dailyramblings101

I was born in Raub, Pahang. A small town just 2 hours’ drive away from Kuala Lumpur.

I lived there for 12 years (I went to primary school in Raub but I spent my weekends and school holidays at my grandparents’ house in Shah Alam) then I moved out of Raub to attend a boarding school in Kuantan, some 5 hours away. From the age 13, the longest time I’ve been at my parents’ house was 1 month (and that was during my confinement, after I gave birth to my Son!).

Raub was a gold mining town back in its heyday. Remains of its colonial past are evident in the old shop lots and the old police station around the town, especially in Mason Road (now known as Jalan Tengku Abdullah).

Apart from the colonial buildings scattered around town, you can still see buses that seem to originate for the WWII era here (photo above: Keat Bus plying the Bukit Koman route. It’s been in service in this town like, forever…)

Legend has it that the name of the town: “Raub” was derived from the way people would scoop up gold. Raub = scoop.

Raub is very different from Hubby’s seaside hometown in Marang, Terengganu. Raub town is predominantly Chinese as do the Tras area (where our old home used to be) and Sungai Lui (my parents’ current home). But there are other major villages which is a predominantly Malay like Semantan Ulu, Sega and Dong.

Furthermore, Raub is located between the mountains; the Titiwangsa range (Banjaran Titiwangsa) and the Benom mountain range. Instead of nice hot seaside, we have plenty of cooling forest and waterfalls here.

Some of the popular waterfalls here in Raub:

• Lata Jarum which is about 30 km from Raub town
• Pulau Chekas which is nearby Lata Jarum
• Lata Lembik which is our favourite waterfall spot, about 40+ km from Raub town
• Jeram Besu which is popular for its challenging white water-rafting activities

Trivia: the new Tourism Minister, Dr Ng Yen Yen is MP for Raub.Woman power!

There are two Earth Days observed. United Nations (UN) celebrates Earth Day on the March Equinox (around Mar 21), a practice founded by peace activist; Mr John McConnell in 1969. Earth day is held annually during spring in the northern hemisphere, and autumn in the southern hemisphere.

The second Earth Day, which was founded by US Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in in 1970, is celebrated by many countries on Apr 22.

Earlier, we had Earth Hour; an event organised by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) which was held on the last Saturday of March, where people around the world switched off their non-essential lights and electrical appliances for an hour starting from 8.30pm to 9.30pm.

Irregardless of the dates, both Earth Day are held to inspire, raise awareness and appreciate the Earth’s environment.

Counting down to Apr 22nd’s Earth Day, what can we do to help our planet? By looking at how we do things in our life and changing them, for a start.

• Monitor our electrical and lights usage; and switching them off when not is use. Change your lightbulb and use compact fluorescent lightbulbs. Instead of using the drier, hang your clothes on the clothesline on sunny days. Don’t leave the bathroom lights left on.

• Don’t leave the water running while you brush your teeth. Try to save water while you are doing other household chores too. Do you really need to shower for half an hour? Conserve water - you can save water and save on your monthly bills too.

• Recycle and reuse. Donate extras to relatives and friends instead of throwing stuff (good, usable stuff) away.

• Use less plastic bags. If you can, eliminate your usage of plastic bags entirely.

• Ditch the car and walk to your neighborhood shops or your nearby Pasar Malam instead. Don’t leave your car run idle for too long, switch the engine off. An idle car burns fuel, is costly and generates greenhouse gases.

• Use less paper - don’t print that e-mail, just save them. Use recyled paper, and save trees.

• Plant trees or make a contribution for any organization to plant trees.

• Get your children involved too.

There are so many ideas and ways we can do to protect our planet. What’s yours?

Earlier on Monday, I wrote a post about Basic courtesy gone MIA and how sometimes people will think nothing of cutting in front of you.

