tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33825392331845234162024-02-19T23:46:36.606+08:00Dreaming of Pandora Forest - LANGKAWI NATURE BLOG, CONSERVATION ISSUES AND MOREMy Langkawi blog posts on nature and conservation issues. These are the main stuffs I scribbled and there are others which are not related to Langkawi.
This blog intends to connect with as many nature enthusiasts as possible. In hope that a great formation of us will win against those who destruct our natural heritage.Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797658135561940402noreply@blogger.comBlogger166125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382539233184523416.post-32471763544594577952013-12-17T01:01:00.001+08:002013-12-17T01:31:51.233+08:00Clean As You Go, Adventure Race Organisers!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span>he rugged terrain of the Mat Chincang rainforest, the swampy mangroves of Kilim and right out to the rocky coastline of the surrounding islands of Langkawi. These are ideal factors that any outdoor and adventure enthusiasts would fall in love with. Langkawi is a much desired platform for sports tourism especially adventure racing where her natural challenges are bountiful and still pretty much undiscovered. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In this year itself, Langkawi has attracted the following adventure racing events such as the <a href="http://www.sports.my/events.php?event=913-langkawi_ironbound_challenge_2013">Langkawi Ironbound </a>, <a href="http://www.mtbmalaysia.com/">Langkawi International Mountain Bike Challenge</a> and the most recent one was <a href="http://www.raidamazones.com/organisation/index.php">Raid Amazones</a>, which was held from 19-28 November 2013.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Setting up adventure racing is never an easy task. Safety procedures must be carefully outlined to ensure the participants do not go beyond the boundaries and their well being are monitored. Routes must be carefully planned to ensure everyone's safety. As such, race organisers often tag the competition routes with plastic ribbons so participants do not get themselves lost. Water and snack stations must be placed accordingly to ensure that the racers do not drop dead of dehydration. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sadly, the things that were brought into or along the racing routes do not usually come out and be put to where they belong. They left huge impacts on the jungle trails and other stuffs as well. On their path to their so-called "glory", some of these racers would blazed the forest trails and the sea with their water bottles, junkie power-gel packets and Red Bull cans.</span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The above and below pictures were taken on 24 June 2013 by a frequent visitor to Gunung Raya. Trash were seen left behind at the end of the 4000 over steps to Lubok Sembilang after the racers have passed through. This event in June was Langkawi Ironbound</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I do not entirely blame the brains and the brawls (the racers, I meant) as their aim is to win. Only a handful will be mindful of not leaving their rubbish behind. But sometimes, they do drop stuffs on the ground by accident while in a hurry. The entire responsibility lies in the event organiser. So, who says that organising a adventure racing event is easy?<br /><br />Red and white plastic ribbons were found tied on the branches in the mangroves after the Raid Amazones event. Emails enquiring about the ribbons were sent to the Race Director, Gill Mention. One of the emails was ignored and Gill replied to the other email sent by saying, "</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">je vous précise que je n'utilise que de la rubalise blanche et verte raid arbre vert et que celles ci sont systématiquement enlevés par l équipe qui ferme la course, je suis surpris par par votre remarque car depuis que je fais des recos sur cette il magnifique j ai constate le nombre tres important de dechets qui se trouvent un peu partout et en particulier dans la mangrove, je suis un fervent défenseur de l écologie et je vous invite puisque vous vivez a Langkawi , a vous rapprocher des autorités afin de sensibiliser tout le monde sur ces problèmes, juste pour vous donner un exemple le challenge international de VTT les forets et les routes sont balises avec de la rubalise jaune qui n a jamais été enlevés.</span></div>
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Je vous souhaite une bonne continuation dans cette région"</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In English (after Google translation), <br />"</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">I only use the white and green rubalise raid green tree and those are systematically removed by the team that closes the race, I'm surprised by your remarks because since I do it on this recce beautiful I have seen the very important number of waste that are everywhere and especially in the mangrove, I am a strong advocate of ecology and I invite you as you live in Langkawi, get closer to the authorities to educate everyone about these issues, just to give you an example of the international challenge of forests and mountain bike routes are tags with yellow barrier tape that was never removed. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">I wish you good luck in this region."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, Gill Mention... are you sure about what you have written? Recently, these ribbons were found still tied on the branches in the mangroves after 3 weeks of the event. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These tags were spotted in five different spots along the channel. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <span style="color: lime;">Gill used the white and green ribbon nicely tied next to the red and white ribbon</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">RAID AMAZONES on a Sonneratia tree</span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This one is yours too, Gill?</span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A nature lover helping to remove the raid amozones ribbon from a Avicennia tree</span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hey Gill, you are right! Langkawi International Mountain Bike Challenge yellow ribbon was found tied to a tree in the mangroves. Glad that you highlighted this in your email. What in the world was this yellow ribbon doing in the mangroves??? Did they bike in the swamp too? These yellow ribbons can still be seen along the road of Langkawi after the events have ended months ago.</span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Raid amozones should not be using <a href="http://www.the-greentree.com/">L'Arbre Vert</a> label at all</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Being an outdoor enthusiast myself, I very much welcome such events to be held on this beautiful island. These events benefit the island's economy a lot. However, we do not appreciate if such organisers are slackers in practicing "Clean As You Go". None of the Langkawi's authority or government agencies will be bothered on such petty issues. One of them is only good at promoting events and nothing else even though letters were written to them. Have they ever acknowledge or responded?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You don't need to bother to return to the island to clean up the mess, Gill. Some good nature lovers have already done your job. </span></div>
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Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797658135561940402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382539233184523416.post-58014039247106996902013-07-30T00:28:00.000+08:002013-07-30T00:30:55.228+08:00St Regis It Is!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span>his is the banner at Beringin Beach three days ago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;">I had a quick chat with a local from a village nearby about this place and he said to me, "Sayang oh". Which means, "What a waste". What a waste indeed to have a beach taken </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And since there is nothing can be done when the land has been sold, we might as well look at things from a different perspective. The cleanliness of the beach will be looked after (provided that these contractors are not spilling in more sediments into the sea while constructing this resort). Once the resort is up and running, there will be people in near future to clean the beach everyday! More jobs will be created to clean the beach. Unlike the elderly couple who stayed there for more than two decades and they cleaned up the beach without being paid! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The government's aim to increase more tourists coming into Langkawi and so more resorts are needed to accommodate the numbers. Actually, they want more tourists with high spending power to flock into the island and that is why more luxurious resorts are being built now. With more resorts coming up and this will mean more jobs for the locals. And so with more tourists and more development, which will mean progress for the local community here. When Langkawi is fully developed, it will be entirely different from now. It may have a new tagline, for example, "Luxuriously Langkawi" instead of "Naturally Langkawi", perhaps?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Come on folks, smile... progress and money are coming in. The government is helping and making lots of efforts to uplift the economy of Langkawi folks. The community here wants progress and they are getting it. I am sure they are thankful and grateful. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here are glimpses of the Beringin Beach before development takes place:</span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The remains of the old army barrack (ex National service camp)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwVIgpZVgGweyAjYbQCf_2hr-DR0Uj2zYkNeoWg0Jy2z0UuAgRPy0lIVEU73shLsRb-K9ubyEp50q35yGgp_LM4B1ofwQf2JwLX_N0dNjpEWZ0c8IiKRrDEBhfnxImczzzcFHiTx3B_A/s1600/P1030015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwVIgpZVgGweyAjYbQCf_2hr-DR0Uj2zYkNeoWg0Jy2z0UuAgRPy0lIVEU73shLsRb-K9ubyEp50q35yGgp_LM4B1ofwQf2JwLX_N0dNjpEWZ0c8IiKRrDEBhfnxImczzzcFHiTx3B_A/s400/P1030015.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Some local used to stay on the cliff. No longer now.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErwMN5saH8Hvfch13zC6PYS5mLH_wyYX9Oifjs_2HVLKOSkNf-HQqwL-6gGAYEdLCsXyKZ_9vBNEDwOC7oQVxBc-6uekRH5wajKsg9WRSrz3Mevier7nxmnYQYiC44tQ-Ijb3P9_5kZw/s1600/P1030013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErwMN5saH8Hvfch13zC6PYS5mLH_wyYX9Oifjs_2HVLKOSkNf-HQqwL-6gGAYEdLCsXyKZ_9vBNEDwOC7oQVxBc-6uekRH5wajKsg9WRSrz3Mevier7nxmnYQYiC44tQ-Ijb3P9_5kZw/s400/P1030013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Does anyone wants to adopt these abandon plants like Drynaria, Mother-in-law's tongue, etc. There are Traveller's palms left behind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If the banner is giving the true facts that St Regis will be here, then you may want to know that St Regis is under the management of </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Starwood hotels and resorts. You can google, please. I hereby giving </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> free promotion to the public for this coming five star luxurious hotel. To the tourists, keep your eyes and ears open and make sure you will be the first to book your stay here. To those tour and travel operators, go grab your opportunities! And folks, update your resume for you may find new ventures in this brand new resort.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Isn't this exciting? </span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Progress is fast as they were very quick to build this guardhouse and the gate</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By the way, St Regis, we do hope you will oblige to make a public pathway to access the beach because there is no such thing as a private beach. People still have rights to use the beach, you know? And I know that they will simply ignore me for I am just a small fly.</span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I wonder if they will change your name to something else..???</span></div>
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Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797658135561940402noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382539233184523416.post-91272847326475547812013-07-26T22:41:00.001+08:002013-07-26T22:48:57.885+08:00Hip Hip Hooray for Dolphins!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: justify;">G</span><span style="text-align: justify;">ood news finally! I am afraid that this good news isn't coming from Langkawi. This comes from our neighboring continent, India! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have been hearing stories about a dolphinarium to be set up in Langkawi. How true this is, I am uncertain. However, I am praying hard that this will not become a reality. Visitors can have opportunities to see wild dolphins in the coast of Langkawi (depending on your luck) when they take up island hopping or mangroves boat tours.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Below is the story extracted from this link: <a href="http://ens-newswire.com/2013/05/20/india-bans-captive-dolphin-shows-as-morally-unacceptable/" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.1875px;">India Bans Captive Dolphin Shows as "Morally Unacceptable"</a></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: blue;"><strong style="border: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">NEW DELHI, India</strong>, May 20, 2013 (ENS) – India’s Ministry of Environment and Forests has decided to forbid the keeping of captive dolphins for public entertainment anywhere in the country.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: blue;">In a policy statement released Friday, the ministry advised state governments to reject any proposal to establish a dolphinarium “by any person / persons, organizations, government agencies, private or public enterprises that involves import, capture of cetacean species to establish for commercial entertainment, private or public exhibition and interaction purposes whatsoever.”</span></div>
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<a href="http://ens-newswire.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/20130520_gangesdolphin.jpg" style="border: none; color: #23238e; font-weight: 600; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="dolphin" class="size-full wp-image-79777" height="239" src="http://ens-newswire.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/20130520_gangesdolphin.jpg" style="border: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="350" /></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: blue;">Ganges river dolphin in Bangladesh waters (Photo courtesy <a href="http://www.wcs.org/where-we-work/oceans/bay-of-bengal.aspx" style="border: none; color: #23238e; font-weight: 600; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">BCDP / WCS</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: blue;">The statement issued by B.S. Bonal, the member secretary of the Central Zoo Authority of India, acknowledges that cetaceans in general do not survive well in captivity, saying, “Confinement in captivity can seriously compromise the welfare and survival of all types of cetaceans by altering their behaviour and causing extreme distress.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: blue;">Noting that India’s national aquatic animal, the Ganges River dolphin, as well as the snubfin dolphin are listed in Schedule-I and all cetacean species are listed in Schedule II part I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, the ministry said it is important to protect these endangered species from captivity and exploitation.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: blue;">“Whereas cetaceans in general are highly intelligent and sensitive, and various scientists who have researched dolphin behavior have suggested that the unusually high intelligence; as compared to other animals means that dolphin should be seen as ‘non-human persons’ and as such should have their own specific rights and is morally unacceptable to keep them captive for entertainment purpose,” the ministry said.</span></div>
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<a href="http://ens-newswire.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/20130520_dolphinshowswitzerland.jpg" style="border: none; color: #23238e; font-weight: 600; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="dolphin show" class="size-full wp-image-79776" height="250" src="http://ens-newswire.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/20130520_dolphinshowswitzerland.jpg" style="border: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="350" /></a><br />
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<strong style="background-color: blue; border: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Dolphiin show at Connyland, Switzerland (Photo by<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/maswadkar/3995951448/" style="border: none; color: #23238e; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Vivek Madwaskar</a>)</strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: blue;">The grassroots Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organization, FIAPO, was pleased with the decision. This group took the lead in campaigning to ban dolphinaria in India, meeting with key ministry officials and garnering local grassroots support.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: blue;">FIAPO spokesperson Puja Mitra called the decision “a huge victory for the dolphins!”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: blue;">“India has become a beacon of hope for the global movement to protect cetaceans from captivity, and we thank Minister Jayanthi Natarajan for setting the benchmark in animal protection for the world,” Mitra said.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: blue;">FIAPO has been working with their partners Born Free Foundation, Global Green Grants Fund, Earth Island Institute’s Dolphin Project and Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation to bring about this prohibition in India for the past year.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: blue;">Ric O’Barry, a former dolphin trainer who now serves as director of the U.S.-based Earth Island Institute’s Dolphin Project, applauded India’s new policy.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: blue;">“This is a huge win for dolphins,” said O’Barry. Not only has the Indian government spoken out against cruelty, they have contributed to an emerging and vital dialogue about the ways we think about dolphins – as thinking, feeling beings rather than pieces of property to make money off of.”</span></div>
