Catch of the Day

Personally, I don't like killing a creature, any creature

During the last dive trip, I saw some senior divers carry spears for their dives, they hunt for fishes

At first, I kinda feel awkward about, I don't think killing is right, yet they need to feed us all

To my surprise, they don't always come back with a catch. Once they just got a medium sized lobster, which hardly feed us all, another time empty handed, and another time got 2 fishes as in the pic. 

We talked about the fish hunting, the instructor mentioned that, some people opposed hunting/spearing fishes for food --> sounds  exactly like me

Yet, people easily buy kilograms of shrimp from fishermen without any guilt. He said, shrimps/prawns are not hunted, they are caught by net. Netting means it will trap and suffocate whatever comes to it. Anything that goes to the net will die, even if it is a turtle. Too many lives sacrificed just for one kind of creature that we desired. Things like tiny crabs, or tiny fishes that do not have economical value will be tossed back to the ocean. Dead. Useless.

He also mentioned about certain kind of fish that he would not eat, because those fishes are not speared, netted or caught by bait - it is by poisoning the fishes. For example, fishes that only eat corals, netting would be hard to be used on corals, yet fishing baits won't attract them; so, they just pour poison from surface and the poor poisoned fishes would float for easy harvest. I then realised, it is true that the certain kind of fish, he mention, really exists in the fish market. Who would have known it is by caught by poisoning (again, a lot other creatures would also died)

While, he said, spearing fish means they aimed for a certain kind of fish - of course, the one that palatable. One at a time, no mass killing or overfishing. And it also means not (directly) harming any other creature that is not the target. They only get 1 or 2 fishes that is enough for the day. Just like the picture.

And, in our dives, we saw a lot of grouper (see pic), all with different patterns and colours. He also mention not all grouper are palatable, some are so rubbery if cooked making it undesirable or impossible to consume. The red grouper in the pic is apparently very nice according to Mom. Aha! I never knew that. I know sometimes, some fishes are less nice. That's all.

It gives me a new perspective, I understand we do need to kill for food, it is very natural. 

But, we need to kill responsibly, not just killing whatever and leave them dead without serving any purpose. 

Me Dive!!!

I just couldn't help it. Need to show off my new experience. Hopefully, I can master it bits by bits :)
Always been fascinated by underwater world shown at NatGeo. Always wanted to see it myself. Now I did!!! Wohooo!!!
Swimming with turtles...
Touching puffer fish...
Saw a lot of tropical fishes that you can only see on TV

And all these beauties are just 30 mins from home. Can you believe it? I should have known sooner!!!

Here I share some of the pics :)

me, underwater :)

couldn't believe this heaven is just a step away from home

Standing on the other side - The Humanity Side

Adm. Tadashi Maeda 
This article was featured in printed version of KOMPAS, on 30th Sep 2014. 
The first time I read this article, I didn't think of much, except the part that Adm. Tadashi Maeda lived poorly that he packed the flight-meal. Is he that poor? I didn't read it carefully, when I want to re-read it, I realised the whole bunch of Dad's Kompas is already gone, maybe sold to flea market.

But then, I kept thinking more and more about it. This guy suddenly stuck in my mind. Had a hard time searching about him on the net. Check out this wiki link. Nothing. I also couldn't find the article anymore on the kompas.com . Until my brilliant friend, AD told me I should have called Kompas. Damn, they are good, all I need is mentioning the keyword, and voilà.... the article is sent to my inbox. How cool is that?

The reason why I was looking for this particular article, cause, I got me thinking, as why did Adm.TM choose to assist Indonesia, rather than sticking to the order of Japan Emperor. In other word, why did he choose to defend an-alien-race, rather than his own race?
His decision tickles me.
He didn't deny his identity as a Japanese, he actually went back, stayed, grew old and died in Japan.
He acted based on his own risky decision, as a military personnel - following superior order is a must, he didn't. Not following an order is a thing, but "betraying" one's own identity to protect/assist/defend an alien race is bigger thing. One need to have a strong principle to commit such decision.

Why Adm.TM is special, because apart from his personal preferences, he has no other attachment in this country. He didn't have an Indonesia wife, or anything. (Some other deserted Japanese soldiers choose to stay because of personal attachment). Adm.TM could just leave the country and forget whatever happened previously, it is never his personal responsibility anyway.

