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Monday, April 30, 2012

BERSIH 3.0 [28-4-2012]

Have you ever seen something as majestic as an entire nation, uniting for a common cause? Glimpses of this were seen last Saturday, 28th April 2012 during the BERSIH 3.0 Rally which started from Central Market in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

BERSIH, which means 'Clean' translated from the local Malay language is a play on words, with regards to the Movement's intentions towards the Electoral Commission (EC). There has long been allegations regarding shady practices by the EC (which is elected by the Executive arm of the country, the Ruling Government). It has been claimed that these dodgy practices have sustained a prolonged rule by the existing Government and the situation is getting worse.

In response to this, the voices of the People,or 'Rakyat' have banded together in the form of the BERSIH Movement to encourage and lobby for a fair and transparent Electoral System along with the requisite accountability. BERSIH 3.0 is the third such edition of this show of the People's Voice but changes have yet to be implemented.

The fight for a fair and just electoral system continues...























For those of you who like statistics:
Vital Stats for April: 6 post 96 pics
Vital Stats So Far: 147 posts 5,656 pics

Disclaimer: The views published in the above photoblog are the author's and the author's alone. If readers are not agreeable with the above views, well, you can bugger-off. All rights are reserved for the the photos and/or articles itself. This article may be reproduced with permission for the author or private or public usage, or other forms of general mayhem. Any unauthorized usage of the images and/or article contained therein is expressly prohibited and violators will be prosecuted with the full force of Malaysian law applicable. Thank you for reading this disclaimer.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

My First Visit to Pulau Ketam [11-4-2012]

Welcome to Pulau Ketam! - Sun, sea and err... lots of mud. And fisher-folk.

On this fine 11th day of the fourth month, two thousand and twelve years after Christ himself, following the inauguration of our new King (who incidentally is old enough to be the first Royal to receive this honor more than once in his blessed lifetime) Big Brother has granted the rakyat a public holiday to commemorate this auspicious day. What do Malaysians do on impromtu public holidays? Visit Genting Highlands and/or eat seafood of course! We opted for the latter.

Armed with cameras (approximately 3, not counting the ones on your phones) my sexy self, along with salseros Emily and Arin, and resident salseros Tarek, Randev and Viktoriya, paid a visit to this quaint little island with the hope of catching some sights and eating some seafood.

Our United-Nations-inspired, rag-tag group made the most of our short day trip to Pulau Ketam. As some of you may know, Pulau Ketam is in fact a fishing village located a short boat ride from the Pulau Ketam jetty near Port Klang.The houses in Pulau Ketam are all on stilts given the muddy conditions of the Island, and believe it or not, some of these houses were pretty swanky. We ate seafood there (did you, now?), met some locals, avoided a crazy old man (literally), and took a ride on a boat (two rides to be exact).

Day done! And I've got the pictures to prove it.



"I'll be back... to Pulau Ketam."

The lovely Viktoriya Cantpronounceherlasname.


The main mode of transportation on the Island.
  
Whats the United Nations doing in Pulau Ketam? Seafood you say?

 The ladies strike up a pose, as ladies usually do.

What did you expect we'd get out of the sea? Cows and chickens? 

The lovely ladies ambling on, as ladies often do. 


 L: Imagine living where you backyard is part of the ocean? It's like Maldives all over again.
R: Not a very effective door, until you consider that the narrow walkway is the only way in or out.




Net fixing apparatus.



The scene from the Pulau Ketam Jetty in Port Klang.

 
For those of you who like statistics:
Vital Stats for April: 5 post 76 pics
Vital Stats So Far: 146 posts 5,636 pics

Disclaimer: The views published in the above photoblog are the author's and the author's alone. If readers are not agreeable with the above views, well, you can bugger-off. All rights are reserved for the the photos and/or articles itself. This article may be reproduced with permission for the author or private or public usage, or other forms of general mayhem. Any unauthorized usage of the images and/or article contained therein is expressly prohibited and violators will be prosecuted with the full force of Malaysian law applicable. Thank you for reading this disclaimer.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

No More Tears in Heaven: Lau Chow Weng

There are no more tears in Heaven.

Frankly, there are insufficient words for me to try to express my sadness and remorse for the loss of good people - and one good man in particular, Uncle Chow Weng.

Years past, I was heavily involved in the Youth Ministry at my church, the Chapel of Kristus Aman, during what some of us remember fondly as the 'Golden Age'. My youthful generation, full of ability, pride and arrogance, joined up with an already established, mature and experienced Youth Ministry. What an explosive combination! we quickly esablished ourselves as a crazy and fun organization, with as much dedication to God and a common cause as well as the arrogance and irresponsibility of youth!

During this time we were under the care and guidance of several Youth Co-ordinators, and for an extended period of time, Uncle Lau Chow Weng and Auntie Ivy were our Youth Co-ordinators. This husband-wife pairing was impactful on the youths at the time, in that they were very close to us young 'uns. Their hands-on approach to our well-being as Catholics and young people ensured them a firm place in many of our memories. My fading memory even remembers barbeques at their place in Taman Tun.

Although regret may not be suitable at this point in time, I do regret now that I perhaps did not appreciate them as much as I should have. In fact, I lost contact with them (barring the occassional hellos and small talk when I randomly bumped into them) for a number of years, up until recently when to my utter surprise, they popped up in Sam's studio for a weekend salsa class.

In fact, what wrenches my heartstrings the most is that I saw Uncle Chow Weng and Auntie Ivy only a few months ago at one of the Havana Estudio monthly studio parties. I even took pictures of him dancing. 

I visited Uncle Chow Weng in his home not long after he was released by the hospital. He was determined to live out his remaining moments in the presence of loved ones. His family had already accepted God's will in all this and their strength was incredible. To possess even a fraction of their strength in these extremely trying times is unheard of, save and except for the most exceptional of tales. I went up to Uncle Chow Weng, who was lying in his bed wrapped up in those infernal tubes and wires (how I hate seeing all those damned tubes - reminded me of my dearly beloved Grandma approximately a year ago), and I asked him:

"Uncle, salsa how now?"

His eyes widened and his face instantly broke into a wide grin at the word 'salsa' and he laughed weakly. In a strained, tired whisper he tried to tell me he wanted to dance. I broke down uncontrollably at the sight of that smile. That look will stay with me for a while, I tell you.

I write this article with tears in my eyes, for the loss of a good friend, mentor, father, husband, salsero, and most of all, a good man. With reference to a certain maestro, there will be no more suffering and no more tears in heaven. Uncle Chow Weng, I pray that you find peace in the new life after this wretched one. In a bittersweet way, while us mortals continue to mourn our loss, paradoxically, we will rejoice that you have found your place at His side.

Goodbye, for now, and until we meet again.



 



For those of you who like statistics:
Vital Stats for April: 4 post 48 pics
Vital Stats So Far: 145 posts 5,608 pics

Disclaimer: The views published in the above photoblog are the author's and the author's alone. If readers are not agreeable with the above views, well, you can bugger-off. All rights are reserved for the the photos and/or articles itself. This article may be reproduced with permission for the author or private or public usage, or other forms of general mayhem. Any unauthorized usage of the images and/or article contained therein is expressly prohibited and violators will be prosecuted with the full force of Malaysian law applicable. Thank you for reading this disclaimer.