A tiny Utor Typhoon Experience in Hong Kong

I was in Hong Kong last week, when Utor typhoon passed over it.
It was a new experience for me since I've never seen a typhoon before...
It was also one of the times when I feel so lucky to have a country like Malaysia. Geographically strategic, we are still safe from natural disaster like this (so far...)

Fortunately, Utor typhoon didn't do damage to Hong Kong.

I arrived in Hong Kong without having any idea that there was a typhoon approaching. First information I received was when I read an alert at a shopping mall entrance.

'Utor Typhoon' alert level 3.

'Ehhhh... what's this?'
So, I ignored the warning (this is what lack of experience did to me... not even a typhoon alert can scare me of :P)

But then, the hotel started to hand out information on the communication for the typhoon. All I remembered was the alert level can reach up to level 8, where everyone had to stay indoors & shops will be closed.

So, that was what happened on Wednesday, 14-August-2013. The alert level reached to level 8. Since the meeting that I was attending was conducted in the hotel where I was staying, sad to say that I didn't get to go outside when it happened and kept wondering where all our Hong Kong colleagues were :) On that day, flights were cancelled, schools & offices were closed & public transportation were stopped.

I can't tell you guys how is an alert level 8 typhoon feels like.But, at level 3, the wind was so strong and it kept raining on & off. The clouds were thick & moved so fast like someone was pressing the fast forward button. I was in awe because it was like watching a documentary on tv. It was a nice experience (since nothing really bad happened).

My flight back to KL was delayed because of the typhoon... but I don't have anything to complain for since Cathay Pacific compensated me for being a cooperative customer. It was one of the days when I think my patience paid off & there are silverlinings to everything :)

Here are some of the photos during Utor typhoon alert level 3. I'll share the video later.

Egypt & The War on Democracy

Sad sad news I received today...


Source: Al-Jazeera --> http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/07/20137319828176718.html

 I can't say much... I'm not a politician nor a political observer... I hardly watch news to avoid breaking my heart. I'm more calm staying under my peaceful 'coconut shell'. Peeking out once in a while just to get some updates from the world around me... Then, when the news starting to break my heart again, I quickly get back under the coconut shell.

But, despite my once in a while peeking, all the news that I received of President Mohamed Morsi, are all good news. An Islamic leader from Ikhawanul Muslimin... an educated person, a president with a humble and sincere heart... so as his wife & children...

How come people refused to have this kind of person as their president?

This is sick!

What happened to Egypt today, reminded me of a documentary by John Pilger entitled 'The War on Democracy'. You have to watch this documentary.

JOHN PILGER's 'THE WAR ON DEMOCRACY'

The same thing has happened before to Hugo Chavez... but at that time, the people of Venezuela had gotten back the President that they elected via a democracy process, even after a coup.

To President Morsi, his families, all his cabinet members and the people of Egypt who had elected him, keep praying. Allah is always with those who are defending the truth.

And in the end, the truth will prevail.

Do not forget to pray for the safety & unity of all our fellow Muslims, where ever we all are.

2013 Haze in Malaysia...

Assalamualaikum & Good day Y'alls!

How are you guys doing? Hope you guys are doing fine and are in good health despite the hazy weather. Please wear your mask when you're outdoor... We can't see the dust particles, but they are there in the air... If we keep collecting them in our lungs, maybe we don't get sick now, but we might in 10 or 20 years...

Age do that to our body you know...

To smokers... isn't the haze enough? Do you still have to smoke?!
If you still do, please do not do it in public. Have some respect & compassion for other people for God's sakes!

Anyway, when I look at the haze... all I can think of is, how we human can do so much harm to our environment... to our Earth... to Earthlings...

As if all the carbon monoxide from the cars we drive (I'm included), all the CFC we released from our homes & buildings and all the pesticides haven't done enough harm to our Earth...

The ozone layers are still not thin enough! It's still protecting the Earthlings from the harmful UV rays! There must be something else that we can do to to expedite the process!

I know! Open burning! Lot's of open burning!
The thick smokes will cover the sky in 3 countries! So, much carbon monoxide! That's it! So much harm can be done! From just a simple action!

