Haze Relief!

Thank heavens the haze has dissipated almost completely and we are experiencing relief from the smog! It seems that two men were arrested in concern with the burning.

Smile, Malaysia! You can take off your surgical masks! (This is not a professional medical opinion. So don't quote me on this one, folks.)

"Blue skies! Nothing but blue skies! Nothing but blue skies do I see!"

You really do appreciate the fresh air and sunshine after being "under a cloud" for a week or two! It was eery. It was like living in a mystery novel or something.

It reminds me of the time in the Netherlands when we were walking along the canal and as the sun went down, the mist moved in. It was thick as pea soup, stringy and white. And like a Sherlock Holmes mystery. Eery!

So, back to business as usual.

As for me, I'm house-hunting in Seremban. The above house is called a double story terrace house and although it is not attached to the houses on either side, it is attached at the back!

The above is the 5-bedroom home my son rented a while back. It's close to Seremban. Now, as I may have mentioned, Seremban is actually two different towns, Seremban 1 and Seremban 2. Seremban 1 is the old part which means Seremban 2 is the new. Homes like the above are a rare find in old Seremban.

You won't find them in this great condition because this particular house was hand-painted by my son! It's immaculate compared to most rentals. He even built a floor in the kitchen. It was rented to him with cement floors but he went out and got a tile-cutter and laid his own tiles. Now it has lovely grey-blue Italian tile in the kitchen.

We have a motto in our family that says, "Try to leave a place in better condition than you found it." So, our landlords are very happy campers by the time we move out. My diligent son painted the entire fence and the inside walls as well.

"You're welcome, Mr. Landlord!"

The more modern housing is to be found in Seremban 2. Here you can find mansions. But, the home I rented a few years back was a single story "bungalow" detached all around, front back and sides. It had an alarm system installed so that if the windows or door were touched, it set off an alarm. That doesn't mean that the Police will automatically come. It's just a deterrent to scare off thieves.

Every home in Malaysia has bars on the windows. Ugly and useless, they really don't add any beauty. And, they really don't add protection. Sorry to say, but it's true.

I learned that the bars used on the doors and windows here are hollow. They can easily be cut and the glass can be just as easily cut. Although the cages of bars are always locked with pad locks or some-such-lock, the thief doesn't bother with it. He just goes straight through the bars and the glass. Easy as pie.

So, what Malaysia needs is better security systems for the home-owner. And an active Police force wouldn't hurt. But, for now, get yourself a can of mace. Or a Taser!

Indonesia Fires Creating Unhealthy Smog!

I looked out my front door a few days ago to see a haze covering the row of coconut trees alongside the road. It looked like they were fading away in a mist. What a strange feeling. It was something I hadn't seen before,a white fog that hung heavily over the area.

Still, I put it down to someone burning toxic trash as so often is the case around here. Then, looking up into the sky, it seemed as though there were clouds of smoke rolling in, stretching out above the cloud coverage. That also seemed a bit unusual.

Facebook was where I learned that there is a huge amount of pollution blowing in from Indonesia!

Apparently there are acres and acres of palm oil palms burning as a result of land clearing. Whether it's being done on purpose or not has yet to be proved. Most of us here in Malaysia believe it's all on purpose, of course. And for what?

MONEY.

It's all about the money. It sure isn't about conserving our health now, is it? There are millions of these palm trees being grown for money for the palm oil trade. And a quick and easy way to clear the land is to burn it. And, who cares about the health of people's lungs when you're making money?

In Seremban, schools were closed because the pollution index was so high they deemed the air unfit for students to go outside! We are being warned to wear surgical masks outside and to keep the windows shut while inside. There's a particularly toxic content in the smoke during the night. (Perhaps that's because the jungle is being burned at night? That's my guess. You can smell the burnt smell!)

They're blaming it on the dry season and some are saying this may last even until September! Good grief.

Let's hope there's a shift in the wind. Or something!

Seremban

                                                   A building opposite the bus station.

                                                      One of the main streets in Seremban.

 Seremban Parade is a mall with three floors. It used to have a grocery store inside but not any more.

                             A lily pond in front of the Indian temple beside the Seremban Parade.

                                             Flowers. Yes, these are flowers. What can I say?

Buses vs Trains

Having traveled several times to and from Kampar and Seremban, I have decided that I prefer the bus. And it's not just because it's half the price! No. Honestly. Well, ok, that's a big draw, but I do actually enjoy riding the bus more than sitting on a freezing train even though the train is faster and you can watch a movie.