I am not sure if he ever regret it, I am pretty sure most Japanese do not agree his action. Worse part is that Indonesian don't even appreciate his "life-changing" contribution. What do we remember him for? Lending his house for Mr.Sukarno to type the Independence  speech? Is that all?
When I was looking up for his article, I couldn't find anything... nothing... all article on the net only mention about the Indonesian Independence Day, and Adm. TM is just a mere name mentioned once with no other significance.

Abraham Lincoln
Assassinated for erasing slavery, sounds like an honourable way to die. But it was not, for a lot of people who own slaves at that time. As a white man, as someone who grew up in poverty, if AL then grew up to be someone who utilise his wealth to become a snob and abusive person - it would be 'acceptable'; you know, taking a revenge of what he lacked before. But he didn't.
He died fighting for the freedom of the blacks - a race they once see as lower class. The price that he need to pay was dear. Living in fear, after several assassination attempts, he died -  for believing that human being, despite of their race, should be treated equally.
Some South people still have traces of hatred towards the black freedom, the discrimination is not 100% gone. Although AL died from what he always believe in, his sacrifice have changed a lot of lives, not just for the black, but for other coloured races.


Fatal Encounter
Watched this movie, thought it was a nice one, until I googled up. Damn!!! It is based on true story, true story of Prince Jeongjo. Go read up the synopsis, watch this video.
 I find it interesting, the royal eunuch - who really is an assassin: trained, castrated, and planted in the palace to serve the Prince, to one day kill the Prince; at one point, changed his mind, "betraying" his "Master". And at the end, the-once-was-assassin, after witnessing his prey's good nature, became the one who convinced the Prince that he, one day, be a good King. Historically, King Jeongjo was recognised in good manner.
The part about the King, the assassinations (apparently there were plenty), the palace intrigues, even the ironic death of King's father... all were written in the history. Not sure about "the royal-eunuch-turned-hero" part. But it is surely a touching plot.
Note: The video's subtitle might not be totally accurate, but you will get the idea :)

It is very natural that in society, we act differently to different races, not always because of discrimination. Sometimes just out of habit, we tend to gather with our own kind, being ignorant of others' well-being.  Maybe about another human being, another race, another social status or even another living creatures.
I still wonder about Adm Tadashi Maeda & Abraham Lincoln, how I adore their courage to stand for what they believe in. No matter what the consequences are.

But above all, I wanna point out is, that defending an unpopular principle - no matter how correct and noble it is, might not bring fame and fortune, it might even bring misery and death.
It is a personal choice, a choice to go against the current, against the flow, against the world - it is a choice to stand on the other side: The Humanity Side

Fixing Crooked Feet

Some of my chicks born with crooked-feet. As you can see on the picture above, if left untreated, the chick will grow up with a crooked feet, although it doesn't seem to effect them much - they still walk, feed pretty well; I still want to fix it. Well, not for the grown-ups, but for the newly hatched chicks

So. here is what I do:
1. Clean the chick's feet, dry it up.
2. Prepare the bandage. I am using 3M micropore bandage tape, cut 2 pieces of square, large enough for the whole feet.
3. Put a piece of the square under chick's feet, sticky side up. Try to make the toe straight.
4. Put the other piece of tape on top of the chick's feet (sandwich-ing the feet)
5. Adjust the toes position, make it straight before fixing the 2 pieces of tape together. Stick it tight, so the toes are not moveable inside the tape
6. Trim excess tape
7. Leave it for a week

At first, the chick gonna wobble a little. It will look like a little chick with a duck's feet. Hehhehe...
And the chick will peck on the new feet. But soon will be forgotten.
After a week (or more, for "older" chick), take it off, and the feet will be as good as new.

I supposed to take the before & after pic for this post. But I couldn't recognise he/she anymore, now that they all have normal feet.
Mission accomplished :)

Kathina Piggybanks

Another proud moment :)

The idea sparked as a fusion of what I saw previously in Taiwan & my friend's proud testimony of her daughters.

TC kids lining up to donate their piggybanks for greater good.
Can you see the National Flag piggybanks on their hands?

