Saturday, May 23, 2009

Bintulu Waterfront Promenade

I think i always mentioned about my activity at Bintulu Promenade in my previous posts. Quite a few, i think. So, maybe this is my last posts about this beautiful place. I was there last month where i have to drive my car all the way from Bintulu to Sabah. I posted a few beautiful scenery of sunsets here at Bintulu Waterfront. Where i used to have a walk and jog with my friends.

This is some of the small board or plates they have here. So, i just take this one.

I still keep on doing this. Taking the sunsets view from Bintulu Promenade. I really love the sunsets view here. I miss it very much even though at my place here got a few places for viewing sunsets. It will never the same even though it is the same sun....:)


Aha....i used to take one shot of rainbow when i am in UNIMAS and i think i have posted it somewhere in my blog too. But i really love this one. I took it from the promenade too but this is the opposite side where the town is taken place. The tall building is the New World Suite and the area called Parkcity Commercial area. My ex-company office was there. Not far from the building.

Orait....enjoy the photos of the beautiful scene but i was there to experienced it in real...:D

Friday, May 22, 2009

More checking stations to deter poachers

Published on: Thursday, May 21, 2009 in Daily Express

Kota Kinabalu: The Forestry Department has deployed more field staff to man Forest Checking Stations (FCS) built at vulnerable points of entry, including "mouse trails" built by poachers.

This follows a vicious attack by poachers against Forestry staff at the Ulu Segama Forest Reserve.

Standard Operational Procedures (SOP) will be implemented in the near future to deal with similar situations.

However, Sabah Forestry Department Director Datuk Sam Mannan said:

"SOP on security is best undisclosed. Whatever the case, better security has now been provided to ensure the safety of field staff on patrols and during static duty.

"The SOP has always been there, but has now been upgraded for better security and to restore confidence.

"Paramilitary police, or PGA personnel, have been stationed on a permanent basis at the entrance and at the base camp on a rotational basis.

This is now a permanent deployment. The PGA forces now also accompany forestry staff on patrols in the reserve," he said.

Mannan also added that:

"Simultaneously, the department has employed armed security personnel stationed at the base camp. We've also applied for a gun licence for protection during operations and surveillance of field staff at specific localities."

Following the assault on district Forestry Officer Indra Sunjoto, police have arrested a number of suspects for investigation and two have been charged in court.

Mannan said he is "shocked and angry that the poachers would resort to such extreme and violent means. This has not happened before."

Mannan denied that Indra was in a coma.

"He regained consciousness after a while. He went through a thorough medical examination and so serious injuries were found. Apart from shock and gash on his head, he is okay. This is a miracle," he said.

Mannan also confirmed that the clouded leopards, deers and elephants have been shot by poachers. He said that no more than 10 endangered species were targeted by poachers.

In April, district Forestry Officer Indra Sunjoto was repeatedly beaten up when a group of some 20 armed men attacked the base camp at Ulu Segama Malua forest reserve.

He suffered a cut on his head which required stitches and subsequent medical specialist treatment.

Other staff members who tried to help Indra were threatened with bodily harm by the intruders.

In the attack on the base camp, which lasted for one hour, the assailants, armed with machetes, samurai swords, brass knuckles, Rambo knives, and hockey sticks, among others, also damaged the department's cars, carted away food from the workers' quarters and several motorcycles.

It was believed that the assault was meant to injure Indra, or perhaps kill him.

Family Visit to Taman Tumbina, Bintulu, Sarawak

Taman TUMBINA is one of the mini zoo that located in Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. There are quite numbers of wild animals keep in this zoo. However, most of it in a very poor condition and even there are breeding in the quarantine area. Such as one family of long -tailed macaque. From the first time i make a visit there until last year, the family has increased where one young born in the small cage where they kept them.

Okay, enough about it because if you want to see what is actually happen there, better to see it yourself. This centre really need a real touch of a zoo keeper or anyone with zoology background. Those animals need hands that really can work on helping them to have a better care. I can not do it because i failed when i become a volunteer at the centre. I have to admit that i can not do my part there.

Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) resting in the small pond. I think it was about more than five individuals. The condition is quite bad but lucky to see the crocs is doing well in such a small place. I still remember back in 2006-2007 when i was still working in Bintulu, our department give away two juvenile crocs to this centre and i think both of them was died a year later.

The deer farm is not looking very good too but they still survive. The space is very small for about more than 10 indidviduals. No grass on the ground anymore and my nephews trying to give some green leaves to the animal and they ate it.

I am not sure what type of duck is this but maybe it is domesticated duck. Hahaha..i am no good in identified duck species. I think they didn't display the information about this animal outside the cage.

My nephew really interested looking at this beautiful peacock but the condition of this bird also very poor. You can see the feather is broken. Next picture will shows you.

