Bird Nest...

Above is a micro image of a bird nest that I took using the Macro Lens.  Enjoy it folks.

Have a nice day. [ Please click on image to enlarge]

Tanjung Piai; the Southernmost tip of the Mainland Asia landmass...

It was this blogger that trigger my thought to visit this part of the world which happens to be in my country Malaysia. It is a tip of the southernmost of the mainland Asia landmass. South of this is Singapore. Although it is the southernmost, it is an island thus detached from the mainland Asia landmass. With that Tanjung Piai in Johor Malaysia became the southernmost tip of the Mainland Asia landmass. Anyway Singapore an island state is still to the south of the mainland Asia landmass.

 I was in Singapore for a short holiday and had visited many places of interest in the republic and did enjoy that short stay. Since Tanjung Piai is near to Singapore I thought that on my way back to Kuala Lumpur by way of the Second Link I would make a visit to this landmark of the country, which has now been turn into a Johor National Park. Although It is close to the Second link there is no direct road to Tanjung Piai as yet.  I hope the authority would run a road from the Malaysian side of the Second Link to Tanjung Piai. Thus would open up the area to tourist potential and a boom to that landmark; the Southernmost Tip of Mainland Asia landmass. As for now to get to Tanjung Piai one had to drive up to Pontian and then drive south.

Leaving early in the morning out of Singapore, I fixed the destination on the GPS and we head to the area with my nephew driving. With that I had the opportunity to enjoy the ride along the old country roads that had been upgraded. As usual with GPS it would lead you to your destination as it see it and one had to drive through unknown roads and detours to get to the destination. Anyway after more than an hour drive we got to Kukup and following the GPS we arrived at Tanjung Piai just before noon.

We parked the car and went straight to have a look at what we are looking for. After paying the entrance fee and got some assistance from the official we proceeds to the well laid wooden pathway that shows the direction of our destination 'the southernmost tip of mainland Asia landmass'. The weather was on our side with the sun shining bright. I could see patches of white clouds and blue sky all over, giving brightness to the jungle all over the pathway. Most if not all the greens are of the Bakau [mangroves] which grows well in such area beside the sea. Actually the Bakau act as a natural barrier of the seafront from erosion.

A tough tree species that thrives very well in the damp and water covered areas of the forest. From the look of it there are many varieties of mangroves here. Signage are place here and there giving information about what varieties are found along the pathway.

As I walk that pathway I notice the tide was low and I could see the seabed with  some of its habitat like small crabs running around or digging holes. In one area I saw many seashells laying around and I believe one is forbade to collects it. Since it was in the mid-noon I believe most of the habitats are having their siesta of sort but I did saw a group of monkey doing their ritual of caring one another careless of us human encroaching its territory.

Both sides of the pathway were all green of the Bakau trees and at this low tide I could see the roots all above grounds and seedlings just sprouting all over. To make the walkway colorful the Park Authority has placed signage at various places to give the visitors information of what are there to see in the park. There are also interesting signage giving soft warning like the one shown on the left of this paragraph. And I believe it does give a clear and loud message to the visitors. [signage translate 'Only Monkey are allows to throw rubbish]

After about twenty minutes of leisure walk I reached the destination of this trip; the place of the 'Southernmost Tip of the mainland Asia landmass'. The image on the left shows me at that place under the blazing tropical sun. I felt great to be able to be here today [April 28, 2011] at this landmark of the world which happens to be in my country Malaysia. I walk around and from there saw the west coast of Singapore and ships that ply the Straits of Malacca. There are jetty erected especially for those who want to do fishing. From the look of it the place must be well patronized from time to time. Any nature lover would love to walk the kilometers of Pathway that had been erected taking one to the center of the mangrove forest, an experience that one could never get in the other parts of a jungle trails. The pathway are made of wood and well laid, making it easy for one to take a lazy walk and enjoy the atmosphere of the forest. While there I could hear the sound of birds but did not see any.

