About Me

I have done a lot of things in my life and have also worked in many different jobs to make a living and to experience life. This blog is just some of my musings, sometimes funny, sometimes inspirational, sometimes sad, sometimes angry, sometimes simple but all the time, it's just me.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams

Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch (Oct. 23, 1960 - July 25, 2008) gave his last lecture at the university Sept. 18, 2007, before a packed McConomy Auditorium.

In his moving presentation, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," Pausch talked about his lessons learned and gave advice to students on how to achieve their own career and personal goals. For more, visit www.cmu.edu/randyslecture.

This is 1 hour and 16 minutes long but really worth a watch.

Quite inspiring, quite simple, quite funny.



Take care and be well.

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

Instrumental - MellonCollie and Infinite Sadness


Goodbye and Farewell

That's how I am feeling today....

Take care and be well.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Return of the MACK

Mack is the acronym that one of my friends uses for her blog, email etc.

But now MACK has got a whole new meaning, my Kayan brother Muniandy aka Bu Bu, my Iban Bidayuh "secret" friend Anjali aka Mack and the KL boys Chandran aka KC and Kuppusamy aka Butterfly.

Also got theme song from Mark Morrison below - The Return of the Mack. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJFUSiRCLBM



Chandran started this Indian name thingy, so it has just stuck. So, everyone now has Indian names. Too bad, I already have an Indian name, so they could not add to mine.

Now Bu Bu is set to give me a Indigenous name. Maybe everyone should have an Indigenous name, a Chinese name, a Malay name as well as a Western name - then we will truly be Malaysian.

My Chinese name is 尼乐式

But then again, my full name could be Nilesh Kumar Abok Nordin Niles 尼乐式 Timbadia - that would truly be interesting.

Nice fun song too.

Nice fun friends too.

Take care and be well.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Pitem Puti Mi Clan Gathering

Nothing like having friends over, playing home made twister, playing Jenga Uno, chatting, eating, singing, joking and playing with the doggy.


Friends and friendship, brothers, sisters, soul mates, clans, family . . . everything that I hold dearly and cherish always.

Take care and be well.

Friday, July 25, 2008

Boycott TL Motors in Miri

Friday afternoon, Bu Bu and I had gone out to buy some supplies during lunchtime to make out homemade Twister game for the Pitem Puti Mi gathering at my place on Saturday.

We had bought the required supplies and were having lunch at the usual Indonesian restaurant in town when I received a call from wifey to say that some beeatch was yelling and accusing her of hitting her Vios.

As Bu Bu and I were not too far away, we decided to go see what the big huh hah was about.

As we reached there, I saw barely a scratch on my Land Rover and no way I could possibly see Dungaboy causing a dent on the Vios without even a scratch.

The beeatch was still there and had now called her boyfriend and some other guy. Well, two can play the same game.

They wanted to make a report, we went to the police station to make a report.

Then suddenly the boyfriend decided that he wanted to settle.

I was in no mood to settle initially until the police had determined who was at fault.

The police for whatever reasons I could not fathom decided that we were at fault - must be my KL number plates I initially thought.

Much to my chagrin, the police that made that call decided to leave all of a sudden claiming that he had to go off some where else and we were left with another officer.

I much later found out that these people mainly the Beeatch is the 19 year old daughter of TL Motors in Miri and these people have a "reputation".

No wonder the beeatch could afford to be yelling in the middle of the street and create a big scene.

No wonder the policemen suddenly left, not wanting to be part of this incident, even making a decision or taking a report.

No wonder Bu Bu's friend who came over just asked us to settle with these people.

This gangsta mentality in Miri has had quite a reputation before I came over here. I never thought that I would be experiencing it first hand.

Well, I settled . . . but it will be a cold day in hell before I ever would be a customer of TL Motors. I hope that my friends would be willing to follow suit and do not patron this company. It may only be a small dent in their business, but still, fighting with a tiger would cause them more than just the amount I had to settle, it would cause them business, it would cause them reputation.