But for yourself, how long are you willing to wait in queue? I hate long queues, be it at the cashier counter, buying admission tickets to theme parks/movie theater/concerts/whatever, for a seat at a restaurant, for my turn to see a doctor at a clinic and I particularly hate to queue just to pay the toll at a highway!

Sometimes, I can be a bit unreasonable in a sense that I like to be served immediately. (Like I am such a VVIP. LOL). The other day, I went to Maxis Centre to sign up for a new broadband package and I was a bit miffed when I was made to wait 15 minutes before a consultant was available to attend to me. Hubby, on the hand, waited patiently. I am such a diva, I know. Patience is not one of my strength.

But sometimes I’m willing to join the mass just because there’s a promotion and some savings are involved. I may not queue for a seat at a particularly good restaurant but I’ll join the queue if the place has a promotion!

Here I was in a queue for some average sushi just because they were having a RM2 per plate promotion (normal price may be as high as RM8 per plate). I may wait for an hour for a promotion, but I draw the line against queueing for hours just to get something free.

I want a break. I want to laze around somewhere where someone else do my bed instead of me. I want to order my drinks instead of me making them myself. I want to laze by the pool with a book to read and have someone sending my food and drinks over to me. I want my break now!

Of course, we will have a short holiday during the coming school holiday in June. We’ll be going to Singapore for 3 days. But June is still such a long way to go… I even started dreaming about spending a night in a hotel room. (Am I sad or what? ) I think living with the in-laws (even just for the weekdays has taken its toll on me).

My sis texted me earlier this morning. She wanted to stay in a hotel nearby my office and she wanted to have a good deal for her room. (Yeah, call the older sis only when you want something. Sheesh… That’s what family is for, right? Hahaha) I don’t know why some people seem surprised when they were told that a hotel can be fully booked when they call up to reserve a room just one day before the intended check-in date. OK, luckily older sis (moi, that is) got connection that may be able to help and with a lower room rate to boot than the one advertised - but no guarantees!

I’m tempted to use the room myself tomorrow before she arrives. After all, she’ll only be in Kuala Lumpur at 8.00pm. I’ve got 6 hours to play around in the room! LOL

Actually this post was supposed to be on yesterday, but my rant took precendent agains this somewhat frivolous post so I put it up on Tuesday instead. 

I wore a bright red blouse to office today. It was part of a pact with  a few colleagues  of mine to liven up Monday which is usually associated with Monday blues. No somber colour for us today! We all wore red today.

Me and my bright red blouse drew plenty of attention today and most asked whether it is already nearing Chinese New Year holiday. LOL

Here, where I live, we associate red with the Chinese New Year celebration. Hence, when Chinese New Year is drawing near, you will see people wearing red as red is considered an auspicious colour by the Chinese community.

Talking about colour - yellow is known as the Royal colour for the Rulers.

Since I wore red today, I better not be near any fierce bull, lest they come charging after me!

What happen to basic courtesy among us?

I was queuing patiently to weigh some fruits and letting a lady in front of me check the prices on her vegetables first and not wanting to push her out just so I can complete my transaction.

Then came a lady bustling over and immediately put her stuff on the weighing machine. Of course, the staff (like most Malaysian supermarket staff I met) didn’t ask the lady to queue but just proceeded to weigh her vegetables much to my annoyance. I for one am not a pushover and I told the lady off.

Her answer was an unbelievable “Nobody put anything on the weighing machine so I put mine”. Excuse me, didn’t you see me standing in front of you. I told her so and her answer was an unbelievable “Keep your mouth shut”. How polite of her. Her children must be so proud of her. (And that’s what exactly I told her too in front of about 6-7 Jusco staff).

What was so earth shatteringly important that one can’t wait an extra two seconds to finish one’s transaction?

Of course, today wasn’t the only time someone cut my queue. I don’t know, maybe I look too damn meek that people think I won’t say anything when they did that.

