In memory of the children sacrificed in Sichuan’s earthquake – Author unknown

This is a brief translation on the poem dedicated to the children sacrificed in Sichuan's earthquake on May 12, 2008 which I'd posted on May 22, 2008. My sincere blessings to those who're involved whether directly or indirectly in the earthquake... may whoever and wherever they are, be blessed.

In memory of the children sacrificed in Sichuan’s earthquake – Author unknown

Child, grasp your mama’s hand fast

The path to heaven is too dark

Mama’s worried you’re gonna knock your head

Quick! Grasp your mama’s hand

Let mama go with you

Mama’s worried the path to heaven is too dark

I can’t see your hand

Ever since the collapsed wall

Has taken away the sunlight

I never get to see

Your tender eyes anymore

Child, go

The path in front

Has no more worries

No more mountains of text book

And papa’s fist

You have to remember

Mama’s and papa’s faces

To be reunited in the future life

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Mama, don’t worry

The path to heaven is rather narrow

There are many school mate friends

We said : Don’t cry

Anyone’s mama is our mama

Anyone’s child is mama’s child

Days without me

Shower the survived children with mama’s love

Mama, please don’t cry

Mama’s tears can’t brighten up our path

Let us go slowly on our own

Mama, I will remember mama’s and papa’s faces

Remember our promise

To be reunited in the future life


In memory of the children sacrificed in Sichuan’s earthquake – Author unknown

Translated by Fiona S.

Hide and seek

Almost a month now since I last read for the sake of exam. For the past two weeks, I’ve been reading quite a number of books for the sake of reading and it was great! Well, that’s not the main thing.

A while ago, I was lying on the floor of the living room. Then I notice the long time left unnoticed empty space in between the three seats chair and floor. I couldn’t really remember when was the last time I actually had the attempt to crawl or hide beneath the long chair… gee… it must be very long!

If anyone reading this remembers the game we used to play LAST time… when we were in pre-school or perhaps until junior primary school? Hide-and-seek! In school compound, we have the remaining of the school to play it before the bell rings to mark the beginning of the afternoon students’ session. That must be one of the best exercise we had then as we were running to everywhere just to locate the best place to hide before the ONE counted until… 10, 20, 30… or up to 100. It all depends on how big was the area we were playing.

Back at home, I must say that it was very common that we’ll hide our little body beneath the chair or in the cupboard. Basically, no matter how many times we played it, those were the common spot for us to hide and yet, we played the game from time to time until we were old enough to find that the game is no longer an interesting game for us anymore.

Now back to the moment when I saw the empty space beneath the three seats chair. The space looks neither too big nor too small but I made an attempt to slide myself in. Anyway, I found that I couldn’t slide my whole body in anymore like me and my friends used to do last time.
Though I couldn’t slide in, I continued to lie on the floor and laugh to myself. Next, I told myself…

“… they (the adults) used to tell me how lucky I am to be a kid. I watched the television and the actors or actresses used to repeat the same phrase. But I couldn’t really understand why. As a kid myself then, me and my friends used to talk among ourselves – the adults never really know how terrible it is to be a kid. Now that I’ve left my childhood and slowly stepping into the same world of different perspective, I started to understand what used to be cliché to me when I was a kid – it is so nice to be a kid again!...”

Whether a kid or an adult, I am grateful that I am alive.

