Around a week ago, I was reading TIMES Almanac,it was called "The world's nation from A to Z" they made a research on the worlds population,language,types of government etc. Being a proud Malaysian, I quickly turned the page to see how Malaysia is like (even if I am from and live here), I was quite shocked to see that Malaysia rates 74% in literacy.To me, this is a great disappointment and it is quite disturbing as to how our future would be like. I doubt that they include those with disabilities in this,because, next to ALL our neighbors, we rate the lowest. I have to admit I need to brush up on my language and read a lot more,but, I got my education and would not know how to type this entry without it. 22% of people do not know how to, and this saddens me.
According to UNICEF 125,000 kids or more do not go to school. Maybe they want to learn, but, do not have the money or maybe they would have to travel more than 10 kilometers to go to school. I don't think it is necessary to wait for the government to do anything as they are not doing anything at this moment. So, I would try to do something small first and hope to do it properly and not just leave it later.
I am going to check out the mosque's library tomorrow,I would need to see if I can do anything to encourage people around the neighborhood to read. This means that I would have to have a lot of determination. Like my parents, I want the non-muslims to go to the library as well,but, I am not sure if the community is open enough to let the non-muslims enter the mosque and I am not sure if the non-muslims would want to enter the mosque either. Perhaps it would be asking too much,but, I've got to do something.
Warning : I might..might... be asking any of you...you might be some random person on the street for some hand.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
things to do
I have a list of things to do,
1. I have yet to buy a new laptop because I wish to play games and a slightly bigger screen as it would be easier for me to do work.
2. My cousin has invited me to Ipoh,Tambun to go climbing,of course I am excited,but, I have not been climbing properly at all, half an hour in the gym does not really count.
3. I need to upgrade my computer.
Maybe that is not a lot.
1. I have yet to buy a new laptop because I wish to play games and a slightly bigger screen as it would be easier for me to do work.
2. My cousin has invited me to Ipoh,Tambun to go climbing,of course I am excited,but, I have not been climbing properly at all, half an hour in the gym does not really count.
3. I need to upgrade my computer.
Maybe that is not a lot.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
a new crush
I haven't been having a crush for awhile, I think I might have a crush on someone. Yeay! hahaha...I thought I lost my capability of having a crush,but, I think I would have to see or talk to him again to make sure.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
My grandfather Abu Bakar bin Kamat
I am very grateful to have the family that I have,the grandparents,parents,sisters,aunties,uncles and cousins alike. At young of age,my cousins,sisters and I were raised and taken care of by a team of people. My grandfather plays a big role in our lives. A humble,warm,gentle and a lot more. I am very lucky to have a grandfather who cares about all of us.
He would give us each newspaper cuttings of exercises, if we had any major exams like UPSR,PMR or SPM, up until now, he would still give me books on how to improve my vocabulary,presentation skills or anything that has relations to advertising. He would do the same to my cousins. He would even call me up to give me words of wisdom when I had my first major break up, although he is a grandfather, he is indeed very understanding.
Yesterday, my sister went on a google search and found an article of a man who quote him, it was about unity. My grandfather,(if i'm not mistaken) introduced 'muhibah'(unity) to the nation even before the 13th May incident. I can't post the article here, I am not sure why.
This is what my sister wrote about my grandfather in her poem. I wrote this entry inspired by both of my sisters. I would stop writing as her poem would say it all.
To my Tok Bah, who taught me to love words.
When I was little
I knew with absolute
certainty
(Children can afford absolutes):
My Tok Bah was
Santa Claus
It was not just
The uncanny resemblance
Or a child’s affinity
for the fantastic.
It was the generosity
Bordering on self-sacrifice
The big booming laugh
That erupts from
a good yarn or
a grandchild’s antics
The goodwill
To all mankind
And animal-kind, too
(I remember feeding stray dogs and cats
I ate the cats’ rice once)
And always
The gentle, gentle
Lessons:
Be kind
To kings and paupers alike
Be generous
Things are just
Things
Be polite
Even if you disagree
(Especially if you disagree)
Be grateful
If you have family
You have
Everything.
My Tok Bah
Sends us handwritten letters
and newspaper clippings
Economics for me
Gross medical stories for the young doctor
Arts and graphics for those of us
infinitely more creative.
None of us are millionaires
But we are worth more
than mere money.
In his eyes, we are
Einsteins
Flemings
Picassos
(even Central Bank Governors)
Who needs a Nobel Prize, now?
If I live to be 80
(My Tok Bah will be soon, inshallah)
I will never forget
the benediction
of a gentle pat on the head
and a “pot sikit”
And always, the messages –
They’ve seen us through
Frigid winters
Heated exchanges
Difficult lectures
Horrid bosses:
“Usaha dan tawakkal!”
