duty exactly 6am. Arrghh!!!! I had to brave the cold shower again.
As I look outside the window, appreciating the panoramic view of the tropical forest, I wonder how long this last can. Whether the next generation will be able to enjoy the same fresh air that I breathe today?
Carol bought blouses from FOS (Factory Outlet Store) yesterday and instead of putting the merchandise in a plastic bag, they are giving away bags with environmentally friendly message (for purchase above RM100). Our bag consist a simple message of “Stop Global Warming” with a picture of two sad looking penguins. Hmm…everybody is in the ‘green’ bandwagon now.
However, there are people who does not know (perhaps does not care is more accurate) of the ‘green revolution’. Malaysian produces an average of 0.8kg to 1.2kg of waste per day per person. Out of that amount, we only recycle 5 per cent of our waste compared to countries like Switzerland, Germany and Japan who recycle 35 to 47 per cent of their total waste. The Waste Management of Malaysia is targeting to increase the percentage to 22 per cent in 2020; the year that Malaysia supposed to be the first world country. Compare this with the aim for our recycle percentage is even lower than what the first world countries have right now! It is quite a deplorable aim for a Malaysia Boleh spirit don’t you think?


On the other hand, the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 were put off once again (somehow it did not surprise me at all). This Act supposed to create an integrated system in managing waste in Malaysia. One of the intentions of the Act is to ‘force’ home owners to separate their waste and make it easier for recycle measure. One of the reasons of the delay is the jurisdiction issue between the federal and the state government in implementing the waste management. It is silly to even think that we can politicize environmental issue.
We are busy exploiting the natural resources and forget we need to dump our waste somewhere. We thought that somebody will pick the waste and the upper echelon of the society is fighting on the issue who should have the right to pick up our waste. At this moment, I don’t have the answer to the two sad looking penguins at the FOS bag.

flying home

I am flying home to Kuala Lumpur last night (Monday 28/12/2008) after 15 days at Kuching, Sarawak. As I want to have another half day in Kuching, I took an evening flight. The only option is one budget airlines which is scheduled to take off at 8.50pm. I arrived at Kuching International Airport around 7.50pm exactly one hour before take off. However, after I checked in, I noticed that the boarding time had changed to 8.50pm and the flight will be around 9.21pm. I took this opportunity to have a drink at the airport McDonalds. Late half an hour... I can live with that.

As the clock shows 50 minutes past 8, I went to the gate no 1 as stated in the boarding pass. Wait another 30 minutes then it was announced that the flight will be delayed to 10.50pm. I heard a loud sigh from the rest of the passengers. I guess this is the price that I need to pay for flying with budget airline. Some passengers scatter around. Some take the opportunity to chat; children took out their PSP and forget about the real world. I just sit on the floor, took out my laptop went online and checked out the latest result of the BPL. With my backpack, laptop and a box of salted fish, it is very hard to move around. The waiting seems to take ages.

It would be helpful if the ground staff of the airline can give an update to the passengers from time to time. The confusion was aggravated when the information screen shows that the gate is now meant for another flight to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Should we wait at another gate or what???A few passengers queried the staff about the update but the respond was ‘I do not know’. A few minutes later the screen then shows the flight to Kuala Lumpur.

The much ‘awaited’ plane finally arrived at 10.50pm to the relief of the passengers. The flight is quite smooth until we reached the peninsular airspace when it became bit ‘bumpy’ due to bad weather. However, the plane managed to touch down to Kuala Lumpur LCCT airport before midnight.

My experience in Kuching, Sarawak had been both exciting and ‘educational’. I have learned about others as much as I learned about myself. As the plane leaving Kuching International Airport, I had a mixed feeling inside. I feel a bit sad to leave as I already missed this wonderful place and had to ‘endure’ the same routine life again. At the same time I feel happy as I am now coming home. Perhaps the best part of traveling is when it is time to go home.

time for reflection

Here I am sitting looking towards the sea at Damai (peace) Beach Resort at 6.07am. This morning the ‘salty’ air smells so fresh. The air is a bit cold out here as the monsoon wind is quite strong; lending its force to the waves that hit the beach. The cool air perhaps due to the geographical fact that Gunung (mountain) Santubong is just next to the resort. The clouds that envelopes the top of the mountain shows how cool the temperature are right now.

A few take an opportunity to walk at the beach. For me, I just laid back at the beach to wait for the sun to come out. I have not heard the sound of the wave for quite some time. Perhaps I have forgotten how it sounds like. But as I sitting here, it reminds me of how peaceful the sound can be. I hope that I just can freeze the moment for a while and cherish it a few seconds longer. However, we know that it is not possible. Waves come and go. The birds that chirping on a tree beside where I am sitting right now will fly away to find foods to survive. The sun will rise up and so the rest of the living entities. A few hours later, lives will pick up its pace and moves on.

At this peaceful moment, it is very hard to imagine that the world is in state of chaos. There is hunger at one corner, pollutions which hurt the mother natures, war at certain countries, corruptions and greed at all part of the world. The so called new age of mankind saw the advancement in technology that able to produce better and higher yield of agricultural products. Yet, the inequality distribution of wealth causes hungers and malnutrition to certain continents. We keep on ‘asking’ for more natural resources from this planet and we repay that ‘kindness’ by polluting it. When lives are lost due to Typhoon, floods or landslides, we say it is an act of God. How convenient! We always can find someone to blame even if it means blaming the God. We never realize that perhaps we caused our own destruction.

