Hop On Hop Off My City

This year (thanks to my dear friend Ella Basir and the Marine Monkees) I rekindled another love.. photography. Some see photography as an art... some as memories,,, others as weapons of mass destruction on Facebook... but for whatever their reasons I find itself satisfying and therapeutic!! It opens your eyes (and your mind) to seeing life with a totally different view... and it captures emotion like no other medium can... it's true the camera NEVER lies!!

So during bulan puasa people struggle with things to do to keep themselves occupied and their minds off food. After all one of our national pastimes is not possible (eating) leaving only one (shopping) provided you have money. So this weekend, instead of sitting at home and wondering what to eat for buka at 10am in the morning, I decided to take Nadiah and our cameras "jalan-jalan" around Kuala Lumpur with the KL Hop On Hop Off Tour!!


For those who don't know.... we also have a Double Decker Bus Tour for tourist but I would recommend this for anyone with kids or even if you haven't really experienced Kuala Lumpur (and over 40 major attractions) it is a marvelous way to do it within 24 hours and it's cheaper fare for Malaysians!! (http://www.myhoponhopoff.com/)

Now with all the nonsense our country is experiencing thanks to our politicians we forget what our country is all about. Thanks to my jalan-jalan it just reaffirmed my love for my country (apart from providing photographic subject matter). In one day I have visited a temple in Chinatown, the Sri Mahamariamman Temple, the National Mosque and St. Mary's Church apart for all the other sites some of which I did not get off but will another day!!

Ours is a warm, friendly multicultural country with people all wanting the same thing... security, respect and a place to call home. No matter what god we pray to.. no matter what our cultural differences... no matter where we come from... we are MALAYSIAN!! It was the first time Nadiah has seen all this and I was happy for her to experience and rejoice in our differences!!

Once again I am humbled by life. It was one of the most enjoyable Sundays in Kuala Lumpur I've had in a while.... MY Town.... MY Country!!


Originally posted on Facebook Notes on Sunday, September 14, 2008 at 10:05pm

The One Where You Learn About Diving, Education and Life

I'm running for Minister of Tourism... in the space of 2.5 months I have been to Perhentian, Tioman, Redang and Sipadan. Does Malaysia have a loyalty card where I can collect frequent visitor miles.... THEY SHOULD!

In my diving I have learnt something (ok ok so those who read my notes are slapping their forehead and going .... oh God... Jen learnt AGAIN!!!). Hey they're MY NOTES I WRITE WHAT I WANT!! :)

This is what I've learnt :
a) How to appreciate God, Nature and My Life
b) Patience (Good things come to those who wait)
c) The importance of friendship and watching out for them (the buddy system)

d) MALAYSIANS (I love them because I'm one) are lousy at conservation
e) MALAYSIANS (I still love them) have a tidak apa attitude
f) Our education system is CRAP!!
g) LIFE IS TOO SHORT

a) How to appreciate God, Nature and My Life.... When you dive you get to see some of the most beautiful things EVER... both above and underwater.. The best dive sites are beautiful Islands (located right in our backyard here in MALAYSIA). If you live here and you don't dive you're missing out BIG TIME. Foreigners come from far and wide just to dive here... It is here I give thanks that I am ALIVE.



b) Watching underwater photographers at work has shown me how patience pays off. They can wait motionless in one spot for minutes waiting for the subject to strike a pose but when you see their results you understand why they wait..... Good things come.

c) In diving you not only look out for yourself but for your buddy and others. That is a responsibility that all divers take. If you don't one day it could be you in trouble... And then out of water you have a special bond of friendship because you have experience things that some people may never do or see in their lifetime.... Friendship means looking out for each other!

d), e) f) Malaysian are badly educated in all things other than academic (and even that one wonders) we need to understand life is more than 13 A1s. It's about understanding, appreciation and conservation. We are taught nothing of this in school and we expect our future generation to care!!! Throwing rubbish outside, cigarette butts, plastic bags... adults and kids do it alike.... with not a second thought. Our government doesn't give a damn either... dustbins nowhere in sight in public places.... who cares that plastic bags kill, who cares that cigarette butts are non biodegradable.... I can't even begin to start the story and there is NO end in sight... but you know what I mean.....

But all of us can make a difference. Yes, unfortunately leadership IS by example... monkey see monkey do.... You throw tissue out the window, your kids throw tissue out the window..... you teach everyone that it's ok to touch and remove things from the sea, everyone says I saw someone else do it why can't I... When someone bought shells cheaply from a stall and in jest was told, "When The Buying Stops The Killing Will Stop Too"..... the truth hits home. It's true when there is demand there will forever be supply.... Sharks Fin, Tiger Bones, Bear's Paws, Ivory, Shells.....the list is endless.

Apathy is a Malaysian's standard reaction, "Aiya.. it's oklah, nevermind I can't do much anyway.."

Yeah diving made me think of all of this.... LIFE IS TOO SHORT.... we need to do what we can do in our lifetime. Understand, Appreciate and Conserve for others that come after us.... The future is in ALL out hands now it's just a matter of whether we CARE ENOUGH.

Originally posted on Facebook Notes on Friday, July 4, 2008 at 12:51am

Race is a FOUR letter word.....

I come from a multicultural family.

In standard four I argued with my teacher because I wrote Malaysian on my form where race was. She was adamant that Malaysian wasn't a race but I had different ideas!!.... Well it got my parents a one way ticket to the teacher!!

My father was Irish (he came out here to help fight the communists, got stuck here, fell in love with Malaysia and a Malaysian.... gave up his citizenship to be Malaysian and lived and died here happily ever after)... My mother was of mixed parentage half Chinese, half Australian born in Bentong, Pahang also lived and died a Malaysian citizen.

I am a crazy mixed up kid who has converted to Islam (which makes my kids an even crazier mixed up bunch) also a Malaysian citizen. Given the scenario above that qualifies me to be a........ (now let’s see what's available) a) Malay b) Chinese c) Indian d) Punjabi e) Dayak f) Iban g) Mindanao h)Eurasian .... z) Dan Lain.... I WANT TO BE MALAYSIAN!!!

I have a problem with people needing to know my race... what does it matter... I was born and bred here.... studied 100% in Bahasa Malaysia.. speak, read, write the language... love my country... so that makes me MALAYSIAN.

Next time I fill in a form -
RACE : 100 meters
SEX : Yes please

Original posted on Facebook Notes on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 10:35pm