Seri Menanti

General elections...Singapore style!

2011-05-05T05:06:00.000-07:00

If you hoping to see posters, buntings and symbol of political parties hanging from the highest trees in Singapore at the coming general elections at this island republic you are in for a disappointment.
General elections Singapore style is as banal and as sterile as you can get!
No fanfare or bikers zooming dangerously jeopardising lives.
I, and two other friends, were in Singapore last week to see how this republic was preparing for the coming elections. Being from across the cause way I was anticipating pictures of Lee Kuan Yew, Goh Chok Tong or Brigadier Lee Hsien Loong to be pasted all along the streets and roads in Singapore well I, we, didn't see it.
Even if there is a posters, very small ones, if you are driving and if you blink you will miss the small PAP posters, but placed at a strategic junctions. So subliminal and yet almost invisible, but the ruling party's symbols are there.
How I wish our general elections can be conducted in such a way. The recent Sarawak state elections saw many plastic posters, banners, and billboards that would be thrown away after the polls.
The thing that we have to learn from Singapore is to be more friendly to the environment and to pollute less and using less resources non-bio-degradable material, as our way of respecting Mother Earth!

I was crazy enough then, to do it!

2011-05-04T20:05:00.001-07:00

The very USS Independence air craft carrier that I was on!

It was a phone call that I was waiting for about two years, a request to go on board a United States aircraft carrier USS Independence.
So we took off from Subang air force base and a Blackhound carrier or so called a flying coffin, a windowless aircraft where we have to sit facing the wrong way.
So we flew over the Andaman Sea where the carrier was moving towards somewhere and we made a landing, phew!!
So after an unsuccessful first harrowing attempt to land on the aircraft carrier we made it the second times. It was quite an experience, but I will never, as a civilian, do it again!

Bali reminds me of my village!

2011-04-02T18:45:00.001-07:00

Ni Wayan Puspitasari or Pit, the grand daughter of Ketut Liyer who manages the tourists who came to the house to have their fortune told.

The garden at the back of Ketut Liyer's house where Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem strolled in between shooting the film.

The famous Ketut Liyer at his house treating a "patient".

I was again in Bali and I saw Ketut Liyer who was featured in Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat. Pray, Love and met his equally friendly grand daughter Ni Wayan Puspitasari, or Pit.
We were shown the house the garden and found out how well they live in such a beautiful environment.
At any given day about 50 tourists will visit Ketut Liyer, simply because they want to see a great faith healer who starred alongside Julia Roberts.

Finally after 38 years I finally managed to buy a set of Tourqoise jewellery...for someone!!

2011-03-02T20:28:00.000-08:00

The Blue Mosque, Istanbul

Haghia Sophia, Istanbul

Inside the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

The Turquoise set that I managed to buy from theb Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, for someone after 39 years!

The magnificent Grand Bazaar of Istanbul

Another view of the Blue Mosque

Inside the Hangia Sophia!

After about four decades I was again in Istanbul, Turkey, recently and it was a major emotional journey for me.
It was as though I was transported via a time machine back into the past where I actually started to do my first job.....carrying food produce from the market somewhere in Istanbul (I could not find the market on this trip). Thejib would start at three in the morning until about six thirty and then I will be paid.
With the money, the routine would be, to buy a loaf of bread, cheese, tomato and grapes. These would be my breakfast, lunch and sometimes my dinner.
Istanbul was my major long haul stop over before I proceeded to hitch hiked to Europe via Greece. You see back in the late 1968 and early 1969 I was afflicted by the flower people where everybody wanted to go to San Francisco in summer time.
Well, many ended up in Europe and I believe I am one of the few that managed to cross the Atlantic to North America and I ended up in Canada.
Well this Monday is about Istanbul and how I survived.....

Historic Inna Samudera Beach Hotel....

2011-02-12T05:36:00.000-08:00

Marlin fish steak for dinner anyone!? Lots of fish in this part of Sukabumi, Java.

The Indian Ocean beckons you every morning when you open your balcony door!

Historic Samudera Hotel..

Has lost its lustre of once a popular hotel!

The first president of Indonesia Bung Sukarno commissioned the hotel to be built on the north most point of Pelabuhan Ratu, in the district of Sukabumi, off the south coast of Java Island.
Samudera Beach Hotel was a favourite place for Sukrno to spend his off days and many stories goes he liked this part of Java because the Sundanese women are known for their beauties!

Bali again this time for a real rest!

2011-01-29T22:03:00.000-08:00

The protector!

The pool...water from the natural spring!

The bed

More of the backyard

The backyard

The porch!

The front

I am now in Ubud and the resort where we are staying is a little heaven on earth, our small resort is smack right near (or middle?) a rice field where there are women still working on the field! Here are some pictures of my Shang-rila!

Special thanksgiving prayer for my late mother at my house in the jungle!

2011-01-22T20:48:00.001-08:00

Perfect day for a special prayer for my mum!

In the morning before the kenduri!

No parking space!

People that matter came!

It was a perfect day for a gathering, the weather co-operated the people that matter to me and I expected them to come, they came, and hose whom I thought were my friends came up with all sorts of excuses not to come, and I will deal with them later on in life.
The food was exquisite and I am now thinking of having more gathering in my jungle hideout and I am sure I can find something to celebrate for. Here some of the pictures for you all to enjoy!

In a greater scheme of things she gave Jen, my daughter, and Zahra, my grand daughter!

2010-12-25T15:57:00.000-08:00

22 months Zahra Ava Mustapha Vanderkooy and her Uwan Uwan Marion!
In a greater scheme of things my mother gave Jen, my daughter, and Zahra, my grand-daughter!

\

Bye bye Mak and, to Zahra: Bye bye Onyang!

My mother passed away on 20th December, 2010, at 4.40am and we shall miss her very much. I wasn't able to be by her side when when she died since I was in Canada to be with my daughter and grand daughter and her family.
But when we come home we planned to have a big kenduri at out kampong house!
While she may be gone but not forgotten in out hearts, she left behind a legacy that we are all proud of !

Ain't no winter wonderland, for sure!

2010-12-15T08:03:00.000-08:00

In summer we played in the backyard!

In summer the yard was green!

In summer we had BBQ on the patio!

A shot taken from my bedroom!

The patio, where all social activity took place in summer!

For me, it ain't no winter wonderland outside at all!

Arrived in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, then a transfer to London, Ontario, and the journey was about 25 minutes by a turbo prop. It was bump]y at the lower level but as soon as the plane reached 10,000 feet above sea level it was fine.
From above the whole landscape was covered with snow, and heard over the news many road had to be closed due to blizzard. And it ain't no winter wonderland for sure! But Za and Jen and Steve were ray of sunshine when we arrived, especially Za who said "Hello Atok"!

