7 6 Jisr Ash Shugur Idlib أوغاريت أصبحت مدينة جسر الشغور مدينة الاشباح

This is the scene at Jisr Al Shughur few days back as its residents flee fearing an imminent crackdown by government forces.

The area shown is near the market. I recall the place used to be bustling during day time. Now it is eerily deserted. I hope my local friends are all safe and hopefully survive the dark days ahead. May it all end well in the end.



I have never expected Jisr Al Shughur will ever make it into the headlines. It is after all a small, quiet and peaceful town. It's residents used to just mind their own business undisturbed by what is going on in the fast-changing world. In a town without banks, and only with dial-up internet connection, the people were disconnected from development. It's pride was probably from the fact that Jisr is probably an important agricultural hub of Syria. That is thanks to the fertile land of the Orontes valley where wheat is planted. The vegetable, fruits, lambs and poultry can't get any fresher than in Jisr. I would guess that probably much of Syria's famed "kubus" depended on the wheat harvest in Jisr every summer. Unfortunately, the peace and slow pace of life took an abrupt turn this year. Now, with the city deserted and becoming a ghost town, the wheat field raging in fire and people fleeing to nearby Turkey, the future of the people here is bleak.

An impending massacre seems to be on its way. With friends and acquaintances I've made in the small town during my short stint there, can't help but worry about their well-being. Pray that peace would be restored ASAP and life can return to normal.

愛笑的眼睛

如果不是那鏡子不像你　不藏秘密
我還不肯相信沒有你我的笑　更美麗
那天聽你在電話裡　略帶抱歉的關心
我嘟的一聲切的比你說分手　徹底

＃淚濕的衣洗乾淨　陽光裡曬乾回憶
　摺好了傷心　明天起只和快樂出去
　這愛的城市雖然擁擠　如果真的遇見你
　你不必訝異　我的笑她無法代替

離開你我才發現自己　那愛笑的眼睛
流過淚　像躲不過的暴風雨　淋濕的昨天刪去
離開你我才找回自己　那愛笑的眼睛
轉載來自 魔鏡歌詞網
再見愛情　我一定讓自己　讓自己決定

Repeat ＃

離開你我才發現自己　那愛笑的眼睛
流了淚　當一個人看舊電影　是我不小心而已
離開你我才找回自己　那愛笑的眼睛
再見到你　我一定讓自己　讓自己堅定

離開你我才發現自己　那愛笑的眼睛
流過淚　像躲不過的暴風雨　淋濕的昨天忘記
離開你我才找回自己　那愛笑的眼睛
再見愛情　我一定讓自己　讓自己　堅定

再見到你　我一定讓自己　假裝很　堅定

Unrest spreads to Jisr Al Shoghur?

Looks like the protest has spread even to the small town of Jisr Al Shoghour.

I've seen a few YouTube videos of protests and processions in Jisr but couldn't really tell if it's really Jisr. But in this video, I recognize the city gate with the big key above it. Used to travel daily through this gate to the bridge over the Orontes River out of Jisr on the way to work. Used to be so peaceful then, with a few traffic police 'manning' the traffic. Such scenes were unthinkable then.

Jisr Al Shoghour

Found this picture on the internet showing where I stayed while I was in Syria, the small town of Jisr Al Shogour. The apartment where I stayed is shown clearly in this picture. The picture is taken from the road coming from the coastal city of Latakiya. My apartment was the one directly to the right of the roundabout.

Turning left at the roundabout would lead to the town center while turning right would lead to the old trunk road going towards Damascus.

And I found yet another picture of Jisr Al Shoghour. One that is much, much older... B&W.

Suddenly, just thought of this small town which I spent couple of months in. A place totally cut off from the outside world. Imagine just dial-up internet at 28.8k!!! But it was quite an interesting stay. Right now, there's so much unrest in Syria with death numbers piling up. Hope all would turn out well for Syrians in the end.

