A didas

GOOD news: the Three Stripes have reached the shores of Sabah. They've opened an outlet in the largest hypermall in Borneo: OneBorneo.


BAD news: my pair of Three Stripes have been killed by the Trans-Kalimantan trek a couple of years ago, where we walked deep into the interiors of Pensiangan, across the Kalimantan border, over into Indonesia, and back.

GOOD news that came out of BAD news: I've got good excuse to get another pair of Three Stripes. Yeah!

And I got them today!!!


I need a new pair to go for BTN. They said got some outdoor activities, which will kill shoes especially with the rainy season in Sabah.

These famous shoes have long adorned the feet of those who trekked the muddy paths of interior Sabah and the hilly terrains of the Kalimantan forests. The are rugged, tough, water-proof, dirt-proof, leech-proof, washable, durable, and in extreme situations, disposable.

And I am proud to own a part of such fine lineage.

They are not easy to find, you know. You won't be able to find them in your regular footwear shops. Coz they're in a totally different class from the Camels, the Hush Puppies, even the Nikes.

My pair comes with a 3-figure price tag, RM 5xx.

Little boy can't wait to try out my new shoes. Jealous ler.

My proud pair of Adidas kampung. Costs me RM 5.80.

All ready to go.

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns." Isaiah 52:7

Fists of fury

My sister SMSed to say that it's hot in the Pulau. RPK calls it Mad Cow Disease in Penang.

No wonder. Now you see it.

Now you don't.

Guess it's not too much to say, wherever there is THAT race-based party, there will be racism, arrogance, and hatred.

An isolated incident? Don't think so. All 13 divisions in the Pulau supported the antics. And his flip-flop Big Boss gave silent approval. Now imagine if it's a Cina-kui or India-kui tearing apart a photo of the Big Boss, do you think there will be such good treatment? Man, you can be assured to see the "pantang dicabar" folks going berserk, threatening to wipe off the lain-lain from their Tanah Melayu. Makes you wonder how did the Religion of Peace produce so many rotten apples in one Pulau. Holy month some more.

Padan muka, that specky guy who got torn, and his kuncu-kuncu.

Wonder how come Sabahans still support such people in full force. Sigh. By the way, it's been raining every day in the Land Below the Wind.

1Co 13:13 ... and the greatest of these is love.

Disclamer: photos curi from HERE.

Little boy's Amah

Little boy's grandma came over to see little boy over the weekend. And as usual, he gets lots of toys and new clothings. Too manja already.

BTN

I am going to BTN.

Dunno what's BTN? Well, if you're in the govt sector, you're bound to hear about it sooner or later. Never attend BTN, cannot naik pangkat or naik gaji.

Otherwise, you may read about BTN HERE. It's hot news.

It's gonna be in Kundasang (nice mountain air there yeh yeh). 12th-16th Sep. Got to know about it from the website. The letter was sent on 2nd, yet to reach me. Aren't you amazed at how 'last minute' the govt agencies function?
Not sure whether they're really having it, since it's the fasting month. I heard that Muslims should not be promoting unholy things, e.g. racism, cronysm, corruption, religious hatred... during the holy month of Ramadhan. So I called up to check.

Yes it's on. "Memang ada. Cuma tak ada aktiviti lasak." Good la, can sleep.

But it's public holiday in Sabah la, Malaysia Day lagi. "Memang on jugak". Maybe Malaysia Day is not so important to West Malaysians. For all you know, it may turn out to be "Change Government Day" if the guy wasn't lying.

Fine, I shall offer myself to be indoctrinated. Come take me, folks. I've been brainwashed enough by Malaysia Today and Pakatan Rakyat.

Merdeka

It's Merdeka Day in a few days time.

I am reminded of my history books, about the bad British colonials, and how they used 'divide and rule' strategy to keep the various races in Malaysia at arms length of each another, in order to maintain their grasp of power onto Malaya. The white men were the tuans then, and everybody else lesser beings.

In 1957, Ketuanan British was ended. We got colonialised by another kind of 'divide and rule', and new tuans. The Ketuanan Melayu. And since all Melayu has got no choice but to be Muslims, it simply implies Ketuanan Islam. From then on, it was UMNO-MCA/MIC, Bumi-nonBumi, Malay-nonMalay, Muslim-nonMuslim. We've outdone ourselves so well, that we could put the British tuans to shame.