My Seri Menanti hideout again?

2010-11-13T23:53:00.001-08:00

The overall view of my kampong!

The view from the front of my hideout!

Taken from the sundeck

Last saturday we were at out jungle hideout and here are some pictures!

Ramadhan and that time of the year....!

2010-08-07T20:23:00.000-07:00

Oily and fatty food to be avoided, but they do taste good!

A culinary orgy comes fasting month!

We just have to know where to stop! Or is it conditioning!

If you have trouble not to not have this fried noodle and kway teow just imagine them as just maggot in a big wok that wil rot your body!

My childhood days fasting months were times for reflection and a lot of praying at the Kampong Baru mosque. We eat porridge, dates and syrup water and then after the prayer we just ate simple food. But, alas, today Muslims go on a food binge where their health are threatened!

Zahra and I!

2010-08-07T07:29:00.001-07:00

Zahra and her Atok!

I never thought I would be a grandfather and let alone a very happy one until I saw Zahra my grandaughter, and she is a bundle of joy we spent a lot of time together this summer!

Japanese on Mayne Island, British Columbia!

2010-07-31T10:36:00.000-07:00

The Japanese pioneers of Mayne Island, the second generations were Canadians, but were sent to internment camp during the war!

A plaque to remember the first Japanese pioneers on Mayne island in the 1900!

The famous Japanese Garden on Mayne Island to remember the Japanese families who were victims of war!

Totem poles in remembrance of the Japanese who once settled on Mayne island!

Names of the Japanese families who settled on Mayne island but later placed in an internment camp in the interior of Canada during the second world war

They came as early as 1900 to Mayne Island but when Japanese bombed Pearl harbour they were all rounded up and sent to internment camps until the war is over.

We attended a Discovery Channel premiere at Seri Menanti!

2010-05-26T22:12:00.000-07:00

The old palace today is a museum now and last week it was "draped" with the best to look like a very handsome and wise old man of Seri Menanti!

The cover of the Discovery Channel DVD on the Royal Rites!

The gateway into ancient and old Seri Menanti, a "cow-town", notice the old Morris Minor!

We were invited to attend the screening of a documentary on the installations of the Negeri Sembilan ruler's installation and it was great. The show was at the courtyard of the old palace and many nice people came.

I stayed at a longhouse homestay it was very nice!

2010-05-21T05:43:00.000-07:00

The guests of Rumah Abel homestay, having breakfast of nasi goreng, half boiled eggs and roti kaya and coffee. Front right is Encik Alfred.

The exterior of Rumah Abel longhouse

The interior of Rumah Abel longhouse.

The hospitable owners of the Longhouse Homestay, Encik Alfred Ngelambung and his wife Siti

It was during the recent by-election that I managed to visit a long house for campaigning and since it was late I was offered a night stay at a longhouse homestay and it was very pleasant.
The Iban owners of the Rumah Abel longhouse, Alfred and his wife Suzanna, were very accommodating ans said they wished more would have come to visit their neck of the wood!

I was in the Kingdom of Cambodia recently!

2010-05-13T19:16:00.000-07:00

With Princess Norodom Arunrasmy (middle) and Datuk Kamal Yan , Special Adviser to Prime Minister Dato' Sri Najib Tun Razak.

Group photo taken after lunch, by the pool, at the house of Princess Norodom Arunrasmy..

Perfect postcard-picture of what Phnom Penh looks like now. Taken from the hotel window..

The city has been transformed into a real clean city, and by far Cambodia is not and can never be a failed state.

Our Mother Earth can be protected!

2010-05-07T05:15:00.000-07:00

Taken at 10am in the morning in April last year!

Also taken before noon in April last year where you can see the clear unpolluted scene, the green is really green and the sky is really blue!

Taken at five pm in April last year just before the sun goes down notice the lights is slightly orange-y and perfect!

I may not be able to save the entire planet alone (speaking as one who is concern about his environment) but I have succeeded in managing a small acres that I am proud of, we all should and must do it on our own! Above are pictures taken at a different time of the day at my little hideout and the lighting is such a contrast for a (to me) a picture perfect!

I was in the interior of Sarawak it was great!

2010-04-30T01:18:00.000-07:00

The magnificent Katibas river in the interior of Sarawak!

Iban hospitality and I forgot the word to describe this tradition it it ngajat if I am not mistaken!

We were welcomed by Iban girls in full traditonal dress!

The interior of the long houses is very long so people can lounge around and very modern and a nice communal living!

Finally I got to visit Iban longhouses, the real longhouses, and I am posting some pictures
during my 400 kilometers trip down and up river Rajang and river Katibas!
The Rejang River was murky but as soon as we veered to the left into Katibas river the water starts to change colour to a dark and not as murky.
The Iban are nice and gentle people I have ever come into contact with and unlike the unprofessional and negative perception of them, they are way better than many of the urban Malaysians I have known.
Hurry up go see and visit them now!

Into the Semai land and loving every minute!

2010-04-04T05:33:00.000-07:00

Just nice to take a dip!

We drove gently across the river

My Crocs sandal, clog, slipper, sandal or what?! Anyway the best thing to wear into the jungle!

Trying to imagine what they might possibly be thinking!

Semai children! They speak their own dialect.

Where we pitched our camp, a school football field...

I saw trillions of star that night, including my home planet!

Last week I was driven by Hassan on his Toyota Land Cruiser into two Orang Asli villages, one at Kg Sungai Lenjang and the other at Kampung Titom. It was always a treat to be able to go deep in the jungle sleep in the open air and bathe in the unpolluted crystal clear river. I did all that.
There were about five four-wheel drives on this trip. .
The off road from Betau to these two orang asli villages were not all that far, about 29 kilometres, but the journey was a bit treacherous and it took us about four hours to go that length and comes rainy days you can forget about going in or out, for us city slickers that is.
I am posting few pictures for you people to look at and may be one day decided to go and venture into the green dimension of our beautiful aboriginal people!
Cheers!

The last time I demonstrated was against the Vietnam War!

2010-02-17T01:09:00.000-08:00

Malaysians, especially the youths, are angry with crude Australian MPs!

Datuk Rocky leading the Bloggers protesting against Australian MPs interference in Malaysian judicial process!

Datuk Rocky and Bujai and Parpukari!

Bloggers getting ready to walk the talk!

United we stand !

