Am I Backward??

Hurm.. Nowadays I'm just sick of those rants posted on FB about the current political situation.. I've no urge to take any part in it. I choose not to be on any side. But I'm compelled to write this tonight in response to this status update that I came across that says something like 

"Sabahans are backward because they are not aware of the current situation and that's why they don't resist.."

I was like.. "WHAT DA!???? Am I backward just because I'm not in your side?? I'm a degree holder, dude! How come you say I'm backward!!"

Terasa bha! I'm a Sabahan.. 

Everybody has their own opinion and stands. Here's mine,

1. I'm afraid of change...

I read a lot.. I don't only read fictions. I also read about the rise and fall of other nations. Change can be good but it can also be bitter.. We don't need to look far.. Look at some countries in Asia itself... Some have won their fight some thirty to forty years ago.. They've devoured the change they've craved.. But why are they still struggling for stability. Why they still flee from their country and make a better living in a foreign land... I just read about a history of another country in another continent in which the leader that the people had elected to make a change finally betrayed his own people. He provoked civil war to gain riches for his own..

But still, like I said, change can be good. One country become an economic giant just because its leader choose to make a change.. 

The problem is.. I don't know what kind of change is coming ahead.. I just don't want to contribute to bad changes.. That's why I don't take any sides...

2. I believe in MJ's words "If you wanna make the the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change"

There are two nations in our continent who are famous of their fast development in knowledge, economic and technology. One of them even had a massive destruction in the 50's due to civil war. What are the similarities of these two nations?? Discipline, integrity, hard work, perseverance and a long list of all the good ethics thingy. An ethical leader is of prime importance (ayat buku text zaman undergraduate), but to make a massive constructive change, we need the whole nation to do so...

We complaint and condemn of the upper rankings for corruptions, slander and whatnot, but have we fulfilled our own responsibility accordingly with the highest and uppermost standard of discipline...??? Hurm.. ponder ponder, Haziah...

3. I choose a different path...

2 years ago, I said I don't want to return to Sabah to work. I applied for Selangor, KL and Putrajaya.. But today, if you ask me to leave Sabah.. I just won't.. I fell in love with my own land...

I'm actually from a middle class family and my friends are mostly from the middle class too and some are rich ones. I have some collections of barbies and polly pockets during my childhood, enrolled into a boarding school and befriended bright students and during my study in West Malaysia the air ticket back to Sabah was never a problem. Not boasting; just to describe to you a little bit about my economic status. So, yeah, I've been living in comfortable zone for many many years. If you ask me of the rural places in Sabah back then, I don't know any of them. It even surprised me when I saw that there are still places that are not accessible by road in Sabah on TV.

Working in Sabah is an eye opener. I can see that some parts of Sabah is deprived from development and is quite far behind compared to West Malaysia in terms of economic, infrastructure and education. But Alhamdulillah, despite all that Sabah is still a very harmonious, peaceful, beautiful and united multiracial and multiethnic state. The way I see it, it's not all about funds, it's also about recruiting people who are willing to take charge. We need people who are generous enough to give time to tend the sick, to teach the illiterate, to feed the poor, to conserve the flora and fauna and whatnot. So.. do not belittle Sabahans just because they don't resist.. Like me, I choose my own path..

"Ya.. Saya golongan yang mau kosongkan jiwa.. Golongan tengah yg mau teruskan hidup helping da sick n da poor, gain knowledge, explore da world n enjoy da peace etc etc :)"

All of us have our own way to uphold the nation... 

4. I love a leader who inspires

I'm not the kind who buy promises and not the kind who is interested in disclosure of slanders. I'm more into inspiring leaders.  No matter how many critics this person received, he is one of the person who inspire me to become who I am today. He's the one who instilled in me that success follows hard work. He's a great man.. (^^) Sedih sangat nda dapat jumpa masa dia di UMS.. 

Am I backward?? I don't think soooooo :)

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29 April 2012 Batu Caves Rock Climbing Trip (^^)/

It took me a very looooooong (typical sabahan!) time to finally decide to have it a go for this trip or not. I have too many plans already that I was afraid I couldn't make it for this one. But outdoor climbing is just so tempting especially when you heard so many stories about the place that your friends are going.. So yeah.. went to www.airasia..com and got me tickets as usual!

So.. This is the picture taken inside the bus from LCCT to One Utama. We went to Camp5 on our first day. I was there until 4.30pm and did some bouldering and lead climbs. The routes were awesome with many many types of handholds. But some handholds are just far off in some of the routes that I finally gave up. I'm quite a scaredy-catwhen it comes to lead climbing. I hate the swing when you fell off and it's just too tiring to restart the climb after you've fallen!