Yerterday I saw a new ray of hope in Malaysia. The people has spoken and they are fed up with the system. Ketuanan Rakyat is the new word. The tuans being the reason-minded rakyat.

Can the man be trusted? Whatever said, he WAS part of the system, at its forefront even. I don't know. But I would rather to give some trust for the man to prove his worth, than to trust the system that has proven itself a failure, and is still failing.

Heralding of a new era? Merdeka, indeed, if it is.

A good read HERE.

Bye bye Be eNd.

God is wise and powerful! Praise him forever and ever. He controls the times and the seasons; he makes and unmakes kings; it is he who gives wisdom and understanding.
Daniel 2:20-21

Heritage Walk

We participated in the 'Heritage Walk' Kota Kinabalu organised by the Sabah Council of Churches this afternoon. The gathering point was at the Padang Merdeka in the city. In Keningau, they call it the 'Walk For Jesus'. I was the official photographer and translator then. Hehehe... so this time even though nothing official, I still brought along my camera to grab some good shots.

The 'Heritage Walk' gathers Christians from various churches to march along the streets and pray for the various institutions of the country. (In case you ask, no I didn't notice any FRU tanks or water cannons). Surprisingly, I saw even Muslims (got tudung ma) joining the event. Good for them. Last year, there were about 2000 participants. This year leh... so many, I couldn't count la.

We were there at 3pm sharp. The place was already packed. Can't find the gang from SIB Likas, so had to join the kids at a corner. Yeah, the yellow kids with the pom-poms.

Ryan didn't mind at all though. He was having fun... and getting to know people. Tak segan one.

"Me and my new friends."

Pastor Jerry Dusing gave the opening speech. He's the pastor of SIB Likas (English), also the President of SIB Sabah. Today I discover that he's also the president of Sabah Council of Churches.

Yeah, that's the man with the courage to lead the SIB church to file a lawsuit against the government for the irrational ruling over the use of the word 'Allah' by BM-speaking Christians. Cheers! For whatever reason, the courts have been postponing the case over and over again. Then again, who really trust the Malaysian courts to deliver justice these days? Same goes with the police force. That's why need to pray for the country lo.

Rising to the National and State anthem. Music provided by the Police Band. Cool!

It started to rain... cats and dogs falling from the sky. Gosh, couldn't start the walk. No worry. The crowd remained in the meeting place and turned it into a praise and prayer session.

Rain or no rain is no trouble for little boy. If he want to have fun, he will find it. Really boh pai seh one. The yellow kids are more than amused too. "Hey you wanna join our pom-pom team?"

The event ended about 4.30 pm. We walked back to the car nearby, and even with umbrellas, we got very wet. Had a nice hot BKT lunch-cum-dinner before sending off some fruits, and then home sweet home for the Olympic Closing Ceremony.

The event is on newspapers HERE. The funny thing is, they reported it as "The walk which started at around 4pm took approximately two and a half hours before returning back to Padang Merdeka. Along the way, participants were provided by walk guides with interesting commentary on the place they visited." Mr. Reporter ah, at 4 pm we were still all at the padang waiting for the downpour to stop la. And at 4.30 pm, we walked back to our cars in the rain la. What kind of reporting is this? Cut and paste from past years one??? I'm going to pengsan reading this kind of lie from the mainstream media.

A delightful surprise

We received a BIG parcel today.

My very kind ol' neighbours in Keningau sent us some fruits from their orchard. God bless them.

'Humongous avocadoes' as Auntie Liz calls them. Enjoying this fruit ah, is an acquired taste. Last time I gave some to my colleague from Peninsular, and after tasting it, his comment was "I ate the fruit, and I can't feel my tongue anymore." Lesson learned: ask before giving it.

Yeh yeh... the King of Fruits. These stuffs are selling for like RM 10 per kg at the roadside leading to UMS. Crazy! Heard that in West Malaysia, D24 only going for RM 4 per kg. Dunno why Sabah durians so expensive. Anyway, too much of this hot stuff isn't good... so we gave some away.

Snapshots

"Why do I get this funny feeling that somebody is following me?"

Snapshots

" This cart isn't even going fast. Why am I made to wear this silly helmet?"

Sequel

If you can guess the story, and ask me THE golden question, I belanja you makan.