Support Malaysian Heroes

100% of our T-shirt profit goes directly to our troops in Ops Daulat, in the form of 'care package'. My sister and I were inspired to create this care package when one of our close friends (more to the brother we never had) was killed in an ambush by a group of armed Suluk in Kg.Sri Jaya, Semporna, while our brother, uncle and friends are still serving in Ops Daulat.
We have read one of the blo...g entries written by U.S Marine veteran himself recalling that packages n letters were what kept them going on during the hard time. After reading it, we begin to think of all the care packages we could do for our warriors to keep them going while they are battling in Ops Daulat.

These people protect the very freedom Malaysian have become accustomed to and the land we held close to our hearts. They deserve the never ending thanks and supports of the Malaysian people. One way to thank the men serving in Ops Daulat is to send them care packages. They have left their homes, families, and friends to serve in Lahad Datu and Semporna. Regardless where the person is stationed, being away from familiar sorroundings are difficult.
This is where a care package comes to play. Whether sending the package to a family member, friend, or total stranger, showing the true appreciation these people deserve for the sacrifices they are making will not only make their day, but we as the sender's as well. Men serving in Ops Daulat are away from their families for extended periods of time. Few have sons or daughters born while they are away, many must leave their little ones behind for someone else temporaly raise while they serve the country. When placed in perspective, it is hard to imagine that something as simple as care package makes a difference, but it does, big time! Just saying "Thank You' and showing enough love to take time to prepare and send a token of appreciation not only helps keep our warriors spririts up, but also reminds them of why they are serving in the first place: To protect this great country and the citizens that live within it.

So, what will we send to them? What are the items in the care package?
The items don't have to be costly or elaborate. They can be practical, sentimental, or to share with the whole teams/troops. It can put smiles on your warriors' face and let them know that they are always on our mind.

1. Coffee
2. Maggie
3. Canned Food
4. Power Bars
5. Crackers/ Assorted Biscuits/ Homade Cookies
6. Sunflower Seeds
7. Sweets and Chewing Gum

It is important that these care packages get there. Whether a huge care package party, or just a few friends and neighbours wanting to send a couple of boxes. Our warriors personnel stationed miss home, their family, their friends and the lifestyle that they are accustomed to. Sending a care package with some reminders of Malaysia, gives them a little piece of the country they are fighting to protect. It also provides them with the knowledge that the people they are protecting are thinking of them, and care enough to send something as simple as a box of cookies. When you are stationed far away from your family, a box of cookies really isn't simple at all :)

For those who has purchased our T-shirts, we say 'Thank You' for your support. For those who are interested in supporting us in future, you are most welcome. You will not only wearing our tees to show your support but at the same time you are helping our warriors to get through the hard times.
Let us all together pray for Sabah and our HEROES to come home safe.

" Its them who salute the flag, who serve beneath the flag,

And whose coffins are draped by the flag "

Heroes are Humans

Heroes are something we create, something we need. It's a way for us to understand what's almost incomprehensible, how people could sacrifice so much for us. As for my uncle and my friends (who are now battling in Ops Daulat, Semporna), the risks they are taking, the wounds they are suffering, they do that for their country. Inspite of fighting for their country, some died for their friends, for the man in front, for the man beside him. And just for that, they are my heroes.

You see, being in a battle doesn't only required physical readiness but mental and emotion play their part too. To be awakened by a text or a call from one of them in the middle of the night, saying that they were scared of not returning alive by tomorrow, that really hit me. Some called and cried after having nightmare of their late friend, who had been killed in the battle. They fear of death, fear of never being able to see their families again and thus fear of losing what they are fighting for in the first place: defending our land.
The memories of their loved ones grieve their hearts. They often feel like reaching out to their near ones and sharing their grieve with them but their duty towards their nation deprives them of these opportunities. While guarding the place day and night, while being away from their near ones, they deprived of all the little joys we are having right now. There is no certainty that they will return home when they want to.
Try to put yourself in their shoes, would you ever possibly survive?