See....i told you....beautiful in pain. Hmmm......what should i say it really beautiful but....the pretty feather is broken...

This is my story during my family visit to Taman TUMBINA Bintulu last month. Actually i really want to avoid visiting this place because it really make my heart painful to see all the animal are suffering. But this time i have to go and show my little niece and nephews this animals. They never had a chance to see this animal alive. So, that's it!


Thursday, May 21, 2009

The Five (5) Lessons

People always says that Sharing Is Caring. I recieved this email a few weeks back from a friend and i find out this is really good for our reflection in our life. So, i want to share it here and enjoy reading pal!

This is the five (5) lessons to make you think about the way we treat people.

1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.
During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one:

'What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?'

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times.. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50's, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

'Absolutely,' said the professor.. 'In your careers you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you dois smile and say 'hello.'

I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned hername was Dorothy.

2. - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain
One night, at 11:3 0 p.m., an older African Americanwoman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride.

Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 60s.. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxi cab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached..

It read:'Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bed side just before he passed away... God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others.'

Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.

3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those who serve.
In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table.

A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.

'How much is an ice cream sundae?' he asked.

'Fifty cents,' replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled is hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.

'Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?' he inquired.

By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient.

'Thirty-five cents,' she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins.

'I'll have the plain ice cream,' he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill onthe table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down thetable. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies..

You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

4 - Fourth Important Lesson. - The obstacle in Our Path.
In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a road way. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of theking's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came byand simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the
boulder from the road way. The peasant learned what many of us never understand!

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts...
Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister.

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, 'Yes I'll do it if it will save her.' As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did,seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded.

He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, 'Will I start to die right away?'.
Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister ALL of his blood in order to save her but he had chosen to save her anyway.

Looking For An Answer

I had headache today. So much thing have to be done. Paperwork....paperwork and paperwork. I am not sure when i can finish it because it will never finish. Yay! Sorry..i am not complaining but sharing. It is just one way for me to throw it out. I will feel better and get my work done later...

I am done with editing my second proposal and then now i am editing some of the attachment documents. I am still have problem with my English. The way i elaborate my sentence and lack of vocabulary really piss me off when i am doing my writing.

Some more i have to prepare everything in English because i have to submit it to my boss but then i have to translate some of the docs into Malay language. Especially for the documents that will goes to the ground, which we will use for the implementation of the program. This is because the community where i carried out my work only understand Malay and their own mother tounge language.

Sometimes there are still big question mark hanging around in my head asking why i am here? Why i am doing this job? Still doubt myself for the decision that i have made. I am still searching and digging for the answers.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Swimming With The FISH - Tagal System




In Sabah it is known as "Tagal System" borrowing the word "Tagal" from the native language. Actually it is a community-based fisheries resource management system. It has gaining the minds and hearts of many riparian communities in Sabah. The Tagal System is a stakeholder-driven system of rehablitation, protection, and conservation of the river environments and the fisheries resouces for its sustainable development. At the moment, the number of Tagal areas established in Sabah has multiplied to 212 involving 107 rivers in eleven districts.

Protection of the environment of the Tagal System rivers and its enforcement are in the hands of the elected Tagal Committees. At present the enforcement of the prohibitions is through the imposition of native customary laws that are backed by the Native Court.
And then, Sarawak borrowed the same system and it called "Tagang System". In the Iban language "Tagang" is refers to control and conserve. It aim is to raise awareness of conservation and local community commitments towards increasing fish production for food as well as promoting agro-tourisme. Apart from that, it also create responsible manner to prevent, control and reduce river pollution to preserve natural environment for the future generation.
There are 23 Tagang System areas in Sarawak.
* The above photos was taken by myslef during my visit to one of the village that run their Tagal System in Sabah. It was a lots of small fishes in the river after a few month they launch their Tagal System.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Malaysia Confirms First Case of Swine Flu

15 May 2009 (Friday)

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Malaysia on Friday confirmed its first case of swine flu, a 21-year-old student who recently returned from the United States.

A statement by the Health Ministry's director-general, Dr. Ismail Merican, said the young man was hospitalized on Thursday after suffering from fever, sore throat and body aches. He had returned to Malaysia from the United States on Wednesday.

Tests confirmed that he was infected with the A(H1N1) virus, the statement said. He is receiving anti-viral treatment and is in stable condition, it said.

Ismail said the ministry is in touch with his family members to ensure that he did not infect them, but they have not been placed under quarantine. He also urged all passengers on the Malaysia Airlines flight from Newark on Wednesday to contact the ministry.

Ismail said the public has no reason to panic as his department was taking steps to protect public health.