There was one time during the Ramadhan month, and a lady had the gall to say to me that she cut my queue because she was fasting. Eh? So was everyone who is a Muslim during Ramadhan month. I was fasting too! What makes you so special that you can cut my queue?

It is always “interesting” that I usually end up looking like the bad guy (or gal) for standing my ground. It is always “What’s the big deal?” or “Aiyoh, get over it already” or “Macam Mak Datin (translates as: like a diva) or like today’ very nice “Keep your mouth shut” retort.

What happen to a simple “Oh! I’m sorry”?

Am I teaching my son the wrong values by being polite in today’s seemingly selfish society?

What do we usually do while in Terengganu? Usually, we make a beeline to Pasar Payang in KualaTerengganu. At Pasar Payang, you can find everything (well, almost everything) you want to find associated and special to Terengganu.

At the ground floor of the market (Pasar means market in Malay), you can find wet market selling fresh produce, spices, fruits and traditional cookies and plenty of food items for sale. One of the famous product of Terengganu is Keropok. You can find Keropok Ikan (fish crackers) both the uncooked and the ready-to-eat varieties in abundance. There are plenty of other types of crackers such as prawns crackers available here too, not to mention plenty of dried seafood to choose from.

And don’t forget about Keropok Lekor too! Keropok lekor may look nasty, but they are delicious.

On the floor above is where you can find local handicrafts such as batik, songket, textiles, handbags (as per photo below) and also touristy souvenirs such as your must have T-Shirts, key chains and many more. The prices here are quite affordable too! Don’t be afraid to haggle the price with the shopkeeper - that’s the fun part of shopping here.

Around Pasar Payang is where you can find alternative mode of transportation that may not be found in other cities like Kuala Lumpur.

The trishaw in the photo above is not for the tourist. It is pretty much used by local people (especially elderly women) to get around the area.

Two very colourful Bot penambang (ferry boat) to Seberang Takir.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who took his oath of office as the new Malaysia Prime Minister on April 3, unveiled the lineup of his new cabinet yesterday, with major changes in the ministries. The cabinet has been slashed from 32 ministers to 28 but the number of deputy ministers increased from 38 to 40 and saw eight ministers dropped and seven new faces appointed. At the same time, the number of ministries have been reduced from 28 to 25, with the merger of a few portfolios.

The eight dropped are Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar (Home), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (Tourism), Senator Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib (Rural and Regional Development), Senator Datuk Amirsham A. Aziz (Prime Minister’s Department), Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan (Housing and Local Government), Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed (Works), Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique (Federal Territories) and Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad (Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs) who had resigned.

The new Cabinet is lineup a reflection of the slogan “One Malaysia. People First. Performance Now” adopted by Datuk Seri Najib’s administration. He pledged to lead a government that was open to criticism and different views. Datuk Seri Najib also said that he would personally evaluate the performance of each minister every six months.

The 28-member Cabinet is as follows: (check out the chart here )

Prime Minister and Finance Minister 1
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak

Deputy PM and Education Minister
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin

Ministers in Prime Minister’s Department
Unity and Performance
Dr Koh Tsu Koon
Law and Parliament
Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz
Religious Affairs
Brig. Gen. (Rtd) Datuk Jamil Khir Baharum
Economic Planning Unit
Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop

Deputies
Datuk Liew Vui Keong
Senator Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim
Datuk SK Devamany
Ahmad Maslan
Senator T. Murugiah

Finance
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
Finance Minister II
Datuk Ahmad Husni Hanadziah
Deputies
Datuk Chor Chee Heun
Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussein

Education
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
Deputies
Datuk Wee Ka Siong
Datuk Puad Zarkashi

Transport
Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat
Deputies
Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri
Datuk Robert Lau

Home
Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein
Deputies
Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop
Jelaing Mersat

Information, Culture, Arts and Communications
Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim
Deputies
Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum
Senator Heng Sai Kee

Energy, Green Tech & Water
Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui
Deputy
Noriah Kasnon

