My Little Piece of Rainbow

In today's world gone mad with humanity losing its reason, where everything seems bleak and depressing, there is really very little around that my soul finds joy in. However, despite all the despair and haplessness, ultimately happiness is what one makes of it.

Like the calm in the eye of the storm, I find solace, comfort and peace in my family and the beauty that music and art has to offer despite surrounded by all of humanity's despair.

Two such recent occasions brought added sense to life. One was me being rekindled with James Taylor and two of his songs. Spend several days tracking down the song 'I Don't Want To Be Lonely Tonight' and also stumbled across 'Carolina On My Mind'. Excellent guitar pieces that I thoroughly enjoyed getting acquainted with again.

Then there was the musical fountain night assignment which I decided to take Kyra along. Thought she would enjoy it and anticipated right. It was the soft launching of the fountain and of all the kids that were present, Kyra...being Kyra (my mischevious genes) was the only one who was literally drenched wet from head to toe. Wasn't really mad at but rather happy that she was just being herself and enjoying the moment.

So as the song goes..'some where over the rainbow'...I am glad that I am able to find my little piece of rainbow in the simple joys of life.

To None I Wish Ill But To All I Wish Peace and Love.

There's Always A Bigger Fish

'You should never think you are the biggest kid on the block as there's always someone who is bigger," someone once said. How true. Andrew, my good old Pops, always taught us the importance of humility...no matter if one has the advantage or talent...one should always be humble. However, it is usual for most to think highly of themselves.

Was enjoying the wonders of YouTube and looking for a James Taylor song 'I Don't Want To Be Lonely Tonight' (excellent guitar piece with lovely chords and melody). How wonderful...to be able to learn the chords via the net...unlike days gone by when you had to rely on exchanging tips with another guitar player...'live'.

Well, stumbled across this Korean kid named Sungha Jung...and was moved to tears. The 10 year boy is a wonder that has the rare and exceptional gift for making music with his guitar. Its just unbelievable.

Its funny how many out there think they are terror with the guitar just because they can strum a tune. This humble and angelic looking kid would put many experience guitarist to shame.

It people like Sungha Jung that gives me hope in humanity....that there are those out there who are able to touch the souls of other through the expression of their sense.

To None I Wish Ill But To All I Wish Peace And Love.

If A Picture Paints A 1000 Words.

Really love the song by Bread... 'If A Picture Paints A 1000 Words'. One of my first song on the guitar...excellent lyrics and chords. Truly a classic.

Art in any form or expression evokes passion within my soul. Be it through music, a painting, ones thoughts in writing or even nature's splendor....they all move me if considered a thing of beauty in my eyes.

So I try to absorb as much of beauty life has to offer. Even more so now as humanity faces the threat of the H1N1 virus that some say is going to reach pandemic levels soon. As of to date, 10,243 infections worldwide with 80 deaths...in about 20-odd days. So, one day at a time...and keep my eyes and heart open to life's beauty.

To None I Wish Ill But To All I Wish Peace and Love.

What A Laugh

Ah...the folly of men (yup...emphasis on the male specie here although women too can be an enigma at times). Here we are, the human race, poised at the crossroad of its existence...yet still worried and continuing to play the 'money' and 'political' games.

On the global front...the term 'world economic downturn' seems to be the recent catch phrase on everyone lips. Every nation and almost every society is so embroiled in its own quest for money.

And then there is, closer to home..'Perak'.. where grown educated men have made a mockery of democracy and behaving like little school kids squabbling over the most trivial of things in the school yard with theirs zippers down and snort dribbling down from their noses.

Its so mind boggling that I don't know whether to cry or laugh at the folly of men.

Since April 28/29 over 6,000 people are now infected by H1N1 with the first reported case in Malaysia coming today. Virologists anticipate the virus to infect one-third of the world's population or roughly 2 billion. If fatalities are between 5% and 10%, that would translated to 200million dead. Very interesting indeed...as I wonder if we will still be clamoring over money and power if that happens.