Take care and be well.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Life is precious

Dedicated to Andrienne Wong Jia Lynn, 31 years old. Left this earth on 21 July 2008. May you and your soul rest in peace.

I never really knew you but my wife did and you have touched her life and through her, you have touched our lives.

A brief candle;
both ends burning
An endless mile;
a bus wheel turning
A friend to share the lonesome times
A handshake and a sip of wine
So say it loud and let it ring
We are all a part of everything
The future, present and the past
Fly on proud bird
You're free at last - Charlie Daniels

Below poem by Emily Dickinson.

Because I could not stop for Death –
He kindly stopped for me –
The Carriage held but just Ourselves –
And Immortality.
We slowly drove – He knew no haste
And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,
For His Civility –
We passed the School, where Children strove
At Recess – in the Ring –
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain –
We passed the Setting Sun –
Or rather – He passed us –
The Dews drew quivering and chill –
For only Gossamer, my Gown –
My Tippet – only Tulle –
We paused before a House that seemed
A Swelling of the Ground –
The Roof was scarcely visible –
The Cornice – in the Ground –
Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet
Feels shorter than the Day
I first surmised the Horses' Heads
We're toward Eternity.


I wish upon the positive energies of the universe and beyond to ensure that Andrienne's two very young boys are well taken care off by whomever is best suited to bring them up.

To all my friends, I always cherish you, every moment of my life because life is precious and we are living in borrowed times.

Take care and be well.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Easy Tonight

Somehow this song from John Ondrasik or Five for Fighting is in my head for the whole day today. . . just another busy Monday - one of those days.

You were wrong You were right
And you are gone Tonight
You were free So alive
You were wrong You were right
And you were down You could see
And you wore hearts for me
And you were sharp Sharp as knives
You were wrong You were right
Shot down said you never had the chance
Took a ride on a suicide romance
Could have sworn there was somebody home
To facilitate the great unknown
Oh woman, I ain't going to meet you anywhere
Don't know where I'm going yet,
But I sure am getting there
Shotgun fire anybody home
I got two dimes in the telephone
Alright? No, It's not easy tonight
Shotgun fire anybody home
I got two dimes in the telephone
Alright? No, It's not easy tonight
You were bound You were free
You wear black for me
You were dark As Dark as night
You were wrong Yet you were right
Shot down said you never had the chance
Took a ride on a suicide romance
Could have sworn there was somebody home
To facilitate the great unknown
Oh woman, I ain't going to meet you anywhere
Don't know where I'm going yet, no
But I sure am getting there
Shotgun fire anybody home
I got two dimes in the telephone
Alright? No, It's not easy tonight
Shotgun fire anybody home
I got two dimes in the telephone
Alright? No, It's not easy tonight
She's In over my head
And it's not easy, it's not easy tonight
She's In over my head
And it's not easy, its not easy tonight
Shotgun fire anybody home
I got two dimes in the telephone
Alright?No It's not easy tonight
Shotgun fire anybody home
I got two dimes in the telephone
Alright? No It's not easy tonight
You were free Now your not
You were free babe

Take care and be well.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Rain or shine, micasa en sucasa

Nothing like having a few friends over to hang out with, laze around, talk, play and chill out.

Coincidentally both on Friday night and Saturday night.

My home is your home.

On Friday, a slightly larger group of the usual people, hanging out, having early dinner and playing with Al E. Wanted to play Ultimate and literally go fly kites, but alas, the stormy weather did not permit it.

Saturday night started quiet with Sarah and I going out for dinner as people we invited could not make it, mainly it was a last minute sort of invitation as well.

But after dinner, both of us went to Marriot for dessert and met up with two friends who came over for tea, junk food and chat and watched a movie at home which everyone including Al E slept, it was late. Mack was cuddled up in fetus position on my couch and Butterfly was also falling asleep and wifey was also falling asleep . . . so, I said let's end this bore of a movie and everyone go home and get a good night sleep.

