Preparing for the Feast.-1- Bukit Berangan

Young and old alike all are busy doing their share for the wedding.

What a way to spend the morning being among friends doing what is for the common good

Makeshift tents and many hands help to make the event a memorable one as everyone would remember what role they played at so and so's wedding

It is buffaloe meat this time not too common anymore in this in this country.

The ladies have their hands full getting all the ingredients ready which includes the salad and lots of chopped onions.

Common folks at their best. way out in the remote village near where I am staying.

The 'Headman' working his way on the head.

Children are beautiful everywhere - They make you remember..

They all decided to call me uncle, even out here in the boonies! The men call me Mamu or Nana, Mamu for uncle and Nana for an elder brother. You can feel like the world is yours when the children accept you for who you are making you one of the their friends.

It seems like they aew oblivious to fear or getting  their legs broken by the slippery rocks,  I was practically crawling on my hands and knees at times trying to keep up getting to the 'Waterfall'.

I am still getting to know the camera ans it seems to me these pictures are over exposed to light. These pictures does not do justice to what i saw with mine own eyes.

The rushing cascading cool water is refreshing and taste as pure and better than any bottled mineral water and it is drunk without having to be boiled. this river flows right behind my cabin and at night you can hear it.

It does not any more pure than seeing a child crossing the frsh flowing water with little concern about the world.

For how much longer will this tree stand before the passing time claims it for good. And the kids call out, "Yes We rule!!" By their loud shouts and constant yelling, all the spirits good or bad would have taken off in the ten directions!

Fish BBQ Time!

As the evening fell it was time to BBQ some fish and the Captain's wife was in charge while was assigned the fire pit prepration. I like to see smoke in the air in the morning ans the evening 

Ikan Siakap Laut, Sea bass? Delicious after being BBQed.

This place reminds mew a great deal of how Green Gulch must have started off in California. I is the brainchild of a few who sought and found the alternative to living just the everyday mundane life  while missing out on nature. Except for the occasional leech and mosquitoes which I would consider not too bad, this place and every traveler's, writers or artist;s dream place. 

I am fortunate to have been invited and accepted by the local families as one of them  this wherever i have gone has allowed me to learn about people and life and in being able to cope with what life has to offer. In return I share myself, my life my ways with them and heir children.

I have the feeling that my presence has injected some new energy into the locals who seems to fins new interest is the facility which to me would make a perfect spiritual retreat as well not for any religious denomination but purely for the persuit of tranquility and well being of the mind.

Located "at the edge of the world" a tiger cub was sighted by one of the locals who was out rubber tapping. The rubber trees are being tapped at night as it is more productive, so it is said. But I can hardly see how i could do it having developed this phobia for the dark n remote. But after having spent a few nights here i am almost cured of my being scared of the dark places.. 

To earn the trust anf friendship of the young and old in such a community takes some understanding of people ans the openness of your heart in accepting whatever is laid before you, no judgements nor false pretentions.

Nothing is more special than eating in one big happy family

The Cap. and his family. He runs the show here and knows what he is doing.

One of my efforts at water color while resting in my room at night.

On my Third Night - Lintang Sri Lovely Organic arm.

The Sri  Lovely Organic Farm is the brainchild of an ex- army Major who is keen on working with the R&D of rice planting. The place is supported by the the various government argricultural departments such as MARDI and the Institutions of higher learnings such as the University Pertanian and WWF 

I was invited as a guest by Pa'Ya as he is called locally and I was told that i could stay for as long as i wish and I feel at home here. It is what I have been looking for to do some retreat of my own. My experience living at the Zen Center in San Francisco and working on the farm at Grren Gulch Farm which was one hundred percent organic came to mind. The place is located way out into the forest area almost to the foothills where there is no more houses but these chalets ans so I am alone in the wilds again!. 

Living in small huts like thes in the middle of nowhere can be nerve wrecking if you are from the city and I felt this when I first spent my night by the lake,  My mind seems to have developed a sense of fear of the dark and remote areas I was in. and to think that I had spent nights in the Gila National Monument and the Organ Pipes Mountains in the southern tip of New Mexico. 

A cool river runs along the back stretch of my cabin and i took my bath in the river which was quite refreshing. The whole concept of the place is to turn it into an International Eco -Tourism place, just like Green Gulch was. There is alot that can be done here but it takes time as it always does in this country whenever something good is put foreward and it comes in the form of red tapes and bureaucracy.

This is where I stay, not too bad especially when it cost me nothing but good friendship and a whole lot of experience sharing.

The Kitchen facility.

The rice field where organically grown rice is being carried out.

Time to take  a bath, just jump in and be cool.

On my First Night Camping out.