Ah… the sun had come out. I just want to look towards the sea and enjoy this beautiful moment. The ‘audio’ and the ‘visual’ are perfect. I may not know when I can have the same peaceful moment again in the future. So let me savor the fraction of this heavenly moment for a while. I will pick up the pace of this life for my own survival later.

say a prayer

It is still raining in Kuching. There are a few brief sunny moments but it usually followed by heavy downpour. I did my own laundry but it takes at least two days for the clothes to dry up. Luckily I brought enough spare shirts and pants to be recycled and perfumes can be quite handy at this time around J

Apart from the expected rains at this part of the year, the multi ethnic lives in Sarawak makes this place a very unique place. There are Iban, Bidayuh, Malanau, orang Ulu just to name a few, each with their own cultures and language makes it confusing but attractive at the same time. Some words are quite similar to Malay language (this is not a surprise as it was argued that malay ethnic in peninsular Malaysia and the ethnic in Sabah and Sarawak came from the same root). Some terminology can be found in the old Malay language.

And of course the foods, I find it very exotic and the variety seems to be bottomless. I can try something new every day, something that rarely served in Kuala Lumpur.

I found that the local ethnic who had embraced Christianity are very devoted followers. They practice the religion not only in religious occasion but in every part of their life. They will say the prayer before every meal in their own language. I guess in this way they will know exactly is being said and requested from God.

This is practice similar to Muslims but usually Muslims say their prayer in Arabic. Some learn the prayer by heart and take the effort to learn about the meaning of the each verses of the prayer. The followers may know the meaning or perhaps just becoming a ‘follower’. Do not get me wrong, I am not against Arabic language and would encourage people to learn the language used in the holy Quran. I am saying that some may not be so privileged to learn and understand the Arabic language. The imam (the one who lead a prayer) will recite the prayer in Arabic and the makmum (the follower of the Imam in a prayer) will say Amen to the prayer without even know what is being recited by the imam and expect their prayer to be answered by God.

Perhaps Malays is trying to be more Arabic in order to be more ‘muslim’. We can see that trend from every aspect of practice from religious occasions to banking system. For example, there are comments that Islamic banking practice in Malaysia is not Islamic enough and we should follow the Islamic banking as practiced in the Middle East. I am quite perplexed as we are not short of Islamic scholar ourselves but even some Muslims in this country share the same sentiments. There is no certainty as to the cause of this phenomenon. Perhaps it is due to one interpretation of Islamic banking, ignorance, inferiority complex, herd mentality or combination of all or none of the above. And I thought that values of Islam are universal as it goes beyond borders, cultures and ethnicity. But again it is just my opinion.

It is interesting and arcane at the same time when learn more about myself when I started to learn about others.

Sarawak River

I had the chance of having a conversation with Osman, a boat operator at Sarawak River when I took a boat ride at the riverside, Kuching, Sarawak. He is a middle age man (I assume). If he is younger, his job really aged him severely. He took passengers from Pengkalan Batu (literally means rock base) to the other side where you can visit Fort Margharita. He is quite chatty despite had to work under the hot sun and the dialect that I am not familiar with.For 0.40 sen, you can take a boat ride to the other side of the river. For RM40, he can take you for 30 minutes tour of the river.

I guess that he lives a very hard life. He is from Kota Samarahan, another district in Sarawak which is 5 hours journey from Kuching. Osman will work for a week at the boat before going back to his hometown for a three days break. The cycle will resume on and on. In that one week, he will eat and sleep in his boat.

According to Osman, the number of passengers he ferries every day is around 50 people. His overhead is RM20 that is to buy the diesel to power his boat. Based on the fare he charges for one customer, he will earn RM20 that is the same of his overhead. What if the boat needs to buy spare parts? I discounted the fact that some people will pay for short tour like I did as it may not be frequent.

Just imagine that he needs to eat, provide for his family and perhaps save some for rainy days. Just imagine what will the effect if the diesel price goes up. How can he support his family and even to survive for the day.

My short tour deprives me of knowing him a little bit better. The boat may not belong to him and he only earns salary for his work. But based on the cash flow projection of one boat, I am sure he receives a speck of the total profit (or loss).

I can see that under the hot sun, he tried to work an honest life ferrying passengers for a consideration of 0.40 sen. He cracked a few jokes along the journey but every line of his wrinkle is an evidence of hardship that he need to endure all his life. Yet he work hard and leave the rest to God. How many of us give a second look at 0.40 sen, or we just throw it away? Perhaps, as we sprint to achieve the status of developed country, we should take a while and think about the future of people like Osman.

For those who never take a boat ride in Kuching, I strongly recommend that you give it a try. The scenic view along the river of traditional malay village and the historical fort would take your breath away. The pavement of the waterfront is well managed and some useful historical information is placed along the pavement. If you are hungry and thirsty, you can find cafes and food kiosk selling foods and drinks.

Across the road, you can find a stretch of shop houses selling art craft, T-Shirts and souvenirs. If you do not know what to do next, you can go to the information center at the old court house just in front of the water front. The officer is always helpful and greets you with a smile.