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Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797658135561940402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382539233184523416.post-8274953901080862492013-07-25T00:47:00.000+08:002013-11-14T00:09:18.624+08:00The Fate of Beringin Beach<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span>hile most of the tourists here are familiar with Cenang Beach and Pantai Kok or even Tanjung Rhu beach, how many of them are aware of Beringin Beach? Not many. In fact, my neighbor who has been living on the island for all of their life, was not sure of where Beringin Beach is. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Beringin Beach or locally known as Pantai Beringin, is located less than five kilometers from Kuah town. It is a neighbour to Westin resort, separated by a limestone hill. The beach is looking at Pulau Dayang Bunting and some parts of Bukit Malut. Pantai Beringin is only well known to a handful of local community, not a very popular beach and it is a quiet recreation spot.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCB-gCIUwkHLd0fVD_d08ogXvacsHJ-SICXnZ4KzQefjVYNDcLJruizD4hzl4GrsM8gwiy8rPSjH4dWfpackqyr9t4Lc9_yViU-DlmafYF4jG_kRm2T5jooRmu97IsdpFIqN8LGVNd9A/s1600/Beringing+086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCB-gCIUwkHLd0fVD_d08ogXvacsHJ-SICXnZ4KzQefjVYNDcLJruizD4hzl4GrsM8gwiy8rPSjH4dWfpackqyr9t4Lc9_yViU-DlmafYF4jG_kRm2T5jooRmu97IsdpFIqN8LGVNd9A/s400/Beringing+086.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pantai Beringin looking at Pulau Bumbun Besar and Pulau Dayang Bunting</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Only a small resort with chalets were once there, which was known as Beringin Beach Resort. And the first Langkawi National service camp was built next to Beringin Beach resort. At the edge of the limestone hill, there was a makeshift hut which was made as a home to a couple. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, what is happening to the beach now?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As time went by, Beringin Beach resort wrapped up their business and I am not sure of the reason. The national service camp was relocated to Bukit Hantu. In order not to have the structures of the national service camp go wasted on Beringin Beach, the business went on by providing budget accommodation package for groups. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is the beach where my friends and I would go to if we want to head out to the sea for kayaking. On the evening this week when we were there ready for another round of paddling, we were shocked to find the chalets, the old national service camp and the makeshift hut were almost demolished. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <span style="color: lime;">The remains of the old Beringin Beach Resort as at 22 July 2013</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Itdc_XAUVkYGuJrRSCOsTbh2awCJqM1pHxyXx-4E4i6kBjNpT9BoqULG23y7tPcVehJuHFwTn5uMaU7YsFihwOUsop5BoaDGPoANL37H7ukMBxCsGsJmPPwBSc7_sXQ10IE2xZd7hnQ/s1600/Beringing+088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Itdc_XAUVkYGuJrRSCOsTbh2awCJqM1pHxyXx-4E4i6kBjNpT9BoqULG23y7tPcVehJuHFwTn5uMaU7YsFihwOUsop5BoaDGPoANL37H7ukMBxCsGsJmPPwBSc7_sXQ10IE2xZd7hnQ/s400/Beringing+088.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <span style="color: lime;">The remains of the old National service camp as at 22 July 2013</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1FIzGI1RRdF1yt7G5cSlSAHjPcy7PoArLJLhQypQawAFRlGXouL8ixtNiQtHiTNov4VdEAOj_Ch3cAzyoXovVc6KRd4nxpFzeqn4_Ysx3LVH0RCoPrQe9CvqiUmWNrR4M__izzjH4fA/s1600/Beringing+094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1FIzGI1RRdF1yt7G5cSlSAHjPcy7PoArLJLhQypQawAFRlGXouL8ixtNiQtHiTNov4VdEAOj_Ch3cAzyoXovVc6KRd4nxpFzeqn4_Ysx3LVH0RCoPrQe9CvqiUmWNrR4M__izzjH4fA/s400/Beringing+094.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="color: lime; text-align: center;">The remains the old National service camp as at 22 July 2013</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XJkxs3JZOCO49V5d9uMDRmq-r73RPA-AYOEAteIWG2fdt3JnyZDiOYGsR1vs0WohNyYvDv8Yazk1uGONMEp8XHpNWQhbJTA2b62-haGjiyanTs3T6fbSueWpmI5FrLD9Gf3tHTdEfmo/s1600/Beringing+083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XJkxs3JZOCO49V5d9uMDRmq-r73RPA-AYOEAteIWG2fdt3JnyZDiOYGsR1vs0WohNyYvDv8Yazk1uGONMEp8XHpNWQhbJTA2b62-haGjiyanTs3T6fbSueWpmI5FrLD9Gf3tHTdEfmo/s400/Beringing+083.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The remains of the makeshift hut as at 22 July 2013</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbkCISAU_bRVMqi-ahAU7fCmSTIT3KyNHpmdW380yW4Ru4-ptjd_pn54BA0cvC8oOCgnhY0Vamtkj2ZbR0X2XtVtiSh_e6-FeC5ERHnI0ly9p1da4LlLGpcZYXkAW5A88iM43OM8P2Sk/s1600/Beringing+096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbkCISAU_bRVMqi-ahAU7fCmSTIT3KyNHpmdW380yW4Ru4-ptjd_pn54BA0cvC8oOCgnhY0Vamtkj2ZbR0X2XtVtiSh_e6-FeC5ERHnI0ly9p1da4LlLGpcZYXkAW5A88iM43OM8P2Sk/s400/Beringing+096.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">An elderly man was there and seemed to be clearing up the area. And so I went over to him to find out. With a very sad teary face, he told me that a private resort has bought over the land from the government. He is the one who was staying at the makeshift hut. I didn't know until now...sigh...He told me that he was staying here for more than twenty five years. Both of them have looked after the beach by cleaning up the rubbish left by the public and brought up by the high tides. He and his wife were asked to leave the place which was once their home sweet home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And so, another public beach gone! Eaten up by resorts. Langkawi's remaining public beach are Pantai Cenang,Pantai Tengah, Pantai Pasir Tengorak (which has created an issue when people are now charged entrance fee at RM2 per pax) and the beginning of Tanjung Rhu beach. Pantai Kok is gone as well, monopolised by the resort next to it. This is happening everywhere in Malaysia. Public have to pay to enter a recreational area which was once a public spot. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSiFO1PmN_UA3FgILQhj8cJhZG9AMICSwsF9KIFV6Z7iQ3tF4_l1dFZXVcGnli4aTnyiNLSQzB_T8MzfFKELvV4PonoExZrE26xsh9olYrUsO2MV17-cE-JClyLMMm055MDpexCmX2vxI/s1600/Beringing+095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSiFO1PmN_UA3FgILQhj8cJhZG9AMICSwsF9KIFV6Z7iQ3tF4_l1dFZXVcGnli4aTnyiNLSQzB_T8MzfFKELvV4PonoExZrE26xsh9olYrUsO2MV17-cE-JClyLMMm055MDpexCmX2vxI/s400/Beringing+095.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime;">Beringin Beach will now be haunted</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Many thanks, M Facer, for your photos.</span></div></span>Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797658135561940402noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382539233184523416.post-80366069252232509972013-07-04T23:32:00.001+08:002013-07-04T23:39:36.302+08:00Brown Sea<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span>his is how the sea surrounding Kuah town in Langkawi looked like after a heavy downpour for more than six hours since last night. These pictures were taken early this morning.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jBblv6I3U5cWCPSfgwVZWs7toZzCoPMn429o6cqtiqay05r-E_NM7hiSzwughdDy5yrbah3iMG4k5P_SgEJjpQViWxxX13GMPQuYTFgqdK-e-9piHcf7JCeYmydX34lGqQGwQHfQlTQ/s1000/brown+sea2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jBblv6I3U5cWCPSfgwVZWs7toZzCoPMn429o6cqtiqay05r-E_NM7hiSzwughdDy5yrbah3iMG4k5P_SgEJjpQViWxxX13GMPQuYTFgqdK-e-9piHcf7JCeYmydX34lGqQGwQHfQlTQ/s400/brown+sea2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj70WEQvJe-B-oGi2PH0k3zYeqQKg2H1MkMgN0aW25WMzKOWr15aUz7NWpbyu39MR4OF-c0UCaXb8S3zANWzVRJt7hWKPRsbmxC-nnO2uI0z8rJIUJiW7um8_z19LZbGFna00no-LYrFQg/s800/brown+sea3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj70WEQvJe-B-oGi2PH0k3zYeqQKg2H1MkMgN0aW25WMzKOWr15aUz7NWpbyu39MR4OF-c0UCaXb8S3zANWzVRJt7hWKPRsbmxC-nnO2uI0z8rJIUJiW7um8_z19LZbGFna00no-LYrFQg/s400/brown+sea3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3S5PlsRIAhhnkP6dUXdMjscSS0JRHKL1NSxzOo2GMgEmuGtDs0oTv74VWlyhn8T6fAo2j5cAxVd6ULG7pUGVpcZzLe7yQft5qMjpWpkObq8MjSZtZ5Vz2tEhKp4hbeNr81bNCMnpYbAA/s800/brown+sea4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3S5PlsRIAhhnkP6dUXdMjscSS0JRHKL1NSxzOo2GMgEmuGtDs0oTv74VWlyhn8T6fAo2j5cAxVd6ULG7pUGVpcZzLe7yQft5qMjpWpkObq8MjSZtZ5Vz2tEhKp4hbeNr81bNCMnpYbAA/s400/brown+sea4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdeYLWrtXFhdGekfAe5isKhMs-v9yj6TYgatetg5oJVuqKeNV7CbmO2-To6EEv2QBeXJTjonGRTIVlVhaTYOUMMHEZ43hmfrVOhMme4tHZFlB2hR99guN84T8keeMwhcBCai8mYIzk_Sg/s800/brown+sea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdeYLWrtXFhdGekfAe5isKhMs-v9yj6TYgatetg5oJVuqKeNV7CbmO2-To6EEv2QBeXJTjonGRTIVlVhaTYOUMMHEZ43hmfrVOhMme4tHZFlB2hR99guN84T8keeMwhcBCai8mYIzk_Sg/s400/brown+sea.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Siltation from land development?? What goes into the river will end up into the sea, right?</span><br />
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Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797658135561940402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382539233184523416.post-63676209167956855632013-05-31T23:57:00.001+08:002013-06-01T00:35:17.851+08:00Botak Hill<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span>t simply means "Bald Hill". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiderlgTBZkkPZ7_qHzf0T5ZCszkEEIOiOUZc1SQU3qWrYvrOdvKPgyeBTYabHsG16HwPZ7I6GLek4RMFtlP9ZLlo2BIitkjXllhAGCFnRZazEJ8yxY78Sv3TkkDeotYGN11SpOABfka8g/s400/botak+hill.jpg" width="400" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This image above was taken at bird eye's view from the cable car. From my previous post, the forest of Pantai Kok has fallen to resort development and very likely a butterfly park. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">More and more of Langkawi's precious hill with lush rainforest will become "Botak Hill" due to unsustainable tourism. Long time ago when there was no water pipeline from the mainland, the locals here depended on their wells for water source. And where did the water source come from? The rain and maintained by the rainforest! Not anymore when people are now taking things for granted. </span></div>
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Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797658135561940402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382539233184523416.post-48016367648817394512013-04-22T00:08:00.000+08:002013-04-22T00:12:53.841+08:00Face Of Climate Change In Langkawi<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">E</span>arth day for 2013 is on Monday, 22nd April. The global theme for Earth day this year is: The Face of Climate Change.</span></div>
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<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/s1cG_T0s280/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/s1cG_T0s280&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/s1cG_T0s280&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">The link to this video is <a href="http://www.earthday.org/2013/about.html">here</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Will the face of climate change be increased for our beloved island or the other way around?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While I do not have the answer for now, I wonder if we will face adverse climate condition here or will we affect the other parts of the planet?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Langkawi is struggling to save her own rainforest and now she is completely helpless in the current state of her remaining original habitat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These recent photos were taken along the path of the new road which is now being built between Telaga Harbour and Mutiara Bay at Pantai Kok.</span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A "Rockblaster"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Development benefits the economic for the island. However, where do we draw the line between over developed and being sustainable? Langkawi is a preferred holiday destination because of her rainforest and the wildlife. I want to see genuine nature-loving tourists returning to Langkawi for her natural beauty and being respectful with her environment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Multi-billionaire companies </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">will tell the world that they will replant the trees after the development of a virgin rainforest. You and I know that replanting trees will never be the same as the original state. And yet, most of us accept the fact that the act of replanting trees is better than nothing. And yet, it is still not the same.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rest in peace to those fallen trees .... and </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Happy Earth Day all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Other interesting related links:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1. <a href="http://www.lada.gov.my/v2/en/information/news/55-category-en/news/334-perjanjian-pajakan-pembangunan-langkawi-2012.html">Land Agreement for Land Development At Burau Bay</a></span></div>
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<header style="background-color: #f7f7f9; color: #444446; font-size: 13px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 15px;"><h1 class="title" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 36px; margin: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">
<a href="http://www.lada.gov.my/v2/en/information/news/55-category-en/news/334-perjanjian-pajakan-pembangunan-langkawi-2012.html" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.25s ease-in-out; color: #444446; outline: none; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.25s ease-in-out;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">LEASE AGREEMENT FOR LAND DEVELOPMENT AT BURAU BAY</span></a></h1>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">WRITTEN BY LADA ON <time datetime="2012-03-28" pubdate="">28 MARCH 2012</time>. IN CATEGORY NEWS</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="margin-top: 0px;" /><span style="color: #444446;">Langkawi, March 28: The Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) made a major announcement today to lease the land surrounding Burau Bay Resort to Syarikat Benua Mahsuri Sdn Bhd (a subsidiary of Tradewinds Corporation) for the development of a luxury hotel.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #444446;">The land in the lease agreement is for 36.7 acres of LADA-owned land officially designated as H.S(D) 3/96 Lot 1718 in the Padang Mat Sirat district.The land was originally developed in 1991 by Syarikat Pernas OUE (Langkawi) Sdn Bhd, who built Burau Bay Resort. After the lease expired in 2000, LADA gave the management of the land and resort to Syarikat LADA-Eco Tourism for 10 years. The decision to lease the land to Syarikat Benua Mahsuri was actually made last year, but discussions to finalize the details of the development were only completed recently.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #444446;">Syarikat Benua Mahsuri plans to build an upscale hotel with an eco-resort concept, complete with a high-end spa and top-notch luxury facilities. The project is expected to attract more affluent travelers to Langkawi and to increase per capita income for tourism. The hotel will also provide more than 400 new jobs.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: red;">Project development is in accordance with initiatives 4 and 5 of the Langkawi Tourism Blueprint, which targets the beautiful northwest region of the island for the development of more <b>ultra-luxurious resorts to attract the wealthiest and biggest-spending world travellers to Langkawi within the next few years.</b> Additionally, this development will help address the shortage of rooms in Langkawi during peak season.</span><br /><br style="margin-bottom: 0px;" /><span style="color: #444446;">The lease agreement was signed by LADA CEO, the Honourable Tan Sri Khalid Bin Ramli, and witnessed by Y.Bhg Dato’ Fauziah Bt Yaacob, Board Member and LADA Director. Signing for Syarikat Benua Mahsuri was Tradewinds Corporation CEO Mr Shaharul Farez Hassan and witnessed by Dato 'Aziz Bin Shahar, Corporate Advisor to the Al-Bukhary Group.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">LAST UPDATED ON 16 OCTOBER 2012</span></div>
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Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797658135561940402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382539233184523416.post-89153012232186614482013-03-05T23:24:00.000+08:002013-09-08T02:34:18.931+08:00My Light Encounter With A Poacher<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span>t was a Saturday. Weekend for all. A picnic time for local folks in the park and as for myself, it was just another day on the forest trail. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Walking quietly on the trail while listening for any new bird calls, my smell sense was rudely triggered with the smell of cigarette. My alert senses increased and immediately it send out a message, "Intruder"...beep beep beep </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My alert senses was correct. A "sinister" was lurking around the corner of a connecting trail. He was wearing a long sleeve yellow shirt, bearing a company name of "Lafarge". On the note, Lafarge is a cement company on Langkawi which is harvesting the limestone area in Teluk Ewa and now this company is threatening Gua Pinang in Kubang Badak.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our eyes met. I was neither smiling nor frowning. My expression was expressionless and I thought I was. I continued to stare directly into his eyes. At an angle of my sight, I noticed him holding a parang (machete). And so was I. Should a few steps from him towards me, I am ready for his head with my blunt parang as I thought to myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What's next?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I stepped forward instead, closer to him. We didn't speak until I thought he mumbled something. And so I break the ice by asking him in Malay, "Are you chopping down the tree?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He replied, "Eh...no la". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"And then, what are you doing?", I asked again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Catching birds", he answered. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He returned a question to me, "What are you doing here?" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"I am catching those who are catching birds", I said in return. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Eh eh", he said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"What bird are you catching?". I noticed there were calls of Asian Fairy Bluebird around and no bird cages with him but he was holding a very small tied-up sack and plastic bag. I have never seen locals catching Asian Fairy Bluebirds and the variety of birds they would go for would be bulbuls and Oriental Magpie robins.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He replied, "Dunno. My friend is coming soon. Are you alone?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Nope. My friends are behind." I lied. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I continued, "You cannot catch birds here. Is wrong."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And so, I walked away. After less than 100 meters away from him, I picked up my mobile phone and started to call the Perhilitan (Wildlife Department) officers. I called two numbers of the Perhilitan which I usually liaised with. And I was unable to connect to both of them at all. As if their phones were switched off and so I contacted one of their top officers instead.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After informing the situation to this officer, he told me that there is nothing they can do. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Eh? Why?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The area where I was is under the State government and so most of Langkawi. And Perhilitan is under the Federal government. Which means that the officers are not able to go into the area to chase the poachers out unless these poachers were caught in possession of protected wildlife. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"If that's the case, there is no protection to our wildlife here then?" I asked.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Unless the State government placed personnel to monitor the parks and the rainforest. But unfortunately, they have no funds to hire rangers to look after. Because most areas in Langkawi are not under the Federal government, our Perhilitan rangers will not be placed in those areas.", the officer explained.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"If that's the reason, what's the point of having the Perhilitan department on Langkawi then? I mean Perhilitan has done some good jobs in nabbing poachers in Langkawi but if they don't have full authority over what needs to be done to protect the wildlife here, then what's the point?" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And then he went on about people not putting wildlife protection in the election manifesto and so the politicians of both parties will not bother as an issue to be addressed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sounds like I have heard of this sort of story before and I am so fed up of all this political issues governing the welfare of our wildlife.</span><br />