“I am confident you can do it!”
“Maju terus maju!”
I don’t say this enough
And I should
(Knowing that it still isn’t enough):
We love you, Tok Bah
And thank you.
He would give us each newspaper cuttings of exercises, if we had any major exams like UPSR,PMR or SPM, up until now, he would still give me books on how to improve my vocabulary,presentation skills or anything that has relations to advertising. He would do the same to my cousins. He would even call me up to give me words of wisdom when I had my first major break up, although he is a grandfather, he is indeed very understanding.
Yesterday, my sister went on a google search and found an article of a man who quote him, it was about unity. My grandfather,(if i'm not mistaken) introduced 'muhibah'(unity) to the nation even before the 13th May incident. I can't post the article here, I am not sure why.
This is what my sister wrote about my grandfather in her poem. I wrote this entry inspired by both of my sisters. I would stop writing as her poem would say it all.
To my Tok Bah, who taught me to love words.
When I was little
I knew with absolute
certainty
(Children can afford absolutes):
My Tok Bah was
Santa Claus
It was not just
The uncanny resemblance
Or a child’s affinity
for the fantastic.
It was the generosity
Bordering on self-sacrifice
The big booming laugh
That erupts from
a good yarn or
a grandchild’s antics
The goodwill
To all mankind
And animal-kind, too
(I remember feeding stray dogs and cats
I ate the cats’ rice once)
And always
The gentle, gentle
Lessons:
Be kind
To kings and paupers alike
Be generous
Things are just
Things
Be polite
Even if you disagree
(Especially if you disagree)
Be grateful
If you have family
You have
Everything.
My Tok Bah
Sends us handwritten letters
and newspaper clippings
Economics for me
Gross medical stories for the young doctor
Arts and graphics for those of us
infinitely more creative.
None of us are millionaires
But we are worth more
than mere money.
In his eyes, we are
Einsteins
Flemings
Picassos
(even Central Bank Governors)
Who needs a Nobel Prize, now?
If I live to be 80
(My Tok Bah will be soon, inshallah)
I will never forget
the benediction
of a gentle pat on the head
and a “pot sikit”
And always, the messages –
They’ve seen us through
Frigid winters
Heated exchanges
Difficult lectures
Horrid bosses:
“Usaha dan tawakkal!”
“I am confident you can do it!”
“Maju terus maju!”
I don’t say this enough
And I should
(Knowing that it still isn’t enough):
We love you, Tok Bah
And thank you.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
My sister's short story
Since my family on my father's side is originally from KL, my sister wrote a short story of my great (i am not sure how many great's ) grandfather's house in Kampung Baru (it is still there,standing alone with cats and no living soul inside) which is really sad because it has been there for hundreds of years. Here goes my sisters short story in city of shared stories kuala lumpur, the title Kera's kangkang. Please do read.
http://cityofsharedstorieskualalumpur.com/story/title/keras-kangkang/
http://cityofsharedstorieskualalumpur.com/story/title/keras-kangkang/
Saturday, January 16, 2010
starting climbing from scratch
I have not been climbing for soo long that I am not sure if I remember how to even tie the rope,which would be dangerous,but, to start back means that I would need to start from scratch. I was atleast 6a or 5c in french grading system,but I think I would need to go back and start 3 or 4 routes. Maybe I would go bouldering more often to get back my strength as my arms often get weak. I would start next week.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
A book called Yasmin Ahmad's Films
I think it is more of a norm for a modern 20 year old to not sleep at 5 or 6 am in the morning. I have been online and I have seen twitters or facebook status saying things like "i have insomnia" or "its 6am and I am still awake" well probably not in those specific words, but, more or less so. I have tried to make myself to sleep, but, obviously it has not been working, also the fact that I have "accidentally" forgotten to take my pill "buddy" S-Q does not help with the sleeping either.
"Amir Muhammad's book" taken somwhere from the internet :D
So, in my attempt of "trying" to sleep, I decided to read Amir Muhammad's book on Yasmin Ahmad's Film and yes the title of the book is "Yasmin Ahmad's Films". Since young of age my parents and sisters have encouraged me to read his articles. Not only that we read his articles (or rather I had to read one of his articles aloud in front of them) but, also, my sister had a HUGE crush on him and in the end, she found out he was gay,but, still pins a picture of us my sister and I together with him on her cork board in her bedroom. Which was taken when I was about 9. I think if she were to read this I would be slaughtered and yelled at,but, if and I say if he reads this immature article he would laugh not at my sister but at the fact that some "girl" now woman had a crush on him.
