How connected are you with your past? Even though this may sound like a quiz from Blogthings, it is not. This is just one of those things that came to me when I read some blogs. Even after having children of their own, they still keep in touch with childhood friends, friends at primary school, high school and others at the different stages of their life.
Before I went to school, my only friend is my brother. Then I started primary school and have different set of friends at different time but I didn't keep in touch with them after I finish primary school. I wouldn't know how to contact any of them even if I have too.
Then, there are my high school friends. We went through a lot together being in the boarding school. We keep in touch via egroup but most of them are not in the group. If I have to contact anyone of them, I probably could but so far there is no need for me to. Some of us got closer because we went to the same university and some of us would feel like strangers when we meet.
As for my university friends, we keep in touch with egroups too but that is only for friends from the same batch. I have no idea where all my roommates are now. Some of them are in a different faculty and different batch. I'd love to keep in touch with them and see how they were doing but back then email address was a novelty and hand phones were still big and heavy.
After working for few years, I still have the contact number of a few ex colleagues that has become friends but we have not contacted each other very much. That's how things are nowadays. You are just so busy and so tired day in day out.
Apparently, it takes a lot of effort to keep in touch. When I was not busy going outstation or tired from conducting one training after another, I'd often call my friends or went to visit them. This was when I was in my previous job. Most of the time they have the excuse of having young children so they are not as mobile. But then they can visit other married friends and their excuse is their husband can chat with the friend's husband. The truth is, maybe our priorities are different now.
I wouldn't have a clue if they want to discuss about baby formula or kindergarten or PIBG. And they could only listen to my traveling and photography stories. In the end it would fall back to ones effort. It is good to see those who reciprocate my effort come baby or hubby and it makes me appreciate the friendship even more.
We make friends along the way and circumstances draw us apart. I have always accepted that as how things work naturally. That is why when some bloggers wrote about their childhood friend, friends when they're still in diapers, I just felt a big sense of admiration for the bond of friendship they have and managed to keep. It is like a miracle since most of the time I have been disconnected from my past.
Sunflower gives the connotation of cheerfulness, bright, jolly, merry... you get the idea! However, if any content in this blog didn't fit the cheerfulness implied by its name, look at it this way... I'm putting down all the wretchedness, gloom, melancholy feeling in here so I can continue living up to the expectation of making the association to the sunflower.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Rainforest Adventure - In Macro Mode
I stopped many times on my way up Gunung Datuk to catch my breath or wait for my buddy. One good thing about not rushing to reach the top is we noticed a lot of things along the trail. I also just gotten the hang of using my manual focus and macro mode in my camera. So here are some photos that turned out quite well. Some still not very sharp... I need lots more practice.
Don't ask me what they are. But they're beautiful aren't they?
Earlier post: Rainforest Adventure
Don't ask me what they are. But they're beautiful aren't they?
Earlier post: Rainforest Adventure
Rainforest Adventure
Yesterday, all our 11 vehicles that carry about 50 people reached the base camp at Gunung Datuk at slightly past 10 a.m. Initially I felt like this is such a huge group to be really enjoying our climb up to the mountain. Later I found out the mountain is big enough to welcome everyone as its guest. After the short briefing by the guy at the camp, we begin our journey. We are advised to have a buddy who'll watch out for each other along the way. My buddy is a lady who is more than 10 years senior from me. I normally go on trips with her. There are also many other senior participants in our group.
The thick forest becomes a canopy shielding us from the hot sun and light rain.
I shouldn't have taken nasi lemak for breakfast. The sambal was really nice but it's giving me heartburn during my climb. I slept at 3 a.m. for two days in a row. I hope this will not affect me in any way. After about 100 meters or so, those with better stamina got far ahead and the path was not as crowded anymore. Gunung Datuk is a relatively easy climb for most people but very, very difficult for me. What do I expect? It's not like I have been keeping myself fit. I envy watching those more senior than I am so nimble on the track.
It's cloudy so we probably couldn't see a good view on top of the mountain.
We were among the last in the group and everyone gave each other encouragements to keep going. Every time we see a bright skyline, we thought we're there already but after climbing up some more, we saw more trees and more trail. When are we ever going to reach the 884m peak? Thick dense and dark forest, bright skyline, thick dense and dark forest, bright skyline... felt like we're on the journey of the never-ending steep trail. Half way up, the trail wasn't as steep anymore and the climb gets easier.
Waiting for my turn to climb up in the mist.
My buddy commented that I should have taken a better care of my health. Working so hard for the company for what? Sometimes I couldn't go on some trips with her because I have weekend training or traveling outstation on Sunday. She said my company should compensate me for taking away my social life hehehe... How I wish they’d do that. She also give useful advice on how I can choose to retire maybe at 40 or 45 and then just do whatever I want to do. She's hoping I can go travel to Europe with her but I told her economically, I'm not there yet. For now, it'll be Cuti-cuti Malaysia for me. Nearby Asian countries may be but since she has traveled to most of the places, I have to wait for when Ben can go with me.
In the mist, I can only see nearby boulders and trees.
People say this is Hang Tuah's foot print. The other side is at Tanjung Tuan.
The weather was cloudy from KL all the way to Rembau so we probably wouldn't see very far when we reach the top. It drizzled for a few minutes as we're about to reach the top and then it stopped. That brings the mist down. We finally reached the top at 15 minutes to two and since we're the last to arrive, quickly eat our lunch and climb the big boulder to see whatever we can see on top which was nothing. My buddy decided not to climb up further. Watching some people having difficulty climbing up and down the ladder, I felt very proud of myself for being able to climb the steep ladder up and down without much problem. We have to celebrate our every little personal victory and be thankful that we're capable of doing things that we'd otherwise take for granted.
Waiting for my turn to climb down. Lucky for me, my feet and hand were not shaking throughout the journey.
Immediately after I get down from the boulder, my buddy is ready to make a move. It drizzled again on our way down but the thick forest canopy protects us from the rain. Going down was very much easier especially half way from top since the trek is not so steep. At times, I felt like speed walking down the mountain. A group of youngsters managed to catch up with us and we let them pass. I was also annoyed because they're listening to music probably from the handphone because the quality of the sound is like the AM/FM radio without a good speaker. I go into the jungle to get peace and quiet and listen to the natural sound but ended up having to listen to their music. I think using a headphone would be more considerate if they want to listen to music.