Our heroes have marched to the boundaries of our nation to serve our motherland. We can at least take a small step forward to help them cope with their affliction and bring smiles to their faces.
Check out our Facebook Page, 'Support Malaysian Heroes' or my next entry, to find out what can you do to help them.

"We crawl into our bed with pillows and try to get comfortable.
They crawl under tanks for shades and 5 minutes nap only to be awoken by gunfires"



Our Uncle with our dear late friend,Azrul and their fellow friends in PGA Battalion 14, Semporna.



A Friend, A Brother & A Fallen Hero

I had a hard time to write this entry. Knowing that I have to start somewhere, as someone told me that writing does help in recovering your sorrow and pain. The worst part of losing someone is to realise that we will not seeing them again. We start wondering if we ever had the chance to say goodbye, what would we say?

I had once been rescued by a young gentleman, Lans Koperal Azrul (who is a friend and the brother I never had) from a local Suluk's captivation back in November 2012, in Semporna. This is the exact sentence used by him, "Biar aku mati asalkan hang selamat". Putting other people first before himself is the kind of who Azrul was. When his team was ambushed at Kg.Simunul, I knew that he fought till the very last of his breath.
To received a call upon his death is not the worst part but to hear how he was killed is. His body was found lying on the jetty where his head was chopped off and fell into the sea.
Emotionally, I'd lost it. I find myself just being a child who couldn't stop crying.

To Amira and Azrul's family, if you are reading this...Azrul was a courageous hero who stood strong and fought to defend the land we hold close to our hearts. His death is a devastating loss for our country, and he deserves our deepest gratitude for making the ultimate sacrifice. Thank you for raising a brave hero, a defender of our country freedoms. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

I'll always be in debt to him who gave his live so we may live ours. He will always live on in my heart and never be forgotten.



Mohd Azrul Tukiran (September 23, 1986 - March 3, 2013)

(Picture taken during our first trip to Mabul Island back in 2009)

 

The Upside-Down House! :)

Tamparuli, district of Tuaran, Sabah.

The first of it's kind in Southeast Asia and among the five upside-down structures in the world (3 are found in Europe and another in Japan). It has been listed in Malaysia Book of Records as the 1st Upside-Down House in Malaysia!

Guided tour is provided, and no photography allowed inside the house. Only a small group of visitors, 5-6 people are allowed to enter the house at a time. Lucky for me, I was the only visitor who arrived at that particular hour.
The house itself is hard to miss, having been flipped upside down, with its floor facing skyward. Everything inside the house, from furniture to household appliances, hover above your head, as the ceiling is actually the floor. It might seem disorienting in the first few seconds, but the fascination of it all takes over. 
Similar to Germany’s ‘The World Stands on its Head’ upside-down home, the Upside-Down House in Sabah is a childhood fantasy come to life.

In the garage, Kancil is parked upside-down.

Watch out, you might get dizzy for not getting used of its upside-down orientation! : )

New Zealand in Malaysia?

Desa Dairy Farm, Mesilau, Sabah.

It is 30 minutes drive from Mt.Kinabalu National Park and the largest farm in Sabah with an area of 199 hectares. The road into the dairy farmis not paved. The slow drive on the dirt road can be a tad frustrating but not for so long. I was greeted with a spectacular view of rolling green meadows that stretch as far as to the foothills of the majestic mountain. Every step I made or every angle I looked at, the view was constantly awe-inspiring. For a while, I though I was in New Zealand instead of Malaysia!

Completely took my breath away with its panoramic view of the ever-present Mount Kinabalu, cool climate and lush green landscapes.

View of Mt.Kinabalu


Apart from the magnificent scenery, visitors can also observed the milking process . Guided tour can be arranged before hand, otherwise visitors can only observed the milking process without any assistance. The farm is open daily from 8am to 5pm and the entrance fee is only RM3 per person. The best time to visit the farm is around 2.30pm as milking session starts at 3pm daily. There, you can see all the cows are lining up waiting for milking, without any guide needed as if they knew what to do. Cool! 

