On Monday 20 Sept 2010 there was an article in Star newspaper about ISM charity climb to the Mt Kinabalu which I lead when I was the President of ISM. It was supposed to be out in June but was delayed. It not only brought back memories of the climb but I received numerous comments from friends that the photo at the summit did not include me. I wished to reiterate that I DID reached the summit but get this - 1 1/2 hour later than the rest - hahahaha. The record climb by marathoners was 2 hours 40 mins. It took me a total 25 hours - ended at Timpohan gate at 9.00 pm where the gatekeeper was sleepily waiting for us to shut the gate !!!! Our group may have set a record for the longest time taken.
In reminiscing, the climb started with just a challenge which I jokingly threw to Katherine, ISM's CEO. She than made all the necessary arrangements with the Kinabalu park and we sent an eblast to all lady members inviting them to join the climb. One month passed and there was no response. Little did I know that secretly Katherine was hoping and praying that there would not be any response and as such I would have no choice but to cancel this madness. Hard luck. Eventhough I was skeptical and nervous but I wanted this to happen. Furthermore we had been getting donations from well-wishers and I did not want to let them down. My brother who had climbed the mountain a few times told me not to worry as "its the friendliest mountain" - I later found out that his adjective of "friendliness" is in relation to Mt Everest!!!. For a person like me, with a weak knee, a cut finger with 6 stitches, who had never climb a tree let alone a hill or a mountain, with a fear of heights, it would be the most challenging, gut-wrenching and frightening experience of my life.
There were so many memories - the support and encouragement we received from ISM Sabah branch, Katherine, Wendy and Jamilah wailing my name upon reaching Laban Rata tired, wet and hungry, the spine-chilling fear but the thought of friends and well-wishers expectation and Roznita's mantra of "go for the peak", climbing the vertical rock in the dark and the shock of what we had done upon daylight and having to descent, the fate that connected Katherine, Jumin, Hadi and my lost foothold, how Ina climbed like a gazelle, how that last km to the summit felt like a never ending climb with climbers descending encouraging but lying saying "just a little bit more" or "just over that hill", how I nearly fell asleep reaching the peak, how I had to stop for breathe every 3 steps due to the thin air, how two strangers and I bonded and found strength from each other's presence, how I felt the climb was much tougher than taking the PhD, how I fell down several times in descending and Ina doubled up with laughter, how Enny asked us to walk slower even though we were already descending at a snail's pace.....etc etc. One of the most intense moment was when I was nearing the peak, being alone but not at all lonely and suddenly realising I'm being a part of the wonders of God's creation. It was an amazing life experience.
I wish to share below an email I sent to all ISM climbers after the climb:
"Dear Suzie and all,
I'm still carrying the aftermath of the climb - the nails of both my toes and three others are still blue black despite having taken all the medicine the doctor had prescribed. Yes I had forgotten the tiredness and the pain but no not the horrendous fear when I looked down that steep vertical rock during the descend hanging on the rope for dear life. Even thinking about it still send shivers down my spine.
How I was able to walk the last 200m up to the peak, how I block the hysteria and fear upon descending that steep rock and how I still have the energy to walk the last 3km through the treacherous slippery rocky terrain in the rain and in the dark - I just don't know !!! But I do know how I suddenly get that burst of energy to reach the peak when I heard Bernard and then other members of my team shouted that I have arrived, how Hadi and Jumin saved me when I lost my foothold at that narrow ledge, how they together with Alice patiently walked with us for that last 3 km, how Katherine despite having a bad cough followed me, and of course the rest of the team had to wait for hours and hours for us at the foothill. BUT whatever it is I'm glad we did it and reached the peak. I have conquered my fear of heights. Thank you all for the encouragement and the cheer. Despite all the tiredness and fears - its been FUN."
