Makan makan angin

The kids and myself were having a good time relaxing on the double tube floating on the Adventure River. Reaching a bend of the man made river or more like a monsoon drain at the Lost World of Tambun themepark there was a sudden burst of water which creates waves on the so-called river. It felt like as though we were at the midst of a mini Perfect Storm. The double tubes were swaying like nobody business. Wow! that was fun and exciting!

There were two agenda on our family weekend trip to Ipoh; firstly to visit the long overdue water themepark and secondly to fulfill our gastronomical needs with the popular hawker food of Ipoh. Our troop includes mom-in-law and my wife's sister family.

My first impression on the Lost World - it was so small in comparison with its elder brother Sunway Lagoon. Anyhow, there is not much to complain since the promotional entrance fees was RM18.90 for adult and RM14.90 for children which is a fraction of the fees at Sunway Lagoon. I even received some complimentary tickets from a friend who was performing at the themepark.

The themepark was in a valley surrounded by limestones hill with greens and trees all over. Within the park was a 80 metres high free standing rocks formation known as Needle of tambun in a 400 million years old limestones valley. It was an interesting sight but since it was within the park area, it allows only those that purchased the entrance tickets to enjoy this gift of nature. What a pity!

The food galore was great. Cowan Street bean sprout chicken near the Excelsior Hotel was a yummy dinner for all of us. All the plates were wiped clean and the "hor fun" or flat rice noodles was so smooth. Early morning the next day all were geared up to fill up their load again. We headed to old town Jalan Bandar Timah and lucky to managed to secure two tables at Sin Yoon Loong coffeeshop. I waited for about about 30 minutes for a seat during my previous visit last year. The tables were soon filled with the crunchy "siew yoke"(barbecue pork), fish balls, yam cakes, hor fun soup, fried kueh tiaw, chee cheong fun, yin yong toast bread and white coffee of course! The practice here is that patrons can even order food from neighbouring coffeeshops. This enable the customers to enjoy the popular food from nearby shops without having to move from coffeeshop to coffeeshop.

After breakfast we proceed to the D.R. Seenivasagam public park. It's good to burn some calories after a heavy breakfast. The park management provides complimantary bicycle rides for kids. The kids were happy to take a bicycle each and had a good time cycling around the bicycle route. The caretaker was a nice Indian man who allows the choosy kids to change the bicycles without complain. He told me as a father of two he understands childrens fussy attitude and the job is not for those who are hot temper and easily gets angry with kids.

We went back to the hotel to wash up before checking out. The Regalodge hotel rooms is decently clean and it even provides complimentary broadband wi-fi service. The interesting part is that even though the room is small, it comes with an 32" LCD TV and cable tv channels. The only thing which I am particular was that parking was very limited and I had to park my car at the main road public parking. This hotel will be over shadowed once the now under construction immediate neighbour 15 floors Regency Hotel ready for business next year.

Lunch was a hot stuff. We had Sin Seng Fatt curry noodles and sui kau ( dumplings with pork fillings). Even my sons loved the curry with mint leaves and prawns.

The guy who sold us the "otak-otak" Penang styled dropped by again. I prefers this otak-otak to the Muar style otak-otak. He solicit his business by holding a A4-sized placard announcing his otak-otak for sale. He did not say a single word unless approach and he will pick up the banana leafs from the tables once the customers finishes. It seems this approach works well for him as the shops within his sales route did not object of him selling his stuff to the shops patrons. The patrons are not harrassed and the tables are kept clean. Very thoughtful of him indeed.

It was a "makan" trip indeed and everyone were satisfied with this short weekend trip. Maybe next year end we will be there again. It's really Makan makan angin ? - Loka

What's in a position?

Shall a person reject an appointed position if he or she are not able to fulfill the duties and responsibilities in a conducive and respectable situation? Furthermore if the leadership that appoints the person are not providing the necessary trust, support and encouragement for him to carry out the tasks assigned to him then it will be untenable for him to stay put any longer. It will then be more honorable for him to resign and move on.

In any situation no one is indispensable. As in any organisation, leaders will come and go but what is most important is that the organisation will stay intact and serve the intended receipients as it aspired to be.

As for me, if the organisation concerned do not need my services anymore I will also do the same. What's the need to accept a position if our presence makes others felt uncomfortable and develops negative thoughts in their mind? - Loka

WFBY in Japan

View of Sensoji Temple from 26th Floor of Asakusa Hotel Tokyo

Has been away in Japan for the past week to attend the World Fellowship of Buddhist Youth (WFBY) general conference in Tokyo. Too caught up with meetings and assisting the local organiser and secretariat that deters me from updating posting in this blog. I attended the conference as an advisor of the WFBY.

WFBY was established on 26th May 1972 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It has been based in Bangkok, Thailand since 1976 until today. The current president is Anurut Vongvanij of the Young Buddhist Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage.

Some of the major programs organised by the WFBY includes the International Buddhist Youth Exchange program, International Buddhist Youth Forum, Buddhist Youth Leadership Seminar and Training and International Art for the Dhamma.

The general conference are held every two year and hosted by different country each time. A team was elected to managed the organisation for the next two years with Anurut Vongvanij re-elected as president. For the very first time a representative from All Japan Young Buddhist Association was elected deputy president. Reverend Kantai Sakamoto, the JYBA immediate past president and organising chairman of the conference was given the honour to be elected deputy president by the delegates. I was the Election Secretary during this general conference.

