Tossing for LOVE

Mom, typical Chinese lady from Ipoh, small town, big family. I spoke to her recently about the hype of this Ba Chang festival. I went to two Chinese restaurants and ba changs were all sold out. She told me ladies who throw ba chang out into the sea are those seeking for love, a husband perhaps. Mom, lady with so many made-up theories, you can never quote her on it. I may not agree with mom but I have to say I like the idea of it. There are a number of theories about the origin of this Ba Chang Festival. But before we get into that, let me describe the perfect ba chang filling that would make my day. It has got to be in a pyramidal shape, I don’t like those in rectangular form. It has to have half a salted egg or duck egg. There must be no peanuts! No chestnuts! Mushroom is a must and pork is mandatory. That’s how I like it. Now back to my very limited knowledge of Chinese folklore, Raymond whom I had lunch with told me tossing ba chang into the sea is to ward off disease or evil. It made perfect sense to me as I tried to sense a collective nostalgia of what my Popo or Kung Kung would have said to me as a form of their folklore. But really after a lot of googling, the reason why we toss ba chang out into the sea is because of this ONE MAN! He must be someone really special innit to have people all over the world do that. Here is one of the many theories of the origin. It is meant to honor Qu Yuan (340-278 BC.), the pioneer poet of ancient China. Qu Yuan was a famous poet who was also concerned about the fate of his government. Unfortunately his stature aroused the jealousy of the king, who banished him to a remote area. The poet despaired of the government and its policies. When the state's capital was captured by enemies, he committed suicide by drowning himself in the Miluo River (on May 5th according to the Chinese lunar calendar). The Chinese people felt this loss deeply, as he was a much beloved poet. Local folk searched for him in the river, meanwhile dropping dumplings of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves into the river in order to keep the fishes from attacking Qu Yuan's body.

Another story I heard had something to do with the king’s mistress. The King’s interests were in wine, women and songs. And this man who cared for the kingdom delivered his advice to the king but it fell on deaf ears. He drowned himself as a way of proving to the king that the intention of the King’s mistress was not genuine and to create bad blood in the kingdom. There are so many different takes on it but I have to say mom’s story really hit the roof. All my friends laughed as I told my family’s version of the story. It was a good day nonetheless; we had fun, watched the sunset, made a wish and toss our ba chang into the sea. Raymond challenged me in a game of making an egg sit. It is one of the many other traditional activities that are still practiced in this festival.

The future of Sarawak's Penan

Last week’s charity skip along took us past rows of bright, glossy, firm Asian cucumber-like gourd known to me today as Angled Luffas. I met some of the farmers working on their crops and it was sun down. Never have I seen such dedicated farmers in my years of living. The walk along the beach shores had a gorgeous view but it made us clamped our nose. I can bring to mind the smell that drifted through the air. It smelt like salty dead fish, seaweed and Joey’s cologne drenched in sweat. What really hit me hard in that week’s skip along was the slide show projected in the woods of the Rapier Range. The commitment of two expat English teachers in Brunei that I had newly acquainted with spoke to me about the Penan children of Sarawak, part of their Borneo Project. The Penans have one of the lowest rates of education in Malaysia with 40% never attended primary school and 90% never made it to secondary school. L&M had dedicated their off-hours offering assistance to the Penan of Sarawak. The stories made my heart weep and I sponsored a Penan child for a year that night, this would help in his/her medical and educational needs. I was amazed with L’s accomplishments. She has written a set of story books in native Penan language and had distributed them to indigenous preschools. This would help the children to slowly make a transition to public schools taught in English and Malay, languages they are unfamiliar with.
The Penan are the last surviving hunter-gatherer tribe in South-East Asia, they have received more international attention than the other tribes of Sarawak. There are about 10,000 Penan in all, around 350-500 are nomadic but due to the impact of logging on their lands, less than sixty families are now able to continue the traditional way of life . The rest are either semi-nomadic or live in settlements. Life for the Penan is now extremely difficult because of the destruction of their forests.

An escape to AmiriCA

I did an escape to the border today. Drove my way past 30 hectares of burnt land that supposedly happened over the last two weeks. The sight of the post bush fire somewhat looked like it was caused by man. With the vast land, illegal farming activity is suspected and ignition risk is predicted. But really, I like to rewind the story and take you into my border experience. With the AH1N1 at loose, both the Malaysia and Brunei borders stationed health officers at location. The Brunei border carried out verbal Q & A on where did you come from, are you feeling well and were you from the airport check. The Malaysian border however distributed yellow A4 sized paper with two sections, one of which was about identity and the other was a health related check. I did section A easily but just as I got to section B, I tuned out. It was written in the Malay language and no translation were given. Its not because the language used was complex but the real problem is that the questions were lengthy and required a lot more comprehensible input. Essay type questions for a health check? Really it should have been easy straight to the point questions or maybe, just maybe, this virus is deadlier than I thought. I guess the sold out hand sanitizers might have added up to the hype.