Today for the second times I demonstrated against a foreign government unnecessary involvement in Malaysia's day to day business. A group of Malaysians went over to the Australian High Commission to hand over a protest letter to the High Commissioner Penny William who did not come out to accept the letter from the leader of the demonstrators.
Fifty members of parliament from racist Australia are trying to force Malaysia to succumb to their whims and fancies. No can do!
I will write at great length on my participating in a demonstration against the interference of Australia's MPs in our business in my Malay Mail's column this coming Monday!

Tana Toraja where death is fun!

2009-12-14T19:41:00.000-08:00

Quiet village of the Toraja at Kete Kesu

Proud and strong and untied tribe of Toraja

They bury their dead by the cliff face

I was taken in a catacomb..bit eerie but a good experience!

In the catacomb and I feel like an intruder!

Me again, fascinated by everything!

Or rather when someone dies there will be a big celebration and sometimes the remaining living relatives will have so much debt on them that they have to declare bankrupt.
It took three of us 10 hours and 40 minutes to complete a distance of 378 kilometers to reach Rantepao in Tana Toraja, but it was worth the trip.
The blue blood will bury their dead on the face of a limestone or a granitic cliff, why I do not know but nevertheless I found it unique.
Before they bury their dead they will celebrate by having a water buffalo fight and then the animals will be slaughtered for a big feast.
Well all of you must see how the Toraja lives and may be we can learn something!

Lunch with the new Yamtuan of Negeri Sembilan!

2009-09-30T19:45:00.000-07:00

Posing with Yamtuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz and Tunku Ampuan Besar Tuanku Aishah Rohani, after the lunch.

He is definitely a well brought up young man and the future king. With Tunku Besar Seri Menanti Tunku Ali Redhauddin, the eldest son of Tuanku Muhriz.

I am being the first to be formally introduced to the Yamtuan!

Me and my old Negeri buddies, Mokhtar (standing) and the great Kamel at the Istana!

Duli Yang Maha Mulia (DYMM) Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus Tuanku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir, will be installed as the 11th Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan this coming month of October.
The installation will take place at the Royal Town of Seri Menanti from 22nd to 28th October 2009. A historic ceremony indeed, since the last one was held in 1968, when the late Tuanku Jaafar was installed the 10th Ruler of the state.
The announcement was made by Yang Amat Mulia (YAM) Tunku Besar Seri Menanti Tunku Ali Redhauddin, the eldest son of Tuanku Muhriz.
After the announcement I, and few others, was invited to have lunch with the man who would be the official king of Negeri Sembilan, and I found him to be a real people's king when he hosted the lunch without very much fanfare and strict protocol.
Speaking in his negeri accent, he and his wife, the new Tuanku Ampuan Besar Tuanku Aishah Rohani binte Almarhum Tengku Besar Mahmud, spoke and exchanged views without making us uncomfortable, hed dhas a very god sense of humour and I really appreciate that.
Tuanku Muhriz is already more well liked by his subjects when he dropped in at various mosques in his state unannounced, especially at the many mosques in Seri Menanti doing his Friday prayers.
He normally drove his old BMW with his unobtrusive body guards following him from afar.
A mark of a very considerate man! I believe I have my "old king" back to rule my state that is so steeped with so strong customs and traditions that one simply cannot ignore!
Daulat Tuanku!

My sauna and jacuzzi in the jungle!

2009-07-15T00:22:00.000-07:00

My green dimension!

Enough water for 20 people at one time without re-pumping!

Our tubular well. It went 180 feet and struck gold!

My avocado trees that I planted!

My hideout plus the new annex where the sauna and jacuzzi lie!

I can now brush my teeth with total joy!

I will be spending a lot of time here thinking?

Another view of my new sink!

My sauna!

And yes! My jacuzzi!

Remember my house in the jungle well I have an additional extension made to it.
I have decided to have a tubular well, about 180 feet down, and lo and behold we struck water, a lot of water!
So the water is being pumped, via electricity, to the annex where I will have a nice shower, a jacuzzi and a nice toilet where I can read, while doing it, and listening to the jungle sound at the same time.
Below are some pictures I like to share with my friends.

Our beloved Gimp is gone we shall miss him.....

2009-02-01T19:01:00.000-08:00

Gimp
1994-2009

Our beloved Gimp cat-person died very early this morning and he was with us for 15 human years, he is now buried behind our place where it is green and peaceful, just to let you all know. Gimp loved to lie down on the balcony floor every evening to watch the birds, especially. . May he rest in peace! Thank you!

To the upper reaches of historic Sungai Tembeling

2008-12-14T17:48:00.000-08:00

We started at Kuala Tahan

Up river for the next four hours to Kampng Gusai

Final destination Gusai

Healthy water bufallo of Kampung Gusai

Sharing the planet

The only coffee shop at Kampung Gusai where I had nasi dagang in the morning

Orang bateq children

Who is staring at who!

The upper reaches of Sungai Tembeling in early morning where the air is crisp and cool!

Wonder what happens if this planet is rule by water buffallo!

The same river used by the Indian Sepoy employed by the British to quash a rebellion led by legendary Malay warrior Mat Kilau and his followers.
Mat Kilau harassed the British troops in the 18the century in Pahang namely around the Kuala Tahan area near the present day National Park, and Mat Kilau was chased by the British soldiers and the Indian Sepoy, but Mat Kilau fled to Terengganu using the now famous mountainous Mat Kilau Trail.
One day the British tricked Mat Kilau into surrendering, saying they were ready to accept defeat. As usual the Brits reneged on their promise and rounded up Mat Kilau and his followers and kill them.
I was there recently after twenty years, the last time I visited Kampung Bantal, Kampung Mat Daling and Kampung Gusai. Twenty years have not changed the villages for people still bathe by the river and they have to use long boat to get to Jerantut or to Kuala Tahan.
From Kuala Tahan we took a long boat to Kamping Bantal and then to Kampung Gusai. The trip by boat took us about four hours and how I wished there was a road from Kuala Tahan to these villages.
Along the way I took some pictures and would like to share them.

Obama: The next President of the world!

2008-09-06T18:50:00.000-07:00

(This what I wrote back in January)

Hi!

I still remember my late father exclaiming in distress: "Oh my God! They shot Kennedy!" when JFK was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. I was just a young kid then and I could not understand it, but I do now. I do now understand how a symbiotic relationships that is crucial to a survival of anything, especially between countries.
Malaysia could not have survive alone with Indonesia during the confrontation, if the Western power did not come to its aid. Malayan would speaking Japanese if it was not for the Allied forces defeating the Japanese, not that I mind if we speak any other language of colonisation, as it is today Malaysians speak English, but you know what I mean. We are talking about someone helping us to preserve our way of life.
Enough deviation already, but Barack Obama will bring fresh hopes for the world to live in peace, Republican right wing policy must be defeated. Like Kennedy, Obama is now touted as the future leader of the rest of the world, why? Because, America under any loony toon as a leader can just order the cruise missiles to be fired at anyone or at any country that is deemed as being "against us", to quote Bush Junior.
I just hope that Barack Obama will be THE candidate for the democratic party for the next US president comes the US presidential elections this November.