I also attended the All Japan Young Buddhist Association 30th Anniversary celebration in Todaiji temple, Nara.- Loka

Obama change policy on Tibet?

Can the US President-elect Barack Obama brings CHANGE to Tibet as expected by those looking forward to it? Following is the press statement of the International Campaign for Tibet as a "gentle" reminder to him for the Tibet cause. -Loka

Strong support for Tibet from next US President
ICT press release, November 5, 2008

The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) congratulates Barack Obama on his election to be the 44th President of the United States and anticipates strong support from the Obama Administration for Tibetan issues.

"The Tibetan people will have a friend and strong supporter in President-elect Obama," said John Ackerly, President of the International Campaign for Tibet. "This is a critical time for the Tibetan issue and we are confident that the Obama Administration will continue the existing support for Tibet and provide new energy for the efforts of the Dalai Lama to engage with the Chinese government. If we build on what Senator Obama has said about Tibet in the past, then we can expect even stronger initiatives from the Untied States in the future," Ackerly concluded.

Senator Obama has a strong record of support for Tibet and has met with the Dalai Lama to discuss human rights issues. Senator Obama attended a private Senate Foreign Relations Committee briefing with the Dalai Lama in November 2005 and has featured a photograph of himself with the Dalai Lama from that briefing in the media section of his presidential campaign website. Senator Obama has personally urged Chinese President Hu Jintao to resolve the situation in Tibet through dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his representatives, and this spring, when demonstrations spread across the Tibetan plateau, Senator Obama telephoned the Dalai Lama in India to discuss the situation. The Senator subsequently called on the Chinese to show restraint in dealing with the protests. Comments by the Senator on his phone call are available on the ICT website at http://www.savetibet.org/. Senator Obama was also a Senate sponsor of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama Congressional Gold Medal Act, which awarded the nation’s highest civilian honor to the Dalai Lama in October 2007.

The Obama-Biden campaign has pledged to actively engage China on a number of issues, including human rights in Tibet and China’s crackdown on democracy and religious freedom activists. The campaign has pledged to "be frank with the Chinese about such failings and will press them to respect human rights."

Among the senior foreign policy advisors to the Obama campaign is Gregory B. Craig, the first U.S. Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, appointed by then Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in 1996.

This press release can be found online at http://savetibet.org/news/newsitem.php?id=1379
Press contact:
Kate SaundersCommunications Director, ICT

Tel: +44 7947 138612 email: press@savetibet.org

Change is imminent

If the wave of change keeps on with the momentum, USA will be having an African descendant taking the oath as their new president on January 20 next year. As the war chant of Barack Obama campaign, CHANGE is imminent in America and every part of the world. The question is how far and how long will it takes for change to take it's effects?

I remember when I was studying in a local university years ago, some of my like-minded friends with interest on international politics took the initiative to start a discussion group on the changes happening in the international scene. We declared ourselves as the "International Politics Study Group". This is an informal group which is in no way linked to any subjects offered by the university. We are just a bunch of young student who wants to look beyond the usual papers offered by the university.

This study group organised periodic discussion on happenings in the international scene and also issues affecting world politics. We had discussion on Tian-an-men, Afghanistan and so on. We invited a representative from the local US Embassy to present their views on US interest in the Pacific. We follow up with an visit to the US embassy to further understand the making of the USA.

We are indeed blessed that the head of UKM's Political Science Department that time, Harold Crouch was very supportive of our initiative and provide the necessary departmental assistance to use university's facilities for our group activities. It is indeed a good gesture of the professor to give us a hand to further our interest for change. I am not sure how many lecturers nowadays will take the extra steps to educate their students rather than just ensuring they submit their assignments and pass their term examinations. Co-incidentally Harold's wife Khasnor Johan, was also teaching in the same university and was my final year research supervisor. Maybe due to her education and exposure in the USA, her non-patronizing and sharp approach helps me to finish my thesis with flying colours.

I also took a paper on American modern history under lecturer Pamela Sodhy. It was an interesting paper for me not only due to the subject matter but also due to the engaging approach by the lecturer. We had discussions not just for the sake of examinations but for knowlege and education. Maybe due to my consistent interest on American history, Pamela submitted my name for a Master's Program in American History in an university in the US. The offer came later which provides tuition fees and also a part-time in campus job. She was disappointed when I declined the offer. I wondered now, if I taken up the offer, what change will it be on my life destiny? Will I be a candidate in the American election too? No one will ever know.

The happenings in the USA will be constantly studied and watched all over the world as it's actions or in-actions affects and changed many in different parts of the globe. Will Barack Obama brings changes to a new world order which truly reflect it's clarion call of democracy in the US but interpreted differently when it involves countries which are not in cahoot which them? Obama might have the intention but will the American civil servant and the armed forces changed and toe the line and walk the same path? Will all Americans accept him as the president when he wins the presidential election?

We don't have to look far to realize on paper it is so but in reality it is more challenging than ever. Isn't it true that the civil servant are putting a spanner to the administration of the new state governments in Pakatan Rakyat states? These civil servants still can't accept that change is already here, whether they like it or not. If they can't take it, they should leave it. The rakyat do not owed them a living but they are responsible to the rakyat to serve them well without any sign of discrimination, lousy job attitude, witch-hunting and selective prosecution. - Loka