So now its 202

Yes, I have not been blogging. I have got 101 + another 101 reasons to why I have been MIA. Its not easy being me that's for sure and I don't just say this because its a line used by most people these days but I genuinely mean it. The issue with my blog and I is that we would like to share so much but an ounce of peace was what we opted for. It seemed to us that the kick start to type was like an enemy we had to gun down. Funny that because I have written numerous essays months before and months to come. Essays? Yes like 1500 word write ups and books as high as Shahbandar Hill to put my nose on. The ICELT is currently what I'm busy waging wars on. Fortunately, the fight will end in September just in time for my natal silver jubilee anniversary. This is however depressing because through my adolescent years, my aim was to get hitched at 25. Time is chasing up on me and suitors are low in supply. How can we overcome my demand? When equilibrium is not met? Let me put this into another context, just as Obama celebrated his first 100th days, swine flu affair sets in and the principal obstacle is the lack of vaccines. Which is equitable to: I am the swine and the lack of vaccines are my suitors. Politically romantic implicated much?! The deprivation bubble I bum in is taking a toll on me. I will stop here for some ounce of peace to charm in again. Till my next post, bless me with some love and disco sticks.

Will Gayana be next?

Manukan Island. This is one of the popular resorts at Kota Kinabalu and is the second largest of the five tropical islands. The island is known for its sandy white beaches and snorkeling. Being the backpacker I am, discovering things on my own, I didn't sign up on the tour packages but instead went on doing what I like to do which is exploring. With that I saved at least a 100 bucks.
What we had to pay for:
RM 50 - Boat ride back and forth per person
RM 20 - For goggles, snorkel and life vest (but you can rent them at the island itself at a cheaper price). You can pay a bit more for flippers if you want to swim faster.
RM 50 - Take away food for 13 people at one of the food stalls. Not bad. Unless you want to dine at one of the restaurants or buy the package tour.

* Note that we had to deal with an agent from Jesselton Point but do make sure you have proper goggles. Otherwise, you might be unlucky to get sea water leaking inside your goggles while snorkeling.

We didn’t try rafting and the banana boat looked tempting. Maybe next time? I, however, tried the parasailing (RM180 for 10 mins —> expensive aye?) but I really enjoyed the 10-minute parasailing. Two thumbs up. A friend of mine had a bad experience with the parasail in Empire. It may be cheaper but I do NOT recommend you to Parasail there after hearing the story, imagine falling high up from the sky crashing into the sea. Because their motor got jammed?! That's just mad. Inexperience. Which was why I rather pay a lot more for my safety.

All in all, it was great fun especially the snorkeling bit. A recommended island to visit if you happen to be in KK.

I have never seen a dozen shades of green!

Although we didn't get a change to get hold of the KNK Passport provided by our friendly neighbourhood officers at the Tourism Department, we felt that the feeling of satisfaction is more than enough to leave a stamp in our heart. It is my second trip to Temburong. First one was strictly work related with some emceeing job I had to do and this second one is a strictly have-fun-go-wild-run-around-naked one. We took the monster truck to Limbang, crossed the ferry to Temburong. I know a lot of people are hoping for a bridge to be built so that it would be easily accessible, saves time as well and that's clearly understandable but its people like me that don't get to ride on ferries and is loving every second of the 2 minute ferry ride. Hey, if they put two ferries together, they don't actually need to build a bridge. I think two ferries connected is about the width of that river. We drove to the Trandie Marina Resort and took a longboat to the National Park, registered and paid $5 (comes with a park ranger). Then we disembarked into the best preserved tropical rainforest of Borneo. We climbed the very high scaffolding of the Canopy Walkway, the structure rises over 50 meters high on top of 850 meters high hill. That's from the ridge top to above the tree tops. Once you get to the top, all you can see is the amazing and panoramic view of the tropical rainforest, the clouds, the sounds of birds (you'll spot a few hornbills) and insects. The primary rainforest carpets about 78 percent of Brunei’s land area, most of which you can see from the Canopy Walk (Don't trust me, I tend to exaggerate).