The misty jungle.
Anyway, not long after they passed us, the rain gets heavier. I wear my poncho but I wish I had worn my hat inside. With just the poncho covering my head, my face and spec gets wet. This is one of those time I felt wearing a spec is such a nuisance. Earlier, it slipped all the time due to my sweaty face and now I need a wiper to see clearly in the rain.
After raining for a while, I felt like we're walking down a muddy river. All the water flows down on the trek and in some places, we have to use the rope a la commando to get down because the trek get so slippery. Even though my poncho is long, I still get wet pants down because in some places I have to sit and slide down carefully. This time I get ahead of my buddy and I have to keep on moving before I get any muscle cramp or worse, asthma attack. I know she's safe with the sweeper's help since once of the sweeper advised me to keep moving.
The mountain has a 45 degree steepness. The trail looks like the trail that never ends. Imagine muddy water going down all these natural steps like a river and we have to use the same way to go down the mountain. I dare not take out my camera once it started raining heavily.
Towards the end of the trail, I was walking alone and has to stop many times to ensure I'm on the right trail, looking for those red and white plastic tied to some branches as a guide. At one point I really couldn't see that plastic and waited for the sweeper but luckily a few people climb up in the rain so I go down the way they came. It is nice meeting people on the way, sometimes we just say Hi and sometimes we stopped to chitchat for a while.
On our way up, the famous question when we meet people on the way down is how much further. Distance is very relative actually and some say 15 minutes, another would say half an hour and some other would say 'jauh lagi'. Aduhaiii... It is easier coming down anyway and on my way down, if people ask the same question, I couldn't really tell also. Anyway, on my way down I just smile at them and say Hi and Bye to some. Nobody asked how much further. Quite a number of people wanted to camp on top of the mountain even in the rain.
After I reached the base camp, I waited for my buddy. Not that I can do anything without her because I car-pool in her car and she's keeping the key. My spare clothes were in the car. More and more people come out from the jungle and still I couldn't see her. She's the last one to come out and our sweeper-coordinator is with her. She said she got stiff knee but still can drive back. There's a toilet for us to take bath and this is the second consecutive weekend already I took a bath in a public toilet :) Lucky for me there’s no leeches on me. My buddy has 1 still stuck on her leg and another bloody spot where the leech was gone. Our coordinator said we got our money's worth since we went into the rainforest and get the rain and the forest hehehe...
By the way, I was using a new shoe that I bought more than a year ago but never wear them. The shoe from my caving adventure is still in the pail. Even though it is a muddy trail down but my shoe is not very dirty. Just wet. Probably because the muddy water is flowing and not a thick, stagnant mud like in the cave. Now I have two dirty shoes instead of one. Sigh! That is one thing I dislike about trips like this. All the wet and dirty clothes.
My body aches all over the places and I rub on deep heating rub before I drive back. It would be nice to have a hot tom yam soup after being in the rain but wearing my hotel slipper again, I'm too lazy to come down. I ended up having McD chicken porridge for dinner because there's a drive-thru counter. I went for my massage session this morning. All my veins are tight, I’d scream if the lady massage too hard. She didn’t dare force it too. I’m walking like an old lady right now. It would probably take two to three days before I feel OK.
Somebody has taken a video on top of the mountain, you can view it here. I found a blog with photos on top of the mountain when it is not misty here. Maybe one day I'd climb this mountain again and hopefully I can get clear view as far as my eyes can see.
The thick forest becomes a canopy shielding us from the hot sun and light rain.
I shouldn't have taken nasi lemak for breakfast. The sambal was really nice but it's giving me heartburn during my climb. I slept at 3 a.m. for two days in a row. I hope this will not affect me in any way. After about 100 meters or so, those with better stamina got far ahead and the path was not as crowded anymore. Gunung Datuk is a relatively easy climb for most people but very, very difficult for me. What do I expect? It's not like I have been keeping myself fit. I envy watching those more senior than I am so nimble on the track.
It's cloudy so we probably couldn't see a good view on top of the mountain.
We were among the last in the group and everyone gave each other encouragements to keep going. Every time we see a bright skyline, we thought we're there already but after climbing up some more, we saw more trees and more trail. When are we ever going to reach the 884m peak? Thick dense and dark forest, bright skyline, thick dense and dark forest, bright skyline... felt like we're on the journey of the never-ending steep trail. Half way up, the trail wasn't as steep anymore and the climb gets easier.
Waiting for my turn to climb up in the mist.
My buddy commented that I should have taken a better care of my health. Working so hard for the company for what? Sometimes I couldn't go on some trips with her because I have weekend training or traveling outstation on Sunday. She said my company should compensate me for taking away my social life hehehe... How I wish they’d do that. She also give useful advice on how I can choose to retire maybe at 40 or 45 and then just do whatever I want to do. She's hoping I can go travel to Europe with her but I told her economically, I'm not there yet. For now, it'll be Cuti-cuti Malaysia for me. Nearby Asian countries may be but since she has traveled to most of the places, I have to wait for when Ben can go with me.
In the mist, I can only see nearby boulders and trees.
People say this is Hang Tuah's foot print. The other side is at Tanjung Tuan.
The weather was cloudy from KL all the way to Rembau so we probably wouldn't see very far when we reach the top. It drizzled for a few minutes as we're about to reach the top and then it stopped. That brings the mist down. We finally reached the top at 15 minutes to two and since we're the last to arrive, quickly eat our lunch and climb the big boulder to see whatever we can see on top which was nothing. My buddy decided not to climb up further. Watching some people having difficulty climbing up and down the ladder, I felt very proud of myself for being able to climb the steep ladder up and down without much problem. We have to celebrate our every little personal victory and be thankful that we're capable of doing things that we'd otherwise take for granted.
Waiting for my turn to climb down. Lucky for me, my feet and hand were not shaking throughout the journey.
Immediately after I get down from the boulder, my buddy is ready to make a move. It drizzled again on our way down but the thick forest canopy protects us from the rain. Going down was very much easier especially half way from top since the trek is not so steep. At times, I felt like speed walking down the mountain. A group of youngsters managed to catch up with us and we let them pass. I was also annoyed because they're listening to music probably from the handphone because the quality of the sound is like the AM/FM radio without a good speaker. I go into the jungle to get peace and quiet and listen to the natural sound but ended up having to listen to their music. I think using a headphone would be more considerate if they want to listen to music.