My daughter put together a personal video of "The Climb" which is posted in ISM website.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Opinions and Criticisms
In the Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (ISM) when members have opinions on government policy, a subcommittee was formed to draft and forward to the government letters or memorandums either through our own institution, or together with our allied professions i.e. architect, engineer, planner, etc, or through whatever means that would be effective. You don’t just talk and have a “pity party” to voice your opinions to whoever on what is wrong in the industry or country.
But it saddened me that when it comes to as a layperson each of us felt that it is absolutely appropriate to criticize with strong opinions through emails and feedbacks – and felt good about it. Then we have sweeping statements like “NEP is a failure because there is still hardcore poverty” – as if that is the only indicator and they themselves are not the outcome of the NEP, “FELDA is a failure” – discrediting all the good done especially to all children of Felda settlers who graduated with University degrees and having good life contributing to the economy, “Why only now Orang Asli were being assisted” – as if nothing had been done before, “PERKASA is a shame”, “Malays are eating the Malays” all categorizing – with absolute gloat because they’ve been there, done it and seen it all. These sometimes outrageous sweeping statements are actually akin to the old days of semangat “kedai kopi”. It is very easy and satisfying – say as you see it – but not being responsible. We the silent majority, made to think that statements by government are always doctored and sugared turn to where else but all these blogs and emails (whose opinions may be fully baked or half baked). And at the end we were left frightened by the situations.
And so I say to all these highly educated bloggers and emailers who criticize through bouncing off emails and blogs - come down from your high horse. At the very least PERKASA is doing something even if their opinions are difficult to chew, and Mahathir voiced his opinions through the newspapers to be heard – given no any other channel. Some bloggers have the audacity to ask Mahathir to shut up while they themselves were loud with their opinions within their own safe wall.
Go on get together, articulate your thoughts, opinions and criticisms objectively on what's wrong and why, never mind if you don't necessarily have answers but forward your two sens worth of options and solutions through memorandum, action group, pressure group, politician, letter to the editor or whatever means to be heard and be reckoned with. Don’t just criticize and provoke and leave it in the confine of anonymosity – there are a lot of bystanders who are young, naïve and impressionable who will believe whatever was written lock stock and barrel. Differentiate yourselves and your intellectual gang from those fly-by-night opinionated self-righteous touch n go bloggers, and form a pressure group for the betterment of the Muslim, Malays, Malaysians etc. Make a difference – its hard work but must be done since you have the intellect and your heart is at the right place.
But it saddened me that when it comes to as a layperson each of us felt that it is absolutely appropriate to criticize with strong opinions through emails and feedbacks – and felt good about it. Then we have sweeping statements like “NEP is a failure because there is still hardcore poverty” – as if that is the only indicator and they themselves are not the outcome of the NEP, “FELDA is a failure” – discrediting all the good done especially to all children of Felda settlers who graduated with University degrees and having good life contributing to the economy, “Why only now Orang Asli were being assisted” – as if nothing had been done before, “PERKASA is a shame”, “Malays are eating the Malays” all categorizing – with absolute gloat because they’ve been there, done it and seen it all. These sometimes outrageous sweeping statements are actually akin to the old days of semangat “kedai kopi”. It is very easy and satisfying – say as you see it – but not being responsible. We the silent majority, made to think that statements by government are always doctored and sugared turn to where else but all these blogs and emails (whose opinions may be fully baked or half baked). And at the end we were left frightened by the situations.
And so I say to all these highly educated bloggers and emailers who criticize through bouncing off emails and blogs - come down from your high horse. At the very least PERKASA is doing something even if their opinions are difficult to chew, and Mahathir voiced his opinions through the newspapers to be heard – given no any other channel. Some bloggers have the audacity to ask Mahathir to shut up while they themselves were loud with their opinions within their own safe wall.