Good luck to you sir !

Weekend at my jungle retreat with my favourite people...twenty five of them!

2008-08-06T03:39:00.000-07:00

My jungle retreat where twenty of my kinfolks gathered for a sleep over, barbecue, story-telling and a walk in the jungle!

Iman Azura and Ika, my nieces finally went to bed at three in the morning.

The early risers, two of my brattiest grand nieces Anis(in white) and Sarah (in red).

My other grand-nieces Faris and Shahira. Shahira asked: "Tok Lang what are you doing!" and I said: "Shhhhhh! I just want to embarrass you parents to the world!" She said: "Okay!"

The two brats again!

Spill over in a tents!

My cute niece Iman Azura and her favourite uncle!

Thats all we did eat!

It took me months to gather twenty five member of my family, including my 89-year-old mother Siti Awa Jaman, at our jungle retreat and finally two weekends ago I pulled it off. They came and they slept by the verandah on the kitchen floor and they love it.
One of my cute nieces, Roza, said just moved the coffee table and the sofas and "let sleep on the floor, as long as there bare no creepy crawlies," she said.
Five slept on the serambi using army cots and the rest in the kitchen, and many more in a pop tent.
So we barbecue chicken, beef, fish, hot dogs, corns, beef burger and we also barbecue vegetable such as aubergines (terong), ladyfingers. Oh yes we also barbecue one of littlest member of our family...no just joking!
At night we were telling stories and once in a while we ill jump when we hear strange noises coming at the back in the jungle. So the verdict? They all want to do it again. Enjoy the pictures!

Cheers!

Anaconda in Malaysia!

2008-06-02T19:58:00.000-07:00

Taman Ular Sawa in Hulu Bendol, Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, an educational place to go for a visit. My grand-nephew Faris (in green) played tourist.

Emerald python from Timor Leste.

Baby anacondas! Like a bowl of spaghetti, don't you think!

Baby anaconda. Very aggressive at early age.

____________________________________________________________________

Once the Canadian government imported a specie of grass carp, a type of fish, from China to be used to help control its fresh water lake environment from unwanted pest. Then many years later the carp became an environmental hazard when a full grown of about five pounds carp can easily gobbled other floating animals such as baby duck and other small creature.
So the story goes the provincial government placed signages at strategic part of the lakes and the signs read: "Wanted Illegal Immigrants Dead or Alive", in reference to the grass carp. Today the species is under control and has become part and parcel of the flora and fauna of Canada.
Then back to us, my home state of Negeri Sembilan has imported Anaconda from South America, and today 13 little babies have been born from one single "immigrant mother".
Anaconda is somewhat related to the python, although it is from the new world species.
They are now doing well and ready to procreate, if not controlled, at a recreational park of Hulu Bendol, about twenty minutes drive from Seremban.
This new snake center, mainly from the constrictor family namely python, is a nice place for an educational visit to learn more about snakes.
My only concern is, are we prepared for a foreign snake species that might have the chances to escape into our fragile environment and spread.
Cheers!

Kelong Paradise Waterfront Resort, It was a nice break!

2008-04-21T19:53:00.000-07:00

Fishing village of Bagan Nakhoda Omar or BNO!

Another view of the frishing place!

Rec room with pool table, and Astro, Yes!

Just imagine the view of the Straits of Malacca!

As we approach the unknown!

Fish anywhere you like!

A group of us took the North-South highway and turned left at Behrang then we had lunch at this quaint little town, then cut across towards the coastal plain to Sabak Bernam then to Bagan Nakhoda Omar and straight to the jetty where we took a boat to this nice kelong, about 10 nautical miles in the Malacca Straits.
Basically this kelong is a nice concrete resort built by the previous Selangor state government, a place where you go fishing and to relax. Relax I did , and a fish I did not catch, infact none of us caught any. We ended up buying some at the nearest fishing village!
The thing that strikes me about my room is there were no bugs, the quilt was dry and no musty smell and I had the best sleep of the century. The we woke up had breakfast, then we had lunch and played some cards and then we ate, then we had dinner.
The place is only about two hours drive from KL. Head for Kuala Selangor then to Sabak Bernam. Before you reach there you will see a sign that says Bagan Nakhoda Omar or commonly known as BNO. The people at the jetty front off rice are very friendly you can just go without a booking or you can call:0376257838, 016-6662466, 016-2333219, 0162333215, or FAX at 0376257840; or check out the website at: http://www.kelongparadise.com.

ends

Trail of destructions, yet developers and local government refused to spare Ampang Hills!

2008-04-12T01:55:00.000-07:00

Residents are against irresponsible developments.

This stretch of green will be strapped bare leaving the hilltop apartment building to fate! and soil erosion!

Residents are actively campaigning against the development.

Local politicians hoping they are more powerful than developers!

They are adamant to win these resident association against the hill development! I am with them!

Local assemblywoman, Elizabeth Wong, making some pertinent points vis-a-vis errant developers! I am with her also!

These house owners paid with their blood sweat and tears and it takes only handful of corrupt people to destroy nice surrounding!

Forgotten yet many misplaced "residents" must also be taken into consideration! They have no where else to go for heaven sake!

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Here are some real "statistics" on the trail of destruction and landslides in Ampang-Hulu Klang areas. Yet development in such sensitive hill slopes is still allowed and when will be ever learn!

- Forty-eight people died on December 1993, when a 12-storey Highland Towers hill slopes apartment collapsed. - On May 15 1999, several landslide forced the evacuation of 1000 apartment dwellers at Bukit Antarabangsa. - On November 20, 2002, eight people died when a house of a retired general was swept and crushed by a landslide. - On 31 May 2006 four people died when three blocks of longhouses were swept by a landslide in Kampung Pasir, Hulu Klang.

And yet today a massive mixed developments project were allowed on a 61.54 acre site near Ukay Heightsl where all of the trail of landslides took place.
The residents of the Ukay Heights area are protesting over the mixed development project that will see a massive retaining walls will be erected behind their apartments and houses and are trying very hard to tell the local and state government to help.
"It will be like a huge wall that you see in the Gaza Strip that separate Jews and Arabs, and on top of that any development along that ridge is by far one of the most dangerous project ever to be attempted or undertaken by any idiot developer," said Mr Eng, a resident.
The fear is if a massive landslide that will surely impacted residents living down below.
At today's meeting it6 was attended by Selangor state government exco member, Elizabeth Wong, who said while past green light given on any development by the previous government could not be rescinded, but the matter will be looked into properly.
"We cannot simply cancelled previous decisions made, but we are going to look into the matter properly," she said.

