Kuala Gula

It's a conspiracy!! I know it is. I bet Abang Trafik Police is watching my NCC car and the moment I made a mistake, they will issue traffic summon to tell me to stay home. I am not a fast driver who disregards speed limit but sometimes I miss the change of speed limit along the highway. Hence, I got another police traffic summon. I don't have the faintest idea where it was but the summon said I drove 97 km at a 90 km limit in May. Hai Abang Trafik Police, tolonglah saman kereta yang laju macam hantu tu, especially the big busses along the highway. Dia orang tu tak kena saman ke? I wonder many times whether the big stage busses carrying so many passengers ever being summoned for violating speed limit? The drivers drove like devils overtaking at 120km or more. Singapore cars blatantly disregarded the speed limit, do they ever get tickets for over-speeding? Oh well, I have to pay RM200.00 the other day for that summon. Seems like I am going to go broke paying speeding tickets. Frust betul dibuatnya!

Last Monday (10th Aug) I drove to Taiping with care. Usually people took 3 hours to reach there but I took almost 5 hours, taking my sweet time, stopping at 3 rest areas. I like to stop at Tapah rest area but I wish the cleaners do their work - cleaning the toilet! My daughters said most Malaysians are not toilet trained. They dirty and wet the floor, put tissues in the sink, don't flush and at one time I saw a Chinese lady taught her 9 months old son pee in the sink. I was so disgusted and scolded her. She glared at me. Some Malays and Indians and some Chinese too wash themseleves as if they are bathing, wetting the floor and dirtying it. Lack of supervision by the cleaning contractor results in cleaners taking their own time just watching people using the toilets -no effort to go in and to clean it. Most of them are foreign workers - Indonesians, Indians and Bangladeshis. I stood watching them, grouped together chatting. Coupled with irresponsible toilet users, no wonder the state of some public toilets in Malaysia is deplorable. I can see effort is being made to keep these places clean and beautiful but it would be fruitless if the public remains selfish.

I love driving up north of Malaysia. The scenery is refreshing with green trees, blue hills and darker blue mountains as the background. But greedy hands spoiled the scenery especially around Ipoh area. I dislike to see hills being hacked for commercial gains. If it is not controlled, in a few years time, greed will destroy our natural heritage.



I spend 2 days at Shahabudin's beautiful home in Taiping. I felt like going home to my family and enjoyed Shahabudin's and Azizah's hospitality. They made me feel welcomed. Thank you Budin and Zah and I hope I could return your hospitality one day.





Azizah and her cute grandson, Iman.













I liked talking to Atan, their son though disabled, he is so matured and conversation with him is just like talking to any normal people. We shared a common passion - cats. They have 12 street cats whom they nurtured and they flourished under their care.






Girl, a street cat simply claimed their house as hers and refused to leave since 3 months ago and now she controls the household, perching on an arm chair like a Queen. It was fun seeing them everywhere in the house.









I used to have 12 mixed persian cats before - beautiful, lazy and spoilt. 5 have been adopted and we lost 5 - stolen and died. Now we have 2, Montel Mok and Regal Raisa. We adore them. This photo is taken just before leaving for Taiping - my loving cuddle to say bye, bye Mok!











My intention going Taiping was to go to Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary. With Shahabudin, Azizah and a friend, Hj. Khamis, we drove to Kuala Gula which is about 50 km from Taiping. It seems it is nearer from Bukit Merah. I have read articles about the migratory birds which flew thousands of miles across the oceans to Australia and New Zealand and back. Kuala Gula was chosen to be a stop for resting. I know this time is not a good time to see the birds but I just wanted to know where Kuala Gula is and planned to go there again in December when the migration is on the way. The migration starts in September through March and the end of the year is a perfect time for bird-watching.



The jetty and resort are expected to be ready by the end of the year. It would be very pleasant sitting on the bank of the river. We hired a boat with Tan, a knowledgeable guide, to take us to the wetland.