My home is your home, Micasa en Sucasa.

Nice, pleasant, simple and fun.

Take care and be well.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

I have never....but yet

I have a few colleagues who live totally separate lives.

I decided that I should not blog about their separate lives.

Because many people live separate lives.

Maybe I will decide to blog about something else.

Maybe I should just do work.

Maybe I have no right to write about others.

I just hope my colleagues see, see with their heart, find the strength to do the right thing and stop living a life that is separate, but then again, who am I to say that.

I have never walked alone,
But yet I have been lonely.
I have never swam the seas,
But yet I find joy in the sound of the waves.
I have never been short of friends,
But yet sometimes I wish for true friendships.
I have never had enough money,
But yet I have lived a rich life.
I have never thought I would ever find love,
But yet I am in love with my wife more than ever.
I have never had a pet in my life,
But yet Al E has brought more joy to my life than I hoped for.
I have never cried in a movie,
But yet I have cried in a concert by Pink Floyd.
I have never travelled first class on a plane,
But yet I have jumped off one and would do it again.
I have never . . . .
But yet I don't regret what I have never done.

Take care and be well.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Busy as a bee, hungry like a wolf and a sick puppy

Yet another day and yet another blog.

I am as busy as a bee and hopefully will be able to get in the groove of my new role soon enough. There is so much to do and since I do not have a laptop yet, it is rather difficult to do any work at home or the weekends.

I do wish I could be less busy and have less things to do, but with the recent role change and no real promotion, I feel it is rather of a punishment than a promotion. But I have vowed to remain positive about it.

I am drowning in information but starved for knowledge. Quoting John Quincy Adams, "Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish."

I will have to remain patient and persevere through this. I am certain of a brighter future.

I am also tired because Al E has kept me up most of the night. He has not been well and I am really concerned like any parent of a 2 month old baby would be.

I am hungry like a wolf, just hungry. I don't know why, but I am darn hungry the whole day.

Oh well, patience and perseverance. I will eat and feel less hungry, Al E will get better, I will get my work done, I will become knowledgeable and I will do well in all my endeavours.

I will be just fine.

Take care and be well.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Whale Songs et al

Did you know that whale songs were first heard in 1940's but were not recognised as songs until 1970's.

Earlier, they were just thought to be random sounds made by whales, but there was some structure and rhythm to it and therefore they are songs.

Mainly, humpback whales have a song, and humpbacks in different oceans have different songs.

The word song is used in particular to describe the pattern of regular and predictable sounds made by some species of whales (notably the humpback) in a way that is reminiscent of human singing.

Watch the following video on YouTube for a song:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo2bVbDtiX8

Now, why do I have this in mind.

Well, I took my IELTS test for my Oz migration. And the reading section had a passage on humpback whale songs. It was the most difficult part of the whole exam but I some how cannot get it off my mind.

I have seen whales in the sea in South Africa and they are amazing creatures. Now, I am eager to go hear them sing a song.

In the meantime, I will just have to hear Al E yipping away when he is put in the cage to sleep or eat. Al E just does not like his cage. Also, he loves my toes, biting them.

Need to discipline him, yet he is a baby, so need to do it in a gentle manner.

Take care and be well.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Al E Baba - A picture blog


Al E sleeping in a new house.


Another angle of Al E sleeping.


Yet another sleeping picture


"Can I have some privacy already Aunty Rena, I want to go sleep."


Al E ... come to mummy.


Nope, not coming to mummy.


Eating socks again.


Al E wiping out his food ... hungry little dog.


More eating pics.


Yet another eating pic.


"Eating also these people don't give me any privacy. Eat, sleep, shit, piss - all they want to watch."


"No peace in eating, aunty Rena also can't leave me alone."


"Should I go to mummy or not?"



"I guess I am going no where now, mummy has got a grip of me."


"I am sleepy, what's mummy smiling for?"


"Mummy is nice and warm."


"Ok, where is daddy, I am bored."


"Here's daddy, orite, now I sleep on his arms."