 We headed to Damai Cave as early as 8.30 am on the second day. It was cloudy that morning; just nice to early start the outdoor climb. I was so psyched when I saw the wall! It was huge and tall and and and wow! I guess I was so excited because my last outdoor was on September last year and I've been training for a month for this trip.. I was also excited to see the result of my crash training hehe

Me signature pose! \(^^)/

There are actually three sections for climbing in Batu Caves; the Damai wall (the site we were in), Nanyang and Nyamuk. The Damai part consist of easier routes and harder ones can be found in Nanyang and Nyamuk. The rest of the climbers went to Nanyang and Nyamuk on the 4th and last day of the trip. I went back earlier T_T

  

Actually, I only did an outdoor lead climb onc ewhich was my last climb in Kuching before we head back to KK. I don't know why I was so confident to do lead climb that morning. But that day it was slightly different from the one that I did in Kuching. See all those dangling metal thing on my waist? Those are called quickdraws. In Kuching, those things were already attached to the bolts but on that day I have to bring them up with me, attach them to the bolt and clip in the rope.  

 

Manage to clean the route \(^^)/ Yeehaw!!!!!! I did 5 more lead climbs after that and one top rope at a 6b+ route. I'm not going to upload too many pictures of me climbing. They are just rocks and my backside.. :P

The heat can be deadly in the afternoon. There's nothing to shade you as you climb under the sun. I can still hold the rocks but it was my feet that was hurting. The soles of climbing shoes are made of rubber and they absorb heat. I swear I felt my feet burnt! When I took my shoes off, my feet were so red! The pic above actually shows the cracks on the sole.

That night we spent a few hours bouldering in Madmonkeyz. I was too tired and only tried some routes. made some new friends too :)

This is our group photo. This is actually the right side of the Damai wall. I did 2 lead climbs at this part of the wall on my last day there. The routes were harder than the left side since there were more crimps at this side.

Hurm.. Damai wall is exciting but in terms of difficulty, I think Batman cave's  routes were tougher because it is an overhang. I love this trip (^^) I'll come back to Damai again to finish up the routes and will also try Nanyang and Nyamuk some day :)

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Parasailing & Flyfish! (^^)

Another thing that I was excited about Mida's trip to Sabah was that we planned to do water rafting in Padas River. It is among the best spot in Malaysia and some even said it is among the best in South East Asia; the rapids range from grade 3 to 4...

But.. When we reach Beaufort to ride the antique train to Tenom, we were told that there was a land slide and we have to cancel the trip. I was sooooooooooo sad. But of course, I already have a backup plan in mind (^^)v

 

Me, in front of the Beaufort train station. We actually woke up at 5.00 am that morning. You have to depart early from KK to Beaufort to catch the train to Tenom that departs at 7.30am. I kept telling Mida along the way that I was excited about riding the ancient train.. 

So, we went island hoping instead! \(^^)/

This activity was actually scheduled on Sunday; that's the day after we descend from the mountain. And luckily we went that Thursday because our leg muscles were aching after the descend.

We were lucky to arrive at the jetty just before 10.30am because the next boat after that was at 1.30 pm.We bought 2 tickets for transfer to 3 islands and that cost RM43/person. We paid RM60/person for the parasailing.

We did the parasailing in Sapi island. Firstly,you have to wear that blue yellow thing that looks more like a giant diaper. It actually looks like a giant harness but I don't know why I can't figure out how to fasten it haha

At first, I'd wanted to do it alone but the guy at the counter told us it would be boring to do the single parasailing so we took the double parasailing package. And yes, you will enjoy it even more if you have a partner beside you because you can chat as you hover and enjoy the scenery.. And also it is more exciting to scream together as you go up and down during the parasailing haha

It's not scary at all but we screamed a lot.. Maybe because it is more fun to scream though there's nothing to scream about haha Or I think we were just too excited that we screamed a lot

We parasailed for a good 15 minutes and throughout that the guys had let us up so high that we can see all the islands and slowed down the boat a bit and let us dip our legs into the water. We were told to bend our legs when dipping them into the water. I still can't think of the rationale of that, though.

This is one of the dipping. Well, during this, half of our body was dipped.(^^)/ FUN!

Our smiley face parachute!!!!

In Manukan we decided to try the flyfish. Paid RM60/person. The person in charge told us this would be extreme and tiring and we might fall into the water. I guess he was trying to scare us but we were not threatened by his warnings, of course. Siap reply dengan angkuh lagi "Bole bha kalo extreme. We like extreme!"

A chinese couple tried it first before us. It looked scary because the boat have to stop for like 5 times because the girl fell from her seat (not a very proper seat, of course. Just this bump on the buoy where you can sit on). There's also a handle for you to grip on.

This ride also goes for 15 minutes. When we didn't fall after a few minutes spin, we noticed that the boat went faster and faster. The buoy flew and was in a vertical position many times. To me, it was more like riding a mad bull. I've never held a handle so tight like that before. It was like holding for dear life though it was actually to avoid from falling into the water and we really want to prove to the guy that we are EXTREME haha

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