The misty jungle.
Anyway, not long after they passed us, the rain gets heavier. I wear my poncho but I wish I had worn my hat inside. With just the poncho covering my head, my face and spec gets wet. This is one of those time I felt wearing a spec is such a nuisance. Earlier, it slipped all the time due to my sweaty face and now I need a wiper to see clearly in the rain.
After raining for a while, I felt like we're walking down a muddy river. All the water flows down on the trek and in some places, we have to use the rope a la commando to get down because the trek get so slippery. Even though my poncho is long, I still get wet pants down because in some places I have to sit and slide down carefully. This time I get ahead of my buddy and I have to keep on moving before I get any muscle cramp or worse, asthma attack. I know she's safe with the sweeper's help since once of the sweeper advised me to keep moving.
The mountain has a 45 degree steepness. The trail looks like the trail that never ends. Imagine muddy water going down all these natural steps like a river and we have to use the same way to go down the mountain. I dare not take out my camera once it started raining heavily.
Towards the end of the trail, I was walking alone and has to stop many times to ensure I'm on the right trail, looking for those red and white plastic tied to some branches as a guide. At one point I really couldn't see that plastic and waited for the sweeper but luckily a few people climb up in the rain so I go down the way they came. It is nice meeting people on the way, sometimes we just say Hi and sometimes we stopped to chitchat for a while.
On our way up, the famous question when we meet people on the way down is how much further. Distance is very relative actually and some say 15 minutes, another would say half an hour and some other would say 'jauh lagi'. Aduhaiii... It is easier coming down anyway and on my way down, if people ask the same question, I couldn't really tell also. Anyway, on my way down I just smile at them and say Hi and Bye to some. Nobody asked how much further. Quite a number of people wanted to camp on top of the mountain even in the rain.
After I reached the base camp, I waited for my buddy. Not that I can do anything without her because I car-pool in her car and she's keeping the key. My spare clothes were in the car. More and more people come out from the jungle and still I couldn't see her. She's the last one to come out and our sweeper-coordinator is with her. She said she got stiff knee but still can drive back. There's a toilet for us to take bath and this is the second consecutive weekend already I took a bath in a public toilet :) Lucky for me there’s no leeches on me. My buddy has 1 still stuck on her leg and another bloody spot where the leech was gone. Our coordinator said we got our money's worth since we went into the rainforest and get the rain and the forest hehehe...
By the way, I was using a new shoe that I bought more than a year ago but never wear them. The shoe from my caving adventure is still in the pail. Even though it is a muddy trail down but my shoe is not very dirty. Just wet. Probably because the muddy water is flowing and not a thick, stagnant mud like in the cave. Now I have two dirty shoes instead of one. Sigh! That is one thing I dislike about trips like this. All the wet and dirty clothes.
My body aches all over the places and I rub on deep heating rub before I drive back. It would be nice to have a hot tom yam soup after being in the rain but wearing my hotel slipper again, I'm too lazy to come down. I ended up having McD chicken porridge for dinner because there's a drive-thru counter. I went for my massage session this morning. All my veins are tight, I’d scream if the lady massage too hard. She didn’t dare force it too. I’m walking like an old lady right now. It would probably take two to three days before I feel OK.
Somebody has taken a video on top of the mountain, you can view it here. I found a blog with photos on top of the mountain when it is not misty here. Maybe one day I'd climb this mountain again and hopefully I can get clear view as far as my eyes can see.
The 33rd Birthday
Today's my birthday. 33 is a nice number isn't it? When I was a teenager, 33 sounds ancient but here I am rejoicing the feeling that I've reached another milestone in my life. I've passed all the hardship, difficulties and obstacles life has thrown at me the best way I can.
This year I have a major loss in my life that I'm not ready to talk about. I also found love. Probably I can't have it all. I don't know... but just like in the past, I'll get through this one day at a time.
What's the meaning of my life in this world? I have to evaluate the direction I'm going to take in my career, family, personal life... piece by piece, hopefully things will make sense. There is still a long journey ahead of me. I wish for good health, ever-lasting love, independence and strength to go through it all.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
The Dark Cave Adventure II
More photos...
Other people as dirty as I am...
Group photo in the cave.
Group photo at the cave entrance. Notice any handsome guide ? ;)
Other people as dirty as I am...
Group photo in the cave.
Group photo at the cave entrance. Notice any handsome guide ? ;)
Sunday, July 15, 2007
The Dark Cave Adventure
This is the first real cave adventure for me and the other 19 people. Several members of MNS caving group accompanied us. After seeing this cave, the cave we went at Temenggor Lake was nothing at all. This is also my first trip to Batu Caves. I have passed the area countless times but since it seems just around the corner, there is no urgency to visit and have a look around the area.
If you look at the top left of the picture, there's a white hut. We followed that route to go to the Dark Caves. It was somewhere at the 204th staircase of the Batu Caves.
One of the monkey greeting us as we climb up.
The entrance to the Dark Caves from inside.
We were first introduced to the food chain in the caves. Cockroaches seem to love the guano. Our guide picked up a handful of guano and we can see many small cockroaches in it. We also saw a few long-legged centipedes moving very fast along our path. We were warned to be careful as the centipede can bite. The guide told us it is long-legged because it was dark in the cave and they need their long legs to feel their way around. I can hear the sound of bats all around me.
One of the live stalagmites.
If you look carefully, you can see so many animals from this formation.
A small pool formed around the rock formation.
There are many interesting looking stalactites and stalagmites along the way. Now I know there are live and dead ones. The live rock formation is the stalactites and stalagmites that are still forming. If you have problem remembering which one is at the top and which one is at the bottom, look at the spelling. StalagMites have M in it, same as bottoM. Some formation even sparkled like diamonds.
Here's a stalactite that looks like fish fin.
Layers of fish fins
It took about 80 years to form 1 inch of straw. When it is still forming, the tip looks like glass.
We had a very interesting blind man experience when our guide asked everyone to switch off all light sources. It was pitch black we couldn't even see our hands in front of us. It is not the same when you close your eyes to pretend your blind. In this experience, no matter how wide we open our eyes we still couldn't see. And when everyone is quiet, we can hear the sound of water dripping very slowly. Just imagine if we're alone with no lights at all, I have no idea how we're going to get out from the cave.