Truth be told, they play the same movie over and over for weeks and the little cartoon of Mr. Bean is really only cute the first three times. After that, you want to throw tomatoes at the screen. Anything to switch your focus from the monotony and discomfort of the "First Class" seating. (The seat doesn't fully recline.)

Why the bus?

It's the scenery! No matter how many times I travel the road, there are always new things that pop out that I never noticed before. With a positive attitude, one can find amazing beauty in the passing jungle, small towns and even the palm oil palm plantations. I do love palm trees. I love any trees.

Just don't focus on all the black mold, rotting wood, crumbling walls and pealing paint. Think of it as authenticity in a world of otherwise tropical splendor. And the people are so cute sometimes.

I was sitting on the bus, minding my own business, trying not to be anxious about the late departure, when this sweet, little white-haired Chinese lady looked up and caught my eye. She broke into a beaming smile and waved excitedly, as though she were greeting her best friend.

Of course, I was a little taken aback, wondering whether she was indeed looking at me. So, I checked around and realized I should wave back. When I did, she seemed pleased and carried on her way across the street. I guess she hadn't seen many foreigners in Old Town Kampar recently.

Old Town Kampar is where the retired like to stay. It seems they put down very long roots and never budge once they've gotten settled. They go to the same restaurants every day and the same coffee shops. It seems everyone knows everyone. So, a White person stands out as a new attraction.

There are disadvantages to riding the bus, I confess. Sometimes the bus driver smokes! Whereas, that will never happen on the train.

Singapore!

What comes to your mind when you hear that word? It sounds like a happy name, doesn't it? "Sing". Reminds me of a Singapore sling! Some day I'll see if I can actually buy a sling there. So, the "sing" part sounds Chinese and the "apore" part sounds Malaysian. And you know what else comes to my mind? "Pirates of the Caribbean" and one of my favourite movie stars, Jonnie Depp. But, I always wonder,

"How come there are all these 'white' whores hanging around in Singapore?" You know; the ones that slap Will across the face. So, I need to look up some history to find out if there really were white whores there at the time of the old pirate ships. There are STILL pirates in the region. Oh, yes! Pirates are alive and well in the warm waters of the south seas.

But all that aside, what is Singapore like to a newcomer?

My first impression, coming in from Malaysia, after several years, is that it reminds me of my home town. Believe it or not, it reminded me of Toronto! I guess it's because there are actual sidewalks. And, it also reminded me of Hong Kong because of the trees growing out of the sidewalks. But, you know what makes it  different than Toronto?

It's cleaner!

Everyone seems so polite and well-behaved. Then I caught a glimpse of the PRICES. Holy cow! Jeepers creepers! It IS like my home town! Just a little too rich for my blood!

So, I figured, "I should at least get a decent cup of coffee while I'm out here on this commercially and technologically developed island."

But, then I decided it just wasn't worth it to purchase one little cupful of liquid for the price they were asking at the mall. Between 8 to 10 Singapore dollars for some tea or juice.By the time you pay the withdrawal fee and the exchange fee at the bank machine, the Sing dollar is equal to the Canadian dollar!

So, I tried the Burger King. I ended up paying 8 dollars, but at least I got a whole meal for that price. And, indigestion all the way home on the bus. But, heck. Buses will do that to you.

Coming back into Malaysia was like stepping back into reality. I guess my reality is a bit impoverished and down-to-earth. But, at least it's stress free most of the time.

Air Conditioning

For years, I have avoided the extravagance of air-con. Well, the one exception was for teaching a tuition class. One must be cool when teaching English to a group of students. It's dangerous to allow the temperature to rise to the point that either you or your students are sweating. That would never do.

Moving to Kampar has exposed me to more heat than ever before. Here at the foot of the Cameron Highlands, we are snuggled into a permanent cloud of moisture. Perspiration is inevitable. You are coated with it all day and all night until the early hours of the morning, at which time, you may get some reprieve.

Therefore, after I got two hefty writing assignments on Elance, I made a decision to break the rules. I decided to use the air-conditioner in the fore-ordained schoolroom, now office.

That's right, I moved my desk and computer in and took one of the beds out!

It's a bit of a strange feeling to work all day long in air conditioning. There's something unusual and unnatural about it. But, I manage. Sometimes when I come out of there, I feel like I just re-entered the real world. Heat. Then, the heat is a welcome change for my bones. But, heat does tend to make one lazy.

Ok, so I'm writing in the air-con! Hallelujah! And, now, I'm going to take a break and go back to the real world. ...And watch a movie.