Globally, 70 people have died of swine flu, 64 of them in Mexico where the virus originated. Four deaths have been reported in the U.S., one in Canada and one in Costa Rica.

According to the World Health Organization, some 6,672 people in 33 countries are confirmed to be suffering from the disease.

The WHO estimates that up to 2 billion doses of swine flu vaccine could be produced every year, though the first batches wouldn't be available for four to six months.

*This is scary..i hope all of the passengers in the same plane be aware of this and immediately check their health condition...Hopefully it will not spread to Borneo.

Read More....

FINDING AND KEEPING A LIFE PARTNER - PART 2

QUESTION ..4: How does he/she treat other people?
The one most important thing that makes any relationship work is theability to give. By giving, we mean the ability to give another personpleasure.

Ask: Is this someone who enjoys giving pleasure to others or are theywrapped up in themselves and self-absorbed? To measure this, think aboutthe following:
How do they treat people whom they do not have to be nice to, such as waiters, bus boys, taxi drivers, etc..
How do they treat their parents and siblings?Do they have gratitude and appreciation? If they don't have gratitude forthe people who have given them everything;

Can you do nearly as much for them? You can be sure that someone who treatsothers poorly, will eventually treat you poorly as well.

QUESTION ..5: Is there anything I'm hoping to change about this personafter we're married?
Too many people make the mistake of marrying someone with the intention oftrying to 'improve'; them after they're married. As a colleague of mineputs it: 'You can probably expect someone to change after marriage for theworse' If you cannot fully accept this person the way they are now, thenyou are not ready to marry them.

In conclusion, dating doesn't have to be difficult and treacherous. The keyis to try leading a little more with your head and less with your heart.

It pays to be as objective as possible when you are dating; to be sure toask questions that will help you get to the key issues. Falling in love isa great feeling, but when you wake up with a ring on your finger, you don'twant to find yourself in trouble because you didn't do your homework.

Another perspective...

There are some people in your life that need to be loved from a distance..

It's amazing what you can accomplish when you let go of or at leastminimize your time with draining, negative, incompatible, not-goinganywhere relationships. Observe the relationships around you.

Pay attention..
Which ones lift and which ones lean? Which ones encourage and which onesdiscourage? Which ones are on a path of growth uphill and which ones aregoing downhill? When you leave certain people do you feel better or feelworse? Which ones always have drama or don't really understand, know, orappreciate you?

The more you seek quality, respect, growth, peace of mind, love and trutharound you...the easier it will become for you to decide who gets to sitin the front row and who should be moved to the balcony of your life.

An African proverb states, 'Before you get married, keep both eyes open,and after you marry, close one eye'; Before you get involved and make acommitment to someone, don't let lust, pity, desperation, immaturity,ignorance, pressure from others or a low self-esteem make you blind towarning signs. Keep your eyes open, and don't fool yourself that you canchange someone or that what you see as faults aren't really that important.

Do you bring out the best in each other?

Do you compliment and compromise with each other, or do you compete,compare and control?
What do you bring to the relationship?

Do you bring past relationships, past hurt, past mistrust, past pain?

You can't take someone to the altar to alter them.You can't make someone love you or make someone stay.

If you develop self-esteem, spiritual discernment, and 'a life'; you won'tfind yourself making someone else responsible for your happiness orresponsible for your pain. Seeking status, sex, and security are the wrongreasons to be in a relationship.

WHAT KEEPS A RELATIONSHIP STRONG ARE:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1. TRUST

2. COMMUNICATION

3. INTIMACY

4. A SENSE OF HUMOR

5. SHARING TASKS

6. SOME GETAWAY TIME WITHOUT BUSINESS OR CHILDREN

7. DAILY EXCHANGES (meal, shared activity, hug, call, touch, notes)

8. SHARING COMMON GOALS AND INTERESTS

9. GIVING EACH OTHER SPACE TO GROW WITHOUT FEELING INSECURE

10. GIVING EACH OTHER A SENSE OF BELONGING AND ASSURANCES OF COMMITMENT

If these qualities are missing, the relationship will erode as resentmentwithdrawal, abuse, neglect, and dishonesty; and pain will replace it.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Just For Easy Reading!

FINDING AND KEEPING A LIFE PARTNER - PART 1

When it comes to making the decision about choosing a life partner, no onewants to make a mistake. Yet, with a divorce rate of close to 50%, itappears that many are making serious mistakes in their approach to findingMr./Miss. Right!

If you ask most couples who are engaged why they're getting married,they'll say: 'We're in love'; I believe this is the #1 mistake people makewhen they date. Choosing a life partner should never be based on love.Though this may sound 'not politically correct', there's a profound truthhere. Love is not the basis for getting married. Rather, love is the resultof a good marriage. When the other ingredients are right, then the lovewill come. Let me say it again: 'You can't build a lifetime relationship onlove alone'; You need a lot more!!!

