All posts filed under: Life

Islanders yearn for development

[Above picture taken by NSTP/Khairull Azry Bidin] NOTE: Article written during the Sandakan parliamentary by-election coverage ****** A JETTY with a rundown bridge that connects the docking platform and the shore of Kampung Pulau Berhala greets visitors as they arrive at the small forested island near the Sandakan city centre. One can see wooden beams protruding from the eroded cemented walkway. With cracks everywhere, it appears to be a matter of time before the bridge gives way, endangering visitors and locals alike. “Slowly, one at a time,” said one villager as a group of media practitioners treaded carefully on the rickety bridge. Along the walkway are wooden stilt structures used to hold small boats and unfinished houses. According to Kampung Pulau Berhala chief Junior Jikirin, the 100-metre long cemented walkway was built five years ago during the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration, with no maintenance work carried out since. This, he said, is the only jetty for the villagers. There is also another jetty, but it connects to the Joint Task Force base on the far …

Movies that make you want to see the world

This year, I may or may not travel.

But who knows, because based on last year’s adventures I learnt that I was capable of making an impromptu decision. Just like when I decided to purchase return tickets for my then 7-year-old nieces, five days prior to flying to Jakarta … just because I wanted companions and most of all, I wanted to expose them to a backpacking adventure. That was in May 2015 and boy, we had a blast.

A souvenir kind of day

I was feeling a little unproductive this morning. Maybe because I had to attend a boring assignment – Goods and Services Tax briefing by Sabah Customs Department … … And no, I am not going to talk about GST. So, I arrived office at 12.15pm, bringing in only one news. As I settled back in my seat, my colleague approached me. Olivia was holding a box of some things. As I looked closely, there were five or six fridge magnets, and five or six thin boards with pictures on them. There could be more than five and more than six too. My eyes were fixed on one of the thin boards. It was the one with two tiny holes and a rope attached to one of the holes. There was a red building painted on the board with caption written Office of the President, Republic of China (Taiwan). I was not sure what to do with it but I took it because it was unique. “How long were you in Taiwan?” I asked. I knew Olivia was on leave for the past few days. I just didn’t …

Planning Indonesia

I have been to Indonesia thrice. Next month will be my fourth and this time, I will be exploring the country with my mom. The thing about this daughter-mother trip is I don’t know where to begin. I have the starting point and I know where it will end. I do not have the in between. I definitely want to revisit Jogja and Borobudur. When we should do it, I do not know. The other day, mom asked whether I had everything planned. I was flipping through the LP guide book and shrugged. “Nah, read this.” It has been two weeks now. I am still waiting for my mom to tell me about places she wants to visit.