Plantation Industries and Commodoties
Tan Sri Bernard Dompok
Deputy
Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin

Rural and Regional Development
Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal
Deputies
Datuk Hassan Malek
Datuk Joseph Entulu

Higher Education
Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin
Deputies
Dr Hou Kok Chung
Saifuddin Abdullah

International Trade and Industry
Datuk Mustapa Mohamed
Deputies
Datuk Muhkriz Mahathir
Datuk Jacob Dungau

Science, Tech and Innovation
Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili
Deputy
Fadillah Yusof

Natural Resources and Environment
Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas
Deputy
Tan Sri Joseph Kurup

Tourism
Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen (she’s Raub MP - my hometown representative. Woohoo! My Mom and Dad supports her, by the way)
Deputy
Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Abdul Taib

Agriculture and Agro-based Industries
Datuk Noh Omar
Deputies
Johari Baharum
Rohani Abdul Karim

Defence
Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
Deputy
Datuk Dr Abdul Latif

Works
Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor
Deputy
Datuk Yong Khoon Seng

Health
Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai
Deputy
Datuk Rosnah Rashid Shilin

Youth and Sports
Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek
Deputies
Datuk Razali Ibrahim
Wee Jeck Seng

Human Resources
Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam
Deputy
Datuk Maznah Mazlan

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs
Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri
Deputy
Datuk Tan Lian Hoe

Housing and Local Government
Datuk Kong Cho Ha
Deputy
Lajim Ukin

Women, Family and Community Development
Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil
Deputy
Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun

Foreign Affairs
Datuk Anifah Aman
Deputies
Datuk Lee Chee Hong
Senator A. Kohilan

Federal Territories
Datuk Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin
Deputy
M. Saravanan

I do seem to like writing posts in parts, don’t I?

Anyways, more photos of Hubby’s hometown for both your viewing pleasure and mine too. I have to do this kind of post often, just to remind what I am missing when we don’t return to Hubby’s hometown.

A pretty deserted Batu Buruk beach in Kuala Terengganu. Batu Buruk literally means Ugly Stones. Luckily, there were not a single ugly stone in sight. LOL

Unfortunately, no swimming is allowed at Batu Buruk beach due to few casualties here in the past. Still, it is a favourite spot to catch a nap for many under the shady Casuarina trees.

Son enjoying a solitary time playing with bubbles. As I mentioned earlier, Grandma’s house is nearby to the beach and to the Marang Jetty. Here, Son was playing at a spot opposite to the Jetty while I kept a watchful eye nearby.

A fisherman busy at work at the Marang Jetty. Coconut leaves are used to cover the fish trap and to lure fishes to seek shelter under the leaves. Coconut trees can be found in abundance in Malaysia’s beaches.

But my favourite thing to do there is to eat fresh unripe mangoes that we just plucked from the tree minutes ago. It is more fun to enjoy the fruits after all that effort that went into picking them, than buying them at the store.

Oh crap. Haven’t written and posted anything new for days. Not that anyone cares…

So, I think I’ll just rant a little and whine a bit here instead.

Lucky enough to catch a cold and a bad cough (yet again! I’m getting sick pretty easy this year. Can I put the blame on bad feng shui?) that rendered bit a loopy headed than usual hence the non-too original post here.

Feels and sounds like the flu fest here. Almost everyone seems to be having either runny nose or blocked nose and hacking coughs can be heard everywhere. Everyone is sick and they still turn up for work and spread the virus! (myself included )

Well, actually I wanted to put more photos of tranquil Terengganu here but my internet connection wasn’t co-operating (being so sloooooow with uploading these past two days) and I don’t really have any fresh ideas that doesn’t involve photos. Maybe the photos of Terengganu will be up tomorrow or in the next few days.

Planning to take it easy and hibernate during the weekend. Thank God tomorrow is already Friday!

Anyhoo, my traffic drop tremendously with no EC widget here, even by those who regularly drop by through Entrecard previously but I’m not too worried (yet).