Exactly a decade ago in 1999, Malaysia was struck be a deadly virus named Nipah virus. It came from flying foxes...transmitted to pigs...and finally became a deadly human infection that claimed over 100 lives. The current H1N1...is really going to be a bang when the second and third wave hits later this year.

There is also the real threat of global warming. Experts have gathered to ponder the future of our precious corals with a prediction that they won't last this century. Duh....don't need a bunch of experts to tell me the obvious. Hello?...the glaciers and large Antarctic ice sheets are rapidly melting away...something which had not happened over the last 10,000 years or the present Holocene period.

So to all out there, enjoy life to its fullest and live as best as you can. Let not the worry of today get to you...just live for the moment and love all things...because...afterall...doesn't love conquer all.

To None I Wish Ill But To All I Wish Peace and Love.

A Tribute to Nature

Its been quite awhile since I last posted shots of nature. Well, managed to take a few shots recently and decided to post them...instead shots of my good looking self....lol....darn.

The irony is that I took some of the shots while in Tiang Dua, Jasin, the epicentre of the recent outbreak of deadly meningitis. Was there to cover a story about some kids in a Chinese primary who were ask to remove their face mask, much to the dismay of several parents. Their school is located about 300 meters from a Road Transport Department Training Academy where the outbreak occurred.

The only wore the masks (given through the initiative of the school's teachers-parents association) for a day but was asked to remove them the following day 'as the situation was under control and the authorities did not want to create undue panic'.

Anyway, the entire meningitis episode (one fatality, 400 over quarantined and over 40 hospitalized) is a wake up call for everyone...both public and government officials to the threat f infectious disease. I suppose it was a 'live' drill and a precursor to the actual H1N1 global pandemic that is bound to happen....sigh.

Well, cest la vie and life goes on ya. Just hope everything will turn out alright for everyone.

p/s also managed to get some pix of the sky just before a storm at about 1am. The sky was partly orange and reddish in colour and I even got a shot of how bright it is when lighting lights up the night sky.

To None I Wish Ill But To All I Wish Peace and Love.

Testing...Testing...123...

What a tumultuous week....or should I say, the last three days beginning Friday night.

It uncannily coincidental that there was a bad outbreak of bacterial meningitis at a training academy in Tiang Dua on May 4. Some 400 over people were quarantined following one fatality with 20 others warded. Spent three days and night chasing the story. Tired and exhausted both mentally and physically but interesting anyhow.

The infection was first detected on May 7 but spread rather rapidly causing infection to at least 100 people. Thank God the outbreak was contained through the swift response of local health officials.

Fortunately, they medical staff at the Malacca Hospital had been in the midst of implementing the National Pandemic Preparedness plan as suggested by the World Health Organization in light of the H1N1 global outbreak. This helped as they were prepared to deal with the meningitis outbreak here. I must say they responded pretty well.

What is even more scary is that the incident hit home the seriousness of the issue at hand.i.e we need to be prepared for possible H1N1. The prospect doesn't look too rosy based on the rising number of cases around the world. From a mere 80 over on April 28 to 4,000 over on May 9. That's quite a jump.

Did managed to celebrate life with some of my fellow journalists over the last two days and decide to post some of their photos. They say that 'death is the only certainty in life' but pray to God that when the time comes, He takes us home in a gentle and peaceful manner.

To None I Wish Ill But To All I Wish Peace and Love.

Ouch..It Still Hurts

A week has passed and me fractured toe still feels kinda of numb and painful. What can I say but...ouch..lol.

More than a week has passed since the global swine flu...which has yet to abate although reports are saying that number of infections are stabilizing in Mexico. Well, though that may be, the virus is till being detected at around the globe and has passed the 600 mark. Hope its not a repeat of the Spanish Lady or Spanish Flu 1918 where it broke out in three main waves over an eight month period...the worst being the last waves at the end of 1918. Estimated 40 to 50 million deaths worldwide and the present virus, if becomes deadly enough, could take 200million lives....scary ya.

Nevertheless, live goes on and should as it should. All I can do is live it to its fullest and be thankful for being alive and able to love and be loved.

To None I Wish Ill But To All I Wish Peace and Love.