Thursday, October 05, 2006
10/05/2006 07:55:00 AM
10/05/2006 07:55:00 AM
All Fogged Up
posted by Francis Ho
Sometimes I think the world is so messed up that I just skimmed through the newspapers these days so as not to get too depressed. Just recently in the local news, 3 (and a fourth as well as told) innocent estuarine crocodiles (a supposedly ‘protected’ animal) were needlessly tortured (do you fancy being tightly tied up and having water forced down your throat?) and slaughtered (belly sliced opened) in the presence/knowledge of wildlife officials from the Sarawak Forestry Corporation who were supposed to be protecting them! The reason they gave was that this was a 'sensitive matter' and they did not want to upset the villagers; and so they played dummies! But the only justification I could think of was revenge (for which there is no justification) for a young boy who was supposedly taken by a crocodile, while swimming, in the sleepy fishing village of Bako; a place where I love to go and kayak. Why do people let their children swim in crocs-infested river? Would you let your kids walk alone through a decrepit back alley where the 'undesirables' hang out? People fear things that they do not understand and don’t like to think about. I don’t fear (I'm not Steve Irwin; no one is.) but have great respect for the crocodiles but that’s another rant which if I carry on; most would not be able to understand and likely relegate me to be a patient at Kota Sentosa. Even my thoughts about finding peace, beauty and spirituality (which I subtly conceal) out on the waters draw blank incredulous looks from supposedly intelligent and so-called deeply religious 
If the above was not distressing already; I was completely dumbfounded when I came across these men carrying out fogging, on my way home down Ellis Road yesterday evening! Duh! This is when the haze situation in Kuching must be in the very unhealthy levels much as the authorities concerned would lie to and insult our intelligence and tell us otherwise. The culture of greed and covering up is insidious and corrupts our thoughts and thinking until nobody has any clear values left nor can tell what is right from wrong. These foggers would no doubt piss into the wind as well. Common sense is not at all common in this muddled up society. I am so sick and tired of the rampant absurdity in this land I called home. Sometimes I think we are all really fogged up.
I wanna go kayaking.
(Now that I have gotten this out of my system; there would not be another negative posting for a while. I really need to clear my mind; and you don't really have to read this. Comments are strictly optional as I'm in no mood to be drawn into any protracted spat . I'd rather go paddle. *sigh*)
Stumble It!12 Comments:
At Thursday, 05 October, 2006 
said:
At Thursday, 05 October, 2006 said:
kelvin - if u're game; I can show u where some of the crocs are! ;o)
I have no problems with 'em!
But I do have problems with the darn imaginary haze! *cough cough*
I have no problems with 'em!
But I do have problems with the darn imaginary haze! *cough cough*
At Thursday, 05 October, 2006 
Wuching said:
another negative posting? whoopie-do! i wanna read! post comment summore!
At Thursday, 05 October, 2006 said:
U know the man doing the fogging? Think u shud borrow and fog sum ppl out of d face of universe!!!
At Thursday, 05 October, 2006 said:
fh2o - You mean the crocs location in Stutong river? Do we do night kayaking for that? I'm game sure but not so much to look for crocodiles but just float on the river.
I don't like this recent crocodile issue either. It makes the whole thing so stupid and at what expense? But what do they care, right? 'Sensitive' my.. whatever.. ;-)
I don't like this recent crocodile issue either. It makes the whole thing so stupid and at what expense? But what do they care, right? 'Sensitive' my.. whatever.. ;-)
At Thursday, 05 October, 2006 said:
kelvin - Sungai Kuap actually, which Sg Stutong flows into. No steps down my jetty (yet) so we'll have to follow the tide times regardless of night or day.
To be within throwing distance of crocs on a kayak inches from the waters is a sure way to question one's mortality, place on this planet, faith and sanity! Not many would want to ask such questions like I do. ;)
To be within throwing distance of crocs on a kayak inches from the waters is a sure way to question one's mortality, place on this planet, faith and sanity! Not many would want to ask such questions like I do. ;)
Yes, Unker, go paddle. Paddling is good. If it helps awaken your spiritual pathway, even better. The weekend is coming soon. Go paddle!
My word verification is:
All of us can hear your rage
Heaving forth in recent days.
Mist or fog? They do not guage
Kuching's problem with its haze.
Crocodiles are mutilated
Only for revenge, it seems,
Leaving you now quite frustrated.
Go and paddle; find your dreams!
(Why do I keep getting 8-letter codes these days??!?)
My word verification is:
All of us can hear your rage
Heaving forth in recent days.
Mist or fog? They do not guage
Kuching's problem with its haze.
Crocodiles are mutilated
Only for revenge, it seems,
Leaving you now quite frustrated.
