Summer In Sabah Part 2

Visit to a coffee factory - learned a lesson or two on latte art.

From the observation hill atop Tenom. It's actually a small town on the convergence of two rivers - Padas and Pagalan river.

One of the schools we were working in - SJK(C) Yuk Hwa

Yuk Hwa's school building and us in elephant skin.

On another day we visited a palm oil mill with the Lion's Club. "Everything from the palm oil fruit brings money," the manager says, "down to the last fiber."

Cooking oil - we were skeptical about the pisang goreng served in the canteen later.

Later in the evening our dean, Dr. Hsu, joined us. Seen here teaching us to diagnose strabismus with a little light bulb. "3 seconds is all it takes."

Teaching table manners in SJK(C) Tsi Sin. Purple and yellow make good contrasts.

A brilliant sunset - I'd sacrifice their portraits for the view.

Compromise - a sarong with the school's blouse. Looks something between a kebaya and the Japanese kimono. Yves St. Laurent would gawk at this but I'd say it's a nice match and a wonderful performance later.

Coming up next...Kota Kinabalu and The Way Home!

Trivial Nothings July

• My flight back from Kota Kinabalu was delayed, 30 minutes ex-KK to KL and an hour from KL to Penang. I was frustrated definitely, but hey, this is Malaysia, as I've mentioned to my Taiwanese friends since their arrival.
• Both flights were full to the brim, however. With little seats to spare. Economic downturn? I'd say it's recovering already.
• Anyway, on the way back to Penang was served by this gorgeous looking crew - nice hair, nice teeth and an infectious smile. Just can't stop looking at him whenever he passed down the aisle. When it's time for peanuts, he just hands us one tiny packet. Hey! What's this?
• On the Bahasa Malaysia for Science and Mathematics issue - "No, our students are not practising Michael Jackson's Moonwalk, they're merely moving backwards."
• An editor of Sin Chew Daily described it being a scenario of asking for a pinch of salt on a bland soup, and the chef 'accidentally' let loose the whole packet.
• Imagine the money involved in all the translation and reference books reprint! As if that's not enough to feed our MP's cars and bungalows, hiring teachers from abroad?
• On a more personal note. I'd just finish editing all my team's daily journals. It's difficult to work on a 800x600 screen, but Mum insists I keep the setting because she can't read anything smaller than font 14 on a screen - rabun tua.
  
• While jogging a few days back, I'd suspect I had cataract - how come everything is blurry and whitish?
• It turned out to be the haze.
  

Summer In Sabah Part 1

We were based in Tenom, Sabah. Over the course of 2 weeks we hopped frequently to Keningau and once to Kampung Rundum.

A view of Keningau, a larger sister city 45 minutes away from Tenom.

We enjoyed brilliant weather throughout our stay, except perhaps some rain everyday.

Then to Kampung Rundum with the Lion's. From the photo one would think it's something out of The Hobbit from Tolkien. Living conditions were poor - two toilets for the whole kampung, no electricity, no running water.

And getting there is no easy feat. Road conditions of every imaginable scenario most of the way.

This is our Isuzu 4x4 after 5 hours of dirt and grime.

A total of 40 4x4s along the way.

For Taiwanese ladies taking pictures are the utmost importance. For a blogger like me, the task is equally important as well.

Of course, performing my medical duties comes not far after.

On another better day we visited the Sabah Agricultural Park. Fascinating place.

Taking pictures, again...

2 Weeks In Pictures - Overview

Back To Civilization

2 weeks ago we started out on a journey of self-discovery more than rural community service. Thanks to fate we chose Tenom, a sleepy little town in Kawasan Pedalaman Negeri Sabah. We departed without knowing very much about our final destination and things we are about to face.
We're one of the firsts, however, to combine both activities of Tzu Chi and the Lion's Club during our 2 weeks here. People working with the NGOs will agree that it is very seldom that 2 NGOs of different nature work together. From our experience dealing and negotiating with both we could not agree more. Tzu Chi emphasized structure, organization and efficiency, while the Lion's emphasized honor, the need of every humanitarian effort and cooperation out of their field. Prejudices against each other existed and we faced tremendous challenge trying to coordinate both.
2 weeks in Tenom, we held 2 one-and-half day camps in two local Chinese primary schools, visited a very primitive village accessible only by 4x4, and plied many trips with professional people on the Lion's. We were showered with Malaysian hospitality everywhere we go - breakfast, second breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, high tea, dinner, supper. Living under one roof, we've slowly come to realize all Malaysians are hospitable and warm at nature. They will take the effort and go the extra mile to make you feel at home.
One question I kept asking myself is the unequal distribution of wealth. Tenom is merely 3 hours away from Kota Kinabalu, and yet they don't even have a proper hospital. Kampung Rundum (the very primitive place) is another 3 hours away, and we had a hard time finding toilets. Power supply was constantly out, and the water supply is dependent on how it rains. 1Malaysia the government says, but I see a few rich, corrupt big cities and many more bare-bone, poor villages.
I will be back in Penang this afternoon, when I'd finished resizing my pictures you'd get to see what a fulfilling 2 weeks we had.
Happy Holidays everyone!

Rural Community Service With Lions

Just 2 pictures at the time being.

Daerah Pedalaman Sabah

It's difficult to believe the contrast of three different cities. Kota Kinabalu, though not a big city like Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, still serves its purpose as the capital city of Sabah and largest transport hub of Borneo. 3 hours by bus away, Tenom, a sleepy farming town, is full of rustic charm and the relaxing atmosphere like the Shire from 'Lord of the Rings'. Another 4 hours away, Kampung Rundum is primitive at its core - no electricity, lack of water supply and even full of mud, stale water and stray dogs.

One nation, one destiny - something we should really think twice when saying out loud.