The scenery is breathtaking and unspoiled. Unfortunately human intervention in term of the roaring engines of fishing boats frightened the birds away. There weren't many birds around at this time of the year except the egrets, red herons, kingfishers and a specie of Siberian birds who has adopted Kuala Gula as their home. You need a powerful binoculars to see them and should go either early morning or in the evening. Tan lent us his binoculars and we had quite a good education on migratory birds from him.




We learned about prawn catching and cockles harvesting as well.



An old lady harvesting a boatfull of cockles.





I returned to PJ the next day to keep an appointment with my eye specialist. I promised to visit Kuala Gula again to satisfy my curiosity to see the exciting birds but I need to buy a powerful binoculars. The one Sharipah and I bought in Moscow is not powerful enough to give me a clear vision of the birds.

I am not an ardent bird-watcher but love watching them fly free, for freedom is the key to life. Safeguard your freedom. Compromising it means the death of your self-respect.

Birth Certificate

The officer at the National Registration Department, Port Dickson branch was patient enough to explain to me the process of getting a copy of my old birth certificate. I thought I would get it in a jiffy since everything is computerized now, but at the NRD, he said, they are still processing it as it involves millions. I hope they make a good job of it, screening, and not dispensing copies of birth certificates to those cheats who are not Malaysian citizens. So I don't mind waiting for 2 weeks, it's not urgent enough for me.

Imagine after almost 66 years, I have to produce my birth certificate and I don't have the faintest idea where it is. I know I have the original copy, torn and tattered somewhere but where? That old copy is precious as it is the proof of my initial existence in this world as a Malay in my country, Tanah Melayu but where is my country now?

The Adat Perpatih requires me and my 9 siblings (2 have passed away) to be present at the Pejabat Daerah, Rembau, for the transfer of my mother's few pieces of land to our names, particularly the 4 girls in my family. All my sisters are not keen to own the lands and would like my cousins, Cham and Jaafar, to have it as they have been living there for years. But the Adat says it is Tanah Pusaka and it would go to the rightful children. If it is not claimed, the land would go to the government, so what will happen to Jaafar, my schizo cousin then? Hence, the need for my birth certificate-to prove that I am one of Abdul Rahman Hj. Muyiddin's and Maimunah Hj. Zakaria's children.

The Pejabat Daerah Rembau requires all 9 of us to be present at the court to transfer the titles of the land to our names (girls). The male members of the family have to be present too - what a hassle!! I am not sure whether my 74 year old brother would be able to come or care enough to come. I don't blame him and my other brothers though, it doesn't concern them and they are not interested but the Adat makes it so difficult. Anah, my quiet younger sister says 'Tanah sekangkang kera tapi prosesnya susah sangat.' She volunteers to see this process goes through.

Well Anah, we will work on it so that our cousin, Jaafar, will not be displaced. I hope PD National Registration office will pursue my application of a copy of my birth certificate within the promised time frame.

So no matter how old you are, as long as you still exist in this world, you are important. Keep your birth certificate intact!

My enemies

Yesterday a group of young men with rifles were down at the lagoon. They were arranged in semi circle with pointed guns upwards. With berets and uniforms, they looked serious and professionals. After waiting a while, then baaannggg, the shots rang out giving my heart a big jerk. A few of my arch enemies, the crows, fell down. But looking at the number of men shooting and the number of crows shot dead, it was not worth it. That black devils are too smart for the rifles of human beings. They flew away in flock. The men patiently waited and sure enough, the flock flew back to the trees at the lagoon. Another baaangg and a few more fell. It went on till evening.


I guess, this is a campaign to get rid of that black devils. I hate them!. They are becoming bolder by the day, disregarding the comfort of hotel guests and apartment dwellers. They make so much noise and leave their droppings everywhere. One or two came to my balcony and perched on the Astro disc, disregarding my presense at the garden chair. They looked at me defiently, inching nearer to get the food on my table. Shooing them away has no effect. They just didn't care, they stared and waited for me to get up and go away so that they can enjoy my bread. Yes, I stood up and took a broom, then only they flew away. I hate these ugly black devils, just like I hate some ugly black human beings who cannot be trusted and will stab your back at the first opportunity. They are the devils of the country.