We then gather at a place where I normally see in photographs of Batu Caves (see below). The pictures I took couldn't do justice to the real deal. You just have to go and see it for yourselves. The huge caves, the interesting looking formation and the whole experience. But please don't follow the guide available at the entrance. Their trip is really tame as compared to the one organized by MNS. That one is for tourist and most of them are not prepared for the real caving experience. I saw one tourist going in with a skirt. It is OK lah for them to have the first taste of the dark caves experience.
We have to leave most of our things here for the real adventure.
Fancy going in there?
We saw a big 3 feet snake as we're about to enter the area where the real caving experience begins. It was white with some interesting patterns on it. Really beautiful. I was only about 2 meters away from it. Somebody mentioned its name but I can't hear clearly. I wish I had brought my camera along.
The real adventure starts when we have to go down on all four to move in the cave and in some places, we have to be on our belly, moving by pushing with our toes or wiggling our body forward. I don't know what to expect so of all my trips, I have to wear my V-neck t-shirt this time. When we wiggle forward, our neckline will be pushed down and the mud will get in your body and your bra. We also have to remember to straighten our clothes when we reached a bigger place where we can crawl, sit or stand or everyone will enjoy the free show in the dark caves hehehe... No wonder they asked us to leave everything behind. Not even my pouch (hence no photo) and some participants even have to take off her belt or else she can't move. Our guides were wearing overalls.
Somebody has to mention he found glowworms when I'm on my belly and in water trying to wiggle my way through. Yikes!!! I later found out the glow worms is really tiny and attaches itself to the cave wall. It's not better but wasn't as scary as long as it is not in the water. The slithering and wiggling was really fun. The experience will be different if you don't know what you'll find at the other end of course. We're lucky to be here just to enjoy the experience. Then we have to climb (imagine doing rock climbing) and slide down, and climb some more. We were really, really dirty.
On our way out, we were told to be quiet by one of the tourist guide as the National Geographic is filming in the cave. We passed by the National Geographic group. What a coincidence as I did wonder how did the National Geographic and those doing nature documentaries bring all their equipment along the really, really narrow passages. We tried to be quite but the sound of our footsteps stomping on the ground really echoed in the cave. I guess they have to re-take after all.
I should have taken a before picture but I never thought about it. Anyway, this is my after picture. My pants original color is beige and the edge of my t-shirt is cream. All has turned to dirty muddy brown. I wonder whether it will turn back to its original color after soaking and washing. It was raining when we got out from the cave and since we're already dirty, we just walk down the staircase in the rain. But it is not heavy enough to wash off mud from our clothes and shoes.
I brought spare clothes in my car and we can bathe at the toilet below. There is no way I can drive back without dirtying my car if I didn't change. Everyone seeking shelter at the bottom looked at us curiously. Where on earth have we been too? We just smile at them. The guy taking care of the toilet will not let us in with our dirty shoes. Luckily I have changed to one of those hotel slippers, walking from my car across to the toilet as if I owned the place hehehe... I don't want to dirty my spare shoes. The road was wet with puddles of water everywhere.
The toilet is big and clean. I soaped twice, trying to get rid of the mud all over me. The cool water felt so refreshing I don't feel like going out but I got hungry already. It's about 3 p.m. when I shower and my last meal was breakfast at 10.00. Then I discover I forgot to bring towel. Oh shoot! Luckily I have tissue papers so dab dab dab with some tissue papers. I have to use lots and lots of tissue papers. Alaaa... lebih kurang jer lah and after wearing my clothes, I tried to wash the dirty clothes, get rid of the mud as much as I can. Tough luck.
Now all the dirty clothes are in the pail with lots of soap and some bleach. I hope it can be cleaned. The next time I go caving, I'll wear overalls and boots.
I then realize my feet felt like jelly and shaking. I sat in the car for a while before I started driving. I finally felt the after effect of all that climbing but I'm not going to change the experience for anything. I must put lots and lots of deep heating rub tonight before I go to sleep. Tomorrow I have to conduct half-day training. Luckily it's only half day.
One of the thing I wish is not there is the graffiti all over the wall. Even at places where you have to crawl on your belly and climb so high. Luckily now people are not allowed to enter the area without guide. You're also not supposed to touch the rock formation and you must mind your step so as not to disturb the natural environment in the cave. I hope more and more people will appreciate our natural heritage.
If you look at the top left of the picture, there's a white hut. We followed that route to go to the Dark Caves. It was somewhere at the 204th staircase of the Batu Caves.
One of the monkey greeting us as we climb up.
The entrance to the Dark Caves from inside.
We were first introduced to the food chain in the caves. Cockroaches seem to love the guano. Our guide picked up a handful of guano and we can see many small cockroaches in it. We also saw a few long-legged centipedes moving very fast along our path. We were warned to be careful as the centipede can bite. The guide told us it is long-legged because it was dark in the cave and they need their long legs to feel their way around. I can hear the sound of bats all around me.
One of the live stalagmites.
If you look carefully, you can see so many animals from this formation.
A small pool formed around the rock formation.
There are many interesting looking stalactites and stalagmites along the way. Now I know there are live and dead ones. The live rock formation is the stalactites and stalagmites that are still forming. If you have problem remembering which one is at the top and which one is at the bottom, look at the spelling. StalagMites have M in it, same as bottoM. Some formation even sparkled like diamonds.
Here's a stalactite that looks like fish fin.
Layers of fish fins
It took about 80 years to form 1 inch of straw. When it is still forming, the tip looks like glass.
We had a very interesting blind man experience when our guide asked everyone to switch off all light sources. It was pitch black we couldn't even see our hands in front of us. It is not the same when you close your eyes to pretend your blind. In this experience, no matter how wide we open our eyes we still couldn't see. And when everyone is quiet, we can hear the sound of water dripping very slowly. Just imagine if we're alone with no lights at all, I have no idea how we're going to get out from the cave.
We then gather at a place where I normally see in photographs of Batu Caves (see below). The pictures I took couldn't do justice to the real deal. You just have to go and see it for yourselves. The huge caves, the interesting looking formation and the whole experience. But please don't follow the guide available at the entrance. Their trip is really tame as compared to the one organized by MNS. That one is for tourist and most of them are not prepared for the real caving experience. I saw one tourist going in with a skirt. It is OK lah for them to have the first taste of the dark caves experience.
