A Great Ball of Lightning.

Must described the thunderstorm that occured at about 2am to 4.30am two days ago on Friday morning. It had been usually hot the several days prior to the storm and even noticed the lack of breeze during the period.

As usual, checked out my global weather site at http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/data/geo/index.php?satellite=fy2c. A daily habit I have been faithfully doing over the last decade or so with regard to weather, earthquakes including solar weather. (http://www.spaceweather.com/). Then the storm hit.

There was initially intermitten flashes of lighting which could be seen from afar but not heard. This was later accompanied by strong gusts of gale like win whistling as it blew against the window panes. The rain had begun to pound with the wind producing 'lateral rain'.

I was slowly bedding down just past 2am with the florusent night lamp on. Though me eyes were closed, there was what I could best described, a 'flash' coming from the direction of the window facing west. It must have been brilliant enough to register past my eye lids...like a camare flash going off in an instant while your eyes shut.

The brief instant in time was followed by a tremendous roar and cracking sound that reverberated through the entire building where I live. (I usually count the interval between the time of the flash to the sound of thunder as a rough estimate to gauge the distance of the 'strike', i.e sounds travels appoximately 1,100 feet per second with a mile measuring 5,280 feet. Thus a count of 6 seconds from the time of the flash to the sound of the thunder would put the 'strike' roughly about a mile away or 1.6km ).

Mind you, it was have been pretty darn close and estimate of about 500 meters. Both light and sound merged without almost no time elapse. I thought I may have been imagining things but swore I actually felr the shockwave of the strike passing through my entire body. Pretty neat experience.

To give some rough idea....over a million volts of electricity made contact less than a kilometere where I lived. A super charged channel of enery with heat touchiong 30,000 centrigrades and travelling 60,000 miles per second, now that's awsome. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning)

But it was not so awesome of the Hendricks brothers of Portuguese Settlement in Ujong Pasir. Their concrete two-storey home was where ground zero was. I would have surely wet my panst and thought the end of time had arrived. I could have only imagine what a 'shock' the strike must have been for the elder brother who was sleeping less than five-meters from where the lightning tore through a larger section of the tiled roof.

The bolt is believed to have struck a wall and blew a 20 centimeter hole in it before bouncing off another wall. To be enveloped in light and shocked silly by this defeaning explosion cum roar and feeling, in almost the same instant, debris from the carnage crashing on and around you. Now that's really freaky and a once in a lifetime event that most of us would not like having. But there is a God...all eight occupanst of the home, including a two month old baby, escaped injuries.

Also, spent both Saturday and Sunday, the 30th and 31st of August, doing Merdeka stories. It was an apt way to spend and celebrate Independence Day. Thought I'd post some shots of Merdeka through the eyes of my G9.

...Happy Birthday Malaysia...

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

Where Have All The Flowers Gone?

Bob Dylan's song 'Where Have All the Flowers Gone' aptly described the precarious situation we have put our only home Earth and our very being in. We have passed the warning stage and must prepare to move into a stage of adaption if we are to survive the impending catastrophies brought about by rapid climate changes.

So called computer generated weather pattern models can only second guess the effects of global warming with some experts expressing surprise at the sooner that expected rate of climate change. There are also those who state that we are in or just past the tipping point with regard to global scale climate changes withing the next few decades.

See - http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080827/ap_on_sc/sci_arctic_ice


And that brings me to my other encounter with 'flowers' on a hill. Decided to take a short hike Bukit Cina this afternoon at about 1pm. The hill was recently added as part of the World Heritage Site buffer zone owing to its significance to the historical landscape of the ancient city. It is perhaps the largest Chinese cemetery outside mainland China with graves dating back to the Ming era. There are also several anceint Muslim graves at the foothills including the ruins 16th Century Portuguese monestary that was destroyed in an Achinese attack.

The brilliant Sun was out amidst patches of clouds against the backdrop of a rich blue sky. Didn't think much of the impending climb as was armed with my G9 and eager to take a couple of snaps. Quarter way up was when I realised that I was the only living person literally walking amongst thousands of dead. And it was erriely quiet except for the sound of rustling leaves that accompanied the occasional breeze.