Looks like Al E and Nil are both tired.


Camera shy Al E - more like, enough pictures of me oredi, shy lah.


This in Rena's living.


"I want to jump out, but where do I go?"


"Hooray, I am on my nice cushy."


"Hooray, I am biting daddy's toes and socks."


"Hooray, I am biting the flowers of Aunty Rena slippers which mummy's wearing."


Owh, wifey and me wif Al E


Al E and wifey

All pictures courtesy of Renatta's D60. Thanks Rena.

Take care and be well.

Monday, July 7, 2008

A new member of our family - AL E BABA

Yes, we now have added a new member to our family.

Al E Baba is currently just shy of 2 months of age, a handsome jet black pitem mi boy and of the cocker spaniel breed.

Wifey and I were not even looking to buy a pet, dog, cat, fish anything until Al E called out to us. We just went to do our grocery shopping and were out about on our ways to get stuff when lil Al E called out to us.

It was Al E B that found us and not we who found him. We did not take him home immediately but instead brought him home today.

I will upload pictures of him soon as I do not have my camera right now.

Nevertheless, we believe my good friend Auntie Rena who is going to take care of Al E while we are away to take our IELTS exam in Kota Kinabalu.

We have also found other doggy sitters amongst our good friends, like Jo Laughing Buddha and J Udang kecil. Potential doggy sitters are Yani (but needs permission from housemate).

So, when we are away, like this weekend, from Sep 13 to Oct 5, from Nov 10 to Nov 14 and Dec 24 to Jan 4.

Christmas will be with J Udang Kecil, but the 3 weeks in Sep and 1 week away in November, I hope Yani and Jo and the group of them can take care of him.

We will miss Al E dearly this weekend, and all the other times we will be away especially the long holidays which were planned before Al E came into our lives.

We are grateful for all our friends who have graciously offered their services, our gratitude to you knows no bounds, thank you.

He has brought a lot of joy to our lives, a lot of work and responsibility as well, but nevertheless a lot of joy and happiness.

He is so bonded with wifey and is now wifey's second shadow and both of them will surely miss each other tremendously when Sarah is in KL.

I have taken him for walks on the beach this morning as well as in the evening and he is beginning to enjoy them and can chase me down.

Pictures of Al E will be posted soon. We just love him and hope that all our friends will show the same.

Take care and be well.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Free Hugs campaign in Miri

My previous post, A Warm Fuzzy Tale is a prelude to this article.

I want to start the Free Hug campaign in Miri, Sarawak. From here, maybe take it to other cities in East Malaysia as well as Peninsula Malaysia in the future.

But I would like to start it in Miri Sarawak.

Juan Mann started the free hug campaign in Sydney, Australia. Juan Mann (pronounced One Man), One Love.

The Free Hugs Campaign is a social movement involving individuals who offer hugs to strangers in public places. The campaign was widely publicized in 2006 by a music video on YouTube by the Australian band Sick Puppies. The campaign is an example of a random act of kindness, a purportedly selfless act performed by a person for the sole reason of making others feel better. Although not claimed as such, The Free Hugs Campaign is an incarnation of the story told in A Warm Fuzzy Tale.

Initial distrust of Juan Mann's motives eventually gave way to a gradual increase of people willing to be hugged, with other huggers (male and female) helping distribute them. After some time, security guards, then police told them they must stop, as Mann had not obtained public liability insurance worth $25 million for his actions. Mann and his companions used a petition to attempt to convince authorities that his campaign should be allowed to continue without the insurance. His petition reached 10,000 signatures. He submitted it and was allowed to continue giving free hugs.


Me and wifey were the brave and privileged ones who saw this hug campaign in Verona, Italy around Christmas time in 2006. There were two men and a women giving away free hugs during the Christmas period as part of the Christmas festivities and honestly getting a hug, even though a stranger, during Christmas, was warm and fuzzy and nice.