TalenTime (taken somewhere from the internet)
Enough about my sister and her ex-crush. This book was written just a month after Yasmin Ahdmad's funeral. I think his opinions are very much of what my opinions would be like,but, with better writing skills. I would always look forward to her films and advertisements as she never fails to touch the souls of others especially us Malaysians. When I was reading the book, he reminded me that Malaysian films do not have people reading books and the reality of it all most Malaysians do not read (sometimes include myself) which in my mind concludes that most of us seek through visual medias, therefore, we should have quality productions rather than films like "bohsia" or any other films by Yusof Haslam and generate put good values in like what Yasmin Ahdmad did in most of her film. For instance giving a help to a prostitute by teaching her how to read Iqra' (a learning book of Arabic scripts/alphabets). Maybe than people would start to learn and read again,maybe than we could finally reach out to the minds of the narrow. My father would always say that education and reading would make us go far. Which is true and I never follow as I am very stubborn.
Talentime again (I am just taking random pictures...I am not sure which picture would be suitable for this entry..plus, I haven't gotten any sleep so I am trying to speed things up)
I think I shall stop, my sister made me pancakes for breakfast. I would go on and on,but, I doubt that this entry would lead me to anywhere,but, I am just trying to share what I think and it is still NOT ENOUGH. I want change. I wish I could start a revolution. Why? Open up your eyes and see, if you look wide enough you would see huge holes and cracks ( I am not sure if that made sense to you) but, it would take me hours to tell you what I mean.
Alright this one last life story of my father just to prove a bit of a point. My father who is in his 50's has been friends with his Chinese and Indian friends since primary school and when I say since meaning they are still friends. What I am trying to say is that kids nowadays which means my generation prefers not to mix around. I remember in school there are segregation between the malays the chinese and the indian. I would only see one or two malays sitting in a crowd of chinese and indian. Which saddens me because I know that it would be worst if nothing is done. I know that the gap would be further even in school.
"Amir Muhammad's book" taken somwhere from the internet :D
So, in my attempt of "trying" to sleep, I decided to read Amir Muhammad's book on Yasmin Ahmad's Film and yes the title of the book is "Yasmin Ahmad's Films". Since young of age my parents and sisters have encouraged me to read his articles. Not only that we read his articles (or rather I had to read one of his articles aloud in front of them) but, also, my sister had a HUGE crush on him and in the end, she found out he was gay,but, still pins a picture of us my sister and I together with him on her cork board in her bedroom. Which was taken when I was about 9. I think if she were to read this I would be slaughtered and yelled at,but, if and I say if he reads this immature article he would laugh not at my sister but at the fact that some "girl" now woman had a crush on him.
TalenTime (taken somewhere from the internet)
Enough about my sister and her ex-crush. This book was written just a month after Yasmin Ahdmad's funeral. I think his opinions are very much of what my opinions would be like,but, with better writing skills. I would always look forward to her films and advertisements as she never fails to touch the souls of others especially us Malaysians. When I was reading the book, he reminded me that Malaysian films do not have people reading books and the reality of it all most Malaysians do not read (sometimes include myself) which in my mind concludes that most of us seek through visual medias, therefore, we should have quality productions rather than films like "bohsia" or any other films by Yusof Haslam and generate put good values in like what Yasmin Ahdmad did in most of her film. For instance giving a help to a prostitute by teaching her how to read Iqra' (a learning book of Arabic scripts/alphabets). Maybe than people would start to learn and read again,maybe than we could finally reach out to the minds of the narrow. My father would always say that education and reading would make us go far. Which is true and I never follow as I am very stubborn.
Talentime again (I am just taking random pictures...I am not sure which picture would be suitable for this entry..plus, I haven't gotten any sleep so I am trying to speed things up)
I think I shall stop, my sister made me pancakes for breakfast. I would go on and on,but, I doubt that this entry would lead me to anywhere,but, I am just trying to share what I think and it is still NOT ENOUGH. I want change. I wish I could start a revolution. Why? Open up your eyes and see, if you look wide enough you would see huge holes and cracks ( I am not sure if that made sense to you) but, it would take me hours to tell you what I mean.
Alright this one last life story of my father just to prove a bit of a point. My father who is in his 50's has been friends with his Chinese and Indian friends since primary school and when I say since meaning they are still friends. What I am trying to say is that kids nowadays which means my generation prefers not to mix around. I remember in school there are segregation between the malays the chinese and the indian. I would only see one or two malays sitting in a crowd of chinese and indian. Which saddens me because I know that it would be worst if nothing is done. I know that the gap would be further even in school.
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