On A Clear Day You Can See Forever Part 2 .....

Though the haze is gone but will it come back next year? It was reported in the newspaper that Malaysia was also a culprit to the problem, someone out there was burning his plantation too. Shameful.

On A Clear Day You Can See Forever ..........

No. I am not writing about the 1970 movie, the one with Barbra Streisand and Yves Montand. That is a different story all together. This story is about my city; Kuala Lumpur. Actually this s about the weather. I am not English, so why am I so preoccupied with this subject? Just that a good friend of mine said 'Yesterday reminded me of my university days in London - the perfect pea soup foggy day'. (*Billie Holliday softly crooning 'Foggy London Town' in the background*).

Well it started three days ago ......... a haze descended stealthily on the city, very much like an unwanted guest. However this is no stranger because I have seen it in the past. This time the air was so thick with suspended particles, the government had to declare a state of emergency in Kuala Selangor and Klang. Schools were closed, people were told to stay indoor, all outdoor activities were cancelled and confusion reigned. Doctors had to cope with increased numbers of patients suffering from respitory problems. It was even reported that several trainee nurses fainted from breathing difficulties. No place was safe. The dirty thick air crept into offices, homes, malls, hospitals, places of worships and everywhere. The smell - the distinctive burning smell (not entirely unpleasant) that tells you something is not quite right.

You bet this is not right. This folly is forced upon us by the burning of huge swatch of forest and plantations in Sumatra, Indonesia. Strange, if we had already encountered this before and that we know it is unhealthy and bad then why is it that the authorities in both countries still allow it to happen? Maybe we are either too uncaring or desensitise to act ........................ maybe next year we print on the travel brochure - come see the most beautiful sunset in the world, only in Kuala Lumpur, with collabaration from Indonesia. (*cough, cough*).

I like ......

I like ...... :-)

1. Rainbow.
2. Rain in the Morning.
3. Long walk in uncrowded places.
4. When my cat 'Miu Miu' snuggles up to me.
5. Good Conversation.
6. A movie that makes me think and feel differently.
7. Train Ride.
8. When I sit by the window enjoying a cup of good coffee after completing my houseworks.
9. A well taken photograph.
10. Blooming flowers in a garden.
11. (list will be updated periodically).

I dislike ............

I dislike .......... :-(

1. Broken Pavement.
2. Rubbish on the stairs.
3. DVD that cannot play especially towards the end of the movie.
4. Out of service ATM.
5. Driver that cuts into my path without signaling.
6. Female driver that cuts into my path and pretend that I do not exist.
7. Missing button.
8. Hole in the socks.
9. Miu Miu's hairs ................. everywhere ....
10. Sreaming and ill behaved children. Parents that do not care are the worst.
11. Parent who double parked just because they are sending their children to school.
12. Water cut without notice.
13. Power cut without notice - I have to reset my radio alarm, video recorder and even the micro wave oven.
14. Haze. Yes, dirty air in Kuala Lumpur. It is now an annual occurence and quality of air is getting worst each time.
15. (List will be updated periodically).

A long time passing .....

So long ago since I wrote anything. Yes, such a long while that I forgot my password. The easy part is that I can get help by clicking this and that. If only this is true with people whom I have lost contact ................ is there such buttons that I can click so that I may find them?

I see so much changes in the city I lived in (Kuala Lumpur). Some so subtle that when I realised it I had to stop momentary and wondered 'Oh but it was here the last time'. I realised then I am becoming a stranger in a place I thought I knew like the back of my hands. I take great delights in coming back to familiar places. It doesn't matter the people there do not know me. The important thing is that I remember them.

Why am I feeling so nostalgic? I am talking about the passing of one of my favourite haunts the 'PAGE ONE' book shop in Lot 10, a shopping mall. I remember it so well, a decade ago. It was located then on the ground floor right out in the front. I was so delighted and awed by the wonderful books on displayed. So many to look at. Some with pictures so incredible it took my breath away. There were books that spoke of long forgotten places and strange people. Some tomes gave me insights to past great masters and creators of awesome new visions. Of course I never leave without looking at those of beautiful dwellings and delightful gardens. Like most good things these books were not cheap. I must say I succumbed many times to their siren songs. I remember too those crazy tilted book case that make me a little dizzy. Design and novelty values aside the proprietor had the good sense to straigthen them eventually.

I said my goodbye to the books on the eve of the closure. The shop was filled with more than usual number of people mostly bargain hunters. I did not stay long, just wandered around the well remembered aisles, running my fingers lightly over books I coveted but could not afford. So goodbye to an old friend .............and Kuala Lumpur changed a little without many of us knowing it. 

I have a door curtain (noren) printed with a famous picture. A gift from a Japanese friend, Hiroki Kageyama san. This is a very famous picture and it is called ‘The Great Waves of Kanagawa’. It is a wood block painting made by Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849). Why is this picture so famous? The picture depicts the great force of nature. It shows huge harbour waves (okinasumi) towering over small boats and even smaller people. The artist was very clever. He put the snow capped Fuji-san in the background. He made the mountain very small, as if about to be swallowed by the water.

I have seen this picture before, printed in books, on t-shirts, postcards etc. In fact you probably have seen it too. Like you, I never paid much attention to it. But now this picture is very powerful. Everyday it reminds me of how strong and terrible nature can be.

Early morning on 26th December 2004, the big cousin of such a wave came crashing onto the shores of 8 countries. His name - Tsunami. Within a short period Tsunami-san killed more than 350,000 people, made an equal number homeless and damaged an unaccountable amount of properties. This killer was the result of a very big earthquake in the Indian Ocean just west of Northen Sumatra. Now Malaysians are so frighten of earthquakes and giant waves. Imagine that.

Two days ago, on the 29th March just after midnight another earthquake struck almost the same place. Although this time the force is lesser yet the shock waves reached the Malaysian Peninsula. Maybe we were so spooked by the previous tragedy, many Malaysian rushed out from their homes onto the streets when they felt the tremors. Fortunately no one died and only minor damages were reported here. This is enough to make everyone worried about the next big one! The government is talking about setting up earthquake guidelines for new buildings. This is all very new and strange to us because Malaysia never experienced earthquakes and such. I slept through the whole incident. LOL.

Whenever I go into the kitchen I still look at the curtain. To think that someone, in a foreign land, had 170 years ago warned us to take heed of nature. Somehow I did not hear the roaring waves, drowned in my everyday domesticity and pettiness. Sigh. 

I see with my two little eyes ............................. not as good as before but nevertheless unceasingly help me look at all things bright and beautiful and all creatures great and small.