So, I want to start a free hug campaign in Miri and I am seeking volunteers. I am willing to do it alone, but it would be nice to do it with a few people.

I am thinking of doing this sometime in August or December 2008.

Free Hugs, just that, we spread a random kind of kindness through a free hug.

I know Malaysian's a little more conservative and a little more shy, however, I think this can work. I am certain if we do it in a public area like Bintang or Boulevard during the weekend, maybe a Saturday or Sunday, we would get enough of people and a wide range of ages . . . this could work.

So, right now, I am recruiting people for a free hugs campaign in Miri - are you interested, leave me a message.

I am attaching the website from the official campaign below for further information before I continue my blog. Please visit the website for further information. http://www.freehugscampaign.org/

Take care and be well.

A Warm Fuzzy Tale by Claude M. Steiner

Once upon a time, a long time ago, there lived two happy people called Tim and Maggie with their two children, John and Lucy.

To understand how happy they were you have to understand how things were in those days.

You see in those happy days everyone was given a small, soft Fuzzy Bag when born. Any time a person reached into this bag they were able to pull out a Warm Fuzzy.

Warm Fuzzies were very much in demand because whenever someone was given a Warm Fuzzy it made them feel warm and fuzzy all over.

In those days it was very easy to get Warm Fuzzies. Anytime that somebody felt like it, he might walk up to you and say, "I'd like to have a Warm Fuzzy."

You would then reach into your bag and pull out a Fuzzy the size of a child’s hand. As soon as the Fuzzy saw the light of day it would smile and blossom into a large, shaggy, Warm Fuzzy.

When you laid the Warm Fuzzy on the person's head, shoulder or lap it would snuggle up and melt right against their skin and make them feel good all over.

People were always asking each other for Warm Fuzzies, and since they were always given freely, getting enough of them was never a problem. There were always plenty to go around, and so everyone was happy and felt warm and fuzzy most of the time.

One day a bad witch who made salves and potions for sick people became angry because everyone was so happy and feeling good and no one was buying potions and salves.

The witch was very clever and devised a very wicked plan. One beautiful morning while Maggie was playing with her daughter the witch crept up to Tim and whispered in his ear, "See here, Tim, look at all the Fuzzies that Maggie is giving to Lucy. You know, if she keeps it up she is going to run out and then there won't be any left for you!"

Tim was astonished. He turned to the witch and asked, "Do you mean to tell me that there isn't a Warm Fuzzy in our bag every time we reach into it?".

And the witch answered, "No, absolutely not, and once you run out, that's it. You don't have any more." With this the witch flew away on a broom, laughing and cackling all the way.

Tim took this to heart and began to notice every time Maggie gave away a Warm Fuzzy. He got very worried because he liked Maggie's Warm Fuzzies very much and did not want to give them up.

He certainly did not think it was right for Maggie to be spending all her Warm Fuzzies on the children and other people.

Tim began to complain or sulk when he saw Maggie giving Warm Fuzzies to somebody else, and because Maggie loved him very much, she stopped giving Warm Fuzzies to other people as often, and reserved most of them for him.

The children watched this and soon began to get the idea that it was wrong to give Warm Fuzzies any time you were asked or felt like it. They too became very careful. They would watch their parents closely and whenever they felt that one of their parents was giving too many Fuzzies to others, they felt jealous and complained and sometimes even had a tantrum.

And even though they found a Warm Fuzzy every time they reached into their bag they began to feel guilty whenever they gave them away so they reached in less and less and became more and more stingy with them.

Before the witch, people used to gather in groups of three, four or five, never caring too much who was giving Warm Fuzzies to whom. After the coming of the witch, people began to pair off and to reserve all their Warm Fuzzies for each other, exclusively.

When people forgot to be careful and gave a Warm Fuzzy to just anybody they worried because they knew that somebody would probably resent sharing their Warm Fuzzies.

People began to give less and less Warm Fuzzies, and felt less warm and less fuzzy. They began to shrivel up and, occasionally, people would even die from lack of Warm Fuzzies.