I wonder, is there any other way that we can get rid of these crows more effectively, rather than shooting them? The number is increasing and they become real nuisance. Beside making incessant noise, they are scavengers, toppling rubbish bins and dirtying the ground with their droppings and the left over food discarded by selfish holiday makers along the lagoon. The attitude of these brain-damaged people made the place dirty and attractive to scavengers like the crows and rats. I have killed 13 rats so far who 'graced' my balcony by using rat glue. For a resort, this is a turn-off.

There is nothing much the management can do. There is very little money in the kitty. Many owners do not pay maintenance fees for years. A few have run up bill to over RM 35,000.00. Demand for paymkent was iognored. Many of them are rich professionals and businessmen. I couln't believe my eyes when I saw the list - the lawyers, the Datuks, the doctors etc. This is how sick the mind of some selfish rich people. They keep on taking. Demand for payment through the court took years and in the meantime the resort is going down the drain.

I am in the Management Council at this resort, a voluntary work, and have to fight constantly with the contractors to do their job to keep this place clean. Most of the time my complaints fell on deaf ears as the contractor has won the contract for another year and they become complacent. The Manager of this resort is so slow in taking action. Believe me, most people complaint that government servants are slow in their work but here, it is unbelievable. Decisions took forever to be enforced. I wonder whether it is worth for me to stress myself by getting involved in the management. But I notice after making so much noise, there is some improvement. I hope things will get better.

I miss my little birds actually - the starlings, the sunbirds, the doves etc who used to visit my balcony. I left leftover rice and bread for them to feed and I love the sound of their chirpings. But since I found out that the crows ate everything and left nothing for them, I stopped putting food there. So my little birds stopped coming but not the ugly devils. They are my worst enemies.

For those friends who sent condolences for my oldest sister, Zawiyah, passing, thank you. For Muslims, please sedekah alfatihah. May God bless you all.

Tanjung Simpang Mengayau, Sabah

Simpang Mengayau, with the bronze globe signifying the tip of Borneo Island.












Magnificent !! I could stay here all day.










I felt the same exhilarating feeling as I stood on Tanjung Simpang Mengayau, the tip of Borneo
Island in Sabah on 19 July 2009, as I have felt standing at Cape Point of Cape of Good Hope, Cape Reinga in New Zealand North island, and Tanjung Piai in Johor, the tip of Asia continent. I was bewitched by the serenity of the place and the beautiful green-blue of South China Sea and the blue of Sulu Sea. My eternal syukur to Allah for allowing me to see his creation.


View from the top of the tip of Borneo Island overlooking the meeting of South China Sea and Sulu Sea. A sight to behold!



Tanjung Simpang Mengayau was one tourist attraction in Malaysia that I found
satisfying and proud. The place is not only beautiful but also, it was kept clean by the operator, Betty and her husband James. We stayed at Betty' and James' hut chalets there on 19 to 21 July 2009. Since the Tanjung juts out to the sea, it was a perfect place for pirates to meet and hide - a long time ago. In Bajau language Sampang means meeting place and mengayau means attacking.



They have only 5 hut chalets as the compound is small with bare facilities. There is no electricity during day time and generator power is on at night untill 2 am. Though RM100 a day is steep for such simple accommodation, Bay View Chalet is the only accommodation available there.





As our hut is perched on a hill, we have a bird's eye - view of the beach and the Sulu Sea below.



















Entrance to the modest Bay View Chalet.









Betty and James keep the place superbly clean. What I really appreciate is, both of them took the trouble to collect all the rubbish and bring them all the way to Kudat to be disposed of. Thank you Betty and James for making the tip of Borneo such a pleasant sight. Call Betty at 013-8682112 for booking. Please Betty, go on keeping this beautiful place clean and I am proud of your commitment.





After staying 2 nights there, Sharipah and I went down to the cove for a swim in the clear South China Sea. I am not sure but I read somewhere it is called Pantai Kalampunian.

I stayed at the edge of the sea only, playing with the waves - I don't know how to swim!!