Here are five questions you must ask yourself if you're serious aboutfinding and keeping a life partner.

QUESTION ..1: Do we share a common life purpose?
Why is this so important? Let me put it this way: If you're married for 20or 30 years, that's a long time to live with someone. What do you plan todo with each other all that time? Travel, eat and jog together? You need toshare something deeper and more meaningful. You need a common life purpose.

Two things can happen in a marriage:
(1) You can grow together, or
(2) you can grow apart.

50% of the people out there are growing apart. To make a marriage work, youneed to know what you want out of life! Bottom line; and marry someone whowants the same thing.

QUESTION ..2: Do I feel safe expressing my feelings and thoughts with thisperson?
This question goes to the core of the quality of your relationship. Feelingsafe means you can communicate openly with this person. The basis of havinggood communication is trust - i.e. trust that I won't get 'punished'; orhurt for expressing my honest thoughts and feelings. A colleague of minedefines an abusive person as someone with whom you feel afraid to expressyour thoughts and feelings. Be honest with yourself on this one.

Make sure you feel emotionally safe with the person you plan to marry.

QUESTION ..3: Is he/she a mensch?
A mensch is someone who is a refined and sensitive person. How can youtest? Here are some suggestions. Do they work on personal growth on aregular basis? Are they serious about improving themselves? A teacher ofmine defines a good person as 'someone who is always striving to be goodand do the right ';.So ask about your Significant other: What do they dowith their time? Is this person materialistic? Usually a materialisticperson is not someone whose top priority is character refinement.

There are essentially two types of people in the world:
(1) People who are dedicated to personal growth and
(2) People who are dedicated to seeking comfort.

Someone whose goal in life is to be comfortable will put personal comfortahead of doing the right thing. You need to know that before walking downthe aisle.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Conservation & Local Communities

It has been 3 months and 13 days I am working with my new employer with the new work scope. If I reflect back to my first month it was really a struggle for me but now it seems to be a very interesting experienced and I am developing new skills now. I am not good in dealing with the communities and I have to admit that, even though I come from rural village in Sarawak because it will never be the same to work together with the local communities with different cultures and beliefs.

Back to the topic I want to discuss here before I am away too far with my other stories. I will write some more about it later. Conservation! Who is responsible? Where? How? Before this I know for sure that scientist or researcher with different field will working so hard to study about plants and animal or we can say it biodiversity. Study to understand about the biology, ecology and do something about it.

How? By using all the information they will come out with the recommendations on managing and protect this biodiversity. This can be implement at managing level but is it works till the ground level, the communities which are living close to this all living things? In my previous work place we tried so hard to make local people understand that they have to harvest their natural resource in sustainable way. But the problem is even though they are aware of it but they have no choice because of living pressure. So, how far the local communities can work together with the authority or the experts to manage the natural resource and protect the biodiversity? How to make them totally involve where they can become the forest or wildlife ranger? So that the responsibility of conserving the fauna and flora is not burden on the shoulder of authority or experts only but it will become OUR responsibility. No point finger on whose job is it.

Okay, I have to stop right here for now. How it should be done I will share it later. I have fire training going on because we have drought season now. We, the field people have to be prepared before fire attacks us. Will be back soon.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Simple Explanation on Swine Flu

What is swine flu?
Like people, pigs can get influenza (flu), but swine flu viruses aren't the same as human flu viruses. Swine flu doesn't often infect people, and the rare human cases that have occurred in the past have mainly affected people who had direct contact with pigs. But the current swine flu outbreak is different. It's caused by a new swine flu virus that has spread from person to person -- and it's happening among people who haven't had any contact with pigs.

What are swine flu symptoms?
Symptoms of swine flu are like regular flu symptoms and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. Those symptoms can also be caused by many other conditions, and that means that you and your doctor can't know, just based on your symptoms, if you've got swine flu. It takes a lab test to tell whether it's swine flu or some other condition.

If I think I have swine flu, what should I do? When should I see my doctor?
If you have flu symptoms, stay home, and when you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue. Afterward, throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands. That will help prevent your flu from spreading.If you've got flu symptoms, and you've recently been to a high-risk area like Mexico, CDC officials recommend that you see your doctor. If you have flu symptoms but you haven't been in a high-risk area, you can still see a doctor -- that's your call.Keep in mind that your doctor will not be able to determine whether you have swine flu, but he or she would take a sample from you and send it to a state health department lab for testing to see if it's swine flu. If your doctor suspects swine flu, he or she would be able to write you a prescription for Tamiflu or Relenza. Those drugs may not be required; U.S. swine flu patients have made a full recovery without it.