Thursday, August 28, 2008

Between the thought...


I woke up this morning feeling so refresh. Again, today will be another day I will have to sloth it out at home, trying to finish my PhD thesis which have been so ‘elusive’. Or more I should says, I have been postponing for so long. The urgency I felt for the last couple of months is so intense. I have been pursuing this for about 5 years now, starting from my master and then, converting it to my PhD. I sometimes wonder why I am doing all this, just to add the title, Dr, to my name…What next I asked. I have couple grants waiting for me to do and research on but now I come to a point of soul-searching, is this what I want to do for my career.
It has been a wonderful and exciting 5 years doing my PhD. While most of my peers and friends have started working for 5 years or more, I am still studying and not earning anything but leaving on my hard save money and scholarship. At times, I just have to dial the hotline, and thankful that God provide me with a supportive families. Some of my peers have married, mostly not yet, and those who are married, are now starting their families. Children, I mean. Some have migrated and are now achievers in their own right and respective fields, earning monies and flying to places like me taking buses to the different rural areas.

But the realization that if I am given a chance to do all over again, I will still be taking the same path and doing the same thing what I am doing now. This makes me realize I don’t have much regrets in my life. I am living a life, many can only dreams of. How many have a chance to study and do PhD till the age of late 20s? And at the same time, not to worry about loans, finances, families or just simply survival?

No regrets you asked? At all? Well, I think the only regrets is that I have not taken a gap year and to do community projects and serving the people, touching life and changing communities, transforming nations. I always believe, a simple life can change more life. A ripple effect! If I can, I would love to go to place like Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam or elsewhere, for a year and live with the rural folks and do something for the community. Well, now its still not too late isn’t it?

That aside, Christmas is about 4 months away and we are preparing for another show, another presentation.

We have been pouring over the scripts for some many times, editing it and identifying for the right actors and actress, getting the costume, booking the studio and to promote it too…sometimes, meetings have been pull till late night and I know the editor for the script


Tonight will be another meeting and next week, we are having the audition.


I can’t wait for the practice to start. I know this will be great and as for myself, let just say, I am back to be in touch with my other side. Hopefully, I have not lost it after all these years with books and blood and orang asli and more research…

Monday, August 25, 2008

Look Out Point, Ampang

Last Saturday night, my wife and I were invited for a dinner. Well, we don't really know where we are going other than, the restaurant have a good view. We went in a car, and our pastor brought us to Look Out Point, over in Ampang. He has invited us for dinner to celebrate our birthday. It was so sweet and nice of him to remember us. It was raining heavily that night, and the drive there was all covered with mist.
Along the way, we chatted and found out that this place overlook the KL town and its actually located on the old road towards Ampang from Cheras. Anyway, the drive there was pleasant but took us about 30 minutes. We called to make booking and telling the owner we are making out way there. I think he must be busy as our call went unanswered but he is so nice to call us back and reserved a seat for us.
The place was located up a slope and once we reach the junction to turn into the restaurant, the jam started. We parked at the road side and walk uphill. It wasn't a long walk but a very steep hill to climb indeed. Once on top, I saw the restaurant was packed. I understood from Ps Bernard saying this place is usually packed on weekend and they normally don't do reservation at night.
More suprises awaits us as I step in. This place have one of the most amazing view over KL city!We ordered our food and its really good. I havs steak with cheese and ham and my wife took grilled chicken prepared in the same way. Ps Bernard order steak too. It is so nice that I forget to take any picture of it. The price too is reasonable!
The weather that night is so chilling. The wind blowing makes us so hungry and cold. This is a great place to go for western food and also just to chill out.
After dinner, we took a walk on the hilltop and also to a viewing platform to take some picture. I can't stay too long there as it's very cold with the wind blowing and raining too. anyway, we really enjoy our time there.
Anyway, if you plan to go there, try to go there during weekdays. They are open from 11am till 1am.
I know, this will not be my last time there.

Look Out Point Western Food
Lot1, Kompleks Pelancongan, Menara Tinjau,Jalan Ampang-Hulu Langat,68000 Ampang, Selangor.
Contact Person : Mr. Dennison Lukose
Telephone : 016-242 4326, 019-250 8379

Monday, August 18, 2008

The day the Conquerors goes Kayaking...

This has been in the heart of the church leaders to organise activities for the members and that now is the holiday seasons for the campus or some just started, we thought why not! We were at the church early on Sunday, but not for service but for the outing! We have attended the saturday evening service. 44 of us, in a bus and two cars, we headed for Putrajaya Lake Recreational Center. When we reach, the place is not yet open.
We have ice-breakers just to know each other and as what others said - to break the ice la.
We have a good time laughing and running around and meeting with new people and then, we have a break. Some just took the opprotunity to continue to make more friends while most took a walk to watch some migatory birds like the pelican and swans. Before we know, we are putting on our life vest and this is the time for more pictures taking. The excitement is in the air so much so, all are getting ready and don't mind just to jump into water.

We continue with our last ice breakers and looking for the partner for the kayaking and canoeing! Everyone is so excited and simply just shout so that we can have out partner and get straight into the water. Many of them did well, going around, some struggle making round and round just near the water. but before long, they are out to the middle of the lake canoeing! Though, some have their fair bit of anxiety and capzie
Canoe is the easier to capsize and topple over. But for most of us, we just enjoy the time out in the open to enjoy the freedom and cruising on the lake. And we also have some who don't want to get wet, yet, another will just jump into water or to make the boat turn over purposely! I think this is where all the FUN is! To just do something impulsively at the same time, enjoy it!
Some of us just sit around the lake. This is a very nice place. A lake that is part of the wetland, a green lung nestle withing Putrajaya, yet very serene!
After the rowing session, we have time to chat and make some new freinds. Though we are from the same church, the group is too big for us to know someone closer. So, this outing is an opprtunity for everyone to mingle and get to know each other better. Sadly, we are in a multi racial communtiy who sometimes just don't know who is our neighbour or knowing theur culture. Here, at least we have the opportunity to learn from each other, their country and culture too.