The view from the top of the tip or headland or tanjung is really breathtaking. The beach stretches white and clean, ornamented by white waves and sea-green sea. But my heart ached with disgust to see hundreds of plastic bottles and rubbish thrown all over the beach. I spent almost an hour collecting the plastic bottles before I could dip myself in the sea. Like countless times before, my friend just looked and not bothered, an attitude shared by many. I was furious at the local council who just turned a blind eye and not making an effort to keep such beautiful attraction clean. I wrote a letter to the Pegawai Daerah with a copy to Sabah tourism. I wonder whether they would pay any attention to my complaints.
We really need to overhaul Malaysian attitude towards keeping the environment clean. We are in dire need of strict enforcement. I gave Betty RM10.00 for her to get some local kids to pick up the remainder of plastic bottles along the white beach of Simpang Mengayau. I hope if ever I visit this place again, there will be some positive changes.



Taken from the top of the headland of Simpang Mengayau.










It was a pity though, Tanjung Simpang Menagayau is not really or aggressively promoted for tourism but those who have been there will testify that it's a place worth visiting. A bronze globe was erected there with Malaysian flag flying high. The walk up to the tip is quite long for those who don't like walking but believe me, the scenery is priceless. As you walk to the tip, you will see the fascinating cove with white sand of the South China Sea on the left and the blue sea of Sulu on the right. You can just stay there for hours admiring the stunning scenery. All your nervous tension will be blown away by the soft winds and you will be free! I walked up there trice, once in the evening when the tide is coming with strong winds that almost blew me away and another in the morning the next day with Sharipah and in the evening the same day. I stayed there for quite a while absorbing the tranquility and the freshness of the sea breeze. It is such a shame, there weren't meaningful souvenirs sold - no Simpang Mengayau keychains, no fridge magnets etc and limited T-shirts. We couldn't find any of these souvenirs in Kota Kinabalu as well.



The other side of the Tanjung Simpang Mengayau, taken from the hut on the hill - the isolated beach of Sulu Sea, just as beckoning as the South China Sea on the other side.










To go there, you can get a bus or rent a car in Kota Kinabalu or in Kudat. We rented a manual Kancil in KK at RM98 a day including insurance and I drove there taking about 3.5 hours, stopping every now and then to take photos of some scenic spots, especially the green padi fields which is kind to my eyes. If you drive, do make sure you go straight to Kudat.





Egrets/Bangau feeding on cleared padi fields along the way to Tuaran.











DO NOT turn on the fist signboard that says Simpang Mengayau - the tip of Borneo. If you do, you will drive about 4 km then you will drive on bad gravel road about 10 km which is hard on the tiny car and on your bums. We experienced this out of ignorance as nobody told us about the bad road - not Sabah Tourism, not the car rental company. Road system to Kudat is a dismay. Some parts are bad with potholes and road signs at T-junctions are absent. You have to use your imagination in which way to turn. I wonder why Sabah government neglects this area.

When you drive towards Kudat, you will see Jalan Sin San 2, turn in there until you see Jalan Pinang Soo Loro, then Jalan Tajau Tiga Papan. You turn into Jalan Tajau Tiga Papan (exotic name huh!), drive on until you see the signage of Simpang Mengayau. Then you're safe and your body and your car won't suffer. If you don't want to stay in Bay View Chalets you can stay in Kudat and it takes about 30 minutes to reach Simpang Mengayau from Kudat.

After staying 2 days in the hut we pampered ourselves by staying 2 nights in Kudat Golf and Marina Resort in Kudat with fantastic view of Marina Bay, just to lepak. There are a few budget hotels in Kudat. One is the Upper Deck Hotel adjacent to the Millineum Supermarket, near the fishing bay and fish market at RM80.00 per night. Call o88-622-272.







Fishermen's boats anchored at Kudat esplanade.












Kudat's seaview restaurant at the esplanade. Kudat is a small but quint town with limited activities.










Sabah tourist brochure boasts of places to visit in Kudat, such as the bead and gong making centres, the Rungus longhouse and the honey farm. All these places are pathetic and not worth spending time there. The bead- making centre is so dilapidated and no exciting activities are available. It's a shame! So spend more time at Simpang Mengayau instead.You won't miss anything!
Photo shows the gong-making centre which have known better days and left to rot.