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</span>Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797658135561940402noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382539233184523416.post-24813058378828048642013-01-02T01:25:00.001+08:002013-01-02T01:56:53.861+08:00A New Year 2013 Post<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">F</span>estive </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;">season is the time of joy of giving and sharing. What a joyous moment to be able to capture this beautiful moment of a male Great Hornbill passing food to his beloved expectant wife which is now being imprisoned in a tree cavity until she is ready to be out again.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiogQOmfyPMVCQ3_U5hyphenhyphenqGVV7d5WGX6wlz-i3YH2AConY8OjoSg2RGfjFw8qEfXlTbQYJhaJEdz3WX_Duzv-s9zeIB3PRvSVJhkszJ33sL2o2ADujcX97Jx_oYFpgOzyBxZJgsfgpbLo4/s1600/hornbill+feeding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiogQOmfyPMVCQ3_U5hyphenhyphenqGVV7d5WGX6wlz-i3YH2AConY8OjoSg2RGfjFw8qEfXlTbQYJhaJEdz3WX_Duzv-s9zeIB3PRvSVJhkszJ33sL2o2ADujcX97Jx_oYFpgOzyBxZJgsfgpbLo4/s400/hornbill+feeding.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A male Great Hornbill <i>(Buceros bicornis)</i> feeding his mate in a tree cavity</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Is the female having a time of her life inside?... click "read fullpost" below</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A labor of love, endurance and commitment shown by this monogamous pair. Indeed it is tiring for the male to fly in and out to feed her while she is sitting in there waiting for food. If you think it is an easy job for the female then think again. Mind you, it is not a nice feeling to be confined in a very tight space for 8 to 10 weeks filled with the smell of urine and feces even though there is constant cleaning in the nest. Is mentally tough!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When people had their lucky moments to see this live, some took the trouble to ask me if the hornbills are endangered. Yes, if their natural habitat is continuously being taken away. Big trees being ripped away by deforestation due to the rising tide of human population, development and greed. Langkawi is at the edge of losing her natural charms..."naturally langkawi"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My New Year rambling starts here. I decided to have a quiet new year on my own since I got jaded with jamming in places filled with new year revelers and traffic congested roads. And so, I picked up a movie to watch on New Year's eve and Hellboy II: The Golden Army was my choice. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It has been ages since I watched this sequel of Hellboy (my favorite hero character) and I have forgotten the entire story. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here's the story extracted from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellboy_II:_The_Golden_Army">Wikipedia: Hellboy II The Golden Army</a>:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"In Christmas of 1955, a young Hellboy is told a bedtime story by his adoptive father, Trevor Broom, involving an ancient war between man and magical creatures, started by man's greed. After years of battle and defeat of the magical creatures' forces, the master of the goblin blacksmiths offers to build an indestructible golden mechanical army for King Balor, the one-armed king of the elves. Influenced by his son Prince Nuada, Balor orders the building of this Golden Army. Soon the humans attack again but the Golden Army devastates them; Balor creates a truce with the humans to stop the bloodshed: Man will keep his cities and the magical creatures will keep their forests. Nuada does not agree with the truce, and leaves in exile. The magical crown controlling the army is broken into three pieces, one piece going to the humans and the other two kept by the elves, so the Golden Army can never be used again"</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The humans have eventually pushed the magical creatures out of their natural home and their habitats were taken over by developments. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Prince Nuada returns and consumed by hate, he declares war on humans. And the story goes on with Hellboy and his team saving the humans from being attack by the Golden Army. And of course, who wins? Prince Nuada could have won the war but the director dictated the winner...</span></div>
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<img height="236" src="http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20081117163849/entertainment1/images/8/8d/Cute,_Young_Villains_image1.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: lime;">Prince Nuada: Image taken from <a href="http://entertainment.wikia.com/wiki/Top_Ten_Cute,_Young_Villains">entertainment.wikia.com</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In my own ponder, humans can win over nature or we think we can. And Nature eventually has her own way to return with a bigger clobber over us. When will the revenge takes place? In her own sweet time and it will be the time when humans are overly complacent with our own created world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And so with Langkawi, will there be a Prince Nuada hiding in the mountains of Macinchang or Gunung Raya, still asleep and the forest creatures are awaiting for his return to declare war on us? Or it should be the job of Puteri Mahsuri? Perhaps not. The power of Puteri Mahsuri's curse has already depleted. And so, w</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ake up Prince Nuada!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thanks for reading my ramblings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY BLOG FOLLOWERS AND THE FOREST CREATURES</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">p/s: You must watch this movie!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Link:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellboy_II:_The_Golden_Army">Wikipedia: Hellboy II - The Golden Army</a></span><br />
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</span>Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797658135561940402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382539233184523416.post-24772925941520814472012-12-08T23:33:00.000+08:002012-12-08T23:42:38.887+08:00My Ramblings: Of Conservation and Business<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span>s I was browsing through my previous postings and updating them, I came across the link on letter to the Editor. The letter dated October 19, 2009, was written to highlight on the potential threats to the eco-sensitive of Pulau Payar Marine Park. Reading the letter again, I can't help but to ponder that this letter was mostly written by Mandy did produce positive result in the end. </div>
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The mainstream newspaper did not publish the letter. Thankfully, <a href="http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/115374">MalaysiaKini</a> and <a href="http://ecomalaysia.org//index.php?q=main/index.php&q=node/30">EcoMalaysia.org</a> did.</div>
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Before the link will be removed forever, here's the contents of the letter (is quite a lengthy one):</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: lime;">Pulau Payar Marine Park has come a long way since it was first declared as a Fisheries Prohibited Area in 1985 and later gazetted as a marine park in 1994. Since then the tiny island of Pulau Payar, which measures a mere 1.75 km in length and 0.5 km at its widest point, has seen a lot of development, changing its face on the eastern seafront and making it a popular destination for reef-related recreational activities such as snorkelling and scuba-diving.</span></span></div>
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A small island located 19 nautical miles south of Pulau Langkawi, Pulau Payar, once a hidden treasure trove of marine fauna and flora known mainly to the local community of scuba divers, is now on the list of places to visit for many visitors to this region, both locals and foreigners. </div>
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This is to be expected considering the Pulau Payar Marine Park is rather well-known for its rich marine life in terms of diversity of coral reefs and fishes over small areas throughout the group of four islands - Pulau Payar, Pulau Kaca, Pulau Lembu and Pulau Segantang - that make up the entire marine park.</div>
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In the 1980s, a small Marine Park Museum, a small jetty and limited accommodation was built to house one Fisheries Department Ranger on Pulau Payar. In the 1990s, along with its marine park status, the floating platform with underwater observatory and shower facilities came into existence and was moored off the beach at Pulau Payar. A few years later, several chalets were built by the Kedah state government but the project was discontinued due to constraints of water and electricity supply. </div>
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Instead, expansion works were then carried out on the small museum converting it into the existing Marine Park Centre; public washrooms were rebuilt to cater to the influx of large numbers of visitors, the jetty was extended and more boardwalks were put in place in the name of tourism. </div>
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Until today, Pulau Payar Marine Park remains the only pristine coral reef environment along the West Coast of Malaysia. A study conducted in 2006 by Yusri Yusuf of Universiti Sains Malaysia found that a comparison of total species of coral reef with other islands of Malaysia has shown that Pulau Payar has the highest species count.</div>
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Coral reefs have been facing environmental stress with increasing water temperatures since the El Nino phenomenon in 1997-1998 and will now be stressed further with rising temperatures due to climate change. Increasing water temperatures interrupt the metabolic activities of the zooxanthellae that live among the corals leaving the corals bleached white. </div>
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Coral bleaching can also be caused by exposure to chemicals, sedimentations and excess nutrients such as ammonia and nitrate from plant fertilisers and household products entering the reef ecosystem. All these possible causes will arise from operating a resort on Pulau Payar.</div>
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As of today, the chalet project has been revived and construction works commenced two months ago. As such, in addition to environmental stress, there will be increasing stress from human impacts. </div>
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For how long can the Pulau Payar Marine Park hold its status with all the threats man continuously throws at its coral reefs and its fragile marine ecosystem?</div>
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The issue of concern is that to maintain the pristine beauty of the marine heritage of Pulau Payar, development should be at a minimum and accommodation should not be allowed for obvious reasons. </div>
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With this happening, primary threats to the coral reefs have been put in place with increasing nutrient run-off from human activities, sediment run-off from land/forest clearing for development and increasing sanitary and waste disposal problems, which would all be contradicting to the conservation of a marine park, no matter how ‘eco’ this resort claims to be.</div>
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The Pulau Payar Marine Park is one of the most frequently visited marine parks in Malaysia. With mass tourism and the daily operations of a resort on the island, fresh water intrusion will affect salinity levels at the sea and increase sedimentation load on the corals. Shampoo, detergent and lotions also contain chemicals that are harmful to marine life.</div>
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How would sedimentation, low salinity level and nutrient run-off affect the corals?</div>
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Freshwater adds salinity stress, causing a low salinity level and increasing sedimentation load. Similarly, when existing ground cover is disturbed, large quantities of fine soil particles are carried by rainwater into the ocean. These particles decrease visibility in the waters and the sediment blocks out light, thus reducing the growth of coral. At high rates of sedimentation, all corals will eventually be buried by sediments and killed.</div>
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Nutrient run-off from human activities into the reef system also encourages the growth of algae, which competes with corals for living space and light. Added nutrients could favour algal blooms, thereby retarding the growth and recovery of corals, even stopping their recovery, and finally causing death.</div>
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Once the corals die, fish and other marine species will eventually die, too.</div>
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Is there any mandate for a reef check survey to be carried out now before construction work continues further and the resort starts operation? And will this ‘eco-resort’ be environmentally responsible enough to engage an independent party to conduct regular quarterly reef check surveys to ensure the ecosystem has not deteriorated further? Will its operations be discontinued should there be signs of irreparable damage to the corals? Would it be too late by then to reverse these damages?</div>
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In many countries throughout the world, when an area is designated as a nature reserve or a marine park, great efforts are endeavoured to maintain it in its natural state as much as possible so that the public or visitors may enjoy the true value and heritage of the park in its original, undisturbed environment.</div>
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In Malaysia, however, it seems that an area that is designated as such would often become the target of more development, making it more urbanised rather than to conserve nature in its natural heritage. The Pulau Payar Marine Park is one such example. The irony is that marine parks were created as a means to protect an area of sea (or lake) to sustain its reef resources and to preserve its marine ecosystem, which is often a very sensitive environment. </div>
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It would be recommended to issue a stop-work order immediately and move the resort out from Pulau Payar. At the same time, the authorities should look into restricting visitor numbers in a move to conserve and protect this marine ecosystem.</div>
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Looking at the bigger picture, the state government and local development authorities should also check themselves on the amount of development allowed on both Pulau Payar and Pulau Langkawi. It may seem lucrative to keep building more resorts, malls and theme parks to bring in the tourist ringgit. But how sustainable can this be for the islands?</div>
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Let us not forget that even with its duty-free status, Langkawi cannot compete with other cities like Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong for ‘shopping tourism’. In the first place, tourists do not come from far to visit Langkawi for shopping. Instead, they are here for the nature that can be found here. </div>
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In this respect, the Kedah state government and local development authorities should look into spending on conserving nature and protecting our forests to boost eco-tourism rather than focusing on clearing more land and forests for many more buildings and development projects. </div>
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We are concerned islanders and we do not want to be in a mourning over the loss of the jewel of Langkawi in the near future. We are here protecting the rice bowl of the islanders.</div>
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Back then, I do remember how we were responded when we seek support from the MNS Langkawi. And below is the reply from the former MNS Langkawi Chairman back in 2009 (known as "junglewalla" the famous naturalist and proclaimed conservationist of Langkawi):</div>
