I was tagged....

I was tagged by CaTz and in true spirit of a gentleman, I obliged her by doing this quiz. So here goes....

1. Rate your life from 1-10 (10 being very miserable)
3

2. Do you have many real friends?
I sure hope so

3. Name friends you last hang out with?
Shariman Samad

4. Who was the last person you hugged?
Hmmm...rahsia

5. Anything that made you smile today?
CaTz being upset with me again....as always

5. Name one thing you have in common with your friends?
Handphones?

6. Do you trust your friends?
Yeah...depending on their 'clearance' level...haha

7. Do you believe in love?
I do...but whether it still exists in this world...remains to be seen

6. Except for family and friends, who are you in love with?
Hmmm..is this a trick question?

7. Do you honestly believe you have found the right guy/girl?
The signs are there...except for the nagging...hehe

8. Are you someone’s best friend?
Don't know. I hope to be everyone's best friend

9. Do you consider yourself as a happy person?
Yeah

10. Who’s the first person you call when you’re having a bad day?
Who ever that is willing to hear me nag, nag, nag

11. Last person who made you laugh like crazy?
CaTz...at Nando's. She would kill me if I tell you why...

12. Who’s your greatest inspiration in life?
My tok guru

13. Who was the last person to sing your current favorite song and what song?
CaTz....but I still prefer the original singer...sorry babe haha

14. What have you been telling yourself lately?
Life begins at 40 KAZ

A drowning case

Recently, my water rescue and scuba team from the Jabatan Pertahanan Awam Malaysia (JPAM) was called to search for a missing person who's car went over a bridge in Kajang. At the time, the river was swollen as it was raining up river. Donning their scuba equipment, my team went down, found the car but with no one inside. After a few attempts, the search was called off due to night fall.

The next morning, the search continued. The water level had dropped and after a short while, the body was recovered. Our condolences to the family.

"Team members calming their nerves after the body recovery. Mind you , these guys are quite veterans, but seeing a decomposed body still takes a toll on the mind and soul"

A visit down south

Recently, I made a trip to Singapore with a few friends, including my girlfriend CaTz. I had a few objectives to achieve during the trip. Firstly, to attend ADEX 2009. Secondly, to go sight seeing. Thirdly, to buy some big boys toys.

Food was not a problem as there was this nice food court nearby. They had almost everything, Soto, Nasi Ayam, Briyani, Hot Plate, various types of soup, different types of beverages...at affordable price. One thing they didn't have though was tissue paper or serviettes. Hmmm...I wonder why that is...

Transportation was also not a problem. We mainly use the MRT to travel as its cheap, convenient and fast. We were amazed how clean the MRT coaches were...wish we could have the same back home. No graffiti, no vandalism, no rubbish.

As I had expected, ADEX was not as attractive as before. There were no interesting seminars or trainings. I paid a short visit, was a bit disappointed and proceeded to objective 2 & 3. Thus, no pictures or write ups as a sign of protest...haha.

Sight seeing was more in the form of window shopping. Our main place for sight seeing was around Harbour Front area, namely Vivo City. Its such a huge mall, with endless streams of people. Here are some of the pictures....


Hmmm, I have been asked by some of you what sort of big boys toys did I bought. Some thought that it has to do with a visit to a sex shop. Hello, if you are a 'big boy' then you wont have to make such visits, do you? Haha. Well, to put your minds at ease, here are a brief introduction to my new toys...

An Ipod Hip case
Hmm...simply to replace my old case which was not that 'hip' looking.

A Submersible PTT and Battery Pack for my Yaesu VX6R
An important addition to my handy. Since the VX6R is waterproof (submersible 30 minutes of submersion at depth of 3 feet) and extremely rugged, its makes sense to also buy the equivalently submersible PTT. Its a bit big though, but it should serve its purpose well. Now I can bring a radio during flood rescue or drowning body recovery without having to worry about getting it wet.