The bead-making centre, welcomed by long grass and dirty ground as well as rough road going there. Sabah tourism has to act and be proactive if they sell this attraction. This place has potentials to be attractive to tourists. Now, tourists feel cheated if they pay to come here.




Sharipah and I wanted to go to Gaya Island. The only resort there is the Gayana Eco Resort which is not so welcoming to ordinary Malaysians like me and Sharipah as retirees. But if you have money, you're welcome there. The rate per night is over RM1,000.00 and so is at the lodge in Pulau Manukan.



We spent our day on 24 July 2009 at Pulau Manukan, feeding the plentiful fishes and at Pulau Mamutik, a smaller island popular with tourists. Both these islands are mesmerising and well-maintained. We really recommend people to go there especially to swim in the crystal clear sea.








Fascinating fishes aplenty at Manukan Island.












Tourists enjoying watching the fishes at the jetty at Manukan island. You're prohibited from swimming or snorkeling here but some stupid, selfish people still do. Our marine rangers should learn to be firm and enforce the regulations. Some visitors don't seem to understand the warning signage.



Our plan to stay at Gunung Emas was aborted as Sabah Tourism didn't recommend it. The place is undergoing make-over I hope but we will visit there one day. We have visited Sabah many times for work before but this is one of our real holidays there.

Sabah, Negeri Di Bawah Bayu is perfectly perfect.

May Allah be with you, my beloved sister

As always, you can make plan but Allah will decide whether your wish can be executed as planned. I was in Sabah when my niece, Emah, called to say that my oldest sister, Zawiyah, is in hospital gravely ill. I told her that I would come and see her when I return to PJ, and after completing my work commitment in Penang and Tg. Malim. Wednesday 29 July 2009 was the day that I would drive down to JB to see her. It was not to be. On 28 July after midnight, I received a call from Emah to say my sister has passed away peacefully in her sleep. It was a sad news to me. I was in Tg. Malim with Najidah to do some work. So after Subuh on 28 July, aborting the plan, I drove to Melaka to pick up my brother, Mahir and wife, Kak Nun to JB but the burial was at 11am and we were still on the road. We arrived about 1 pm and straight away visited the burial site. It was a sad moment for us as I remember this sister of mine who took care of me when I was a little girl. I was her closest member among my family and I used to stay and visited her as narrated in my earlier blogs.
My loss cannot compare to the loss experienced by her children, Chom, Edah, Aid, Atan and Emah and pray they will be strong. I love my sister as much as they love their mother. I am so happy that her children, especially Chom, took good care of her till her old age. My sister was lucky in that sense. May Allah bless Chom and husband and her siblings. She will always be in my heart. I thank Yam, her carer for 10 years, who was with her and taking care of her during her ailing days.
I grieve for her but she is in a better place now.
Ya Allah, cucurilah rahmat ke atas roh kakakku ini dan tempatkanlah dia di sisiMu bersama-sama orang-orang yang Soleh. Amin.

Michael Jackson

I was watching CNN on Michael Jackson Memorial today. It was quite a moving scene and I felt the grief and sadness of the loss, experienced by his parents, children and his brothers and sisters. Though the memorial seemed like a concert to me, I was moved and felt the loss of a great entertainer. I am not an ardent fan of MJ but I did enjoy his shows. I love to see his dancing, sheer perfection. Now he has gone, people sang praises of him, appreciating him, acknowledging him as the world's greatest entertainer. Acceptable when it came from his close friends.

To me, those beautiful words printed in newspapers are meaningless. They should be said while he was alive, respect and appreciate him even with all his flaws. Human beings are such hypocrites. The American press had field days ridiculing him. I wonder how do those people feel now who made money out of making him look bad. Freedom of press in America is like a circus-disregarding human dignity and can destroy a country.