People felt worse and worse and, more and more, people went to the witch to buy potions and salves even though they didn't really seem to work.

Well, the situation was getting very serious indeed. The bad witch who had been watching all of this didn't really want the people to die (since dead people couldn't buy his salves and potions), so a new plan was devised.

Everyone was given, free of charge, a bag that was very similar to the Fuzzy Bag except that this one was cold while the Fuzzy Bag was warm. Inside of the witch's bag were Cold Pricklies.

These Cold Pricklies did not make people feel warm and fuzzy; in fact they made them feel cold and prickly instead. But the Cold Pricklies were better than nothing and they did prevent peoples' backs from shriveling up.

So, from then on, when somebody asked for a Warm Fuzzy, people who were worried about depleting their supply would say, "I can't give you a Warm Fuzzy, but would you like a Cold Prickly instead?"

Sometimes, two people would walk up to each other, thinking they maybe they could get a Warm Fuzzy this time, but one of them would change his mind and they would wind up giving each other Cold Pricklies instead.

So, the end result was that people were not dying anymore but a lot of people were very unhappy and feeling very cold and prickly indeed.

The situation got very complicated since the coming of the witch because there were fewer and fewer Warm Fuzzies around and Warm Fuzzies which used to be free as air, became extremely valuable.

This caused people to do all sorts of things in order to get Warm Fuzzies. People who could not find a generous partner had to buy their Warm Fuzzies and had to work long hours to earn the money.

Some people became "popular" and got a lot of Warm Fuzzies without having to give any back. These people would then sell their Warm Fuzzies to people who were "unpopular" and needed them to feel that life was worth living.

Another thing which happened was that some people would take Cold Pricklies--which were everywhere and freely available-and coated them white and fluffy so that they almost looked like Warm Fuzzies.

These fake Warm Fuzzies were really Plastic Fuzzies, and they caused additional problems.
For instance, two or more people would get together and freely give each other Plastic Fuzzies.

They expected to feel good, but they came away feeling bad instead. People got very confused never realizing that their cold, prickly feelings were because they had been given a lot of Plastic Fuzzies.

So the situation was very, very dismal and it all started because of the coming of the witch who made people believe that some day, when least expected, they might reach into their Warm Fuzzy Bag and find no more.

Not long ago, a young woman with big hips came to this unhappy land. She seemed not to have heard about the bad witch and was not worried about running out of Warm Fuzzies. She gave them out freely, even when not asked.

They called her the Hip Woman and disapproved of her because she was giving the children the idea that they should not worry about running out of Warm Fuzzies.

The children liked her very much because they felt good around her and they began to follow her example giving out Warm Fuzzies whenever they felt like it.

This made the grownups very worried. To protect the children from depleting their supplies of Warm Fuzzies they passed a law.

The law made it a criminal offense to give out Warm Fuzzies in a reckless manner or without a license.

Many children, however, seemed not to care; and in spite of the law they continued to give each other Warm Fuzzies whenever they felt like it and always when asked.

Because they were many, many children, almost as many as grown ups, it began to look as if maybe they would have their way.

As of now its hard to say what will happen. Will the grownups laws stop the recklessness of the children?

Are the grownups going to join with the Hip Woman and the children in taking a chance that there will always be as many Warm Fuzzies as needed?

Will they remember the days their children are trying to bring back when Warm Fuzzies were abundant because people gave them away freely ?

The struggle spread all over the land and is probably going on right were you live. If you want to, and I hope you do, you can join by freely giving and asking for Warm Fuzzies and being as loving and healthy as you can.

I will give out and accept warm fuzzies anytime.

Take care and be well.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Pitem Mi indigenous clan of Sarawak

A long lost lone ranger Pitem Mi indigenous clan member has been discovered living in Luak Bay in Miri. This clan is believed to be extinct but a discovery of one person has brought hope of revival of this long lost clan.

A little bit of background to known indigenous clans in Sarawak. The Orang Ulu in Sarawak are made up of different indigenous clans which include Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit, Lun Bawang, Klemantan, Penan.