We want to blame our neighbour for the smoky sky... and our neighbour fought back saying that companies from our country also to be blamed for the open burning.

All the fingers pointing here and there... still no solution was found. The smokes will come every year... we will fight and blame each other every year for the same reason. We are a sad bunch of people...

I'm rambling... but I don't have any idea on how to solve this problem... except maybe one...

Maybe our neighbour should pay us compensation when the open burning in their country causes the Air Pollution Index (API) in our country to reach the unhealthy level. I think, this way our neighbour will impose a more strict rules to the relevant companies (whether it is their own or their neighbours').

Other than that... we need to do more research on how to handle the plantation industries so that it is more environmental friendly and good for the economy. Homosapiens are creatures with the best brain. We should be able to find a solution to this (once we stop blaming each other).

Before I go... a few photos of the hazy skies taken when I was on the road last Sunday.

Oh how I miss the blue sky... the sunshine... the RAIN!

Sunrise @ Cameron Highland

I just love Cameron Highland... mostly because of the cool air. But, lately... it's getting hotter there.
That makes me really sad.

This trip, I made an effort to go out & watched the sunrise. It was just beautiful.

 

That's us having a blast! 

Imagine Dragons - It's Time

After listening to this song over & over again from TM advertisement, I'm hooked to the chorus... and then I'm hooked even more after listening to the whole song. This song will be my driving song for a while :P

It's time to begin, isn't it?   --> YES!
I get a little bit bigger (not literally, please... no bigger than now)
but then I'll admit
I'm just the same as I was
Now don't you understand
That I'm never changing who I am --> but, I will always improve myself!

Hope you'll enjoy this song.

*****

So this is what you meant

When you said that you were spent

And now it's time to build from the bottom of the pit

Right to the top

Don't hold back

Packing my bags and giving the academy a rain check

I don't ever wanna let you down

I don't ever wanna leave this town

'Cause after all

This city never sleeps at night

It's time to begin, isn't it?

I get a little bit bigger, but then I'll admit

I'm just the same as I was

Now don't you understand

That I'm never changing who I am

So this is where you fell

And I am left to sell

The path to heaven runs through miles of clouded hell

Right to the top

Don't look back

Turning the rags and giving the commodities a rain check

I don't ever wanna let you down

I don't ever wanna leave this town

'Cause after all

This city never sleeps at night

It's time to begin, isn't it?

I get a little bit bigger but then I'll admit

I'm just the same as I was

Now don't you understand

That I'm never changing who I am

It's time to begin, isn't it?

I get a little bit bigger, but then I'll admit

I'm just the same as I was

Now don't you understand

That I'm never changing who I am

This road never looked so lonely

This house doesn't burn down slowly

To ashes, to ashes

It's time to begin, isn't it?

I get a little bit bigger, but then I'll admit

I'm just the same as I was

Now don't you understand

That I'm never changing who I am

It's time to begin, isn't it?

I get a little bit bigger, but then I'll admit

I'm just the same as I was

Don't you understand

That I'm never changing who I am  

*****

Masha and The Bear (Маша и Медведь)

Found this cartoon from Russia when I was video hopping around YouTube.

Super cute!

Al-Fatihah: S Shamsudin

I just found out that S Shamsudin had passed away yesterday.
This is such a sad news.
I grew up watching the Bujang Lapok comedy.
Ramlee, Sudin & Ajis are my favorite comedy characters of all time.
The chemistry between those three were unbeatable.

My favourite is 'Seniman Bujang Lapok'. The movie is hilarious.
To me, until now, there is now better comedy than the Bujang Lapok trilogy.

P. Ramlee had left us for a long time now.
The brightest star in Malaysia film industries.
The most talented star.
Now, S Shamsudin had left us too.
So sad...

I've always loved 'Sudin'. He's a tough guy with a kind heart.

Sudin & Ramlee left us with the sweetest memory of them...
Their comedy never fail to tickle...
No matter how many times we watch it.
No matter how many times we heard the dialog.

Eh apa punya laki? Pasal belacan aje pun ko nak pancung dia?

Eh apa shooo? Engkau sememangnya manusia durjana...

Al-Fatihah for S Shamsudin.
May Allah blesses his soul.

Amin.