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Note: Mr XX is someone that the name will not be revealed here</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">*From:* junglewalla <</span><a href="mailto:junglewalla@gmail.com" style="background-color: white; color: #234786; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; outline: 0px;" ymailto="mailto:junglewalla@gmail.com">junglewalla@gmail.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> *To:* </span><a href="mailto:mnslangkawi@yahoogroups.com" style="background-color: white; color: #234786; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; outline: 0px;" ymailto="mailto:mnslangkawi@yahoogroups.com">mnslangkawi@yahoogroups.com</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> *Sent:* Thu, September 3, 2009 2:25:46 PM</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> *Subject:* [mnslangkawi] Re: Pulau Payar Eco Dive Resort</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> Hi Guys,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> I have spoken to Mr.XX </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">on the phone yesterday and he informed me </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> this. Before being awarded the project the state goverment wanted the </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> best practice in place and made an inspection visit of his resort in </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> the east coast before the final desision was made.Some measures he has </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> in place are:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> 1. The grey water and black water sewage system at the resort complies </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> with international and national standards. All Treated water will be </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> used on the plant of the resort and not discharged into the ocean.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> 2.There will be a combustion generator(?) to power the resort but in </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> addition it has solar panels to light up the guest rooms at night.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> 3.All gabbage produce at the resort will be transported back to the </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> mainland or island.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> Mr. XX has invited mns members to make an effort to visit to the </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> resort at P. Payar for a site inspection.May i suggest to our members </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> that we make a visit as soon as possible so as to satisfy any doubts </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> that we may have. This will also give us the opportunity to spot any </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> bad practices at the site and advice him early. This will allow for </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> the problem to be nib at the bud early. I am sure Mr. XX </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> understands that being environmentally friendly can be good for business.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> I would like to take this opportunity to applaud the group for the </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> passion and love you have shown for the island's environment. Keep it </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> comming.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> We must not only be seen to be a watch dog for the environment but </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> must be prepared to engage with stakeholders and goverment bodies. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> While being critical we must also provide solutions. We must ensure </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> before any public action (newspaper,t. v., boycott etc) is taken on </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> errant individuals or companies that we must have throughly </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> investigated the matter and that we are proven right. This is to avoid </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> any legal liabilities upon us.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> Bear this also in mind..... that very so often we must stop and look </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> into the mirror and ask ourself this question .... What can I as an </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> individual do for the environment? .... Is the detergent that I am </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> using at home environmentally friendly or not and does it end up in </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> the ocean too?...or... .Am I still using styrofoam to pack my makan or </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> using the tiffen at the back of my car?....</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> Anybody want to go into the environmentally friendly product business?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> Small deeds add up.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> Love & Peace</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">> Junglewalla</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">></span></div>
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In the end, that's the end from junglewalla. No followups, no site visit nor efforts to help provide any solutions, nothing. And yes sir, they did their own research before writing the letter. So, I wonder on the wonders of this conservationist. And now I have learnt that when conservation works and business interest comes together = zero conservation.</div>
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Though the deed may be small but thank you very much to Mandy, Malaysiakini and EcoMalaysia.org.</div>
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And if you are wondering why I am bringing up the past, I wonder myself too. I am NOT a conservationist. I am simply doing this dirty job of highlighting some of the issues online while mostly others prefer to rah-rah the issues over a <i>teh-tarik</i> at the mamak stall.</div>
</span>Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797658135561940402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382539233184523416.post-73348622068683908942012-12-03T00:39:00.001+08:002012-12-03T00:41:26.174+08:00My Ramblings: I Ain't Perfect<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span>ho says green practices is an easy task? Anyone dares to argue this? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was an easy start for me and then there were other challenges that came along. In a way, it is not easy at all. Thankfully, when I was little I grew up observing my Mum reusing those plastic bags obtained from her weekend groceries shopping. She cleaned those extra plastic bags, allowed them to dry and folded them once they were dried. When the folded plastic bags became a few bundles, she took the bundles to the wet market and happily gave them away to her favorite vegetable, fish or chicken stall owners. Not only plastic bags which Mum collected but as well as bunches of colorful raffia strings. Such little act of thoughtfulness always bring smiles to the stall owners and of course, when they are happy, Mum gets some discounts from her purchase. A little thought goes a long way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Those were the days when the jargon "3Rs" is unknown and the word "RECYCLE" yet to exist. And yet the community has been practicing "REUSE" even before this word is emphasized now. Mum has demonstrated the concept of REUSE to me in a practical way. I see the benefits of what Mum has done (apart from the small discounts) and I am now copying her deeds but in a different way. Instead of taking those plastic bags and cleaning them (I hate cleaning!), I only keep the clean ones and use up the rests for storing waste. Because of that, I became a hoarder of plastic bags and to stop this habit, I now say "No" to new plastic bags when I buy stuffs. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Wxdsm2sdn3JgC4DYwirDRBoBVgPCOKR4CKqxNBGHwIfO_8b9AK_JGYbX5152q4c5TWwJ1qpL9L5vUTCJd4ZnFLafUvPWimtUE1mQPawkDxfK19Ae44tolZ4Y5duit5bvXhRLpXLqhLM/s1600/recyclable+items.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Wxdsm2sdn3JgC4DYwirDRBoBVgPCOKR4CKqxNBGHwIfO_8b9AK_JGYbX5152q4c5TWwJ1qpL9L5vUTCJd4ZnFLafUvPWimtUE1mQPawkDxfK19Ae44tolZ4Y5duit5bvXhRLpXLqhLM/s320/recyclable+items.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Recyclable items</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So the subject is only on plastic bags and what about polystyrene a.k.a
Styrofoam? Styrofoam is equally as bad as plastic bags that choked our environment and our marine wildlife! </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of the nature guides here argued with me that polystyrene can be recycled. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Malaysia does not have facilities that collect or accept polystyrene for recycling. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But what about those polystyrene food containers? They will be oily and dirty after use. And who will bother to wash those after use? </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It is not easy and expensive to recycle polystyrene stained by food waste. Therefore, these </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">polystyrene food containers are not suitable to be recycled. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsutz-5UFXsLEVhtHMpXoQ9ORQxBfJwIkURnvY1Ayw_b9NQnRq5m97_Y5hxVaP2ch-3-9xRsHS6qvpTWsUzg5mu0at8i7yG-p1_jVW9uAK7_4qX0DnuEx09K9cI03SBcojMM9T-2H2NE/s1600/styro+plates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsutz-5UFXsLEVhtHMpXoQ9ORQxBfJwIkURnvY1Ayw_b9NQnRq5m97_Y5hxVaP2ch-3-9xRsHS6qvpTWsUzg5mu0at8i7yG-p1_jVW9uAK7_4qX0DnuEx09K9cI03SBcojMM9T-2H2NE/s400/styro+plates.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Polystyrene food containers used as serving plates at a hawker center</span></div>
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I so wanted to spread the words around to my friends especially of saying "No" to new plastic bags and styrofoam. It is not easy. I must walk the talk and can only spread the words around by practicing silently.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So what are my challenges?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have been labelled as a freak by some of my friends on occasions when I freaked out at eating places serving food on styrofoam. They would give me a strange stare as if they were saying, "What's the big deal...?" or they would tell me "Don't be such a fuss!".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I cannot recall exactly which year that I started reducing the usage of polystyrene to pack my food. Very likely when I came to Langkawi years ago working with an outdoor education company. All of us (the staff and participants) were required to carry food containers all the time. If you lose your container, go look for banana leaves. I then discovered more about the dark side of consuming food on polystyrene and then it is a "fullstop" to it. Should I happen to use polystyrene, there's a way to reuse food styrofoam (picture below):</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8O5ziJWnXDwIlBODLTDStTE5AU8Y5p_AF1DOIaxpBB-V4u85ay-gMctzUqLCiRY5q8wA4yBItNzconhcRDyHHvt2wke6je1OM9ousM-rWFoCOIVu1fwCZ5sCHltyumhsR-F3OCdVG6o/s1600/styro+mousepad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8O5ziJWnXDwIlBODLTDStTE5AU8Y5p_AF1DOIaxpBB-V4u85ay-gMctzUqLCiRY5q8wA4yBItNzconhcRDyHHvt2wke6je1OM9ousM-rWFoCOIVu1fwCZ5sCHltyumhsR-F3OCdVG6o/s400/styro+mousepad.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Polystyrene a.k.a. Styrofoam converted to my mouse pad. Effective la!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I may be a freak and often seen going around </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">pasar malam</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (night market) with my little food containers and used plastic bags. Then again, I do get caught in situations when I didn't have these things with me to pack food. Or sometimes I did bring my food containers but not enough to pack more yummy food. And this will be the moment when I would go "Aaaaarrrrrrgggggghhhhhh!!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There were lots of "Aaaaarrrrrrgggggghhhhhh!!" when I first started practicing bringing own plastic bags and food containers because I always forgot to take them along with me. And so at the <i>pasar malam</i>, I will be staring at the food and at the same time making decisions to pack them or not. For many times I ended up not having to eat what I was craving for because of styrofoam. Lessons learned and now I do remember.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There were occasions when I ran out of used plastic bags and guiltily, I will "sneaked" stuffs in new plastic bags. I will end up performing self consolation ritual by telling myself, "Is ok...considering I have not used new plastic bags for the past few days/weeks...??"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And then what about when I go traveling? That's the most difficult one. Very often my "Things to Pack" excludes used plastic bags and food container (they do take up some valuable spaces in my backpack). And then I will be caught in the same situation of "Aaaaarrrrrrgggggghhhhhh!!" The least I can do is by being selective in which stall I will buy from and to make sacrifices. Yet, I do ended up being guilty of taking new plastic bags. Looks like I have to bring my own "Bungkus-Kit" when I go traveling now.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDnRxZ4dLqIcr6_2EjMc8FkPIMMVtKFK7q-65vqWKRG1l6cX0cOWcHthqkaZuQoNCgK5dTXNHCw9mWz-RmWNY-FWJsIl3aM8dNiYvAqyJxZdXXvj8yJOw7fORCvhb1JwxznC6PkeX8g5A/s1600/bungkus+kit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDnRxZ4dLqIcr6_2EjMc8FkPIMMVtKFK7q-65vqWKRG1l6cX0cOWcHthqkaZuQoNCgK5dTXNHCw9mWz-RmWNY-FWJsIl3aM8dNiYvAqyJxZdXXvj8yJOw7fORCvhb1JwxznC6PkeX8g5A/s400/bungkus+kit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My bungkus kit consists of cloth bag, food container and overused plastic bags</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The biggest guilt of all will be when I got caught in the above situations by my friends. Imagine having to be seen by my friends when I packed stuffs with new plastic bags and that's even worse than being called a freak! And the remarks I got? Well, stuff 'em with excuses then! But then again, when I packed stuffs with my used plastic bags, I do get mistaken too. Shall I put a label on the used plastic bag, "I am so overused for more than twenty times!"?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And saying "No" to new plastic bags at supermarkets can be tricky as well. Reason? On some days, I do need those large and medium sized supermarket plastic bags to store </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">garbage and stuffs. Well... at least I don't have to spend extra cash buying new garbage bags. And garbage bags are plastic bags too. Gimme a break... on some days I rejected new plastic bags, ok!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lastly, I have another title given by a friend - "Hoarder". Because we often thought of reusing something later, we tend to keep stuffs to be used later. Then stuffs keep building up and taking up the storage space in the house. How do I ensure that I am not overly a hoarder? I use my neighbor as a benchmark... hee hee... My neighbor is the greatest hoarder I have ever met. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Seriously, I ain't perfect! I am only doing my best within my capacity in helping to green the island. And I am not a green person either. I am part of the society contributing to carbon footprint and burning fossil fuel. As much as I can, I will pick a day once a week or fortnightly as a car free day. Yet, I ain't perfect because I have to use electricity to work on computers to blog, to facebook, to snack on my favorite potato Chipster chips, to chill my favorite Vitagen drink (plastic there!) and listening to my radio! It is only on the day I die that I stop contributing to carbon footprint and then I may become perfect green person six feet under?</span><br />
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</span>Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797658135561940402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382539233184523416.post-53589640030365153532012-09-28T23:17:00.002+08:002012-09-29T23:19:24.773+08:00Spidey Snail<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span>t was on that evening on the road by the edge of a rainforest, I was trying my luck to look for the Asian Paradise Flycatcher <span class="st"><i>(Terpsiphone paradisi)</i></span> to photograph. Somehow, something caught my attention. It was just a small whitish leaf-like about two centimeters suspending in the air and it was moving a little. Oh well... just a leaf, probably. Or maybe it could be a spider??? Let's check it out.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As I got closer, I was very amazed to see this.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Click on for a closer look.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8xchqWDHHhfMTx6QHHg7uCSELE0UtPy3WX6YPQHzq4VGZ_4p6gFVktBJ8mHHVfCMQHBFU_q-hN9hwrh0UsnKNwZFfN3YaHA_DlQ9JP9fDWwMv-NESTW1EzKlftFUT0AXIPwbe-soMFc/s1600/spidey+snail2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8xchqWDHHhfMTx6QHHg7uCSELE0UtPy3WX6YPQHzq4VGZ_4p6gFVktBJ8mHHVfCMQHBFU_q-hN9hwrh0UsnKNwZFfN3YaHA_DlQ9JP9fDWwMv-NESTW1EzKlftFUT0AXIPwbe-soMFc/s400/spidey+snail2.jpg" width="335" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: lime;">This is not the best shot... but can you see the strand of mucus?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What I was seeing for my first time was this snail climbing downwards by using its own mucus which looks like a thread made by a spider. As I was attempting to take a closer shot of this delicate creature, it somehow landed on my camera lens. And the strand of mucus stopped at about less than 1 meter above the ground. Gee... I think I "did" it again...sorry snail for ruining your journey. Anyway, I gave it a free ride down by placing it on the ground. I hope it is happy on that spot.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Hey JK of <a href="http://siputkuning.blogspot.com/">SiputKuning Journal</a>, this post is specially for you! Also require your expertise to tell us more about this wonderful snail. Cheers, mate!</span></span></div>