According to http://www.journeymalaysia.com/, Orang Ulu, means the "up-river dwellers" mainly living in Central Borneo , which accounts for 5.5% of the population.

The website states that the Penan, Kayan and Kenyah, live in the middle and upper reaches of and the Kelabit and Lun Bawang live in the highlands. Also, the Kayans live in the main territories in central Borneo . They are warlike , conservative and religious people. The Kayan are considered more skilled in handicraft then all other peoples and believed by early anthropologists to be the original people in Sarawak who adorned their bodies with tattoos.

Bu Bu is a Kayan, part of the Orang Ulu community.

Mack is Iban Bidayuh. Add is Iban.

The Ibans are great adventurers and take long sojourns across lands but prefer using the waterways to move about. Many Ibans as in other tribes claim to be closely related to certain animals in the jungle. For the Ibans it is the crocodile. Also it is believed that the Ribai, the River god sometimes appear as a crocodile but he may appear as a bear or a tiger, or the python or the mias (orangutan). Therefore the Ibans seldom kill these animals for fear that should he kill one which was really the Ribai , which in turn would cause him the ultimate fear of insanity.

The Bidayuh regard 'semangat' as very much influenced by a greater power. The power of courage and leadership was a beneficial tool for James Brooke. The Land Dayaks admired Brooke's semangat. Newly married couples never make a new home for themselves until much later when with child. The husband if staying with his spouse's family, will be expected to labour for her family. The head house has a hearth in the centre of the room where the head trophies are placed. The fire is always kept burning day and night. Ceremonies are often held and can be for anything, from dispelling illness in men and rice (their crop) to birth of child. The Dayaks believe that in all animate object including man and rice, there is a living principle called 'semangat' or 'semungi'. Since religious beliefs in old times were influenced by beliefs in the supernatural, it is therefore believed that sickness is caused by 'a temporary absence, and death by the total departure of this principal from the body.'

The Pitem Mi clan are people from the jungles who were restless with jungle life and first started farming. The Pitem Mi clan are mostly vegetarians and as such, did not hunt or fish from the rivers and jungles. They initially lived by the fruits and plants that the jungles bore. However, being curious and entrepreneurial, the people of the Pitem Mi went to the far reaches of the world and became city dwellers. The became merchants on merchant ships and spice traders.

The Pitem Mi clan were the darker skinned of all the clans in Sarawak. Despite their darker complexions, the were the sweet people of Sarawak, peace loving and always anti wars. As such the name Pitem Mi, which means dark sweet, like nice sweet Belgian or Swiss dark chocolate. In Malay, the term Hitam Hitam Manis is known to have been derived from the Pitem Mi indigenous people. Their religious believes were that all animals were to be respected and some even worshiped the cow, the elephant, the tiger and many other animals.

Their diet consisting of all types of fruit and vegetables but cooked a little spicier and richer using the natural oil from the palm and the natural churned butter made from cow milk.

They were also family oriented people and usually had extended families staying in a long house. However, not being hunters nor fishermen, the were slowly forced to move away from the jungles and became the first city dwellers. Their longhouses never had any skulls as trophies but unfortunately, some of our ancestors may be around somewhere in the jungles.

The Pitem Mi clan in Sarawak are fun going, open, generous and considerate people. They are mostly extinct now and very few are left.

There has been a rumour that a Pitem Mi city dweller has moved to Miri and living in Luak. He has a few names and known as Bear, Yogi or sometimes Tiger.

Will there be a revival of the Pitem Mi clan in Sarawak? It's possible as even one man can move a mountain and sail the seas, why not revive a nearly extinct indigenous clan.

Take care and be well.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Women ..... you are not fat

My wifey, the mouse in the house, the picture below and five other friends pictured below have told me they are fat or are getting fat.
.
My wifey below - she keeps saying she is getting fat. The picture below was taken about 6 weeks ago.

