Sunday, April 13, 2014

The Best Day Ever



I woke up with the desire to make this the best day ever. I want to spend as many moments of my life thinking positive thoughts and performing good deeds. Spreading love and shutting out all negativity. Embracing joy and shunning all hatred.

Today I ardently indulged in being mindfully happy.  For lunch, it was a Japanese gastronomic experience all the way with "shake belly sashimi", "edamame", "shisamo", green tea and lots of wasabi.


For dinner, It iwas a home-cooked inexpensive indulgence comprising soup made with black beans, lotus root, wolfberry aka goji and chicken bones.

I am going to wake up every day making each new day  the best day ever!


Saturday, April 12, 2014

Get Tested, Get Treated




Went for a visual field test.  I have ocular hypertension. Normal eye pressure ranges from 10 to 21 mmHg. My eye pressure is more than 21 mmHg.

After I received the bad news I went out out to celebrate with a simple meal, my favourite ---- ayam penyet and avocado chocolate juice.  


I'm celebrating because at least it was detected early.  Early detection can prevent further complications.

Be cool, guys. Just be cool.  

Thursday, April 10, 2014

A Time For Self-Reflection

A commenter Tebing Tinggi left a comment early this morning. Thank you. I totally agree with you.

Yesterday, when my colleagues and I were at the market interviewing the people, many of them were blaming the government and "the Malays for not liking dogs and this is why they kill the dogs this way".  One Indian guy asked: "If I were to talk to you and the government come and find me, can you protect me?"

If the sight of dogs being killed and dumped like that make our hearts cringe, then don't contribute to the problem.  Irresponsible breeders and guardians need to self-reflect.  The relevant authorities need to keep the streets safe.

However, there must be a more humane way of ending a life,  I sincerely hope the local councils and animal welfare non-governmental organisations will work together to find a solution to this problem.


APPEAL FOR COMPASSION: The Johor Baru Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals wants to work with local councils to control the stray dog population in the city

JOHOR BAHRU: THE Johor Baru Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (JBSPCA) hopes to work with local councils to control the stray dog population in the city.

Its chairman Ranjit Singh said this after receiving complaints from the public that dogs were being killed and dumped in refuse bins in their neighbourhoods.

"We can understand that the local councils have to do something about the stray dog population, as canines in a pack can turn hostile.

"JBSPCA is appealing to the authorities to use a humane euthanisation method. We are also willing to assist the local authority in a spay programme," Ranjit said.

He said it was unethical to clobber or shoot an animal, and then put it into a plastic bag for it to die from its injuries or from lack of oxygen.

"That is a very cruel way to die," he added.

Streets checked out two garbage disposal centres -- one at Taman Universiti and another at Taman Ungku Tun Aminah -- and found that stray dogs were indeed dumped in black plastic bags.

A Taman Ungku Tun Aminah resident, who only wanted to be known as Pei, said she often heard dogs wailing in the garbage dumpster near the area's market.

"Being an animal lover, the dreadful sound of a dog crying as it breathes its last really disturbs me. I can't sleep at night," she said.

Pei claimed that the dogs were brought there in a truck and dumped.

Traders at the market in Taman Universiti, near Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, said there was a strong stench when the rubbish was not picked up on time.

"The men would come in a truck two or three times a week and dump the plastic bags containing dogs into the dumpster.

"Sometimes, some of the dogs are still alive when they dumped there," said one of the traders who declined to be named.

It is learnt that this inhumane practice has been going on for several years.

JBSPCA vice-chairman Joseph Chia said stray dogs should be put down humanely and the carcasses disposed off properly.

SWM Environment Sdn Bhd corporate communications head Shahrul Amir Abdul Rahim said the company would look into the matter. The company is in charge of waste management in the two areas.

Johor Baru Central municipal council could not be reached for comment.


Read more: 'Cull stray dogs humanely' - Johor - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/streets/johor/cull-stray-dogs-humanely-1.560512#ixzz2yXAyKEvt

Empathy and Compassion




Did my story on  stray dogs which is coming out tomorrow in Johor Streets. Let's hope there'll be some positive changes.  

On the way to a residential area for the story, we stopped for some vanilla ice cream. Yummy! That's Mary Victoria in the backseat.



The dumpster in Taman Universiti where the carcasses of stray dogs were put into plastic bags and dumped.  Some of the dogs were not dead yet but would eventually succumb to their injuries or die from lack of oxygen.

Please be responsible guardians. Don't let your beloved pets end up in such a sad state.

Starting the Day






Woke up at 6am. Going to be a busy day as I have 3 stories to work on.  One concerns HIV patients and their plea for "equal rights not special rights".  No one wants to be a sex worker but sometimes they are forced by life's circumstances.  

Another story will be about one of my favourite subjects


The Johor Baru Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) would like to work with local councils on the sterilization of stray dogs in the city.  The NGO understands that stray dogs have to be killed as they can be hostile and become a threat to people but SPCA is appealing to the local authorities to be more humane in its euthanisation method.

I sincerely hope the local authorities will agree to work with SPCA and that SPCA will step up efforts to educate the public, namely dog owners, on how to be responsible guardians.

And my last assignment is a food write-up on an Arabian restaurant. How cool is that? I can't seem to find my waistline anymore but I'll worry about that after the food tasting.

Need to get ready for work now. Have a good day, everyone.

Monday, April 7, 2014

Springtime In The Tropics

Tabebuia rosea blossoming all over Malaysia.  Pic by Esther Teo

I didn't know much about this flower species until yesterday.

After doing some research, I learnt that the Tabebuia rosea aka trumpet rose tree is a tropical tree that is widely planted along city and residential streets all over Malaysia.

Johor Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) chairman Vincent Chow, in his FB site, said the tree is native to Central and South America and is popularly planted along roadsides and as a garden ornamental plant.

In Malaysia, Tabebuia is also known as the “Cherry Blossoms of Penang” after its pink flowers which are much like the cherry blossoms of Japan.

Other local nicknames for the plant include “tissue paper tree”, referring to its thin petals.
The tree is also known as ipĂȘ rosa in South American countries.

"When the wind blows, the falling white blooms give one a feeling that it is snowing,"says Vincent.

However, the time to enjoy the blooms is limited.  See it before it's over!