It got much creepier when it dawned on me that I was hiking up the hill in August, a month considered by the Chinese in their Lunar calender as the seventh month, the 'Month of the Hungry Ghosts'. It is a Chinese belief that the spirits of the dead are allowed to roam free to feast their hunger. The month is considered a bad month and this is even reflected in the drop in business dealings, transactions including marriages amongst those from the local Chinese community.

Adding to the already rising fear factor was the unfortunate luck of stumbling accross a Chinese movie on TV3 while waiting for the late news several days earlier. I caught a couple on minutes of the show which concerned a woman and child seeminly lost on a hill surrounded by hundreds of Chinese graves. Each grave had an undead sitting pensively and was said to be spirits who had been neglected by the living members of their families.

It didn't take me long to question the wisdom of my proposed hike up the hill. Darn, some graves were pretty worn and weathered with age. If it was anything to go by the show I had seen several days earlier, there must have been hundreds of undead sitting next to their graves as I was strolling pass them on my way up the peak. From the conditions of the graves, it was clear that 'they' had been neglected for quite sometime.

If not for faith, my over active imagination coupled with images of the undead next to their graves would have surely gotten the better of me resulting in me wetting my pants. As the adage goes, '...we have nothing to fear but fear itself'. Pushing aside fear, I focused on the task at hand and continued my walk.

There was a sense of relief when I reached the top. (About 380 feet above sea level based on GPS station set by the Survey and Mapping Department). It ws worth the while and I enjoyed the view and scenery. Would have stayed longer to explore but then again, didn't want to wander to far off the platue at the peak.

It was oddly pleasant as I looked around and saw more than just graves. There was life and beauty in the hill which was surrounded with nature. The photo of some common wild flowers sums up my trip up Bukit Cina.


...Quaere Verum...

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

In The Company of Men

It was a poignant moment today for more than one. National badminton coach Misbun Sidek was down in Malacca to recieve his Datukship and me being fortunate enough to cover the event. Though it looked like it was going to be another day on the job, it left me with more than just plain old work and deadlines.

Misbun, who is in his mid-40s, struck me as a quiet and reserved person which looked likeable. It didn't strike me till later in the evening when my wife commented that she had a crushed on him while in her younger days. It was something to do with his attitude that made him appealing to her. (My attitude doesn't have that effect on her though)

Darn, thought to myself...wasn't he the bloke with the streaky and outlandish hairdo which cartoonist Lat found worthy enough to depict? Yup, that was Datuk Misbun alright...way, way back then in the early to mid-1980s and along side him was 'us', the generation that idolised Michael Jackson, got its first taste of Mc Ds and diced their lifes on the notorious Mini Buses.

For a guy who hails from my generation and continued to persevere towards the good of badminton both as a player and coach all these years, I would say he rightly deserves and has earned his Datukship. How many of us dare say that we have remained faithful and pasionate to a cause for more than 20 years, let alone maintain a simple hobby for lesser time? For those who see it negatively or think otherwise....shame on you for clouding sensibility and gratitude with judgement based on politics, race and hate.

As for the upside down Malaysian flag protest thingy....totally diagree. Loyalty to the country and symbols representing it must be differentiated from temporal administrators governing it. Let us not forget that this blessed and be country will be around longer than 'us'. By this, I mean the nation's history, it speaks for itself.

Let's take Malacca as a starting point. It was establihsed in the 1400s as the seat of the Malay Sultanate Empire which lasted for roughly 110 odd years. Then came the Portuguese who controlled a small portion of it for 130 years followed by the Dutch whose era lasted a good 180 over years. Then it was the British who ruled a large part of the country and absorbed several other northern territories under it during 126 year of colonization.

And how old is the 'present' Malaysia going to be...51. That represents not even half the duration of those before 'us'. Let us not forget that we still have a long way ahead. However, how long the journey lasts under the present 'Malaysia' truly depends on us a whole. The further we continue to divide ourselves politically and racially as a nation, the faster the demise of 'us' and we shall merely become another page in the country's long and illustrious history.

So the flag, to me, represents the past, present and future of 'us' as a nation. To fly it upside down, no matter what the reason or motivated justification, is unnatural, against the order of nature.