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</span>Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797658135561940402noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382539233184523416.post-26891746696129234012012-09-08T00:40:00.000+08:002012-09-08T00:48:15.286+08:00Where's My "Real Rain"?<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span>e are now in the month of September. And yes, it is still the raining season. Supposedly. And yet, where is the real rain??? </div>
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What is the "real rain" to me? A "real rain" in Langkawi to me means a minimum of three days of non-stop rain. It will start with a heavy downpour and then slow down to drizzle for awhile and then heavy downpour again. This cycle will go on till night and then the next day and the next day... and another day till the rain stops completely. With such rainfall for such duration, there will be flash floods on some areas. This is normal for the island every year.</div>
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Looking back a year ago, especially towards the end of August 2011, Langkawi has five days of continuous rain. Yes, it was non-stop! The glorious rain also turned Temurun into glorious waterfall. I was there last year during the five days rain and check out these pictures below.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrEIBxQJgXqC97MCrAlWBIT_bGlyIxlKiLmgxS9HpVxtb7YCvHUrb3_J8PFxgG3E4zJdt-rhKL4GyIz7IFk1wPfxws7CzvaFg5uDydNpN4BoO80YKe7eNjeVEj4GNzK4oCLe0W3umTkU/s1600/temurun+2011+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrEIBxQJgXqC97MCrAlWBIT_bGlyIxlKiLmgxS9HpVxtb7YCvHUrb3_J8PFxgG3E4zJdt-rhKL4GyIz7IFk1wPfxws7CzvaFg5uDydNpN4BoO80YKe7eNjeVEj4GNzK4oCLe0W3umTkU/s640/temurun+2011+2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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A year later and twelve days after 25th August 2011, I was at Temurun Waterfall. Click below for more...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9ibm0l2KG5gOyVAZBetwLwAr6FY2DQEnQOb5nM2sEhTQhX3jebs5jc1JXrmWcWPNetj683OgQtg46AFfHbj9yEzqHQ9LsDoEq9QOAmZs1_wuEwhrxQuCIKsninAHbWxlwndPqcv83EY/s1600/temurun+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9ibm0l2KG5gOyVAZBetwLwAr6FY2DQEnQOb5nM2sEhTQhX3jebs5jc1JXrmWcWPNetj683OgQtg46AFfHbj9yEzqHQ9LsDoEq9QOAmZs1_wuEwhrxQuCIKsninAHbWxlwndPqcv83EY/s640/temurun+2012.jpg" width="356" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: lime;">Such mild rain was not enough to create a full blast for this waterfall</span></div>
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August this year was hot and humid. There was a big rain with strong wind on August 24th 2012 and it lasted for one day only. And then the weather turned hot again the next day until August 27th afternoon when the heavy rain came. But it was only for that evening. The next day, the rain came in the morning until late afternoon. And then hot hot hot!! I recorded a temperature of 34deg Celsius on September 3rd 2012. </div>
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While out at sea on the boat, a sudden change from a calm cloudy morning to rainy afternoon on September 5th and 6th 2012!! I took the opportunity to capture the moments of stunning storm clouds.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXX1NjSwljUrbGXzSsiVDhH2zc6dtkYgAQzUEkfG059lEhDOiP6fXdV-nyzdCZzr0pSnLN92nD5lxrl3IjY5xfxy4bK15CEoRf8pSb5u9KZkMxC_di2LMosspUSHWzXhzGbFtgKeieQlg/s1600/storm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXX1NjSwljUrbGXzSsiVDhH2zc6dtkYgAQzUEkfG059lEhDOiP6fXdV-nyzdCZzr0pSnLN92nD5lxrl3IjY5xfxy4bK15CEoRf8pSb5u9KZkMxC_di2LMosspUSHWzXhzGbFtgKeieQlg/s400/storm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It was kind of non-stop and it was a bit generous by giving short breaks in between. Two days of rain... and only two days!! Two days of mild rain and the rain clouds disappeared rapidly. And so it was back to normal clear blue skies with some white clouds today... boring..</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOV7YrUHsxNb9MM05xYi8nSi_oFPGCR2QX6KxjkUd1C5ISB-NCCSjieWT_12M4FRwKCkuQ75UzEvvFUifQ_MTBDTTfVj1PcNy-1M7bwd1qyIYbmOwHldlfI5wDt2GLCO3UzC2GTSmkXk4/s1600/blue+skies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOV7YrUHsxNb9MM05xYi8nSi_oFPGCR2QX6KxjkUd1C5ISB-NCCSjieWT_12M4FRwKCkuQ75UzEvvFUifQ_MTBDTTfVj1PcNy-1M7bwd1qyIYbmOwHldlfI5wDt2GLCO3UzC2GTSmkXk4/s400/blue+skies.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here I am pondering if the global climate change has anything to do such weather patterns. I am anticipating for the "real rain" for a normal rainy season. </div>
</span>Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797658135561940402noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382539233184523416.post-44555326968446843212012-09-04T00:12:00.000+08:002012-09-08T00:53:25.752+08:00Another Aaarrrrgggghhhh!<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A </span>rather late and quiet morning on a secluded road which
lies in the heart of the island's lowland rainforest. I know I was a bit
late because the surrounding of the forest was so still and silent. It was hot and sunny as well. </span><br />
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aim is to catch a glimpse of any migratory flycatchers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Started to show himself was a cute little Orange-Bellied Flowerpecker <i>(</i></span><span class="st"><i>Dicaeum trigonostigma)</i> </span><span style="font-size: small;">hovering over the flowers of Senduduk plant <i>(Melastoma malabathricum)</i>. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOj5Wiw1-yK5Jg4qFKDn09yC_SOGHXPhd2ZMqtrYdJG7b1xhK7mCchVYDiO6dU9oyP2-9Bduwi4q6zshWhxKGKJrxfGtkbmN5iCiCgzu6gmcXFnwd5YB5LhUa_xxxW_CD4uYghXJhkCd0/s1600/obflowerpecker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOj5Wiw1-yK5Jg4qFKDn09yC_SOGHXPhd2ZMqtrYdJG7b1xhK7mCchVYDiO6dU9oyP2-9Bduwi4q6zshWhxKGKJrxfGtkbmN5iCiCgzu6gmcXFnwd5YB5LhUa_xxxW_CD4uYghXJhkCd0/s400/obflowerpecker.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">As if the Orange-Bellied Flowerpecker was the appetizer for this hour of birdwatching, the second appetizer dish came in was a flock of Pin-</span><span style="font-size: small;">Striped </span><span style="font-size: small;">Tit Babblers <i>(Macronus gularis)</i> babbling away. They were very generous this time to allow me to observe their streaks on their lower throats and breasts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">A few meters ahead, a long black body descended smoothly on some branches of a tree. A handsome Black Giant Squirrel <i>(Ratufa bicolor)</i> was trying hard to hide itself but I spotted it</span><span style="font-size: small;"> first. A few steps after, a male Crimson Sunbird <i>(Aethopyga siparaja)</i>. The late and quiet morning seems to get a bit more exciting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">On the middle of the road, something familiar was walking with its bum swaying left and right. When it stops, the tail goes up and down. A Forest Wagtail </span><i><span class="st">(Dendronanthus indicus)</span></i><span style="font-size: small;">! It has been aeon since I last saw this wagging birdie. It seems to be leading me. And then it joined two other Forest Wagtails ahead. Indeed is a pleasure to be greeted by a Forest Wagtail.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Reaching the dead end and turning around was the Greater Racquet-tailed drongo <i>(</i></span><i><span class="st">Dicrurus paradiseus</span></i><span style="font-size: small;"><i>)</i> waiting for me. Red-Eyed Bulbuls <i>(</i></span><i><span class="st">Pycnonotus brunneus)</span></i><span style="font-size: small;"> joined in the fun as well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">A familiar soft tune came in. Aha! A Tickell's Blue Flycatcher (</span><span class="st"><i>Cyornis tickelliae</i>)</span><span style="font-size: small;"> .. I only saw the female. Though my aim was to look for migratory flycatchers but this local one is satisfying too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">To finish off with the dessert...please click below</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Suddenly, a high pitch whistling call pierced through the rainforest and I definitely recognised that call. I mimic that call and waited. Less than a minute later, I saw something dashed very quickly like the speed of a lightning into a clump of leaves. I waited for any signs of movement. One minute, two minutes and up to five minutes past. Still no signs of any movement. I mimic the call again. Seconds later, he came out and perched on a liana!! Yeahh! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The moment I have been waiting for! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">And then I remembered having to decide which camera to take with me before I left home. Darn! Why didn't I take my Canon Powershot SX1IS? Having no other choices, I have to use my Canon Powershot S100 with only 5x optical zoom to capture this bird. He perched there for a good ten minutes. Just when I thought I have learned my previous lesson of not bringing my camera, here's another </span><span class="fullpost"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.meblognature.blogspot.com/2011/03/aaarrrrgggghhhh.html">Aaarrrrgggghhhh! </a> psst.. to TC, now I recall your advise and should have listened to my instinct... Aaarrrrgggghhhh!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Here is this elusive bird:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xNIW7L6MYv05CTob9DsJJ-bZmOR-fyBJnhtXBW6uTV3mgm5dzPK3sw3yfOPXQTls_E_K7KwRaeNzzR2W4N6DbjbHqhr9Cs4Ni29voCMvnx5SYPEuxmjdQBAC8crRmfbPrlHvroqEENk/s1600/banded+kingfisher+male.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xNIW7L6MYv05CTob9DsJJ-bZmOR-fyBJnhtXBW6uTV3mgm5dzPK3sw3yfOPXQTls_E_K7KwRaeNzzR2W4N6DbjbHqhr9Cs4Ni29voCMvnx5SYPEuxmjdQBAC8crRmfbPrlHvroqEENk/s400/banded+kingfisher+male.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I was attempting to take the picture of this kingfisher through my pair of binoculars but it was so difficult to keep my hands steady. By then I was lying on the middle of the road while attempting to do so. My attention got diverted by some noise and I saw a Brahminy Kite </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(Haliastur indus)</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"> gliding above me. And something dashed very quickly and when I looked at the liana, the Banded Kingfisher has flown away. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">A very good ten minutes and I was all alone by myself indulging this moment. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Oh! I couldn't ask for more. Although I didn't catch any glimpse of a migratory flycatcher but seeing a Banded Kingfisher certainly made my day!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">For that one hour on that stretch of road, I have my nine-course meal for brunch:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">1. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Orange-Bellied Flowerpecker <i>(</i></span><span class="st"><i>Dicaeum trigonostigma)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">2. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Pin-</span><span style="font-size: small;">Striped </span><span style="font-size: small;">Tit Babblers <i>(Macronus gularis)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">3. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Crimson Sunbird <i>(Aethopyga siparaja)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">4. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Forest Wagtail </span><i><span class="st">(Dendronanthus indicus)</span></i></div>
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<span class="st">5</span><i><span class="st">. </span></i><span style="font-size: small;">Greater Racquet-tailed drongo <i>(</i></span><i><span class="st">Dicrurus paradiseus</span></i><span style="font-size: small;"><i>)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">6. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Red-Eyed Bulbuls <i>(</i></span><i><span class="st">Pycnonotus brunneus)</span></i><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">7. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Tickell's Blue Flycatcher (</span><span class="st"><i>Cyornis tickelliae</i>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">8. Banded Kingfisher <i>(</i></span><i><span class="st">Lacedo pulchella)</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">9. Brahminy Kite <i>(Haliastur indus)</i> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Heading towards my car, that same call came from within the forest and as if it was saying <i>"See you again"</i> ...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Yes Banded, we shall meet again real soon ... "Burp!"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Reference:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">1. A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia by Craig Robson</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Link:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.forestexplorers.com/senduduk.html">About Senduduk plant</a> </span></div>
</span>
Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797658135561940402noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382539233184523416.post-18751170700709921932012-08-27T19:06:00.000+08:002012-12-02T19:49:25.750+08:00 Waiting For The Month of Peacefulness To Return<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span>n island of serenity from July 21st till August 18th 2012 and only during the day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">People often asks me, "When is the best time to visit Langkawi"?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">My immediate answer would be, "Never come to Langkawi in the month of December unless you have a bunch of kids on school holidays". </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">If you are not particular in searching for food during the day, the best time to visit the island would be the fasting month or Ramadhan period, provided it does not fall in the month of December.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaYREnwkxwMA16Ady9iEYdMF8UKtFePlRtE_2lyvf5Rebk7fOwmZC8YeYFnccnkWzw0rRjo_PKCPQxQzU7j1WW4zTDmA8-WRePbxB4SN_KeaFv_NUt8uHKPet8rxlCUnnvA4xyv62RXc/s1600/dyg+lake2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaYREnwkxwMA16Ady9iEYdMF8UKtFePlRtE_2lyvf5Rebk7fOwmZC8YeYFnccnkWzw0rRjo_PKCPQxQzU7j1WW4zTDmA8-WRePbxB4SN_KeaFv_NUt8uHKPet8rxlCUnnvA4xyv62RXc/s400/dyg+lake2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> Click on to pick a nature spot during that time... </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Pick a nature spot. From the swampy mangroves to the Bat Caves of Kilim.
From the giant slide of Seven Wells waterfall to the rocky Temurun
Waterfall. And even to the gentle stream of Lubuk Semilang, one can find
peacefulness and reap the best out of what nature got to offer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">My group of friends were here last month after following my advise. We practically had the whole place to ourselves on most of the nature spots we visited.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">From Tasik Dayang Bunting <i>(Pregnant Maiden Island)</i> on Pulau Dayang Bunting:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFsIX7Ndz2cR1uuZXqPwEKFQaOzfNQ0mA1XHLK5TNWqHLgF0MbhfMC0xiP3oT3IjUooVhgGw_qNAshwfRgTSuRlXZjss9TiZ6wU4buzcdRH4GwC5mW6SGx5D2ZNtSQMmzi5B4wVHX4hs/s1600/dyg+lake+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFsIX7Ndz2cR1uuZXqPwEKFQaOzfNQ0mA1XHLK5TNWqHLgF0MbhfMC0xiP3oT3IjUooVhgGw_qNAshwfRgTSuRlXZjss9TiZ6wU4buzcdRH4GwC5mW6SGx5D2ZNtSQMmzi5B4wVHX4hs/s400/dyg+lake+1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We had the whole pool to ourselves!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIK4GSOgCRuped5gb6zJSLh0KsOcC99IVVETM7Hxnv54w-Brs-hBd4kZS3PHrDE99lGM575doLn8aEPbAYJA0nD3mcWipbwspbFI3Za47k4KjL1pZxyYhZcPpLwiOfTWliipUVsIq_rU/s1600/dyg+lake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIK4GSOgCRuped5gb6zJSLh0KsOcC99IVVETM7Hxnv54w-Brs-hBd4kZS3PHrDE99lGM575doLn8aEPbAYJA0nD3mcWipbwspbFI3Za47k4KjL1pZxyYhZcPpLwiOfTWliipUVsIq_rU/s400/dyg+lake.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHM9H2I684Cdzmyv30cck60sIJtMQfjPcP2F5bmyjcU9ZOtn3o2BE5fRiTqrOmIo7BhjGZAinvrKk5i6uD7oL2GC7vPHTpJPWmQueI2pOuJrDpw6CfLhCH2_Fsp-6PHQ9AOe5ZnU_wHJQ/s1600/napping.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHM9H2I684Cdzmyv30cck60sIJtMQfjPcP2F5bmyjcU9ZOtn3o2BE5fRiTqrOmIo7BhjGZAinvrKk5i6uD7oL2GC7vPHTpJPWmQueI2pOuJrDpw6CfLhCH2_Fsp-6PHQ9AOe5ZnU_wHJQ/s400/napping.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: lime;">Caught napping! The staff from the Park Ranger office took the opportunity to snooze when we were there at noon. Park rangers were hired by LADA (Langkawi Development Authority) as part of their plan in Langkawi's blue print. But these park rangers are not the qualified park rangers from the Forestry Department</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOP_2tvHsonE57woeEYxqbPaQovCQNvU7NMQCwP8_hLZ49jP7uaFz-gi_6G6uoMQG6IPqEmll09YXfaQf1jK7yQAA16Pb5sbRrxgQ1L28xBi5qinfXtwbZ6Gvualh529DC9zEeMCg7es/s1600/spot+them.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOP_2tvHsonE57woeEYxqbPaQovCQNvU7NMQCwP8_hLZ49jP7uaFz-gi_6G6uoMQG6IPqEmll09YXfaQf1jK7yQAA16Pb5sbRrxgQ1L28xBi5qinfXtwbZ6Gvualh529DC9zEeMCg7es/s400/spot+them.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: lime;">Can you spot them?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">To my favorite waterfall, Temurun Waterfall:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKmxVH8kezampuJP2ufoucLFKjbJQZ4yP_LI1zpn2est2pkp9nn2-zkMFqqjJfqa3F4P0LklKgM7aphJwjbSyFV5Q4Tx3No-2c73flVwzzxRXdt9C1K5m2yNY_yQuzBmxyJpzZCIQtWs/s1600/temurun.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKmxVH8kezampuJP2ufoucLFKjbJQZ4yP_LI1zpn2est2pkp9nn2-zkMFqqjJfqa3F4P0LklKgM7aphJwjbSyFV5Q4Tx3No-2c73flVwzzxRXdt9C1K5m2yNY_yQuzBmxyJpzZCIQtWs/s400/temurun.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">To the locals favourite picnic spot, Lubuk Semilang (Book Village):</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrpxELcK_3DWHdXOXoBXIN6sN5TaV9GNWMYMG4Z41zC2ESc-ElNkCnKuW4Mj4RTvb92tMcY_q60N6dXvbhHtaTbea4CxI46wT5l-gwDleuSc2ecrxkxdx_zu2ZJqaOnni2xTE4UNQZaQ/s1600/book+village.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrpxELcK_3DWHdXOXoBXIN6sN5TaV9GNWMYMG4Z41zC2ESc-ElNkCnKuW4Mj4RTvb92tMcY_q60N6dXvbhHtaTbea4CxI46wT5l-gwDleuSc2ecrxkxdx_zu2ZJqaOnni2xTE4UNQZaQ/s400/book+village.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Ramadhan period is a detox time for those who were practicing it and as well for the nature! Lesser visitors means lesser rubbish brought into the nature spots. Lesser feeding to the macaques would also mean lesser rubbish scattered all over the place. I bet Mother Nature and her dwellers can breathe much easier without all those crowds. But sadly, there were those who secretly lugged food packages into Lubuk Semilang area. They took the opportunity to eat or smoke in such area where they will not be seen or caught eating during the day. They left their trails of rubbish behind when they left the scene.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeJte9-L2BSlEIZlCgzM8ThAdXkGCZKchX7n2_oXUT0WP7csvl9Qi2r4ym5juFMKz1tyR1XFm_UiOIqOqyNO8ZbXhgxQ4R7nFY2DfHeYiam-FHzGPjdkgkMWfVOqEPJnKEGdS3IGOY2Y/s1600/rubbish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeJte9-L2BSlEIZlCgzM8ThAdXkGCZKchX7n2_oXUT0WP7csvl9Qi2r4ym5juFMKz1tyR1XFm_UiOIqOqyNO8ZbXhgxQ4R7nFY2DfHeYiam-FHzGPjdkgkMWfVOqEPJnKEGdS3IGOY2Y/s400/rubbish.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: lime;">Rubbish on the rock!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">One month seems long for some and really short for Mother Nature. A month has gone and humans start to "colonize" the area again. Please don't misunderstood me. I am not against humans visiting such lovely nature spots. Overcrowded places often have rubbish left behind and the impact made by some ignorant people. They have the will to bring in food which can be heavy and yet too lazy to bring out the leftovers when the weight is much lesser.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdmXSCICoYcAuXehC3-arWQL63JcH-Wi_VAyoXelTGaqKOpRREzZWDY3Wxuy7RlUuYd3A4lPmpU72i2vr2GqC7kBrkjTwSvgWc8OrSJAuykhchXhFU0csffzyVvcgQ5o2xr9fAsH1iis/s1600/crowd.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdmXSCICoYcAuXehC3-arWQL63JcH-Wi_VAyoXelTGaqKOpRREzZWDY3Wxuy7RlUuYd3A4lPmpU72i2vr2GqC7kBrkjTwSvgWc8OrSJAuykhchXhFU0csffzyVvcgQ5o2xr9fAsH1iis/s400/crowd.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The local crowd returned after a month</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I have to wait for another year for such serenity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">My advise to discerning visitors, Ramadhan period is the best time to visit Langkawi. Pack some snacks with you and I trust you on how you handle your rubbish. Just remember, leave your snacks and even your soft drinks in your car or boat when you know of places with the Long Tailed-macaques. Their Boss is often watching YOU and your food!</span></div>
