An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 hit Indonesia on 2 September 2009, killing at least 63 people. At least dozens are said to be missing. More than 87,000 homes have been destroyed.
Typhoon Morakot was the deadliest typhoon to impact Taiwan in recorded history. It formed early on August 2, 2009. Typhoon Morakot wrought catastrophic damage in Taiwan, leaving 461 people dead and 192 others missing, most of whom are feared dead and roughly NT$110 billion ($3.3 billion USD) in damages.
In the Asian, African and Latin American countries, well over 500 million people are living in what the World Bank has called "absolute poverty". Every year, 15 million children die of hunger.3 billion people in the world today struggle to survive on US$2/day.
Mention any of the above 3 scenarios to any auntie or uncle at the coffeeshop or "mamak" stall this week, they'd probably go like this...
Just say "cow head", and then an instant reaction akin to that of a magnitude 7.0 earthquake combined with that of Typhoon Morakot immediately takes place...
For the past few days, it almost looked as though the whole country's been going bonkers over a cow.
Cowabunga
A cow head, to be more precise. Read all about it here, here and here.
This is getting depressing. We need a natural disaster or two to happen here to replace all the "complain till the cows come home" local news that we keep hearing and reading about everyday.
I need to get away from civilization, cows and all this crap for these next couple of weeks, go help some poor orphans or something. Seriously.
"We all leave footprints in the sand. The question is, will we be a big heal, or a great soul..."
... or simply a great big pain in the gluteus maximus (the most politically correct term I could think of).
While on vacation last month, M and P dragged me out from the city and drove all the way to the countryside.
So o'er hill and dale we's went like a bunch o' wannabe hillbillies from Down South.
Let's see hure, my redneck name be Daisy (Duke), by golly!
(very lame attempt at Redneck Lingo)
Fish Creek- founded in 1884. Stopping at Fish Creek was more like a shot in the dark. We hadn't even planned to go there. Never even been there before.
One of Fish Creek's landmarks: a building with a gargantuan fake fish right smack on the rooftop. Jeepin'gillickers, wally!
The Fish Creek Memorial Hall (1930)
I could almost imagine how this place would've looked like back in those days when people just started moving into this quiet little town...
Noticeboard outside the memorial hall with notices put up by the folks of Fish Creek- fundraisers, community meetings, the likes...
Ever wondered how benches in Malaysian towns such as Menggatal and Batang Benar would look like? Let's skip the Malay-English translation in today's entry.
We walked around a li'l bit and suddenly had this odd feeling that everyone's hiding from us.
A possible replication of the Fish Creek from long ago.
M loves art. She's got a whole house full of artworks. So M decided to go to this place called "Stefani Hilltop Gallery" while I was thinking, "Nooooo!!!! I always flunked art back in school!!!!"
When we arrived at this place, a cute little Labrador Retriever that's about my size suddenly appeared from out of nowhere. Cute...
Bianca runs this place. Walking into this gallery was like walking directly into Anne Shirley's house. I felt like an eleven-year-old all over again.
All of Bianca's paintings are displayed in different rooms in the house. Very affordable too.
Bianca's impressive collection of salt-and-pepper shakers.
Before we left, Bianca asked if we would like to stay back for tea. This took us by surprise as we were not exactly accustomed to having strangers asking us "would you like to have some tea?", especially when we had not even decided to buy anything from her. And especially when she had so kindly offered to give me one of her paintings...
My "Weird Asian Girl" mind was going, "WTH! She doesn't even know me and she's now giving me one of her paintings?! Does she have any idea what kinda psycho I can be like at times?"
Her friendly demeanour totally reminded me of someone I knew when I was a little kid...
Dear Mrs. Potts
Bianca's Labrador Retriever. This was how Rusty looked like as we were about to leave.
Bianca's peacocks. There were three of them but only two wanted to be in the picture.
The next time you end up at this place called Fish Creek (Victoria), here's one place you should visit. This was one of those places that had been spared from the Australian bushfire that happened earlier this year.
"I have always depended on the kindness of strangers" (the last line from Tennessee William's "A Streetcar Named Desire")- movie clip as shown below.
Not sure what you're thinking, but it’s probably a Generation-Y thing for most of us to get all grossed out over anything that happened before the 1980s.
Boy howdy, what a rootin', tootin', hootin', hollerin', grandma humpin' time that was! I can't wait til next time! Yeehaw!
Ever wondered how I sound like when I'm not my usual insane self? Find out how- through this number: 06-850 2338 (if you're in Malaysia). Outside Malaysia: +606-850 2338.
Voice can be heard after 7 ringtones, after 6:00 p.m. every day (GMT +8:00).