One resident said developers in Malaysia are like drug pushers, they do not care how many people will die as long as they can develop and make money.
Ends

Gimp is a diabetic and we are taking care of him!

2008-04-04T21:10:00.000-07:00

His normal routine to sleep on our bed!

His other routine: to bask under the sun!

Gimp is our beloved feline friend and we have been looking after him f0r the past 14 years now that makes him about over 60+-year human age?!
For those of you who know him he is now a diabetic. It happened one year when we were away when five people came to look after him and feed him. We came back he was so fat we had to put him on a very strict diet. He acted very strange for a while after we came back from Canada. A test showed he was diabetic, sigh! So now the routine is one of us has to get up at six every morning to give him the insulin jab, and then again at six-thirty every evening. We now, Marion and I, cannot go on holiday together for one of us has to stay home, we cannot send him to the Vet for a prolonged period for he will be stressed-out if one of us is not around. It would be a miracle if someone among our friends and who love cats and who can stay at our place for the duration of our holiday, if we were to take a holiday, to take care of Gimp. Of course it will not be for free I am willing to pay! Gimp is a very gentle creature, he is a Leo like me.

Cheers!

We need your support to save Ampang Hills and to save lives!

2007-12-11T06:11:00.000-08:00

The green lungs of Ampang started at Menara Mutiara, will be shaved bare by unscrupulous developer and the local authorities are not doing anything to prevent it!

The voice of sometimes helpless citizens pleading for the authorities to help protect their environment from being degraded!

The voice of helpless rakyat!

Hi people!

I received a pamphlet in my mailbox upon arriving home from Singapore and the pamphlet depresses me! After seeing how beautiful and green the island republic is is am now disheartened over the inability for local government to protect taxpayers interest!
In a nutshell, the pamphlet is distributed by a neighbourhood "save our hills" committee set up to prevent a big company from developing a 62.5 acres of forest running from Menara Mutiara in Taman TAR to Jalan Hulu Klang. The proposed project by this company, says the pamphlet, will include 450 units of shop lots and 149 bungalow lots. A group of people have been working tirelessly to ensure any development in the neighbourhood is consistent with the Selangor State and Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) Structure Plans, which is the official guidelines for safe and responsible development.
Just a highlight: the project is on the same unstable hill that caused the collapses of the Highland Towers condominium in 1993 killing many and the home of former Army Chief Tan Sri Ismail in Taman Hillview, killing several of his family member.
The pamphlet also said, the land for the proposed development is even steeper with 70% of the area having slopes higher than 20 degrees. According to the Selangor State Structure Plan, this land is "high risk", meaning it is prone to erosion and landslides, and according to MPAJ's Structure Plan, it is environmentally sensitive and thus should NOT be developed!
In spite of all these expert and scientific finding to prevent more lives from being lost, why is the residents of the areas are still fighting tooth and nail to save the hills, are our authorities too corrupt not to be able to put the minds of the residents at rest as to say "don't worry taxpayers we will not allow any development once and for all on the hills in view our structure plans for developments!".
What can you do! Well just send an email to saveukayhts@email.com with the subject heading "count me in." And to include your name and email address. This will make it easier for the committee to save the hills to keep you informed.
For more check out their website for up-to-date information at: www.nolandslide.org
They need your support to save lives and the environment!

Cheers!

We had good Hari Raya open house, many came and we had good time!

2007-11-05T07:39:00.000-08:00

Some of our good friends at the open house.

Happy Campers!

They came, they saw, and they were happy and busy concentrating!

Iaian and Maznoor! Great couple!

Hiyall!

It was somewhat a tough preparation for this year's Raya open house when both Marion and I pulled off and basically executed a soiree of the century, well as far as we are concerned considering Marion was hospitalised and came out okay. Well, over one hundred people came, including Stephen Francis, and we had a good time.
We had masak lemak cili padi pucuk ubi with duck eggs, curry chicken filled with lady fingers, brinjal, tomatoes, big chilies, and potatoes and the curry is that famous Curry Cap 'O' from Kedah, my sisters rendang, lemang, ketupat with a very special ketupat sauce made by my orang bunian friend, my famous "Rusdi's Madness" which is basically chopped onions mixed with chilies and lime peel, lime juice drowned with my favourite Kicap Tamin and one secret ingredient, special sambal chili from Kelantan, green pickled chilies, and about slightly over a six kilos of rice were consumed.
The best part was those who came are truly people, new people, that Marion and I truly liked! Especially Iaian and his lovely partnerMaznoor! So I posted some pictures for me to share with those who couldn't make it due to traffic jam, and those who suffered and got infected by Black Death and from plague and other communicable diseases, as their excuses for not coming!
Cheers!

Last Raya we were at our jungle hideout! And took some more pictures!

2007-10-28T21:02:00.000-07:00

Marion preparing lemang and rendang for dinner, in the jungle!

I just shoot and aim my Canon Powershot to the jungle at the back of the house at night hoping to catch one and sometime two sets of glaring animal eyes, usually wild cats.

My "excalibur" embedded in the ground and whomever can pull it out will become a honourary Moron!

Beautiful morning in my jungle hideout, view from the East!

A rock magpie and they are so tame in my "Garden of Eden" get it, get it!

Can you spot the oriole?! Look closely, and if you can spot it you are already a honourary Moron and you can come and visit us!

Buah pokok beringin banyak macam nak gila, burung pun banyak macam nak gila, actually semua nya macam nak gila bila dia orang datang makan buah buah yang banyak macam nak gila!

Kadang kadang air kat bilik air ni pun sejuk macam nak gila, mandi pun takut!

Just look at the contrast, blue sky green and just nice! Macam nak gila!

You guys should all come and we can sit by the yard at night and smell the night air, it is like mad, you know what I mean!

More blue sky over Montana, oops sorry over Seri Menanti!

Yawn! More Blue sky!

Hiyall!
Thought I share some more pictures of our jungle hideout, the weather there was perfect the sky was blue and the air in the morning was clear and crisp. The bright yellow orioles, the rock magpie, a troop of leaf monkey were out, almost a Minangkabau version of the Garden of Eden. Did you know that both Garden of Eden and East of Eden are all about Minangkabau, get it "Eden" get it! Ha ha! Anyway, our pokok beringin behind our little wooden houses are bearing berries and in the morning the chirping of birds will make you wonder about life and how you want to live it!

Cheers!

Pistachios: My favourite nuts!