A Yaesu FT-8800R, a Dual Bander Mobile
A popular dual bander, with detachable front. It features a dual display, showing you 2 sets of frequency readings. The FT-8800R features Yaesu's ARTS™ Auto-Range Transponder System, important in search-and-rescue applications. Another great feature is it has Cross Band Repeat. I lost mine to a fried circuit board mishap 2 years back.

An Icom IC2200H
A good, cheap basic amateur radio which triggers a high transmit power of 65W (although MCMC only allows 50W). Its a single bander, rough but stylish radio. The LCD panel can change either green or amber. It doesn't have a fan but its built with a heat sink design. I lost mine when my 'anak gajah' 4WD was stolen.

2 unit of Garmin 60CSx GPS
One of the best GPS I had ever used. High sensitivity receiver chip, which is important especially if you plan to go jungle tracking. Our Malaysian jungle has a very shady tree canopy that makes it hard sometimes for less sensitive GPS to get a lock on the satellites. Plus its as rugged a GPS as you could get for the price I paid for it.

A bad experience I had during the trip was..upon my arrival in Singapore, I discovered that my 019 line was barred (in my excitement I forgot to pay my bill on time). When I tried using my Maxis line, I could not. So using CaTz's phone I called Maxis. I didn't activate my International Roaming and the girl told me that to activate it, I have to do it in Malaysia. Hmmm...what a bummer. Hello miss, I am a POSTPAID customer, not a prepaid customer. I could not see the rational of it and was on the line giving her a piece of my mind (which later cost CaTz about RM35 for just that call).

Moral of the story...if its just not your day, the odds are against you, even if you have 2 telephone lines, you could be rendered hopeless in a different country.


And where were we after all that shopping? Tired but happy. After all, it was a holiday.

Unwritten Categories for Cinema

(photo for illustration purposes only)

I am here in Pavilion and I have just finished watching a movie. Its so unfortunate that apart from classifying movies according to age groups e.g. PG, PG13, 18+ etc etc, we cant classify audience according to level of idiotic habits.

My point? Well, there I was sitting happily alone, with a coke and a large popcorn. As always, I was the first in the cinema. Then people started coming in. That's how I observed the levels:

The Flirter - People who are more engrossed in chatting up one another rather than watch the movie. Imagine in the middle of a real good fight scene, and suddenly u hear ...."ala, u ni, i bukan cakap benda tu, giggle, giggle etc etc". Get a room dude!

The Joker - People who make stupid sounds or jokes. Best of all , they think they are funny. Like when its a serious part of the movie, they'll laugh in a 'mengada-ngada' way or make stupid comments out loud so that other people can hear it. As if torturing their friends beside them isn't good enough, they just had to share their 'prized' joke of the moment with everyone else. Get a life dude!

The Eater - People who buys a seemingly endless supply of food..popcorn, nachos, hot dogs, corn...u name it, they have it. The moment they put their ass down, the feast begins. Hello...if u have to eat, stop ruffling those plastic bags and watch your manners....eat with your mouth close dude!

The Communicator - People who either talk or sms endlessly. They seem to think there is an invisible curtain that prevents their voice from reaching other people's ears or the glare from their screen from reaching other people's retinas. Don't waste my time dude!

Which category do I fall into? Well I am.....

The Sleeper - People who fall asleep easily because they are bored with the other 4 categories. These people are the least intrusive among the 5 categories....until they start snoring that is....haha.

Best Grammy Performance

Hmmm...last Wednesday (about 3 days after getting the hamsters), I noticed this particular hammy (that's what I call hamsters) closing her eyes all the time, had rapid breathing and she was lying at the back of their house. Even after nugging her a few times, she didn't open her eyes.

When I forced her to wake up, she stumbled to the slide, and still with her eyes closed, tumbled down the slide, and lay at the bottom with rapid breathing. I thought she was about to die (nazak). As I was on my way out, I told my maid to keep a watch out for that particular hammy.

I spoke to CaTz about it, and she told her story of her kid's hamsters. Evidently, from her experience, having 3 lady hamsters could lead to bullying of the weakest hammy, which would eventually die from harassment. I was shocked and I thought maybe that was the case back home.