In a smaller picture, I see hypocrisy everywhere. At work, for example, how many of your colleagues can you trust? How many of them are your real friends who will protect and care for you? Your next table colleague could be your rival, aiming for that promotion or for that salary increase as you do. Many will play dirty, particularly behind your back. Envy is a sickness. He or she will do their best to pull you down and then step on you. I wonder how do this kind of people feel when the person they back-stabbed became depressed or experienced great sorrow? Do they have hearts? Do they gloat and feel proud?

I remember having a fair share of this backstabbing myself, especially from individuals whom I mentored and nurtured to promote the Peer Helper Program and other educational programs. When I was transferred to the Ministry of Education, there was so much griping and badmouthing about me that it was unbelievable. I was angry and disappointed, as it came from my so-called mentees. But I was lucky I had real good friends and ex-bosses who defended me and they continued the good work. A colleague who traveled with me to work badmouthed me to the Director. My activity was clamped down. I received the most unprofessional comment on a formal letter of invitaion for me to give a talk - 'Banyak kerja lain lagi boleh buat di sini. Tidak diluluskan.' I should keep the letter as a momento. Oh yes, I did feel like quitting, but I didn't. I know if I quit, I lose and some people would be clapping their hands hard. So why give them the satisfaction. But Allah is great. If you perservere, believe in Him and you are sincere, you will win. I did! It just takes sooooo long. Have patience, courage and intelligence to deal with it.

So to those individuals, students and young friends, if you are being back-stabbed by your colleagues, learn to be strong. Be positive. If you were clamped from your activities because some people badmouthed you to your superiors, you have a choice. Either you go and confront the person, see your boss and explain but be calm or you can psyche yourself and do something for yourself which will make you proud. Find ways that you can be known or acknowledged in an area you are good at, such as painting, writing, dancing, poetry writing, crafts etc, etc. Promote yourself. There are so many ways you can save yourself from feeling small. If your boss doesn't appreciate your contribution, find ways you can channel your energy somewhere else . But never let yourself down by being a defeatist.

To all the bosses out there, small or big, observe and gather information before you make judgment. Just remember, you have bosses too. How do you feel if you are treated as you treat your subordinates? Arrogance will be your downfall.

To those hypocrites who enjoy badmouthing, backstabbing, gossiping and who like to think they are right all the time, some day somebody will do that to you too. You will experience pain in later part of your life. Actually hypocrites are people with low self-esteem and they lack self-confidence.

So if you want to appreciate someone or people in your life, do it while they are still alive. No point singing praises when they are dead. They can't hear you! MJ is dead, the glorified ceremonies are for show. He wasn't there to see. I wish the American news would leave him alone - in peace where he couldn't get while he was alive.

Life is a cycle. You get what you give.

I am back

I went to Pantai Hospital today for a second opinion. Dr. Ho said I had glaucoma long before I was diagnosed and reassured me that having acute glaucoma doesn't mean I am going to be blind IF I take care. I have to keep my eye pressure down, that's what all other doctors said too but he could'nt give me an answer when I asked 'What more can I do to keep it down?'.

One thing that struck me is, he repeatedly say that I need to EXERCISE regularly to encourage blood circulation to the eyes. I remember when my pressure was down, I did exercise almost everyday for an hour but for the last 7 months I have neglected this because of laziness, complacency and all other excuses. So I am going to exercise again regularly beginning tomorrow.

I am hopeful now and I plan to see the world for a long time more. Taking carrots, bilberry etc is not necessary but Ok if I do, he said. Learning computer touch screen and braille is not necessary, just keep the pressure down and I won't be blind. So my concern is how to keep the pressure constantly down.

The complaint about my headaches, heavy eyes etc is because of eye fatique. I was advised to take exercise at FRIM as the area is green but it's too far for me. Taking breaks from focusing on computer was encouraged but not necessary cutting off computer completely. I have discipline problem here. Once I am in front of a computer, I get engrossed and forget about everything else including eating and resting. So in order not to stress my eyes I am going to follow Mages' advice - limit computer use. I shall have emails and occassional bloggings. I have deleted Friendster and going to delete Facebook when I know how. I'll stop gluing myself to the computer screen. Once my project is completed, there will be no more research to do.

I know I'll be OK. Pray for me.