We have to leave most of our things here for the real adventure.
Fancy going in there?
We saw a big 3 feet snake as we're about to enter the area where the real caving experience begins. It was white with some interesting patterns on it. Really beautiful. I was only about 2 meters away from it. Somebody mentioned its name but I can't hear clearly. I wish I had brought my camera along.
The real adventure starts when we have to go down on all four to move in the cave and in some places, we have to be on our belly, moving by pushing with our toes or wiggling our body forward. I don't know what to expect so of all my trips, I have to wear my V-neck t-shirt this time. When we wiggle forward, our neckline will be pushed down and the mud will get in your body and your bra. We also have to remember to straighten our clothes when we reached a bigger place where we can crawl, sit or stand or everyone will enjoy the free show in the dark caves hehehe... No wonder they asked us to leave everything behind. Not even my pouch (hence no photo) and some participants even have to take off her belt or else she can't move. Our guides were wearing overalls.
Somebody has to mention he found glowworms when I'm on my belly and in water trying to wiggle my way through. Yikes!!! I later found out the glow worms is really tiny and attaches itself to the cave wall. It's not better but wasn't as scary as long as it is not in the water. The slithering and wiggling was really fun. The experience will be different if you don't know what you'll find at the other end of course. We're lucky to be here just to enjoy the experience. Then we have to climb (imagine doing rock climbing) and slide down, and climb some more. We were really, really dirty.
On our way out, we were told to be quiet by one of the tourist guide as the National Geographic is filming in the cave. We passed by the National Geographic group. What a coincidence as I did wonder how did the National Geographic and those doing nature documentaries bring all their equipment along the really, really narrow passages. We tried to be quite but the sound of our footsteps stomping on the ground really echoed in the cave. I guess they have to re-take after all.
I should have taken a before picture but I never thought about it. Anyway, this is my after picture. My pants original color is beige and the edge of my t-shirt is cream. All has turned to dirty muddy brown. I wonder whether it will turn back to its original color after soaking and washing. It was raining when we got out from the cave and since we're already dirty, we just walk down the staircase in the rain. But it is not heavy enough to wash off mud from our clothes and shoes.
I brought spare clothes in my car and we can bathe at the toilet below. There is no way I can drive back without dirtying my car if I didn't change. Everyone seeking shelter at the bottom looked at us curiously. Where on earth have we been too? We just smile at them. The guy taking care of the toilet will not let us in with our dirty shoes. Luckily I have changed to one of those hotel slippers, walking from my car across to the toilet as if I owned the place hehehe... I don't want to dirty my spare shoes. The road was wet with puddles of water everywhere.
The toilet is big and clean. I soaped twice, trying to get rid of the mud all over me. The cool water felt so refreshing I don't feel like going out but I got hungry already. It's about 3 p.m. when I shower and my last meal was breakfast at 10.00. Then I discover I forgot to bring towel. Oh shoot! Luckily I have tissue papers so dab dab dab with some tissue papers. I have to use lots and lots of tissue papers. Alaaa... lebih kurang jer lah and after wearing my clothes, I tried to wash the dirty clothes, get rid of the mud as much as I can. Tough luck.
Now all the dirty clothes are in the pail with lots of soap and some bleach. I hope it can be cleaned. The next time I go caving, I'll wear overalls and boots.
I then realize my feet felt like jelly and shaking. I sat in the car for a while before I started driving. I finally felt the after effect of all that climbing but I'm not going to change the experience for anything. I must put lots and lots of deep heating rub tonight before I go to sleep. Tomorrow I have to conduct half-day training. Luckily it's only half day.
One of the thing I wish is not there is the graffiti all over the wall. Even at places where you have to crawl on your belly and climb so high. Luckily now people are not allowed to enter the area without guide. You're also not supposed to touch the rock formation and you must mind your step so as not to disturb the natural environment in the cave. I hope more and more people will appreciate our natural heritage.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Important, Not Urgent
I've read Stephen Covey's "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" and "First Things First" a long time ago. They're good books but after you close the book, depending on the individual, there will be a varying degree to the length of time where you'll forget about what you've read. Especially so if it is not applied in our daily life. I just heard an audio book about time management yesterday and Covey's 4 Quadrant was repeated in it.
Q1 - Important and Urgent
Q2 - Important but Not Urgent
Q3 - Not Important but Urgent
Q4 - Not Important and Not Urgent
It's good to have this refresher after like more than 10 years. Even though the idea may appear every now and then in articles, blogs, etc., but sometimes it didn't hit you very much. You did not appreciate it as much as you should. This time it did. Probably listening and reading is different. I have been told I'm an auditory person before though I believe I'm a combination depending on the situation. Anyway, that is a different story.
In the book, it was said that most people would tackle Q1 and Q3 and delaying Q2 if it is necessary. An example of Q1 could be a deadline at work. You have to rush for the deadline or you'll loose your job or that client or that contract. Q3 is those annoying ringing of the phone that will go on and on until you picked it up. It could be unimportant but it is urgent or you'll throw that da*n phone on the wall. Isn't it sad to know that most of us would put on hold things important to us just because they are not urgent? Our family, our loved ones, our health, our personal goals, future plans... just because we think our family will always be there, our loved ones would understand and we'll hopefully be healthy always. We'll take care of those plans and goals later when we have more time.
What if we suddenly loose a family member before we get the chance to see them one more time? What if we loose a family member before we can fulfill our promise? What if our loved ones left us or become distant? What if our health showed us the outcome of all that excuses of not exercising or have proper diet? What if we never have time for those plans and goals?
Covey notes in his book that a highly effective people make time for Q2. Learn to prioritize so we have time for Q2. I know it is easier said than done but I don't want to wake up one day with regrets and started thinking about the 'What ifs'. What if I have done things differently? I'm always reminded of 9/11 when we talk about urgency and importance. The men and women in business suits or other work attire, going through the day handling the urgent and important and not important but urgent tasks. After the event, for those who survive, I'm sure all they think about are those in Q2.
If we think we can delay 'balik kampung' to meet our parent(s) because of that urgent and important meeting, why is it that meeting becomes not urgent and important anymore if our parent(s) passed away. Why do we have the perfect excuse to 'balik kampung' after someone died? Why do we finally able to make the time to see a dead body instead of enjoying the time when they are alive? Of course this is an extreme example. There are many other scenarios if we think about it carefully. I've been in Q1 and Q3 myself and will still have to handle these quadrants. But nowadays I try to make some time for Q2 as much as possible. Doing things alone if I have to... like going into the jungle :) I can't afford to wait for the right time and the right moment with the right company. I may not have the time.