My first stop for the night was by the Muda Dam in at the jetty. By nightfall I was the only one left in my tent hiding from the horrors out there! I spent the most miserable night with all kinds of haunting fears from all the noises and tappings around my tent. I believe that I was being tested by the spirits around the area. In the end i was so exhausted I just laid my head down and said out loud into the darkness,, like ' Screw you, if you want to kill me get it over with, if not get the fuck away from me. I had some peace after that but not till way early in the morning did I feel asleep. It is strange how my mind succumbs to such fears when here I thought I got it over with. 

The dam due to heavy rains have been over flowing and according to the locals this has been the highest the dam has been for many years. This area is located very close to the Thai Malaysian Border and in the old days was a very high security area especially during the communist insurgency years.

I pitched my tent facing the man made lake which made sleeping at night next to impossible as the boats rocking against each other made allot of random noises  especially when there is wind. It was the worse choice for a camping sight needless to say. Well live and learn as they say and you are never too old to learn.

Took a boat ride into the lake  with the only restaurant owner Ali who also is the fish buyer or middle man.. It was a nice easy ride and I learned al about the area. One and see wild elephants sometimes roaming along the bank or coming down for a swim.

Talk about perspective! This picture has a good symetrical  arrangement . The lake is fed by two rivers and there are some habitats for visitors further up into the lake.

We made a stop at one of the shores where they have weather station monitoring the rainfall and so forth. My friend Ali seems to be the man who has this place down pad. 

An old timer named Pa' Lah 'Jepun', one of those who has been fishing in these waters ever since the Dam was build..

On my second night I made a nasty error in having candles lit in my tent and fell asleep. I woke up to realize that i was about to be burned alive! Fortunately i had water in the tent and only burned my finger when I lay my hand in some melted wax. Ouch! The Pain!

My Intentions -"Nawaitu"

As i am counting down towards my departue date I wish to share a few tthoughts on why I am taking this journey. It is more for my own self rather than justifying to others. I take this journey dedicating it to the memory of my late wife; that she is with me every mile of the way.
I am doing this trip in order to get a break from being in Georgetown for much too long already without one; I need to refresh, revitalize and reenergize.
I need to look for some new challenges in making my life as an artist more colorful and exciting and be able to share the experience with all my relatives and friends wherever they may be.
I hope to drop by the homes and residences of my friends along the route I take just to touch base and say hello; perhaps for the last time.
Most of all I have always had a wanderlust soul that cannot be in one cage for too long, I need to see as much as i can the Lord's vast creation and touch the souls that I come into contact with; listen to their storeis while i tell them mine.
Finally i would like to make this trip a spiritual one and give every effort towards getting close to my Lord in thoughts and prayers.

Getting to Know the Kris up Close and Personal. Part 1

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The keris is a South East Asian dagger.

Typically the blade of a keris is of asymmetric form, with the blade wider on one side than on the other. The blade can be either straight or with an uneven number of waves, is usually about 12" to 15" long, and is sharpened on both edges. The surface of the blade frequently bears a pattern, produced during the forging process, and made visible by etching, which is known as pamor.

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A number of theories have been put forward to explain the origin of the keris (Hill). These range from adaptation of a broken spear, to development from the sting of the stingray. Javanese and Malay traditions attribute origin to legendary figures. An examination of these theories would use much time and space and would contribute little. Suffice to say that when viewed against evidence available in the country of origin of the keris, Java, these theories are difficult to support or accept.

According to Encik Khalid a distant in law, the modern Malay Keris is most well know not just for its age but for its origin and who had owned or handled it in the past.. The wavy dagger like weapon  that had been owned by well known  Malay warriors in the past such as Megat Panji Alam or Dato' Nanning, are said be imbued with spirits of its own and simply cannot be handled with disrespect. Some Keris demands special care even in having them around the house as the spirits are known to exert an influence over those it comes into contact with. Here he had loaned this Keris to ne of his nephews for the wedding ceremony.

This particular Keris has a very interesting history and is unique as its blade is split at the tip. I will get into the details of it when meet up with Khalid again when on my tip.

I will try to devote part of my time in the study of the Malay traditional weapons along my trip as an added project for those who have someinterest in the subject. Here the keris is used as part of a ceremonial dress code and the manner in which it is handled is carefully studied. Every form and style has its remifications in the handling of the Keris as for example when used as a ceremonial dressing the handle is faced inwars facing the body and while it is intended as a weapon ready for a fight then the handle faces outwards.

Khalid was at onetime Director of the Forestery Department in Kedah and saveral other National forests in Malaysia. and he knows his wood. He is also a very advert antique weapons collector especially Keris. He has among his collections some of the most sought after Keris from the past that was at one time owned by historical Malay warriors. I hope we will meet up at his home in Kedah and talk Keris more deeply.