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</span>Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797658135561940402noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382539233184523416.post-82274804335393116932012-08-05T23:21:00.002+08:002013-09-30T23:37:44.486+08:00My Ramblings<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span>nto the
rainforest I explored today ... just to fill my lungs with fresh air and
needed some boost for my dying brain cells. </span><span style="font-size: small;">I realised that it has been some time since my
last post on this blog. Busy is the word, lazy is the reason and
unmotivated is the ultimate truth. By getting out there and being out here in search of getting some sort of inspiration for the next blog post.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">My ramblings today while walking through my imaginary world of Pandora.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOrRuvQO3GMlIFNwzbN39DWD9E6LBVaTqoI-T9aswetE_3tEY9MooJSp5r4QIm1iTPtay3Hjo_Zx3yKKgqyuJvDJ2CnNNH2LYGt60aOLhCndPOGKSkuVzRJ-RUuPW4rU6wyRMNGc4Ww0/s1600/lubuk+sembilan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOrRuvQO3GMlIFNwzbN39DWD9E6LBVaTqoI-T9aswetE_3tEY9MooJSp5r4QIm1iTPtay3Hjo_Zx3yKKgqyuJvDJ2CnNNH2LYGt60aOLhCndPOGKSkuVzRJ-RUuPW4rU6wyRMNGc4Ww0/s400/lubuk+sembilan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Beware... by clicking "...Read full post...", it will lead you to more of my ramblings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The start of the climb was normal and I needed to slow down even before the twenty minutes crept in. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Abnormal. My legs muscles surely needed some
form of physiotherapy because I busted my left knee - again. </span><span style="font-size: small;">But this time,
the pain on my left knee now is different - felt like the ligament needed
the extra stretch... and it stretch slightly over the limit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">"EEEkkkWWAAKKK"... and then "whoosh-whoosh"...that certainly has woken up one plug of my senses. OMG... the "Mountain Banshee" !! (from the movie Avatar)...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">They were alarmed by my presence even though they were high up on the canopy. Always vigilant against their number one public enemies, </span><span style="font-size: small;"> the hunters and poachers</span><span style="font-size: small;">. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Three Great hornbills flying over and hopping from one tree to another. People
who came with me previously wanted to see them and the hornbills were invisible. But today, when I
am alone, they revealed.... The Great Hornbills <i>(Buceros bicornis)</i>, they always put a smile on my weary face.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">One step after another as I climbed...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">At times I wonder why am I continuing to post
on this blog. What do I get out of writing and posting them? Nope...I
ain't getting paid for writing all these with my own time. Will the locals
here care if the whole Langkawi has no more wildlife and just the human
monkeys running around? Will the locals here fight and defend the last
tree standing on the island if it will be chopped down for someone's
villa? You probably agree with me, no? Why am I still spending time on this? </span><span style="font-size: small;">Should I stop wasting my time? </span><span style="font-size: small;">hmm... Na... not
yet. Since I have started this and I have unfinished business. But I will crawl till I drop... or until someone delivers a bullet into me..</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiolcXufaWVikxUEr7QPjsDP7CBiYW7KXzJVd7pLPiQ-HTs5jaPteATvj-8Z_Ad-cAhpiO8HuKBuXFyarWS3Y7dIHldWlnFPeR7pzYIahI6GB344mpWMKxBi_zDOlXrnqYF336vWpkW-k/s1600/bullet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiolcXufaWVikxUEr7QPjsDP7CBiYW7KXzJVd7pLPiQ-HTs5jaPteATvj-8Z_Ad-cAhpiO8HuKBuXFyarWS3Y7dIHldWlnFPeR7pzYIahI6GB344mpWMKxBi_zDOlXrnqYF336vWpkW-k/s400/bullet.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: lime;">Though we had picked up a couple of bullet shells months ago and yet three more appeared. Illegal hunters and poachers up on their sleeves again</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Looking at these forest termites at work, they seemed to be aimless... chew, chew chew...bite bite bite aimlessly. Yet they have a direction after that. What about me? Where am I heading to? Where's my direction? I am now back at my life's crossroad.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNn7OPc5E9eGww-OgpevxVRZfypGnw8kv93OeJG-pv5ncsEwDB60WA5A322u9aM-unW6PaOHaiYZZj9FXNWTYDPbsWaZOgmu-NHu14jIEqrg9JwmsbaWS8PGEkAV6qKCVzdf3lR3HeRE/s1600/forest+termites.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNn7OPc5E9eGww-OgpevxVRZfypGnw8kv93OeJG-pv5ncsEwDB60WA5A322u9aM-unW6PaOHaiYZZj9FXNWTYDPbsWaZOgmu-NHu14jIEqrg9JwmsbaWS8PGEkAV6qKCVzdf3lR3HeRE/s400/forest+termites.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">An army of forest termites eating hard</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Aimless I am... at times... I am not focusing where I am going when the road ahead seems blur and there are hidden opportunities until I stumbled upon them and oppss...too late.. I accidentally stepped on land snails. Not my fault...they were under the leaf litters and well camouflaged!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWUOYqoDSQ7tmW5LP7qagfIcoG86hOFGumhbTS8qghLOC9CgCj6RhW7WsNizFnt_MPKPhLrrejD8pGxDm7FEcswlsKoqRCtx-HqmcPSGf0XwFoOObY9Pydwwyj3GdoTddNJjbU9YXLaW4/s1600/penyet+snail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWUOYqoDSQ7tmW5LP7qagfIcoG86hOFGumhbTS8qghLOC9CgCj6RhW7WsNizFnt_MPKPhLrrejD8pGxDm7FEcswlsKoqRCtx-HqmcPSGf0XwFoOObY9Pydwwyj3GdoTddNJjbU9YXLaW4/s400/penyet+snail.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: lime;">One of the three land snails I accidentally "penyet" (flatten)...very sorry!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHP4FdUSfFYtESRpJ4nzxzht0Gg5kvXGlA0z_BVoQp_ALkNx6Uibq68nUXMNsbm2_b6KiQ9VOX62nq0uh6aE0OXrfyArivLptBmFUEvLZtCD252eV4Z4A1MHnXjnE7FR65OMbOd8Leh0/s1600/penyet+snail+alive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHP4FdUSfFYtESRpJ4nzxzht0Gg5kvXGlA0z_BVoQp_ALkNx6Uibq68nUXMNsbm2_b6KiQ9VOX62nq0uh6aE0OXrfyArivLptBmFUEvLZtCD252eV4Z4A1MHnXjnE7FR65OMbOd8Leh0/s400/penyet+snail+alive.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: lime;">Amazingly, this "penyet" land snail was still alive and crawling</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHx-ga_YZI9l2drHb1vFgvbSViM8JH1pidGeTN7Jjn2A4sf07iC1DYpoH-Bhf5jS0rOVyhCPX6-X3-QDlbwYV04UlZk44QTB5yMXLasUOeTRBMwcJHTIFH8zE9cKBI05ud-VYhs__GDm0/s1600/land+snail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHx-ga_YZI9l2drHb1vFgvbSViM8JH1pidGeTN7Jjn2A4sf07iC1DYpoH-Bhf5jS0rOVyhCPX6-X3-QDlbwYV04UlZk44QTB5yMXLasUOeTRBMwcJHTIFH8zE9cKBI05ud-VYhs__GDm0/s400/land+snail.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: lime;">I managed to spot one without having to "penyet" it. What a lovely gastropod!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I must be busy like those forest termites, productive and really must start on what I should be doing - working on my personal website. It has been overdue for one year now. Juggling between this blog and that website in which I yet to start, how I wish a single day can be more than <span style="font-size: large;">24</span>hours! Feeling so burnout and doing nothing is really doing something! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGEiO3cfx_GIxYgJ3jae1CgvziHVNyUqa2HyFb69Qz6OKqYMF9BrqJbcDb8sdOsbDgH8XFns-hQI7MIwcbCjhy-BNixdk9WkPaxxpR6SEHtVrbQHFpAouFaN_OAu6cdRHD6PM4W194_vw/s1600/live+with+trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGEiO3cfx_GIxYgJ3jae1CgvziHVNyUqa2HyFb69Qz6OKqYMF9BrqJbcDb8sdOsbDgH8XFns-hQI7MIwcbCjhy-BNixdk9WkPaxxpR6SEHtVrbQHFpAouFaN_OAu6cdRHD6PM4W194_vw/s400/live+with+trees.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Musing while fixing my eyes on these trees... I pondered upon the several failed attempts to look for a </span><span style="font-size: small;">place which I can call "My Home Sweet Home". A nice decent house or apartment is becoming less affordable for a below-average wage earner like me. The influx of these foreigners/expats buying properties in Malaysia and the speculation has turned the prices shooting sky high! Thanks to our government for failing to protect the welfare of its own people. </span><span style="font-size: small;">In a way, if you are not a millionaire - you can kiss "a nice decent home" goodbye! Yes, yes...this happens globally, I know. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Should I convert to Muslim and this will not help me to purchase a land with a title for Bumi either. So much for 1Malaysia! Boo! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxjeInHIyM9lz2QhCAHABoBZNaFlqFxZnCMm-cbeBCSBqtxWxcw15Syb779wHBadhnoKOzSBpFtZT6tfNtLW-RXhorZkiqF-5nwWTXDPDJOKRkmtLbIOOggUmue70ODEke24S2lNfBoo/s1600/live+with+trees2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxjeInHIyM9lz2QhCAHABoBZNaFlqFxZnCMm-cbeBCSBqtxWxcw15Syb779wHBadhnoKOzSBpFtZT6tfNtLW-RXhorZkiqF-5nwWTXDPDJOKRkmtLbIOOggUmue70ODEke24S2lNfBoo/s400/live+with+trees2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">... I might as well become a tree and live amongst them..</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">My long lost friend! ... In fact, I have been yearning to see this old friend on this walk and walla... there you are.. "ye still digging and rolling the old shit?"</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxgbpT5DvZL_EnIofqkE7SuJS0y3TZa1N7KZuw8FUYrKyAoGWDTlJAB_Rnp1d8976SlR0hpo9TcsYwoZKobhsjuSRd8lbZWZE8Se8Ouz8Gt_Lt_z8ORVPxa48CDiDiJmmsPVp3ybt2pY/s1600/dung+beetl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxgbpT5DvZL_EnIofqkE7SuJS0y3TZa1N7KZuw8FUYrKyAoGWDTlJAB_Rnp1d8976SlR0hpo9TcsYwoZKobhsjuSRd8lbZWZE8Se8Ouz8Gt_Lt_z8ORVPxa48CDiDiJmmsPVp3ybt2pY/s400/dung+beetl.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The strongest insect in the world - The Dung Beetle</span></div>
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<!--
<span style="font-size: small;">Work wise with this " " company as it is - busy and not so busy as well... with the slave driver up on my back.. yes I am made to be busy and was a slave to them since a year ago. </span><span style="font-size: small;">The slave driver, wife of my boss and we are distant "enemy" ... </span> --> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMu7AAfff8QO54yzNrNNkvPvRsunkCwr4TjBEhzC7_CQdy4lADT9dR6ACmuisUbAeuh4c9XADvzMHIpUN6qGespRCU6mRYy36iuNUmqlXBNvUKuf-gVK2qw4sNE8JaqkLSYW0uVRyU_So/s1600/dung+beetle+rolling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMu7AAfff8QO54yzNrNNkvPvRsunkCwr4TjBEhzC7_CQdy4lADT9dR6ACmuisUbAeuh4c9XADvzMHIpUN6qGespRCU6mRYy36iuNUmqlXBNvUKuf-gVK2qw4sNE8JaqkLSYW0uVRyU_So/s400/dung+beetle+rolling.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: lime;">A "slave" rolling and pushing the shit hard... but for a dung beetle, that is it's way of life and it loves every minute of this shitty job</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">While photographing the dung beetle at work and inhaling the fresh
stinking dung, a new friend came along. It seemed to be walking
aimlessly but in fact, it was charging aimlessly. Scorpions can deliver nasty stings when provoked. </span><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7kl2rOvA5ZvYctiLT3pEcV0Z9b426Ul_nDNWgA6jbJ7znwLQwXhc-T4yGanA7i8B74HBKnhb0x2T9AcUMpbGaJ__PQw7WA_A_QPF9w1-a9Mp-M1AbM9b6EO6ifjtAdVJzb_EODv_pG8/s1600/scorpion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7kl2rOvA5ZvYctiLT3pEcV0Z9b426Ul_nDNWgA6jbJ7znwLQwXhc-T4yGanA7i8B74HBKnhb0x2T9AcUMpbGaJ__PQw7WA_A_QPF9w1-a9Mp-M1AbM9b6EO6ifjtAdVJzb_EODv_pG8/s400/scorpion.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: lime;">A scorpion in "fish eye" effect</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Humans can be nasty and I have met many species alike in my years of working in various industries. They, including myself, have an innate character of being a bully. The unsecured ones will display their bullying character loudly and while the placid ones are able to make a choice to be a bully or not. </span><span style="font-size: small;">I am learning to be like a Scorpion...ready to strike when bullied or provoked.</span><span style="font-size: small;">.. </span><span style="font-size: small;">I am still in my process of sharpening my skills to stand my ground and articulate my emotions at the right moment. But sometimes, I failed. And when I succeeded, some people are sour grapes...and blood-suckers..</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhom0g5FERx6R1oZx3rs8Rrp1hzlY9x91MpJDpSiH-x_LTe4A1F0bqLtr0aZBRlbeKruYz9SieiblY2hcaupX21BDl5YxyMg1zX5z6J5PDTUjm6-_0a3sh_BU3rCHSUido38FCWmmBHk/s1600/blood+sucker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhom0g5FERx6R1oZx3rs8Rrp1hzlY9x91MpJDpSiH-x_LTe4A1F0bqLtr0aZBRlbeKruYz9SieiblY2hcaupX21BDl5YxyMg1zX5z6J5PDTUjm6-_0a3sh_BU3rCHSUido38FCWmmBHk/s400/blood+sucker.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: lime;">...like a leech here</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">My true friends have advised me to be </span><span style="font-size: small;">thankful...and I ought to feel blessed. Probably because they felt I am blessed to be able to walk into a rainforest, amongst the giant trees and surrounded by singing cicadas while they are on their desk during weekdays from 9-5 answering phone calls and watching the time clicking slowly. But hey, I work on all weekends.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgg3uJuvvTKBNaEwGkxxSHB5L6l81biqEcMFmjN2k8dvLCNENKthOW2jeO995Ze2mZ-7a6DHtEoQ5_S15fMIdcQ5UUx1b7-7OfUMj59h392MiH-oBozq9RBQAIajnQwOB-1YHtTcZjzc/s1600/blessed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgg3uJuvvTKBNaEwGkxxSHB5L6l81biqEcMFmjN2k8dvLCNENKthOW2jeO995Ze2mZ-7a6DHtEoQ5_S15fMIdcQ5UUx1b7-7OfUMj59h392MiH-oBozq9RBQAIajnQwOB-1YHtTcZjzc/s400/blessed.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: lime;">Indeed is a blessing to be part of Pandora forest</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">In the end, you will say that I am writing talking rubbish... and yes, as I have put all these "rubbish" I have collected in a bag. And speaking of rubbish... I recently observed the </span><span style="font-size: small;">annual general meeting of the </span><span style="font-size: small;">Malaysian Nature Society Langkawi chapter (election for the next committee) and it was the worst AGM I ever attended. Dirty and full of rubbish... buying votes and rounding up his cronies... I will not be part of MNS Langkawi for now. And it doesn't really matter to this newly elected committee if there is one or two members less from the group. There are always alternatives to promote conservation and not only MNS Langkawi. I prefer to work with those who are real activists rather than those sitting on a position for name sake... or just wanting the face to be on newspaper or TV, a celebrity wannabe.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJnW10QyGg7_w-JNUsPwI7_w5GytdR9enI4suOh06-dm44Qh1S_IAH77Sm95Iozacl0VME0YuOWQ9kg-V9zkaiRDSM8PqpAwYiqW1xleJmEyzTHFqFqooePqbkcLZZCiYHQc9yekFjgg/s1600/rubbish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJnW10QyGg7_w-JNUsPwI7_w5GytdR9enI4suOh06-dm44Qh1S_IAH77Sm95Iozacl0VME0YuOWQ9kg-V9zkaiRDSM8PqpAwYiqW1xleJmEyzTHFqFqooePqbkcLZZCiYHQc9yekFjgg/s400/rubbish.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: lime;">This bag of rubbish is out of the rainforest and it is in a place where it belongs - The Bin</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ta for wasting time reading this ... you are my friend indeed :) </span></span></div>