When I got home, the maid and my mum were outside, cleaning the cage and giving the hamsters a 'bath'. Guess what? That particular hammy that looked like she was on her 'death bed' was running up and down.

Huh? That hammy played a fast one on me, a real drama queen. She looked at me as if she was making fun of me with those cheeky eyes. I was made a fool by a hammy.....

Cute little ladies

Hamsters...are the last thing I thought that my mum would ever agree to bring into the house as pets. At last, she was too weak to fight off the affection for her 2 grandchildren a.k.a. my sons, that over the weekend after lunch, she disappeared with them. I was wondering where did she went off to.

When they arrived home, there were 3 additional passengers in the car...3 hamsters. One each for my sons and maybe one for me (since that one was bigger than the other 2). There was also a string of accessories, namely wood shaving, pellets, shampoo or what ever you call that, a bungalow cage etc etc.

The funny thing is, each hamster adapted quite well in a very short time. Each of them has a different character, and have a personal 'lepak' spot in the cage. Cute little fellas...but don't let the size fool you. Their appetite are enormous....

Have you ever wondered...when you look at your parents, as you were growing up, how fierce and enforcing they seem to be....but when it comes to your children, they just melt away like butter on a hot pan? Hmmmm.....

My timing shucks

Haha I have been getting messages from some of you...even a few nasty ones like scolding me for wallowing in self pity etc etc. At first I was confused as to why they reacted that way. After all I blog only about my medical condition. Nothing that resembles self pity in there.

Then one of them mentioned about the video. Video? Hmmm? Then it dawn on me...the posting before that...the music video of 'Kaer - Izinkan ku pergi'. The video clip showed the story of a dead man singing to his girlfriend...kind of like that movie 'Ghost' starring Patrick Swayze.

Actually, there is no connection between the 2 postings. I am not feeling suicidal or thinking about death. The music video is for another story, unrelated to the medical story. By sheer coincidence, and poor timing, it looked like its inter-related.

Sorry guys and gals for ruffling a few feathers unintentionally.....anyway, it goes to show how caring you people really are. Cheers.

Why I am cranky?

I just received my results 2 days ago of the MRI scan that I did earlier. The first thing that the doctor told me was she is bringing forward my appointment from 20th to 11th. I had a bad feeling. Then she told me that she was referring my case file to Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) to meet a neuro surgeon, I had a worsening feeling. When she took the trouble to get an appointment at HKL on 14th, I knew it was really bad. Though an operation need not be the ending to this story, its there as one of an option...and it climbing higher on the list of options for KAZ.

I had mixed feelings, when I heard the news on my phone. The world kind of stopped for a few seconds. Every sort of scenarios came into my mind. If you never been there, you wont know the feeling.

People tell me I should have seek medical attention sooner. Well I did, but doctors brushed it off as me being over exaggerating my condition. Well, now I am in pain and I am out of painkillers and I am one cranky person.

For once in my life, I have to learn to prioritise myself. I don't have time to entertain or please anyone else because at the end of the day, its just me. I need motivators, positive thinkers, honestly caring people, people who would cheer me up. I don't need self centred people, who would only stay if things were good but leaves the moment it turns bad. Now I get to see the real person behind all of them....

My favourite video

What's that I smell in the air?

I used to drive to Kuantan during a job assignment every week for 1.5 months and I always drive at night. When I get to this particular stretch, I always get the eerie feeling because of limited visual, like in one of those horror movies where there's always white haze appearing prior to the ghost's grand entrance...haha.

At first I thought it was because of the haze. There was even a sign "Jalan Berkabus Di Hadapan". Then one day, my car air conditioner went kaput on me, so I had to drive with my window down. When I came to that stretch, ewwwww....the smell of smoke and smog. That got me curious, and since I am a trained Quality Lead Auditor, I began my investigation.

What I found out was, its actually smoke emitted by a factory hidden somewhere amongst the palm oil plantation. Some would say the smoke is a by product of palm oil processing. Even if that is true, there must be a rule written somewhere limiting the amount of smoke that you can release to the air.

