Take Two: Climate Change

The world is full of ironies...

Take these two headlines today for example:

Carbon emissions growth - we're world's No 1

Malaysia's carbon emissions have spiralled since 1990, increasing faster than any country on earth, a United Nations report released today said.

The UN Human Development Report on fighting climate change showed Malaysia's carbon emissions grew by 221 percent from 1990 to 2004, placing it in 26th place on a global league table of emitters...

Down Under, a former Malaysian - Penny Wong, a former Sabahan, has just been elected as the Minister for Climate Change and Water, the first Australian from Asian background to do so. In a world where carbon trading, carbon emissions and carbon footprint have become global buzzwords, her portfolio can be seen as one of the most important under Kevin Rudd's new government.

Read the following article from The Sydney Morning Herald.

Climate of change: a proud day for Labor's rising star

IN MANY ways Penny Wong's is a very Australian story.

The woman who can trace her family back to 1836 and one of South Australia's original settlers was born in Malaysia and moved to Australia as a seven-year-old .

Yesterday the 39-year-old former lawyer was catapulted from relative obscurity to one of the most important jobs in the Rudd administration as minister for climate change and water...

'Illegal' Rally

The PM and some cabinet ministers have been hitting out at those who participated in a few 'illegal' rallies earlier this month. No one will be surprised that the Police was not willing to issue permits for these rallies since the police and the government are bedfellows in this country. Instead of protecting the majority, the police often protect those who are in power from being prosecuted for corruption, crimes, etc.

The irony is, certain people in this country have no problems getting permits for rallies to 'express' themselves - Su Qiu, British Embassy, US Embassy, etc.

Doesn't take a genius to spot the double standard. Too bad not many rakyat get to see the whole picture as the mainstream media is yet another bedfellow of the government.

Our temporary location in Melbourne

Right next to Albert Park... Wish it's March now.


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Melbourne

Johanna and I landed in Melbourne this morning - the beginning of our new life in Australia, for at least the next two years. BNM has approved my 2-year unpaid leave just in time for me to accompany Johanna to do her PhD in Australia.

I'll be looking for a job soon. Hope it won't be too difficult.

My Precious Rights

Finally registered as a voter at the Damansara Jaya post office. Looking forward to vote in the next GE. Hope you've registered yourselves too!

Room to let

I'm going to put this ad in the Star tomorrow or the day after.

TAMAN SEA SS23 Room w aircond for Single Executive. Quiet, clean and furnished house. Parking avl. Available 11/11/07. Pls call JY 012-3796898.

We have one room to let out. Our house comes furnished with TV, hi-fi, DVD player, fridge, water heater, washing machine, oven, rice cooker, kitchen utensils, cockery, auto gate, etc. Must be neat and tidy. Very near to Taman Megah, Taman Mayang and Taman Sea commercial areas.

If you have friends who are interested, please ask him/her to give me a call at 012 3796898.

Back in Malaysia

Time surely flies. It feels like Johanna and I have just set foot in London not long ago, but now we're back in Malaysia again.

For me, it was a mixed feeling. As for Johanna, she didn't quite like London initially, but slowly grew fond of it. But the crowd and hussle bussle of this metropolitan city is still too much for her. It was good that we stayed in zone 2. We're going to miss our nice one bedroom flat a lot.

It's great to be back home too, especially for the food. Not forgetting our parents and relatives.

However, we've noticed that the prices of many things have increased a lot, e.g. Highway toll by around 60% (with more increases expected next January) and groceries. E.g. my favourite Nescafe Kenjara, Cape Colombie or Alta Rica is only GBP2.50 in Tesco London but costs nearly RM20 in Giant. The same with the small bottle of Pantene shampoo - around GBP1 in London but costs more than RM9 in Giant.

Still need some time to get rid of the fatigue from travelling and rushing for my dissertation few weeks prior to our return from London.

It's great to be home again, though I would like to admit that I miss London greatly, for the second time in my life.

Visiting Brian & Cherlyn

Even though I was still rushing to complete my dissertation, Johanna & I kept our promise to visit Brian & Cherlyn in Swindon.

For the first time in my life, we missed our bus as I worked until very late at night and failed to wake up on time. We ended up going by train instead - definitely a smoother and faster journey.

Upon arrival, Brian & Cherlyn picked us up from the train station and brought us to our hotel - the Marriot.

We've decided to visit an old English heritage town called Castle Combe. When I first saw the town, I thought of my sister. It's the kind of town she had wished to visit during our summer trip together. Too bad I didn't know about all these small towns at that point in time.

The next day, we visited another English heritage - Lacock Abbey. Once again we were greeted by very traditional english houses and churches. The most interesting part is the walkway used in the filming of Harry Potter.

Despite feeling very tired due to my round the clock push for my dissertation in the past few weeks, I've managed to enjoy the trip very much. It is also our last trip before we leave London for Kuala Lumpur.

Thank you to Brian & Cherlyn for bringing us around and for the dinner and lunch too!

Cherlyn & Johanna


Brian (right) and I


Autumn scenery at Castle Combe


Local fabric at Lacock Abbey


Posing for Brian






Lacock Abbey


Autumn colors


Kids & Harry Potter


Scene used in Harry Potter