Go and paddle; find your dreams!
(Why do I keep getting 8-letter codes these days??!?)
At Thursday, 05 October, 2006 batukawa said:
Fh2o, on a positive note:
Thanks to your positive infuence, I have just made an investment on a 2nd hand Old Town 160XT tandem kayak. Now I have to fit a roof rack on my Prado, pick up the kayak from the seller on the weekend and find a croc friendly river to launch.
Thanks to your positive infuence, I have just made an investment on a 2nd hand Old Town 160XT tandem kayak. Now I have to fit a roof rack on my Prado, pick up the kayak from the seller on the weekend and find a croc friendly river to launch.
At Thursday, 05 October, 2006 said:
mm - I can always count on you to give us all a chuckle! That was great even though it didn't all quite rhyme! ;)Thanks!
batukawa - way to go! Don't forget to get a good NEW PFD (life jacket). I trust that your wife would not blame me for losing you on the weekends now!
I doubt the crocs would travel that far south to Melbourne from Queensland! Melbourne's weather is not amendable to them as well! Keep us posted on your kayaking adventures down under! :)
batukawa - way to go! Don't forget to get a good NEW PFD (life jacket). I trust that your wife would not blame me for losing you on the weekends now!
I doubt the crocs would travel that far south to Melbourne from Queensland! Melbourne's weather is not amendable to them as well! Keep us posted on your kayaking adventures down under! :)
At Friday, 06 October, 2006 said:
Venting one's spleen is a good thing, and within the relatively protected realm of a blog, a safe place to rant, rave, cajole, condemn, question.
Now go for a paddle.
Now go for a paddle.
At Friday, 06 October, 2006 said:
fh2o - Just let me know when you plan to do this croc-watching thing and step beyond the threshold of sanity. I'll just follow.
At Friday, 06 October, 2006 said:
On the issue of the wildlife officials standing back and not doing anything, it is on the ground of the Wildlife Protection Act, that All Wildlife that is under the Protected Species or Edangered Species Category are to be totally protected but when they have harmed a human life, then it is permissible for actions to be taken to seek retribution..now, in this case, let us put ourselves in the shoes of the parents, imagine Uncle, if it was your daughter that was dragged by the crocodile (irregardless that she never plays in the river or such, lets just say that one fine day, she joined you kayaking and it was just not your day and well..you get the story) wouldn't you want to wish to for retribution and insist that they hunt and kill down the crocodile?
You put up the argument as to why they allowed their kids to play in the river in the first place. Uncle, you have travelled along the rivers of Sarawak and you yourself play in the river, sure, some are not infested with crocodiles and some are, as in the case and you youself said that you have kayaked in that same river and yes it is without a doubt that the river is infested with crocodiles, but I am digressing, what I wanted to state was, why do parents let their kids play in the river..well, kids will always be kids..is that not? As we stay near the river, we will grow to love the river and the unexpected will always happen and no one can predict when it will happen, but it has happened to this kid and his family.
In the second case, fogging for dengue is only done when there is a case of dengue fever in the area. Therefore, the authorities are merely carrying out their duties. If you investigate more fully on the matter, I believe you will discover that someone in that area has been infected with dengue and therefore the precaution is taken.
Too often, people rant and give their two cents worth of the frustrating things around them without thinking on the reason behind it or putting themselves in the shoes of the person that they are annoyed with first and that is what saddens me for wouldn't it be a far better society if we can just look through they eyes of the other person that we are irrated with and see why that they acted so and wouldn't we act as such if we are in their shoes.... let that be the reflection for your weekend uncle.
You put up the argument as to why they allowed their kids to play in the river in the first place. Uncle, you have travelled along the rivers of Sarawak and you yourself play in the river, sure, some are not infested with crocodiles and some are, as in the case and you youself said that you have kayaked in that same river and yes it is without a doubt that the river is infested with crocodiles, but I am digressing, what I wanted to state was, why do parents let their kids play in the river..well, kids will always be kids..is that not? As we stay near the river, we will grow to love the river and the unexpected will always happen and no one can predict when it will happen, but it has happened to this kid and his family.
In the second case, fogging for dengue is only done when there is a case of dengue fever in the area. Therefore, the authorities are merely carrying out their duties. If you investigate more fully on the matter, I believe you will discover that someone in that area has been infected with dengue and therefore the precaution is taken.
Too often, people rant and give their two cents worth of the frustrating things around them without thinking on the reason behind it or putting themselves in the shoes of the person that they are annoyed with first and that is what saddens me for wouldn't it be a far better society if we can just look through they eyes of the other person that we are irrated with and see why that they acted so and wouldn't we act as such if we are in their shoes.... let that be the reflection for your weekend uncle.
ps: Haze? What haze?