Q1 - Important and Urgent
Q2 - Important but Not Urgent
Q3 - Not Important but Urgent
Q4 - Not Important and Not Urgent
It's good to have this refresher after like more than 10 years. Even though the idea may appear every now and then in articles, blogs, etc., but sometimes it didn't hit you very much. You did not appreciate it as much as you should. This time it did. Probably listening and reading is different. I have been told I'm an auditory person before though I believe I'm a combination depending on the situation. Anyway, that is a different story.
In the book, it was said that most people would tackle Q1 and Q3 and delaying Q2 if it is necessary. An example of Q1 could be a deadline at work. You have to rush for the deadline or you'll loose your job or that client or that contract. Q3 is those annoying ringing of the phone that will go on and on until you picked it up. It could be unimportant but it is urgent or you'll throw that da*n phone on the wall. Isn't it sad to know that most of us would put on hold things important to us just because they are not urgent? Our family, our loved ones, our health, our personal goals, future plans... just because we think our family will always be there, our loved ones would understand and we'll hopefully be healthy always. We'll take care of those plans and goals later when we have more time.
What if we suddenly loose a family member before we get the chance to see them one more time? What if we loose a family member before we can fulfill our promise? What if our loved ones left us or become distant? What if our health showed us the outcome of all that excuses of not exercising or have proper diet? What if we never have time for those plans and goals?
Covey notes in his book that a highly effective people make time for Q2. Learn to prioritize so we have time for Q2. I know it is easier said than done but I don't want to wake up one day with regrets and started thinking about the 'What ifs'. What if I have done things differently? I'm always reminded of 9/11 when we talk about urgency and importance. The men and women in business suits or other work attire, going through the day handling the urgent and important and not important but urgent tasks. After the event, for those who survive, I'm sure all they think about are those in Q2.
If we think we can delay 'balik kampung' to meet our parent(s) because of that urgent and important meeting, why is it that meeting becomes not urgent and important anymore if our parent(s) passed away. Why do we have the perfect excuse to 'balik kampung' after someone died? Why do we finally able to make the time to see a dead body instead of enjoying the time when they are alive? Of course this is an extreme example. There are many other scenarios if we think about it carefully. I've been in Q1 and Q3 myself and will still have to handle these quadrants. But nowadays I try to make some time for Q2 as much as possible. Doing things alone if I have to... like going into the jungle :) I can't afford to wait for the right time and the right moment with the right company. I may not have the time.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Found A Jungle
Our department program is postponed to an unknown date so this weekend, I can have my weekend to myself. I have not gone on a nature walk or jungle trekking for quite some time already. I miss the rustle of dried leaves when you step on it, the refreshing breeze that manages to get through the dense leaves, the smell of the leaves and flowers, the humid air, the cool stream if any, the sound of the jungle insects and the birds.
The entrance to the park.
I could go to FRIM in Kepong, Bukit Gasing or Kota Damansara Forest Park for a short jungle walk but it would take 20-30 minutes to get to those location. Another 20-30 minutes to get back and I feel like I have loads of things to do at home including going out with Ben later. Blogging is not in the initial plan but I feel like I have to blog about a jungle I found :) So I choose the nearest place. The walking trail at my township where I know there's 2-3 forest parks but I've never been to any one of them. The reason... this township is not the safest place in town. There have been several cases that appears in the prime time news. I have asked my brother to accompany me before but he's not into jungle trekking.
The man-made path.
Anyway, I really needed the walk so I'm going to walk at the open jogging path and go into one of the forest park if it looks safe. After about 10 minutes walking along the path where off and on you'll get the wafts of an unpleasant smell from the drain just beside it, I decided to go into the park. I saw a security guard resting at one of the benches just as I enter the area. I had a bad dream last night and we can't trust those in the security guard uniforms these days. But I must see what's in the park. I saw man made trails that look very inviting but nobody uses it. Other than the security guard, the place looks deserted. There are many people at the open jogging path but none in the park.
I decided that I'm going to do this once and for all. Bad dream or no bad dream. With handphone in hand to take the photos in the park, I walked as fast as I can. One, so I'll sweat. Two, anything suspicious I'm going to run and hide behind trees somewhere and call somebody. The place looks well kept. There's no fallen trees on the trail. I heard birds chirping, there's no one in sight. I still walk faster whenever I heard something moves. Who knows what kind of animal could be hiding in the few and small available jungle in town.
A liana.
I did not get the smell of fresh leaves and flowers as I was walking on the man-made trail and not on the dried leaves but I'm quite contented even though the area can be covered in only 10 minutes if you walk as fast as I did. I could try this again some time. Its true what people say that you'll go and explore other places but your own backyard :) As I get out from the park, I still see a lot of people jogging. Then I walked to the area where a lot of people sells breakfast and bought a fried rice for myself. I drove around with my windows down for a while and look at people walking, talking, waiting for the bus, I'm happy to see these morning activities. I have a weekend!!! :)
Dried leaves that make a nice pattern on the trek.
Related post: No Weekend
The entrance to the park.
I could go to FRIM in Kepong, Bukit Gasing or Kota Damansara Forest Park for a short jungle walk but it would take 20-30 minutes to get to those location. Another 20-30 minutes to get back and I feel like I have loads of things to do at home including going out with Ben later. Blogging is not in the initial plan but I feel like I have to blog about a jungle I found :) So I choose the nearest place. The walking trail at my township where I know there's 2-3 forest parks but I've never been to any one of them. The reason... this township is not the safest place in town. There have been several cases that appears in the prime time news. I have asked my brother to accompany me before but he's not into jungle trekking.
The man-made path.
Anyway, I really needed the walk so I'm going to walk at the open jogging path and go into one of the forest park if it looks safe. After about 10 minutes walking along the path where off and on you'll get the wafts of an unpleasant smell from the drain just beside it, I decided to go into the park. I saw a security guard resting at one of the benches just as I enter the area. I had a bad dream last night and we can't trust those in the security guard uniforms these days. But I must see what's in the park. I saw man made trails that look very inviting but nobody uses it. Other than the security guard, the place looks deserted. There are many people at the open jogging path but none in the park.