2007-10-27T20:44:00.000-07:00

Hiyall!

Long time ago when I was first introduced to pistachio nut I was thrilled by the taste, the same way as a sun dried fig thrilled my taste buds.
You may find this strange talking about nuts, but for the longest time I was enthralled, still do, by the power and taste of pistachios! My favourite packet of pistachios come from Tong that I will grab from the counter of every petrol stations that we stopped on the way to somewhere.
I use to think pistachios come from the ground like groundnut, but actually this beautiful and sexy nuts came from a majestic tree that can grow really big and tall.
When I was a journalist I imagined that my editor would call me one day and said: "Rusdi go to Iraq or Iran and do a story on pistachios!" That would have been a great moment in my journalistic career - to write a long piece on pistachios! Alas that was the thing of the past since I will never get the chance to meet eye to eye with a pistachio tree!
BTW! it is fun to write anything that you feel and you do not have to think really hard, on your own blogsite, you do not necessarily have to write about heavy stuff like boring politics.
So guys, try pistachios if you have not and enjoy the day!

Mery Christmas!

You got to see this to believe it!

2007-09-15T02:05:00.000-07:00

Me when I was four

Hiyall!

My late father said there was this picture of me when I was four wearing the setanjak, or head gear worn by the Yang Di Peruan Besar Tuanku Abdul Rahman that was given to my father for keep sake, as part of the payment after a photo shoot. My father was a photographer.
That same headgear appears on our Malaysian currency as worn by our first King! How about that. The head gear was, as I said, part payment for the photo shoot and it was sure whether the photo taken was meant for the use in our post-independence currency.
The first King and my father they were friends and my late father spoke very fondly of him as "Raja yang baik" a good ruler. So I asked around and lo and behold! My cousin called.
So my cousin called and said he has the picture, I was looking for, of me when I was four wearing that headgear. The picture was taken in front of my mother's house near Seri Menanti, Negeri Sembilan. I thought I would like to share this picture with my friends. A point of observation, check out my suspender and my shoes, and my cotton shirt and short. And check out my teeth I have a full set, even when I was four I was good looking . Okay enough of me already.

Cheers!

Am sharing my old family album in view of Merdeka Day!

2007-08-31T08:28:00.000-07:00

My father ( with glasses) and Samad Idris

My mother and my younger sister

The good old days. Beautiful couple, my parents

Pix of Sir Gerald Templar inspecting the Malay regiment platoon prior to Merdeka day, pix taken by my father

My tricycle and my wooden rooster toy, I am just wearing a suspender without a shirt

My brother and sister posing in front of a poster in Kuala Pilah

My father the original biker, check out his shoeMy late father and his Rolleiflex, his first camera, imagine owning one of those in the 1950s!

My eldest brother holding his oversize pith helmet and his cousin who became one of the earliest Malay estate manager.

Me after my wisdom tooth being pulled, taken in front of the old Umno building

My mother Siti Awa feeding a crane which were plentiful at the Lake Garden, when it was a real garden.

Me (don't know why I was dressed as a little girl) and my mother at the general hospital

Me and my mother after I was born, even a babay I look mean, eh!

The Minangkabau women in my life, my mother with the stripe scarf, with my first cousins and auntie

My brother in front of a movie marquee in Kuala Pilah

Ah! Yes! The tranquil Lake Garden before this country was inundated with riff raff!

Me and my great-great grandmother Saadiah

My favourite cousin Zariah and I

My parents posing like that movie "from here to eternity"?

My cameraman father before he boarded a plane for aerial picture taking

My late father, Mustapha Ahmad.

My mother Siti Awa Jaman

Hi! Rakyat Malaysia!

I thought I would like to share some pictures from my very, very old family album that I managed to salvage from the old kampung house. A lot of neat pictures, especially of my parents when they were young, and when I was born,and there is a picture of me with my great-great grandmother Sa'adiah. Then there is a picture of my mother at Lake Garden when it was a real garden, tranquil and serene and with clean air! Then there is this old picture of my dad working secretly taking pictures for the British army during the emergency, he was just a scrawny young man. My mom and dad did a striking pose on the beach at Tanjung Bidara, he told me the post was like the Burt Lancaster movie!
We were lucky because my father was a photographer he recorded almost everything and once it was asked how come there were many of my pictures in the album. There is this picture of me taken in front of the old Umno building wearing a muffler taken a couple of months before Merdeka. My late father was also a personal friend of the late lawyer Maarof, a street named after him.

One morning, said my father, three Special Branch officers, one British two Malays, came and took Lawyer Maarof, in the evening Lawyer Maarof was found hung near Gombak, verdict: Suicide! But, strangely enough a road was named after a person who "committed suicide".

(Footnote: Lawyer Maarof was sent by the British to England to take up law, he came back and saw discrimination and he wanted to form a Malay bank but was disallowed. He became an ardent anti-British person alongside Pak Sako, and my father, and many more. Many attempts were made on Lawyer Maarof life, until he "committed suicide".
My father said he took picture of Lawyer Maarof dangling from a tree, but he destroyed the picture. Lawyer Maarof is the father of actor Mustapha Maarof. BTW! He was a Minangkabau!)
My father also worked for the Japanese controlled Utusan Malai paper, then he worked for RIDA, now Mara. And he was the first Minangkabau (I believe) who owned a Leicaflex camera and with that he made his living raising his family. He was also the original Mat Rempit, with his motorcycle. Then there is as picture of him with his good friend Samad Idris, or my pak lang! Pak Lang Samad later rose to become a full cabinet minister, but my father who joined Umno number two after after Pak Lang Samad no one, later left to join PMIP and from then on our family life went down the drain, so to speak.
But later in life before he dies my father supported the government and had the nerve to tell me not to be anti-government when I never was, he loved the country, the people like I do. So just enjoy the pictures!

The first picture from the top is the future! They are my grandnieces, or anak cucu, Sara Sophia, with Shahira Sophia and Mohamad Faris! The last picture is of my mother when she was very young, and in case if you are wondering, there are pictures of me when I was born and when I was at the general hospital, and check out my mother's shoes pretty neat!
Then there is also a picture of Sir Gerald Templar inspecting our Malay Regiment during the Merdeka parade, my father took the picture! Then there is a picture of me with my toys, and I was a happy person when I was growing up, I still am a happy person when I want to, now! The ladies are my auntie and cousins taken at Sungai Besi international airport before my cousin took off to London to study engineering. The there is a picture of my brother and sister looking at Laurel and Hardy at Kuala Pilah cinema, ah well you guys can figure the rest out!
So I hope you all can enjoy the pictures! And Happy Merdeka for all of us Rakyat Malaysia yang berbilang kaum! You know what! At the end of the day we will all will die so why not we just enjoy life, like I am going to Simpang Pulai then to Cameron Highland then to Kota Bharu via Gua Musang, I am told, infact I know so, the air there is fresher!

