AZMIOMARISMAIL

Father's Day Out

Assalamualaikum,
My oh my, look how time flies (when you're not looking) since my last posting. It's another school holiday period and as usual the 'where to' and 'when to' and 'how long' questions are the norms. When you don't have school-going children, trips are easier to organise.
Well, for us, the destination was KL (where) going into the second week of the break (when) for 4 days (length). It was an all-in-one trip actually, with the kids needing to go somewhere, and me to be at my KL office. We were also there to do our survey on the possible location of our new home since I have made a commitment (business-wise) to be in KL by January 2009. It will be a home-coming of sort since leaving the city life more than 13 years ago, a change I am looking forward to, as apart from better business environment, I have almost 80% of my family members (close and extended) in KL. So, we will make our future house in KL our new 'home' since we will be surrounded by people whom we love, and vice versa.
Anyway, the highlight for the short trip (at least for the kids), apart from the shopping centres (the curve, the square, the tower, you name it) was the Times Square rides. Since Sarah, Arif and my nephew Asyraf got onto the adult rides, and my wife decided to survey the square's retail attractions, I was left to accompany my 8 1/2 year old Aqil on a fast moving and rotating octopus ride. It would be normal for a guy to hang out with his kid during a holiday period, but I had just left a meeting earlier and still had my office attire on (yeah, the neck tie was also screaming to be let loose during the spin). Aqil later went on for a second spin in the same ride with his other siblings (phew) and I was left on the bench with a dizzying spin of my own. A few years back, I took the roller-coaster ride and have since vowed never to experience such a 'life-threatening' spin again (hey, at my age, its a don't-do-won't-die situation!).
Well the rest of the accompanying business was less stressful, with the slower car and train rides for Aqil, and daddy's day out with the kids turned out to be enjoyable, although I still couldn't get the dizzying octopus spin out of my head on reaching my sister's home later.
The moral of the story is - if you can't do the spin, don't mess with your seafood!

More than just a picnic.

Last Sunday, we - my family of 2 adults & 2 kids [minus my 16-year old eldest son in boarding school] - were at the Penang National Park, locally known as Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve for our weekend outing, a place we've never been to.
(see http://travel.tourism.gov.my/consumer/destinations/item.asp?item=Penang#key)
We're supposed to go for a picnic on one of the nice looking beaches there. Having packed our picnic 'basket', a medium-sized sling bag and a roll of 'tikar' in the morning (unfortunately there was a blackout at our place the night before - thanks TNB), I was looking forward to a nice, relaxing time by the beach, going through the weekend newspapers, whilst driving from our Butterworth home to the park (and after a brief breakfast pit-stop at the Tun Sardon market).
Having obtained the necessary permit to enter the park, instead of heading for Teluk Tukun beach area (about 500 metres from the entrance), we decided (the family voted) to head for Pantai Kerachut, about 2 kilometres through jungle tracks where we can also see the much talked about Meromictic Lake (where fresh and seawater co-exist but do not mix). Well, it looked like our normal trekking trip, having been up/down the Bukit Mertajam Hill (To' Kun) 3-hour trail, the Penang Hill (part) 2-hour trail, even the Cameron Highlands' Robinson Fall trail, etc., the only difference being that we're dressed for picnic. Sure enough, I felt abnormally tired throughout the journey, with steep ascend and descend, and crossing five (small) water courses, wearing a pair of slippers and carrying a picnic basket! I guess I was not mentally prepared even for this one hour journey. However, my son Aqil seemed to enjoy the trip, constantly leaving us behind that other trekkers coming from the opposite direction thought that he was on his own! Finally, the sight of the lake and the sound of the waves rejuvenated my senses and the journey was worth every drop of sweat it took.After enjoying the dip in the sea, with Sarah being stung (slightly) by a jellyfish, we've decided to take a boat along the coast back to our starting point. A walk back across the jungle in slippers didn't sound interesting anymore!

Why am I here?

Assalamualaikum and greetings to everyone.
I suppose the question of "Why am I here?" in relation to my presence in the 'blogsphere', and on earth for that matter, relates directly to my purpose in life, namely to make my presence felt and contribute to the society albeit in a small and meaningful way.
In the present fast-paced world of enrichment for 'me' rather than 'us', we are all somewhat guilty of the self-centred approach and mentality (yours truly included) the material world has shaped us to be. Giving back to the society is an afterthought rather than the primary concern.
Take the simple 'gesture' of littering in public places as an example. Everyone who litters normally does it for their own 'cleanliness'. Never mind that the rubbish thrown out of their vehicles will litter the streets, but at least their car will be clean (and of course the "that's what the street cleaners are paid for" attitude). Everybody feels that their individual effort will not make a change. Tell that to the voters of our last general election. We have to start thinking collectively for the change to happen. Hey, you may say "I'm not obliged to do anything I don't want to!". Fine, if you don't feel like contributing to the society, at least don't do anything negative to worsen its way of life.
Me, myself and I, are the one and all required to make a difference. Then, and only then, will you enjoy your life and the rewards it brings.
Me - That's my nickname (Mi) as long as I can remember.
Myself - Its all up to me to make a difference.
I - There is only one 'me' in this world - I am unique!