There is a signage as shown on the left which I believe one know pretty well that one are not always alone in such a lonely places. There are the creatures that makes this place their home and if one is lucky one would get the chance to see the many creatures, like huge lizard, crocodile, monkey and wild fowls, wild Boers and the like. 

For those who have the time I would suggest they camp the night here and enjoy the happening in this unique corner of the world. Where thing are just in its originality and the atmosphere serene, as thought it has never been tempered with by times. Facilities for camping are available on request. 

After getting a certificate of our visit there, we left the area heading for Kukup where we had a  seafood lunch. With that we head for Malacca and then home in KL. A hectic but enjoyable day indeed.

Have a nice day. [Please click image to enlarge and location below to see the map of this place]

Swimming Pool @ Singapore...

Folks; last week we visited Singapore and one of the place we went is the Marina Bay Sands. We went to the Skypark which is on the 56th floor and saw the highest Swimming Pool in the world. Part of it is seen above. Have a nice day.

The Demise of Louis Michael Sellier of Seattle...

We are in a shock of this news. Folks it is not easy to write this and like me his friends all over the world would want to know. I had to gather strength to write this as soon as possible. Let me begin like this, our friendship start years ago in blogsphere. He use to visit my blog and often posted comments. We then graduate to communicating by emails. We exchange notes and discuss many things about living. Been almost of the same age; He was two years older than me, we eventually became close friend, more like a relative than a friend. I told him to blog and eventually he did. This is his blog Hopscotch. In the summer of 2008 we met in person in Seattle. Asmah, our daughter Lin and I met his wonderful spouse Elena and we had a great time with them while visiting Seattle. Our contact was never lost even a week, email and later on Skype made the contact much easier but when the contact was lost I began to worry. Then friends too were worried; It not like him not to reply to email, so I continue to write and got a friend Rita Ho in Seattle to help but to no vial. I look at all his posting in his Blog hoping to find an email of his kids but still there was no email to be found. I then thought of writing to a stranger Blogger who posted comment in his blog. I got an instant reply from blogger Guanaguanare of Trinidad that he too was worried and has lost contact. He like me did a frantically check on the net and then he gave me the URL to the blogger Richernandez; the Sweetlime. Reading it I felt the pang of sadness of the death of Louis but as yet to get a confirmation. Fortunately there was an email address of his daughter in that blog posting. I wrote to her immediately and this is part of her reply
''Regrettably, terribly, it is true that my father passed away on March 16 as a result of a fall he suffered while visiting friends in Arizona. So very unexpected, and all the more tragic an accident because of my mother's passing earlier this year''.
That confirmed. I told the others, among the many this Blogger Ee Lynn and now writing this. Well folk we came and then we go, for that is part of living. Louis was a good man and more than a friend to Asmah and Me and we do miss him dearly. Good-bye my dear friend, May you Rest in Peace. Amen.

[Please click on the relevant URL I posted to read more]

A Beautiful Day...

Woke up to another beautiful day in April and went out to clean the patio. Then sweep the fallen flowers and leaves on the pavement outside. It is normal to see leaves and other rubbish that had fall and left overnight scattered on the pavement. It looks so untidy. Cleaning it is sort of my early morning ritual, to get the front of the house clean. I actually like doing that. While sweeping I hear birds singing and chirping happily as it hops from branch to branch and from tree to tree. It was really nice to see and hear those little birds making it morning melodies. At these early hours I could smell the freshness of the morning air in the cool of the morning. It is already the end of another week in April which is normally quite dry but it looks like the weather has change. It now rain with thunderstorm and lightning in the afternoon. In a way it is good, it adds nitrated to the soil and swept the drains clean and the river nearby swell with freshwater, sort of a general cleaning of the surrounding. Its nature way of recycling the atmosphere and continue giving us a beautiful weather everyday. I finished doing the front of the house and then move on with my other morning ritual. I felt good today and continue to enjoy the freshness of the morning air.

I then went to get some cut apple for the elusive squirrel that frequent my patio; for its morning meal. I place the apple in the usual place in a plate. In a while it would come and enjoy the fruit like it does everyday.

