September 2006 – SeaDemon Says

September 30, 2006

I hardly agree with this blogger, who used to be the Secretary of the Bandar Tun Razak UMNO Division. He was expelled from UMNO as of yesterday, despite a letter of understanding between him and the party President that he will no longer criticise the latter. I am not Sang Kelembai’s symphatiser. I loathe his arrogance, his know-all attitude, and his seemingly “above-the-rest” attitude. What more, he’s a mercenary writer…whose political loyalty depends on who can offer him more, so I was told.

However, by expelling him after he had agreed not to write on the party President during the Disciplinary Committee hearing on September 4th only goes to show how right he is about how democracy in UMNO no longer exists as the party leadership is no longer open to criticisms like it used to be.

I can only, reluctantly, agree with Sang Kelembai.

Sad affairs of UMNO.

September 28, 2006

Monsoon…Very Soon

Yes, I am writing about diving during fasting month. So what? Last year I did 3 dives during fasting month and still fasted. Half dead.

Anyway, with the imminent onset of the monsoon season on the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia (it will hit Perhentian, Redang, Lang Tengah and Bidong first), I would like to tell all hardcore divers out there that SEAHORSE DIVE CENTER on Perhentian Besar shall remain open throughout the monsoon period for all hardcore divers.

Hooray for Ghani!

September 26, 2006

Sobriety Rules

Orphans

It was an experience that shows how much you know about your own staff. I never realised that Ayu, a staff at the non-governmental charity organisation that I run, is an orphan. I never even knew that she is only 18 years of age. She looks and acts way beyond her age. Her father passed away last year. Her mother, ran away with an elderly and supposedly pious man, along with the late father’s monthly pension last June, after selling off the family car and some other posessions. So Ayu is left to fend for herself as well as for two younger sisters aged 12 and 5. Her elder brother went off and never came back. Her younger brother gave up school to work somewhere in Pahang. None of her relatives have offered a helping hand. An aunt, conveniently raids her food locker everytime she gets her pay “for free meals for her family.” Yes, it sickens me how some relatives turn into vultures.

Ayu’s youngest sister, Najwa, turned 5 today, and Ayu was wondering how to celebrate her sister’s birthday. So I suggested she bring her sisters to the house for the breaking of the fast. By the time she arrived, we had hidden the birthday cake. It was the best birthday do her sister has ever had, if not in years.

Ayu is now back in that house, some 2km away from here, and tomorrow her cycle of routine begins at 4am, when she has to wake up to cook for the sisters in preparation for tomorrow’s fast, then do the household chores. At 10am, she’ll be in the office.

I now wonder how will they spend their first Hari Raya without the parents and brothers….just the three of them.

September 24, 2006

Ramadhan Again

Sighting of the moon

“Oh you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those who came before you that you may keep your duty to your Lord (having taqwa),” 2:185

It is that time of the year again. For the next 29 to 30 days, Muslims all over the world will be fasting from the break of dawn through sunset. For Malaysians, the holy month of Ramadhan began as the sun set today (Saturday 23rd September 2006). So ‘Aidil Fitri will fall either on the 23rd of October (29 days of fasting) or on the 24th October (30 days of fasting).

I started fasting quite late, when I was 10 years old. I first tried when I was 8. But could only last half a day as most of my classmates had good recess break in school. At 10 was when I could complete a whole month. My daughters started when they were 4 and completed the whole month. Shame on me.

My history during Ramadhan

1976 (10 years old): completed a whole month’s fasting.
1979 (13 years old): first Ramadhan away from home – at the Malay College in Kuala Kangsar
1982 (16 years old): first Ramadhan with my soul mate in Kuala Kangsar
1983 (17 years old): the last Ramadhan that I really enjoyed because of my soul mate
1984 (18 years old): first Ramadhan away from Malaysia
1987 (21 years old): first Ramadhan as a member of the Malaysian Armed Forces
1991 (25 years old): first Ramadhan as a husband
1993 (27 years old): first Ramadhan as a father
1995 (29 years old): last Ramadhan as an Air Force Officer
1997 (31 years old): first Ramadhan being single again
1998 (32 years old): first Ramadhan in Mecca for my minor pilgrimage
1999 (33 years old): second Ramadhan in Mecca for my minor pilgrimage
2001 (35 years old): first Ramadhan after performing my Haj

I often wonder how many more Ramadhans will I get to enjoy in this life?

September 23, 2006

Last Call for Perhentian (Part 4)

Big guy at Batu Layar

This big guy was out feeding at Batu Layar.

You can see more pics by clicking here.

September 19, 2006

Last Call For Perhentian 2006 (Part 3)

Nisaa on July 8th 2006

Sometimes, when friends pester me to go diving with them, they would find me reluctant. The above is one of the reasons I am always reluctant to leave home for an extended period.

That’s Nisaa. She is now, at the time of this posting, 20 months old; and by the time I get back from this trip, she would be exactly 21 months old. She sleeps with the mother. Every night, she would clamber onto my bed and sleep with me, snuggling against me. In the morning, when she wakes up, she’d rub my cheek and kiss me. Always smiling when she wakes up.

Farhan in May 2004

My son, Farhan, is another reason. Since he came back from the maternity ward after his birth, he has been sleeping with me whenever I am around. He’s grown now but is still attached to me, other than his toys.

The other reasons are below:

My children

From left: Hana – my whole purpose of living changed the day she was born. I remember dedicating the song Jasmine Flower by Kenny G as that was the first song the player in my car played after she was born. Very sunny day that was. She was my 3-year old friend who comforted me when my marriage to her mother broke up. Farhan – the boy who is now my heir. My best friend. Alim – though just a stepson, I am the only father he has ever known. However, with his recently acquired ability to read and comprehend, he has now begun to ask why is my name different to that of the ones written on his exercise books. Nisaa – the baby and terror of the family. Angelic-sweet, but can be very short-tempered. She will only complete her tertiary education (hopefully) when I turn 61 years old. If I live that long. Fazira – the daughter whose “baby-life” I missed. She was only 11 months old when her mother and I split. I finally managed to get visiting rights when she turned 2. Now, she is the elder sister I can rely upon to look after her younger siblings. Iqa – my stepdaughter. Chubby when she first saw me as a 9-year old girl, she too, does not recognise anyone else to be her father. She is now Hana‘s best friend.

Those are my reasons for living on this Earth, other than the specified obligations.

September 19, 2006

Last Call For Perhentian 2006 (Part 2)

I received a call just now from the HOLEMASTER telling me not to go to Perhentian without him, and how many times more do I want to log dives without him.

Hehehe…sorry, bro. You can always go on MC tomorrow till Friday and join me.

September 19, 2006