</span>Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797658135561940402noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382539233184523416.post-18173700259025326712012-07-03T00:16:00.000+08:002012-08-17T21:10:05.033+08:00Ignorant Tourists, Slacking Authorities<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">J</span>ust when I thought it was a happy ending to the shark feeding at Pulau Payar Marine Park Langkawi, an American family I met today reported their experiences there two days ago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And sadly, the shark feeding is still happening at Pulau Payar. Standing on the jetty, some ignorant tourists were throwing in scrap food from their lunch pack provided by their operators to the blacktip reef sharks (<i>Carcharhinus melanopterus</i>). The father of this family was swimming at the area where the food were thrown in. One of the sharks was swimming towards him and luckily it dodged when it saw a huge figure. It was scary enough for that man too. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmyQFYJUXS-AFRV6Sk3IYoIFWw-8UTYf04AY6b9gzQ3yR6aTeRdE8M74j0LQ1D-utf-wQ_33v3Ns10z_AvtVnbm2aQOA1yyu8d5M2OBc_aJ950-Pp_0PL3gyD5qkLMCSxuTniFJ5MtDw/s1600/payar+adver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmyQFYJUXS-AFRV6Sk3IYoIFWw-8UTYf04AY6b9gzQ3yR6aTeRdE8M74j0LQ1D-utf-wQ_33v3Ns10z_AvtVnbm2aQOA1yyu8d5M2OBc_aJ950-Pp_0PL3gyD5qkLMCSxuTniFJ5MtDw/s400/payar+adver.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A tourist billboard encouraging the public that it is fun to do shark feeding...damn!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When will people ever learn about the impact and the risk of shark feeding? Please read the story on a shark attack incident here: <a href="http://www.meblognature.blogspot.com/2011/06/shark-attack.html">Report on Shark Attack</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Where are the marine park officers/staff to ensure the feeding is totally banned?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Apart from the feeding, the family reported having to see two hundred over visitors at the marine park. He commented that it was just too many people for that sort of space and Pulau Payar snorkeling area is not that big. The family was concerned over the tourists stepping on the corals and stirring up the sand or sediments. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In 1998, Li Ching Lim conducted the carrying capacity assessment of Pulau Payar Marine Park, Langkawi. From the comprehensive report, Ching Lim stated that the carrying capacity concept is not able to produce a "magic number" that can dictate the number of tourists and divers which the marine park can support. As such, a formula was included in the report to act as guidelines to determine the carrying capacity alongside with proper care and management of the reef. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And has the authorities adhere to the assessment guidelines?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A piece of advice for discerning tourists coming to Langkawi. Please do some homework and select the responsible nature tour operators. If you need to know recommended tour operators, you may leave me your email address on the comment box. Pulau Payar (Payar Island) is the only best snorkeling and diving site for the West Peninsula Malaysia. For it is now spoiled, let us not spoil it further.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Reference:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1. <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/X5626E/X5626E00.HTM">Carrying capacity assessment of Pulau Payar Marine Park</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">LANGKAWI NATURE BLOG</span></span></div>Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797658135561940402noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382539233184523416.post-71386238846749251332012-06-16T19:06:00.000+08:002012-06-16T19:19:20.062+08:00True "Navis" On Our Planet<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span>ome of you may have watched this documentary and for me, today was my first time watching this episode. From this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DvhNdV7qic">YouTube link</a>, this is the 16th episode of the entire documentary, The Human Planet. </div>
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Watch how a Daddy risks his life catching fishes for his family by walking on a tight cable above the raging river only wearing a pair of flip flop. The tight rope is the only access to the other side so he could get the migatory fishes to feed his family. And some of us complains about fishy smelly fish on the plate.</div>
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Watch how a Daddy takes his children to school by walking for six days traversing on ice, snow and the danger of avalanches. And some of us including myself, complained about going to school everyday.</div>
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Watch sustainable hunting for river turtles by these brave women bringing food on the table.<br />
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Above all, this image below is the top of my favorites, the Living Root Bridges of Meghalaya, my dream world and my real "Pandora Planet" . </div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/c159.0.403.403/p403x403/392398_399975583369806_327520648_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo: Double Decker living tree root bridge, Nongriat Village, Meghalaya, India One special root bridge, believed to be the only one of its kind in the world," border="0" class="scaledImageFitWidth img" height="400" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/c159.0.403.403/p403x403/392398_399975583369806_327520648_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: lime;">Image shared from a Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aboutindia">Lets speak India</a></span></div>
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I am amazed with this group of human endeavors for their daily survival and living in harmony with nature and its environment. They have demonstrated treating Mother Nature with utmost respect.<br />
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Watch on, click this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DvhNdV7qic">YouTube - The Human Planet Part 16</a></div>
<br />Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797658135561940402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382539233184523416.post-4179675597364053072012-06-04T00:04:00.001+08:002016-09-27T19:06:10.425+08:00Porpita Tortilla!<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">H</span>ahahaha! Just a little humor will not hurt, right? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The weird marine creature I encountered yesterday afternoon were <i>Porpita Porpita </i>(it sounds like Spanish to me) and the common name for this <i>Cnidaria</i> phylum is Blue Button Jellies. Although it has the 'jellies' word and they are related to jellyfish but they are not a jellyfish at all. However, they do have nematocysts that can cause irritation to skin when touched and their sting is not powerful. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2mn4DqNkm57oXYzVYYQwyu7XlTnNjgsxBrTXuGdgTK2FhwfFjZoXDoFQM7WW__r8nQwDzeYRQHMfPRVx9R_dkBKSmMqEIk_j_qRhhNRZb1jskdKZR-XC9cQ5rNlAQ8au7nPany7tdQ0/s1600/close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2mn4DqNkm57oXYzVYYQwyu7XlTnNjgsxBrTXuGdgTK2FhwfFjZoXDoFQM7WW__r8nQwDzeYRQHMfPRVx9R_dkBKSmMqEIk_j_qRhhNRZb1jskdKZR-XC9cQ5rNlAQ8au7nPany7tdQ0/s400/close+up.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="color: lime;">Porpita porpita</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">According to the links I have read, the habitat and distribution of <i>porpita porpita</i> are in the warm waters of Pacific, Atlantic ocean, Gulf of Mexico, southern part of United States and even in New Zealand. These hydroids live in pelagic waters and they are blown onto shores. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At least I am having some excitement for this weekend for able to discover something new...awesome! I owe my blog readers a huge thank you for their answers </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">to my weird marine creatures. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Who are they? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">JK of <a href="http://siputkuning.blogspot.com/">SiputKuning.com</a>, Erica Oliver Heibel via <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dreaming-of-Pandora-Forest/249541008408963">Facebook page</a>, Ria of <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/">Wildshores of Singapore</a>, and Patrick Low via Facebook. Thank you all for your time!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Links related to <i>Porpita porpita</i>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">1. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porpita_porpita">Wikipedia on porpita porpita</a><br />2. <a href="http://marinelife.about.com/od/invertebrates/p/Blue-button-jelly-profile.htm">About.com.Marine Life</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">3. <a href="http://marinelife.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=marinelife&cdn=education&tm=106&f=00&su=p284.13.342.ip_&tt=11&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.usm.edu/gcrl/publications/GCRL%2520invasive%2520jellyfish%2520brochure.pdf">Sea Jellies of Mississippi Sound pdf</a></span></div>
</span>Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797658135561940402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382539233184523416.post-51919926025677726522012-06-02T23:48:00.001+08:002016-09-27T19:04:43.260+08:00My Weirdest Marine Creature<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span>t was this afternoon when we spotted a small bluish object on a sandy beach. To me, it looked like some fibrous material a.k.a rubbish that was washed up by the high tide. Someone said to me that it isn't a piece of rubbish. And yes indeed. When I picked it up, the center of this object felt spongy. It felt like something which was alive much earlier. And when I looked around the beach, there were more of it were scattered all over the beach located on the North West of Langkawi. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVm1nvdEOiU-xyNYVDF_EFdwJS1ruwAcNGpvw_q3kc6DEnOizZecDlT7LYxitLwaN2BZP48d-YL_eq8PgtDaMmiMp2ryLc8GiI85xnpC5TiK64n0sEhMAAT9DxzkpbtYlG4ysNuvRHgzk/s1600/weird1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVm1nvdEOiU-xyNYVDF_EFdwJS1ruwAcNGpvw_q3kc6DEnOizZecDlT7LYxitLwaN2BZP48d-YL_eq8PgtDaMmiMp2ryLc8GiI85xnpC5TiK64n0sEhMAAT9DxzkpbtYlG4ysNuvRHgzk/s400/weird1.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2oNbNFs9W8sAJf5eR13vXGxH5CGbiSm_Q4kG_rzTMHINQ8ylrKqXn6gcbzUGA0ewFqcq6vs1K8Qqs2JBzExDAtfqrlfT9wUL-4nIgshYDsisjQ7vv1VITFUdPIc5QqS6UUjjdb1goabo/s1600/weird2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2oNbNFs9W8sAJf5eR13vXGxH5CGbiSm_Q4kG_rzTMHINQ8ylrKqXn6gcbzUGA0ewFqcq6vs1K8Qqs2JBzExDAtfqrlfT9wUL-4nIgshYDsisjQ7vv1VITFUdPIc5QqS6UUjjdb1goabo/s400/weird2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: lime;">The bluish colour were running out of the object. Like a blue dye coming out when touches the water. Do you notice that on the above picture?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Click below to see close up pictures...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPpfsD0wNNW1YJILVW16ijHMDdeRbvhK2CWmbCelebgBb11_o_fupzy09X1LzQLytl60LANiskscRPRrs3DHp89YzfKGHZFsQegZ-kC-JkLntHS2C6fWOI-tpouckpcCRJph5VKqlny8/s1600/weird3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPpfsD0wNNW1YJILVW16ijHMDdeRbvhK2CWmbCelebgBb11_o_fupzy09X1LzQLytl60LANiskscRPRrs3DHp89YzfKGHZFsQegZ-kC-JkLntHS2C6fWOI-tpouckpcCRJph5VKqlny8/s400/weird3.jpg" width="342" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="color: lime; font-size: small;">The object above the center is the other side of this weird creature </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkkyeTgRHT_qw_gpudpIGs_ncPbPriKmdz86HFD-wXS0CG4mltIm62dKu9bpnE4kd0_RCvtHxOaEPiO6sEk8f3uF0XSsmRdp3cvoxhXg6wN10Gjpy_yqmR1YvDcWCxHhy2QkRgbs2xdE/s1600/with+sand+pattern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkkyeTgRHT_qw_gpudpIGs_ncPbPriKmdz86HFD-wXS0CG4mltIm62dKu9bpnE4kd0_RCvtHxOaEPiO6sEk8f3uF0XSsmRdp3cvoxhXg6wN10Gjpy_yqmR1YvDcWCxHhy2QkRgbs2xdE/s400/with+sand+pattern.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: lime;">The weird marine creature next to a set of sand balls made by sand crabs </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2mn4DqNkm57oXYzVYYQwyu7XlTnNjgsxBrTXuGdgTK2FhwfFjZoXDoFQM7WW__r8nQwDzeYRQHMfPRVx9R_dkBKSmMqEIk_j_qRhhNRZb1jskdKZR-XC9cQ5rNlAQ8au7nPany7tdQ0/s1600/close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2mn4DqNkm57oXYzVYYQwyu7XlTnNjgsxBrTXuGdgTK2FhwfFjZoXDoFQM7WW__r8nQwDzeYRQHMfPRVx9R_dkBKSmMqEIk_j_qRhhNRZb1jskdKZR-XC9cQ5rNlAQ8au7nPany7tdQ0/s400/close+up.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A close up. This piece is almost the size of RM0.50 coin</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliRS9J-bkUk5DWFW1c80yf4Y1IwhZ9DaKPbuC1-X-lOu3ZOyy4NjHKwV2UP61gZAjRwHJCeJdm_EmEsWwnylQEk1XE9qpAuxFoShIDH0_no7p0ruT4xBJ8QG5LCjBWfjuAwmTz7MU4H8/s1600/yellow+one.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliRS9J-bkUk5DWFW1c80yf4Y1IwhZ9DaKPbuC1-X-lOu3ZOyy4NjHKwV2UP61gZAjRwHJCeJdm_EmEsWwnylQEk1XE9qpAuxFoShIDH0_no7p0ruT4xBJ8QG5LCjBWfjuAwmTz7MU4H8/s400/yellow+one.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: lime;">Just when all of them were blue and out-of-the blue, I spotted a Yellow one! There was only one yellow we seen on that beach</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">What
are they? They are not sea urchins, for sure. A few guesses
came into my mind. Are they some sort of sand dollars or heart urchins?
Or possibly they are some sort of echinoderms. Have anyone seen this
species? Or could help to identify, please put your comments below.
Thank you!<br />
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</span>Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797658135561940402noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382539233184523416.post-64677152256099884302012-05-31T23:05:00.000+08:002012-05-31T23:18:32.332+08:00Not A Good News To Netizen<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">F</span>rom tomorrow onwards, if a colugo jumps on my laptop, types a few offensive sentences and clicks "PUBLISH"; I can be arrested for something which I didn't do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">This is the recent amendments made to Malaysian Evidence Act 1950 .</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQ2-4xMo1FjpWEDMz0pGsQBq6d3TaBEw3gxeycqjJeI-L1JytCNsanrfUXnlvqmAyY4UiYFEkIdCDw7a__3HKZLcfP8IWuYQwNYsZjoMqQ5V2r3uFRREHzBT7mEj6dC_na99PSk_2n8Y/s1600/evidence+act.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQ2-4xMo1FjpWEDMz0pGsQBq6d3TaBEw3gxeycqjJeI-L1JytCNsanrfUXnlvqmAyY4UiYFEkIdCDw7a__3HKZLcfP8IWuYQwNYsZjoMqQ5V2r3uFRREHzBT7mEj6dC_na99PSk_2n8Y/s400/evidence+act.jpg" width="297" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> <span style="color: lime;">Shared from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151710187182837&set=a.10150760048227837.507037.687287836&type=1&theater">Bernard Khoo FB</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">An article from <a href="http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/black-day-for-internet-users-cpi/">Malaysian Insider Dated 29th May 2012</a></span></div>
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<div class="article reset" id="article" style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">MAY 29 — The Evidence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2012 will come
into operation in a few days on June 1. The impact of this hastily and
stealthily rushed legislation could be devastating.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">De facto law minister Nazri Abdul Aziz denies that amendments to the
Evidence Act were a means for the government to curb online dissent by
making Internet anonymity more difficult to maintain or ignorance to be
used as an excuse.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Instead Nazri claims that the law was tightened because “we don’t
want [anonymous or pseudonymous] people to slander or threaten others,”
according to a report in the Sunday Star.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">However opposition leaders such as DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng are unconvinced.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Lim said that the amendments, which were passed during the last
sitting of the Dewan Rakyat and the Dewan Negara, “will make it easier
for the government to launch selective prosecutions of members of the
opposition and civil society”.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">According to him, a person is traditionally presumed innocent until
proven guilty but the Evidence Act 2012 reverses this truism. Lim
illustrates with a personal example: “In other words, I am responsible
for anything posted on my website and the burden is on me to prove my
innocence, not on the prosecution to prove my guilt.”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Lim also believes that the BN government would practise double standards in exercising the provisions of this legislation.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">His misgivings are not entirely without basis, bearing in mind the
several occasions when Malaysian authorities have been accused of
filtering politically sensitive sites and most recently interfering in
the Astro rebroadcast of BBC and Al-Jazeera’s live coverage of the
Bersih 3.0 rally.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Nazri’s statement, “Under the amended Act, we shift the burden to the
owner of the laptop or account so that we can get to the source [of the
slanderous or seditious comments]”, prompted the Malaysian Bar to also
express concern with regard to the presumption of guilt contained in the
Act.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Internet Society Malaysian Chapter chairman Julian Vincent has
pointed out that the amendments could be open to abuse by the
investigators.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“In the Internet environment where the websites even of the largest
organisations are susceptible to hacking and manipulation, it is
dangerous to have this presumption [of guilt] in place.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“The society expresses its hope that the Cabinet will revise the
current text and work to address privacy considerations and protect
citizens’ rights and civil liberties in any future cyber security
legislation,” he said.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Internet users across the board have criticised the amendments as
unfair, concurring with the expert views that websites and social
networking accounts (Facebook, Myspace, etc) or even e-mail could be
easily hacked to post defamatory comments.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Despite the assurances by Nazri, an outspoken minister in the Prime
Minister’s Department, the Netizens active on chat forums — as well as
those who frequently forward chain mail and are addicted to Facebook or
Twitter — harbour deep reservations about this newly revised law.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">As it is, bloggers, such as Mohd Nur Hanief Abdul Jalil and Chan
Lilian (Lim Guan Eng’s aide), have not been spared investigation by
state officers for lese majeste and sedition respectively.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The public unease plays against the backdrop of reader participation
in the relatively more free-wheeling news portals as compared with
traditional media which has been subjected to pervasive state control.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Centre for Independent Journalism executive officer Masjaliza Hamzah
has termed the amendments as a threat to freedom of expression and media
freedom.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“The amendments are clearly an indirect way to control online content
as it makes online sites responsible for comments posted by readers;