Go on get together, articulate your thoughts, opinions and criticisms objectively on what's wrong and why, never mind if you don't necessarily have answers but forward your two sens worth of options and solutions through memorandum, action group, pressure group, politician, letter to the editor or whatever means to be heard and be reckoned with. Don’t just criticize and provoke and leave it in the confine of anonymosity – there are a lot of bystanders who are young, naïve and impressionable who will believe whatever was written lock stock and barrel. Differentiate yourselves and your intellectual gang from those fly-by-night opinionated self-righteous touch n go bloggers, and form a pressure group for the betterment of the Muslim, Malays, Malaysians etc. Make a difference – its hard work but must be done since you have the intellect and your heart is at the right place.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
HARI RAYA
For the last 10 days of Ramadan, we kept vigil for that one night called Lailatul Qadr, the night when the Quran was sent down and the night where angels descend and shower blessings to those who woke up in the wee hours of the morning to do their prayers and doa. Tomorrow Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid Mubarak/ Aidil Fitri/ Hari Raya Puasa, or simply Hari Raya to mark the culmination of Ramadhan and the beginning of the 10th month of the Muslim calendar Syawal. It is a joyous occasion for Muslims as it signifies “a personal triumph, a victory of self-restraint and abstinence, symbolising purification and renewal”.
Balik kampung either to Port Dickson alternate to Kota Bharu/Malacca had always been our ritual for Raya to be with parents and relatives. On the morning of Raya we would congregate the mosques for morning prayers decked out in our new Raya outfits followed by a visit to the cemetery to offer prayers to our deceased loved ones. Then home for more makan with all the family members in between the chaos and salams to ask for pardon and forgiveness. It used to be that my three kids would be enjoying collecting and counting their duit Raya at every hour, but I guess since they are now adult this is no more the case.
But for this year we will be celebrating the morning of Raya in KL in our own home. Is it too late for me to start the tradition of preparing the ketupat, kuah kacang and rendang myself since all along the children were used to balik kampung thus all these Raya delicacies would already been prepared by their grandparents. We would only balik kampung with cookies and packets of angpow. The rituals before Raya were just limited to buying new Raya clothes and baking/buying cookies - hehehe more buying than baking. So for this year tradition is broken as I prepared all the Raya delicacies. But it will be a subdued celebration as Along our eldest son is in Melbourne will be presenting his semester project to his lecturers in his baju Melayu on Raya day. Oh sweet sorrow.
I received numerous sms from friends who said they missed my Raya pantun dua kerat. For this year going by this breaking of tradition my pantun will no more be sent through sms but in this blog. So here goes:
Katak dalam paya
Selamat hari raya
Duit dalam tin
Maaf zahir batin
Balik kampung either to Port Dickson alternate to Kota Bharu/Malacca had always been our ritual for Raya to be with parents and relatives. On the morning of Raya we would congregate the mosques for morning prayers decked out in our new Raya outfits followed by a visit to the cemetery to offer prayers to our deceased loved ones. Then home for more makan with all the family members in between the chaos and salams to ask for pardon and forgiveness. It used to be that my three kids would be enjoying collecting and counting their duit Raya at every hour, but I guess since they are now adult this is no more the case.
But for this year we will be celebrating the morning of Raya in KL in our own home. Is it too late for me to start the tradition of preparing the ketupat, kuah kacang and rendang myself since all along the children were used to balik kampung thus all these Raya delicacies would already been prepared by their grandparents. We would only balik kampung with cookies and packets of angpow. The rituals before Raya were just limited to buying new Raya clothes and baking/buying cookies - hehehe more buying than baking. So for this year tradition is broken as I prepared all the Raya delicacies. But it will be a subdued celebration as Along our eldest son is in Melbourne will be presenting his semester project to his lecturers in his baju Melayu on Raya day. Oh sweet sorrow.
I received numerous sms from friends who said they missed my Raya pantun dua kerat. For this year going by this breaking of tradition my pantun will no more be sent through sms but in this blog. So here goes:
Katak dalam paya
Selamat hari raya
Duit dalam tin
Maaf zahir batin
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)