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Activism Environment Humor Photography Travels

[730] Of a little log at Pasir Kumpal

More of Pasir Kumpal.

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

That calm water was Dungun River before the flood .

To me, Pasir Kumpal is an amazing geographical feature. The place is actually a sandy bank by the Dungun River, a little over ten miles inland. It’s huge with more than a kilometer in length, about maybe 50 meters in width on average. Never had I ever imagined such place exist at such size. It’s like a big beach in the middle of a jungle!

Don’t trust me? Well, take a look at these pictures.

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

This is at one end, roughly looking east.

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

At the same spot, looking north.

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

West. Notice the distance between vegetation (left) and water edge (right).

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

At the other end, looking northeast.

Due to the importance of the place to the survival of river terrapins – Batagur baska, an endangered species; tuntung in Malay – it’s been gazetted as a conservation site by the state of Terengganu. This place might as well be the largest nesting site for this species in the world given that Malaysia is “last stronghold of the terrapins“, “Dungun River probably represents the largest remaining wild population in Malaysia” and that Pasir Kumpal is most likely the largest of all sandy banks of Dungun River.

The only drawbacks about this place are; one, no or little reception – believe it or not, only Celcom works there no matter its signal strength; two, some sort of parasites that eat your blood, known as tuau tungau in Malay; three, leeches. An army of leeches. Four; a little hard to get to. Much harder to get out in my case.

p/s – I knew one of these days Ann Coulter would get into trouble. Right now, her fellow conservatives are shying away from her due to Coulter’s recent racist remark. Suddenly, association with her is a sin. LOL! She may have committed fraud too! Hahaha. Republicans have too many problems. Cheney, DeLay, Abramoff. The list is endless.

pp/s – Been going on for a few days now but it will never get old.

Stewart was on fire tonight:

“Whittington was mistaken for a bird.”

“Harry Whittington, seasoned to an inch of his life.”

“Don’t let your kids go hunting with the Vice President. I don’t care what kind of lucrative contracts they’re trying to land or-energy regulations they’re trying to get lifted. He’ll shoot them in the face.”

Rob Corddry joined in.

Corddry : “Jon, tonight the Vice President is standing by his decision to shoot Harry Whittington. Now according to the best intelligence available, there were quail hidden in the brush. Everyone believed at the time-there-were-quail in the brush. And while the quail turned out to be the 78 year old man. Even knowing that today, Mr. Cheney insists-he still would have shot Mr. Whittington in the face.

Jon rocks! (via)

Categories
Environment History & heritage Photography Travels

[729] Of Kuala Terengganu and raging South China Sea

I’m not in the mood of blogging but I still wanted to post something nonetheless. So, photo time!

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

I caught this at Kuala Terengganu . Batu Burok beach if I’m not mistaken. The wind there was so strong that there were small waves forming in a pothole filled with water. Nevermind the sea waves!

I had great expectation for this photo when I first shot it. I actually invested more or less 15 minutes to shoot that particular wave. Yet, once I got back to my desktop, it’s hard not to feel disappointed with the result. Too much noise; dull colors. Sigh…

Despite that disappointment, Kuala Terengganu is a cool little city. Not quite large, enough people and has a pretty slow lifestyle. More importantly, it’s way more walkable than Kuala Lumpur.

A lot has changed since I last visited Terengganu more than a decade ago. A turtle sculpture that used to symbolize the town has been replaced with a giant replica of batu bersurat. What is batu bersurat?

I’m not sure what its equivalent English noun for it (inscripted stone?) but I have a picture of it. I saw it at a museum here in Kuala Lumpur a couple of months back. It’s the oldest artifact with Jawi writing on it.

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

Suffice to say, it’s an important historical artifact. But I still miss the giant turtle sculpture.

New development projects are also in place. I strongly feel that some of the projects should have been done years ago. But PAS government that controlled the state apparently didn’t do their job when they had the chance to prove themselves. Despite my reservation for Barisan Nasional, at least, BN is doing their job to promote economic growth.

Also, huge barriers are being constructed at the mouth of Terengganu River. I had a chat with a local about it and he said the project is essential to protect the city from sea surgepp/s. I was so interested in the barriers that I climbed up to Bukit Puteri, a hill near the river mouth and observed it from above.