I akin it to ones religious faith. One may find displeasure at those who pervert or give ones own religion a bad name, but it does not mean that I totally abandoned my faith. So by the same token, if I am unhappy about certain aspects of my congregation or church, does it mean I turn my Cross or Cruxifix upside down? Same goes for those of other faiths...no one in his right mind would descrate what that is considered holy.

Just some thoughts that have been playing in my mind....Happy Merdeka and God Bless our nation and it people.

...Argumentum Ad Ignorantiam...

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

Things I Detest Most

Saw a child being chastised by his father yesterday and was disturbed by it.

There is nothing more detestful than bullies who oppress the weak, sadistic child abusers, those who disrespect nature, rich arrogant fools who equate material wealth with true happiness and a highly educated person without reason or conscience.

It saddens me to see;

-delight in the faces of those whom subjugate the weak,

-a child cowing and crying out in fear and pain when abused,

-those who have total disregard for the environment,

-the more fortunate living their life as though they are immortals,

- a person of knowledge living life absence of wisdom.

The only comfort I take is to believe that light and goodness will one day prevail over darkness and evil. That justice and judgement will be meted out accordingly to those based on their actions and deeds. Though I do not subscribe to things that go bump in the night, I do believe in divine retribution.

...Causarum Justia Et Misericordia...

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

Connecting the Dotted Lines.

Time management...how I wish there were more than 24hours to a day. It does seem as though there's only so much time in ones hands to do all that is desired. Its even more apparent now that I've touched the big 40. (as an elf put it..generation gap...boo hoo hoo). Besides the every day routine of eat, sleep, and work, I make it a point to make time for home and family while cramping in some music and precious moments with Kyra at the pool. Well, I suppose that's me...always chasing time.

Nothing much to blog about and decided to post several photos that represents one of the reasons for my new found passion to capture life through the lens a camera...my G9 of course. (another reason for me to look for more time) They all have a connection, one that has help me accept my ascending age while continuing to remain passionate about life.

...Bis Vivit Qui Bene Vivit...

To none I wish ill but to all I wish Peace and Love.

Bee ChasingA Bee & Busy As A Bee

It was quite a busy few days since Sunday and jaded from work. Tried juggling time for my sisters (both teachers) and their families who were down for the holidays but work got the better of me.

Prime minister Pak lah made a last minute decision at the 11th hour to tag along with his wife Jeanne for the launching of the Green Earth project. Being a former officer with the state government, it was quite hilarious but rather sympathetic to see some of my former collegues trying to added the finer touches just before Pak Lah's arrival.

Nonetheless, the Green Earth project (growing ones own edible greens at backyard garden patches) made up for any shortcomings, if any. Pak Lah and Jeanne seemed to have enjoyed touring the vegetable plots. It must have been delightful to know that there are those out there who took pride in growing their onw greens and appreciated the fruits of their labor.

Also quite an experience was taking my five-year-old kid to her first cinema show. One of my friends (Pintukopak) recommended Disney's Wall-E and even advised bring some tissues as the show had some rather touching moments. Well, it was not really an appropriate show for my kid as there was little dialogue. Pintukoipak should have suggested bringing our blankies instead as we were also freezing our butts off although coming armed with sweaters. Was hoping to shed a tear or two but that didn't happen either. (Maybe I am losing my sentimentalness after turning 40?)

The only thing touching about the show was that it only supports my notion that we, humans, will destroy Earth with both our physical and spiritual flith. It an irony that it took a bucket of bolts (Wall-E) to help preserve the sanctity of life in the form of a simple plant.

As for me, I shall go on looking for God's simple miracles in my life....yup...like the Apple Donuts after the show.

...Amor Animi Arbitrio Sumitur, Non Ponitur...

To none I wish ill but to all I wish peace and love.

A Glimpse Into The Endless Wheel Of Time

Another day and another page in the book of my life. Vegetated at home and went for swim with Kyra, Dan & the boys before stuffing sefl silly at dinner. Still pooped from witnessing this morning's magnificeint eclispe owing to lack of snooze time. Still very glad that I was able to witness the event on my 40th birthday.

...To stare in wonderment, not in fear of supertious beliefs...

...But in awe of the vastness and complexity of our Universe.

...To witness a glimpse of the enternal wheel time....

...Through the majestic movements of the heavenly bodies.

...Gloria In Excelsis Deo!

.....To none I wish ill but to all I wish Peace and Love...