Shalom Bet!

My little green paradise 3. And a new lawn mower!

2007-08-14T19:39:00.000-07:00

A baby Dog tooth Cat snake, or its scientific name Boiga Cynodon, came a visitng and we had to push him back to the jungle!

My little hideout and the lawn after being mowed with the new lawn mower

I cannot begin to describe my experience with the jungle and mother nature especially in the morning, it is just nice!

The new lawn mower nicknamed Dusty Springfield!

My friend and caretaker of my jungle huts, Noor.

Hiyall!

Last Monday my brother-in-law and I went back to my little hideout after so many months and the two old houses seem to be intact although the sundeck, unfortunately, needs to be fixed because of the sun and the rain that have taken its toll. We may have to strip some of the floor planks and to add new ones!
So the latest addition to my surrounding in the jungle is a new beautiful red Springfield lawn mower with a Braggs-Stratton engine. So when we, the caretaker and I, mowed the lawn it was a breeze compared to the back strapped grass cutter that was, after a while, a drag to operate on with all the vibration on the back can be hazardous to ones health!
With "Dusty", the nickname we gave to our lawnmower after Dusty Springfield, the lawn seemed to be more levelled and clean cut. That was a joy of seeing the lawn in a a jungle in a very civilised condition.
We also had an unexpected visitor in our kitchen, a little baby python and we had to chase it back into the jungle, but otherwise the jungle is still neutral and to be respected.
So here some pictures of my little hideout and my Dusty, and the snake for you all to enjoy!

Cheers!

We have Dutch blood in our family but we don't advertise it!

2007-08-06T19:15:00.000-07:00

My mother Siti Awa Jaman, when she was very young.

Hello!

I was attracted to an article in the NST about a group of Malaysians who are of a Dutch descent and proud of it. Well, I have Dutch blood on my mother side but we seldom talk about the subject, not because we are ashamed or proud, but for us there is nothing to be both. We are just a normal Malay of a Minangkabau family where freckles, brunette and fair skin run in my family.
My late sister, in her primary school time, had freckles on her face and her hair was brunette and one day her ustazah told her to get rid of the freckles and she was distraught for the longest time, but my wise Dutch-blood 87 year old mother, now, told her "do not worry that is how Minang is supposed to look like"!
When I met my cousins, and in our intimate conversation, will all agree that people considered us as a freak of nature.
There was this story of a group in Lebanon who claimed to be the descendants of the French crusaders who got left behind. One day they had an audience with the French ambassador in Lebanon, the group wanted to be given a French citizens, at the end of the meeting the French ambassador said, and it goes something like this: "Well I am sorry but during the time of the Holy War and the Crusaders, there was no such thing as the French Republic today, so we cannot considered you French nor are we empowered to give to French passport."
It okay for Malaysians to admit that they may have Dutch, Portuguese, English, French or what ever European blood, but at the end of the day they all look like Mestizos in South America, or Metis in Canada. These are "half-breed" types are look upon with disdain and contempt in these two continents!
When we try to be different from the rest we will run a risk of creating a concept called "distinct society" as we do in this country. The sad part is, after 50 years of independence, when I look at Malaysians of "portuguese or dutch descent" they either look very Indian, Chinese or sometime Malay so why do we want to create more distinction between us Malaysian?
I am not trying to offend anyone but merely trying to bring to the attention that I am actually ready to be classified as a MALAYSIAN if everyone is agreeable to it.
But there must be A QUALIFIER! To be one Bangsa Malay-sia we must have Malay-sian names and not Chinese or Indian names, example is like Indonesian-Chinese shuttler Rudy Hartono, or Thai-Chinese like Thaksin Shinatwatra, Chuan Leekpai, or Filipinas-Chinese like Cory Aquino nee Cohuangco! These names are very Indonesian, Thais and Filipinas!
Malaysian names cannot be Chinese names like Lim Kit Siang, Tian Hua, Tan Boon Pin, or Indian names like Samy Vellu, Nadeswaran or like K.Baradan! the names must have totally Malay-sian names! Anyway let us discuss this!

Happy Merdeka Day!

Gimp is the love of our life! Anything else can be considered!

2007-06-19T20:18:00.000-07:00

Gimp our soul friend and he gives us so much love!

Hiyall!

About the only thing that disturbed my recent visit to Canada was the thought of Gimp, our black cat, being in a big cage at the Animal Center in Jalan Ipoh. You see we raised Gimp when he was just a tiny, tiny little kitten that can fit in my hand.

We love the little creature and all the fantastic veterinarians at the center love Gimp too. You see Gimp is diabetic and he needs two shots of insulin a day, he is a premium cat that cost us a lot of money but its worth every sen!

In Canada I will call Dr Sathi every now an then and it was nice to hear his voice stating Gimp is doing well, urinating regularly and his stool is normal! Even though I have this sneaking suspicion that Gimp was not happy to be away from us, nevertheless I found Dr Sathi's voice of reassurance helped me with my stay and away from Gimp.

Well, when we got back and we found Gimp was in bad shape, not that he was not treated well but he simply reacting so badly to our absence and he lost weight and his hair shedded rather badly. Gimp was a pathetic sight of a black cat with white patches, and was very thin, but he was Happy to see us. He reacted to us immediately and one of the sweet vets cried when she saw Gimp perks up. Gimp survived, and he is now normal again and we had to increase his insulin intake.

The secret fear of any vet is that an animal died during his or her watch, so I know all the vets at the center was on the vigil to keep Gimp alive and well until we come home.Guess what I will continue to send Gimp to Jalan Ipoh Animal Center anytime they are so god over there looking after pets!
The truth is pets, if you keep them long enough they will and become part of you that you too have to be responsible for them! As I said Gimp costs us a lot of money but its worth it!

But not much can be said about how we treat out fellow humans, how can we abuse our maid for her to be desperately enough to escape from the 13th floor via a window with knotted bedsheets all the way down to the seven floor and then she froze and thank you to our firemen nearby and an alerted neighbour! The maid had to escape because she was abused by her employer. What possessed her employer to act the way she did to another fellow human is still a mystery, but this much is for sure for I will never take this abusive employer as my pet!

Actually I am more comfortable with animals they just ask for your affection that is all, but mankind today are full of anger and hate just read the papers and watch the news.