.
Mack, who is still hiding in her attic for at least another week (well, she is holed up in a hotel room) sent me a short message text on the mobile that she is getting fat. The picture below was taken barely two weeks ago.

.
The little udang below also said a few weeks ago that she feels she is getting fat.

.
My Sabahan friend, she keeps complaining that she is getting fat as well.

.
My friend from when I started, Ah Mei, she said she is getting a little fat on the tummy.

.
My sweet Indonesian buddy Yani also told me she is getting a little bit chubby.


Ladies, friends .... trust me when I say this, YOU ARE NOT FAT.
.
This is fat.....

.
And when you get this fat, I will not have to tell you that you are fat, you will know it yourself.
.
But right now you are not fat, it will be quite a foreseeable time before you will get fat especially considering that all of you are fairly active and lead active and healthy lifestyles except for some junk food every now and then.
.
I have a lot of respect for all the women up there, my wife and my friends.
.
Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but she did it backwards and in high heels.
.
So, ladies, you are not fat, you are great looking and you all can dance backwards. Pascal said, "We are all something, but none of us are everything."
.
One thing you are not is fat, please trust me on this.
.
Take care and be well.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

The mouse is in the house

Yes, the mouse is in the house.

This special mouse flew in Malaysian Airline flight and arrived in Miri at 3:30pm today.

So, my nice quite home in Luak Bay is now occupied by a mouse. And this Bear or cat, like Garfield, is not going to do anything about it. In fact, it's nice to have some mouse activity in the house, some liveliness.

I lead two different lives in Miri, one with a mouse and I without a mouse.

I would elaborate further and will do so, but now, I need to go spend some time with the mouse.

So, I am posting this short blog to make an announcement, the mouse is in the house.

Take care and be well.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

The Bear is out of hibernation, and using his left hand to warm the right hand

The first few months at work, the bear was in hibernation.

The next few months, the bear had just woken up, and was doing things that he was so used to. The bear was not feeling too challenged, hunting and catching fish was routine and easy.

Then the weather got a little bad, and there was a huge storm for a while. The bear got aggravated a little bit, got stressed a little bit, got upset a little bit. The they bear calmed down, and as soon as the bear calmed down, the storm calmed down.

After the storm, the bear recuperated. The bear decided to use his left hand to warm the right hand.

The bear settled down, got to work, started having a good work life balance, started to get challenges, got promoted, have got seven other bears and the responsibility for the livelihood of these bears and more challenges.

The bear is out of hibernation, the bear is using his heart to see and using his left hand to warm the right hand.

To elaborate, I will copy a chat conversation I was just having with a friend of mine.

Nil: By the way, what are the Chinese characters in your profile
Wee: Oh yeah, I should share this message with you.
Wee: It says "Use your left hand to warm your right hand"
Wee: Does it make any sense to you?
Nil: hmm
Nil: Could you elaborate
Wee: Sure
Wee: When one is at the lowest point in life or in the darkest phase of life, while all around can encourage, support and help the person, one realises (hopefully, most don't) that one has to help oneself out of the darkness
Nil: yup
Wee: In such dark moments, use the left hand to rub the right hand and gain strength from the warmth.
Wee: We should always remember that in whatever severe circumstances, we have the strength to help ourselves
Wee: What's your view?
Nil: I always think that we get ourselves out of darkness, low times in our lives
Nil: So, we have to find strength within to do it
Wee: Most people don't see it that way
Nil: Most people think that the world owes something to them
Nil: At the end of the day, you are responsible for your own happiness or misery
Nil: You choose how you feel
Wee: No self ownership and awareness
Nil: Yah, sometimes work and stuff overwhelmes you, but you can choose to feel good or choose to feel bad
Wee: Agree. Self-awareness is the 1st step
Nil: Yes
Wee: I am glad that we have quite similar views
Nil: I think we do in a lot of things. We think alike in many ways and we want to have a good balance life

Use your heart to see, use your left hand to warm your right hand.

Take care and be well.