Here is a video I made...Its really crappy. My first time using the video function in my camera. I didn't even know what to say! Please ignore my I love NY t-shirt. My sis bought it for me when she was living there.

Notes:
1. Please bring the OFF or any form of insect repellent.

2. Do not wear perfumes, bees will love you and you don't what that do you now?

3. 50 meters on a 850 meters hill, not recommended for people who are afraid of heights.

4.Once at the top, don't look down the forest floor, you'll feel dizzy. If its OK for you or you like the dizzying perspective then, look down...its amazing to know how high you've climb.

5. If you've not done any form of exercise, you'll NOT make it! Turn around and dip your feet in the river and wait for your buddies to get back and tell you all about their non-stop stories.

6. Oh yes, wear proper shoes, the track gets a little muddy.

7. If you missed out on it, don't meet your friends for 1 week because that's all they're going to talk about.

8. Have FUN!!!

The treehouse at Trandie Marina Resort. There are a few treehouses there and other abseiling activities.
The boat ride to the National Park, it was a whole lot of fun with the rapids. Recommended for rafting.
The Canopy Walkway above and the KNK logo. Photo by Spacemonkey. He was the first to reach the hilltop.
Sungai Apan waterfall. The water was soooo COLD! I kid you not. Photo again by Spacemonkey.

Spirit Snuffed Out

On Sunday, Theycallmeck blogger CK was spotted with a mystery man in a football match and left just before the half time.

The blogstress have said to have a major illness!

She took to her blog to announce her news:

Well, as many of you know I have been having trouble with my health lately but it didn’t stop me from going to a football match. The doctors thought I had tonsillitis, but when I wasn't feeling better after some rest, I decided to get an intensive checkup. When I heard the results I was in utter disbelief. The doctors told me that not only I had tonsillitis, but both of my cheeks were exhausted!! He said my left one was particularly bad, all this because I was smiling way too much for the cameras!!! He said I had just over done it with the excessive smiles over the past few weeks and so my muscles became fatigued and transferred the overload of stress to the bones around my cheek area - causing them to be stress! He says that type of injury can happen when celebrities step up the amount or intensity their smiles. Typical me- I throw myself 1000% into anything I do- that's how I went from being homeless to where I am today- but I just had no idea I could over-do smiling!
Shock does not begin to describe it. I am heartbroken to say I will not be smiling in this season of Football fever. I'm sad I won't get to go through the rest of the experience smiling with my mystery man. I don't really know what to say. I am sad and mad and disappointed and just blown away at all that has happened. I also feel particularly upset for my partner. This wasn't the way I wanted to go, but my health must come first. The good news is that my doctors say with rest and care, I will recover completely with no long-term damage. I hope I will be able to come back and with a new set of smile after my injury heals.


Such a bummer.
Get well lady!

P/s: I seriously think I’m coming down on something. My throat feels very hot, row and scratchy. I’ve got the snizz’cold too. I think I had too much salt yesterday.

My weekly dozes of On Ons

The Pain. The Drive. The Satisfaction. Yeap, it's my fourth skip along in the scenic rural sides and still trying to grasp the idea of picking out thorns in my finger with a needle every week. I am a clumsy one really and that’s the one impressive quality the blokes seem to find classy these days. There is this one gentleman I find quite sexet. I know you will never slip into this site of mine, but if only you can slip into my arms. Jeg synes du air flot. Jeg vil gerna kysse dig. I tend to talk Danish when I’m feeling all…you know. Back to my skip along in the woods, the best thing about it really is having a Britney right after and...hmmm...talking about the pearl necklace!? Hmmf…its best I didn’t know what it meant.

Dear readers, I’ve noticed my hits seems to be escalating like a mad woman chasing after a rat in the kitchen and if I somewhat do not make sense in this post, my apologies. Sometimes fantasy takes control and there's only little you can do about it.
This is a picture of One-Tonne-Man (wan-tan man) a.k.a Kungfu Panda a.k.a I'm-so-in-love-with-my-headlamp

Know-it-alls

Conversation from know-it-alls must eventually draw to a close rather than offering my opinions, leading to him/her being defensive and causing him/her to dig in his/her heels. Most times, I like to be left alone and spare myself from all these dramas. Boy, do I not fit in, so I've been practicing these lines over and over again for conversation enders. I'm pretty sure the know-it-alls will like the sound of my lines as they need not prove their brilliance to me once heard.

1) "Obviously you know your stuff,"
2) "You always have something intelligent to say,"

Whatcha reckon?