悼四川地震死難的孩子... (作者不詳 - author unknown)

孩子，快抓緊媽媽的手

去天堂的路，太黑了

媽媽怕你碰了頭

快 ! 抓緊媽媽的手

讓媽媽陪你走

媽媽怕天堂的路太黑

我看不見你的手

自從倒塌的牆

把陽光奪走

我再也看不見

你柔情的眸

孩子，你走吧

前面的路

再也沒有憂愁

沒有讀不完的課本

和爸爸的拳頭

你要記住

我和爸爸的模樣

來生還要一起走

* * * *

媽媽，別擔憂

天堂的路有些擠

有很多同學朋友

我們說 : 不哭

哪一個人的媽媽都是我們的媽媽

哪一個孩子都是媽媽的孩子

沒有我日子

你把愛給活著的孩子吧

媽媽，你別哭

淚光照亮不了我們的路

讓我們自己慢慢的走

媽媽，我會記住你和爸爸的模樣

記住我們的約定

來生我們一起走

-----------------------------------------------
悼四川地震死難的孩子 作者不詳

Say my prayers

It has been almost a week now ever since the 512 incident - 7.8 earthquake in Sichuan, China. My mind goes blank each time I read over the news, listening or watching the news. Up to this day, I heard of stories about missing family and friends. Then, how a grandma tried to protect her pair of grandsons when the earthquake took place and she lost her life there and then - her grandsons survived.

Also about mother who lost her beloved baby to the disaster.. she was seen carrying the little motionless dead body after the earthquake. As she embraced the body, she cleaned the face and body of the little darling and put on new clothes for the baby. That's the love of a mother.. barely having a chance to see the little one grows.. and at this time, I told myself.. I am grateful for I am alive.

However, there's one I can hardly forget.. one of the survivors found was given a saw to remove part of his rotting leg on his own. The surrounding has made it impossible for the rescuers to do that for him. I was astounded. What will I do if I'm in his shoes? I don't know and I don't even want to imagine.

As for today, I saw news of the new survivors.. and some, had eventually lost part of their body - hands and/or legs. We knew how critical it is when it comes to rescuing people.. though we are not one of the rescuers, but we've heard and watched enough for us to understand it.

Of all the incidents that took place, I must agree that Vice President Wen is a great man and he has set a very good example to the leaders of the rest of the world. Actions do speak louder than words! Leaders do not necessary contribute only his/her intelligence in thoughts and words.. actions count too.

Vice President Wen does not only send his order to his men to do their work.. in fact, he himself is involved with the rescuing work. This reminds me, one does not gain more respect because one is richer, smarter, more handsome or having a higher social status.. in fact, the respect can never be measured with such. Respect shall come when what a person does has at least touched ONE person's heart.

I'll say my prayers... to all those involved in this natural disaster - directly or indirectly.

Also, I wish to quote the Vice President of China - Wen JiaBao (溫家寶)

"...您幸运活下来、就好好的活下去"

("... you are lucky to have survived, you should go on living your life fully")

溫家寶 - Wen JiaBao (May, 2008)

Back from Krung Thep

Sawadee-kha...

Beautiful.. right? ^^

Don't ask where am I.. I was one of the photographers! Hihi.. somewhere around Wat Arun.

Modern pose with traditional costumes. Good one girls! Hihi...

Oops.. Sophia was the background.. not a mistake. This was intended ^^ Hihi.. Lots of water lilies and lotuses are available in Thailand.. wow!

While writing our message on the Artist's Place guestbook..

Sophia took these while me and Maggie were sleeping. Well.. these photos from the plane don't come easy. Each of them took at least 10 seconds for that particular shot! Why? Haha.. simply because I'd forgotten to turn off the timer setting in my camera and Sophia went on to snap photos with it without any adjustment. Hihi.. ^^

Mark, Maggie and Sophia. Mark helped us a lot throughout our stay in Krung Thep... from the moment we step into Thailand.. oops.. I don't think so. It should be even earlier. A few days before we departed from Malaysia actually. He helped to arrange our accomodation in the Artist's Place.

In Wat Arun. Well.. for all you know, it's terribly hot! I can't believe it that the two ladies were willing to stand under the hot sun and pose in front of the camera. Haha..

The owner of The Artist's Place.. Charlee. A very nice man and he tried to help in any way he could and often suggesting us the best way to get to the place we're intending to go.