On Oprah the other day this guy from Australia standing in a crowd with a placard that says "Hugs for Free" and it took a while but people eventually reacted to him and he received thousands of hugs up to date. So why can't we Malaysians do it!! I believe we have to also hug each other as to minimise our angst and anxiety that we suffer! While at it the Government also need to hug the rakyat by being less rigid with so many antiquated laws when dealing with the rakyat.

I found out the other night a woman who was born Muslim but now practising Hindu and married to a Hindu, had her child taken away when the authority found out she was in fact born a Muslim and she is now being detained had he child taken away and separated from her husband! I believe the power that be has to be more compassionate towards this case as in a long run the government will be loved if it does the right thing to correct the gross human injustice! Find a way, a middle way, but release the woman give back her newborn child and reunite her with her husband! At least if you (the government) are stubborn just think about the general elections!

I am just hugging that all! Cheers!

That journey again! And Eva Air is the way to cross the Pacific to Canada!

2007-05-16T05:26:00.000-07:00

So we took Eva Air, Taiwan second and smaller airline, to fly to Canada and it was a perfect and cheaper choice for us. The class we took was called Evergreen Deluxe Class, and basically we had business class seat with the economy class trappings, but we are not complaining.
It goes like this! We took a taxi to KLIA and we went straignt to the Eva Air counter and from the word go we were treated with utmost courtesy, politeness and professionalism!
Our seats numbers were 24A and 24F, two seats one by the window and the other the aisle of course. Immediately after taking off the flight attendant came to us to explain what we are going to have for our Muslim Meal (MOML).
Then for four hours we had a fantastic journey to Taipei, no air turbulence and many good movies! When I was hungry I just ask for sandwichess and peanuts and juicess and they came to serve me with a smile even though the English were minimal for the Eva Air flight attendants we communicated very well, and with feelings!
In Taipei the lay over was about three hours and the airport facilities were fantastic! The internet works very well! (Incidently the free computers at KLIA were busted and the keyboards were blanks with the alphabets fading away, and not good for Visit Malaysia Year!)
From Taipei to Vancouver took us about 10hours 20minutes and we slept all through the way, and what a flight it was! Incidently the small Eva Air is givng Cathay Pacific a run for its money I was told, in so far as competition across the Pacific long haul is concerned! People are now fying via Eva Air has increased! Why? Betterr service and genuine smile! Meanwhile in Malaysia and what was once a great airline may run a risk of being, get this, overwhelmed by AirAsia? What a joke!

More pictures of my green paradise Part 3!

2007-04-21T04:58:00.000-07:00

Anyway while going through my CDs I found more pictures of my little "green paradise".
These pictures were taken between January and May when the lights were just perfect for taking picture.
Notice the pictures with detailed lights from the afternoon and morning sun!
Come sometime after July I will organise a small get together and people will be invited! Yes nature lovers and fresh air breathers are welcomed!
The temperature at this place varies from very cool in the morning and hot from noon until three, then from three onwards it starts to get breezy with as gentle wind blowing from the jungle, never fails!
I normally take my bath before 6.30pm after that the chill from the cold water will seep into my bones! Until then!

P.S. Someone wants to see the inside of the house, well you can see my bedroom with a "katil besi" and when we sleep we open the windows! The other picture is the second house which is a kitchen where we have the fridge, the cooker and cupboard. When we have visitors we "lepak" in this kitchen part of the house. If you see from the outside there are two houses joined together by a walkaway! The first house is our bedroom, and the second house is the kitchen!

More pictures of my little green paradise!

2007-04-09T19:09:00.000-07:00

Since there are many out there reacted very positively to my little hideout, here are more pictures! It is really not much of a place, just two very old and rickety houses, and a small chalet in front of it!

These pictures were taken when my daughter came for a visit and we had a big kenduri! Rocky was there and Nuraina and many other friends and ex-friends! I will try to do another kenduri just for bloggers and friends of bloggers! and only genuine people, (so Stephen Francis you can start practising eh! to quote you "he! he!)
The palce is surrounded by greenery and we have Tapir, early in the morn, wild boar, leaf monkeys, they are our friends and that I and my wife love, the houses is being looked after by my relative, and I will call him if we decided to go back for the weekend where he can rake the leaves and mow the lawn, and the best part is the smell of burnt grass and dry leaves when we get there!
We made small rules that no cigarette butts are allowed to be thrown anywhere and no plastic bags are allowed to be thrown anywhere and guests are to dispose their garbage properly in Seri Menanti municipal bin! And again you must be real when you enter my green dimension, for my orang Bunian neighbour will tell me if you are not! Cheers!

Love our river campaign, but raw sewage being dumped into river!

2007-04-05T08:37:00.000-07:00

Hi!

If you drive over the elevated highway from Ampang heading for, say KLCC and before you reach the toll plaza you will be greeted with a hazardous pong, a smell that can even penetrate a well sealed posh cars that Malaysians are fond of showing off!

The smell came from a sewerage treatment pond that apparently has gone busted and now being diverted into the Klang river.

In spite of our economic take off status we still dump our shit into the river and this can pose serious health hazard. Why the Ampang Municipal Council (MPAJ) did not act to arrest the problem is beyond my understanding.

Forget about the government of the day, if our state of health is compromised we might as well close shop as a developing country when we cannot even manage the disposal of our shit! MPAJ please take note that people in Ampang are not happy!

My own green paradise!

2007-04-03T21:49:00.000-07:00

Hi!

My name is Rusdi Mustapha and this is my blog dedicated to mother earth our own spaceship! The picture above is my little hideout in Seri Menanti. It is carved out of a small piece of jungle that I inherited from my late father. At night this place is so cool, temperature wise, and what we normally do is to sit in the yard and listen to the sound of the jungle! (left: my hideout early in the morning covered with mist! Top: front view of my green space during rainy season, my little Suzuki can come in handy, and my eucalyptus tree from Australia is shooting up like hell)

It appears our spaceship is in serious need of a cleaning up, and global warming is for real, it will be a matter of time when the temperature in my little green paradise will rise as it is in places like Fraser Hill and Cameron Highlands.

Anyway back to my little piece of green paradise, in the morning the whole area will be blanketed with mist (kabus), and the sound of birds chirping looking for worms can really cure your heartache and other problems.

From time to time I will show more pictures of my jungle at the back of the house(s).

BTW there are two houses attached by a small anjong, or a bridge or walkaway sort of like the Twin Tower bridge adjoining one to another! One of the houses is about 120 years old and the other is 90 years. I bought these houses from relatives who were leaving for overseas to live and so I asked to buy the old house(s) and they said "sure"!

The idea of buying really old houses is to have the entire frame which are made out of old teak hardwood, the frame can last for ever and ever, so I hope you can enjoy this site dedicated to, as I said, the environement!

Cheers!