Last time, when we visited TzuChi at Hua Lian, we were lucky enough to witness lines of TzuChi students came to donate their piggybanks. They were super cute. I was told, the kids feel very proud that they donate from their own pocket money, in their own piggybank. There's a sense of belonging and sense of responsibility about what they can do to ease the pain of the world.  

The money from the piggybank will be collected by TzuChi volunteer, and all the kids will be given a receipt. It's professionally done. Although they are kids, we need to treat them as professional as we treat adults. Cool, huh?

The testimony from a friend, her daughters wanted to donate robe for monks in Kathina festival. Her kids were old enough to know the importance of the sacred event. They actually begin to collect their pocket money, a year ahead. After a year, they used up all the money in their "Kathina Piggybank" to get robes for monks. And what's better is, it was the kids' idea in the first place!

I was so touched by the testimony that I thought, we need to infect other kids too

So, here is the result. The beautiful drawing was done by Ying. Very cheerful and lively, isn't it?

Her sis, Hny, helped me for the printing and stuff. And PJ crews for helping the tedious labelling task. Thanks a lot :)

Actually, I'm not quite sure how well accepted this idea. But, I am glad that things were finally done. I hope the kids will understand the importance of our contribution for Kathina.

Cannot be more true

People buy things they don't need,

with money they don't have,

to impress people they don't like

-couldn't find the original author, but it is so very true-

Beauty Shopping

I had a day of misery when I was in Seoul. It was the whole-day-full of shopping day.
The first stop was a "small" duty free shop where they sell skincare products.
Being loyal to SKII, I haven't been shopping other beauty products for years,

I was really amazed about ODBO products, so magic, esp the peeling gel. It instantly peel off (or so you see) your skin, and leaving it fair and moist. Mesmerized, as if I saw a magician pulling out rabbit out of his hat, for the very first time. They have these few sales person explaining how magical ODBO is.
A fool I was, I succumb to the "seduction" of the sales person. Totally hypnotised. I end up buying the peeling gel. And nothing more....Hehehe

Other friends were buying A LOT, that they got suitcase(s) & freebies. I bet, it lasts for more than 5 years, if they ever use it daily.
Thx God, I still have my common sense.

Myeongdong Beauty Street

But... But... after a whole day stroll, I realised that bloody Korean are crazy about skincare and cosmetics that you can find the beauty stores in every corner of the street (or maybe just the streets they took tourists to), it's just like 7-eleven!!!
The place call Myengdong, it has a whole street of Korean skincare shops, some are repeating itself on that street.

I didn't plan to buy anything, so I didn't buy anything, apart from very little things that I need for gifts. So I was attaching myself to my shopaholic friends, whom happened to look like just released from North Korea and having unlimited shopping spree

And I saw more and more similar product. My bad habit, always wanna check out more and more....
Then I realised, almost all Korean skincare brands carry a peeling gel. Each claimed it is derived from different fruit, but I doubt it.

I spent the rest of the day "regretting" my purchase. It wasn't much in monetary term. I just feel very annoyed that I actually lured into buying it.

ODBO Peeling Gel vs. Skin Food Pineapple Peeling Gel

It also made me wonder, why, despite being tested on the same spot of my hand, the peeling gel still produce debris that resembles dead skin rolls
Even if I use the same product on the same spot again, again and again. It still give the rolls...
After extensive research on net --> yes, those are not rolls of dead skin. but it does exfoliate, explaining about the fairness.

So... peeling gel. I bought the most expensive one among all peeling gel that I saw from store to store. I paid mine the ODBO for ₩30+k (small fancy tube of 60ml), and the cheapest was Skinfood's Pineapple Peeling Gel at ₩8k, a bigger humble tube of 100ml.

My heart was breaking, after long flight-hours of tourist experience, how could I be fooled by a duty-free-salesman.



But yeah, Korean are really crazy about beauty. The girls are pretty with white porcelain smooth face, and the boys are no different. Making us, the SEA girls looks like... God's by-product. Sob... sob...

Oh, btw, I googled about how good ODBO is, and all I could find is that... it is made only for tourists. That explains about the persuasive multilingual sales person & high price. But it is seems to deliver what it claims.
So... OK lor. C'est la vie.

Calendar of 2015

Couldn't be prouder that my work were featured in PJBI's 2015 Calendar
The photos were taken on different occasions: in Myanmar, India & Taiwan
Haha! So proud about it :)