Syria: 'A kingdom of silence' - Features - Al Jazeera English

A good article on the realities in Syria: Syria: 'A kingdom of silence' - Features - Al Jazeera English

The article is quite true. There's lots of discontent on corruption and failures of the past. But generally, my impression during my stay in Syria was that Syrians were generally quite proud of Bashar al-Assad. The President is quite popular though the government isn't. I wonder how things will pan out now but I hope it's for the better of Syrians.

Nuclear Misconception

There has been lotsa confusion and panic over the nuclear meltdown in Japan following the disastrous earthquake and tsunami. Of course the 'activists' are reigniting the campaign against using nuclear for the generation of electricity. In Malaysia, where we are on the verge of embarking on nuclear power, recent events would add fuel to those dead against it.

Just to dispel some misconception over the entire Japanese nuclear crisis, I invite you to read this article: http://bravenewclimate.com/2011/03/13/fukushima-simple-explanation/

Hopefully that gives you a better understanding on the issue.

新山游神活动 2011 (JB Chingay Parade)

For those who are interested to have a feel of JB's version of Chinese New Year:

21 Feb 2011 洗街（早上) (Wash the streets ceremony - according to customs it'll definitely rain in the evening!)
22 Feb 2011 众神出宫前往神厂（早上）(Parading of the Gods to the temporary parade grounds)
23 Feb 2011 众神出游（晚上）(The main Chingay event, parading of the Gods through JB city)
24 Feb 2011 众神回宫（早上）(Parading of the Gods back to the JB Old Temple)

If you happen to be in JB, this is an event not to be missed!

A trip to the rubber estate

Made a short trip back to Segamat yesterday and had a closer look at the rubber estate...

Farewell JB, Hello KL!

The previous weekend was my last in JB. It also marked the end of a 13-year affair with YTL. I first got acquainted with YTL Power back in '97 when I first got my scholarship. I first stepped into a YTL power station back in '98 for industrial training. I joined YTL Paka as a staff in 2001. And I got transferred to Pasir Gudang in 2002.

It was mixed feelings saying good bye to YTL Pasir Gudang after more than 8 years there. The place and its people have provided me a much cherished memory. It was an experience of warmth, friendship, teamwork, camaraderie, spirit of excellence and many more which are indescribable by words. The people of YTL is what made us distinctive from the rest! It's not easy saying good bye after sharing so much for so many years.

Nevertheless, people do move on and I guess it was also a long overdue move. So, although there was sadness, there were also feelings of excitement & anxiety. Excited to return back to home, anxious to start a new life and looking forward to a new job. I don't really know if things will pan out well after this, after so many years of rather comfortable and complacent environment. Nevertheless, nothing ventured nothing gained.

So it's time to start a new life. The beginning of better things to come (I hope). As for the memories and wonderful experience in JB, I would always cherish and remember. It was ironic that in my early years in JB, I used to complain about the place (with some other friends who shared the same thoughts). But after so many years, I've grown to call JB home, admitting I'm already a Johorean and generally liking the place. Good bye to my fellow colleagues, friends and KLite still in JB!

At the moment, my to-do list while I'm back in KL are as follows:

• Report to work at the new company on 1 Oct.
• Start renovating and preparing my new home.
• Catching up with long lost KL friends, ex-classmates etc.
• Putting up with those bloody traffic jams and chaotic parking.
• Leading a more healthy lifestyle (going to gym at my condo, cycling again, jogging at Lake Gardens??)
• Looking forward to a host of new activities that KL has to offer (more IEM talks, theater shows at KLPAC?, ....)

鄧麗君 ~~ 漫步人生路

在你身边路虽远
末疲倦
伴你漫行
一段接一段
越过高峰
另一峰却又见
目标推远
让理想永远在前面
......

路纵崎岖

亦不怕受磨练

愿一生中

苦痛快乐也体验

愉快悲哀

在身边转又转

风中赏雪

雾里赏花

快乐回旋

母用计较

快欣赏身边

美丽每一天

还愿确信

美景良辰在脚边

愿将欢笑声

盖掩苦痛那一面

悲也好喜也好

每天找到新发现

让疾风吹呀吹

尽管给我俩考验

小雨点

放心洒

早已决心向着前