Thus, as fate would have it, I had a 'Kementerian Teknologi dan Alam Sekitar' senior officer as a diving student. So on the drive to Pulau Redang, I presented my case. Its unhygienic, bad for the 'penduduk setempat' and with the haze limiting visual on the highway, it also affects road safety. As with the case of the sharks, this case is being investigated. Finally, some action.

Location: the new East Coast Highway (Lebuhraya Pantai Timur) KL-Kuantan
From KL, its on the right side of the highway

My word of wisdom

I was reading a motivational book, a gift from a friend on 'making friends'. One simple rule that I think everyone knows is "do onto others what you want others to do onto you". This seemingly simple equation is very straight forward. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure that out.

However, this simple equation is the most overlooked rule. People expect other people to treat them with respect and dignity. When they don't get it, they get irritated. But what if they treat other people like shit? Using the equation, its only right for people to treat him or her like shit too. But there are such self centred morons who expect respect no matter how bad they treat others.

Us Asians are famously known to have a much higher tolerance level than others, so we learn to accommodate these morons. Because of this, the morons think that they could get away with anything, and they get bolder and bolder by the day. So its safe to say that the root cause of it is actually us. We let them get away with all these.

However, we Asians, despite having a much higher tolerance level, we are less forgiving once that level has been breached. Once someone crosses that line, he or she may never be forgiven. Even if forgiven, but not forgotten. When not forgotten...things would never be the same again.

"When there is no respect, there is nothing left but hate."...KAZ

Something forgotten

Alamak...in my rush to post this article, titled 'Senseless Killings', I had forgotten to acknowledge and give due credit to the source of the photographs that I had uploaded. It was CaTz that actually reminded me about it today. Being a photographer myself, this is unethical (even though she has given them at will). So I would like to thank Ryzah, a good friend, for the pictures and email.

An update: a complain was lodged with the respective ministry through a friend working somewhere up there. Within days, a team of officers were there including the Ketua Pengarah (KP) to investigate. Its a toxicating cocktail of jurisdiction, indigenous people, livelihood etc etc. For example, federal has no jurisdiction over Sabah state Taman Laut and that this case was never highlighted before. The KP was shocked to see the pictures. Even if things came out in the papers, we cant just assume the authorities are aware of it.

Well, lets hope that something good comes out from this. If the KP cant do anything, then there is definitely no hope left for our marine life...a very sad episode for future generations.

Awww Shucks

Today I went to see the specialist. She was concerned with the numbness in my leg and also the fact that the pain killer (200 mg of the strong stuff) has no effect what so ever on me. So, in 2 weeks time, I have to do an MRI. The radiographer said it would take 1 hour to finish. Sishh what am I supposed to do in there? Oh ya, I also get a higher dose of that pain killer (morphine like effect)...about 500mg. Yippeee

What is an MRI? Click here to read

My Fears

I had always had this back ache problem that keeps on recurring every now and again. Long hours of standing, sitting or even sleeping in a wrong position would trigger a back pain. Normally, the pain would subside after 2-3 days rest. However, recently it didn't go away. After about 3 weeks of enduring the continuous and ever increasing pain, I went to see a chiropractor. It was a first time for me. After examination which includes x-rays of my spine, the doctor said that there is an indication of a prolapsed disc.

The treatment was more of preventive rather than corrective. My back bone would never be the same again. I then went to get a second opinion from an Orthopedic Specialist friend at a government hospital. Same thing. I was prescribed with a strong dose of painkiller (slightly lower than morphine) and told to do exercises.

About 2 days ago, I started feeling numbness in my right leg. Not a good sign indeed. Today I have an appointment to see the specialist friend again.

What goes on in my head now is understandably fear....the fear of the inability to do the things I love...the fear of of losing the ones I love...the fear of being a cripple. Though not to sound over dramatic, the possibility is there.

As I look through the window of life of a potentially crippled person, I find that I get easily irritated by people around me that has tons and tons of complains about the mishaps that has happened in their lives. Hello...I have much bigger problems here that may affect the way I live in the future...and you are talking about your stress to me? Maybe its because I don't look sick, or because of my built, that people, including the ones I hold very dear to me, didn't even ask me how I am feeling inside. I needed someone to talk to...but there was just no one who would listen. They were too busy thinking about what pisses them off, about their past lives....mostly about how THEY feel.