forget about disclaimers on the comment section.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“This may force some sites to stop the comment feature because having
to vet comments themselves may become untenable, and if this happens,
it has a huge impact on the interactive nature of online media favoured
by readers,” she is reported to have said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Furthermore, Malaysia suffers the ignominy of appearing on the list
of countries under surveillance as Enemies of the Internet, i.e. where
authoritarian governments have employed censorship or filtering
circumvention methods as well as systematic repression of Internet
users.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The international watchdog body, Reporters Without Borders, had rated
Myanmar, China, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia and seven other
countries as Enemies of the Internet in its RSF 2012 report.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The bottomline is that any repressive piece of legislation which can
be misused by the powers-that-be to prohibit or curtail legitimate
freedom of expression by its opponents is, in essence, a bad law. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Should ever Pakatan Rakyat successfully occupy Putrajaya, they could
just as easily turn the tables on Barisan Nasional politicians and
supporters by abusing this same law.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A lawyer-cum-blogger-cum-Tweeter, Foong Cheng Leong, dissects the
presumption of fact relating to criminally libellous or seditious
publication, explaining why repercussions for Internet users are indeed
grave.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">On the controversy surrounding the Act, Foong writes:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><em>“In summary, the new amendments force an innocent party to show
that he is not the publisher. Victims of stolen identity or hacking
would have a lot more problems to fix. Since computers can be easily
manipulated and identity theft is quite rampant, it is dangerous to put
the onus on Internet users. An Internet user will need to give an alibi
that it wasn’t him. He needs to prove that he has no access to the
computer at that time of publication and he needs to produce call
witnesses to support his alibi.”</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">His article can be read in full at the Loyar Burok website.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Finally, it is necessary to ask the Prime Minister Najib Razak the
question as to why he has reneged on his word. Only last year he had
repeated the Mahathir era promise made when Cyberjaya and the Multimedia
Super Corridor were launched — that Malaysia will never censor the
Internet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>* CPI is the Centre for Policy Initiatives, a non-profit policy reform organisation.</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><em>* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and
does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Other links:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">1. <a href="http://www.thesundaily.my/news/383833">theSunDaily: Internet users cry foul over amendment to Evidence Act</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">2. <a href="http://www.digitalnewsasia.com/node/165">Digital News Asia: Evidence Act amendments, a slippery slope</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">I have changed my comments settings for this reason and you should do the same, if you haven't.</span></div>
</span>Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797658135561940402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382539233184523416.post-43574507031814119062012-05-16T01:55:00.000+08:002012-05-16T01:55:18.959+08:00Sigh...<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span>t was sometime last week and we were heading towards </span><span style="font-size: small;">the Gua Kelawar (Bat Cave)</span><span style="font-size: small;"> in Kilim Geoforest Park located at the eastern part of Langkawi. What it looked like from a distance was a huge white rock floating towards us. As it got closer to our boat, it drifted past us silently. We went silent upon seeing it. We wanted to hear its story but it was silent and somehow, we understood the fate of this "white rock" from the nasty smell we picked up from its surrounding.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSabG1m9JXCAmDRk2N9F6AtTKsU_MV1oIX9Soh05ENsS3tFx7X8lvl5bshwXLfanVbn-KpTI9BKwE9oyMWAiuLK9tXa7zh3V-hYCAZrKk787CiYhV1wjtr7nbUMj8gsm_KMMg0AUWmVqI/s1600/white+rock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSabG1m9JXCAmDRk2N9F6AtTKsU_MV1oIX9Soh05ENsS3tFx7X8lvl5bshwXLfanVbn-KpTI9BKwE9oyMWAiuLK9tXa7zh3V-hYCAZrKk787CiYhV1wjtr7nbUMj8gsm_KMMg0AUWmVqI/s400/white+rock.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I guess your guess is just the same as mine. Click on for closed up pictures. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoI3fEH8bL0tPDlaaHQH9sUZgLI662ulMYFUwNzu9sOYf6gmLynQMNzz5N-JK0CalKYBmt-tJsSqR-0Kv7Y9es6eHLhcMO93nu9nWvyOCn1empqXsD1cOH9Nf5WUHcoCCRgF-NnXESVdI/s1600/rip1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoI3fEH8bL0tPDlaaHQH9sUZgLI662ulMYFUwNzu9sOYf6gmLynQMNzz5N-JK0CalKYBmt-tJsSqR-0Kv7Y9es6eHLhcMO93nu9nWvyOCn1empqXsD1cOH9Nf5WUHcoCCRgF-NnXESVdI/s400/rip1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: lime;">Unidentified turtle species</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I am not sure which species this turtle is and please let us know if anyone could identify it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">From the picture, you can see a huge slit across the rear of the carapace. The slit could possibly be caused by a speed boat running over it when it was out in the open sea. It was later drifted by the current into the mangroves. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLL23-5j9i8noN203Y_DJ5XtjcBFKlODxk38nAJoqFdpK0Wh1TfkazlYFou9nvDMrKXl16-xo77UYPyOwbjA57wQKjp0LPOSgi68yshKKI7y5ciMzeydGYlV6BgQFL11dGVRJ5dnYu9T8/s1600/rip2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLL23-5j9i8noN203Y_DJ5XtjcBFKlODxk38nAJoqFdpK0Wh1TfkazlYFou9nvDMrKXl16-xo77UYPyOwbjA57wQKjp0LPOSgi68yshKKI7y5ciMzeydGYlV6BgQFL11dGVRJ5dnYu9T8/s400/rip2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscy1EyDe3_uDUuLkxRnWv0tU1xwWk58vbNPDCB1LV0gTa5ErGLrU-j1S1R2bXAD80ky70tzwjcAT0PBk5XNMe5lmCYbzdu5UFvB4RoXZ0Idn3h4-udqhwmUPeDZz_XlDE70ct-QiMTUM/s1600/rip3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscy1EyDe3_uDUuLkxRnWv0tU1xwWk58vbNPDCB1LV0gTa5ErGLrU-j1S1R2bXAD80ky70tzwjcAT0PBk5XNMe5lmCYbzdu5UFvB4RoXZ0Idn3h4-udqhwmUPeDZz_XlDE70ct-QiMTUM/s400/rip3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I have yet to see a turtle swimming in the waters of Langkawi. Each turtle that I encountered here were the ones floating and lifeless. Rest in peace...</span></div>
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</span>Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797658135561940402noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382539233184523416.post-71519880619940751222012-05-12T00:42:00.000+08:002012-05-12T00:53:39.597+08:00Langkawi Got Crocodile ar?<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">YES!!</span></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaF1bcmpLw4PTdKcWgekt7rpaFAhVyNYdMHYOhzJQ0QtvIjka7mf0vBGYVdyjBfCK_UQokYLhq902pB6ttR8Mhyphenhyphen_PcUs2vAwh2ps5xSApR5XUZatkcqabQRBEr2Ui0ytFCp0xxSy75oDo/s1600/crocodylus+porosus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaF1bcmpLw4PTdKcWgekt7rpaFAhVyNYdMHYOhzJQ0QtvIjka7mf0vBGYVdyjBfCK_UQokYLhq902pB6ttR8Mhyphenhyphen_PcUs2vAwh2ps5xSApR5XUZatkcqabQRBEr2Ui0ytFCp0xxSy75oDo/s400/crocodylus+porosus.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: lime;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Crocodylus porosus</span></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Where did I spot this wild </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">crocodile?</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Somewhere in the mangroves</span></span>...<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> and</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> I cannot tell you the exact location. This was my first time seeing a wild crocodile in the mangroves and indeed it was thrilling! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If tourist guides or operators tell you that there are no crocodiles in Langkawi, they are just kidding. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797658135561940402noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382539233184523416.post-24064381779490022062012-04-21T23:59:00.009+08:002012-04-22T00:33:11.229+08:00Speak About Nature Conservation<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span>t was two days ago when I was on the jetty at Kilim Geoforest Park and had an opportunity to observe a group of kayakers paddling towards the floating platform. A support boat came in shortly and three nature guides alighted with a couple of white sugar bags or gunny sacks. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The elderly looking guide grabbed the sacks, placed them beside a rubbish bin and started going up the cemented steps. Then his colleague went to the sacks, inspected the contents and she held up one of sacks saying, "What are we going to do with these? Are just going to leave them here?" The elder guide simply replied, "If you want, you can take them home." "No, I don't want to but we just can't leave them here.", she said. They seemed to be "tai chi-ing" the sack back and forth. Finally all three of them took the sacks and carried up to the jetty.</span></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What were they up to?</span></span></div><span class="fullpost"><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I followed them from a distance watching their next course of action. They walked towards a bridge that connects to the broken boardwalk at the back of the mangroves. Long green pods came out from those sacks. Each one of them took out a handful of those long pods and started dropping them one by one. The elder guide dropped the pods as if he was throwing darts while the female guide was more careful in dropping the pods. Most of the pods managed to stay upright on the mudflat and the rest of them... err... good luck. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">After they left the jetty, I walked over to the bridge to take a look at those long pods. </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Those were the seedlings of <i>Rhizophora spp., </i>less than fifty of them<i> </i>and I am uncertain from which area of the mangroves that they sourced from.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> I didn't have my camera with me and so, no pictures were taken.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP36Y0A58k3_5U0fqik0uwR2k-KZhsOL_XH8wT_8Y8w5KJeVg9Bf9PQta0aXDPbNjqVmeVhrpbfayMM-mN0CCpuz_6DvT5OtYPbQaLwoV369ddXCPgRRe3yytRduCwYkUOrdtg9qWCiMo/s1600/kilim+planting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP36Y0A58k3_5U0fqik0uwR2k-KZhsOL_XH8wT_8Y8w5KJeVg9Bf9PQta0aXDPbNjqVmeVhrpbfayMM-mN0CCpuz_6DvT5OtYPbQaLwoV369ddXCPgRRe3yytRduCwYkUOrdtg9qWCiMo/s400/kilim+planting.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">This picture was taken in December 2010 showing an area next to Bat Cave (Gua Kelawar) where schools/groups did some planting here but those seedlings didn't survive. There is a signage in the middle of the mudflat indicating the previous group who did the planting.</span></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I found out later from a local boat operator that this tour company organised a mangroves planting project for a school program. The students kayaked to the planting plot which was nearby to the Bat Caves (<i>Gua Kelawar</i>). Most plantings were done there but through the years, that area have a high unsuccessful growing rate. I wonder why do groups still want to plant on that area.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Those seedlings must be the remaining ones from the planting activity. I would definitely feel sorry for those seedlings if they were actually left beside the rubbish bin and thankfully they now have return to their habitat. I am not perfect myself and I do make mistakes sometimes but I felt it is disrespectful of how this elder guide of this </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">company (Note: the name of the company is publicly withheld)</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> treated those seedlings immediately after the planting. Perhaps he will be a better role model for his next involvement in nature conservation with those kids. </span></span></div></span>Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797658135561940402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382539233184523416.post-45270004730403181002012-03-14T23:52:00.000+08:002012-03-14T23:52:43.274+08:00RIP My Fellow Primates<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">F</span>rom a distance, I saw a Large-billed Crow </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">(Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis)</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"> next to a main road and was peeking on something relatively large and black . I drove past it and I knew it was a carcass for sure. The carcass didn't look like a cat, a dog or even a Long-tailed Macaque <i>(Macaca fascicularis)</i>. I was curious and so I made a U-turn.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4km3Q_3mWpSk0gcD_qVFweKr0fy-3nKzcHqMgvOrGh3daOsmW9RWwbtwnfwzBmWNC6oGP_xzULDySENgYgLoxqXFdJxyqZxQMhlC-1E7TNynFg8CrgV9M9rgiVJGL1KbucULtFi4J7Q/s1600/rip1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4km3Q_3mWpSk0gcD_qVFweKr0fy-3nKzcHqMgvOrGh3daOsmW9RWwbtwnfwzBmWNC6oGP_xzULDySENgYgLoxqXFdJxyqZxQMhlC-1E7TNynFg8CrgV9M9rgiVJGL1KbucULtFi4J7Q/s400/rip1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">An adult Dusky Langur <i>(Trachypithecus obscurus) </i>lying next to Datai Road</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I saw this... :( and I photographed the body at different angles for details.</span></span></div><span class="fullpost"><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrCD2n01suFZrXkdUMTCudavo9nQbx1XBmfEkHekPbyD06w7w0x75QQQfTQl2Fa2W87Pp1RfuyRftQGP0Qy5OZBhOnv3TmDUZv3vqqeB4hDRuKP7BpAFQn4RGtyPK2Qc10auo87-SjWw/s1600/rip2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrCD2n01suFZrXkdUMTCudavo9nQbx1XBmfEkHekPbyD06w7w0x75QQQfTQl2Fa2W87Pp1RfuyRftQGP0Qy5OZBhOnv3TmDUZv3vqqeB4hDRuKP7BpAFQn4RGtyPK2Qc10auo87-SjWw/s400/rip2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: lime;">A huge chunk of its thigh has been ripped off or eaten </span> </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8U7WCXnuQfh-TTjf56DyMN_tCt8EeNur70vBABLaywX2TpsT-z3WI_qSLRILOXUuQocqYmMY0W574qR1yyBphWgkysU48bOpwwUlYmGwhtXBz6K4y7yUMNgYRVzy7qpLqXrH9PMAsWm8/s1600/rip4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8U7WCXnuQfh-TTjf56DyMN_tCt8EeNur70vBABLaywX2TpsT-z3WI_qSLRILOXUuQocqYmMY0W574qR1yyBphWgkysU48bOpwwUlYmGwhtXBz6K4y7yUMNgYRVzy7qpLqXrH9PMAsWm8/s400/rip4.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The facial skin was ripped off as well revealing the skull</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikktiKbkMN1WUAXdmUNPJIY_I6dKvCj-1DPEwKjQhWsT4iHoFynmwIqZdBDQlLzOzqVjkZ_GqUwoZAgihaD9YJ-3oN6WdK9DOod84ybtZMVjXVG7-QsEPFXw_GTfbrsLAuQVZVCkzp5Zk/s1600/rip5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikktiKbkMN1WUAXdmUNPJIY_I6dKvCj-1DPEwKjQhWsT4iHoFynmwIqZdBDQlLzOzqVjkZ_GqUwoZAgihaD9YJ-3oN6WdK9DOod84ybtZMVjXVG7-QsEPFXw_GTfbrsLAuQVZVCkzp5Zk/s400/rip5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am not a primate expert but my guess that this could be a female Dusky Langur</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5sCGMOt8RoSLUj0ocakiAkTMPiev3kCrENWuyXnRWKeOpdM9SeDiNxMdI5gS1-dLm-JCHvzq1XRTop15opbm2Qq0mm5TV-k74swphtuVWxR00PoQGwlPgvzHIW9JR9iqUVyBfO4nCywg/s1600/rip3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5sCGMOt8RoSLUj0ocakiAkTMPiev3kCrENWuyXnRWKeOpdM9SeDiNxMdI5gS1-dLm-JCHvzq1XRTop15opbm2Qq0mm5TV-k74swphtuVWxR00PoQGwlPgvzHIW9JR9iqUVyBfO4nCywg/s400/rip3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Its chest was opened up, rib caged was ripped off and the missing parts were the heart and lungs. Her eyes were missing too.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This doesn't look like an ordinary road kill. I think. The weirdest part was there was no blood nearby its body and no stench at all. There were no maggots suggested that it was killed less than twenty four hours. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What killed her? Could it be a huge animal that gnawed its selected parts or organs and then it was dragged next to the road? I don't know. And I don't want to know if this is another case of <a href="http://www.meblognature.blogspot.com/2012/01/murders-in-langkawi.html">shooting the Dusky Langurs</a>.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While searching for some clues, I stumbled upon something else which was glowing in front of my eyes. I found this...</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrUb0oMT3_n638s87JUqOFdWV6-DpgsAk1DXm_oD7fY-HfK8c5zA4EqcOm_f1BoBXHzP-uhxd9iJeajT4GpQ1MOm-kweRjpNXYFxUdWnYLQDc_jcMA7vM10QDnTVIBCh7JrhtSREuxkc/s1600/skull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrUb0oMT3_n638s87JUqOFdWV6-DpgsAk1DXm_oD7fY-HfK8c5zA4EqcOm_f1BoBXHzP-uhxd9iJeajT4GpQ1MOm-kweRjpNXYFxUdWnYLQDc_jcMA7vM10QDnTVIBCh7JrhtSREuxkc/s400/skull.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Looks like belonged to a Long-tailed macaque <i>(Macaca fascicularis)</i></span></span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This may be a skull once belonged to a Long-tailed macaque. I am not surprise to find carcass of this primate. For they love to play along the roadside and even in the middle of road. Long tailed macaque sits at the top five of the road kills in Langkawi.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkDkCWbWhNzQBcblxix18ptFgE28TYm2hkpLX7Tp-a08sW6_gM3XuQtp3k5tPknSqBG4ShpUEtH-ucQZ469JYRNPbY7t_nNiIn8nRV9io3eqOF-cB0Z_oabA5E49M7_EKShfrx89DPBc/s1600/skull+looking+at+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkDkCWbWhNzQBcblxix18ptFgE28TYm2hkpLX7Tp-a08sW6_gM3XuQtp3k5tPknSqBG4ShpUEtH-ucQZ469JYRNPbY7t_nNiIn8nRV9io3eqOF-cB0Z_oabA5E49M7_EKShfrx89DPBc/s400/skull+looking+at+road.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I then placed the skull facing the main road so it can keep a look out at the cars passing by everyday. And hopefully, a reminder to the rest of Long-tailed macaques to stay out of the road.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As for the dead Dusky Langur, I dragged it further away from the road, laid it sideways and covered it with leaf litters. Not much of a help, I know, for some carrion-eaters will come by and feast on it. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rest in peace my fellow primates.</span></div></span>Dreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08797658135561940402noreply@blogger.com1