I decided that I'm going to do this once and for all. Bad dream or no bad dream. With handphone in hand to take the photos in the park, I walked as fast as I can. One, so I'll sweat. Two, anything suspicious I'm going to run and hide behind trees somewhere and call somebody. The place looks well kept. There's no fallen trees on the trail. I heard birds chirping, there's no one in sight. I still walk faster whenever I heard something moves. Who knows what kind of animal could be hiding in the few and small available jungle in town.
A liana.
I did not get the smell of fresh leaves and flowers as I was walking on the man-made trail and not on the dried leaves but I'm quite contented even though the area can be covered in only 10 minutes if you walk as fast as I did. I could try this again some time. Its true what people say that you'll go and explore other places but your own backyard :) As I get out from the park, I still see a lot of people jogging. Then I walked to the area where a lot of people sells breakfast and bought a fried rice for myself. I drove around with my windows down for a while and look at people walking, talking, waiting for the bus, I'm happy to see these morning activities. I have a weekend!!! :)
Dried leaves that make a nice pattern on the trek.
Related post: No Weekend
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Sinful Indulgence
I speak too soon about declaring myself off ice in my food. How can I resist this? Yummy... I love coconut and yam flavored ice cream. To combine the two is totally irresistible. Ooohhh... the milky taste of the ice-cream, sprinkled with pounded peanuts or almond, sedaapppp!!!
The outcome of this sinful indulgence..... I'm suffering now. My whole body is aching and feeling so miserable. It was indescribable. Its like nothing I can do to make myself feel comfortable. Duduk salah, berdiri salah, baring pun salah :( Tu lah. Makan tak ingat dunia. At least now I know what causes it. Previously I was clueless and on top of feeling miserable, worried as to what could cause it.
The outcome of this sinful indulgence..... I'm suffering now. My whole body is aching and feeling so miserable. It was indescribable. Its like nothing I can do to make myself feel comfortable. Duduk salah, berdiri salah, baring pun salah :( Tu lah. Makan tak ingat dunia. At least now I know what causes it. Previously I was clueless and on top of feeling miserable, worried as to what could cause it.
07-07-07
*Disjointed fragment of things in my mind today*
I have hopes something special will happen today. But days has come and gone, so fast without us realizing it. I'm aware after a while, nothing special is going to take place. Sometimes things happen, sometimes they don't. Sometimes you're going to get what you wish for, more often you're not.
A colleague got a lump in her breast. She discovered it last year but decided to wait and see. Last week the doctor confirmed the lump has grown by 2mms so she went for surgery. She's fine and I'm glad.
My training to the big bosses last week was sabotaged. The project team stayed back until about 10 at night to finish the test scripts so I can use them in class. Everything was fine. In the morning, we discover the server was down. Somebody switched the server off and has deleted an important file. I think the sabotage was more on the project team than towards the trainer but I got to face all the participants and they don't care about the sabotage. All they know we were not fully prepared. The system was restored some time before 10 a.m. but the damage has been done.
Someone decided to make my life difficult during the training just for the fun of it. She confessed this to my colleague. She's going to leave in 2-3 months time and will not be using the system but she has so many things to comment. The screen design, the process flow, the output layout, etc., which are not my area of responsibility at all. If you have anything to say, why don't you come for the numerous project meeting and UAT. And she's only the secretary to one of the big boss.
We have a new boss and he has been with us for almost 2 months already. I have hopes that he will bring good changes to our unit but during our meeting yesterday, I realize his expectations were not in line with my work style. We will have clashes in future. I can guarantee it. I love my work but I got a life. Even if I sit at home doing nothing at all, I want my personal time. If I wanna do work at home, it will be my choice. He said someone with passion in their job does not have a line between work time and personal time. He also mentions about coming to work on weekend without always expecting anything in return. If I wanna do that, I might as well open up my own company.
How strong can a family bond be? You might thought it is not breakable but it could. The only thing that reminds us of family could just be the DNA and the memories. Parents may ditched their children, children may ditch their parents, siblings could become enemies. Families can become strangers. Anything can happen. If this can happen to families, what do you expect from other people? But God is fair. Sometimes when you loose a family with blood ties, you get a new family - a group of people not related by blood or just a friend who cares enough about your well being.
I discovered my body will feel 'bad' at night after taking iced drinks. I have experience it for quite some time and I don't know the reason. It could be I'm having a weird health problem but yesterday's cendol give it away. It must have been the iced drinks because I didn't get it often. My joints felt weak and heavy and my whole body felt very miserable. I'm declaring myself off ice for a while to confirm it.
I have hopes something special will happen today. But days has come and gone, so fast without us realizing it. I'm aware after a while, nothing special is going to take place. Sometimes things happen, sometimes they don't. Sometimes you're going to get what you wish for, more often you're not.
A colleague got a lump in her breast. She discovered it last year but decided to wait and see. Last week the doctor confirmed the lump has grown by 2mms so she went for surgery. She's fine and I'm glad.
My training to the big bosses last week was sabotaged. The project team stayed back until about 10 at night to finish the test scripts so I can use them in class. Everything was fine. In the morning, we discover the server was down. Somebody switched the server off and has deleted an important file. I think the sabotage was more on the project team than towards the trainer but I got to face all the participants and they don't care about the sabotage. All they know we were not fully prepared. The system was restored some time before 10 a.m. but the damage has been done.
Someone decided to make my life difficult during the training just for the fun of it. She confessed this to my colleague. She's going to leave in 2-3 months time and will not be using the system but she has so many things to comment. The screen design, the process flow, the output layout, etc., which are not my area of responsibility at all. If you have anything to say, why don't you come for the numerous project meeting and UAT. And she's only the secretary to one of the big boss.
We have a new boss and he has been with us for almost 2 months already. I have hopes that he will bring good changes to our unit but during our meeting yesterday, I realize his expectations were not in line with my work style. We will have clashes in future. I can guarantee it. I love my work but I got a life. Even if I sit at home doing nothing at all, I want my personal time. If I wanna do work at home, it will be my choice. He said someone with passion in their job does not have a line between work time and personal time. He also mentions about coming to work on weekend without always expecting anything in return. If I wanna do that, I might as well open up my own company.