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

Though it can’t be seen from the photo, the barriers are in great length. The river mouth right now is almost completely covered. I think there is a better way to protect the city but since I lack knowledge in hydrology as well as civil engineering, I shall refrain from criticizing. I’d sound like a fool if I were to comment too much on it.

But in all, I like Kuala Terengganu, especially the wind. The people there are a bit conservative for my liking but I’m convinced the wind could blow the conservatives away from me.

p/s – Newmont gets its way.

JAKARTA, Feb 16 (Reuters) – The world’s biggest gold miner, Newmont Mining Corp., is paying Indonesia $30 million to settle a civil suit over pollution, but will still face criminal charges in a case closely watched by foreign investors.

The episode first started way back in 2004.

pp/s – I might have meant tidal or storm surge. (Back)

Categories
Environment Photography Travels

[728] Of a lighthouse by Terengganu River and looking back

I’m in the process of updating my diary that has been neglected for more than six months now. So much to write for a week worth of lifetime. I really like to blog part of it too, especially about how I in a party of six (or seven) tried to save a few terrapin eggs by hopelessly trying to ward off rising river water level by building a small sand dam. And of course, the eventual evacuation out of Dungun. If I remembered correct, I did make two of the most memorable quotes I had ever uttered in my life. I really want to share that but just not yet.

For now, this is one of the better photos that I managed while I was in Kuala Terengganu .

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

A small lighthouse by the South China Sea, near the mouth of the river. I’m quite lucky to catch the structure against a blue sky. Despite the appearance of a sunny day, it was a pretty bad day; the clouds threatened to wreck havoc just as it had when I was in Pasir Kumpal.

It is quite worrying to find out that when I left Pasir Kumpal behind, the worst hadn’t past yet. Flood hit the northeastern states again, especially Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang, immediately after I left for Kuala Lumpur on the 13th. From the look of it, the flood has yet to recede.

At the same time, Kenyir Dam was overflowing. When Kenyir Dam is unable to cope with a situation, it’s not a laughing matter. I’m not sure though if Dungun River is connected to the Dam. But I know Terengganu River is.

After witnessing the flood in the northeastern states first hand, I’m convinced that the Ninth Malaysian Plan must concentrate on drainage and irrigation system. It happens every year in the north and that means we’re not doing enough to adapt to Malaysian tropical rainfall. Forget about funding moral police. Moral police doesn’t save lives. Drainage and irrigation projects do.

And, ehem, there was a strong storm with torrential downpour here in Kuala Lumpur just this evening. I’m sure glad the rate of surviving a storm in Kuala Lumpur is higher than Dungun’s.

Categories
Activism Environment Photography Travels

[727] Of evacuation, deepest gratitude to PERHILITAN and home sweet home

Finally, after biting more than I could chew, I’m now in Kuala Lumpur again. Pasir Kumpal in Dungun was severely flooded and I along with a few others – two professors, two reporters from The Star and another volunteer – in the end were marooned there and later evacuated by PERHILITAN; Malaysian Department of Wildlife and National Park . Will tell you later of my crazy story. If you don’t have the patience for it, visit Pelf’s blog. She’s a friend I made at Pasir Kumpal. Her entries will give you some picture of what happened there. I’ve also added her into my blogroll.

Also, this post is dedicated to PERHILITAN. Especially rangers Encik Adnan and Encik Ibrahim that took care of us – in effect, saving our lives from a major flood – and to Encik Ghazali, the department state deputy director for evacuating me all the way to Kuala Terengganu from Dungun. Not forgetting, the locals, including Rosli and Pak Long that were helpful in my time of need.

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

This is for PERHILITAN; for all the good works they’re doing for the environment. And for evacuating us to safety!

For now, I totally need to get some rest.

Categories
Activism Photography Travels

[726] Of off to Terengganu

Well, I’m off for my first conservation work in Malaysia . I’ll be stuck in Terengganu and maybe even Kelantan for about a week. In the mean time, I present to you a picture of the moon.

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

Could you actually believe that this photo worth 28k?

Anyway, sing together now:

Blue skies
Smiling at me
Nothing but blue skies
Do I see

Bluebirds
Singing a song
Nothing but bluebirds
All day long

Tata.