A few days ago the sky above my house was clear with blue sky and I saw a flock of migrating storks flying in formation up above the sky. I went into the house to get my camera and fixed a telephoto lens to it and then went out to get a few snaps of those flying birds. When I went out and try to take a few images of the birds I could not click my camera. On checking my camera I soon realized the memory chip is not in the slot. I then rush again into the house and came back with the memory card in the camera to get as many picture as possible. At that moment in time the birds has gone far away and I could only see it as some small dots in the sky. I waited and hopes that it would return to the front of my house and to my delight it did came back and fly happily. I then took as many shot as possible and above is one of the flying moments that shows the storks in action about the Ampang Jaya sky; a magnificent sight indeed.

Well it does made my day.

Folks have a nice day too. [click the image to enlarge]

Sarawak State Election...

Sarawak goes to the poll on April 16, 2011 to choose their State Assemblyman for the next five years. Please vote with wisdom, for the future of the state is now on your vote. 

Have a nice day.

A Colorful Saturday...

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon so we decide to go window-shop and have dinner. I took the Honda and drove to one of our favorite mall, the GE Mall at Jalan Ampang. An upmarket mall which is not that crowded and there are many restaurants that we could indulge ourselves in foods of our choice. On arrival we found there is a Craft fair at the lobby. I love traditional handicraft and straight away went to browse the many stalls that was setup there. A friend of our youngest daughter was running the Indigenous folks stall. This stall sells genuine craft made by the various indigenous people that live in the jungle all over the country. Their craft especially those intricate mats and woodcarving are unique and I consider it to be the work of art. We end the visit with eventually buying a few pieces of those mat and a few pieces of the woodcraft. The image of one of the Mat I bought is as shown above. It is made by the Semelai an ethnic group of Kg. Bapak, Post Iskandar, Tasek Bera, Pahang. After making the buys we went to have our dinner at the Kopitiam on the third floor. 

After dinner my spouse and our daughter decide to do some shopping and since I had other interest I went to visit the MPH Bookstore. While browsing there I found a book entitled 'A Fading Dream' The Story of Roeslan Abdulgani and Indonesia' which was sold at a seventy percent discount. After having a glimpse of the content I decide to buy it, then went downstairs to have coffee at the O'Brien fast-food kiosk at the lobby level. With that steamy hot coffee by my side I read the book and found that it was sort of a historical book of one of the giant of Indonesia. This book was written by non other than his own daughter Retnowati Abdulgani-Knapp. Actually before reading this book I did not know there was such an important figure in the era of pre independence Indonesia since this man was never in politic in that sense of the word but more been the man of the day in the government. He often act as adviser to those political leaders from Sukarno up till the present Indonesian leaders until his death on June 29, 2005. From what I read this Roeslan Abdulgani is indeed an important man in the history of Indonesia. In a way he was like Ghazali Shafie in the Malaysian political scene. This book gives the insight of the culture of the Indonesia people during the colonial era and the fight for independence of Indonesia. To me finding this book was like finding a new source of the history of Indonesia, a country of 250 millions people, the biggest democracy in this part of the world. I believe that Indonesia would be a country to watch in the coming years and would play a significant role in molding this part of Asia.

Have a nice day. [Please click image to enlarge]

A Bowl of Fruits...

Fruits are part of our daily delight. It is the best source of nutrition for our daily needs. For that there is always a bowl of fruits in our kitchen. Above is a bowl of such fruits. During the fruits season in Malaysia that bowl would be full of tropical fruits. As for now we have imported fruits which are always 'in season' here. Globalization and trade and commerce have made it easy to get imported foods on our table everyday of the year. To keep us healthy especially in our golden years we have changes our diet with less meat but more Fish, Vegetables and Fruits. For meats we would go for white meats only but would still take red meat like beef or mutton at feast but we try to go for white meat if it is possible. We would go for Seafood only on special occasion. At the same time we would take more vegetables or fruits juices to get a balance diets. Been in the golden years we have to be careful of what we eat since our body resistance is not it used to be and the best way to stay health is to enjoy healthy foods.

Have a nice day. [Please click on image to enlarge]