A Day in the Life of A Bajau Laut

A Bajau Laut woman, with two sons in tow, arrives at a jetty
with her catch of fresh slipper lobsters and stingray. She negotiates with
a cook and sells each lobster for RM8. She manages to sell three lobsters.

A dive resort worker showing the freshly caught slipper lobsters.

The negotiation process.

The Bajau Laut are a sea-faring group of people who navigate their way in waters off the east coast of Sabah and southern Philippines. This Bajau Laut woman had just caught slipper lobsters and stingray, and sold some of her catch to a budget dive centre in Mabul Island, just 20 minutes away by boat from world renowned Sipadan Island.

She seemed content after selling her catch, and paddled away.

Return to Penang

Many years ago, in June 1993, I hopped on a plane to travel to Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang. It was a new phase in my life, and at 19-and-a-half then, I was so excited about going off to university, to take up a degree in Mass Communications. I dare say the four years I spent there were the best in my life. I remember everything: jogs at the lake, long walks under the steaming rays of the sun to the Mass Comm school, typewriters (yes, I am that old!), waiting for friends at the bus stop to go for an outing to Komtar, rude Yellow Bus drivers, yummy food, late night chats and the joy of receiving letters from friends back home.

I returned to Penang a few days ago, and this time, I was there at the invitation of the Mass Comm school, to sit in as a panel member at their International Communication and Environment Conference. 16 years ago, a USM bus picked us up from the Bayan Lepas Airport, this time, a Perdana ferried me to Batu Ferringi for the conference. I met ex-lecturers who didn't recognise me cause I have changed, they say. There was a conference dinner on campus, but it was almost dark by the time we got there. It's changed a lot, I've changed over the years, but the memories remain.

On the last day, I went to Georgetown and the Chowrasta Market to pick up some pickles (jeruk), and the market seemed a lot smaller compared to before. I managed to have some pesembur in Padang Kota Lama, and then I took a Rapid Penang bus back to the hotel. Trust me, the buses have improved a lot! The drivers are so courteous, and buses run on time.

I am glad I had this one chance to return to Penang. Thank you, dear lecturers, for teaching me, thank you Penang and USM for the memories, thank you my friends who made university life the best.

Taking Stock

Wow, I can't believe its been 3 weeks since my last posting! Been doing this, that, this, that, excuses, excuses, excuses! I am sure you know exactly what I am saying, cause I bet almost everyone is busy with something :)

Three days ago on 3rd December, I celebrated my 36th birthday. On a short flight back from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu that same morning after an assignment, I tried to gather my thoughts on what has happened in the past year, and the many, many years I have lived on this planet with six-and-a-half-billion others. I've had my ups and downs in the past year, some which have left me questioning myself, others which have made me a stronger person.

But there is one thing I have decided on, and which I hope I will stick to: I want to be a better person. By better person, I mean I want to be a better friend, daughter, sister and hopefully citizen. I have to stop getting "angry" and "irritated" at the slightest things, and look at things through a different scope. I have to understand that not everyone will live up to my expectations. Motorists will still drive at 50km per hour on the right lane when I use Tuaran Road to get to work, people won't say thank you, people will tell lies, a friend I was once very close to has her own life now, most flights will have turbulence whether I like it or not, Malaysian public toilets will remain dirty, broadband connection sucks, etc. So instead of getting annoyed at everything, I will let it be. I will take a deep breath and move on. And live for today. Tomorrow is another day, there is no reason to start getting worried about what tomorrow will bring. Its time to be fair to myself.

There are many things I am thankful for. I am not hungry, I don't live in a shack, I have water and electricity supply, a nice car, enough clothes, a chance to travel and a number of awards on my shelf (well, actually they are still in the store room :D). But above all, I have friends and family who have never stopped supporting me. Dad who never fails to tell me how proud he is of me and my siblings, a friend who always gives me a hug each time we meet (its you Zan!), a soul mate who knows when to leave me alone, and when to make me smile.

And as I take stock of life, I hope God blesses you the way I have been blessed :)