Voodoo dolls are seen everywhere in Krung Thep.. but we didn't buy any. Although they said the voodoo dolls are supposed to bring lucks, but.. we chose not to be ^^ A snapshot will do maybe ^^

My second visit to Starbucks in Krung Thep.. while waiting for Gavin.. we killed our time there ^^ Very nice environment.. it's along Khao San road.

Nothing much. Just a public phone that we don't get to see in Malaysia. So, just a snapshot ^^

While waiting for bus to Siam Square.. this's somewhere around Wat Pho. By the way, before we went in to Wat Pho, we had a wonderful lunch at the jetty.. lots of fresh fruits.. yummy yummy.. pineapples, papayas, watermelons, fried sea mussels, papaya salad and more fruits! Delicious! Then we went to a shop opposite Wat Pho.. the owner is a Chinese lady. Oops.. forgotten to take a photo with her. She's very friendly and when I uttered my limited Thai to her "Khun pen khon jin chai mai kha?" (Are you a Chinese?) and "Khun phut pha sa jin dai mai kha?" (Do you speak Chinese?) she began to speak to the three of us in Mandarin and finally Hakka! Haha.. there's more.. she even treated us delicious rambutans from the fridge.. wow!~ Thank you Mrs Wong.. Well, of course I managed to return her kindness.. I do have some delicacies from Malaysia - heong pia! It really came in handy. I handed her one and she loves it.. good! Hihi.. Before we left, she even offered us the whole bag of rambutans.. but we didn't take it ^^

Fiona, Tao and Sophia after having their Japanese cuisine for dinner in MBK shopping mall. Goodness.. we spent two days in Siam Square shopping area! Haha.. Including MBK as well.. can't believe it! Tao is my Thai friend and we finally get to meet up in Krung Thep. She's a friendly and nice lady.. ^^

Sala Daeng.. a few hours after spending our time in Patpong. Wait.. we didn't go for any Tiger shows not Ping Pong shows okay? Don't think too much! Haha.. however, we spent quite some time in Boots (pharmacy) to get our plasters.. for me and for Maggie. Well, my sandfly bites still there.. eew.. And for Maggie.. I'm not sure if she allows me to state the reason why would she need the plaster for. Hihi.. anyway, they both went for Thai massage there too.. see how relaxing they were while waiting for the sky train ^^ Hihi.. and me, walked all around that area along for an hour.

Hihi... Miss Sophia and Miss Maggie.. this is what you've missed for not taking the bridge walk over the Chao Phraya river! Nevermind, I'd did my part by snapping the best possible shot ^^ Well, don't expect much, I don't have a tripod with me and as the vehicles are moving on the bridge.. I can't really avoid the movements of my camera ^^

Gavin from Ireland. The four of us went to Khao San together by taxi.. the second time the three of us sat in a taxi (not tuk-tuk) after spending over four days there. The first time, was from airport to the Artist's Place. Ooh yes, we met Gavin in the Artist's Place.

Plasters help

Almost a week after returning from Chagar Hutang Beach now. And I think I'm slowly recovering from the awful looking wounds.. thanks to the sandflies, haha!~ Apparently, this is the first time in my life that I'm using so many plasters! Five pieces of new plasters daily! But they really help in healing my wounds and at the same time preventing them from getting worse. Some who'd experienced the miserable bites before may have know how itchy they can be and at the same time, how uncontrollable our fingers can be. Anyway, at least now I know that mosquito coils and plasters are among the best tools I need when going for outdoor activities!

Without them, the wounds can be covering all over my legs instead of only my feet! Good lesson!~ Hihi..

Anyway, a friend came to pay a visit in Kuantan a few days back and she was staying with me. We went for keropok lekor sagu in Tanjung Lumpur in one of the days. And, what happen to the keropok lekor sagu?! They are now half the size of what I had last time.. which was about a year ago. Hihi.. But, they are still as tasty as before... only changes in quantity, but not quality. Good!~ ^^