I am feeling like a lost diver running out of air at 30m depth, without anyone in sight. I was looking for a buddy that would extend to me his or her alternate air source (the spare regulator that every diver carries), but there was none. Its a very uneasy feeling, much worst if you have to face it alone. But no matter what, I have to survive this, just long enough to make sure that my boys would grow up right...to be a better man than what their father was.

Senseless Killing

I cant believe it...I mean I knew about it quite sometime back. Back then, some of the divers who witnessed this butchery actually made some 'noise'. It came out in the papers, with them promising to do some investigative reporting and come out with the answers from the relevant authorities. But at the end of the day, it all died in silence...as dead as the sharks themselves.

What am I rambling on here, you may ask? At a 'M' island, neighboring to Sipadan island and a few other exotic places, dead sharks, killed or rather butchered by the dozens elsewhere, were processed. The following is an extract from an eyewitness email to me...

" I obviously don't know the name of this place..only that it is in M**** island and it is just at the opposite of Big John home stay. Apparently, they brought in these sharks a few times a week.. sometimes 20 - 40 at a time....

Anyway, they say it was from the international waters but have a look at their boats...secara logiknya, bot kecik macam tu mana la for deepsea fishing kan? "

How can this be? The M* island is one of the popular place for divers to stay, who come from all over the world to make a pilgrimage to Sipadan (no resort on Sipadan), a world heritage site. After years of battling for Sipadan at the international level, and finally winning the case, we just had to display these scenes to our international visitors?

I cant think of a reason for these senseless killings. No matter where they caught them, we must stop these killings if we were to preserve marine life for our sons & daughters. Some would argue that its the local indigenous people's way of getting an income. Maybe true...but the relevant agencies must educate them, or get them involved in a fish rearing project. They could even get them more involved in the local tourism industry, as done elsewhere in the world.

The other question that comes to my mind is the levy that every diver has to pay when diving off Sipadan. Why hasn't that translated into better things for the visitors? Nothing fancy...just repair the jetty and the toilets, or maybe some huts when divers rest while doing their surface intervals. I had once seen a Mat Salleh who's leg got caught when the jetty's plank flooring gave way. Lastly...I leave you with a photographic evidence why I think its nauseating.

Diver, Diver are you ok?

Its always a pleasure to teach...I didn't know I had that interest until I became a PADI scuba instructor. There is a fine line between 'teaching' and 'nagging' though....teaching is the objective, and nagging is a method perhaps? Haha. But no matter how you conduct the course, fun is a compulsory by-product and safety is the rule of the day.

I am known as one who follow the book, no shortcuts...and I have lost a few potential students because of this. Never mind if they don't value their lives, but I DO. This is worst if they want to be certified Divemasters...they'll be looking after other people's lives. Cant have that on my conscience.

Recently, I had the pleasure to teach my two friends who were taking the EFR (Emergency First Responder) and Rescue Diver certification. One of them had a true life experience of witnessing a diver running out of air at 22m during a sunset dive. Both of them are avid divers and based on their natural instinct of helping out others, they decided to pay me to 'torture' them...haha. What a great job I have. So I would like to share with you some of their 'action' photos....

During EFR Training

During Rescue Diver Training

(photos courtesy of Ryzah)

Mind over matter....pushing the limits

Gently does it

Rescue Breathing

Chest Compressions

Recovery Position

De-briefing

Graduation night...The one in the orange tshirt is my Advance Open Water student, Swee Lian. Don't let the small size fool you, she has the courage of a warrior. Congrats to her too for achieving the AOWD certification level and for conquering her fears of the deep.

Congratulations to the both of them for taking the time and money to learn new skills on how to save someone else's live. They have earned their right to be called Rescue Divers. The next time you hear someone utter this phrase...Diver, diver are you OK?, then you know that he or she belongs to this special group of people.