The Holiday....

What an update of the zombie huh? anyway, i'm back in my lovely hometown of which I will always love no matter where i am... Kota Kinabalu.

So many things have been going on these days in this world from the United States major economy drop, current world market for fuel dropping, to the very volatile political state of our own country.

Honestly, I would so love to blog about all these especially on our own country, but to be honest my knowledge of our country's politics, especially our own country's historical political journey is very minute compared to others like Rocky's Bru, Marina Mahathir, Jebat Must Die, KickdeFella, etc etc. I've learned from my point of view, a very wise man, that it is best you learn more about our country's political history and her journey and just scream out 'Reformasi'. it's so much deeper than that. My only advice to my readers are, do research, learn about our history, and keep yourself updated on news from blogs, online news, both on the government and opposition side and do not ever make judgment if you are engulfed in anger.

plus, to blog about it will spoil my holiday raya mood... so i'll blog about more of a Raya thing....

Soul searching again....

So far, every year I've made a point during Ramadhan since i started working to do as much donation as I can and tell people about it not to brag but in hope that it will affect others to do the same for the needy and remind themselves how lucky they are, to have what they have during breaking fast, to know they have new clean clothes on their back and to know that they have someone who loves and care for them.

This Ramadhan was probably one of the most emotional time I've felt in my soul. With the help of my beloved mom who works for Baitulmal, she helped me distribute the donations through some of their own events. This year the money I collected among three people including myself was split into two. half to be given to 22 kids among the orphans and fakir miskin, the other half given to a group of island villagers of Pulau Gaya categorized as fakir miskin mostly elderly.

The first half, the kids, I've been to school a school that, honest to say probably the second poorest school i've seen in my life, even compared to the one in Tatau in Sarawak. I was told however, the condition it is now is far better than what it used to be where the students' tables were only plywood, and one of the classes once had only ground dirt as the floor.






the little girl who's being taken care by her sister while her other sibling has been given away....


one of the 3 yatim piatu (has no parents at all) and now living with the grandfather




The old school....


the new school....

A teacher introduced all the kids one by one as they came over to me to receive their gifts handed out. The first one... the first child... almost dropped me down to my knees and cry my eyes out with all the snots. It was only a very little girl, i think around 7-8 yrs old. an orphan without both parents, and currently being taken care of by her own elder sister, of whom i was told had to quit school. they actually have a younger sibling, but they had to give the sibling away as the sister could not afford to take care of more kids. the teacher... while explaining this, was already crying. it was so difficult to hold in my cool as some of the mothers attending were also crying their eyes out.

most of the kids were fatherless child where the fathers left them. and most of them come to school using a boat from a nearby island. during low tide, they had to help the boatmen to push the boats across and come to school dirty, but that's considered lucky. sometimes they couldnt even come to school. and i started question myself, for not being thankful at times going to school or work feeling bored in car with the radio volume at the max while these kids had to go on a chartered sampan. and believe me, i think i'm not the only person who think so. sometimes we throw away unfinished food after dinner when in actuality, you can pack it up nicely and place it in the oven or microwave the next day, sometimes even 2 days after. and yet we overlook this sometimes.

my friends, take your time to ponder of the things you do, the doorgifts you get at work or events, things you buy just for fun and couldnt even care less of, and compare it to these children, to these people. see that you are far better off compared to them. dont be too choosy of what you eat and what you wear. go out there and do this yourself, to an orphanage, to an old folks home and sit with them, learn more about them and look back to what you have.

Well the next day I went to Pulau Gaya. For most of you who dont know, Pulau Gaya is right off the coast of Kota Kinabalu probably about 10 minutes away from the port. Pulau Gaya has always been perceived by the locals as the island of immigrants, the Sicily for filipino immigrants, the Macau for filipino gangsters. It is the biggest island of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Island parks in KK and yet one of the least commercialized for tourism. and im willing to bet, about 90% of the KK locals here has never ever visited Pulau Gaya.




this is the Immigrant side...


What most people also dont know about the Island is, it actually is also a residence for real locals of the Bajau ethnic group since the British colonization. Currently it has roughly 500 local villagers staying on the island. there's 2 mosques on the island and one primary school and one secondary school. and almost all these houses, including the mosques and the schools, are on water. now... how cool is that?

my initial thoughts of the village was that it would be dirty, and turns out the only dirty part of the island is the immigrant area while the locals and the school areas is pristine. yes there is some clutter here and there, but i think that's from when people were still unaware of cleanliness back then. now they even have nettings that trap the trash before it goes to shore. cool huh? and again, honestly, the school is probably one of the most beautiful school i've ever seen in Malaysia, period. like, it's a school surrounded by ocean!! who wont think it's cool??? the goverment has helped the schools to also look like a resort! yeps... at that time in my mind, damn it would be so cool to go to school here. only thing is i realized the kids could not skip class... as they're surrounded by the ocean and to silently get out of school is get a boat. yeps.






These are the schools... on water!!




the local village... see the contrast between the immigrants side?

Well, part of the donation was distributed to the villagers here who have been categorized as fakir miskin. regardless how poor these people are, most of them were always smiling, and even though age has caught up with them, they still managed to walk stalwartly, shake my hand, and carry that huge sack of rice. and we complain with the fact that we have all the facilities within short driving range. these people has to look for someone to hitch a boat ride to even go to the bank or watch a movie... and they're not even complaining.










These are the local villagers of Pulau Gaya....

it warms me up and lifted me a bit to see this and i hope, this short stories and pictures will give you a thousand words and create a spark within you... to always be thankful, and fortunate of what you have, and with what you have, also help those who in need, for their prayers that go to you would be one of the most 'makbul' ones.









Finally, I would like to thank Yusland Radin and Dayana Aishah for all your contribution as well to help our muslim brothers and sisters in need in this month of Ramadhan. On behalf of them, thank you so much.

well then... it's the night of the 27th Ramadhan everyone... dont forget to do your late night prayers guys!

and for the non muslims, have a great weekend!!

I'm gonna try my best to post one before the night of Syawal and wish everyone a great Aidilfitri but in the mean time, kalau sibuk sangat...

I would like to wish everyone a very Selamat Hari Raya and a Happy Holidays to all muslims and non muslims. and to everyone regardless religion, age, race, i would like to sincerely apologize for anything that i might have done to make you uncomfortable or maybe even hurt you. I sincerely apologize to everyone. for my mistake, comes from my own carelessness and the good things I do comes from Him and His blessing.

Slamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Happy Eid Mubarak!!!