At the end, we just find another friend and getting know a friend better. This will give us a new found family that we know, we are always there!
Well, here is how we show it! Don't play play with this group, if not, we are coming after you with out paddles and oars!

Friday, August 15, 2008

Randomness

I have been busy last week, with conference, meetings and more meetings. Much have come and go, and one of the thing I am still can't believe myself is to reject an offer to work for NG in Australia...ahh... what I am doing here?


With the frustration of work, I grab my camera and heads towards my little 'oasis' in my condo, to take some shots. The lotus flower is finally blooming again. The lime tree, the orchids and the japanese rose have bloomed so many times but this red lotus seldom!

I love playing with the macro and the little petal is just so unique and amazzing to see up close.

Too bad this flower don't blooms for long. It will just last about 2 days.

While editing, I found some old pics I took. So here...

Dew on paddy field.
This is one flower that I don't have a lot of chance to see...It only blooms at night and will die off by morning. We have seen the fruit so common but the flower, have to wait for the right time!
Can you guess what this is? Oh...I don't take this in my little 'oasis' but elsewhere.

This flower is so amazing that we can see it open slowly in about an hour... well, I don't think that is slow but that actually is fast! Its about 1 feet long and very refreshing to see...
So, do you know what if that?
Its actually the dragon fruit's flower...
Ahh... back to work!

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Bon Voyage My Friend

Well, this is a special post.... Just a note to say farewell to our friend.
Not that we don't have friend who travel or migrated oversea, in fact we have so many and so often, that we always have transition and adjusment to make, one after another left.
However, for this couple, I have come to know her for the past ten years, since our schooling days and when that now we move to this town for study, she is one of those fews who we will call and hang out together. I came to know her husband not too long after that since we all study in the same university. Now that they are migrating, we find it sad and suddenly a gap in the circle of friend.
We hang out so much, and my wife just remind me, most of the time, they are the people we look for dinner together and to go out together. well, I think it's their simplicity that bond us together. And that now they will be so far away, that it will take 13 hours flight for us to reach them or they to come back, we wish them all the best!

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Peat Fire

I had an eventful weekend. So much so, that my whole body still aching from the effect of it. Never did I plan to pack in so much, as I was thinking of have a relaxing weekend this week. However, things start to pack up since Friday night.

First, I have a meeting with some friends till 12 midnight. I am planning to go to the morning watch in the church on Saturday morning, but I can't wake up for it. During the very last minutes too, one of my student sms to request me to fetch her to Putrajaya for some outing arrangement.

My wife and I had to sacrifice our morning, and we headed to Putrajaya. We were expecting to have some rest in the evening. But, as some says, the nature have its way.

We were watching movie at home when we smell of things burning. Our initial thought was that some people must be burning rubbish again. So, we just shut all our doors and continue watching X-Files. However, 15 minutes later, the smell got so strong that we are a bit worried. We pulled open the curtain and to our horror, we can't even see the tree outside our apartment. I thought the apartment must have caught fire.
I go to the back balcony only to realise the bush beside our apartment is one fire!

By then, the fire has spread rapidly. It's so fast that we can't do anything as the wind was blowing strongly. My initial reaction was to ask my brother to remove my car parked just opposite the bush. Then, I ran down trying to take any I can find to scope water from the swimming pool to douche the fire. Not many people were there at at that time, and some are busy trying to remove bike park just beside the fence. I don't have any photo to show as I was busy putting off the fire.

I only have this picture to show as my wife caught me 'in action' with a small pathetic hose. Not much of water pressure but, at least better then nothing. I just try to keep the fire coming closer to the fence. I have tired myself carrying the buckets of water...

About 20 minutes later, only did the fireman arrive. They just take their own sweet time, and even my brother whom is a voluntary fireman, have to help them to 'run the hose'. And then, we have to try to help them, because, they are about only 3 of them came in 1 fire engine.

This is the part where, we are so frustrated. People standing at the side, just trying to show how smart they are, trying to give us instruction on what to do. Some who are there also try to take the water hose from us only to return to us when they find out the water hose is leaking. This will happen to the water hose, to release some pressure from it! If not, it will burst! And to make the matter worst, they try to direct the pipe though we are already putting off some fire!

After about 20 minutes, the fire was put off. I left and get ready to go to church for the evening service. However, my brother told me the fire came back about 5pm and the fireman have to be called back.
The next morning, I went down to take a look at the place and this is what I saw. This picture didn't show the whole area but just only part of it.
This is the part where its just opposite where I park my car!
Take a look at the stretch of burned tree. The only stretch that burn at the fencing, is exactly, where I have park my car, about 10 feet away. If I had come down later, I will have to bid my faithful car bye bye...
The whole process of trying to put off the fire was make worst when we found out that the hydrant pump don't have a key to turn on the water. One of it, after turning it on, there are no water coming out from it. And, the water hydrant in the apartment, don't have any adaptor for us to connect the hose to...If this have been the apartment on fire, our apartment would have gone to ashes!

Isn't this a familiar story of why the fireman can't put out the fire...

leaking hose...hydrant don't have water...don't have the right adapter...and the list goes on...


The weather now is so hot, and i hope the authorities are keeping on their toes. And for us, just be carefull with what we are doing. A single spark can caused catastrophe!