How strong can a family bond be? You might thought it is not breakable but it could. The only thing that reminds us of family could just be the DNA and the memories. Parents may ditched their children, children may ditch their parents, siblings could become enemies. Families can become strangers. Anything can happen. If this can happen to families, what do you expect from other people? But God is fair. Sometimes when you loose a family with blood ties, you get a new family - a group of people not related by blood or just a friend who cares enough about your well being.
I discovered my body will feel 'bad' at night after taking iced drinks. I have experience it for quite some time and I don't know the reason. It could be I'm having a weird health problem but yesterday's cendol give it away. It must have been the iced drinks because I didn't get it often. My joints felt weak and heavy and my whole body felt very miserable. I'm declaring myself off ice for a while to confirm it.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Work Till You Drop
For the past few weeks, I have not switched on my laptop at night. I either don't have access to the internet or don't have the energy to check blogs or update blogs or do whatever I normally do when I'm online. I wonder how many entries I have to read in my Google Reader if I login now.
Sometimes you have to work till you drop, then only you can get your rest. Provided... you only drop sick and not dead :) I'm on MC today. I was also on MC yesterday but I have to stay at the office to finish some work until 2.30. On the way home, I drop by at the bank, wash my car and get the wiper repaired, reached home at 5 p.m. Not much difference if I did not get any MC but at least I managed to get some things done.
Today even though I'm on MC, I planned to go to the office around 3-4 to check things out so I can't really relax. Tomorrow I have to conduct the new system training to all the big bosses. But after making few phone calls, my presence at the office today won't be of much help. I need input from the project team and I hope they can deliver. Otherwise, some nasty bosses would fire me for I'll be on the front line. But looking at my mood, I might fire them back for it is their colleague (one of the big bosses) who championed this outdated and unfriendly system.
I say it is outdated because it is not web-based and maintenance is a nightmare. You have to install at the client and sometimes when the client did not synch with the server properly due to whatever reason, you'll start pulling your hair with all the error messages. Most of my participants say it is unfriendly. They started to panic already and all I can tell them, everybody is in the same boat so don't get overly stressed about it. I'm already familiar with the system after numerous training so I can't say anything about its user-friendliness or unfriendliness.
There is also this one particular department who insisted I do a half-day training for phase 2 of their new system. The problem is, they wanted to do it on weekend and the only weekend available this month is my birthday weekend. I don't have anything special planned but I'm not going to do it that weekend. Not for whatever reason since I have worked on enough weekends already. Maybe I'll go off jungle trekking somewhere. I missed the smell of the forest already. Every time I passed by Bukit Tunku area, the old big trees beaconing at me to go and be one with nature.
I'm keeping everyone at the office guessing about my plan because I'm keeping my mouth shut. My boss did ask to assess how important my plan for that weekend is but I told her it's my weekend, I can do whatever I want without having to report to anybody. Hehehe... dare you say that to your boss? I'm already being very flexible by giving few alternative dates to the department involve but they insist they can't release their people during that time. So it is their call. I have no problem with two other departments. For them, I have more to cover for it will be a full day session for each and it will be on weekdays.
The latest news, I might have to do it from 5pm - 9pm on one of the weekdays. I'll agree to that if I have no other choice but I'm quite pissed off. It is phase 2 already. It's not like they are very green about the system. And since it is only half day, surely there won't be much to cover and they can probably read the manual or something. I don't know how much to cover either since the train-the-trainer session will only be end of next week. One or two people from the said department will also be there so they can train the staff themselves if they want to.
Cik abang said I should be proud since my skill is required. It is true I should be proud and I won't have this job if everybody can just stand up and talk after a short training. Buttt... as long as I don't have to do it on my birthday weekend :)
Sometimes you have to work till you drop, then only you can get your rest. Provided... you only drop sick and not dead :) I'm on MC today. I was also on MC yesterday but I have to stay at the office to finish some work until 2.30. On the way home, I drop by at the bank, wash my car and get the wiper repaired, reached home at 5 p.m. Not much difference if I did not get any MC but at least I managed to get some things done.
Today even though I'm on MC, I planned to go to the office around 3-4 to check things out so I can't really relax. Tomorrow I have to conduct the new system training to all the big bosses. But after making few phone calls, my presence at the office today won't be of much help. I need input from the project team and I hope they can deliver. Otherwise, some nasty bosses would fire me for I'll be on the front line. But looking at my mood, I might fire them back for it is their colleague (one of the big bosses) who championed this outdated and unfriendly system.
I say it is outdated because it is not web-based and maintenance is a nightmare. You have to install at the client and sometimes when the client did not synch with the server properly due to whatever reason, you'll start pulling your hair with all the error messages. Most of my participants say it is unfriendly. They started to panic already and all I can tell them, everybody is in the same boat so don't get overly stressed about it. I'm already familiar with the system after numerous training so I can't say anything about its user-friendliness or unfriendliness.
There is also this one particular department who insisted I do a half-day training for phase 2 of their new system. The problem is, they wanted to do it on weekend and the only weekend available this month is my birthday weekend. I don't have anything special planned but I'm not going to do it that weekend. Not for whatever reason since I have worked on enough weekends already. Maybe I'll go off jungle trekking somewhere. I missed the smell of the forest already. Every time I passed by Bukit Tunku area, the old big trees beaconing at me to go and be one with nature.
I'm keeping everyone at the office guessing about my plan because I'm keeping my mouth shut. My boss did ask to assess how important my plan for that weekend is but I told her it's my weekend, I can do whatever I want without having to report to anybody. Hehehe... dare you say that to your boss? I'm already being very flexible by giving few alternative dates to the department involve but they insist they can't release their people during that time. So it is their call. I have no problem with two other departments. For them, I have more to cover for it will be a full day session for each and it will be on weekdays.
The latest news, I might have to do it from 5pm - 9pm on one of the weekdays. I'll agree to that if I have no other choice but I'm quite pissed off. It is phase 2 already. It's not like they are very green about the system. And since it is only half day, surely there won't be much to cover and they can probably read the manual or something. I don't know how much to cover either since the train-the-trainer session will only be end of next week. One or two people from the said department will also be there so they can train the staff themselves if they want to.
Cik abang said I should be proud since my skill is required. It is true I should be proud and I won't have this job if everybody can just stand up and talk after a short training. Buttt... as long as I don't have to do it on my birthday weekend :)
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