Each of the Friesian cattle could produce at least 14 litres of milk a day. The farm is now capable of producing one million litres of high quality fresh milk annually.

If you really want to experience the beautiful scenary of an unspoiled farmland, the Desa Dairy Farm is the exact place for you to be in. Do take your time to explore the vast green landscape of the farm to just simply absorb and let the sight overwhelm your sences. You don't even have to fly all the way to New Zealand to do so! : )

Kundasang a.k.a East Malaysia Cameron Highland

If you love Cameron Highland, then you will definately love Kundasang : )

Kundasang, located in district of Ranau,Sabah and only 4 km away from Mount Kinabalu Park.With an elevation of about 2,000 metres above sea level, it is one of the coolest places in Sabah with temperatures dropping to 13ºC at night, which unfortunate for me who only brought beach or summer attire during the whole trip.

First thing to do in Kundasang? Strawberries hunt!! :)
So my first stop: the local market.


I was a lil frustrated with the strawberries, not only unriped and sour but they are also hard to find in Kundasang. You have to reach the market early in the morning and by 11am they are sold out. Locals explanation for this, "Bukan musimnya". What??? My spontaneous respond was, "Strawberry pun ada musim ke? Kt Cameron banyak je smpai terjual.." Then I stopped. Owh shoot, how could they know, they never been in West Malaysia!

Blackberries! Love those!



You can't find many roses here as there are in Cameron.

Vegetables and Fruits. As u can see, all fruits are peeled, sliced and packed.

Ok, done with shopping and now it's time to get a taste of Sabah's finest Tea!
My second stop: Sabah Tea Plantation, now known as Sabah Tea Garden.
Sabah Tea Garden is the only organic tea farm in Borneo, which makes it the largest single commercial tea plantation in Borneo, with approximated area of 1,000 acres. It is also one of the very few tea plantations in the world certified to produce pesticide-free organic tea.

Sabah Tea Garden. It was officiated on February 19, 1984 by our then Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.

A regional brand that has transformed into a national brand, Sabah Tea is now country's third largest take-home tea brand after Lipton and Boh.

Green Tea Pancake and Sabah's Milk Tea @Sabah Tea House. Quite impressive I must say.

After the 2 visits, I have decided to call it a day as I was in sheer exhaustion, not getting enough rest since my journey from Sandakan. So I checked in Cottage Hotel and to my surprise it has the best view of Mount Kinabalu from the room's balcony. Luck was on my side that day :)


View of Mt. Kinabalu at 5.44pm, shrouded in mist.



View of Mt. Kinabalu at 6.27am. The clearest view is from sunrise to 9am.



Say tuned for my next post of Kundasang War Memorial which commemorate the brave Australian and British Prisoners of War who died during the infamous death marches from Sandakan to Ranau in World War II, and people of North Borneo who risked their lives to help them.

Negotiated Infidelity

Throughout my 80 days in Borneo, there was a thing kept on bothering me, which I can't even bare to accept: negotiated infidelity. Not all of them involved in this but most men or women that I encountered with during my 80 days journey in Borneo practising it. Despite being married and making a commitment to one another, they are allowed to have sex with strangers. This is way beyond crazy for me to accept.
For months, I've been looking for a word to describe this kind of behaviour until Taboo was aired on National Geographic Channel. Yes, TABOO is the perfect word!
A taboo is a vehement prohibition of an action based on the belief that such behaviour is either too scared or too accursed for ordinary individuals to undertake which make it sacred or forbidden based on moral judgement and religious beliefs.

I am sure that everyone is vulnerable when your partner is meeting other people. Jealousy starts coming in, trust has been broken, your heart fills with frustration and then a fight...finally it may lead to separation or divorce. But this is not exactly how it happens there. They seem to be okay with it as long as basic responsibilities are been carry out such as providing money and food at home, taking care of children etc.

Weird? Spooky? Well, you judge it! : )